Kingsguard

The Kingsguard, also known poetically as the White Swords or white cloaks, are the royal bodyguards of the Iron Throne. Regarded as the finest knights in the Seven Kingdoms, they are sworn to protect their king and the royal family with their own lives, to obey his commands, and to keep his secrets. The Kingsguard are sworn for life and are forbidden from owning land, taking a wife, or fathering children, although they can hold non-hereditary commands, such as being warden or Hand of the King.

## Customs

### Duties

The Kingsguard is composed of seven men, all of them sworn knights. A Kingsguard knight serves for life, regardless of age or any physical or mental ailments. When an invalid Kingsguard knight is incapable of performing his duties, they are taken up by his sworn brothers. The knights of the Kingsguard are forbidden to marry, father children, and to hold land. Regardless, the White Swords may retain or be granted certain titles. Aemon Targaryen and Lewyn Martell continued to use the style of "prince", while Lord Commanders Ryam Redwyne, Criston Cole, and Marston Waters also acted as Hand of the King, and Ser Jaime Lannister was named Warden of the East.

The first duty of the Kingsguard is defending the king from harm. They are sworn to obey the king's commands, to keep his secrets, to counsel him when requested and to keep silent when not, and to defend his name and honor. The king can decide to extend the protection offered by the Kingsguard to others. Some kings have chosen to extend this protection to their wives, children, and other relatives, and some have even chosen to grant this protection to their lovers, mistresses, and bastards. The Kingsguard are sworn to protect the queen, though not from anything the king might do. They are also sworn not to harm any member of the royal family.

In order to protect the king and the royal family night and day, the seven-man Kingsguard must rely to some degree on others. Prince Joffrey Baratheon has Sandor Clegane as his sworn shield, and other knights are trusted with the king's security when the entire Kingsguard meets in White Sword Tower. The queen may be guarded by her own sworn shield, such as Jonquil Darke for Alysanne Targaryen, or household knights, such as Vylarr and his red cloaks for Cersei Lannister.

The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard serves on the king's small council. When the small council is in session, one of the Kingsguard always stands guard outside the council chambers, while another is usually posted at the end of the bridge into Maegor's Holdfast.

### White Book

The white cloaks' uninterrupted history since its creation during the reign of King Aegon I Targaryen is recorded in the White Book, formally named *The Book of the Brothers*. The White Book is kept in the White Sword Tower, the tower of the Red Keep in King's Landing which is home to the Kingsguard. Every knight who has ever served in the Kingsguard has a page in the book, on which his deeds are recorded. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard is tasked with keeping the entries up to date, while septons come three times a year from the Great Sept of Baelor to add heraldic drawings and illuminations.

## History

The Kingsguard was founded during the reign of the first Targaryen king on the Iron Throne, Aegon the Conqueror. The first Kingsguard was created at the suggestion of Aegon's sister-wife, Queen Visenya Targaryen, after a Dornish assassination attempt on their lives in the streets of King's Landing in 10 AC. She deliberately modeled the Kingsguard vows of holding no lands or title on the ancient vows of the Night's Watch, and seven knights were chosen because the king ruled the Seven Kingdoms.

When Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen put forth his claim to the Iron Throne, two Kingsguards of the reigning King Maegor I Targaryen, Olyver Bracken and Raymund Mallery, abandoned him. According to some, Maegor was killed by a member of the Kingsguard who could no longer abide his tyranny. As king, Jaehaerys selected five members of the Kingsguard in the War for the White Cloaks.

During the Dance of the Dragons, the Kingsguard split between knights serving King Aegon II Targaryen and Queensguard serving Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.

A hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, rose to become Lord Commander for King Aegon V Targaryen.

During Robert's Rebellion, Ser Jonothor Darry and Prince Lewyn Martell were killed during the Battle of the Trident, while Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, and Lord Commander Gerold Hightower died in combat at the tower of joy. Ser Jaime Lannister slew his charge, King Aerys II Targaryen, during the Sack of King's Landing, earning himself the "Kingslayer" sobriquet.