The Citadel

Ser Duncan the Tall

General Information

Ser Duncan the Tall hailed from Flea Bottom, an orphan taken to squire by Ser Arlan of Pennytree following the death of Ser Arlan’s nephew Roger at the Battle of the Redgrass Field in 196. Ser Arlan died of a fever and Duncan claimed that he was knighted before the end. Ser Duncan took on his own squire and went to Ashford where he was allowed to enter the tourney there after the heir and Hand of Daeron II, Baelor Targaryen, vouched for him.

Spoilers

An altercation with a Targaryen princeling, Aerion Brightflame (called the Monsterous in later days) led to his imprisonment and trial. In the end a trial of seven was called, the first in more than a hundred years, and Ser Duncan won at the cost of three men, including Baelor Breakspear. Prince Maekar, brother of Baelor, allowed Ser Duncan to take his youngest son Aegon as his squire and to follow the hedge knight’s life for some years before returning to serve him at Summerhall.

In 211, while serving Ser Eustace Osgrey of Standfast, Dunk became embroiled in a dispute between Osgrey and Lady Webber of Coldmoat. The conflict was resolved by a combat between champions, in which Ser Duncan slew Ser Lucas Inchfield (known as “the Longinch”). Despite this, he won the friendship of Lady Webber before leaving Osgrey’s service.

His reputation and fame grew in laters until he became a Kingsguard, ultimately becoming Lord Commander of the White Swords in the reign of Egg as King Aegon V, who named his eldest son and heir Duncan after his friend. He seems to have died with Aegon V during the tragedy at Summerhall.