Who was King Baelor the Blessed?

Game of Thrones fans know the Great Sept of Baelor as a pivotal location. Now, George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood reveals the complex legacy of its builder, a king whose piety shaped the world of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Who was Baelor the Blessed?

Credits: Amok

King Baelor I Targaryen ruled as both king and septon. His thin frame and gentle smile reflected years of religious fasting. He wore a crown of flowers and vines instead of gold, choosing prayer over weapons.

Read More: Great Houses of Westeros: Where they were and where they are now

Quick facts

Credits: HBO

Show facts

• The Great Sept of Baelor appeared in Game of Thrones
• Cersei destroyed his sept with wildfire
• His statue witnessed Ned Stark’s execution
• His legacy influenced religious attitudes in Westeros
• The Faith Militant referenced his devotion

Book facts

• Walked barefoot through a viper pit
• Attempted to replace ravens with doves
• Imprisoned his sisters in the Maidenvault
• Appointed an eight-year-old High Septon
• Fasted for forty days before his death

In the books

Credits: The World of Ice and Fire

Early life and reign

Baelor ascended the throne at seventeen after his brother’s death. He immediately pardoned fourteen Dornish hostages against his council’s wishes.

He walked barefoot to Dorne wearing sackcloth. The journey marked his first miracle according to septons. His peace agreement with Dorne became his second miracle.

The peace terms included his nephew’s marriage to Princess Myriah Martell. Baelor refused sea transport home, choosing to walk back to King’s Landing.

The king’s religious devotion showed in his marriage to sister Daena. He refused to consummate their union, claiming piety demanded celibacy.

Daena’s attempts to shame him by wearing white backfired. Baelor praised her “innocent” appearance, frustrating her further.

Read More: Game of Thrones fans started a $20 Million Kickstarter campaign to fix the Dorne plot

The viper pit miracle

Lord Wyl held Prince Aemon in a cage above vipers. Baelor walked into the pit to rescue him, despite Aemon’s protests.

Singers claim the snakes bowed before his holiness. Maesters recorded six bites, while Dornish accounts mention fifty strikes.

Aemon carried the poisoned king north after the rescue. A village septon provided clothes and transport for their journey.

They reached Blackhaven where maesters treated Baelor’s wounds. The king remained comatose until arriving at Storm’s End.

This act cemented Baelor’s reputation for miraculous survival. Many viewed it as proof of divine protection.

Religious reforms

Baelor attempted major changes to Westerosi customs. He promoted doves over ravens for messages.

He exempted lords from taxes if their daughters wore chastity belts. His prayers over dragon eggs lasted a full year without results.

The king burned books he considered unholy, including historical texts. His fasts grew increasingly severe to combat “lustful thoughts.”

He appointed a simple stonemason as High Septon, claiming divine guidance. After the mason’s death, he chose an eight-year-old street child.

Many suspected that his Hand, Prince Viserys, poisoned both High Septons. The appointments had embarrassed the realm’s leadership.

Death and legacy

Baelor’s final fast lasted forty days. He collapsed after consuming only water and bread.

Some believe Viserys poisoned him to prevent forced conversions. Baelor had planned to convert followers of the Old Gods and Drowned God.

The Great Sept became his lasting monument. A massive statue marked his contributions to the Faith.

When Dorne joined the realm, they honored his peace efforts. King Daeron placed a wreath reading, “Baelor, your work is done.”

His legacy divides historians. Smallfolk remember his charity, while others recall his zealotry.

Quotes

“Tyrion: Someone had to save the realm from Baelor’s follies.

Sansa: But Baelor the Blessed was a great king. He walked the Boneway barefoot to make peace with Dorne, and rescued the Dragonknight from a snakepit. The vipers refused to strike him because he was so pure and holy.

Oberyn: If you were a viper, my lady, would you want to bite a bloodless stick like Baelor the Blessed?” —Tyrion Lannister, Sansa Stark, and Oberyn Martell

Quick answers

Why was Baelor called “the Blessed”?

In the books, his extreme piety and supposed miracles earned him this name, particularly after surviving the viper pit.

Did Baelor really build the Great Sept?

Yes, both books and show confirm he constructed the Great Sept of Baelor, which became the Faith’s center until Cersei destroyed it.

How did Baelor die?

According to Fire and Blood, he died after a forty-day fast, though some suspect his Hand, Viserys, poisoned him.

Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones (The Targaryen Dynasty: The House of the Dragon)

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12/02/2024 10:07 am GMT