Character Profile of Barristan Selmy
“Barristan Selmy was not a bookish man, but he had often glanced through the pages of the White Book, where the deeds of his predecessors had been recorded. Some had been heroes, some weaklings, knaves, or cravens. Most were only men—quicker and stronger than most, more skilled with sword and shield, but still prey to pride, ambition, lust, love, anger, jealousy, greed for gold, hunger for power, and all the other failings that afflicted lesser mortals. The best of them overcame their flaws, did their duty, and died with their swords in their hands. The worst...The worst were those who played the game of thrones.” --Barristan Selmy--
The White Book recounts to us the vibrant legacies of the members of the Westerosi Kingsguard; in a similar tome, A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin gives us insight into the minds and thoughts of several inhabitants of this rich fantasy world, some heroic, others less so. Were it perhaps any other fantasy series, the adventures and heroics of Ser Barristan Selmy would make for more than enough palatable reading in and of itself. In ASOIAF, Barristan embodies the stalwart qualities of chivalry with an untarnished moral character. And while rarely in these POV chapters—but oh so wonderfully—does he display his martial prowess, his deft skill in combat and the motivations behind his action makes him a knight par excellence. The legend of Barristan Selmy goes all the way back to his days as a squire for Manfred Swann. At the age of ten, Barristan donned the armor of a mystery knight to compete in the tourney at Blackhaven, being unhorsed and unmasked by Prince Duncan “The Small” Targaryen. Upon realizing that he was but a boy, the prince bestowed upon him what would become his moniker thenceforth: Barristan the Bold. The young squire would later emerge victorious against the prince in a tournament six years later in King's Landing—once again as a mystery knight—earning himself a knighthood as a result.
As a matter of fact, much of Barristan Selmy's legend is linked with tournament fighting. While not a politician, his capacity for emerging victorious on the field of battle has swayed the events of Westeros over the last several decades; to that extent, so have his (albeit few) failures in combat done just as much for Westerosi history. Perhaps somewhat unfairly, Barristan blames himself for his failure to win the historic “tourney at Harrenhall”, wherein Rhaegar Targaryen emerged the victor, crowning Lyanna Stark “the queen of love and beauty”, which could be considered the first step in what would eventually become “Robert's Rebellion”. But Barristan does not blame himself as much for this as he does for failing to make known his feelings for Ashara Dayne through the same intended act, through which he believes that she would not have been (presumably) dishonored at the tourney, run to the arms of Eddard Stark (again, presumably), and would not have flung herself from the Palestone Sword tower and into the sea. It seems understood that Barristan has romanticized Ashara in his mind and recalls the events of his youth with wistful melancholy, putting Ashara on a pedestal in his memory to mask his insecurities in matters of the heart. It is more likely that while Barristan wished for romance, his true calling was to be a Kingsguard (or Queensguard); a fighter, not a lover.
Barristan Selmy embodies many noble qualities; but if it could be said that he has one notable character flaw, it is that he possesses a judgmental and even a “holier-than-thou” attitude toward others who he considers to be lacking in honor. Like many characters throughout the series, his hubris rears its head at the end of A Dance With Dragons, when he arrests Hizdahr zo Loraq. Selmy had previously made significant judgments and condemnations of people like Jaime Lannister, the “kingslayer”, and Criston Cole, the “kingmaker” (featured in other works by Martin, The Rogue Prince and The Princess and the Queen); the latter of the two proves most ironic here, as Barristan—in the aptly titled “The Kingbreaker” POV chapter—betrays his office in the name of justice by arresting the de facto king, Hizdahr zo Loraq, after Daenerys' disappearance.
Looking at Barristan Selmy is like looking at both a superstar and a legend in his time, part Captain America, part James Bond. While Barristan comes across as moderate and humble, his deeds are unknown to few. Before becoming a Kingsguard, he distinguished himself as a nigh-superhuman warrior in the “War of Ninepenny Kings”. Orchestrated by a villain as colorful as any by Ian Fleming or Marvel, Maelys Blackfyre sought to seize control of Westeros by uniting a “Band of Nine” resulting in a virtually global war. At the climax of the conflict, none other than our hero, Barristan the Bold, fought his way single-handedly to duel Maelys in one-on-one combat, and strike down the terrible foe. At Duskendale, Selmy secretly snuck into the Dun Fort, rescuing King Aerys II from his captivity at the hands of Denys Darklyn. When Aerys demanded all dissenters from this “defiance” be put to death, Barristan pleaded for the life of a young boy (none other than the unfortunate Dontos Hollard), primarily because Barristan could not stomach violence being visited upon children. Later, when granted mercy by Robert Baratheon after being defeated in the Battle of the Trident, his generosity was revisited upon him; Robert insisted that the defeated commander be attended by maesters, much to the sadistic dismay of Roose Bolton, who advised that Robert should instead “slit his throat”. As a restored Kingsguard while serving King Robert I, Barristan led the attack on Old Wyk during the Greyjoy Rebellion, quashing one upstart while under the banner of another.
However, when Barristan is dismissed by King Joffrey I and forced into hiding—managing to record his own dismissal in the White Book prior to his exodus, no less—he resolves to return to serve the bloodline he knows to be the true rulers of Westeros: the last Targaryen, Daenerys Stormborn. And while discretion seems to be the most obvious reason that Barristan adopts the alias of Arstan Whitebeard when he saves—then pledges his services to—Daenerys, perhaps there is a self-impugned mark of shame within him that necessitates this facade. For Ser Barristan Selmy, former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, for him to turn against the king he pledged to serve—even Joffrey—must challenge his principles at a deep level. By adopting a pseudonym, perhaps he feels he can attain the level of valor he had earned before from the ground up. (As an aside, it is interesting that in the HBO show Game of Thrones, that the “Arstan Whitebeard” disguise is dropped entirely, which is logical as viewers would certainly recognize Ian McElhinney as the same actor who plays Barristan, and the effect of introducing a “surprise character” would be moot.)
As previously mentioned, Barristan is noble and honorable; but even these qualities are taken to extremes in this bold hero. While he is wise, it is certainly of questionable safety for a squire to be armed with only a staff (in his disguise as Arstan), and to be so utterly capable with it—something Jorah later observes after he saves Daenerys (again) from mortal danger, this time at the hands of the Titan's Bastard, Mero. Suffice to say, Jorah possesses a unique capacity for seeing through Barristan's disguise, both being former tourney knights; given Barristan's low assessment of Jorah's character, he certainly does little to hide his disdain for the knight-turned-slaver-turned-exile-turned-spy-turned-Queensguard. So Barristan seems more interested in pretending for Daenerys' benefit; but if it was out of fear, he never would have approached her to begin with. No, shame and guilt guide Barristan's hand, and he is too hard on himself. His disguise is—in a way—a means to run from his own perceived failures.
Barristan Selmy is in his twilight years, and appears to have no children of his own. However, that does not mean that he has not inspired others and would not leave a legacy in those who have grown under his tutelage. After the Dothraki and Qarth, Daenerys takes Arstan/Barristan under her proverbial wing. But it is not until after Barristan is unmasked and Daenerys demands that he “prove” his loyalty to her by infiltrating Meereen alongside Strong Belwas and Jorah Mormont, that she restores his place at her side as her Queensguard—but also as her unofficial council, whom she affectionately refers to as “Ser Grandfather”. During her occupation of Meereen, Barristan acts much like a grandfather would, guiding her to keep her noble heart in the savage atmosphere of Slaver's Bay. And while like any concerned parent or grandparent would, he also does not approve of “bad boy” Daario Naharis, nor his torrid affair with his queen. But even when Daario and others are made hostages to the Yunkai, he considers Daenerys' love for him and attempts to keep her peace, even when it might be easier to strike out at them and let them die, such as when the head of Groleo is unceremoniously delivered by Bloodbeard. In the end of A Dance With Dragons, Barristan inevitably takes on the role of Hand of the Queen, and has been convinced that Hizdahr zo Loraq had a part in what might have been an assassination attempt on his “granddaughter”/queen, and takes him into custody—but not before one of the greatest sword fights in the entire series between Selmy and infamous pit fighter Khrazz, who was serving as Hizdahr's bodyguard. And while Barristan the Bold is again no politician—perhaps even less so than Eddard Stark—this role is one of sacrifice for him, one where while unsure of Daenerys' ultimate fate, he no doubt wishes to maintain the noble peace she has attempted to establish, fighting even this battle for her, even if it is one where he is out of his depth.
A Song of Ice and Fire is rich with characters of diverse talents, backgrounds, and ideals. There are plotters and schemers, nobles brought from the pinnacle of power to ruin, pious fools and canny pariahs, clever pranksters and paranoid psychopaths—and that's just the Lannisters. The world of Westeros is densely packed with myth and legend, history and adventure; though in such a dangerous world, very few only live to see old age—Barristan Selmy is one of the few. Endowed with a great talent for combat coupled with a peerless heroism and benevolence, Ser Barristan the Bold is exciting because he is that great hero that so rarely finds a footing in the series. All too many heroes fall before the blade—especially so in the case of the Starks, arguably the “heroes” of the series, by failing to know their enemy better than their enemies know them. Barristan's long life is due to his discipline and wisdom as much as his skill with a sword; this is exemplified in his battle with the powerful Khrazz, who tires himself out and is unable to effectively fight a man in armor, whereas Barristan—regardless of his age—easily bests the other warrior. While the predominant sentiment in Martin's series is that “no character is safe”, Ser Barristan Selmy defies the odds by being perhaps the only “old” and “bold” knight in the Seven Kingdoms and beyond.
“I am the queen's man still. Today, tomorrow, always, until my last breath, or hers.”
--Barristan Selmy--
[Web address for original publication: https://towerofthehand.com/blog/2015/06/05-top-10-barristan-selmy/index.html]
The White Book recounts to us the vibrant legacies of the members of the Westerosi Kingsguard; in a similar tome, A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin gives us insight into the minds and thoughts of several inhabitants of this rich fantasy world, some heroic, others less so. Were it perhaps any other fantasy series, the adventures and heroics of Ser Barristan Selmy would make for more than enough palatable reading in and of itself. In ASOIAF, Barristan embodies the stalwart qualities of chivalry with an untarnished moral character. And while rarely in these POV chapters—but oh so wonderfully—does he display his martial prowess, his deft skill in combat and the motivations behind his action makes him a knight par excellence. The legend of Barristan Selmy goes all the way back to his days as a squire for Manfred Swann. At the age of ten, Barristan donned the armor of a mystery knight to compete in the tourney at Blackhaven, being unhorsed and unmasked by Prince Duncan “The Small” Targaryen. Upon realizing that he was but a boy, the prince bestowed upon him what would become his moniker thenceforth: Barristan the Bold. The young squire would later emerge victorious against the prince in a tournament six years later in King's Landing—once again as a mystery knight—earning himself a knighthood as a result.
As a matter of fact, much of Barristan Selmy's legend is linked with tournament fighting. While not a politician, his capacity for emerging victorious on the field of battle has swayed the events of Westeros over the last several decades; to that extent, so have his (albeit few) failures in combat done just as much for Westerosi history. Perhaps somewhat unfairly, Barristan blames himself for his failure to win the historic “tourney at Harrenhall”, wherein Rhaegar Targaryen emerged the victor, crowning Lyanna Stark “the queen of love and beauty”, which could be considered the first step in what would eventually become “Robert's Rebellion”. But Barristan does not blame himself as much for this as he does for failing to make known his feelings for Ashara Dayne through the same intended act, through which he believes that she would not have been (presumably) dishonored at the tourney, run to the arms of Eddard Stark (again, presumably), and would not have flung herself from the Palestone Sword tower and into the sea. It seems understood that Barristan has romanticized Ashara in his mind and recalls the events of his youth with wistful melancholy, putting Ashara on a pedestal in his memory to mask his insecurities in matters of the heart. It is more likely that while Barristan wished for romance, his true calling was to be a Kingsguard (or Queensguard); a fighter, not a lover.
Barristan Selmy embodies many noble qualities; but if it could be said that he has one notable character flaw, it is that he possesses a judgmental and even a “holier-than-thou” attitude toward others who he considers to be lacking in honor. Like many characters throughout the series, his hubris rears its head at the end of A Dance With Dragons, when he arrests Hizdahr zo Loraq. Selmy had previously made significant judgments and condemnations of people like Jaime Lannister, the “kingslayer”, and Criston Cole, the “kingmaker” (featured in other works by Martin, The Rogue Prince and The Princess and the Queen); the latter of the two proves most ironic here, as Barristan—in the aptly titled “The Kingbreaker” POV chapter—betrays his office in the name of justice by arresting the de facto king, Hizdahr zo Loraq, after Daenerys' disappearance.
Looking at Barristan Selmy is like looking at both a superstar and a legend in his time, part Captain America, part James Bond. While Barristan comes across as moderate and humble, his deeds are unknown to few. Before becoming a Kingsguard, he distinguished himself as a nigh-superhuman warrior in the “War of Ninepenny Kings”. Orchestrated by a villain as colorful as any by Ian Fleming or Marvel, Maelys Blackfyre sought to seize control of Westeros by uniting a “Band of Nine” resulting in a virtually global war. At the climax of the conflict, none other than our hero, Barristan the Bold, fought his way single-handedly to duel Maelys in one-on-one combat, and strike down the terrible foe. At Duskendale, Selmy secretly snuck into the Dun Fort, rescuing King Aerys II from his captivity at the hands of Denys Darklyn. When Aerys demanded all dissenters from this “defiance” be put to death, Barristan pleaded for the life of a young boy (none other than the unfortunate Dontos Hollard), primarily because Barristan could not stomach violence being visited upon children. Later, when granted mercy by Robert Baratheon after being defeated in the Battle of the Trident, his generosity was revisited upon him; Robert insisted that the defeated commander be attended by maesters, much to the sadistic dismay of Roose Bolton, who advised that Robert should instead “slit his throat”. As a restored Kingsguard while serving King Robert I, Barristan led the attack on Old Wyk during the Greyjoy Rebellion, quashing one upstart while under the banner of another.
However, when Barristan is dismissed by King Joffrey I and forced into hiding—managing to record his own dismissal in the White Book prior to his exodus, no less—he resolves to return to serve the bloodline he knows to be the true rulers of Westeros: the last Targaryen, Daenerys Stormborn. And while discretion seems to be the most obvious reason that Barristan adopts the alias of Arstan Whitebeard when he saves—then pledges his services to—Daenerys, perhaps there is a self-impugned mark of shame within him that necessitates this facade. For Ser Barristan Selmy, former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, for him to turn against the king he pledged to serve—even Joffrey—must challenge his principles at a deep level. By adopting a pseudonym, perhaps he feels he can attain the level of valor he had earned before from the ground up. (As an aside, it is interesting that in the HBO show Game of Thrones, that the “Arstan Whitebeard” disguise is dropped entirely, which is logical as viewers would certainly recognize Ian McElhinney as the same actor who plays Barristan, and the effect of introducing a “surprise character” would be moot.)
As previously mentioned, Barristan is noble and honorable; but even these qualities are taken to extremes in this bold hero. While he is wise, it is certainly of questionable safety for a squire to be armed with only a staff (in his disguise as Arstan), and to be so utterly capable with it—something Jorah later observes after he saves Daenerys (again) from mortal danger, this time at the hands of the Titan's Bastard, Mero. Suffice to say, Jorah possesses a unique capacity for seeing through Barristan's disguise, both being former tourney knights; given Barristan's low assessment of Jorah's character, he certainly does little to hide his disdain for the knight-turned-slaver-turned-exile-turned-spy-turned-Queensguard. So Barristan seems more interested in pretending for Daenerys' benefit; but if it was out of fear, he never would have approached her to begin with. No, shame and guilt guide Barristan's hand, and he is too hard on himself. His disguise is—in a way—a means to run from his own perceived failures.
Barristan Selmy is in his twilight years, and appears to have no children of his own. However, that does not mean that he has not inspired others and would not leave a legacy in those who have grown under his tutelage. After the Dothraki and Qarth, Daenerys takes Arstan/Barristan under her proverbial wing. But it is not until after Barristan is unmasked and Daenerys demands that he “prove” his loyalty to her by infiltrating Meereen alongside Strong Belwas and Jorah Mormont, that she restores his place at her side as her Queensguard—but also as her unofficial council, whom she affectionately refers to as “Ser Grandfather”. During her occupation of Meereen, Barristan acts much like a grandfather would, guiding her to keep her noble heart in the savage atmosphere of Slaver's Bay. And while like any concerned parent or grandparent would, he also does not approve of “bad boy” Daario Naharis, nor his torrid affair with his queen. But even when Daario and others are made hostages to the Yunkai, he considers Daenerys' love for him and attempts to keep her peace, even when it might be easier to strike out at them and let them die, such as when the head of Groleo is unceremoniously delivered by Bloodbeard. In the end of A Dance With Dragons, Barristan inevitably takes on the role of Hand of the Queen, and has been convinced that Hizdahr zo Loraq had a part in what might have been an assassination attempt on his “granddaughter”/queen, and takes him into custody—but not before one of the greatest sword fights in the entire series between Selmy and infamous pit fighter Khrazz, who was serving as Hizdahr's bodyguard. And while Barristan the Bold is again no politician—perhaps even less so than Eddard Stark—this role is one of sacrifice for him, one where while unsure of Daenerys' ultimate fate, he no doubt wishes to maintain the noble peace she has attempted to establish, fighting even this battle for her, even if it is one where he is out of his depth.
A Song of Ice and Fire is rich with characters of diverse talents, backgrounds, and ideals. There are plotters and schemers, nobles brought from the pinnacle of power to ruin, pious fools and canny pariahs, clever pranksters and paranoid psychopaths—and that's just the Lannisters. The world of Westeros is densely packed with myth and legend, history and adventure; though in such a dangerous world, very few only live to see old age—Barristan Selmy is one of the few. Endowed with a great talent for combat coupled with a peerless heroism and benevolence, Ser Barristan the Bold is exciting because he is that great hero that so rarely finds a footing in the series. All too many heroes fall before the blade—especially so in the case of the Starks, arguably the “heroes” of the series, by failing to know their enemy better than their enemies know them. Barristan's long life is due to his discipline and wisdom as much as his skill with a sword; this is exemplified in his battle with the powerful Khrazz, who tires himself out and is unable to effectively fight a man in armor, whereas Barristan—regardless of his age—easily bests the other warrior. While the predominant sentiment in Martin's series is that “no character is safe”, Ser Barristan Selmy defies the odds by being perhaps the only “old” and “bold” knight in the Seven Kingdoms and beyond.
“I am the queen's man still. Today, tomorrow, always, until my last breath, or hers.”
--Barristan Selmy--
[Web address for original publication: https://towerofthehand.com/blog/2015/06/05-top-10-barristan-selmy/index.html]