Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Was Ser Duncan the Tall knighted or not? This is one of the biggest mysteries in the Dunk & Egg stories from the world of A Song of Ice and Fire. Duncan the Tall claims that his master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, knighted him shortly before his death. But in The Hedge Knight and the later novellas, the knighting is never shown, and there were no witnesses.
Because of this, many fans believe Dunk may have never actually been knighted. Throughout the story, subtle clues suggest he might have taken the title after Ser Arlan died so he could survive as a hedge knight and enter the Ashford tourney.
The HBO series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” keeps this mystery alive as well, hinting at the same ambiguity without ever confirming the truth.
In this video we break down:
What actually happened when Ser Arlan died
The clues that suggest Dunk was never knighted
Why George R. R. Martin intentionally left the answer unclear
What this reveals about knighthood in Westeros
Even if Duncan the Tall was never officially knighted, he may still be the most honorable knight in the Seven Kingdoms.
If you enjoy Game of Thrones, Dunk & Egg, and A Song of Ice and Fire lore, subscribe for more deep dives into Westeros history.
Was Ser Duncan the Tall knighted or not? This is one of the biggest mysteries in the Dunk & Egg stories from the world of A Song of Ice and Fire. Duncan the Tall claims that his master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, knighted him shortly before his death. But in The Hedge Knight and the later novellas, the knighting is never shown, and there were no witnesses.
Because of this, many fans believe Dunk may have never actually been knighted. Throughout the story, subtle clues suggest he might have taken the title after Ser Arlan died so he could survive as a hedge knight and enter the Ashford tourney.
The HBO series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” keeps this mystery alive as well, hinting at the same ambiguity without ever confirming the truth.
In this video we break down:
What actually happened when Ser Arlan died
The clues that suggest Dunk was never knighted
Why George R. R. Martin intentionally left the answer unclear
What this reveals about knighthood in Westeros
Even if Duncan the Tall was never officially knighted, he may still be the most honorable knight in the Seven Kingdoms.
If you enjoy Game of Thrones, Dunk & Egg, and A Song of Ice and Fire lore, subscribe for more deep dives into Westeros history.
