When Was The Last Trial Of Seven? Game Of Thrones History Explained

Warning! Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 ahead!A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 introduced audiences to the Trail of Seven, but this isn't the first time such an event has taken place in the Game of Thrones universe. A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin has meticulously constructed the fictional world in which HBO's fantasy shows are set, which means we have a rather extensive history to work from. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is our first time seeing a Trail of Seven on screen, but there is an intriguing background here.

The Trial of Seven is similar to the Trial by Combat that we saw back in Game of Thrones. It's an opportunity for a person accused of a crime to prove their innocence when a good outcome in court is unlikely. Rather than a one-on-one battle, however, the accuser and accused face off in teams of seven.

In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4, Dunk has to find six men to stand by his side and battle Prince Aerion and his six men. Lyonel Baratheon, who volunteers to fight with Dunk, mentions that this is the first Trial of Seven in over 100 years. He's not wrong, since the only other known use of this kind of trial took place 167 years before Dunk's mishap at Ashford Meadow.

The Last Trial Of Seven Was 167 Years Before A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

The only other instance of a Trial of Seven recorded in Westerosi history occurred in 42AC, when the accused was King Maegor I Targaryen, son of none other than Aegon the Conqueror. Maegor was the third Targaryen King of Westeros, taking the throne after his older brother, Aenys I Targaryen.

Maegor's rule was heavily disputed by the Faith of the Seven, both because Aenys' children should have been next in the succession and because Maegor had taken a second wife. The Faith had never been particularly happy with Targaryen rule, since they considered both incest and polygamy abominations against the Seven. This led to several uprisings following Aegon's conquest. It's precisely this that led to Maegor's Trial of Seven.

A pious man called Ser Damon Morrigen, Grand Captain of the Warrior's Sons, challenged King Maegor to a Trial of Seven. If Maegor lost, it would be a sign from the Seven that he was not the rightful ruler of Westeros. In the end, Maegor was the only man among the 14 fighters to survive.

Why The Trial Of Seven Is So Rare In Game Of Thrones Lore

Though there were likely more Trials of Seven forgotten by history, Maegor and Dunk's are the only ones remembered during the events of Game of Thrones. It's not something just any accuser or accused would demand, since it's a lot harder to find 13 additional men to risk their lives when a traditional Trial by Combat would result in fewer losses.

Moreover, King Maegor's Trial of Seven wouldn't have made further challenges of this kind very encouraging. It really puts into context how outrageous it was that Prince Aerion would demand such a thing in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The Targaryens weren't initially devout to the Seven, since this was a religion of the men they conquered, not a practice in Valyria. Though the House of the Dragon eventually embraced the Faith, the Trial of Seven would forever be remembered as a challenge against Targaryen rule.

It's no wonder that Prince Maekar was enraged that Aerion would stoop so low as to demand a Trial of Seven. It might as well have been treason, which is ironic considering Dunk is on trial for defending a girl whose puppet show Aerion found treasonous. Between these two instances of the Trial of Seven, it's clear why the whole thing was avoided until and thereafter A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms​​​​​.

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  Game Of Thrones

  

  10/10

  Release Date 2011 - 2019-00-00

  Showrunner David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

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    Isaac Hempstead Wright

    Brandon Bran Stark