- "Lord Eddard Stark is herein named... Protector of the Realm. To rule as Regent... until the heir come of age."
- ―Ser Barristan Selmy
Protector of the Realm is a title in the Seven Kingdoms, the holder of which is considered to be head of state. The title is usually held, ex officio, by the King of the Andals and the First Men, who also holds the title of Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. During the minority of a child monarch, however, a Regent is named as Protector of the Realm until the heir comes of age. Protectors of the Realm who are not of royal birth are addressed a (My) Lord Protector. The title was (presumably) created by the Targaryen Kings when they unified the Seven Kingdoms into a single realm during the War of Conquest.
History
Season 1
King Robert Baratheon's full title is "King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm".[1]
Robert signs his proclamation naming Eddard Protector of the Realm in "You Win or You Die".
Ser Barristan Selmy reads Robert's proclamation.
After King Robert is mortally wounded by a boar while hunting, he dictates his final orders to Hand of the King Eddard Stark, naming Lord Stark as regent and Protector of the Realm until his heir comes of age. Renly Baratheon correctly assumes that the dying Robert has given orders to this effect, as does Petyr Baelish. After Robert dies, Eddard arrives at court to find Joffrey Baratheon seated on the Iron Throne and introduced as both the new king and Protector of the Realm. However, Eddard has Ser Barristan Selmy read King Robert's final order before the royal court, naming Lord Stark as Regent and Protector of the Realm. Eddard proclaims that Joffrey has no claim to the throne, and orders the City Watch under Janos Slynt to take Joffrey and Cersei into custody. This sparks a standoff between Stark's personal guards and the Kingsguard, as Joffrey demands that Stark and all of his men be killed. Just then, Baelish and the Goldcloaks betray Eddard, killing all of his men and taking him prisoner. Joffrey then continues to technically hold the title of Protector of the Realm, though his mother Cersei still acts as Queen Regent.[2]
Season 4
When Tommen Baratheon ascends to the Iron Throne following the death of Joffrey, he declares Tywin Lannister Protector of the Realm as he is still a child and unable to command the military forces of the realm.[3]
Season 5
Margaery Tyrell suggests that the title has reverted to King Tommen following Tywin's death.
Known Protectors of the Realm
Officials
| Image | Shield | Name | Term | Tittles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
File:House-Targaryen-Main-Shield.PNG | Aegon I Targaryen, the Conqueror | 1 – 37 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men |
|
File:House-Targaryen-Main-Shield.PNG | Aenys I Targaryen | 37 – 42 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men |
|
File:House-Targaryen-Main-Shield.PNG | Maegor I Targaryen, the Cruel | 42 – 48 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men |
During the interregnum between the coronation of Aegon II until his majority of age the title of "Protector of the Realm" fell to his Hand.
| Image | Shield | Name | Term | Tittles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:JaehaerysTheConciliator.png | File:House-Targaryen-Main-Shield.PNG | Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the Conciliator | 48 – 103 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men |
|
File:House-Targaryen-Main-Shield.PNG | Viserys I Targaryen | 103 – 129 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men |
|
File:Aegon-II-Shield-Icon.PNG | Aegon II Targaryen, the Usurper | 129 – 130 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men |
| File:Aegon-II-Shield-Icon.PNG | Aemond Targaryen | 130 – 131 AL | Prince Regent | |
  |
File:Aegon-II-Shield-Icon.PNG | Aegon II Targaryen, the Usurper | 131 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men |
| File:House-Stark-Main-Shield.PNG | Cregan Stark | 131 AL | Hand of the King |
During the interregnum between the coronation of Aegon II until his majority of age the title of "Protector of the Realm" fell to his Regents
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Claimants
| Image | Shield | Name | Term | Tittles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
File:Blacks-Main-Shield.PNG | Aenys I Targaryen | 129 - 131 AL | Prince Consort (Claimant) |
|
File:Blacks-Main-Shield.PNG | Rhaenyra I | 31 AL | Queen of the Andals and the First Men (Claimant |
| Image | Shield | Name | Term | Tittles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
File:House-Blackfyre-Main-Shield.PNG | Daemon I Blackfire, the Black Dragon | 184 – 196 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men (Claimant) |
| Image | Shield | Name | Term | Tittles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
File:House-Blackfyre-Main-Shield.PNG | Maelys I Blackfire, the Monstrous | ? – 259 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men (Claimant) |
| Image | Shield | Name | Term | Tittles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
File:House-Stark-Main-Shield.PNG | Eddard Stark | 298 AL | Hand of the King |
|
File:House-Baratheon-of-Storm's-End-Main-Shield.PNG | Renly I Baratheon, the King in Highgarden | 298 – 299 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men (Claimant) |
|
File:House-Baratheon-of-Dragonstone-Main-Shield.PNG | Stannis I Baratheon, the King in the Narrow Sea | 298 – 302 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men (Claimant) |
| Image | Shield | Name | Term | Tittles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
File:House-Targaryen-Main-Shield.PNG | Viserys III, the Beggar King |
281 – 298 AL | King of the Andals and the First Men (Claimant) |
| File:Dany finale s6 winds of winter.jpg | File:House-Targaryen-Main-Shield.PNG | Daenerys I, Mother of Dragons | 298 AL – present | Queen of the Andals and the First Men (Claimant) |
In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the title of Protector of the Realm applies to the military command of the armies loyal to the Iron Throne, and is usually held by the King himself. Presumably, the holder of the office commands the four Wardens, who in turn are charged with commanding military forces in the four different cardinal directions of Westeros (North, South, East, and West).
In some instances, however, the title was granted to the Hand of the King or to a Prince Regent when the King was incapable or inexperienced in matters of war, or was otherwise incapacitated. Such was the case of King Daeron the Good, who named his own son and Hand of the King, Prince Baelor "Breakspear", as Protector of the Realm during and after the First Blackfyre Rebellion. Similarly, during the Dance of the Dragons Prince Daemon Targaryen, who commanded the armies of claimant Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, held the title of Protector of the Realm. Meanwhile, on the opposing side of the war led by Rhaenyra's half-brother King Aegon II Targaryen, Aegon's II's younger brother Prince Aemond Targaryen was named Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm, after Aegon II was incapacitated after suffering grievous wounds in battle.
References
- ↑ "Winter is Coming"
- ↑ "The Pointy End"
- ↑ "The Laws of Gods and Men"