User talk:Arbor/tourneys
Tourneys in A Song of Ice and Fire[edit]
Tourneys play a central role in George R. R. Martin's fantasy epic A Song of Ice and Fire. Large parts of the plot are arranged around a number of major tourneys, and stylistically, they are used as an evocative medieval trope.
Significance[edit]
The continent of Westeros, where the largest parts of the books take place, has a culture and level of technology that is based on Northwestern Europe in the middle ages, and the dozens of tournaments that are described or mentioned in the series are important social events, and thus form the background of many of the major plot developments. For the knights, the tourney outcomes form an important part of their personal history.
Martin's descriptions of these tournament vary wildly. Some, like the Hand's tourney in A Game of Thrones or the Ashford tourney in The Hedge Knight are part of the basic plot, and narrated first hand. Martin describes their spectacular pageantry in vivid detail that is characteristic of his style in A Song of Ice and Fire, often mentioning of the heraldry and the armour of individual entrants, and the results of every tilt. Other tourneys of pivotal significance, like the Harrenhal Tourney, are described piecemeal in flashbacks by various characters, and the reader must assemble the information from numerous small fragments.
Formats and rules[edit]
The central event of most Westerosi tournaments is jousting, where two armoured knights aim to knock each other off their mounts with a jousting lance, continuing on foot with a variety of blunted weapons. However, many forms of tournaments are known, including mock battles between teams of knights, archery competitions or melees, where many warriors fight individually in one large battle. Many tournaments are large events that take several days and may include several different competitions.
Many tournaments pit pairs of warriors in rounds, where the loser is eliminated and the winner proceeds to the next round. The winner of the last round is declared champion. This is similar to how many tournaments in real life were performed, with exception of the best-of-three rule; see jousting. Another popular format was used at Ashford. This type of tournament starts with five champions who defend the honour of a woman, often a daughter of the Lord who arranges the tournament. Other participants can challenge one of the champions to a joust, and if successful take his place. At the end of the tournament, the five remaining champions either confirm the original Queen of Love and Beauty, or chose a new.
In many tournaments, the loser of a joust forfeits his horse and armour to the winner, thus jeopardizing a considerable part of his possessions.
Some Westerosi tournaments are open only to anointed knights, whose privileges are jealously guarded; this forms an important plot element in The Hedge Knight. Indeed, tournament culture is closely connected to chivalric tradition and its spiritiual basis, the Andal Faith in the Seven Gods. These traditions dominate southern and central Westeros, and are uncommon in the North, where many follow the Old Gods. However, the rules for entering tournaments vary with time and place, and there have been many events where freeriders, squires, or followers of the Old Gods have entered the lists.
Individual tourneys[edit]
The ordering below is roughly chronological. The dates are given in years after Aegon's Landing (AL).
Tourney at Lannisport[edit]
- Arlan of Pennytree defeated Damon Lannister
Tourney at King's Landing[edit]
Date: ca 192 AL
- Arlan of Pennytree defeated Lord Stokeworth
- Arlan of Pennytree defeated Bastard of Harrenhal
Hastilude for Lord Baratheon's grandson[edit]
Date: ca. 199 AL
- Baelor Targaryen defeated Arlan of Pennytree (5 tilts)
Ashford Tourney[edit]
Date: 208 AL
The Ashford tourney provides the setting for The Hedge Knight and is presented in great detail in the short story, as well as in a graphic novel adaptation. The tournament was arranged by Lord Ashford in honour of his daughter, who reigned as Queen of Love and Beauty and was defended by five chamions. The outcome of the tournament is unknown to us, and the event itself came to be overshadowed by the trial by battle that developed out of a confrontation between Duncan the Tall and Prince Aerion Brightflame, resulting in the death of crown prince Baelor Breakspear.
- Tybolt Lannister defeated Androw Ashford (6 tilts)
- Lyonel Baratheon defeated Robert Ashford (10 tilts)
- Leo Tyrell defeated Damon Lannister (3 tilts)
- Humfrey Hardyng defeated Lord Tully (2 tilts)
- Valarr Targaryen defeated Abelar Hightower (2 tilts)
- Leo Tyrell defeated Pearse Caron
- Humfrey Hardyng defeated Joseth Mallister
- Valarr Targaryen defeated Gawen Swann (2 tilts)
- Tybolt Lannister defeated Jon Penrose
- Leo Tyrell defeated Robyn Rhysling (4 tilts)
- Humfrey Hardyng defeated Humfrey Beesbury (13 tilts)
- Humfrey Hardyng defeated Aerion Targaryen
Tourney at Blackhaven[edit]
Date: 248 AL
- Duncan Targaryen defeated Barristan Selmy (mystery knight)
Winter Tourney at King's Landing[edit]
Date: 258 AL
King Aegon V knighted the 16-year old Barristan Barristan for his great acts of prowess at this event.
- Barristan Selmy defeats Duncan the Tall
- Barristan Selmy defeats Duncan Targaryen
Tourney at Storm's End[edit]
Date: between 277 and 280 AL
The information about this tourney is problematic, because details A Storm of Swords are conflicting. The author has confirmed that the outlaw Symon Toyne did not attend this tourney (he was dead at that time).
Champion: Barristan Selmy
- Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Oberyn Martell
- Arthur Dayne and Rhaegar Targaryen broke 12 lances
- Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Steffon Baratheon
- Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Jason Mallister
- Barristan Selmy defeated Robert Baratheon
- Barristan Selmy defeated Oberyn Martell
- Barristan Selmy defeated Leyton Hightower
- Barristan Selmy defeated Jon Connington
- Barristan Selmy defeated Jason Mallister
- Barristan Selmy defeated Rhaegar Targaryen
Tourney at Silver Bridge[edit]
Only Ser Barristan's entry in the White Book tells of this tourney. He defended the passage against all comers.
Champion: Barristan Selmy
Tourney at Maidenpool[edit]
Champion: Barristan Selmy (melée)
Oldtown tourney[edit]
- Barristan Selmy defeated the Bastard of Uplands
Harrenhal tourney[edit]
Date: 282 AL
Possibly the most pivotal event in A Song of Ice and Fire, this tourney took place more than a decade before the events in A Game of Thrones, and only few details have been disclosed so far. The tourney was held by Lord Whent in honor of his daughter. Crown Prince Rhaegar was champion and in the end chose Lyanna Stark for Queen of Love and Beauty, scandalously passing by his own wife Elia of Dorne. Also at this occasion, Jaime Lannister was admitted into the order of the Kingsguard, and a mystery knight, the "Knight of the Laughing Tree," appeared in the lists to fight for the honour of Howland Reed of Greywater Watch.
Champion: Rhaegar Targaryen.
- Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Yohn Royce
- Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Brandon Stark
- Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Arthur Dayne
- Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Barristan Selmy
Other participants: Arthur Dayne, Gerald Hightower, Barristan Selmy.
Unnamed tourney[edit]
Date: Between 285 and 290 AL
- Oberyn Martell defeated Willas Tyrell
Tourney in celebration of Balon Greyjoy's defeat[edit]
Date: 288 AL.
After King Robert's forces defeated the rebel Balon Greyjoy, a tourney was arranged in celebration at nearby Lannisport. Jorah Mormont, recently knighted for his valorous acts in the final battle at Pyke, won the tournament and with it the hand of Lynesse of House Hightower, whose favour he wore.
Champion: Jorah Mormont (decree by King Robert)
- Jorah Mormont defeated Jason Mallister
- Jorah Mormont defeated Yohn Royce
- Jorah Mormont defeated Ryman Frey
- Jorah Mormont defeated Hosteen Frey
- Jorah Mormont defeated Lord Whent
- Jorah Mormont defeated Strongboar
- Jorah Mormont defeated Boros Blount
- Jorah Mormont tied against Jaime Lannister in the final tilt, after 9 broken lances
- Also jousting: Lynesse's brothers
Unnamed tourney[edit]
Date: ca 296 AL
Champion: Barristan Selmy (aged 57)
The Hand's tourney[edit]
Date: 298 AL
This tourney is described in great detail over a number of chapters in A Game of Thrones. It was held at King's Landing in honour of Ned Stark, the newly appointed Hand of King Robert Baratheon. It included and archery tournament, a melée, and a round-based jousting competition.
Champions: Sandor Clegane. Anguy the Archer (archery). Thoros of Myr (melée).
- Jory Cassel defeated Horace Redwyne
- Lothor Brune defeated Jorey Cassel (3 tilts)
- Meryn Trant defeated Harwin
- Balon Swann defeated Allan
- Jaime Lannister defeated Andar Royce
- Jaime Lannister defeated Bryce Caron
- Jaime Lannister defeated Barristan Selmy
- Gregor Clegane killed Hugh of the Vale
- Gregor Clegane defeated Balon Swann
- Sandor Clegane defeated Renly Baratheon
- Thoros of Myr defeated Beric Dondarrion
- Aron Santagar tied with Lothor Brune
- Jason Mallister defeated Aron Santagar
- Robar Royce defeated Lothor Brune
- Loras Tyrell defeated Robar Royce
- Sandor Clegane defeated Jaime Lannister
- Anguy the Archer defeated Balon Swann
- Anguy the Archer defeated Jalabhar Xho
Other participants: Yohn Royce, Horace Redwyne, Hobber Redwyne, Patrek Mallister, Jared Frey, Hosteen Frey, Danwell Frey, Emmon Frey, Theo Frey, Perwyn Frey, Martyn Rivers, Jalabhar Xho, Robert's Kingsguard.
Tourney for King Joffrey's 13th name day[edit]
Date: 299 AL
This tourney happens in the first Sansa chapter of A Clash of Kings. It was held at King's Landing in honour of the young King Joffrey Baratheon. It was called off prematurely by the King after the knight Ser Dontos Hollard shamed himself by appearing drunk.
- Meryn Trant defeated Hobber Redwyne (2 tilts)
- Balon Swann defeated Morros Slynt (1 tilt)
- Lothor Brune defeated Dontos Hollard
Other participants: Horace Redwyne.
Bitterbridge tourney[edit]
Date: 299
Only the end of this event, a large melée, is described in the books, a Catelyn chapter in A Clash of Kings. The tourney was arranged by the pretender Renly Baratheon on his march towards King's Landing during the War of the Usurper.
Champion: Brienne of Tarth.
- Brienne of Tarth defeated Ronnet Connington
- Brienne of Tarth defeated Loras Tyrell
Results of unnamed tourneys[edit]
The remaining results cannot be tied to a specific event. These encounters may have happened at the same tourney or not.
Champion: Denys Mallister.
- Barristan Selmy defeated Sandor Clegane
- Thoros of Myr defeated Kevan Lannister
- Denys Mallister defeated Randyll Tarly's father
- Denys Mallister defeated Melessa Florent's father