Hand of the King

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Lord Eddard Stark, Hand of the King. © Fantasy Flight Games
Tyrion Lannister, acting as Hand of the King, wears the necklace of linked hands. © Fantasy Flight Games
© Fantasy Flight Games

The Hand of the King is the chief advisor to the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and is the executor of the king's command in the Seven Kingdoms.

About

Duties of the Hand include commanding the king's armies, drafting laws, dispensing justice, and generally managing the day-to-day running of the kingdom. The Hand may act on the king's behalf when he is indisposed, and sit the Iron Throne while doing so. The Hand also sits on the small council and will run the council if the king is not present.

The office typically makes the Hand the second-most powerful man in the kingdom next to the king, though some Hands had the reputation of ruling their kings.

It is considered by some to be a difficult and unglamorous job of great responsibility. A popular saying goes, "What the king dreams, the Hand builds," but the lowborn say, "The king eats, and the Hand takes the shit."[1] Many able men have failed in the office throughout history.

The Hand resides in a tower of the Red Keep called the Tower of the Hand.[2] His badge of office always includes a hand, though each Hand can design his own. Eddard Stark used a clasp,[3] while Tyrion and Tywin Lannister use a chain.[4][5] Servants of the Hand might wear the emblem of a hand.[6]

History

During Conquest of the Seven Kingdoms by King Aegon I Targaryen, after the first few victories, Aegon proclaimed Orys Baratheon to be

...My shield, my stalwart, my strong right hand.[7]

Because of Aegon's description, Orys is regarded to have been the first Hand of the King.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Upon the death of his Hand, Lord Jon Arryn, King Robert I Baratheon asks Lord Eddard Stark to serve as Lord Arryn's replacement.[1] After Robert dies, however, his son, Joffrey Baratheon, has Ned Stark executed.[8] Joffrey's grandfather, Lord Tywin Lannister serves as the new Hand of the King.[9] Because Tywin is capaigning in the riverlands during the War of the Five Kings, he sends his younger son, Tyrion to serve as acting Hand to King's Landing.[10]

A Clash of King

As acting Hand, Tyrion Lannister serves in King's Landing until Lord Tywin Lannister arrives during the Battle of the Blackwater.[5]

Lord Mace Tyrell serves as Hand to Renly Baratheon, a rival claimant to the Iron Throne, who is killed at Storm's End.[11]

A Storm of Swords

Following the Battle of the Blackwater, Tywin serves as Hand to Joffrey and, after Joffrey's death, to King Tommen Baratheon,[12] until he is murdered.[13]

Lord Alester Florent serves as the Hand to Stannis Baratheon, a rival claimant to the Iron Throne.[14] After Alester has been arrested and executed for treason, Axell Florent tries to make Davos Seaworth advise Stannis to name himself as Hand of the King, but Stannis chooses Davos to be his new Hand instead.[15]

A Feast for Crows

After she fails to convince Jaime Lannister to become Hand,[16] and refuses to meet the terms Ser Kevan Lannister has for the office[17], Ser Harys Swyft[18] and later Lord Orton Merryweather[19] serve as Hand of the King for King Tommen I Baratheon, chosen by his mother, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister. After Cersei is arrested by the Faith of the Seven, Merryweather resigns the small council and flees King's Landing.[20]

A Dance with Dragons

After Merryweather has resigned, Ser Kevan Lannister, as Regent, elevates Mace Tyrell to Hand of the King for King Tommen I.[21]

Meanwhile, Ser Davos Seaworth continues as Hand of the King for Stannis Baratheon,[22][23] while Ser Axell Florent is calling himself the Queen's Hand to Selyse Florent.[24]

In Meereen, Ser Barristan Selmy serves as Hand for Queen Daenerys Targaryen in her absence, after King Hizdahr zo Loraq has been removed from power.[25]

Lord Jon Connington serves as the Hand to Prince Aegon Targaryen, despite the latter not having been crowned king yet.[26] Connington is styled "Hand of the True King".[27]

List of Known Hands

During the reign of King Hand of the King Period and Notes
Aegon I Targaryen House Baratheon Lord Orys Baratheon[7] 17 AC. First Hand of the King.
House Tully Lord Edmyn Tully[28] 79 AC
House Strong Ser Osmund Strong[29] Unknown–34 AC. Known to be Hand in 1934 AC, oversaw construction of the city wall around King's Landing.
House Stokeworth Lord Alyn Stokeworth 3537 AC
Aenys I Targaryen
House Targaryen Prince Maegor Targaryen[30] 3739 AC
Star of the Faith Septon Murmison[30] 3941 AC
Maegor I Targaryen House Harroway Lord Lucas Harroway[31][28] Unknown–44 AC
House Celtigar Lord Edwell Celtigar[31] 4448 AC
Jaehaerys I Targaryen House Baratheon Lord Robar Baratheon[32] 48 AC–Unknown
Star of the Faith Septon Barth[32] 5999 AC
House Redwyne Ser Ryam Redwyne[32] 99100 AC. Concurrently served as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
House Targaryen Prince Baelon Targaryen[32] 100101 AC
House Hightower Ser Otto Hightower[32][33][34] 101109 AC. Removed as Hand after pushing the inheritance of his daughter's sons over Princess Rhaenyra.
Viserys I Targaryen
House Strong Lord Lyonel Strong[33][34] 109120 AC. Died in a fire at Harrenhal.
House Hightower Ser Otto Hightower[33][34][35][36] 120130 AC. Reinstated after predecessor's death.
Aegon II Targaryen
House Cole Ser Criston Cole[35][36][37] 130 AC. Concurrently served as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Died at the Butcher's Ball.
Aegon III Targaryen House Stark Lord Cregan Stark[38] 131 AC. Only held position for a day, before returning to the North.
House Lannister Ser Tyland Lannister[38] 131133 AC. Died of a winter chill.
House Peake Lord Unwin Peake[38] 133134 AC
House Rowan Lord Thaddeus Rowan[38] 134 AC–Unknown
Kingsguard Ser Marston Waters[38] Unknown–Unknown
Maester Grand Maester Munkun[38] Unknown–Unknown
House Manderly Lord Torrhen Manderly[38] Unknown–136 AC. Dismissed when king came of age.
House Targaryen Prince Viserys Targaryen[38][39][40][41][42][43] Unknown–171 AC
Daeron I Targaryen
Baelor I Targaryen
Viserys II Targaryen None Unknown 171172 AC
Aegon IV Targaryen House Bracken Lord Bracken[44] 172 AC–Unknown. Father of two of the king's mistresses.
House Butterwell Lord Butterwell[44][45] Unknown–Unknown
House Lothston Lord Lucas Lothston[44] 178 AC. Husband of a king's mistress, father to a second of the king's mistresses.
House Hightower Lord Jon Hightower[44] Unknown–Unknown
Daeron II Targaryen House Butterwell Lord Ambrose Butterwell[46][47] Unknown–196 AC. Removed for failing to contain the First Blackfyre Rebellion.
House Hayford Lord Hayford[46][47] 196 AC. Died at the Battle of the Redgrass Field.
House Targaryen Prince Baelor Targaryen[48][49] 196209 AC. Died after a blow to the head suffered in the trial of seven during the tourney at Ashford Meadow.
House Targaryen (Valarr) Prince Valarr Targaryen (Possibly)[46] 209 AC. Died during the Great Spring Sickness. It is currently unknown whether Valarr is referred to as Hand in The Sworn Sword, or whether "the Hand" named as having died in the Spring Sickness is a separate individual.
Aerys I Targaryen Bloodraven Brynden Rivers[46][45][47][50] 209233 AC
Maekar I Targaryen
Aegon V Targaryen None Unknown 233259 AC
Jaehaerys II Targaryen House Baratheon Lord Ormund Baratheon[51] 259260 AC
House Sloane Edgar Sloane[52] Unknown–262 AC
Aerys II Targaryen House Lannister Ser/Lord Tywin Lannister[52] 262281 AC. Resigned his post for Aerys's slights against him.
House Merryweather Lord Owen Merryweather[52][53] 281282 AC. Removed from office and exiled for failing to contain Robert's Rebellion.
House Connington Lord Jon Connington[54][53] 282283 AC. Removed from his office and exiled after losing the Battle of the Bells.
House Chelsted Lord Qarlton Chelsted[55][53] 283 AC. He bravely resigned his position over Aerys's plan to burn King's Landing and was subsequently burned alive for it.
RossartSigil.png Wisdom Rossart[55][53] 283 AC. Was Hand for a fortnight. Named after the Battle of the Trident.
Robert I Baratheon House Arryn Lord Jon Arryn[1] 283298 AC
House Stark Lord Eddard Stark[1] 298 AC
Joffrey I Baratheon House Lannister Lord Tywin Lannister[8][10] 298300 AC. Served as Hand as well under Aerys II Targaryen. While he was campaigning in the Riverlands, his son Tyrion was acting Hand (298299 AC).
Tommen I Baratheon
House Swyft Ser Harys Swyft[18] 300 AC
House Merryweather Lord Orton Merryweather[19] 300 AC
House Tyrell Lord Mace Tyrell[21] 300 AC–Present
Hand of the King brooch, from Game of Thrones.

Time unknown

Hands of Claimants to the Iron Throne

Quotes

The Hand of the King was the second-most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms. He spoke with the king’s voice, commanded the king’s armies, drafted the king’s laws. At times he even sat upon the Iron Throne to dispense king's justice, when the king was absent, or sick, or otherwise indisposed. Robert was offering him a responsibility as large as the realm itself. It was the last thing in the world he wanted.[1]

—thoughts of Eddard Stark

I sat on his council for fifteen years, helping Jon Arryn rule his realm while Robert drank and whored, but when Jon died, did my brother name me his Hand? No, he went galloping off to his dear friend Ned Stark, and offered him the honor. And small good it did either of them.[57]

A weak ruler needs a strong Hand, as Aerys needed Father. A strong ruler requires only a diligent servant to carry out his orders.[37]

The Hand should speak with the king's voice.[58]

—thoughts of Davos Seaworth

Davos: The King's Hand should be a highborn lord, someone wise and learned, a battle commander or a great knight...
Pylos: Ser Ryam Redwyne was the greatest knight of his day, and one of the worst Hands ever to serve a king. Septon Murmison's prayers worked miracles, but as Hand he soon had the whole realm praying for his death. Lord Butterwell was renowned for wit, Myles Smallwood for courage, Ser Otto Hightower for learning, yet they failed as Hands, every one. As for birth, the dragonkings oft chose Hands from amongst their own blood, with results as various as Baelor Breakspear and Maegor the Cruel. Against this, you have Septon Barth, the blacksmith's son the Old King plucked from the Red Keep's library, who gave the realm forty years of peace and plenty. Read your history, Lord Davos, and you will see that your doubts are groundless.[56]

Davos Seaworth and Maester Pylos

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  2. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
  3. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 33, Eddard VIII.
  4. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 32, Sansa III.
  5. 5.0 5.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
  6. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  7. 7.0 7.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
  9. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
  10. 10.0 10.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 69, Tyrion IX.
  11. A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
  12. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 66, Tyrion IX.
  13. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 77, Tyrion XI.
  14. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
  15. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  16. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 3, Cersei I.
  17. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
  18. 18.0 18.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
  19. 19.0 19.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
  20. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
  21. 21.0 21.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 54, Cersei I.
  22. A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
  23. A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
  24. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 39, Jon VIII.
  25. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 70, The Queen's Hand.
  26. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
  27. The Winds of Winter, Chapter Arianne I.
  28. 28.0 28.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands: House Tully.
  29. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I.
  30. 30.0 30.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
  31. 31.0 31.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
  34. 34.0 34.1 34.2 The Rogue Prince.
  35. 35.0 35.1 The Princess and the Queen.
  36. 36.0 36.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  37. 37.0 37.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 38.6 38.7 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  39. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Viserys II Targaryen.
  40. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I.
  41. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
  42. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II.
  43. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 59, Sansa IV.
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  45. 45.0 45.1 The Mystery Knight.
  46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 The Sworn Sword.
  47. 47.0 47.1 47.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
  48. The Hedge Knight.
  49. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  50. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I.
  51. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II.
  52. 52.0 52.1 52.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  53. 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
  54. The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion.
  55. 55.0 55.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: The End.
  56. 56.0 56.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
  57. A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  58. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 19, Davos III.