Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5.A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5, “In the Name of the Mother”, makes good on the promise made in episode 4, as Dunk (Peter Claffey) and the other 13 knights prepare to begin the trial of seven. The melee is a bloody affair indeed, punctuated in the middle by a mace-to-the-face induced flashback for Dunk.
Through the mud, stab wounds, and a swollen eye, Dunk manages to defeat Aerion (Finn Bennett) and force him to withdraw his accusation. It’s a hard-won victory, but the small folk are avenged. However, Dunk’s victory comes at the cost of several deaths, including Prince Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel).
How Baelor Targaryen Was Killed In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Episode 5
After the battle, Duncan has to be helped off the tournament field; his wounds are so grievous. As Steely Pate (Youssef Kerkour) and Raymun Fossoway (Shaun Thomas) help Dunk, Baelor strolls up, still dressed in his helm and armor. He offers some words of encouragement, and then starts to speak as if in a dream.
Steely Pate goes to take off the prince’s armor, but notices it’s been crushed in the back. Baelor says it was his brother Maekar’s (Sam Spruell) mace. As Baelor slurs out a comment about how strong his brother always was, Pate removes his helm and says a prayer to the gods.
Baelor turns around to show Dunk and the audience a massive gouge in his head, exposing his brain. He stutters and then falls to the ground dead. Though Baelor knew the Kingsguard would not harm him, he did not count on his brother, who smashed Baelor in the head, accidentally or intentionally, at some point during the battle.
Does Baelor Targaryen Die In George R.R. Martin’s Books?
Baelor’s death is not a show invention, of course. He meets a similar end in Tales of Dunk and Egg: The Hedge Knight. In the novella, it happens in almost the exact same way. Baelor comes up to Dunk, says his hands feel like wood, mentions his brother, and the removal of his helm reveals a half-crushed skull.
Who Else Died During The Trial Of Seven In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
Baleor was one of three knights to die during the trial of seven in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, though he is the only one given more than a mention in episode 5. Sers Humfrey Beesbury (Danny Collins) and Humfrey Hardyng (Ross Anderson) also both die during the battle.
While neither knight survived, they did earn their vengeance against Aerion. Hardyng wanted revenge for his broken leg, and as his brother-in-law, Beesbury wanted the Targaryen demon to pay as well. Three lives are paid for Dunk’s in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it remains to be seen if Baelor’s sacrifice is worth it.
- Release Date
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January 18, 2026
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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Ira Parker
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Peter Claffey
Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall
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