How Retinues Reflect Aerys Targaryen II, The Mad King

Now, in many ways this array of legendary warriors devoted to guarding a king is the exception that proves the rule. It makes a very fine point about knights in shining armour, that for all the finery some of these men can stand by and tell their younger brother to keep quiet while the queen screams:

“That was the White Bull, loyal to the end and a better man than me, all agree.”

It speaks to the truth of Arthurian legend, where in truth sexual abuse, the drugging and assault of the vulnerable, those beloved of others finding madness and despair in the sundering of kingdoms and brotherhoods is at the heart of the chivalric ideal. It is much the same as the reality of the feudal world, and those aspiring to virtue.

There are perpetual evils and abuses in the world. Reputation alone is no indicator of loyalty. Strength in service to cruelty, or dignity bereft of moral action breeds further evil. Matching the legend of Camelot, in parallel with many feudal courts of our own history we see mighty and notable lawmakers and warriors come to rot, seemingly as bright, cunning or well intentioned leaders do not handle age, infirmity, and loss of public approval with grace or respectability. Such magisters and monarchs are ultimately propped up and eclipsed by those sworn to serve them, with names and songs that stood the test of time.

It is not disputed that despite Aerys Targaryen becoming a paranoic madman, those loyal to him except for one are worthy of remembrance despite their doomed cause and almost extinguished dynasty. Cleverly, their ability is actually not in service to the greater good. Tragically, this is through no fault of their own. These paragons of chivalry are dressed in armour, kept to one castle, with their repute in actuality becoming mist and vapor because nothing is expected of them and they ensure a mad king remains on his throne.

And, something worth remembering is shining armour was used originally as an insult, of someone who did not come into challenge or harm’s way. The world is not an idyllic fantasy. Amusingly it is a ‘fairy tale’ of the ancient variety, with spectacles and might and a great deal of casually obliterated people. Many of the Kinsguard of this time are mocked by older and more seasoned men who understand the world cynically, and those of the surviving order itself ponder what their might was in service of, in a way bringing about some depth, even shades of subjective redemption through the process of realisation and taking corrective action.

To bolster the legend of a ‘true knight’ rather than reputable ones, rights for the common people were sought by Arthur Dayne and given by the king, in order to benefit the community and help destroy the Smiling Knight and those preying upon the weak. While both men will never retain or hold the prowess they held before the story again; Jamie and Barristan Selmy learn from failure as much as defeat, and aspire to a darker kind of chivalry, using their political guile and empathy in different lands and a different time. Both arguably will not be lauded or last trying to achieve those ends, but there is a nobility in the attempt being romanticised, within this postmodern novel captivated with “the human heart in conflict with itself” as its author has stated.

Ultimately, lustre and legitimacy is provided by the prowess of others as intended, but their chivalry is really wasted with a psychotic ruler. A cruel king, a absentminded monarch can be tolerated, but the moral crimes and lack of respect for others required to maintain the feudal social contract brought the retinue to their deaths. Not a single knight fell protecting the king; and it says much about a ruler’s retinue when one who stood at his side ultimately put him down.