Every GAME OF THRONES Easter Egg In A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS Episode 4

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The new show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is packed with characters and details from the world of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Each episode seems to reveal even more connections to George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. This breakdown highlights all the hidden references, familiar terms, and historical lore from the fourth episode, drawing from the entire history of Westeros.

Trial of Seven

Inspired by shows like Game of Thrones, Trial by Combat was a way to settle disputes through a duel. Instead of a judge, the outcome was believed to be decided by divine intervention. The accused and accuser, or their chosen champions, would fight to the death, with the victor proving either guilt or innocence. However, a death wasn’t always necessary – if the accuser gave up, the accused was automatically considered innocent. Importantly, any knight, regardless of rank, had the right to demand a Trial by Combat. This tradition…

A Trial of Seven is similar to a one-on-one duel, but involves teams of seven knights battling each other. This number represents the Seven, a faith practiced by the Andals – the people who originally introduced knighthood to the Realm.

As a huge fan of this storyline, I’ve been thinking about how ‘A Trial of Seven’ can play out. It’s fascinating because you can actually lose before the battle even begins! If you can’t gather six champions to fight with you, you automatically fail. It’s a really clever, though maybe a bit cowardly, strategy for someone like a confident prince who knows they’ll have a full team, especially when going up against someone like a humble hedge knight who doesn’t seem to have any allies.

In a trial with seven knights on each side, the quickest resolution is if the accused knight dies in combat, immediately ending the fight. Those defending the accused aren’t considered complicit. (Knights can gain honor and lasting renown by participating in such events, which is why Lord Lyonel joined.) The trial also concludes if the accusation is dropped. Otherwise, the accused knight and his supporters must defeat the knight who brought the accusation.

Prince Maekar needs to be informed about the Trial of Seven. While it’s an old practice similar to Trial by Combat, the last one occurred during a dark period for House Targaryen and involved one of his ancestors. King Maegor the Cruel, the third ruler of the Iron Throne, was the sole survivor of that Trial. He and six of his knights fought against the Faith Militant, who were questioning his claim to the throne.

Maegor Targaryen is considered one of the worst kings in Targaryen history. In House of the Dragon, people worried about Daemon becoming king often compared him to Maegor, fearing he could be even worse. It’s surprising that a Targaryen prince, particularly a warrior like Maekar, wouldn’t know about such a famous and terrible event from his family’s past. After all, the king still resides in a fortress within the Red Keep that’s literally named after Maegor – ‘Maegor’s Holdfast’.

Knighthood

Lord Lyonel Baratheon made Raymun Fossoway a knight so he could fight alongside his friend, Ser Duncan. The show portrayed this as a deeply meaningful event, recognizing that becoming a knight – while not always living up to the ideal – is a sacred and important moment. The act of knighting itself is considered holy, especially since knighthood isn’t common in the North, where most people follow the old gods instead of the faith of the Seven. Becoming a knight instantly raises someone’s status, transforming even a humble former squire into a noble. All knights, who typically begin their training as squires in their youth, earn the title ‘Ser’.

A king has the power to bestow knighthood on anyone, even without being a knight himself. However, generally, only a knight can create another knight. As Jaime Lannister famously stated in Game of Thrones, this allows a knight to knight whomever they choose, just before he knighted Brienne.

Both Jaime and Lyonel used almost the same ancient words when they knighted Brienne and Raymun. The ceremony involves touching the person becoming a knight—who is kneeling—on the shoulder with a sword. After this, the new knight rises, having made the vows.

I call upon you, with the strength of the Warrior, to be courageous. With the wisdom of the Father, I ask you to be fair. Guided by the spirit of the Mother, I urge you to safeguard the vulnerable and innocent. And with the grace of the Maid, I implore you to stand up for all women.

True Knights

Ser Duncan defended his decision to help Tanselle by citing a knight’s promises, and it’s hard to argue with his reasoning. However, even though his actions were admirable, very few knights – even those who sincerely try to follow their vows – actually manage to live up to them perfectly. It’s often a difficult situation, as oaths can clash, like when Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard killed the Mad King to protect countless lives.

Prince Baelor explained to his brother Maekar that he was supporting the young knight, Dunk, because Dunk had defended those who couldn’t defend themselves – something Baelor believed all real knights should do. Ironically, Dunk himself had been searching for knights like that, asking the lords of Westeros if any truly honorable knights still existed. However, Dunk was quickly realizing that truly noble knights have always been rare.

As a lifelong movie and TV buff, I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of the ‘true knight’ – you know, someone who doesn’t just say they uphold a code, but truly lives it, all the time. It’s rare to see that fully realized on screen, but HBO’s Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon have given us a few examples. I always thought the Cargyll twins, Arryk and Erryk, really embodied that ideal. And then you have characters like Gerold Hightower and Arthur Dayne, who gave their lives defending Lyanna Mormont at the Tower of Joy – talk about unwavering loyalty! Even Barristan Selmy showed us what a true knight looks like. But honestly, Brienne of Tarth? She was a true knight long before Jaime even knighted her, proving it through her actions every single time.

Dragon Dreamers of House Targaryen

Dragon Dreamers are a rare gift within the Realm, and the Targaryen family has a strong history of prophetic dreams. These dreams were crucial to their survival – Daenys Targaryen foresaw the destruction of Valyria, and her father heeded her warning by moving the family to Dragonstone, making them the last dragonlords. Later, Aegon the Conqueror’s dream, known as the Song of Ice and Fire, inspired his invasion of Westeros, as it foretold the return of the White Walkers. In the books, both Maester Aemon and Daenerys Targaryen also experience these powerful Dragon Dreams.

In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, we meet Prince Daeron, who has the ability to dream of the future. He tells Dunk that his dreams always come to pass. Here’s what Daeron foresaw in one of his visions:

I witnessed it all, Ser. I saw you amidst the flames, and a dragon lying dead. It was a massive creature, its wings spanning the entire meadow. It had collapsed on top of you, but somehow, you survived, and the dragon didn’t.

Daeron is unsure what his dream signifies or whether Duncan intends to harm the dragon. Although Targaryens often have meaningful dreams, even those who experience them don’t always understand their true meaning.

Brute of Bracken

The big, bearded man who responded to Dunk’s challenge with a rude noise is Ser Otho Bracken, often called the Brute of Bracken. You might not have known his nickname unless you were watching the fourth episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms with captions. Before this embarrassing moment, everyone thought Ser Duncan had found a strong fighter to support him.

Ser Otho gained the nickname “Brute” after a tournament in King’s Landing three years earlier. He killed Lord Quentyn Blackwood with a single blow from his practice longaxe, crushing the Lord’s helmet and face. His incredible strength would have been a major asset to Ser Duncan’s team.

Fans of House of the Dragon will recognize Houses Bracken and Blackwood. These two families have been fierce enemies for centuries, constantly fighting each other. We first see their rivalry when a young Blackwood kills a Bracken heir at Storm’s End while Rhaenyra is searching for a husband. Later, Daemon Targaryen risked losing support in the Riverlands after allowing Ser Willem Blackwood to harshly punish House Bracken, who had sided with Aegon and the Greens against Rhaenyra.

Throughout the history of Westeros, regardless of who sat on the Iron Throne, the Blackwood and Bracken families have always been bitter enemies. This wasn’t just talk – even someone as boastful as Ser Otho of Bracken truly felt the animosity.

I’m a big fan of Mikey Walsh, a writer over at TopMob! He’s really knowledgeable about knights and had some interesting things he wanted to share, but the timing wasn’t quite right. If you’re interested in his thoughts, you can find him on Bluesky at @burgermike – and he’s always participating in those fun debates about ranking the Targaryen kings, so keep an eye out for him there too!

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2026-02-07 00:06