You’ve heard of a Trial by Combat in the Game of Thrones universe. Something that hasn’t come up is a Trial of Seven, but that’s going to happen on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 epiosode 4.
Maeker hasn’t heard of it, and neither have many others in the room, judging by the promo. Wouldn’t they all know since Baelor knows? Well, not quite, because it hasn’t been done in quite some time.
What is a Trial of Seven on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
A Trial of Seven is a form of a Trial by Combat. As Baelor says in the promo for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 episode 4, Dunk will need to find six knights to fight alongside him. The trial is seven vs. seven, and it is linked to the Faith of the Seven.
The Andals believed that seven people fighting together would connect more with the gods. The gods would be more interested in seeing justice done, and so, the guilty party would end up dying.
However, the accused could be declared innocent in two ways: by the accuser being killed in the combat or the accuser withdrawing their accusation.
Should the accused die in combat, they are deemed guilty. Should he not find six knights to fight with him, again, he is declared guilty.
Aerion has likely invoked this, believing that Dunk would not be able to find six knights to fight alongside him. What he forgets is that there are a fair few people who dislike the Targaryens, and they have grudges that mean they want the chance to take down a Targaryen or two. The real question is whether everyone is willing to go up against the Targaryens considering they are the rulers of the kingdoms!
When was the Trial of Seven used in the Game of Thrones universe?
We’ve never seen this used in the world of Game of Thrones. At least, not in the shows. There is a mention of it in the books, and it’s under Maegor I’s reign.
Ser Damon Morrigen, the Grand Captain of the Warrior’s Sons demanded a Trial of Seven against Maegor I, as he believed that Maegor was not the rightful king. Maegor accepted and they ended up facing each other.
There were a few stories of how this Trial of Seven played out, but it is believed that everyone bar Maegor was slain. Maegor was badly injured just as he killed his last opponent, and he was unconscious for several weeks.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 episode 4 will be available to stream on HBO Max on Friday, Feb. 6 and will air on HBO on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 10/9c.