NOTE: This article focuses on the legendary figure from the novels, a deserter of the Night's Watch who sided with the Others. For the leader of the White Walkers of the TV series adaptation, see Night King.
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“ | He had been the thirteenth man to lead the Night's Watch, a warrior who knew no fear. And that was the fault in him, for all men must know fear. | „ |
~ Old Nan |
Night's King is a minor antagonist in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series.
According to the legends he was the thirteenth commander of the Night's watch, who sided with the Others. He's considered only a legendary figure questioned by the archmaesters of the Citadel, and it is unknown if he ever existed at all.
In the version of the TV series adaptation he is preceded by the Night King, the first leader of the White Walkers.
After his defeat, all records and informations about him were destroyed, his name was forbidden, and later forgotten. He was from the North, and some people believe he was a Bolton, a Magnar of Skagos, an Umber, a Flint, a Norrey, or a Woodfoot. Old Nan thinks he was a Stark, brother to a King in the North.
Biography[]
Background[]
According to ancient Westerosi legend, Night's King lived during the Age of Heroes, shortly after the Wall was completed. According to the story, he was an intrepid warrior, who did not know fear, according to many, that was his downfall, because fear helps to be distrustful and cautious, but that was not the case with Night's King.
At some point he was made the thirteenth Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
The fact is that one night, while he watched from the top of the Wall, this lord commander discovered something beyond; a kind of woman, "with skin as white as the moon and eyes like blue stars."
He chased after her, stumbled upon her, and, we still don't know how, he fell in love with her, though "her skin was cold as ice," and when he gave him her seed he also gave her her soul. she. Night's King brought her back to Nightfort and after the unholy union, he declared himself king and she her queen, and ruled Nightfort as her own castle-kingdom for thirteen years.
During the dark years of his reign, terrible atrocities were committed, stories of which are still told in the north. It wasn't until Brandon the Breaker, the Winter King, and Joramun, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, joined forces that Night's King was struck down and the Night's Watch was freed. After his fall, when it was discovered that Night's King had been making sacrifices to the Others, all records of him were destroyed and his own name was banned and forgotten. This is likely to have led the northern lords to forbid the Night's Watch from building walls on their strongholds, ensuring that the strongholds were always accessible from the south.
The maesters are skeptical of the legend, thinking that the Queen of Night King's corpse was possibly the daughter of a Barrow King of the Barrowlands. Some fan theories of her link her to the Others due to her description.
A Song of Ice and Fire[]
A Storm of Swords[]
While travelling to the Wall, Bran stops at the Nightfort with Hodor, Jojen and Meera Reed, and Summer. He recalls stories told to the Stark children of Night's King and the Nightfort by Old Nan. She suggested that Night's King was a Stark as well and even might have been named Brandon.
A Feast for Crows[]
While talking with Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly uses Night's King as an example of legendary figures questioned by archmaesters of the Citadel.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- There is speculation that Night's King may be connected to the Starks or the Boltons.
- Book readers have noticed some similarities between Night's King and Stannis Baratheon:
- Both of them are described as fearless men. The difference is that Night's King chooses love over duty, while Stannis never abandons duty.
- Night's King fell in love with the Night's Queen and gave his soul to her through their unholy union. It was stated, also in the show, that Stannis is not in love with Melisandre but she's the only one who can appease his nightmares caused by sorcery. Ever since Stannis needed to have sex regularly with her. Also, while it's implied the Night's King was completely under control of the Night's Queen, Stannis is not under Melisandre's control, although he tends to listen to her often, but only after reflecting about her ideas alone for sometime and always threatening Melisandre to punish her if he doesn't get any results. The creation of shadow assassins through the sexual intercurse between Stannis and Melisandre is referred as an "unholy union".
- Night's King took the Nightfort as his seat and started to make horrible human sacrifices for his queen and the Great Other, including children. Since his defeat the Nightfort remained abandoned, until Stannis took the Nightfort as his new seat. Stannis can accept human sacrifice for R'hllor sometimes, but only if it's also an execution of a criminal. In the TV show version he's even more willing to accept it, burning alive his brother-in-law for apostasy, and daughter as well.