A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: A Trial of Seven, Explained

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As a huge fan of stories about knights, Ser Duncan the Tall is right up there with the best of them – a truly honest and honorable man, even if he’s built like a fortress! There’s this scene where Prince Aerion Targaryen completely loses it when he sees a puppet show where a knight defeats a dragon. He destroys the whole stage and actually breaks the puppeteer’s finger! Well, Dunk wasn’t about to let that stand, and he immediately starts pummeling Aerion. It’s a great moment, but unfortunately, Dunk’s just one guy, and Aerion’s guards quickly overwhelm him.

Dunk avoids immediate harm when his companion, Egg, reveals a surprising truth: Egg is actually Prince Aegon Targaryen. He demands Dunk’s release, and while successful, Dunk is then imprisoned and forced to defend himself in a Trial of Seven. This trial, a rare and exceptionally brutal form of justice in the world of Game of Thrones, is even more dangerous than a standard Trial by Combat.

What is a Trial of Seven?

Trial of Seven is a special kind of combat duel brought to Westeros by the Andals. It’s different from a typical duel because it involves fourteen fighters – seven on each side – who battle until one side is completely defeated or someone admits guilt. Because it’s connected to the Faith of the Seven, the outcome – who lives and who dies – is believed to be decided by the gods, revealing who is innocent and who is guilty.

Trials of Seven are extremely uncommon and largely forgotten by the time of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Although Maekar Targaryen understands what a Trial of Seven is in The Hedge Knight, the TV series alters this, making him unfamiliar with the practice. He’s surprised when his son, Aerion, challenges Dunk to one in Episode 4, “Seven,” of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

A Trial of Seven Has Only Happened Twice in Westeros History

Besides Dunk’s Trial of Seven at Ashford Meadow, only one other Trial by Seven has occurred in Westeros. During the height of the Faith Militant uprising in 42 AC, Ser Damon Morrigen, the leader of the Warrior’s Sons, challenged King Maegor I Targaryen to a Trial by Seven. The Faith Militant thought the Targaryens were unfit to rule due to their perceived impurity, and Morrigen intended to use the trial to kill the king and overthrow their dynasty.

King Maegor the Cruel and Morrigen each chose six champions to fight in the Trial of Seven. Maegor’s champions were Dick Bean, Bernarr Brune, Bramm of Blackhull, Rayford Rosby, Guy Lothston, and Lucifer Massey. Morrigen’s were Set Lyle Bracken, Harys Horpe, Aegon Ambrose, Dickon Flowers, Willam the Wanderer, and Garibald of the Seven Stars. The trial was incredibly brutal; everyone who fought—except for King Maegor, who was severely wounded and fell into a coma—was killed.

Cleganebowl Might Be a Trial of Seven in the Books

In the TV series Game of Thrones, Cersei avoids her trial by triggering a massive explosion using wildfire beneath the Sept of Baelor. This destroys the High Sparrow and Margaery Tyrell, and leads to her son, Tommen, taking his own life, ultimately making Cersei the effective ruler of Westeros. The books, A Song of Ice and Fire, plan to have Cersei’s trial occur in the upcoming The Winds of Winter. Because Cersei’s actions in the show parallel those of Aegon VI in the books, many believe she will not survive the events of The Winds of Winter.

Many readers believe Cersei’s upcoming trial in the next book, The Winds of Winter, will be a Trial of Seven – a rare judicial combat that only occurs about once a century in the story’s history. The last one happened nearly 100 years ago. With the undead Gregor Clegane as Cersei’s champion and Sandor ‘The Hound’ Clegane recently working with the Faith of the Seven, the long-awaited fight between the two brothers, known as Cleganebowl, could happen more naturally in the books than it did in the television series.

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2026-02-05 21:06