Following the release of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5, an old interview clip of George R.R. Martin has resurfaced, and it highlights just how important the Trial of Seven death really is to Westeros.
The first half of Episode 5 gave us a flashback to flesh out Ser Duncan the Tall’s (Peter Claffey) backstory, while the second part delivered the heavy, grisly battle between Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) and Dunk.
Even though Dunk came out victorious, Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) was dealt a fatal blow to the back of his head. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 6 will deal with the aftermath of this event, with the preview showing a clip from the funeral.
But years before the Game of Thrones prequel brought Baelor’s fate to screen, George R.R. Martin had already singled out this very moment as a turning point in Westerosi history.
George R.R. Martin clip warns of major A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms death
Back in October 2022, upon the release of House of the Dragon Season 1, Martin answered a series of fan questions in a video for Penguin Random House. One of them was: what is a minor moment that changed the course of Westeros’ history?
His first response is the climax in The Hedge Knight, aka the first Dunk and Egg novella, which A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 is based on. “The death of Baelor ‘Breakspear’, who was next in line to the throne,” Martin said.
He went on to point out that Baelor would’ve been a “very strong and very competent king.” In hindsight, we know this to be true, but at the time of the interview, Baelor’s death was still just words on a page.
His answer has been highlighted in the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms subreddit following the release of Episode 5, where the Redditor went on to speculate how different Westeros would’ve been had Baelor survived the Trial of Seven and become king.
“Something that influenced the [Blackfyre] rebellions is the fact that Aerys wasn’t very popular with the people, and Brynden Rivers as Hand of the King only worsened his popularity,” they wrote.
“Although Baelor’s Dornish appearance also bothered many people in Westeros. So I would say that at least the Rebellions would be delayed by a few years.”
They continued, “Would Baelor choose Brynden Rivers as Hand of the King? I think it’s very unlikely. It’s said that Aerys and Rivers’ interest in magic and knowledge is what brought them together.
“Maekar seems a more obvious option, although I imagine there would be inevitable friction between them.
“Of course, the most obvious consequence: Baelor as king would theoretically prevent Maekar and his descendants, from whom came Aerys, Rhaegar, Daenerys, and Jon Snow, from ascending the throne.
“And consequently, perhaps there would never have been a Robert’s Rebellion (although one problem here is Baelor’s children dying in the epidemic, so… I don’t know).”
Another replied, “Robert even existing depends on Egg having Rhaelle Targaryen with Betha Blackwood and still having her marry Ormund Baratheon so I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be a Robert’s Rebellion.”
And a third added, “OR is George even talking about Baelor? Perhaps he means the survival of Duncan the Tall is one of the most influential moments in history. If Baelor hadn’t sided with the hedge knight, how would things have played out?
“Baelor would have been a great king for sure, but what other consequences would there have been? Could he have properly coped with the losses of his sons during the Great Spring Sickness, or would even he succumb to Targaryen madness?”
Another commenter raised the Great Spring Sickness – a plague epidemic which took place in 209 AC and 210 AC, killing tens of thousands in the Seven Kingdoms.
“It’s also entirely possible he would’ve died with the rest of his immediate family in the Great Spring Sickness,” the Redditor stated.
One replied, “Logically he probably would have, but given GRRM saying Baelor would have made a great king had he lived and that Daeron II died in the same event as Valarr and Matarys, I think we can assume he would have lived somehow…
“Perhaps Baelor had some innate knowledge of germ theory that would have made all the difference.”
Another reason Baelor Targaryen joined the Trial of Seven
Beyond the discussion about how Baelor’s survival would have reshaped the Targaryen dynasty, fans have been highlighting the tragedy of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5, and what truly drove Baelor to join the Trial of Seven.
From the book and the HBO show, we know that he joined Dunk’s side due to his belief in protecting the innocent. But one Redditor has pointed to “another reason why Baelor joined the Trial of Seven.”
“We’ve all talked about Baelor stepping into the trial to uphold the vows of knighthood – and that’s absolutely part of it. But I think there’s another layer that often gets overlooked,” they wrote.
“It was Baelor who nudged Dunk toward demanding a Trial by Combat in the first place. Dunk didn’t arrive at that decision alone; Baelor planted the seed. Then Aerion, being Aerion, twists the knife by invoking the Law of Seven.
“Suddenly, what was meant to be a fair chance becomes a death sentence. Everyone there knows Dunk is completely outmatched. At that moment, Baelor isn’t just a prince defending chivalry; he’s a man watching the consequences of his own advice spiral out of control.
“Joining Dunk’s side wasn’t only about honor or the abstract vows of knighthood; it was also about responsibility. That’s what makes the moment so powerful. It’s not just a principle; it was about accountability.”
Another agreed, “I mean….a little more than planted a seed. He straight up came out with the whole tree and let Dunk know it was his only chance.
“Baelor definitely wasn’t expecting or prepared for Aerion demanding a Trial of Seven, but he obviously knew he’d have to throw in with Dunk to back up his own values and because he would probably hate himself forever if he didn’t volunteer and Dunk ended up losing.”
A third shared an alternative theory: that Baelor was using it as a PR stunt. “The Targaryens came to Ashford to build relations and improve their own image with the locals, at least according to the show runners,” they explained.
“Aerion would have ruined that if he had Dunk executed or mutilated unchivalrously. But your reason works better with what we know of Baelor’s character. Instead of just a dispassionate PR stunt it makes more sense that Baelor would have felt a sense of obligation.”
Ultimately, as others have pointed out, multiple things can be true at once. In The Hedge Knight, Baelor is presented as a prince who believes deeply in the ideals of knighthood, but who also understands the fragile nature of Targaryen rule.
“Baelor told Dunk to go for a trial by combat (more than planted the seed but I get you OP),” said another, highlighting the fact that he believed in protecting the innocent, knew how awful his nephew is, and knew that stepping up would earn trust in the Targaryens.
“A factor of things I think is the reason why, rather than one solid one,” they concluded.
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