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Wiki of Westeros
Wiki of Westeros
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{{Canonicity|Canon}}
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{{Heraldry
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| Leftimage = House Clegane.svg
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| Leftlink = House Clegane
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| Image2 = Gregor Clegane.svg
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| Link2 = Heraldry#Younger sons, variations, and personal sigils
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| Image3 = Kingsguard.svg
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| Link3 = Kingsguard
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}}
 
{{Character
 
{{Character
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| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Title=[[File:House Clegane.jpg|30px|left|link=House Clegane]] Gregor Clegane [[File:House Clegane.jpg|30px|right|link=House Clegane]]
 
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| Type = Lannister
| Image=Gregor_2x08.png
 
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| Image =
| Season=[[Season 1|1]], [[Season 2|2]], [[Season 4|4]]
 
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<gallery>
| First="[[Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things]]"
 
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GregorGregorLightenedProfile.png|H.J. Björnsson (undead)
| Last="[[The Prince of Winterfell]]"
 
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Gregor Clegane 4x07.jpg|H.J. Björnsson (alive)
| Appearances=5 episodes <small>[[#Appearances|(see below)]]</small>
 
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Gregor Clegane ian infobox.jpg|Ian Whyte
| Titles=[[Ser]]<br>Castellan of Harrenhal
 
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Conan infobox.png|Conan Stevens
| Aka=The Mountain That Rides<br />The Mountain<br />Tywin Lannister's Mad Dog
 
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</gallery>
| Status= [[:Category:Status: Alive|Alive]]
 
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| Birth =
| Death=
 
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| Death = [[305 AC]]{{Dateref|Game of Thrones: Season 8}}<br>[[Red Keep]], [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|GOT805}}
| Place=[[Clegane's Keep]]
 
| Allegiance=[[House Lannister]]<br />[[House Clegane]]
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| House = [[House Clegane|Clegane]]{{Ref|GOT104}}
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| Affiliation = [[House Lannister]]{{Ref|GOT106}}<br>[[Kingsguard]]{{Ref|GOT510}}<br>Queensguard{{Ref|GOT701}}
| Family={[[Clegane (founder)|Clegane]]} - grandfather<br>{Unnamed father}<br>[[Sandor Clegane]] - brother<br>{Unnamed sister}
 
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| Titles = [[Knighthood|Ser]]{{Ref|GOT104}}<br>[[Castellan]] of [[Harrenhal]]{{Ref|GOT204}} <small>(formerly)</small>
| Actor=[[Conan Stevens]] (Season 1)<br/>[[Ian Whyte]] (Season 2)<br>[[Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson]] (Season 4)}}
 
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| AKA = The Mountain{{Ref|GOT104}}<br>Tywin Lannister's Mad Dog{{Ref|GOT106}}
{{Quote|I always thought you had a talent for violence.|[[Tywin Lannister]] to '''Gregor Clegane'''|A Man Without Honor}}
 
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| Culture = [[Westerlands|Westermen]]
 
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| Religion =
'''Gregor Clegane''' is a recurring character in the [[Season 1|first]], [[Season 2|second]] and [[Season 4|fourth]] seasons. He was originally played by guest star [[Conan Stevens]] and debuts in "[[Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things]]." Stevens was replaced by [[Ian Whyte]], who had already appeared in the series in other roles, for the second season. In Season 4 he will be potrayed by [[Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson]].
 
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| Father = {[[Gregor Clegane's father|Father]]}{{Ref|H&L210}}
 
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| Mother =
Ser Gregor Clegane is the head of [[House Clegane]], minor vassals of [[House Lannister]]. Ser Gregor is a notoriously fearsome warrior with a tendency toward extreme violence. During the [[War of the Five Kings]] he raided [[the Riverlands]] on orders from his liege lord [[Tywin Lannister]]. Ser Gregor served briefly as [[castellan]] of [[Harrenhal]] before withdrawing his troops.
 
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| Spouse =
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| Lovers =
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| Issue =
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| Siblings =
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| Arms = Yellow, a black dog regardant contourny{{Ref|GOT104}}
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| Series = ''[[Game of Thrones]]''
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| Season = [[Game of Thrones: Season 1|1]] {{*}} [[Game of Thrones: Season 2|2]] {{*}} [[Game of Thrones: Season 4|4]] {{*}} [[Game of Thrones: Season 5|5]] {{*}} [[Game of Thrones: Season 6|6]] {{*}} [[Game of Thrones: Season 7|7]] {{*}} [[Game of Thrones: Season 8|8]]
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| Appearances = 24 episodes <small>([[#Appearances|see below]])</small>
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| First = "[[Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things]]"
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| Last = "[[The Bells]]"
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| DeathEp = "The Bells"
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| Actor = [[Conan Stevens]] <small>(Season 1)</small><br>[[Ian Whyte]] <small>(Season 2)</small><br>[[Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson]] <small>(Seasons 4-8)</small>
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}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Tyrion|Does he frighten you so much?|Bronn|I'd be a bloody fool if he didn't frighten me. He's freakish big and freakish strong. And quicker than you'd expect for a man of that size.|[[Bronn]] and [[Tyrion Lannister]] on the Mountain.|Mockingbird }}
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Ser '''Gregor Clegane''' was a [[Knighthood|knight]] of [[House Clegane]] in service to [[House Lannister]], the older brother of [[Sandor Clegane]], and a notoriously fearsome, extremely lethal, and much-feared warrior, with a tendency toward extreme and excessive violence. Due to his size, he is called "'''The Mountain That Rides'''" or more often, simply "'''The Mountain'''."
   
 
==Biography==
 
==Biography==
 
===Background===
 
===Background===
[[File:Knighting.png|thumb|Gregor is knighted by Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]]]Ser Gregor Clegane is the head of [[House Clegane]], a knightly house from the [[Westerlands]], and the elder brother of [[Sandor Clegane]], whom he despises. When Sandor and Gregor were children Gregor held his brother's face in a fire for using his toys without permission, horrifically scarring him.<ref>"[[Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things]]"</ref> Gregor is a landed knight rather than a full lord. Gregor is freakishly huge, said to be the largest man in [[Westeros]], almost eight feet in height and heavily muscled. For this reason he is called "'''The Mountain That Rides'''" or, simply, "'''The Mountain'''". He is feared throughout [[Westeros]] with a reputation for ferocity and anger. He is a loyal retainer and servant of [[House Lannister]], particularly to Lord [[Tywin Lannister|Tywin]].<ref name="Gregor viewers guide">[http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-ofthrones/season2/#!/guide/houses/lannister/gregor-clegane/ HBO viewers guide, season 2 guide to houses, House Lannister - Gregor Clegane entry]</ref>
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Ser Gregor Clegane was the head of [[House Clegane]], a knightly house from the [[Westerlands]], and the elder brother of [[Sandor Clegane]]. When Sandor and Gregor were children, Gregor held his brother's face in a fire for playing with one of his toys without permission, horrifically scarring him.{{Ref|GOT104}} Gregor was a landed knight rather than a full-fledged lord. Gregor was monstrously huge, he was the largest, strongest, and most feared man in [[Westeros]]. His monstrous strength and size were unmatched, and he was one of the most powerful and dangerous people in the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. He was feared throughout [[Westeros]] with a reputation for ferocity, brutality, and anger. He has committed unspeakable acts of violence, such as brutally torturing his victims to death, viciously raping women, and murdering children. He was a fiercely loyal retainer and servant of [[House Lannister]], particularly to Lord [[Tywin Lannister|Tywin]].<ref name="Gregor viewers guide">[http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-ofthrones/season2/#!/guide/houses/lannister/gregor-clegane/ HBO viewers guide, season 2 guide to houses, House Lannister - Gregor Clegane entry]</ref>
   
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[[File:Knighting.png|thumb|At the request of Tywin Lannister, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen anoints Gregor as a knight.]]
Numerous servants have gone missing at the Clegane keep over the years, apparently killed by Gregor for minor slights in one of his infamous rages, and their deaths then hushed up. Gregor's own father and sister died under dubious circumstances as well, and Sandor half-suspects that Gregor may have killed them as well. Their sister died when Sandor was too young to remember her well, and their father died years later in what was said to be a "hunting accident". At the behest of Tywin Lannister, [[Prince]] [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] himself anointed Gregor as a knight, a great honor, even though Gregor was an infamously dishonorable man.<ref name="CleganeLore">[[House Clegane (Histories & Lore)]]</ref>
 
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Numerous servants have gone missing at the Clegane keep over the years, apparently killed by Gregor for minor slights in one of his infamous fits of rage, and their deaths then covered up. Gregor's own father and sister died under dubious circumstances as well, and Sandor thinks that Gregor may have killed them too. Their sister died when Sandor was too young to remember her well, and their father died years later in what was said to be a "hunting accident." At the request of Tywin, [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] himself anointed Gregor as a knight, a great honor, even though Gregor was an infamously dishonorable man.{{Ref|H&L210}}
   
[[File:Slaughter.png|thumb|left|Gregor about to murder Rhaegar's family]]
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[[File:Slaughter.png|thumb|Gregor about to murder Rhaegar's family.]]
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During [[Robert's Rebellion]], one year after Prince Rhaegar knighted him, Gregor participated in the [[Sack of King's Landing]]. After entering the Red Keep, he brutally killed Rhaegar's two children by [[Elia Martell]]: their daughter [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]] and baby [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Elia Martell)|Aegon]]. He killed baby Aegon by bashing his head against the wall, and then while still covered in the gore from her children, proceeded to viciously torture and rape Elia. After torturing and raping her for several hours, he then horrifically killed her. It is rumored that he killed her by cutting her in half with a single swing of his massive sword,<ref name="Elia viewers guide">[http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-ofthrones/season2/#!/guide/houses/targaryen/elia-targaryen/ HBO viewers guide, season 2 guide to houses, House Targaryen - Elia Targaryen entry]</ref><ref name="Gregor viewers guide" /> although he later claimed to have "smashed her head in with his bare hands."{{Ref|GOT408}}
   
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Despite pleas by Ned Stark, neither Gregor nor Tywin were punished by King Robert for the murders of the royal family, leading to a rift in Ned and Robert's friendship.{{Ref|H&L117}}{{Ref|H&L118}}{{Ref|H&L210}}
During [[Robert's Rebellion]], one year after Prince Rhaegar knighted him, Gregor participated in the [[Sack of King's Landing]]. He raped and murdered Rhaegar's wife, Princess [[Elia Targaryen]], after killing their baby son, Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (Son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]], by bashing his head against the wall, while Ser [[Amory Lorch]] killed their daughter, Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen|Rhaenys]].<ref name="Elia viewers guide">[http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-ofthrones/season2/#!/guide/houses/targaryen/elia-targaryen/ HBO viewers guide, season 2 guide to houses, House Targaryen - Elia Targaryen entry]</ref><ref name="Gregor viewers guide"/>
 
   
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 1|''Game of Thrones'': Season 1]]===
Despite pleas of Ned Stark neither Gregor nor Lord Tywin were punished by the King Robert for the murders of the royal family.<ref>[[Sack of King's Landing (Complete Guide to Westeros)]]</ref><ref name="CleganeLore"/>
 
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[[File:Gregor Clegane in armor.png|thumb|Gregor participates in the Hand's tourney.]]
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Ser Gregor takes part in the [[tournament]] to celebrate [[Eddard Stark]]'s appointment as [[Hand of the King]]. He kills Ser [[Hugh of the Vale]] in a joust, horrifying the crowd. [[Petyr Baelish|Littlefinger]] tells [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] that Gregor burned his brother [[Sandor Clegane|Sandor]]'s face over a naked flame when they were boys because Sandor borrowed one of his toys without asking. He tells her that few people know the story and not to let Sandor know that she does.{{Ref|GOT104}}
   
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[[File:Sandor, Gregor & Loras 1x05.jpg|thumb|Gregor stands defiantly after Robert ends his showdown with Sandor.]]
===[[Season 1]]===
 
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When Gregor faces Ser [[Loras Tyrell]], he loses the joust; Loras chose to ride a mare in heat to distract Gregor's stallion. Flying into a rage, Gregor demands his sword, then ruthlessly decapitates his erstwhile mount before the entire horrified crowd. Ignoring his surroundings, he proceeds to knock the surprised Loras off his horse and is on the verge of dishonorably killing him, when his brother Sandor intervenes, fighting him off to protect Loras. The two brothers violently trade swings with their swords, and Gregor only stops when King Robert himself shouts to stop the fight, at which time the enraged Gregor reluctantly relents, throws his sword down in disgust, and leaves.{{Ref|GOT105}}
[[File:Gregor_Clegane_in_armour.png|thumb|200px|Ser Gregor in full armor at the Tourney of the Hand.]]
 
Ser Gregor takes part in the [[tournament]] to celebrate [[Eddard Stark]]'s appointment as [[Hand of the King]]. He kills Ser [[Hugh]] of the Vale in a joust, horrifying the crowd. [[Littlefinger]] tells [[Sansa Stark]] that Gregor burned his brother [[Sandor Clegane|Sandor]]'s face over a naked flame when they were boys because Sandor borrowed one of his toys without asking. He tells her that few people know the story and not to let Sandor Clegane know that she does.<ref>"[[Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things]]"</ref> When Gregor faces Ser [[Loras Tyrell]], he loses the joust because Loras chose to ride a mare that was in heat to distract Gregor's stallion. Flying into a rage, Gregor demands his sword, then decapitates his own stallion with a single swing of his sword, before the entire horrified crowd. Ignoring his surroundings, he proceeds to knock the surprised Loras off his horse, and is on the verge of dishonorably killing him, when his brother Sandor intervenes, fighting him off to protect Loras. Gregor only stops when King Robert himself shouts a demand to end his folly, at which the fuming Ser Gregor relents and leaves.<ref>"[[The Wolf and the Lion]]"</ref>
 
   
Catelyn Stark takes [[Tyrion Lannister]] into custody on suspicion of the attempted assassination of her son [[Bran Stark|Bran]].<ref>"[[Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things]]"</ref> In retaliation Gregor is dispatched to raid the [[Riverlands]], her homeland. Refugees from the Riverlands attend court in King's Landing and report that a huge knight who could take the head of a horse in one blow lead the attack and had sacked their villages. Littlefinger says remind you of someone. [[Eddard Stark]] sends [[Beric Dondarrion|Ser Beric Dondarrion]] with a hundred men to bring Gregor to justice. Eddard [[Attainting|declares him]] a false knight and strips him of all ranks and titles, lands and holdings, and sentences him to death.<ref>"[[A Golden Crown]]"</ref> The ruling is made null by Eddard's arrest for treason and subsequent execution.<ref>"[[Baelor]]"</ref>
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Catelyn takes [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]] into custody, on suspicion of the attempted assassination of her son [[Bran Stark|Bran]].{{Ref|GOT104}} In response, Gregor is dispatched to raid the [[Riverlands]], her homeland. Refugees from the Riverlands attend court in King's Landing and report that a huge knight who could take the head of a horse off in one blow led the attack and had sacked their villages. Littlefinger asks Eddard: "Remind you of someone?" Eddard sends [[Beric Dondarrion]] with a hundred men to bring Gregor to justice. Eddard [[Attainder|declares him]] a false knight and strips him of all ranks and titles, lands and holdings, and sentences him to death.{{Ref|GOT106}} The ruling was made null by Eddard's arrest for treason and subsequent beheading.{{Ref|GOT109}}
   
The host led by Lord Beric [[Battle at the Mummer's Ford|clashes]] against Ser Gregor at the [[Mummer's Ford]]. Ser Gregor is victorious, and Lord Beric is reported dead.<ref>"[[And Now His Watch is Ended]]"</ref><ref>Season 2 Bluray: War of the Five Kings feature</ref>
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The host led by Beric [[Battle at the Mummer's Ford|clashes]] against Gregor at the [[Mummer's Ford]]. Gregor is victorious, and Beric is reported dead.{{Ref|GOT304}}<ref>Season 2 Bluray: War of the Five Kings feature</ref>
   
However, when [[Robb Stark]]'s [[Battle of the Whispering Wood|victory]] against his son forces Lord Tywin to withdraw his forces to [[Harrenhal]], he orders Ser Gregor to take five hundred men and "set the Riverlands on fire" from the [[Red Fork]] to [[Gods Eye]].<ref>"[[Fire and Blood]]"</ref>
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However, when [[Robb Stark]]'s [[Battle of Whispering Wood|victory]] against [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]] necessitates Tywin's withdrawal of his forces to [[Harrenhal]], he orders Gregor to take five hundred men and "set the Riverlands on fire" from the [[Gods Eye]] to the [[Trident#The Red Fork|Red Fork]].{{Ref|GOT110}}
   
===[[Season 2]]===
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 2|''Game of Thrones'': Season 2]]===
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[[File:Gregor Viewer's Guide.jpg|thumb|Gregor commands the torture at Harrenhal.]]
[[File:Tywin_and_Gregor.jpg|thumb|Gregor with Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal]]Gregor continues to raid the villages of the Riverlands from the Lannister army's base at Harrenhal. His men torture the prisoners they take for information about [[the Brotherhood]] and hidden valuables. He selects the prisoners for torture personally. Ser [[Amory Lorch]] adds a group of captured [[Night's Watch]] recruits to the captives. Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] arrives during the torture and asks Gregor what is going on. Gregor says that they were not expecting Tywin for another day. Tywin asks why the prisoners are not in their cells. Gregor says that their cells are overflowing. [[Polliver|One of Lorch's men]] interjects that the prisoners will not be there long. Tywin asks if they are so well manned that they can afford to discard able and skilled prisoners. He asks a [[Gendry|prisoner]] if he has a trade and learns that he is a smith. Tywin orders the prisoners put to work, sparing the young man.<ref>"[[Garden of Bones]]"</ref>
 
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Gregor continues to raid the villages of the Riverlands from the Lannister army's base at [[Harrenhal]]. His men torture the prisoners they take for information about [[Brotherhood Without Banners|the Brotherhood]] and hidden valuables. He selects the prisoners for torture personally. Ser [[Amory Lorch]] adds a group of captured [[Night's Watch]] recruits to the captives. Tywin arrives during the torture and asks Gregor what is going on. Gregor says that they were not expecting Tywin for another day. Tywin asks why the prisoners are not in their cells. Gregor says that their cells are overflowing. [[Polliver|One of Lorch's men]] interjects that the prisoners will not be there long.{{Ref|GOT204}}
   
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Tywin asks if they are so well manned that they can afford to discard able and skilled prisoners. He asks a [[Gendry Baratheon|prisoner]] if he has a trade and learns that he is a smith. Tywin orders the prisoners put to work, sparing the young man.{{Ref|GOT204}}
Following the assassination of Ser Amory just outside Lord Tywin's chamber Ser Gregor is tasked with finding the culprit. Tywin fears that he was the intended target and has Ser Gregor hang dozens of their own men. Ser Gregor suggests that an infiltrator from the [[Brotherhood Without Banners]] was responsible and Lord Tywin dispatches him to pressure the [[smallfolk]] of [[the Riverlands]] into giving up the members of the Brotherhood.<ref>"[[A Man Without Honor]]"</ref> Tywin marches back to the Westerlands and leaves Gregor to serve as castellan at Harrenhal.<ref>"[[The Prince of Winterfell]]"</ref>
 
===[[Season 3]]===
 
[[Robb Stark]] and his army get to Harrenhal, finding that Gregor Clegane has left the castle with his men. To their horror, they discover that Ser Gregor has executed the remaining 200 Northmen and Rivermen prisoners at Harrenhal, leaving their bodies to rot.<ref>"[[Valar Dohaeris]]"</ref>
 
   
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When the [[Ironborn]] under the command of [[Theon Greyjoy]] [[Fight at Torrhen's Square|attack Torrhen’s Square]] to lure the remaining Stark forces away from [[Winterfell]], Ser [[Rodrik Cassel]] assumes that it could be a raiding party led by the Mountain or sellswords paid by Tywin.{{Ref|GOT205}}
Ser Gregor is later [[Battle of Stone Mill|expelled]] from [[Stone Mill]] by a force led by Lord [[Edmure Tully]], forcing him to flee south to [[Casterly Rock]].<ref>"[[Walk of Punishment]]"</ref>
 
   
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[[File:Tywin_and_Gregor.jpg|thumb|Gregor with Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal.]]
===[[Season 4]]===
 
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Following the assassination of Ser Amory just outside Tywin's chamber, Gregor is tasked with finding the culprit. Tywin fears that he was the intended target and has Ser Gregor hang over 30 of their own men. Gregor suggests an infiltrator from the [[Brotherhood Without Banners]] was responsible and Tywin dispatches him to pressure the [[smallfolk]] of the [[Riverlands]] into giving up the members of the Brotherhood.{{Ref|GOT207}} Tywin marches back to the Westerlands and leaves Gregor to serve as castellan at Harrenhal.{{Ref|GOT208}}
[[Polliver]] tells Gregor's brother when meeting in a tavern further north, that whilst loyal to the Mountain and the Lannisters, Polliver wasn't in agreement with Gregor's torturous methods because of it being repetitive and boring.<ref>"[[Two Swords]]"</ref>
 
   
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 3|''Game of Thrones'': Season 3]]===
==Appearances==
 
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Robb and his army get to Harrenhal, finding that Gregor has left the castle with his men. To their horror, they discover that Gregor has executed the remaining 200 Northmen and Rivermen prisoners at Harrenhal, leaving their bodies to rot.{{Ref|GOT301}}
{{Season One Appearances|4=yes|5=yes}}
 
{{Season Two Appearances||||yes|7=yes|8=yes}}
 
   
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Gregor is later [[Battle of the Fords|expelled]] from [[Stone Mill]] by a force led by Robb's uncle, [[Edmure Tully]], forcing him to flee south to [[Casterly Rock]]. However, Robb chides his uncle for his actions, explaining that he wanted to draw the Mountain into the west where they could kill him.{{Ref|GOT303}}
==Image gallery==
 
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<gallery captionalign="left">
 
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 4|''Game of Thrones'': Season 4]]===
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Oberyn Martell discusses with Tyrion how the last time he was in King's Landing, it was for the wedding of his sister Elia to Rhaegar. He also states that during the Sack of King's Landing, his sister was raped and murdered by Gregor. Oberyn believes that Tyrion's father, Tywin, was the one to give the order to the Mountain. He told Tyrion that he intended to avenge her.
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Polliver tells Gregor's brother Sandor when meeting in a tavern further north, that while loyal to the Mountain and the Lannisters, Polliver wasn't in agreement with Gregor's torturous methods because they were repetitive and boring.{{Ref|GOT401}}
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[[File:TheMountainMockingbird.jpg|thumb|Clegane is called upon to fight by Cersei Lannister.]]
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When Tyrion demands a [[trial by combat]], Gregor is quickly appointed the Crown's champion by Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] in order to deter anyone from fighting for Tyrion. Gregor is seen slaughtering prisoners and Cersei compliments him on his form, agreeing that it doesn't matter who faces him. Tyrion first asks his brother Jaime to fight for him, but he declines, saying that he simply cannot fight like he used to with the loss of his sword hand. Tyrion then asks his friend [[Bronn]] to be his champion, but he too refuses, arguing that the Mountain is an incredibly dangerous fighter, one that would cost him his life if he makes a single mistake. Finally, Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] approaches Tyrion and volunteers to be his champion, as he wants to avenge his sister.{{Ref|GOT407}}
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[[File:Mountain and viper ep.jpg|thumb|The Mountain battles Oberyn to the death.]]
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Gregor fights Oberyn at Tyrion's trial by combat, clad in a heavy plated armor and wielding a large broad sword in one hand. Despite his immense size and strength, Gregor is no match for Oberyn's swift and agile fighting style. Oberyn manages to knock Gregor's helmet off early into the duel and proceeds ​to slowly cut him down, all the while taunting him and demanding he admit to the rape and murder of Elia Martell and her children, chanting ever more loudly "you raped her; you murdered her; you killed her children."{{Ref|GOT408}}
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[[File:Mountain and viper fight.jpg|thumb|Oberyn gains the upper hand over Gregor.]]
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Oberyn eventually severs ​Clegane's hamstring, bringing the giant to his knees. Oberyn presses his advantage by jumping and thrusting his spear into Gregor's chest, severely injuring the gigantic man and seemingly sealing his defeat. Thinking his opponent is fully incapacitated, Oberyn removes his spear from Gregor's chest and circles him, refusing to land a killing blow until Gregor admits that he killed Elia and reveals who orchestrated it, directing his gaze accusingly at Tywin. However, in his hubris, Oberyn is unexpectedly caught off guard while standing too close to his opponent. Gregor trips Oberyn, spilling him to the ground, seizes him by the neck and slamming his fist squarely into his face, instantly knocking out several of his teeth.{{Ref|GOT408}}
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[[File:Game-Of-Thrones-Oberyns-crushed-head-and-wounded-Mountain.jpg|thumb|The Mountain crushes Oberyn's skull with his bare hands.]]
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Berserk with fury at nearly being killed by his opponent, Gregor pins Oberyn to the ground and proceeds to gouge out his eyeballs, making him scream in agony, as he roars for all to hear: "Elia Martell! I killed her children! Then I raped her! Then I smashed her head... in like this!." He then crushes Oberyn's skull, making his paramour [[Ellaria Sand]] scream in horror. Gregor collapses beside his fallen opponent from the wounds he sustained as Tywin announces that, according to the rules of trial by combat, Oberyn's death has officially sealed the fate of Tyrion and sentences him to death.{{Ref|GOT408}}
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[[File:Pycelle in gregor examining.png|thumb|Gregor's injuries are examined.]]
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Despite his exceedingly gruesome death, Oberyn nonetheless extracts a measure of posthumous revenge. Before the duel, Oberyn had his spearheads coated with [[manticore]] venom, one of the deadliest [[Poison|poisons]] in the known world. Gregor's wounds rapidly start putrefying, emitting an overpowering stench. As a final torture, the venom forces him to remain conscious through the whole ordeal, even as his flesh dies and peels off his body. [[Pycelle]] regretfully tells Cersei that Gregor is beyond any hope of healing.{{Ref|GOT410}}
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[[File:Gregor and qyburn.jpg|thumb|Qyburn decides to experiment on Gregor.]]
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[[Qyburn]], however, an expelled former maester with extensive medical knowledge gained from "repugnant" and "unnatural" experimentation on living people, suggests that he may be able to save him. Pycelle objects, citing Qyburn's dismissal from the maester's order for performing unnatural and obscene experiments. Cersei dismisses Pycelle and gives Qyburn permission to do anything he can to save Ser Gregor (likely out of gratitude for sealing her brother's fate 'revenge' for the death of Joffrey), though Qyburn says that his unorthodox methods may "change" him. She nervously asks if he means the process will weaken Gregor, but Qyburn knowingly assures her it will not.{{Ref|GOT410}}
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 5|''Game of Thrones'': Season 5]]===
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A moribund Gregor Clegane remains in [[Qyburn]]'s laboratory in the dungeons below the Red Keep as the experiments continue.{{Ref|GOT502}} Cersei visits Qyburn and asks him about the state of his work, while glancing at Gregor's covered body, and Qyburn assures her it is going very well, though there is still a way to go. Then, Gregor suddenly spasms, and Qyburn gently shushes him and tells him to go easy.{{Ref|GOT503}} During Cersei's imprisonment by the Faith, Qyburn reminds her that ''"the work continues."''{{Ref|GOT508}}
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[[File:Mountainstein.png|thumb|A transformed Ser Gregor carries Cersei into the Red Keep.]]
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After Cersei's [[walk of atonement]], she returns to the Keep where Qyburn covers her up and is pleased to introduce the "newest member" of the Kingsguard. The Mountain stands as tall as ever, fully covered in Kingsguard plate armor. Only his reddened eyes, surrounded by pale bluish flesh, are visible through his helmet. With Cersei's feet injured and bleeding, he is instructed to carry her. As he does so, Qyburn informs Cersei that Clegane has taken a holy vow of silence to last until all of Tommen's enemies are dead and the evil has been driven from the realm.{{Ref|GOT510}}
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 6|''Game of Thrones'': Season 6]]===
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[[File:Home 09.jpg|thumb|180x180px|Gregor begins to persecute anyone who goes against Cersei.]]
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Gregor is present standing guard over Cersei when Jaime returns from [[Dorne]] with [[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]]'s body.{{Ref|GOT601}} Later, Gregor continues to serve Cersei without question. He finds a [[King's Landing boaster|man who boasts of having flashed his penis]] at Cersei during her walk and bashes his head against a wall, killing him.{{Ref|GOT602}}
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[[File:Oathbreaker 16.jpg|thumb|Cersei reveals her plan to use Gregor.]]
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Back at the Red Keep, he accompanies Cersei when she attempts to attend Myrcella's funeral, only to be stopped by a group of Lannister soldiers, who have arrived to prevent her from leaving on King [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen]]'s orders. Although Gregor intimidates the [[Lannister captain|captain]] with his size, Cersei acquiesces, and he escorts her back to her room.{{Ref|GOT602}}
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Gregor follows Cersei and Jaime into Qyburn's laboratory, where the former Maester tries to win the service of the [[little birds]] by offering them candied plums from Dorne; the children are extremely frightened by the towering knight and quickly flee the room. Jaime asks what Qyburn has done to Gregor, to which the latter replies with "a number of things." Jaime wonders whether Gregor is able to understand what they are saying, then insults his intelligence by questioning whether he ever understood complete sentences at all, to which the huge knight menacingly turns his head towards Jaime. Qyburn assures that Gregor understands well enough. Jaime suggested sending Ser Gregor to the High Septon to crush him and his Faith Militants. Cersei disagrees, saying they can't let Ser Gregor face them all and that he only needs to face one, implying the coming trial by combat.{{Ref|GOT603}}
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[[File:Oathbreaker 22.jpg|thumb|180x180px|Gregor acts as Cersei's protector when she intervenes the Small Council. ]]
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At the Small Council, Pycelle expresses his disgusts about Qyburn's treatment of Ser Gregor, calling him an abomination. He attempts to suggest that it would be in everyone's best interest to have the "beast" destroyed, but he was cut short when he becomes aware of the presence of Cersei, Jaime and Gregor himself. Frightened by the huge man, Pycelle cannot keep himself from passing gas. Cersei suggests the Small Council gets on with urgent matters, as they cannot make them leave. Kevan replies that Cersei and Jaime cannot make them stay either, unless they set Gregor to kill them. As everyone except Cersei and Jaime leave, Pycelle cowers past Ser Gregor, who coldly looks back.{{Ref|GOT603}}
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[[File:The Broken Man 01.jpg|thumb|Gregor guards Cersei during her conversation with Olenna.]]
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After Cersei gets word of Olenna Tyrell's intention to return to Highgarden, she confronts her. Ser Gregor Clegane follows in the Queen Mother's wake and silently stands guard behind her.{{Ref|GOT607}} When Lancel and several other members of the Faith Militant enter the Red Keep, Cersei, Qyburn, and Ser Gregor arrive to confront them. Lancel tells Cersei that the High Septon wishes to speak with her, but Cersei refuses, and when Lancel does not leave at her command, Gregor stands in his way as the Faith attempt to forcibly take Cersei.{{Ref|GOT608}}
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[[File:Mountain kills No One Ep.jpg|thumb|Ser Gregor easily kills a member of the Faith Militant.]]
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He remains unmoved when Lancel orders him to stand down. One of the Sparrows attacked Gregor, and although his weapon's spikes pierce Gregor's plate, Gregor does not say a word or appear to even acknowledge any injury. When the Sparrow tries to attack again, Gregor grabs him by the throat, lifting him into the air and throwing him to the ground. While Lancel and the other Sparrows look on in horror, the towering knight kneels beside him and tears his head off. Lancel and the others thereby stand down.{{Ref|GOT608}}
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[[File:Gregor Cersei Qyburn.jpg|thumb|Gregor stands by Cersei as her plan to use him in a trial by combat crumbles.]]
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Ser Gregor accompanies Cersei and Qyburn to the [[throne room]], where Tommen is about to make a royal announcement. As Cersei attempts to stand besides her son, she is barred by Kevan Lannister, who tells her place is on the gallery with the other ladies of the court. Cersei reluctantly takes her place there with Gregor following her, causing the women to hastily make place. Tommen announces that Cersei and Loras will stand trial before seven septons and that trial by combat is forbidden in the Seven Kingdoms, thereby nullifying Cersei's plans on having the Mountain fight as her champion again.{{Ref|GOT608}}
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On the day of her and [[Loras Tyrell]]'s trial, Cersei sends Gregor to Tommen's chambers, to prevent him from going to the [[Great Sept of Baelor]] to protect him from its destruction. Tommen tries to get past but Gregor easily holds him back. Tommen later commits suicide after hearing of [[Margaery Tyrell]]'s death in the [[destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor]].{{Ref|GOT610}}
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[[File:Here-he-lightly-lightened.JPG|thumb|Ser Gregor prepares to torture Septa Unella.]]
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Gregor is summoned by Cersei to the [[Red Keep]] dungeons after the explosion, being introduced to Cersei's newest prisoner, Septa [[Unella]]. After removing his helmet, revealing his withered and mangled face, Gregor is left alone with Unella, who screams in terror as the Mountain looms over her, ready to carry out his orders to torture the Septa for imprisoning and humiliating Cersei. Later, when Cersei is crowned as queen, he is seen looming beside the Iron Throne, gazing into the crowd.{{Ref|GOT610}}
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 7|''Game of Thrones'': Season 7]]===
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[[file:Gregor Clegane Season 7.jpg|thumb|307x307px|Gregor defends Cersei.]]
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Gregor is present when Cersei holds court, and moves to protect his queen when [[Euron Greyjoy]] steps too close to the throne.{{Ref|GOT701}}
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He is also present when Cersei holds court to the nobility of the [[Reach]].{{Ref|GOT702}}
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Gregor is also present when Cersei hosts a grand reception with Lord Euron and his prisoners [[Yara Greyjoy]], Ellaria, and [[Tyene Sand]]. He was later present in the dungeons with Qyburn when Cersei confronts her prisoners Ellaria and Tyene over the murder of her daughter. While Cersei had toyed with ordering Gregor to smash their heads like he did with Oberyn, she instead settles for poisoning Tyene with the [[long farewell]] and forcing Ellaria to watch her daughter's final death throes.{{Ref|GOT703}}
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[[File:CerseisGroupArrives.png|thumb|180x180px|Cersei and her followers arrive at the Dragonpit.]]
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When [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]] and her retainers are set to arrive in King's Landing to negotiate an [[Dragonpit Summit|armistice]] with Cersei and her royal army, Cersei has Clegane stand in as her personal bodyguard. Even before they set out to the [[Dragonpit]], where the meeting is stated to be held, she makes preparations with Qyburn, Jaime and Clegane. She orders Ser Gregor to first kill Daenerys, then Tyrion, then Jon, and the rest of them in any order if the meeting goes wrong. Together with Clegane, Cersei then sets out to meet their guests. When their procession arrives in the Dragonpit, Sandor Clegane—who is with the group of Daenerys—is shocked to see the state of his hated brother.{{Ref|GOT707}}
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[[File:Cleganes_finale_ep7.jpg|270x270px|thumb|Gregor is confronted by his brother.]]
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Once Gregor has taken his place behind Cersei, Sandor approaches him. Sandor hatefully states that Gregor was now uglier than Sandor and that this was not how it would end for Gregor. Sandor continues, claiming Gregor knew that Sandor will be coming for him, before returning to his group. Accordingly, Gregor steps back behind Cersei, only to emerge once more when Daenerys arrives on the dragon [[Drogon]].{{Ref|GOT707}}
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When Euron Greyjoy takes too many liberties during the parley, threatening the fragile peace, Cersei orders him to sit down or leave. Clegane threateningly steps forward to further stress her point. During the parley, Daenerys's group releases a [[Captured wight|wight]] to prove the threat the undead pose. Clegane was ready to shield Cersei from the wight, but Sandor yanks it back with a chain. When Jon Snow later reveals to Cersei that he already swore allegiance to Daenerys, Cersei calls off the parley and returns to the Red Keep with her retainers, Clegane included. To convince her to accept the armistice, Tyrion follows her and is escorted to her chambers by Clegane, who visibly makes Tyrion uneasy. Clegane escorts Tyrion into the room and remains in the back while Cersei and Tyrion argue and discuss.{{Ref|GOT707}}
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He is ready to execute Tyrion when the dwarf demands he do so, but Cersei never gives the order. Instead, Tyrion actually manages to convince Cersei to come to the Dragonpit again and, accompanied by Clegane and the others, Cersei turns up once more to announce that she will send her armies north to assist in fighting the dead. This, however, is a lie and Cersei has no intention of doing so.{{Ref|GOT707}}
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[[File:JaimeThreatenedByClegane.png|thumb|180x180px|Jaime realizes that his life is threatened by Clegane.]]
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The group returns to the Red Keep. When Jaime made it clear to Cersei that he would join the fight against the army of the dead with or without her, Clegane suddenly prevents him from leaving the room. Cersei calls Jaime a traitor for disobeying her commands and stating that no one walks away from her. When Cersei nods, Clegane draws his sword, waiting for Cersei to give the order to execute Jaime. However, Jaime called Cersei out on her bluff and walks right past Clegane, who does not intervene, and out of the room.{{Ref|GOT707}}
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 8|''Game of Thrones'': Season 8]]===
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[[File:Cersei Gates S8 EP4.jpg|thumb|Gregor carries out his duty in Missandei's execution.]]
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Gregor is present when Euron and Captain [[Harry Strickland]] announce the arrival of the [[Golden Company]] to Cersei. Afterwards, Euron makes another move on Cersei, but Clegane stops him from proceeding with a menacing stare. Nevertheless, when the queen finally allows Euron to have his way with her, Clegane does not intervene.{{Ref|GOT801}} During the [[parley]] outside the gates of King's Landing, Gregor carries out Cersei's order of executing [[Missandei]].{{Ref|GOT804}}
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[[File:GREGORGRABSSANDORBELLS.jpeg|thumb|Gregor kills Qyburn.]]
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During the [[Battle of King's Landing]], Gregor stays by Cersei's side to guard her. As Daenerys intensifies Drogon's fiery assault on the Red Keep, Qyburn convinces Cersei to flee her tower while Gregor protects them both from the falling debris. On the stairs they are confronted by Sandor who slays all the surviving Kingsguard except Gregor who remains at Cersei's side. Gregor wishes to fight Sandor but Cersei and Qyburn order him to guard her. In anger, he bashes in Qyburn's skull while Cersei flees past both of the brothers.{{Ref|GOT805}}
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[[File:Clegane Battle S8 Ep5.jpg|thumb|Sandor confronts Gregor.]]
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In the ensuing duel, Sandor proves himself better at sword fighting than Gregor and stabs him, but fails to kill the creature. Gregor brutally thrashes and chokes Sandor who stabs him many times in vain. While trying to crush Sandor’s skull, Gregor is stabbed through his left eye, though even this fails to kill him and Gregor begins to pull the blade out. Seeing an opportunity, Sandor tackles Gregor into a crumbling wall, sending them both falling from the Red Keep tower to their deaths in the burning city below.{{Ref|GOT805}}
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==Personality and traits==
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{{ReferencesSection}}
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{{Quote|I wanted him to chase us, which he would have done because he is a mad dog without a single strategic thought in his head.|Robb Stark aptly describes the Mountain.|Walk of Punishment (episode)}}
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Gregor is notorious for his brutal and savage nature, remorselessly killing unarmed opponents half his size or leading the torture of helpless villagers. Often referred to as "Tywin Lannister's mad dog", Gregor has an insatiable bloodlust that he releases through acts of extreme violence. He is quick to anger and never shows any fear of acting on it, since there are not many who would dare try to stop him. One of the few people he has ever shown any loyalty or respect toward are Tywin and Robert.
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Gregor's short fuse and utter lack of a conscience often showed his lack of honor. In addition, he does not appear to be very bright, relying on brute force to get the job done without thinking of the long-term consequences.
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As a warrior, Gregor is widely feared for his terrifying and gigantic size and superhuman strength. He is a giant of a man, standing well over seven feet in height (eight feet in the novels) and weighing over 500 pounds. In combat, his immense strength and beastly size gives him a huge advantage over almost any opponent, allowing him to defeat men who have far more skill. His weapon of choice is an enormous greatsword that most men would never be able to swing with even two hands, but which Gregor is strong enough to wield one-handed. Gregor also wears thick armor too heavy for most knights to move in, let alone fight in, providing him almost impenetrable defense against blades.
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Following his treatment by Qyburn, the Mountain is no longer capable of speech, but the process has made him even stronger than he once was. His grotesque, deathly appearance is usually hidden beneath his armor. He is now totally obedient to his mistress, the queen and heeds her every whim without question.
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==Quotes==
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===Spoken by Gregor===
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{{Quote|Sword!|Gregor Clegane to his squire.|The Wolf and the Lion}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Gregor Clegane|Killing [[Brotherhood Without Banners|them]] isn't the problem. It's ''finding'' them.|Tywin Lannister|You gone soft, Clegane? I always thought you had a [[Sack of King's Landing|talent for violence]].|Gregor Clegane and [[Tywin Lannister]]|A Man Without Honor}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Gregor Clegane|Who am I fighting?|Cersei Lannister|Does it matter?|[[Cersei Lannister]] emphasizes Gregor's ability to beat anyone in battle.|Mockingbird}}
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{{Dialogue a-b-a|Oberyn Martell|Have they told you who I am?|Gregor Clegane|Some dead man!|I am the brother of Elia Martell, and do you know why I've come all the way to [[King's Landing|this stinking shitpile of a city]]? For ''you''!|[[Oberyn Martell]] to Gregor before they fight in [[Tyrion Lannister]]'s [[Second trial by combat of Tyrion Lannister|trial by combat]].|The Mountain and the Viper}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Oberyn Martell|Say her name! You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children! Say it, say her name! SAY IT!|Gregor Clegane|Elia Martell! I killed her children! Then I raped her! Then I smashed her head in...like ''this''!|Gregor finally confesses his most infamous atrocity.|The Mountain and the Viper}}
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===Spoken about Gregor===
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{{Quote|Taller by a foot than any man I've ever met. Saw him cut the blacksmith in two, saw him take the head off a horse with a single swing of his sword.|[[Joss (A Golden Crown)|Joss]] describes Gregor.|A Golden Crown}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Pycelle|Why should Ser Gregor turn brigand? The man is an anointed knight.|Petyr|I've heard him called Tywin Lannister's mad dog. I'm sure you have as well.|[[Pycelle]] and [[Petyr Baelish]].|A Golden Crown}}
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{{Quote|See that he doesn't get drunk in the evenings. He's poor company when he's sober, but he's better at his work.|Tywin to [[Arya Stark]] about Gregor.|The Prince of Winterfell}}
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{{Quote|Years after, servants started disappearing in our keep. And even a sister, I don't remember. But nobody could prove anything against Gregor, or dared if they caught him at it.|[[Sandor Clegane]] talks about Gregor.|House Clegane (short)}}
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{{Quote|I wanted to draw the Mountain into the West, into ''our'' country, where we could surround him and kill him. I wanted him to chase us, as he would have done because he is a mad dog without a strategic thought in his head. I could have had that head on a spike by now.|[[Robb Stark]] emphasizes Gregor's lack of intelligence which could have been used against him to [[Edmure Tully]].|Walk of Punishment (episode)}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Tyrion Lannister|Does he frighten you so much?|Bronn|I'd be a bloody fool if he didn't frighten me. He's freakish big and freakish strong, and quicker than you'd expect for a man of that size.|[[Bronn]] explains his reasons for refusing to fight Gregor.|Mockingbird}}
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{{Dialogue a-b-a|Sandor Clegane|You say [[Jon Snow|your brother]] gave you [[Needle|that sword]]? My brother gave me this! ''[points to his facial scars]'' It was just like you said a while back. He pressed me to the fire like I was a nice, juicy mutton chop.|Arya Stark|Why?|He thought I stole one of his toys. I didn't steal it, I was just playing with it. The pain was bad, the smell was worse, but the worst thing was that it was my brother who did it. And my father who protected him, told everyone my bedding caught fire. You think ''you're'' on your own?|Sandor tells Arya about how Gregor scarred him.|Mockingbird}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Ellaria Sand|You're going to fight ''that''?!|Oberyn Martell|I'm going to ''kill'' that.|[[Ellaria Sand]] and [[Oberyn Martell]] before the [[Second trial by combat of Tyrion Lannister|trial by combat]].|The Mountain and the Viper}}
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{{Quote|May I have the honor of presenting the newest member of the [[Kingsguard]]? If it please, Your Grace, he's taken a holy vow of silence. He's sworn that he will not speak until all [[Tommen Baratheon|His Grace]]'s enemies are dead, and evil has been driven from the realm.|[[Qyburn]] to Cersei about the new Gregor.|Mother's Mercy}}
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{{Dialogue a-b-a-b|Jaime Lannister|What did you do to him exactly? I haven't been able to get a clear answer.|Qyburn|Oh, uh...a number of things.|Does he understand what we're saying? I mean, to the extent that he ever understood complete sentences in the first place. (Gregor looks at him menacingly)|He understands well enough.|Jaime Lannister and Qyburn about Gregor.|Oathbreaker}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Cersei Lannister|And seeing as you cannot make us leave, we'd best get on with it.|Kevan Lannister|No, we cannot make you leave. And you cannot make us stay. Not unless you're gonna have that ''thing'' murder us all.|Kevan voices his disinterest in talking to Cersei and Jaime while Gregor is present.|Oathbreaker}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Lancel Lannister|Order your man to step aside or there will be violence.|Cersei Lannister|I choose violence.|Lancel threatens to unleash the Faith Militant on Gregor, and Cersei accepts their challenge.|No One}}
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{{Quote|This is Ser Gregor Clegane. He's quiet too. Your gods have forsaken you. This is your god now.|Cersei introducing Gregor to [[Unella]].|The Winds of Winter}}
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{{Quote|Remember me? Yeah, you do. You're even fucking uglier than I am now. What did they do to you? Doesn't matter. It's not how it ends for you, brother. You know who's coming for you. You've always known.|Sandor Clegane to Gregor.|The Dragon and the Wolf}}
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{{Quote|Yeah, that's you. That's what you've always been.|Sandor Clegane to Gregor upon knocking his helm off and seeing his monstrously deformed face.|The Bells}}
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==Family==
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{{Clegane tree}}
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==Behind the scenes==
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*Gregor Clegane is the only character in the entire series who has been portrayed by more than two actors in different seasons. He was initially played by [[Conan Stevens]]. The second actor, [[Ian Whyte]], was originally to continue portraying the character after the second season, but was instead cast as [[Dongo]] and later [[Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun]]. Whyte's replacement, [[Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson]], is actually nineteen years younger than [[Rory McCann]], who portrays Gregor's younger brother [[Sandor Clegane]].
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*[[Michael Homick]] was a stunt double for [[Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson]] in the role of Gregor Clegane.
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==In the books==
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[[File:Roman Papsuev - Gregor Clegane.png|thumb|300px|right|Gregor Clegane by Roman "Amok" Papsuev.©]]
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In the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels, Ser Gregor Clegane is a savage brute of a man, freakishly tall at nearly 8 feet in height, and well over 30 stone in weight (420 lbs./190 kg), most of it muscle. Gregor is so strong that he can easily wield with one hand greatswords which are meant to be wielded with two hands, allowing him to carry a shield as well. He is so strong that he has been known to cleave men in two with a single blow of his sword.
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Known as "the Mountain That Rides", Gregor is one of Tywin Lannister's chief enforcers. Gregor's knighthood is regarded as a hypocritical mockery of justice by many, as he is a thoroughly dishonorable and undisciplined butcher. While Gregor is so strong that he can easily fight the strongest knights in Westeros, his greatest enthusiasm in wartime is for burning out the homes of peasants who cannot possibly fight back, and torturing their women and children to death. Indeed, Gregor's immense size isn't really his main attribute to Tywin, so much as his utter enthusiasm for committing atrocities. With a "might makes right" mentality, Gregor feels that his immense bulk and strength gives him impunity to behave as he does, as few would dare to challenge him. While Gregor is incredibly dangerous in combat, he relies more on sheer strength than on speed or skill. Gregor has gone through two wives, who died from the extremely rough treatment they received from him, though there are rumors that he killed them on purpose. His father and younger sister also died on suspicious circumstances. [[Sandor Clegane]] left when Gregor succeeded their father and never returned.
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Gregor has a nearly uncontrollable temper, and is capable of very brutal violence for the slightest provocation. According to Sandor, he once killed one of his men for snoring. When he was in Harrenhal, a servant girl named Pia spoke when he wanted silence, so he smashed her face in with his mailed fist, breaking her nose and many of her teeth.
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Gregor's men-at-arms are known as "'''The Mountain's men'''." His cruelty and brutality are clearly mirrored in them. The best thing that can be said about them is that they are less vile and violent than the Brave Companions, [[Locke|Vargo Hoat]]'s sellsword company. Those who are mentioned specifically in the books are:
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*[[Joss Stilwood]], his squire.
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*{Rafford} aka Raff the Sweetling, who killed [[Lommy]]. Killed by [[Arya Stark]] at [[Braavos]].
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*Dunsen, who took [[Gendry Baratheon|Gendry]]'s bull helm.
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*{The [[Tickler]]}, a torturer. Killed by Arya Stark during a [[Brawl in a tavern in the Riverlands|brawl]] at the [[Inn at the Crossroads]].
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*{[[Polliver]]}, who took [[Needle|Arya's sword]]. Killed by the Hound at the Inn at the Crossroads, in the same brawl in which Arya kills the Tickler.
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*{Chiswyck}, who assisted the Tickler with the torturing. Killed by [[Jaqen H'ghar]].
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*Shitmouth, the most foul-mouthed of Gregor's soldiers, but less cruel than the rest. Gives extra food to captives if they ask him nicely.
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*Eggon
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*Tobbot
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*{Unnamed squire} of [[House Sarsfield]]. Killed by Arya Stark at the Inn at the Crossroads.
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*Two others, one castrated and the other executed for committing rape and murder in Maidenpool on the orders of [[Randyll Tarly]].
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*Unnamed soldier, executed for attempted rape at Harrenhal by Ser [[Ilyn Payne]] on the orders of [[Jaime Lannister]].
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When Sandor escorts Sansa back to the Red Keep after the tournament feast, at Joffrey's command, he tells her the story of how his face was burned (not Littlefinger as happens in the TV series): a wood carver gave toys to both of the Clegane children in order to gain their father's patronage. Sandor wanted the articulated jointed knight that Gregor got, so he took it. Gregor was ten and already big enough to be training so he didn't even care about the toy, but when he found six year old Sandor playing with it - without warning he pushed Sandor's head into a brazier and held him there. It took three men to get Sandor away from him, and their father told people that Sandor's bed linens had caught fire. It was later when Gregor was anointed a knight that Sandor Clegane lost all respect for the institution of knighthood, and has steadfastly refused to be knighted himself.
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Sandor also tells Sansa that the death of Hugh of the Vale was not a tournament accident. Ser Hugh had obviously put on the armor himself and had not set the neck protector correctly. He says Gregor saw that, and thus could have sent the blow elsewhere, and that the lance didn't just accidentally deflect upward, as Gregor puts his lance exactly where he intends it to go every time. He meant to kill Ser Hugh, though it isn't clear if this was an assassination to silence Hugh, or just Gregor enjoying the carnage (the revelation about [[Assassination of Jon Arryn|Jon Arryn's death]] supports the latter option).
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In the second novel, while trying to broker an alliance for House Martell's support in the War of the Five Kings, Tyrion offers Doran Martell, among other concessions, to hand over Ser Gregor to face justice for the murders of Princess Elia and Prince Aegon. Tywin disapproves, claiming that Gregor has his uses, and every lord has need of a beast from time to time. Tyrion answers that "the woods are full of beasts", and Tywin says he'll think it over. Later, Tywin decides against the idea, stating that "Ser Gregor has served us well. No other knight in the realm inspires such terror in our enemies"; in order to appease the Martells, he comes up with the idea to put the entire blame on Amory Lorch (who is, quite conveniently, dead). As things turn to be, Tywin's new version of the death of Elia and her children does not stop Oberyn from fighting Gregor.
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Gregor encounters and kills Beric Dondarrion twice (these are the first and the fourth of Beric's seven deaths): he impales Beric on a lance during the [[Battle at the Mummer's Ford]], and on later encounter (whose details are not specified) he stabs Beric in the eye with a dirk. Beric is resurrected on both occasions.
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===Ser Robert Strong===
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While treating Gregor Clegane, Qyburn theorizes that Oberyn had adulterated the manticore venom on his spear with sorcery; thickening it in order to slow its progress through the veins towards the heart, dragging out Gregor's agony. It is also not at Cersei's orders but Tywin's that Gregor is treated, though this is only to get him enough back to health so [[Ilyn Payne]] could execute him. After Gregor's public confession of his part in the murders of Elia Martell and her children, Tywin (who had always dismissed such talk as malicious rumors) intended to publicly execute Gregor in order to appease [[House Martell]], rather than risk their outrage at Elia and Oberyn's deaths causing [[Doran Martell]] to support [[Stannis Baratheon]] (though Tywin was killed by Tyrion before this could happen).
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After Loras is sent to resolve the siege of Dragonstone, Qyburn tells Cersei that in case Loras dies, she will need to find another worthy for the Kingsguard. He claims "I had another sort of champion in mind. What he lacks in gallantry he will give you tenfold in devotion. He will protect your son, kill your enemies, and keep your secrets, and no living man will be able to withstand him." Cersei is skeptical; she orders a gigantic suit of armor at Qyburn's request -despite the blacksmith's insistence no living man can move or fight under such weight- but warns him that if he plays her for a fool, he will pay dearly.
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As a gesture of good will, Cersei assigns Ser [[Balon Swann]] to deliver the supposed skull of Ser Gregor to the Martells, and most of them accept that the Mountain has finally been punished for his crimes (though it is a little consolation to Ellaria, who deeply mourns Oberyn). Only Obara is skeptical, suspecting a deception. Nymeria tells her half-sister to lighten up, as Gregor was the only 8-foot tall man in all of Westeros, and Cersei would be exposed as a liar before the entire continent if it turned out he was somehow still alive. What Nymeria says makes perfect sense, except that Cersei is far from being rational and clever. Obara has no idea how much she is close to the truth.
  +
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Following Cersei's downfall, Qyburn visits her in prison and informs her new champion stands ready. Cersei laughs bitterly, since she can be defended only by a sworn brother of the Kingsguard, but Loras somehow clings to life despite his mortal wounds, thus she cannot make a use of her invincible champion. However, when she hears from Kevan about Ser [[Arys Oakheart]]'s death, she sees a chance of survival: there is an empty place on the Kingsguard that must be filled. She begs her uncle to have Tommen appoint a man whom Qyburn knows his name.
  +
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Following Cersei's walk of penance, Qyburn introduces her to '''Ser Robert Strong''', a man clad from head to toe in white armor (no part of him is visible) and matching Gregor's physique. According to Qyburn, Strong has taken a holy vow of silence until all of King Tommen's enemies are defeated. According to [[Meryn Trant]], Strong never removes his helmet and is never seen to eat or drink, while [[Boros Blount]] claims Strong never uses the privy, which leads many people, including Kevan and Pycelle, to theorize that Robert Strong is actually Gregor, or maybe even a Frankenstein's monster assembled from the Mountain's body as well as other bodies. In the first novel (chapter 17), [[Bran Stark]] has a vision of a stone giant, apparently Ser Robert, and when his visor lifts, there is only darkness and black blood, leaving it ambiguous as to whether or not Strong even has a head.
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In the television series, Cersei's new Kingsguard is not given a name, and what is seen of his face through his helmet matches that of Gregor, somewhat confirming that Gregor and Strong are the same man. In the sixth season of the series, he is still referred to as Gregor Clegane, and that the Robert Strong name having been dropped entirely.
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While in the novels the murder of [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] is assigned to [[Amory Lorch|Ser Amory Lorch]], another knight in the service of Tywin Lannister, the TV-series omitted this and Gregor is blamed for the death of Elia, Aegon and Rhaenys.
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
 
Gregor Clegane.jpg|Gregor played by Conan Stevens in Season 1
 
Gregor Clegane.jpg|Gregor played by Conan Stevens in Season 1
 
Sandor, Gregor & Loras 1x05.jpg|Gregor and his brother Sandor after fighting during the Tourney of the Hand.
 
Sandor, Gregor & Loras 1x05.jpg|Gregor and his brother Sandor after fighting during the Tourney of the Hand.
 
Gregor Viewer's Guide.jpg|Gregor from the second season HBO viewer's guide.
 
Gregor Viewer's Guide.jpg|Gregor from the second season HBO viewer's guide.
Clegane.jpg|Gregor in "[[A Man Without Honor]]"
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Clegane.jpg|Gregor in "[[A Man Without Honor]]."
MountainSeason4.jpg|Gregor in Season 4
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TheMountainMockingbird.jpg|Ser Gregor in "[[Mockingbird]]."
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Gregor Clegane 4x07.jpg
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The Viper vs the Mountain4.jpg|Gregor fighting Oberyn in "[[The Mountain and the Viper]]."
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The Viper vs the Mountain3.jpg|Gregor Clegane battles Oberyn Martell "The Mountain and the Viper."
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Ser Gregor Clegaine Mother's Mercy.jpg|Gregor Clegane as Cersei's new Kingsguard in "[[Mother's Mercy]]."
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GOT S6 20.png
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CleganeMeetsClegane.png|Gregor meets his brother again
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GregorGregorLightenedProfile.png
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
==Family tree==
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==Appearances==
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*{{GOT|Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things}}
{{Template:House Clegane family tree}}
 
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*{{GOT|The Wolf and the Lion}}
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*{{GOT|A Golden Crown}} {{Mentioned}}
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*{{GOT|You Win or You Die}} {{Mentioned}}
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*{{H&L|The Sack of King's Landing - House Targaryen}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{H&L|The Sack of King's Landing - House Baratheon}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{H&L|The Sack of King's Landing - House Stark}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{GOT|Garden of Bones}}
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*{{GOT|A Man Without Honor}}
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*{{GOT|The Prince of Winterfell}}
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*{{H&L|House Clegane}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{H&L|The Westerlands}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{GOT|Mockingbird}}
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*{{GOT|The Mountain and the Viper}}
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*{{GOT|The Children}}
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*{{H&L|House Martell}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{H&L|Robert's Rebellion - Oberyn Martell}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{GOT|The House of Black and White}}
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*{{GOT|High Sparrow}}
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*{{GOT|Mother's Mercy}}
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*{{GOT|The Red Woman}}
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*{{GOT|Home}}
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*{{GOT|Oathbreaker}}
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*{{GOT|The Broken Man}}
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*{{GOT|No One}}
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*{{GOT|The Winds of Winter}}
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*{{H&L|Brotherhood Without Banners}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{H&L|Oldtown}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{GOT|Dragonstone}}
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*{{GOT|Stormborn}}
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*{{GOT|The Queen's Justice}}
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*{{GOT|The Dragon and the Wolf}}
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*{{C&R|The Last Dragons}} {{Illustrated}}
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*{{GOT|Winterfell}}
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*{{GOT|The Last of the Starks}}
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*{{GOT|The Bells}}
   
==In the books==
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==References==
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{{Reflist}}
   
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===Notes===
In the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels, Ser Gregor Clegane is a savage brute of a man, freakishly tall at nearly 8 feet in height, and well over 30 stone in weight (420 lbs./190 kg), most of it muscle. Gregor is so strong that he can easily wield with one hand greatswords which are meant to be wielded with two hands, allowing him to carry a shield as well. He is so strong that he has been known to cleave men in two with a single blow of his sword.
 
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==External links==
Known as "the Mountain That Rides", Gregor is one of Tywin Lannister's chief enforcers. Gregor's knighthood is regarded as a hypocritical mockery of justice by many, as he is a thoroughly dishonorable and undisciplined butcher. While Gregor is so strong that he can easily fight the strongest knights in Westeros, his greatest enthusiasm in wartime is for burning out the homes of peasants who cannot possibly fight back, and torturing their women and children to death. Indeed, Gregor's immense size isn't really his main attribute to Tywin, so much as his utter enthusiasm for committing atrocities. As a "might makes right" mentality, Gregor feels that his immense bulk and strength gives him impunity to behave as his does, as few would dare to challenge him. While Gregor is incredibly dangerous in combat, he relies more on sheer strength than on speed or skill. Gregor has gone through multiple wives, who died from the extremely rough treatment they received from Gregor, though there are rumors that he killed them on purpose. His father and younger sister also died suspiciously. [[Sandor Clegane]] left when Gregor succeeded their father and never returned.
 
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*{{AWOIAF|Robert Strong}}
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*{{WP}}
   
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<!--Succession box-->
When Sandor is told by Joffrey to escort Sansa back to the Red Keep after the tournament feast he tells her the story of how his face was burned (not Littlefinger as happens in the TV series). A wood carver gave toys to both of the Clegane children in order to gain their father's patronage. Sandor wanted the articulated jointed knight that Gregor got so he took it. Gregor was ten and already big enough to be training so he didn't even care about the toy, but when he found six year old Sandor playing with it without warning he pushed Sandor's head into a brazier and held him there. It took three men to get Sandor away from him and their father told people that Sandor's bed linens had caught fire. It was later when Gregor was anointed a knight that Sandor Clegane lost all respect for the institution of knighthood and has steadfastly refused to be knighted himself.
 
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{{Succession box
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| title = Head of [[House Clegane]]
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| before = [[Gregor Clegane's father|Clegane]]
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| after = Unknown
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{{S-end}}
   
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Sandor also tells Sansa that the death of Hugh of the Vale was not a tournament accident. Ser Hugh had obviously put on the armor himself and had not set the neck protector correctly. He says Gregor saw that and thus could have sent the blow elsewhere and that the lance didn't just accidentally deflect upward as Gregor puts his lance exactly where he intends it to go every time. He meant to kill Ser Hugh, though it isn't clear if this was an assassination to silence Hugh, or just Gregor enjoying the carnage.
 
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{{House Clegane}}
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{{House Lannister}}
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{{Kingsguard of Tommen I Baratheon}}
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{{Queensguard of Cersei I Lannister}}
   
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==See also==
 
* {{AWOIAF}} (MAJOR spoilers from the books)
 
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist|2}}
 
{{Clegane navbox}}
 
{{Lannister navbox}}
 
 
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[[Category:Characters]]
 
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[[Category:Status: Alive]]
 
[[Category:House Lannister|Gregor]]
 
[[Category:House Clegane|Gregor]]
 
[[Category:Knights]]
 
[[Category:Season 3 Characters]]
 
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[[Category:Castellans]]
 
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[[Category:Individuals from Game of Thrones: Conquest & Rebellion: An Animated History of the Seven Kingdoms]]
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[[ru:Григор Клиган]]
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[[zh:格雷果·克里冈]]

Latest revision as of 00:03, 18 April 2024

House Clegane
Gregor Clegane
Kingsguard

Tyrion: "Does he frighten you so much?"
Bronn: "I'd be a bloody fool if he didn't frighten me. He's freakish big and freakish strong. And quicker than you'd expect for a man of that size."
Bronn and Tyrion Lannister on the Mountain.[src]

Ser Gregor Clegane was a knight of House Clegane in service to House Lannister, the older brother of Sandor Clegane, and a notoriously fearsome, extremely lethal, and much-feared warrior, with a tendency toward extreme and excessive violence. Due to his size, he is called "The Mountain That Rides" or more often, simply "The Mountain."

Biography

Background

Ser Gregor Clegane was the head of House Clegane, a knightly house from the Westerlands, and the elder brother of Sandor Clegane. When Sandor and Gregor were children, Gregor held his brother's face in a fire for playing with one of his toys without permission, horrifically scarring him.[2] Gregor was a landed knight rather than a full-fledged lord. Gregor was monstrously huge, he was the largest, strongest, and most feared man in Westeros. His monstrous strength and size were unmatched, and he was one of the most powerful and dangerous people in the Seven Kingdoms. He was feared throughout Westeros with a reputation for ferocity, brutality, and anger. He has committed unspeakable acts of violence, such as brutally torturing his victims to death, viciously raping women, and murdering children. He was a fiercely loyal retainer and servant of House Lannister, particularly to Lord Tywin.[8]

Knighting

At the request of Tywin Lannister, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen anoints Gregor as a knight.

Numerous servants have gone missing at the Clegane keep over the years, apparently killed by Gregor for minor slights in one of his infamous fits of rage, and their deaths then covered up. Gregor's own father and sister died under dubious circumstances as well, and Sandor thinks that Gregor may have killed them too. Their sister died when Sandor was too young to remember her well, and their father died years later in what was said to be a "hunting accident." At the request of Tywin, Rhaegar Targaryen himself anointed Gregor as a knight, a great honor, even though Gregor was an infamously dishonorable man.[7]

Slaughter

Gregor about to murder Rhaegar's family.

During Robert's Rebellion, one year after Prince Rhaegar knighted him, Gregor participated in the Sack of King's Landing. After entering the Red Keep, he brutally killed Rhaegar's two children by Elia Martell: their daughter Rhaenys and baby Aegon. He killed baby Aegon by bashing his head against the wall, and then while still covered in the gore from her children, proceeded to viciously torture and rape Elia. After torturing and raping her for several hours, he then horrifically killed her. It is rumored that he killed her by cutting her in half with a single swing of his massive sword,[9][8] although he later claimed to have "smashed her head in with his bare hands."[10]

Despite pleas by Ned Stark, neither Gregor nor Tywin were punished by King Robert for the murders of the royal family, leading to a rift in Ned and Robert's friendship.[11][12][7]

Game of Thrones: Season 1

Gregor Clegane in armor

Gregor participates in the Hand's tourney.

Ser Gregor takes part in the tournament to celebrate Eddard Stark's appointment as Hand of the King. He kills Ser Hugh of the Vale in a joust, horrifying the crowd. Littlefinger tells Sansa that Gregor burned his brother Sandor's face over a naked flame when they were boys because Sandor borrowed one of his toys without asking. He tells her that few people know the story and not to let Sandor know that she does.[2]

Sandor, Gregor & Loras 1x05

Gregor stands defiantly after Robert ends his showdown with Sandor.

When Gregor faces Ser Loras Tyrell, he loses the joust; Loras chose to ride a mare in heat to distract Gregor's stallion. Flying into a rage, Gregor demands his sword, then ruthlessly decapitates his erstwhile mount before the entire horrified crowd. Ignoring his surroundings, he proceeds to knock the surprised Loras off his horse and is on the verge of dishonorably killing him, when his brother Sandor intervenes, fighting him off to protect Loras. The two brothers violently trade swings with their swords, and Gregor only stops when King Robert himself shouts to stop the fight, at which time the enraged Gregor reluctantly relents, throws his sword down in disgust, and leaves.[13]

Catelyn takes Tyrion into custody, on suspicion of the attempted assassination of her son Bran.[2] In response, Gregor is dispatched to raid the Riverlands, her homeland. Refugees from the Riverlands attend court in King's Landing and report that a huge knight who could take the head of a horse off in one blow led the attack and had sacked their villages. Littlefinger asks Eddard: "Remind you of someone?" Eddard sends Beric Dondarrion with a hundred men to bring Gregor to justice. Eddard declares him a false knight and strips him of all ranks and titles, lands and holdings, and sentences him to death.[3] The ruling was made null by Eddard's arrest for treason and subsequent beheading.[14]

The host led by Beric clashes against Gregor at the Mummer's Ford. Gregor is victorious, and Beric is reported dead.[15][16]

However, when Robb Stark's victory against Jaime necessitates Tywin's withdrawal of his forces to Harrenhal, he orders Gregor to take five hundred men and "set the Riverlands on fire" from the Gods Eye to the Red Fork.[17]

Game of Thrones: Season 2

Gregor Viewer's Guide

Gregor commands the torture at Harrenhal.

Gregor continues to raid the villages of the Riverlands from the Lannister army's base at Harrenhal. His men torture the prisoners they take for information about the Brotherhood and hidden valuables. He selects the prisoners for torture personally. Ser Amory Lorch adds a group of captured Night's Watch recruits to the captives. Tywin arrives during the torture and asks Gregor what is going on. Gregor says that they were not expecting Tywin for another day. Tywin asks why the prisoners are not in their cells. Gregor says that their cells are overflowing. One of Lorch's men interjects that the prisoners will not be there long.[6]

Tywin asks if they are so well manned that they can afford to discard able and skilled prisoners. He asks a prisoner if he has a trade and learns that he is a smith. Tywin orders the prisoners put to work, sparing the young man.[6]

When the Ironborn under the command of Theon Greyjoy attack Torrhen’s Square to lure the remaining Stark forces away from Winterfell, Ser Rodrik Cassel assumes that it could be a raiding party led by the Mountain or sellswords paid by Tywin.[18]

Tywin and Gregor

Gregor with Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal.

Following the assassination of Ser Amory just outside Tywin's chamber, Gregor is tasked with finding the culprit. Tywin fears that he was the intended target and has Ser Gregor hang over 30 of their own men. Gregor suggests an infiltrator from the Brotherhood Without Banners was responsible and Tywin dispatches him to pressure the smallfolk of the Riverlands into giving up the members of the Brotherhood.[19] Tywin marches back to the Westerlands and leaves Gregor to serve as castellan at Harrenhal.[20]

Game of Thrones: Season 3

Robb and his army get to Harrenhal, finding that Gregor has left the castle with his men. To their horror, they discover that Gregor has executed the remaining 200 Northmen and Rivermen prisoners at Harrenhal, leaving their bodies to rot.[21]

Gregor is later expelled from Stone Mill by a force led by Robb's uncle, Edmure Tully, forcing him to flee south to Casterly Rock. However, Robb chides his uncle for his actions, explaining that he wanted to draw the Mountain into the west where they could kill him.[22]

Game of Thrones: Season 4

Oberyn Martell discusses with Tyrion how the last time he was in King's Landing, it was for the wedding of his sister Elia to Rhaegar. He also states that during the Sack of King's Landing, his sister was raped and murdered by Gregor. Oberyn believes that Tyrion's father, Tywin, was the one to give the order to the Mountain. He told Tyrion that he intended to avenge her. Polliver tells Gregor's brother Sandor when meeting in a tavern further north, that while loyal to the Mountain and the Lannisters, Polliver wasn't in agreement with Gregor's torturous methods because they were repetitive and boring.[23]

TheMountainMockingbird

Clegane is called upon to fight by Cersei Lannister.

When Tyrion demands a trial by combat, Gregor is quickly appointed the Crown's champion by Queen Cersei Lannister in order to deter anyone from fighting for Tyrion. Gregor is seen slaughtering prisoners and Cersei compliments him on his form, agreeing that it doesn't matter who faces him. Tyrion first asks his brother Jaime to fight for him, but he declines, saying that he simply cannot fight like he used to with the loss of his sword hand. Tyrion then asks his friend Bronn to be his champion, but he too refuses, arguing that the Mountain is an incredibly dangerous fighter, one that would cost him his life if he makes a single mistake. Finally, Prince Oberyn Martell approaches Tyrion and volunteers to be his champion, as he wants to avenge his sister.[24]

Mountain and viper ep

The Mountain battles Oberyn to the death.

Gregor fights Oberyn at Tyrion's trial by combat, clad in a heavy plated armor and wielding a large broad sword in one hand. Despite his immense size and strength, Gregor is no match for Oberyn's swift and agile fighting style. Oberyn manages to knock Gregor's helmet off early into the duel and proceeds ​to slowly cut him down, all the while taunting him and demanding he admit to the rape and murder of Elia Martell and her children, chanting ever more loudly "you raped her; you murdered her; you killed her children."[10]

Mountain and viper fight

Oberyn gains the upper hand over Gregor.

Oberyn eventually severs ​Clegane's hamstring, bringing the giant to his knees. Oberyn presses his advantage by jumping and thrusting his spear into Gregor's chest, severely injuring the gigantic man and seemingly sealing his defeat. Thinking his opponent is fully incapacitated, Oberyn removes his spear from Gregor's chest and circles him, refusing to land a killing blow until Gregor admits that he killed Elia and reveals who orchestrated it, directing his gaze accusingly at Tywin. However, in his hubris, Oberyn is unexpectedly caught off guard while standing too close to his opponent. Gregor trips Oberyn, spilling him to the ground, seizes him by the neck and slamming his fist squarely into his face, instantly knocking out several of his teeth.[10]

Game-Of-Thrones-Oberyns-crushed-head-and-wounded-Mountain

The Mountain crushes Oberyn's skull with his bare hands.

Berserk with fury at nearly being killed by his opponent, Gregor pins Oberyn to the ground and proceeds to gouge out his eyeballs, making him scream in agony, as he roars for all to hear: "Elia Martell! I killed her children! Then I raped her! Then I smashed her head... in like this!." He then crushes Oberyn's skull, making his paramour Ellaria Sand scream in horror. Gregor collapses beside his fallen opponent from the wounds he sustained as Tywin announces that, according to the rules of trial by combat, Oberyn's death has officially sealed the fate of Tyrion and sentences him to death.[10]

Pycelle in gregor examining

Gregor's injuries are examined.

Despite his exceedingly gruesome death, Oberyn nonetheless extracts a measure of posthumous revenge. Before the duel, Oberyn had his spearheads coated with manticore venom, one of the deadliest poisons in the known world. Gregor's wounds rapidly start putrefying, emitting an overpowering stench. As a final torture, the venom forces him to remain conscious through the whole ordeal, even as his flesh dies and peels off his body. Pycelle regretfully tells Cersei that Gregor is beyond any hope of healing.[25]

Gregor and qyburn

Qyburn decides to experiment on Gregor.

Qyburn, however, an expelled former maester with extensive medical knowledge gained from "repugnant" and "unnatural" experimentation on living people, suggests that he may be able to save him. Pycelle objects, citing Qyburn's dismissal from the maester's order for performing unnatural and obscene experiments. Cersei dismisses Pycelle and gives Qyburn permission to do anything he can to save Ser Gregor (likely out of gratitude for sealing her brother's fate 'revenge' for the death of Joffrey), though Qyburn says that his unorthodox methods may "change" him. She nervously asks if he means the process will weaken Gregor, but Qyburn knowingly assures her it will not.[25]

Game of Thrones: Season 5

A moribund Gregor Clegane remains in Qyburn's laboratory in the dungeons below the Red Keep as the experiments continue.[26] Cersei visits Qyburn and asks him about the state of his work, while glancing at Gregor's covered body, and Qyburn assures her it is going very well, though there is still a way to go. Then, Gregor suddenly spasms, and Qyburn gently shushes him and tells him to go easy.[27] During Cersei's imprisonment by the Faith, Qyburn reminds her that "the work continues."[28]

Mountainstein

A transformed Ser Gregor carries Cersei into the Red Keep.

After Cersei's walk of atonement, she returns to the Keep where Qyburn covers her up and is pleased to introduce the "newest member" of the Kingsguard. The Mountain stands as tall as ever, fully covered in Kingsguard plate armor. Only his reddened eyes, surrounded by pale bluish flesh, are visible through his helmet. With Cersei's feet injured and bleeding, he is instructed to carry her. As he does so, Qyburn informs Cersei that Clegane has taken a holy vow of silence to last until all of Tommen's enemies are dead and the evil has been driven from the realm.[4]

Game of Thrones: Season 6

Home 09

Gregor begins to persecute anyone who goes against Cersei.

Gregor is present standing guard over Cersei when Jaime returns from Dorne with Myrcella's body.[29] Later, Gregor continues to serve Cersei without question. He finds a man who boasts of having flashed his penis at Cersei during her walk and bashes his head against a wall, killing him.[30]

Oathbreaker 16

Cersei reveals her plan to use Gregor.

Back at the Red Keep, he accompanies Cersei when she attempts to attend Myrcella's funeral, only to be stopped by a group of Lannister soldiers, who have arrived to prevent her from leaving on King Tommen's orders. Although Gregor intimidates the captain with his size, Cersei acquiesces, and he escorts her back to her room.[30]

Gregor follows Cersei and Jaime into Qyburn's laboratory, where the former Maester tries to win the service of the little birds by offering them candied plums from Dorne; the children are extremely frightened by the towering knight and quickly flee the room. Jaime asks what Qyburn has done to Gregor, to which the latter replies with "a number of things." Jaime wonders whether Gregor is able to understand what they are saying, then insults his intelligence by questioning whether he ever understood complete sentences at all, to which the huge knight menacingly turns his head towards Jaime. Qyburn assures that Gregor understands well enough. Jaime suggested sending Ser Gregor to the High Septon to crush him and his Faith Militants. Cersei disagrees, saying they can't let Ser Gregor face them all and that he only needs to face one, implying the coming trial by combat.[31]

Oathbreaker 22

Gregor acts as Cersei's protector when she intervenes the Small Council.

At the Small Council, Pycelle expresses his disgusts about Qyburn's treatment of Ser Gregor, calling him an abomination. He attempts to suggest that it would be in everyone's best interest to have the "beast" destroyed, but he was cut short when he becomes aware of the presence of Cersei, Jaime and Gregor himself. Frightened by the huge man, Pycelle cannot keep himself from passing gas. Cersei suggests the Small Council gets on with urgent matters, as they cannot make them leave. Kevan replies that Cersei and Jaime cannot make them stay either, unless they set Gregor to kill them. As everyone except Cersei and Jaime leave, Pycelle cowers past Ser Gregor, who coldly looks back.[31]

The Broken Man 01

Gregor guards Cersei during her conversation with Olenna.

After Cersei gets word of Olenna Tyrell's intention to return to Highgarden, she confronts her. Ser Gregor Clegane follows in the Queen Mother's wake and silently stands guard behind her.[32] When Lancel and several other members of the Faith Militant enter the Red Keep, Cersei, Qyburn, and Ser Gregor arrive to confront them. Lancel tells Cersei that the High Septon wishes to speak with her, but Cersei refuses, and when Lancel does not leave at her command, Gregor stands in his way as the Faith attempt to forcibly take Cersei.[33]

Mountain kills No One Ep

Ser Gregor easily kills a member of the Faith Militant.

He remains unmoved when Lancel orders him to stand down. One of the Sparrows attacked Gregor, and although his weapon's spikes pierce Gregor's plate, Gregor does not say a word or appear to even acknowledge any injury. When the Sparrow tries to attack again, Gregor grabs him by the throat, lifting him into the air and throwing him to the ground. While Lancel and the other Sparrows look on in horror, the towering knight kneels beside him and tears his head off. Lancel and the others thereby stand down.[33]

Gregor Cersei Qyburn

Gregor stands by Cersei as her plan to use him in a trial by combat crumbles.

Ser Gregor accompanies Cersei and Qyburn to the throne room, where Tommen is about to make a royal announcement. As Cersei attempts to stand besides her son, she is barred by Kevan Lannister, who tells her place is on the gallery with the other ladies of the court. Cersei reluctantly takes her place there with Gregor following her, causing the women to hastily make place. Tommen announces that Cersei and Loras will stand trial before seven septons and that trial by combat is forbidden in the Seven Kingdoms, thereby nullifying Cersei's plans on having the Mountain fight as her champion again.[33]

On the day of her and Loras Tyrell's trial, Cersei sends Gregor to Tommen's chambers, to prevent him from going to the Great Sept of Baelor to protect him from its destruction. Tommen tries to get past but Gregor easily holds him back. Tommen later commits suicide after hearing of Margaery Tyrell's death in the destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor.[34]

Here-he-lightly-lightened

Ser Gregor prepares to torture Septa Unella.

Gregor is summoned by Cersei to the Red Keep dungeons after the explosion, being introduced to Cersei's newest prisoner, Septa Unella. After removing his helmet, revealing his withered and mangled face, Gregor is left alone with Unella, who screams in terror as the Mountain looms over her, ready to carry out his orders to torture the Septa for imprisoning and humiliating Cersei. Later, when Cersei is crowned as queen, he is seen looming beside the Iron Throne, gazing into the crowd.[34]

Game of Thrones: Season 7

Gregor Clegane Season 7

Gregor defends Cersei.

Gregor is present when Cersei holds court, and moves to protect his queen when Euron Greyjoy steps too close to the throne.[5]

He is also present when Cersei holds court to the nobility of the Reach.[35]

Gregor is also present when Cersei hosts a grand reception with Lord Euron and his prisoners Yara Greyjoy, Ellaria, and Tyene Sand. He was later present in the dungeons with Qyburn when Cersei confronts her prisoners Ellaria and Tyene over the murder of her daughter. While Cersei had toyed with ordering Gregor to smash their heads like he did with Oberyn, she instead settles for poisoning Tyene with the long farewell and forcing Ellaria to watch her daughter's final death throes.[36]

CerseisGroupArrives

Cersei and her followers arrive at the Dragonpit.

When Daenerys and her retainers are set to arrive in King's Landing to negotiate an armistice with Cersei and her royal army, Cersei has Clegane stand in as her personal bodyguard. Even before they set out to the Dragonpit, where the meeting is stated to be held, she makes preparations with Qyburn, Jaime and Clegane. She orders Ser Gregor to first kill Daenerys, then Tyrion, then Jon, and the rest of them in any order if the meeting goes wrong. Together with Clegane, Cersei then sets out to meet their guests. When their procession arrives in the Dragonpit, Sandor Clegane—who is with the group of Daenerys—is shocked to see the state of his hated brother.[37]

Cleganes finale ep7

Gregor is confronted by his brother.

Once Gregor has taken his place behind Cersei, Sandor approaches him. Sandor hatefully states that Gregor was now uglier than Sandor and that this was not how it would end for Gregor. Sandor continues, claiming Gregor knew that Sandor will be coming for him, before returning to his group. Accordingly, Gregor steps back behind Cersei, only to emerge once more when Daenerys arrives on the dragon Drogon.[37]

When Euron Greyjoy takes too many liberties during the parley, threatening the fragile peace, Cersei orders him to sit down or leave. Clegane threateningly steps forward to further stress her point. During the parley, Daenerys's group releases a wight to prove the threat the undead pose. Clegane was ready to shield Cersei from the wight, but Sandor yanks it back with a chain. When Jon Snow later reveals to Cersei that he already swore allegiance to Daenerys, Cersei calls off the parley and returns to the Red Keep with her retainers, Clegane included. To convince her to accept the armistice, Tyrion follows her and is escorted to her chambers by Clegane, who visibly makes Tyrion uneasy. Clegane escorts Tyrion into the room and remains in the back while Cersei and Tyrion argue and discuss.[37]

He is ready to execute Tyrion when the dwarf demands he do so, but Cersei never gives the order. Instead, Tyrion actually manages to convince Cersei to come to the Dragonpit again and, accompanied by Clegane and the others, Cersei turns up once more to announce that she will send her armies north to assist in fighting the dead. This, however, is a lie and Cersei has no intention of doing so.[37]

JaimeThreatenedByClegane

Jaime realizes that his life is threatened by Clegane.

The group returns to the Red Keep. When Jaime made it clear to Cersei that he would join the fight against the army of the dead with or without her, Clegane suddenly prevents him from leaving the room. Cersei calls Jaime a traitor for disobeying her commands and stating that no one walks away from her. When Cersei nods, Clegane draws his sword, waiting for Cersei to give the order to execute Jaime. However, Jaime called Cersei out on her bluff and walks right past Clegane, who does not intervene, and out of the room.[37]

Game of Thrones: Season 8

Cersei Gates S8 EP4

Gregor carries out his duty in Missandei's execution.

Gregor is present when Euron and Captain Harry Strickland announce the arrival of the Golden Company to Cersei. Afterwards, Euron makes another move on Cersei, but Clegane stops him from proceeding with a menacing stare. Nevertheless, when the queen finally allows Euron to have his way with her, Clegane does not intervene.[38] During the parley outside the gates of King's Landing, Gregor carries out Cersei's order of executing Missandei.[39]

GREGORGRABSSANDORBELLS

Gregor kills Qyburn.

During the Battle of King's Landing, Gregor stays by Cersei's side to guard her. As Daenerys intensifies Drogon's fiery assault on the Red Keep, Qyburn convinces Cersei to flee her tower while Gregor protects them both from the falling debris. On the stairs they are confronted by Sandor who slays all the surviving Kingsguard except Gregor who remains at Cersei's side. Gregor wishes to fight Sandor but Cersei and Qyburn order him to guard her. In anger, he bashes in Qyburn's skull while Cersei flees past both of the brothers.[1]

Clegane Battle S8 Ep5

Sandor confronts Gregor.

In the ensuing duel, Sandor proves himself better at sword fighting than Gregor and stabs him, but fails to kill the creature. Gregor brutally thrashes and chokes Sandor who stabs him many times in vain. While trying to crush Sandor’s skull, Gregor is stabbed through his left eye, though even this fails to kill him and Gregor begins to pull the blade out. Seeing an opportunity, Sandor tackles Gregor into a crumbling wall, sending them both falling from the Red Keep tower to their deaths in the burning city below.[1]

Personality and traits

"I wanted him to chase us, which he would have done because he is a mad dog without a single strategic thought in his head."
―Robb Stark aptly describes the Mountain.[src]

Gregor is notorious for his brutal and savage nature, remorselessly killing unarmed opponents half his size or leading the torture of helpless villagers. Often referred to as "Tywin Lannister's mad dog", Gregor has an insatiable bloodlust that he releases through acts of extreme violence. He is quick to anger and never shows any fear of acting on it, since there are not many who would dare try to stop him. One of the few people he has ever shown any loyalty or respect toward are Tywin and Robert.

Gregor's short fuse and utter lack of a conscience often showed his lack of honor. In addition, he does not appear to be very bright, relying on brute force to get the job done without thinking of the long-term consequences.

As a warrior, Gregor is widely feared for his terrifying and gigantic size and superhuman strength. He is a giant of a man, standing well over seven feet in height (eight feet in the novels) and weighing over 500 pounds. In combat, his immense strength and beastly size gives him a huge advantage over almost any opponent, allowing him to defeat men who have far more skill. His weapon of choice is an enormous greatsword that most men would never be able to swing with even two hands, but which Gregor is strong enough to wield one-handed. Gregor also wears thick armor too heavy for most knights to move in, let alone fight in, providing him almost impenetrable defense against blades.

Following his treatment by Qyburn, the Mountain is no longer capable of speech, but the process has made him even stronger than he once was. His grotesque, deathly appearance is usually hidden beneath his armor. He is now totally obedient to his mistress, the queen and heeds her every whim without question.

Quotes

Spoken by Gregor

"Sword!"
―Gregor Clegane to his squire.[src]
Gregor Clegane: "Killing them isn't the problem. It's finding them."
Tywin Lannister: "You gone soft, Clegane? I always thought you had a talent for violence."
— Gregor Clegane and Tywin Lannister[src]
Gregor Clegane: "Who am I fighting?"
Cersei Lannister: "Does it matter?"
Cersei Lannister emphasizes Gregor's ability to beat anyone in battle.[src]
Oberyn Martell: "Have they told you who I am?"
Gregor Clegane: "Some dead man!"
Oberyn Martell: "I am the brother of Elia Martell, and do you know why I've come all the way to this stinking shitpile of a city? For you!"
Oberyn Martell to Gregor before they fight in Tyrion Lannister's trial by combat.[src]
Oberyn Martell: "Say her name! You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children! Say it, say her name! SAY IT!"
Gregor Clegane: "Elia Martell! I killed her children! Then I raped her! Then I smashed her head in...like this!"
— Gregor finally confesses his most infamous atrocity.[src]

Spoken about Gregor

"Taller by a foot than any man I've ever met. Saw him cut the blacksmith in two, saw him take the head off a horse with a single swing of his sword."
Joss describes Gregor.[src]
Pycelle: "Why should Ser Gregor turn brigand? The man is an anointed knight."
Petyr: "I've heard him called Tywin Lannister's mad dog. I'm sure you have as well."
Pycelle and Petyr Baelish.[src]
"See that he doesn't get drunk in the evenings. He's poor company when he's sober, but he's better at his work."
―Tywin to Arya Stark about Gregor.[src]
"Years after, servants started disappearing in our keep. And even a sister, I don't remember. But nobody could prove anything against Gregor, or dared if they caught him at it."
Sandor Clegane talks about Gregor.[src]
"I wanted to draw the Mountain into the West, into our country, where we could surround him and kill him. I wanted him to chase us, as he would have done because he is a mad dog without a strategic thought in his head. I could have had that head on a spike by now."
Robb Stark emphasizes Gregor's lack of intelligence which could have been used against him to Edmure Tully.[src]
Tyrion Lannister: "Does he frighten you so much?"
Bronn: "I'd be a bloody fool if he didn't frighten me. He's freakish big and freakish strong, and quicker than you'd expect for a man of that size."
Bronn explains his reasons for refusing to fight Gregor.[src]
Sandor Clegane: "You say your brother gave you that sword? My brother gave me this! [points to his facial scars] It was just like you said a while back. He pressed me to the fire like I was a nice, juicy mutton chop."
Arya Stark: "Why?"
Sandor Clegane: "He thought I stole one of his toys. I didn't steal it, I was just playing with it. The pain was bad, the smell was worse, but the worst thing was that it was my brother who did it. And my father who protected him, told everyone my bedding caught fire. You think you're on your own?"
— Sandor tells Arya about how Gregor scarred him.[src]
Ellaria Sand: "You're going to fight that?!"
Oberyn Martell: "I'm going to kill that."
Ellaria Sand and Oberyn Martell before the trial by combat.[src]
"May I have the honor of presenting the newest member of the Kingsguard? If it please, Your Grace, he's taken a holy vow of silence. He's sworn that he will not speak until all His Grace's enemies are dead, and evil has been driven from the realm."
Qyburn to Cersei about the new Gregor.[src]
Jaime Lannister: "What did you do to him exactly? I haven't been able to get a clear answer."
Qyburn: "Oh, uh...a number of things."
Jaime Lannister: "Does he understand what we're saying? I mean, to the extent that he ever understood complete sentences in the first place. (Gregor looks at him menacingly)"
Qyburn: "He understands well enough."
— Jaime Lannister and Qyburn about Gregor.[src]
Cersei Lannister: "And seeing as you cannot make us leave, we'd best get on with it."
Kevan Lannister: "No, we cannot make you leave. And you cannot make us stay. Not unless you're gonna have that thing murder us all."
— Kevan voices his disinterest in talking to Cersei and Jaime while Gregor is present.[src]
Lancel Lannister: "Order your man to step aside or there will be violence."
Cersei Lannister: "I choose violence."
— Lancel threatens to unleash the Faith Militant on Gregor, and Cersei accepts their challenge.[src]
"This is Ser Gregor Clegane. He's quiet too. Your gods have forsaken you. This is your god now."
―Cersei introducing Gregor to Unella.[src]
"Remember me? Yeah, you do. You're even fucking uglier than I am now. What did they do to you? Doesn't matter. It's not how it ends for you, brother. You know who's coming for you. You've always known."
―Sandor Clegane to Gregor.[src]
"Yeah, that's you. That's what you've always been."
―Sandor Clegane to Gregor upon knocking his helm off and seeing his monstrously deformed face.[src]

Family

 
 
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Famtree-GregorClegane
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Famtree-SandorClegane
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Daughter

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Behind the scenes

In the books

Roman Papsuev - Gregor Clegane

Gregor Clegane by Roman "Amok" Papsuev.©

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Ser Gregor Clegane is a savage brute of a man, freakishly tall at nearly 8 feet in height, and well over 30 stone in weight (420 lbs./190 kg), most of it muscle. Gregor is so strong that he can easily wield with one hand greatswords which are meant to be wielded with two hands, allowing him to carry a shield as well. He is so strong that he has been known to cleave men in two with a single blow of his sword.

Known as "the Mountain That Rides", Gregor is one of Tywin Lannister's chief enforcers. Gregor's knighthood is regarded as a hypocritical mockery of justice by many, as he is a thoroughly dishonorable and undisciplined butcher. While Gregor is so strong that he can easily fight the strongest knights in Westeros, his greatest enthusiasm in wartime is for burning out the homes of peasants who cannot possibly fight back, and torturing their women and children to death. Indeed, Gregor's immense size isn't really his main attribute to Tywin, so much as his utter enthusiasm for committing atrocities. With a "might makes right" mentality, Gregor feels that his immense bulk and strength gives him impunity to behave as he does, as few would dare to challenge him. While Gregor is incredibly dangerous in combat, he relies more on sheer strength than on speed or skill. Gregor has gone through two wives, who died from the extremely rough treatment they received from him, though there are rumors that he killed them on purpose. His father and younger sister also died on suspicious circumstances. Sandor Clegane left when Gregor succeeded their father and never returned.

Gregor has a nearly uncontrollable temper, and is capable of very brutal violence for the slightest provocation. According to Sandor, he once killed one of his men for snoring. When he was in Harrenhal, a servant girl named Pia spoke when he wanted silence, so he smashed her face in with his mailed fist, breaking her nose and many of her teeth.

Gregor's men-at-arms are known as "The Mountain's men." His cruelty and brutality are clearly mirrored in them. The best thing that can be said about them is that they are less vile and violent than the Brave Companions, Vargo Hoat's sellsword company. Those who are mentioned specifically in the books are:

  • Joss Stilwood, his squire.
  • {Rafford} aka Raff the Sweetling, who killed Lommy. Killed by Arya Stark at Braavos.
  • Dunsen, who took Gendry's bull helm.
  • {The Tickler}, a torturer. Killed by Arya Stark during a brawl at the Inn at the Crossroads.
  • {Polliver}, who took Arya's sword. Killed by the Hound at the Inn at the Crossroads, in the same brawl in which Arya kills the Tickler.
  • {Chiswyck}, who assisted the Tickler with the torturing. Killed by Jaqen H'ghar.
  • Shitmouth, the most foul-mouthed of Gregor's soldiers, but less cruel than the rest. Gives extra food to captives if they ask him nicely.
  • Eggon
  • Tobbot
  • {Unnamed squire} of House Sarsfield. Killed by Arya Stark at the Inn at the Crossroads.
  • Two others, one castrated and the other executed for committing rape and murder in Maidenpool on the orders of Randyll Tarly.
  • Unnamed soldier, executed for attempted rape at Harrenhal by Ser Ilyn Payne on the orders of Jaime Lannister.

When Sandor escorts Sansa back to the Red Keep after the tournament feast, at Joffrey's command, he tells her the story of how his face was burned (not Littlefinger as happens in the TV series): a wood carver gave toys to both of the Clegane children in order to gain their father's patronage. Sandor wanted the articulated jointed knight that Gregor got, so he took it. Gregor was ten and already big enough to be training so he didn't even care about the toy, but when he found six year old Sandor playing with it - without warning he pushed Sandor's head into a brazier and held him there. It took three men to get Sandor away from him, and their father told people that Sandor's bed linens had caught fire. It was later when Gregor was anointed a knight that Sandor Clegane lost all respect for the institution of knighthood, and has steadfastly refused to be knighted himself.

Sandor also tells Sansa that the death of Hugh of the Vale was not a tournament accident. Ser Hugh had obviously put on the armor himself and had not set the neck protector correctly. He says Gregor saw that, and thus could have sent the blow elsewhere, and that the lance didn't just accidentally deflect upward, as Gregor puts his lance exactly where he intends it to go every time. He meant to kill Ser Hugh, though it isn't clear if this was an assassination to silence Hugh, or just Gregor enjoying the carnage (the revelation about Jon Arryn's death supports the latter option).

In the second novel, while trying to broker an alliance for House Martell's support in the War of the Five Kings, Tyrion offers Doran Martell, among other concessions, to hand over Ser Gregor to face justice for the murders of Princess Elia and Prince Aegon. Tywin disapproves, claiming that Gregor has his uses, and every lord has need of a beast from time to time. Tyrion answers that "the woods are full of beasts", and Tywin says he'll think it over. Later, Tywin decides against the idea, stating that "Ser Gregor has served us well. No other knight in the realm inspires such terror in our enemies"; in order to appease the Martells, he comes up with the idea to put the entire blame on Amory Lorch (who is, quite conveniently, dead). As things turn to be, Tywin's new version of the death of Elia and her children does not stop Oberyn from fighting Gregor.

Gregor encounters and kills Beric Dondarrion twice (these are the first and the fourth of Beric's seven deaths): he impales Beric on a lance during the Battle at the Mummer's Ford, and on later encounter (whose details are not specified) he stabs Beric in the eye with a dirk. Beric is resurrected on both occasions.

Ser Robert Strong

While treating Gregor Clegane, Qyburn theorizes that Oberyn had adulterated the manticore venom on his spear with sorcery; thickening it in order to slow its progress through the veins towards the heart, dragging out Gregor's agony. It is also not at Cersei's orders but Tywin's that Gregor is treated, though this is only to get him enough back to health so Ilyn Payne could execute him. After Gregor's public confession of his part in the murders of Elia Martell and her children, Tywin (who had always dismissed such talk as malicious rumors) intended to publicly execute Gregor in order to appease House Martell, rather than risk their outrage at Elia and Oberyn's deaths causing Doran Martell to support Stannis Baratheon (though Tywin was killed by Tyrion before this could happen).

After Loras is sent to resolve the siege of Dragonstone, Qyburn tells Cersei that in case Loras dies, she will need to find another worthy for the Kingsguard. He claims "I had another sort of champion in mind. What he lacks in gallantry he will give you tenfold in devotion. He will protect your son, kill your enemies, and keep your secrets, and no living man will be able to withstand him." Cersei is skeptical; she orders a gigantic suit of armor at Qyburn's request -despite the blacksmith's insistence no living man can move or fight under such weight- but warns him that if he plays her for a fool, he will pay dearly.

As a gesture of good will, Cersei assigns Ser Balon Swann to deliver the supposed skull of Ser Gregor to the Martells, and most of them accept that the Mountain has finally been punished for his crimes (though it is a little consolation to Ellaria, who deeply mourns Oberyn). Only Obara is skeptical, suspecting a deception. Nymeria tells her half-sister to lighten up, as Gregor was the only 8-foot tall man in all of Westeros, and Cersei would be exposed as a liar before the entire continent if it turned out he was somehow still alive. What Nymeria says makes perfect sense, except that Cersei is far from being rational and clever. Obara has no idea how much she is close to the truth.

Following Cersei's downfall, Qyburn visits her in prison and informs her new champion stands ready. Cersei laughs bitterly, since she can be defended only by a sworn brother of the Kingsguard, but Loras somehow clings to life despite his mortal wounds, thus she cannot make a use of her invincible champion. However, when she hears from Kevan about Ser Arys Oakheart's death, she sees a chance of survival: there is an empty place on the Kingsguard that must be filled. She begs her uncle to have Tommen appoint a man whom Qyburn knows his name.

Following Cersei's walk of penance, Qyburn introduces her to Ser Robert Strong, a man clad from head to toe in white armor (no part of him is visible) and matching Gregor's physique. According to Qyburn, Strong has taken a holy vow of silence until all of King Tommen's enemies are defeated. According to Meryn Trant, Strong never removes his helmet and is never seen to eat or drink, while Boros Blount claims Strong never uses the privy, which leads many people, including Kevan and Pycelle, to theorize that Robert Strong is actually Gregor, or maybe even a Frankenstein's monster assembled from the Mountain's body as well as other bodies. In the first novel (chapter 17), Bran Stark has a vision of a stone giant, apparently Ser Robert, and when his visor lifts, there is only darkness and black blood, leaving it ambiguous as to whether or not Strong even has a head.

In the television series, Cersei's new Kingsguard is not given a name, and what is seen of his face through his helmet matches that of Gregor, somewhat confirming that Gregor and Strong are the same man. In the sixth season of the series, he is still referred to as Gregor Clegane, and that the Robert Strong name having been dropped entirely.

While in the novels the murder of Rhaenys Targaryen is assigned to Ser Amory Lorch, another knight in the service of Tywin Lannister, the TV-series omitted this and Gregor is blamed for the death of Elia, Aegon and Rhaenys.

Gallery

Appearances

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Game of Thrones: Season 8, Episode 5: "The Bells" (2019).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 4: "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" (2011).
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 6: "A Golden Crown" (2011).
  4. 4.0 4.1 Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 10: "Mother's Mercy" (2015).
  5. 5.0 5.1 Game of Thrones: Season 7, Episode 1: "Dragonstone" (2017).
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 4: "Garden of Bones" (2012).
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Histories & Lore: Season 2, Short 10: "House Clegane" (2013).
  8. 8.0 8.1 HBO viewers guide, season 2 guide to houses, House Lannister - Gregor Clegane entry
  9. HBO viewers guide, season 2 guide to houses, House Targaryen - Elia Targaryen entry
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 8: "The Mountain and the Viper" (2014).
  11. Histories & Lore: Season 1, Short 17: "The Sack of King's Landing - House Baratheon" (2012).
  12. Histories & Lore: Season 1, Short 18: "The Sack of King's Landing - House Stark" (2012).
  13. Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 5: "The Wolf and the Lion" (2011).
  14. Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 9: "Baelor" (2011).
  15. Game of Thrones: Season 3, Episode 4: "And Now His Watch Is Ended" (2013).
  16. Season 2 Bluray: War of the Five Kings feature
  17. Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 10: "Fire and Blood" (2011).
  18. Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 5: "The Ghost of Harrenhal" (2012).
  19. Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 7: "A Man Without Honor" (2012).
  20. Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 8: "The Prince of Winterfell" (2012).
  21. Game of Thrones: Season 3, Episode 1: "Valar Dohaeris" (2013).
  22. Game of Thrones: Season 3, Episode 3: "Walk of Punishment" (2013).
  23. Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 1: "Two Swords" (2014).
  24. Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 7: "Mockingbird" (2014).
  25. 25.0 25.1 Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 10: "The Children" (2014).
  26. Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 2: "The House of Black and White" (2015).
  27. Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 3: "High Sparrow" (2015).
  28. Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 8: "Hardhome" (2015).
  29. Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 1: "The Red Woman" (2016).
  30. 30.0 30.1 Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 2: "Home" (2016).
  31. 31.0 31.1 Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 3: "Oathbreaker" (2016).
  32. Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 7: "The Broken Man" (2016).
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 8: "No One" (2016).
  34. 34.0 34.1 Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 10: "The Winds of Winter" (2016).
  35. Game of Thrones: Season 7, Episode 2: "Stormborn" (2017).
  36. Game of Thrones: Season 7, Episode 3: "The Queen's Justice" (2017).
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 Game of Thrones: Season 7, Episode 7: "The Dragon and the Wolf" (2017).
  38. Game of Thrones: Season 8, Episode 1: "Winterfell" (2019).
  39. Game of Thrones: Season 8, Episode 4: "The Last of the Starks" (2019).

Notes

  1. In "Winter Is Coming," which takes place in 298 AC, Sansa Stark tells Cersei Lannister that she is 13 years old and Bran Stark tells Jaime Lannister that he is 10 years old. Arya Stark was born between Sansa and Bran, making her either 11 or 12 in Season 1. The rest of the Stark children have been aged up by 2 years from their book ages, so it can be assumed that she is 11 in Season 1. Arya is 18 in Season 8 according to HBO, which means at least 7 years occur in the span of the series; therefore, each season of Game of Thrones must roughly correspond to a year in-universe, placing the events of Season 8 in 305 AC.

External links

Preceded by Head of House Clegane
? - 302 AC
Succeeded by
Unknown