How Retinues Reflect Jaehaerys Targaryen

A retinue historically fulfilled the function of bodyguards, confidants, almost family to the paranoid or desperate. In the case of the Praetorian Guard they also killed as many as a third of the Roman Emperors, and the Varangian Guard, another famous inspiration to G.R.R.M, were valued and famed for their exotic prowess.

In fantasy, with its theatrical flair these warriors can be said to echo a mural, or better yet the cast of a play. Archetypes, classes to use the modern RPG system many are familiar with.

The most prominent and famed retinue in-universe of the Westerosi is the Kingsguard, and for The Conciliator, the Old King; Jaehaerys Targaryen required and obtained the greatest Kingsguard as part of his character being the ‘ideal’ King for the setting.

Ser Gyles Morrigen, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Ser Joffrey Doggett, The Red Dog of the Hills. Ser Samgood of Sour Hill. Ser Willam the Wasp. Ser Victor the Valiant. Ser Pate the Woodcock. Ser Ryam Redwyne.

And a man utilising the faction of Kinsguard sees it as an asexual collection of famed warriors there to inspire the realm, draw the social lustre of honour towards himself and his family; but most importantly to protect his life.

For the best warriors, see practical proof they fight. Wedded with the notion of true loyalty, we see knights such as Gyles Morrigan who would not be physically away from their liege as was the case of great knights such as Gerold Hightower and Sir Arthur Dayne, nor the grey morality and conflicting loyalties which caused Jamie Lannister ‘The Kingslayer’ to murder his own monarch due to said monarch’s betrayal and abandonment of his duties as sovereign to the point of attempting to obliterate his own capital city.

Meritocracy, forgiveness and setting aside political divides is applied as part of Jaehaerys’s policy with the Kinsguard here. From the beginning of his reign, the first names came from those willing to duel for him, the Lord Commander who was noble and true to him from the start, the next an outlaw who rebelled against the tyranny of the former state.

Practicality is true honour, a clear non-subversive message GRRM places often within his work. Therefore, as a mark of both common sense and medieval ingenuity, Jaehaerys’s Kinsguard mostly proved themselves through melee competition (in opposition to the more formal jousting or nepotism as the order faced socio-politically caused decline). In a similar fashion to the notion of hidden nobility and meritocracy.

Faith is also a consideration, even within the muted religious element within G.R.R.M’s works in displaying chivalry Jaehaerys wins the love of the faithful. After battling Maegor the Cruel in the defence of his faith, Joffrey Doggett lays down his sword when offered both pardon and a position, demonstrating to the realm that as Church and Crown are conciliated, a Robbin Hood type figure is honoured and welcome while moving the devout under the laws of the King.

Part of this exemplary and wise king is the presence of common sense, most interestingly and quite agreeable the notion that “The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.”

Jaehaerys was not a fool. Even as a boy, he knew the weakness and indecision of his father was not something to inherit or excuse, only his duty to become as physically able as he was studious.

And a critical factor in providing this ability was the martial training provided daily by the Kingsguard. With the assistance of a Master at Arms, before ascending fully to court Jaehaerys used the loyalty and devotion of his knights to pass on their ‘chivalric arts’. Their prowess was valued, it provided an education and to the studious bibliophile who wrote the series, is an endorsement and demonstration of how love of learning equals ability, goodness and good sense.

During this forging of the young King, the Kingsguard’s first test comes from a confrontation wherein Lord Rogar Baratheon, Jaehaerys’s own Hand of the King goes so far as to argue his monarch’s marriage void and to physically separate Jaehaerys and his Queen Alysanne. The Kingsguard defend their liege with words, integrity, and the will to defend with the threat of their own prowess:

“We're the Kingsguard, not the Hand's guard, and it's the lad who sits the chair, not you.”

“They might kill us, but you will be the first to die, m'lord, you have my word upon that.”

Jaehaerys’s Kingsguard guard the sanctity of marriage first, a notion of romantic in addition to militaristic chivalry. This is particularly pertinent in Martin’s Westeros, where happy marriages and virtue are intentionally rare as part of the cynical feudalism where most are discontented.

The ideal guard of knights protect the youthful against the grasper, the ‘evil stepfather’ against the romantic couple, the sovereignty of a new kind in opposition to weaker kings previously inept or tyrannical.

This collection of knights are the wheat of chivalry, in contrast to the “Knights of Summer” of a later time. Because in this setting, as in real life the reality of a cruel world is the heartwood nature of those faded into myth who made themselves remembered from actions and intentions. These knights would follow their liege to war, inspire generations of singers, warriors and lords, and indicate to the reader how those of merit, regardless of their demeanour, history or names make themselves a name through discerning their loyalty and observing their actions and decency.