Duncan the Tall

Duncan the Tall is a historical character who died a long time before the events of Game of Thrones began.

Ser Duncan the Tall was a great knight in the history of Westeros, a famous warrior and a great friend to King Aegon V Targaryen. He lived roughly between 105 and 40 years before the events of the series, and was Lord Commander of the Kingsguard when Ser Barristan Selmy started his rise to prominence. He is famed in many songs and stories, such as those told by Old Nan to Bran Stark.

In the books
Ser Duncan the Tall and his unusual friendship with King Aegon V are the subjects of a series of novellas written by George R.R. Martin, set roughly ninety years before the events of the main books. These stories are The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight, the first two of which have been reprinted as graphic novels.

In these stories, Duncan is revealed to be an orphan boy from the poor quarter of King's Landing, the area known as Flea Bottom. He attracted the attention of a hedge knight called Ser Arlen of Pennytree, and squired for the old man, accompanying him to many tournaments and on at least one major campaign, an incursion into the Red Mountains of Dorne led by House Dondarrion to root out a bandit king. Ser Arlen died on his way to a great tournament at Ashford. Taking up his sword, armor and horses, Dunk competed in the tourney as a knight and was joined by a young boy called 'Egg', who asked to become his squire, though Egg was later revealed to be the young Aegon Targaryen in disguise. A complex series of events followed which resulted in a 'trial of seven', two teams of seven knights fighting one another for honor and glory. Ser Duncan's team proved victorious, but Prince Baelor Targaryen, the heir apparent to the Iron Throne, was killed. In the aftermath of the combat, Prince Maekar, Aegon's father, agreed to let Egg squire for Dunk on the road.

The pair had many famous adventures before Egg ascended the Iron Throne as King Aegon V Targaryen. Ser Duncan the Tall became a member of the Kingsguard, and later its Lord Commander. Egg and Dunk faced their last adventure together at Summerhall, on the night of the great fire there.