House Clegane

Gregor Clegane

Ser

Life
c. 265 AC – 300 AC, of a poisoned wound taken in trial by combat
Titles
Ser

A knight of monstrous size and monstrous temperament whose own household reportedly feared him more than any enemy did, and whose death did not, in the strictest sense the maesters can confirm from the page, end his career of violence.

A Monster Even His House Feared

A landed knight sworn to House Lannister, Gregor stood a head and more above every other man in any hall he entered, and buried three wives in circumstances his own household was reportedly too frightened to discuss. He burned his younger brother Sandor's face in a brazier as a boy for the crime of touching one of his toys, and answered for it to no one, then or ever.

Trial and Transformation

He served as Tywin Lannister's instrument during the Sack of King's Landing in 283 AC, where he raped and killed Princess Elia Martell and smashed the skull of her infant son Aegon against a wall, while Ser Amory Lorch killed her young daughter Rhaenys in the same hour — atrocities the official histories decline to name a culprit for, but that Tywin's own household never denied he had ordered. Nearly two decades later he stood as Cersei Lannister's champion against Oberyn Martell in Tyrion Lannister's trial by combat, won the fight decisively but not before Oberyn's poisoned spear opened a wound that festered rather than healed, and died raving days afterward.

His body — or something wearing a great deal of it — was handed over to the disgraced maester Qyburn, and a masked, silent giant of a knight calling itself Ser Robert Strong appeared at court not long after, a coincidence in size and timing the text lets every reader notice without ever spelling out.

Key events

  1. c. 265 ACBorn, later a landed knight sworn to House Lannister.
  2. 283 ACKills Elia Martell and her infant son Aegon at the Sack of King's Landing; Amory Lorch kills her daughter Rhaenys.
  3. 300 ACFights Oberyn Martell in trial by combat and dies of the poisoned wound days later.
  4. 300 ACA masked knight called Ser Robert Strong appears at court under Qyburn's care.

The arc of Gregor Clegane

This carries the character’s road through the published novels. Read on only if you do not fear to know.

These partings name deaths, endings, and roads not yet ridden in the books. Unveil them only if both roads are known to you — or if you do not fear to know.

Legacy

Gregor's death by trial by combat should have closed his story; the appearance of Robert Strong immediately after is the chronicle's clearest hint that it did not, quite.

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Who is Gregor Clegane?

A knight of monstrous size and monstrous temperament whose own household reportedly feared him more than any enemy did, and whose death did not, in the strictest sense the maesters can confirm from the page, end his career of violence.

Is Gregor Clegane from the books or the show?

Book canon. This profile follows George R. R. Martin’s novels and histories, and notes where the television series diverges rather than following it.