(The term 'over-chief' never appears in the TV show.) |
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| − | The '''King-Beyond-the-Wall''' is a title given to a [[Free Folk]] leader or |
+ | The '''King-Beyond-the-Wall''' is a title given to a [[Free Folk]] leader or chieftain who manages to unite a significant number of the northern tribes under his command, enough to pose a threat to the [[Seven Kingdoms]] south of [[the Wall]]. Uniting the fractious and independently-minded tribes (who often have radically different traditions, customs and laws from one another) into a single force is extremely difficult, only possible with a leader of impressive military skill and personal charisma. Most of the time, the wildlings are not so united. |
The title and position are not hereditary. It is unknown what the specific process for becoming the current King-Beyond-the-Wall is, though it seems to be based more on general acclamation by the King's followers than on a formal vote. |
The title and position are not hereditary. It is unknown what the specific process for becoming the current King-Beyond-the-Wall is, though it seems to be based more on general acclamation by the King's followers than on a formal vote. |
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At the present time, the Free Folk are united under the command of [[Mance Rayder]], the current King-Beyond-the-Wall. |
At the present time, the Free Folk are united under the command of [[Mance Rayder]], the current King-Beyond-the-Wall. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===[[Season 1]]=== |
===[[Season 1]]=== |
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===[[Season 2]]=== |
===[[Season 2]]=== |
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| + | Mormont sends a letter to [[King's Landing]], requesting additional men to help hold the Wall against the threat of the wildlings whilst he moves against Mance Rayder. [[Varys]] suggests that the wildlings may indeed be more dangerous than in the past, due to their uniting under Mance Rayder. However, both [[Petyr Baelish]] and [[Cersei Lannister]] are dismissive of the threat, pointing out they cannot spare men from their own war against the [[House Stark|Starks]]. Tyrion, recalling his brief time at the Wall, is less certain that the problem can be ignored.<ref>"[[The Night Lands]]"</ref> |
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| ⚫ | According to [[Ygritte]], thousands of Wildlings are gathering in the [[Frostfangs|Frostfang mountains]] under the command of King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, forming the biggest Wildling host in living memory.<ref>"[[The Old Gods and the New]]"</ref> Ygritte points out to [[Jon Snow]] that the Free Folk follow Mance Rayder because they ''chose'' him to be King-Beyond-the-Wall, not like people south of the Wall who serve kings and lords because they are the son of the last ruler. She also says, Rayder used to be a crow, meaning that he used to be a member of the Night's Watch, and fled due to the wish of being free, just like the other wildlings.<ref>"[[A Man Without Honor]]"</ref> |
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| − | During a meeting of the [[Small council]] in [[King's Landing]], Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] reports that a [[raven]] has arrived from [[Castle Black]] carrying a message from Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]]. Tyrion reads the letter to [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei]] and the other council members, in which Mormont asks for more troops to defend the Wall. [[Petyr Baelish]] is dismissive of the wildlings, but [[Varys]] explains that they are less "wild" lately, as they have stopped fighting each other and instead have united together under the new King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder. Cersei points out that they are in the middle of a [[War of the Five Kings|massive civil war]] with more than half of the realm in revolt, and barely have enough troops to defend the capital city, much less send reinforcements to the Wall. Cersei flippantly says that the Night's Watch will have to handle the threat on their own.<ref>"[[The Night Lands]]"</ref> |
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| + | After Jon Snow kills [[Qhorin Halfhand]], the wildlings choose to let Mance decide Jon's fate. They take him to Mance's camp, a sprawling encampment which almost fills a whole valley in the mountains.<ref>"[[Valar Morghulis]]"</ref> |
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| ⚫ | According to [[Ygritte]], thousands of Wildlings are gathering in the [[Frostfangs|Frostfang mountains]] under the command of King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, forming the biggest Wildling host in living memory.<ref>"[[The Old Gods and the New]]"</ref> Ygritte points out to [[Jon Snow]] that the Free Folk follow Mance Rayder because they ''chose'' him to be King-Beyond-the-Wall, not like people south of the Wall who serve kings and lords because they are the son of the last ruler. She also says, Rayder used to be a crow, meaning that he used to be a member of the Night's |
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==In the books== |
==In the books== |
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Revision as of 19:43, 27 January 2013
The King-Beyond-the-Wall is a title given to a Free Folk leader or chieftain who manages to unite a significant number of the northern tribes under his command, enough to pose a threat to the Seven Kingdoms south of the Wall. Uniting the fractious and independently-minded tribes (who often have radically different traditions, customs and laws from one another) into a single force is extremely difficult, only possible with a leader of impressive military skill and personal charisma. Most of the time, the wildlings are not so united.
The title and position are not hereditary. It is unknown what the specific process for becoming the current King-Beyond-the-Wall is, though it seems to be based more on general acclamation by the King's followers than on a formal vote.
At the present time, the Free Folk are united under the command of Mance Rayder, the current King-Beyond-the-Wall.
History
Season 1
Ser Alliser Thorne names Mance Rayder as the leader of the wildlings beyond the Wall and indicates he has held this post for more than ten years.[1]
When Osha, Stiv and Wallen - deserters from Rayder's army - inadvertantly imprison Bran Stark, they debate taking him back to Mance Rayder to win forgiveness. They reject the notion, which is rendered moot when Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy arrive[2]. Osha later tells Maester Luwin that they were fleeing the awakening of an old, remorseless foe, the White Walkers, indicating that the wildlings are already aware of the threat of the Walkers and may already be fighting them[3].
Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, puzzled by reports of Mance Rayder's forces gathering in the mountains, decides to lead a reconnaisance-in-force to determine Rayder's intentions and level of threat[4].
Season 2
Mormont sends a letter to King's Landing, requesting additional men to help hold the Wall against the threat of the wildlings whilst he moves against Mance Rayder. Varys suggests that the wildlings may indeed be more dangerous than in the past, due to their uniting under Mance Rayder. However, both Petyr Baelish and Cersei Lannister are dismissive of the threat, pointing out they cannot spare men from their own war against the Starks. Tyrion, recalling his brief time at the Wall, is less certain that the problem can be ignored.[5]
According to Ygritte, thousands of Wildlings are gathering in the Frostfang mountains under the command of King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, forming the biggest Wildling host in living memory.[6] Ygritte points out to Jon Snow that the Free Folk follow Mance Rayder because they chose him to be King-Beyond-the-Wall, not like people south of the Wall who serve kings and lords because they are the son of the last ruler. She also says, Rayder used to be a crow, meaning that he used to be a member of the Night's Watch, and fled due to the wish of being free, just like the other wildlings.[7]
After Jon Snow kills Qhorin Halfhand, the wildlings choose to let Mance decide Jon's fate. They take him to Mance's camp, a sprawling encampment which almost fills a whole valley in the mountains.[8]
In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Mance Rayder is a former member of the Night's Watch who turned his cloak and fled beyond the Wall many years before the beginning of the series. As an outsider, his uniting of the wildling tribes is even more impressive (though technically, Rayder was born a wildling, but given up as an infant to be raised by the Night's Watch).
Previous Kings-Beyond-the-Wall included Raymun Redbeard, who invaded the North some 120 years ago and was stopped by Lord Willam Stark (at the cost of his life) and the Umbers. The most storied King was Joramun, who is said to have lived thousands upon thousands of years ago. According to legend he awoke giants from the earth using a magical horn and made common cause with the King of the North to destroy the Night's King, a formidable and evil sorcerer who had taken over the Night's Watch in its infancy.
See also
- The King-Beyond-the-Wall at A Wiki of Ice and Fire (spoilers from the books).
References
- ↑ Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things
- ↑ A Golden Crown
- ↑ You Win or You Die
- ↑ Fire and Blood
- ↑ "The Night Lands"
- ↑ "The Old Gods and the New"
- ↑ "A Man Without Honor"
- ↑ "Valar Morghulis"