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This man protected the weak, as every true knight must, let the gods determine if he was right or wrong.
Prince Baelor Targaryen, also known as Baelor Breakspear, is a posthumous character in the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise, appearing as a supporting character in the 1998 novella The Hedge Knight, the first instalment of the Tales of Dunk and Egg novella series.
Baelor Targaryen was the eldest child of Daeron II Targaryen "the Good" and Mariah Martell. He was heir to the Iron Throne and Prince of Dragonstone. He was known as Baelor Breakspear.
Baelor was married to Jena Dondarrion (probably to satisfy the Marcher Houses, who would be among those most opposed to Daeron's pro-Dornish policies), and had two sons Valarr and Matarys. During the First Blackfyre Rebellion Baelor led a force of Dornish and Stormlands forces at the Battle of Redgrass Field in 196 AC, smashing them against a shield-wall commanded by his youngest brother Maekar Targaryen. The Hand of the King, Lord Hayford, was killed in the battle. Baelor was named Hand of the King by his father.
In 209 AC Baelor and Valarr attended a Tourney at Ashford, Valarr acting as one of the champions. Maekar also came with three of his sons, Daeron, Aeron, and Aegon, however Daeron was lost on the way with his squire Aegon, as Daeron didn't wish to compete. Aegon, calling himself Egg, following Duncan the Tall to Ashford, offering to be their squire. Baelor vouched for Dunk to enter the lists as he knew Dunk's old master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. Later Aerion attacked a Puppeteer for a show in which a dragon was killed, at which Dunk attacked Aerion, for which he was imprisoned. Baelor had a word with Dunk, telling him he would make sure they would not be executed, but might lose a hand and foot for striking a Prince. Daeron had claimed Dunk made off with Aegon to cover up him losing his brother, and Maekar, angry at his sons' dishonor, was ready to blame Dunk. Baelor advised Dunk try a trial by combat.
The next day Baelor sat with Lord Ashford and Leo "Longthorn" Tyrell in judgement of Duncan. Aerion demanded a trial by Seven, claiming it was so Daeron could also fight Dunk. Dunk was only able to find another five to fight on his behalf. However even though his nephew was the one accusing Dunk, Baelor decided to fight on Dunk's side. Maekar, who was one of Aerion's champions, was furious, however Baelor said Dunk had acted as a true knight. Baelor advised his side to fight with tourney lances which would break before their opponent's shorter war lances in the opening tilt, and that the three Knights of the Kingsguard fighting for Aerion would be unable to fight him due to their vows.
In the battle Baelor engaged Maekar in combat to prevent them helping Aerion against Duncan, who made Aerion withdraw his accusation. However a poorly-timed blow from Maekar's mace to the back of Aerion's head meant when Baelor's helm was removed he died in Dunk's arms. He was cremated, though not dressed as a warrior as per his father's wishes. Maekar later remarked to Dunk he was certain it was his blow which killed his brother, and that though it was accidental for the rest of his life he would be known as a kinslayer.
Sadly later that year the Spring Sickness killed not only Daeron II but Baelor's sons.
In 209 AC, a tourney was being hosted by the Lord of House Ashford, a noble family in the Reach, to celebrate the thirteenth name day of his daughter. Many lords and knights in the south and the west of Westeros were expected to attend the event, including members of House Targaryen. Prince Valarr was scheduled to compete as one of the five champions of the tourney whose goal it would be to defend their title until the end of the competition. Prince Baelor decided to attend the tourney, though merely as a spectator. Prince Maekar also intended to have two of his sons, Prince Daeron and Prince Aerion, participate in the lists.
The following day, the competition began. Prince Baelor sat by Lord Ashford's side in the viewing stands as the jousts went underway. His son Prince Valarr defended his title against no less than nine opponents, though his rivals weren't especially formidable when compared to the opponents faced by the other four champions. When his turn to participate came, Prince Aerion selected the champion Ser Humfrey of House Hardyng as his opponent. Aerion, a vain and cruel youth, used his lance to dishonourably strike down Ser Hardyng's horse rather than the rider. Humfrey's leg was broken and and his horse had to be put down.
Punishment For Chivalry[]
Due to his nephew's conduct, Baelor had Lord Ashford name Ser Humfrey the victor and gave him his nephew's horse as reparation. Baelor also sent his personal healer to tend to the knight's broken leg. Prince Aerion felt indignant towards his punishment. Later that night, the Prince attacked Dornish puppeteers that were hosting a show in which a dragon was slain by a knight. Ser Duncan, the hedge knight from the day prior, came to the defence of one of the puppeteers, Tanselle, by attacking the Prince. Ser Duncan would've been executed on the spot but, Prince Aegon, who had been posing as the hedge knight's squire since Prince Daeron had lost track of him, intervened.
Ser Duncan was arrested and incarcerated in Ashford Castle. During the second day of the tourney, Maekar returned to Ashford with Prince Daeron. He had found his son drunk in an inn. Wanting to keep himself out of trouble, Prince Daeron claimed that Ser Duncan had kidnapped Aegon and that he had fled his escort in order to rescue his brother. Due to the claims levied by both of his Daeron and Aerion, Maekar opted to turn his wroth on the innocent Ser Duncan. It was decided that a trial would be held to decide upon a punishment for the hedge knight. Prince Baelor, Prince Maekar, Lord Ashford, and Ser Leo of House Tyrell were chosen as the judges.
Baelor knew Duncan was innocent of any wrong doing and wanted to help him. Hours after Maekar and Daeron's return, Baelor had Prince Aegon fetch Ser Duncan from his cell so that he could speak with him. When Duncan arrived in the Prince's quarters, Baelor bid Aegon to pour the hedge knight some wine while he chastised the boy for getting Duncan into trouble by asking him to intervene in Prince Aerion's attack on the puppeteers. He then sent Aegon away so he could speak with Duncan privately. He explained the situation to Duncan and suggested that he opt for a trial by combat, in which he could prove his innocence in a duel.
When it came to the trial itself later on, Prince Aerion suggested that the matter could be settled by a trial of seven. Trials of seven were a rare, archaic form of a trial by combat in which both the accused and the accuser would have seven champions (including themselves) instead of one to fight for them. A trial of seven only ended when the accuser or the accused was killed or otherwise defeated. Aerion told Baelor and the other judges that his reason for suggesting a trial of seven was so his Prince Daeron, who was also making accusations, could also fight. The judges agreed and gave Aerion and Duncan until tomorrow to gather six champions.
Trial of Seven[]
By the next day, Prince Aerion had acquired his six champions: his brother Prince Daeron, his father Prince Maekar, Sers Willem Wylde, Donnel of Duskendale, and Roland Crakehall of the Kingsguard, and Ser Steffon of House Fossoway (who had agreed to help Ser Duncan until being bought out by Prince Aerion). Though a hedge knight of no renown and no fortune, Duncan had been able to acquire five of the six champions he needed. He had Ser Lyonel of House Baratheon, Ser Humfrey of House Beesbury, Ser Robyn of House Rhysling, Ser Raymun of House Fossoway, and Ser Humfrey of House Hardyng (who was still recovering from his broken leg).
Knowing that Duncan would have to automatically forfeit if he couldn't find a seventh champion, Prince Baelor Breakspear himself decided to fight in defence of the hedge knight. Since he hadn't expected to fight, Baelor had to borrow his son's armor and horse. As Duncan rode along the viewing stands begging for any last minute defenders, Ser Baelor emerged and announced his participation. Baelor joined Ser Duncan and the other knights on their side. Ser Raymun unveiled a new sigil for his shield, designed so that he could stand apart from his treacherous cousin Ser Steffon, which Baelor and the others approved of.
Baelor began discussing strategy. He suggested that they should use tournament lances instead of the war lances that their enemies would be using, as though tourney lances weren't as powerful they were longer. The idea was to unhorse their opponents before they could even reach them, therefore giving them an advantage. Knowing that the Kingsguard wouldn't be able to attack him, Baelor suggested that he could deal with them if the others were kept away from him long enough. Baelor and Duncan's other defenders lined up on horseback opposite to Prince Aerion and his supporters. Baelor sat to the right of Ser Duncan.
At the commencement of the trial, Baelor charged towards the enemy at full tilt. While the others faced their own opponents, Baelor managed to knock a Kingsguard off his horse. Ser Duncan was knocked off his horse by Aerion, who dismounted and attacked the hedge knight. Duncan was able to get the upper hand in melee combat and knock Aerion down. Prince Maekar attempted to rush to his son's side, but Baelor stood in the way and held back his brother. During their duel, Maekar managed to strike Baelor's head with his mace. Ser Lyonel Baratheon joined Baelor in attacking Maekar and they quickly began overwhelming him.
Baelor dies from his wounds.
Death[]
Duncan was able to make Prince Aerion yield, therefore ending the trial of seven and clearing his own name. Ser Humfrey Beesbury had been killed in the fighting. After the trial's conclusion, Baelor and the rest of Duncan's supporters went into a tent to remove their armor and dress their wounds. Baelor approaches Duncan to congratulate him but began acting drunkely. A blacksmith named "Steely" Pate removed Baelor's crushed helmet and was left horrified upon discovering that the back of the prince's head was staved by Maekar's mace. The Prince of Dragonstone could only produce a troubled look on his face before he collapsed onto the ground. At age thirty-nine, Prince Baelor Targaryen died in Duncan's arms. His body was then cremated as in accordance with the Targaryens' traditional Valyrian customs.
Trivia[]
Daeron the Drunken revealing the dream that foreshadows Baelor's death.
Baelor's death was foreshadowed prior to the Trial of Seven; during a conversation with Duncan one night, Prince Daeron Targaryen, called The Drunken, reveals of a prophetic dragon dream he had: Daeron dreamed of Duncan and a great dragon, who is huge in size and has wings that can cover all of Ashford Meadow. The dragon would then fall dead on Duncan, who survived and walked off intact. This represents on how Baelor Breakspear passed away, in which, partially in accordance with Daeron's dream, he fell dead in Duncan's arms after immediately succumbing to the injury that has been inflicted on him by Prince Maekar Targaryen.
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Rickard Stark |
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Benjen Stark |
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Robb Stark |
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Arya Stark |
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Aberdolf Strongbeard
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Aemma Arryn |
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Robert Arryn Household:Brynden Tully |
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