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A knight is a member of a warrior tradition that is heavily interwoven in the feudal culture of the Seven Kingdoms and the Faith of the Seven. Knights occupy a social standing between that of lords and smallfolk. Contrary to the nobility, this rank is not hereditary and it is possible for the baseborn to become knights. Knights are referred to with the title "Ser".


Knighthood has its roots in Andal culture and is believed to have been brought to Westeros during the Andal invasion,[1] although legends of the Reach claim chivalry was brought by the First Knight, John the Oak.[2] The military success of the Andals' mounted knights and their steel armament proved vital to the Andals' conquest of most of Westeros. The influence of the Andals on the culture of Westeros has made knights the backbone of warfare in the Seven Kingdoms. However, knighthood holds less cultural significance in areas of Westeros that are less assimilated to Andal culture, such as the north and the Iron Islands.


Knights are supposed to be brave, courageous, honorable, and true to their word. They should be loyal to their feudal overlord, and are tasked with defending their faith. In practice, knights often fall short of sustaining such high and noble ideals. Many do not try particularly hard, and instead seek knighthood mainly for the prestige and opportunities.

To a degree, that is understandable and perhaps unavoidable; for bastards and smallfolk, knighthood is one of the few paths for improving their social standing and monetary prospects that does not involve seriously restrictive vows such as celibacy or abstaining from marrying, having children, or owning lands of their own. Knighthood by itself brings few advantages and significant expenses and risks, but it opens the doors for significant opportunities as well.

In reality, skill at arms is the most important aspect of knighthood. Knights are expected to fight whenever there is a need for them. They traditionally fight as heavy cavalry, fighting from horseback with lance, sword, and shield. Some knights choose to fight with other weapons such as axes, hammers, and spears as well. They own at least one horse, and typically own two: a fierce warhorse and a milder horse for daily riding. Plate armor is more common in southern Westeros, especially the Reach, while mail is more common in the north.[1] According to Ser Jaime Lannister, three hundred dragons is a fair ransom for a knight.[3]

Knights display a coat-of-arms on their shield and surcoat to identify themselves. They generally wear their family arms. Those who do not have family arms, or do not wish to use them, can create their own. These personal arms often portray the manner in which the man achieved knighthood or have some other personal significance. Many knights wear large crests on their helms that embellish the theme of their arms, such as a trout for Ser Brynden Tully[4] and a unicorn horn for Ser Flement Brax.[5] Wealthy knights often seek to further distinguish themselves by wearing ornate weapons and armor. Lacquered or jeweled armor and capes of exotic materials are some ways that knights can flaunt their status.

Becoming a knight


The traditional process to becoming a knight has three stages.

  • Page. A boy that becomes a page is attached to a knight, who becomes the boy's master. The sons of many knights and lords are sent to foster with relatives or allies, while other pages serve their own fathers. The page performs simple errands for the knight, who in turn begins to train the boy in vital skills, such as jousting and swordsmanship. Typical training involves sparring with blunted weapons and tilting at rings.
  • Squire. When a boy reaches adolescence, he graduates to being a squire. Squires learn how to properly care for and use weapons, armor, and horses as well as learning about chivalry. In time of war, squires join their masters in war, assisting them with their equipment and fighting by their side in battles. Some squires choose to never become a full knight, and live the rest of their lives as squires. This may be because the individual does not have the inclination to live a knight's martial lifestyle, or does not have the funds to properly equip himself.[6] According to George R. R. Martin,
  • Knighthood. Any knight can proclaim another man a knight for whatever reason he chooses. This usually happens when a squire reaches adulthood and his master judges him worthy of accepting the responsibilities of a knight. A man who has not been raised in the knightly tradition can also be made a knight as a reward for service. This is often granted to soldiers or other smallfolk who have shown bravery or performed a great feat. Knighthood is considered valuable to smallfolk, as it raises a commoner's social standing. Knighthood is seen as primarily a martial position, so even the sons of powerful lords are not necessarily knighted if they are incapable of fulfilling the requirements. Doing otherwise would lose honor rather than gain it, and would make a lord and his family be held up to ridicule; this social pressure generally prevents knights from giving out knighthoods for petty or selfish reasons.[6]

Knighting Ceremony


The ceremony to create a knight can be simple or complex, but it always involves the man kneeling before a knight and being tapped on the shoulders with a sword. Ceremonies usually have religious overtones involving the Faith of the Seven. When knighted, men are often charged in the name of the Seven to be just and honorable. More elaborate knighthood ceremonies involve the prospective knight sitting a night's vigil at a sept, before the figure of the Warrior. He may lay his sword before or upon the figure, and his armor is piled at its base. It is followed by walking barefoot from the sept to the knighting place to prove his humble heart.[7] He wears a shift of undyed wool to receive his knighthood, which is marked by the putting on of the swordbelt after dubbing.[8] Newly-knighted men are also sometimes anointed with seven oils by a septon.[9] It is considered a great honor for the recipient when individuals of high status or fame perform the ceremony.[6]

One form of the knighting ceremony starts with the dubber speaking the person's name and House (if he has one). Then the dubber touches the subject on the right shoulder with his sword, and says:


The sword is moved from the right shoulder to the left:


The sword is moved back to the right shoulder:


The sword is moved back to the left shoulder:

In the name of the Maid I charge you to protect all women....[9]

Types of knights

  • Hedge knight. A hedge knight is a wandering knight without a master. Hedge knights are so named because most of their worldly wealth is in their arms and horses and they generally must sleep outdoors, under a hedge. Most hedge knights travel in search of employment and often attend jousts to make money and display their prowess in hopes of being hired. Less scrupulous hedge knights put their martial training to use by resorting to banditry.[9] For this reason, hedge knights are often mistrusted and considered disreputable. The term "hedge knight" itself is considered disparaging.[9]
  • Sworn sword. Some landless knights become sworn swords to other men, taking them as their master. They act as retainers for their master, taking food, shelter, and money in exchange for their services in war, should they be needed. During a campaign, lords often hire a large number of sworn swords on a temporary basis. After the campaign ends and the lord has no further need for so many knights, they are released and become hedge knights once again. Sworn swords who are assigned especially as bodyguards are known as "sworn shields." Some sworn swords, such as northmen, are not knights. Those who are, and are not hedge knights, may interchangeably be called "household knights." Some household knights can reach a respectable status in their master's service, becoming a master-at-arms, a captain of the guards, or even a castellan.
  • Northern cavalry. Because few northerners worship the Seven, they rarely choose to become knights. However, the warrior (if not cultural) tradition of the north is similar to that of knighthood. Heavy cavalrymen in the north serve a nearly identical function to knights in the south, and are considered knights in all but name. Most anointed northern knights live in the southern regions of the north.[11] Some northern knights, such as Ser Bartimus, still follow the old gods instead of the Seven.[12][6]
  • True knight. A true knight is considered to embody all that a knight should be, that is, a perfect knight exemplifying all the qualities of what knighthood stands for and fully follows oath of knighthood.


I am a knight. I shall die a knight.[13]
Barristan Selmy to Joffrey Baratheon's court

Sandor Clegane to Sansa Stark

Black Lorren to Theon Greyjoy

Arstan Whitebeard to Jorah Mormont

Beric Dondarrion to Sandor Clegane


Beric: Say what you mean, Clegane.

Sandor Clegane and Beric Dondarrion

Some knights are dark and full of terrors. War makes monsters of us all.[18]
Thoros of Myr to Brienne of Tarth

Daenerys Targaryen to Hizdahr zo Loraq

– The widow of the waterfront to Jorah Mormont

Night work is not knight's work.[21]
Barbrey Dustin to Aenys Frey

Barristan Selmy to his squires

References and notes

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