Game of Throneshas no heroes. The few noble figures among the upper echelon of Westeros’s societal ladder tend to die horribly, betray their morals, or lose everything they care about. The easy way to predict the series' events is to imagine the worst outcome and put money on that suggestion. Though the story features almost no saviors, the history behind its world is packed with an era of epic warriors, most of whom boast names like the Winged Knight.
Fans are concerned about the future of Westeros asGeorge R. R. Martincontinues to work on his sixth book in the series. The distant past of the fictional continent holds many fascinating stories that could be expanded into every medium. EndlessGame of Thronesnarratives could keep fans engaged beyond the original novels, though they may never get the chance.
Who was the Winged Knight?
Thousands of years before Aegon the Conqueror unified the Seven Kingdoms into Westeros, theAge of Heroesdominated Westeros. It was an era of high adventure, epic quests, and godlike warriors. Most Noble Houses tie their historical lineage to a figure from the Age of Heroes. House Stark of the North has Bran the Builder, who constructed the Wall. House Lannister descendedfrom Lann the Clever, a trickster who conned his way into a castle. House Durrandon has Durran Godsgrief, who fell in love with an immortal and defied the gods by surviving their wrath. The hero of the mountainous Vale was known as the Winged Knight.
The Winged Knight was the legendary hero of the Vale. He was said to ride on the back of a massive falcon with an army of eagles behind him. He had bonds with giants and merfolk, demonstrating kindness to the non-human indigenous species of Westeros. He married aChild of the Forest, one of the diminutive green-skinned natives of the continent. Riding his mighty falcon, he flew to the Giant’s Lance, the highest peak in the Vale. Three and a half miles above the valley, the Winged Knight slayed the Griffin King in single combat. The Winged Knight, far beneath the Griffin King in social standing, won control of the Vale through his skill. He became the first King of Mountain and Vale, shaping the kingdom for generations.
Who was the Falcon Knight?
Tales of the Winged Knight often coincide with stories of another figure from the Vale. The Falcon Knight is a less mythic figure who claimed the region. The Age of Heroes ended roughly 5,800 years before the War of Five Kings withthe Andal Invasion. The First Men lived in harmony with the indigenous species for generations before a group of crusaders from Essos attacked and consumed the continent. The Andals first reached the Vale, defeating and dethroning the Mountain King. The Falcon Knight led the Andal forces to take the Vale, using it as a base to conquer Westeros. The story of the Falcon Knight’s victory mirrored that of the Winged Knight.
The Falcon Knight’s real name was Ser Artys I Arryn. He earned his nickname from the decorative falcon’s wings on his silver helmet. Arryn was considered the mightiest warrior of his day. He won the Vale through martial skill and clever trickery.The First Men sufferedmany losses to the Andals, forcing them to unite behind the new King Robar II Royce. King Robar drove back six Andal attacks. The Battle of the Seven Stars began at dawn, as Robar slew one of the Andal leaders and challenged Ser Arryn to single combat. He defeated the Falcon Knight, only to discover he’d butchered an unnamed knight in Ser Arryn’s iconic armor. Ser Arryn led his troops up a hidden goat path, letting him encircle Robar’s army and kill the King. Artys Arryn became the first King of Mountain and Vale.
What was the Winged Knight’s legacy?
King Arryn founded House Arryn, the Kings and Queens of the Vale for generations. The Vale is often called the Vale of Arryn for the leaders who ruled the land for a millennium. House Arryn became Defenders of the Vale and Wardens of the Eastafter Aegon’s Conquestunified the continent. Many claim that the bards who sang the songs of the Winged Knight purposefully conflated the hero with Ser Artys Arryn to earn the ruling family’s favor. Unfortunately, the most famous member ofHouse Arryn was Jon Arryn, Robert Baratheon’s Hand of the King. Jon’s murder brought Ned Stark to King’s Landing, starting the chain of events that led to the War of the Five Kings. As the historian Yandel put it,
The death of the noble Hand, Jon Arryn, has unleashed a madness on the land, a madness of pride and violence.
The Winged Knight is a mythical hero whose legend became a backstory for a historical conqueror. Every Noble House hasan Age of Heroesfigure to thank for some portion of their legacy, but few take an unrelated myth to justify their actions. The Winged Knight demonstrates the fascinating shift from heroic myth to state propaganda, but the people of the Vale seem happy with the result.
