Most prominent positions in Game of Thrones fall to their occupants through heritage. Kings place their sons on the throne, and lords employ nepotism to give their children power. When the people oppose a leader, the best they can hope for tends to be elevating another Noble House into their place. Only in the cruel world of the Wall and its guardians, the Night's Watch, does every man have a vote.
The varied cultures in Westeros make Game of Thrones endlessly fascinating. There's so much worth exploring in the day-to-day lives of people in each kingdom. The average citizen of King's Landing would struggle to relate to any given Crannogmen from the swamps in the Neck. The Night's Watch provides a harsh world of bitter cold and vicious enemies occupied mostly by criminals evading justice. Life on the Wall may as well be on another planet.
What does the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch do?
The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch is the leader and overseer of the men who guard, maintain, and occupy the Wall and its surrounding castles. The Lord Commander controls 19 castles, though only three remain manned, and the 75-mile farming village called the Gift. He receives assistance from a staff of middle managers. The black brothers under the Night's Watch are broken into three jobs. Rangers are warriors and survivalists who patrol the Wall and fight Wildlings. Stewards handle logistical concerns and provide things like food and clothing. Builders work on the Wall, keeping it sturdy and undamaged by the ravages of time. Each of those orders has a leader who reports to the Lord Commander, with a maester of Castle Black. The Lord Commander stands over the rest of the Night's Watch, maintaining the strict standards of their age-old purposes.
How does the Night's Watch choose a Lord Commander?
The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch is one of few democratically elected leaders in Westeros. The Lord Commander's role is a lifetime appointment. When a Lord Commander dies, any sworn black brother can nominate themselves as a potential replacement. Any man of the Wall can also suggest any fellow crow for the position. Every member of the Night's Watch has a vote, though the logistics of the brotherhood cause some snags. Over 600 black brothers occupy Castle Black, while only 200 serve at the Shadow Tower and even fewer work at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. The election occurs at Castle Black, so those living in other castles must speak through their garrison commander. A Lord Commander of the Night's Watch must earn two-thirds of the black brothers' support to win the position. Elections have no time limit, so appointing a new leader could take countless rounds of voting. Their commitment to democracy is impressive.
Who were the most notable Lord Commanders of the Night's Watch?
Jeor Mormont is the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch in the story's beginning. He's the 997th to take the role. Jeor, Jorah Mormont's dad, abdicated his leadership position over Bear Island to take the black. He earned the nickname "The Old Bear" for that choice. He was known as a stern, fierce Lord Commander who brought a serious tone to the mostly unwilling black brothers. Jeor was among the kindest men of the Wall, taking an odd fatherly role in his subjects' lives. He gave Jon Snow his Valyrian Steel sword, Longclaw. Jeor was tragically killed in a mutiny, leaving Jon Snow to take his place. Here's a short list of some other notable Lords Commander:
- The Night's King: The 13th Lord Commander who fell in love with a White Walker woman. He used dark sorcery to enlist other black brothers and raise a castle that was only defeated when the King of Winter worked with the King Beyond the Wall.
- Osric Stark: The youngest Lord Commander elected, he took the job at ten. He served the Watch for 60 years, as did many of his kin.
- Hoare: No first name given. This Lord Commander kept the Night's Watch out of Aegon's Conquest, even after his brother was killed.
- Jack Muskgood: Sometimes called Sleepy Jack, he once let the King-beyond-the-Wall slip past his defenses to threaten the North, forcing the King of Winter to lead an army.
- Brynden Rivers: Also known as Lord Bloodraven, this former Master of Whisperers and Hand of the King took the black after ordering an enemy executed. He brought 200 of his trained archers to the Wall but disappeared inexplicably.
- Qorgyle: No first name given. The Lord Commander before Jeor Mormont. He was in charge when Mance Rayder quit the Night's Watch to become King-beyond-the-Wall.
The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch is critical in defending the Wall. Many Lords Commander violated their oaths and threatened to destroy the black brotherhood. Most have disappeared in history, with over 900 going unnamed in the books. With the power of democracy, the Night's Watch has made some mistakes, but most of their elected leaders simply took the black and did their jobs.