What A Hedge Knight Actually Is in Game of Thrones & How They’re Different

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I’m really excited about the new Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms! It focuses on Ser Duncan the Tall, who everyone calls Dunk. He’s definitely not like the knights we knew from the original series – guys like Jaime Lannister or Loras Tyrell who were born into wealth and power and protected the king. Dunk is a ‘hedge knight,’ which is a bit different. Basically, he’s a knight without a lot of money or land, someone who has to work for whatever he earns. I’m curious to see how his story unfolds!

In the world of Game of Thrones, knighthood is granted by existing knights or kings, and new knights pledge sacred oaths to the Seven Gods, usually to serve a particular family and their leader. However, not all knights are part of noble courts or protected within castle walls. Some operate on the edges of society, traveling between small settlements with only a sword, a horse, and a fading sense of morality. These are known as hedge knights, and they differ greatly from the heroic, legendary knights often celebrated in stories and songs, like those the Stark children enjoy.

Hedge Knights In Westeros Explained

A hedge knight is a knight without a lord or any land of their own. The name comes from the idea that they might have to sleep outdoors, like under hedges, when they couldn’t find work. In old stories, these knights were often called knight-errants, traveling around to demonstrate their bravery and fighting skills. While some hedge knights are properly knighted, others simply claim the title, figuring no one will question an armored, armed man about it – especially since it would be hard to prove they weren’t. As a result, they aren’t usually very trustworthy.

Hedge knights are different from typical knights. Knights who live with a lord – called household knights – fight for them and receive food, shelter, and social standing in return. Landed knights are even more established, owning land and collecting taxes, sometimes making them quite wealthy. Hedge knights, however, don’t have these benefits. They earn a living by offering their skills as fighters – competing in tournaments, guarding travelers, or taking on temporary jobs wherever they can find payment.

The Importance Of Dunk Being A Hedge Knight

Though Dunk isn’t a knight by birth, he embodies the classic idea of a noble knight. He’s incredibly sincere, sometimes to a fault, and often feels lost in a world where status comes from family name, not from good deeds. However, he’s fundamentally honorable and kind. In the trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, he passionately asks those gathered at the Tourney of Ashford, “Are there no true knights among you?” This line comes straight from George R.R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight, and it really gets to the heart of Dunk’s story: to demonstrate what a truly virtuous knight looks like.

He boils knighthood down to what truly matters. Dunk demonstrates that honor, decency, and keeping your promises are the core of being a knight – things that are often overlooked, especially without the support of wealth, armies, or noble families.

I call upon you, with the strength of the Warrior, to face challenges with courage. With the wisdom of the Father, I ask you to always act fairly. Guided by the spirit of the Mother, I charge you to safeguard children and those who cannot protect themselves. And with the grace of the Maid, I ask you to stand up for all women.

Dunk embodies all the qualities of a good knight, despite being dismissed because he doesn’t have a noble background. He proves that even if Westeros doesn’t always recognize virtue, staying true to your values is what truly matters. Though he lacks status, he’s a far more honorable knight than many who hold titles.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuts on HBO and HBO Max at 10pm ET on January 18th.

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2026-01-18 02:11