In 277 AC, during the Defiance of Duskendale, King Aerys had been held hostage inside of the town for half a year. Aerys IIīarristan continued to serve in the Kingsguard after Jaehaerys died and Aerys II Targaryen ascended the throne. In joining the Kingsguard, he gave up the claim to his family seat, and the girl he was to wed was married to his cousin instead. īarristan was named to the Kingsguard at the age of twenty-three and swore his vows before Ser Gerold Hightower, while King Jaehaerys II Targaryen bestowed the white cloak on him. Barristan's deeds during the war gained him undying fame and his name was well known throughout the Seven Kingdoms afterwards. The remaining members of the Band of Nine had little to no interest in conquering Westeros, and soon returned to their own domains. Barristan cut a bloody path through the Golden Company to reach Maelys. During the War of the Ninepenny Kings Barristan slew Maelys I Blackfyre in single combat, ending the male line of the Blackfyre Pretenders. Īn eminently successful tourney knight throughout his career, Barristan also proved his worth on the battlefield. Barristan received his knighthood at the age of sixteen from King Aegon V Targaryen after unhorsing Prince Duncan and Ser Duncan the Tall, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, at a winter tourney in King's Landing. Duncan jousted Barristan when no one else would and it was Duncan who gave Barristan his epithet. Prince Duncan Targaryen took pity on the small mystery knight while others laughed. At the age of ten, Barristan donned the armor of a mystery knight and entered a tourney at Blackhaven. He squired for Lord Manfred Swann in his youth. History Early lifeĪ young Barristan slaying Maelys I Blackfyre during the War of the Ninepenny Kings, as depicted by Jose Daniel Cabrera Pena in The World of Ice & Fire.īarristan was born the first son of Ser Lyonel Selmy, the Knight of Harvest Hall. His enameled scales have silver chasings and clasps. Like other members of the Kingsguard, Barristan's plate armor, cloak, and shield are all in white.
Barristan can speak some of the High Valyrian of the Free Cities and the mongrel Ghiscari of Slaver's Bay.
Ī dutiful and gallant man, Barristan dislikes tricks and scheming. According to a semi-canon source, he is comparable in skill to the acclaimed Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. Bran Stark believes him to be the greatest living knight. īarristan is considered one of the most skilled and respected knights in the Seven Kingdoms, considered to be made of the true steel that marks a Kingsguard knight. He is taller than Ser Jorah Mormont but less muscular. Despite his advanced age, Barristan looks strong and graceful and every bit the skilled knight he was in his youth. Some consider him handsome, at least for his age. He is an older man, with white hair and lined features. īarristan is tall and has pale blue eyes which some consider to be sad. In the television adaptation Game of Thrones, he is played by Ian McElhinney. Barristan becomes a POV character in A Dance with Dragons. A celebrated hero, he has served in the Kingsguard since a time when these knights were still considered to be the greatest of the Seven Kingdoms.
Ser Barristan Selmy, also called Barristan the Bold, is a knight from House Selmy and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard of Robert I Baratheon. Season 1 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 Jaime Lannister (Lord Commander of the Kingsguard) Jorah Mormont (Lord Commander of the Queensguard) Gerold Hightower (Lord Commander of the Kingsguard) Lord Commander of the Kingsguard (dismissed) Barristan Selmy, art by Mike Capprotti ©.