The Kingsguard

The **Kingsguard** is an elite group of seven knights, supposedly the greatest and most skilled warriors in all of Westeros, who serve as the royal bodyguard of the King of the Andals and the First Men. Their duty is to protect the king and the royal family from harm at all times. The Kingsguard swear the most holy of vows to fulfill their sacred duty, and - in theory - are meant to be the living exemplars of the pinnacle of knightly virtues. Like the brothers of the Night's Watch, members of the Kingsguard are sworn for life and are forbidden from owning land, taking wives, or fathering children.

The Kingsguard wear signature all-white cloaks, and gold armor with extensive white enamelling. For this reason they are sometimes colloquially called the "White Cloaks", or the "White Swords".

The Seven Kingdoms simply never had a ruling female monarch, but the succession of Daena Blackfyre gave the formal name of the institution to be the "**Queensguard**".

The Kingsguard was created 282 years ago by the first Targaryen king, Aegon the Conqueror, when he united the Seven Kingdoms under a single monarchy and established the Iron Throne.

The deeds of every knight who has ever served in the Kingsguard is kept in a large book called *The Book of Brothers*. The book is stored in White Sword Tower, and it is the responsibility of the current Lord Commander to keep all entries updated.

The Kingsguard is led by the Lord Commander, currently Arthur Osgrey. The Lord Commander appears to have no marks on his armor to distinguish him from other members. Under normal circumstances, the Lord Commander sits on the small council as the King's adviser in military matters.

## Known past members

### Under Aenys I Targaryen

* Ser Serwyn Errol, Lord Commander
	+ Ser {Mychal Baratheon}, killed by members of the Faith Militant during a raid on the Red Keep.

### Under Viserys I Targaryen

* Ser Ryam Redwyne, Lord Commander
* Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander
	+ Ser Arryk Cargyll, twin brother of Ser Erryk
	+ Ser Erryk Cargyll, twin brother of Ser Arryk
	+ Ser Rickard Thorne
	+ Ser Lorent Marbrand, sided with Rhaenyra Targaryen and against Aegon II Targaryen during the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. He later became Lord Commander of her Queensguard, succeeding Ser Steffon Darklyn, before dying during a riot in King's Landing.

### Under Aegon II Targaryen

* Ser {Criston Cole}, Lord Commander, killed by the riverlords during the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
	+ Ser {Arryk Cargyll}, killed by Ser Erryk Cargyll, his twin brother, and at the same time killed Ser Erryk Cargyll, dueling against each other during the Dance of the Dragons.
	+ Ser Marston Waters
	+ Ser Gyles Belgrave
	+ Ser Willis Fell
	+ Ser Rickard Thorne

### Under Aegon IV Targaryen

* Prince {Aemon Targaryen}, Lord Commander and brother to the King, widely regarded as the greatest knight who ever lived. He gave his own life to defend his brother and king from assassins.
	+ Ser {Terrence Toyne}, executed by Aegon IV for sleeping with one of his mistresses.

## Current members

The members of the Kingsguard under King Daemon III Blackfyre:

#### Lord Commander

* Lord Commander Domeric Dayne (247 AC to 282 AC)

* Lord Commander Harras Flowers (282 AC to 282 AC)

* Lord Commander Arthur Osgrey (282 AC to Present)

#### Knights

* Ser Podrick Parandor (270 AC to Present)
* Ser Lyonel Connington ( 276 AC to Present)
* Ser Robin Roxton (276 AC to Present)
* Ser Galladon Tarth (282 AC to Present)
* Ser Artys Arryn (282 AC to Present)
* Ser Orys Storm (282 AC to Present)

## Rival Kingsguards

Due to the Targaryens being deposed, they no longer have access to a Kingsguard. Because of this, on Emperor Baelor Targaryen's ascension, he formed his own guard, dubbing them the "Dragonguard, due to his Valyrian heritage.

### Baelor Targaryen's Dragonguard

The members of the Dragonguard under Emperor Baelor Targaryen: