How old was Gerold Hightower?

[Red Tiger]

And for that matter, how old were the other members of Aerys' Kingsguard? Besides Barristan and Jaime, off course.

I ask because Gerold is supposed to be Lord Leyton's uncle and we know Leyton's supposed to be an old guy.

It also makes me wonder if Gerold was waaaaay past his prime at the TOJ.

[Consigliere]

I don't think there is enough information to place a definitive age to Gerold Hightower. What we do know is that he was the "new, young" LC of the KG in 260AC. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say he would have been in his mid-late sixties by the end of ADwD.

[OmnomnomPomelo]

This was a 3 vs 7 fight and this Kingsguard told to be the best Kingsguard ever if I remember well with skilled warriors like Arthur Dayne, Lewyn Martell or Gerold Hightower himself. So they were stronger warriors than the Northerners for sure, not like I want to degrade the Northerners but for example Howland Reed (and the crannogmen) isn't warrior types, also Ned wasn't described by Martin as an excellent swordsman. Also Barristan Selmy remembers this Kingsguard's members as some of the most skilled and best knights he ever knew.

So I thought too that Gerold or Oswell had to be older, or one of the 3 was ill or damaged or something.

[Ramsay's Penguins]

Well he is Leytons uncle. Leyton Hightower who is onto his fourth wife and has kids that are old enough to marry Mace Tyrell and Jorah Mormont. Alerie is around 40, and Leyton probably 60 by now, so 17 years ago he would have been areound 63-67.

[Mithras]

When Jaime was elected to the KG, Gerold was not in his heyday.

[Bright Blue Eyes]

The White Bull was probably born somewhere about 230, maybe 240 at the very latest. He became LC of the KG after Dunk died in 259.

Lewyn Martell somewhere between 235 and 250, that fits with his big sister having Doran and Oberyn (and their siblings) between 247 and 258.

Jon Darry was probably born between 250 and 260. A big brother to Lord Raymund Darry and elder uncle to young Lord Lyman Darry (born ~290), but not the eldest.

Arthur Dayne somewhere about 260. About the same age as Rhaegar, old enough to mentor Jaime, without making his baby sister Alliandre impossible or his big brother having Edric at age fifty or the like.

Oswell Whent is impossible to pin down.

[Mikkel]

Oswell Whent is impossible to pin down.

He's Batman. Those guys are hard to pin down, indeed.

[Winterfell is Burning]

The White Bull was probably born somewhere about 230, maybe 240 at the very latest. He became LC of the KG after Dunk died in 259.

Lewyn Martell somewhere between 235 and 250, that fits with his big sister having Doran and Oberyn (and their siblings) between 247 and 258.

Jon Darry was probably born between 250 and 260. A big brother to Lord Raymund Darry and elder uncle to young Lord Lyman Darry (born ~290), but not the eldest.

Arthur Dayne somewhere about 260. About the same age as Rhaegar, old enough to mentor Jaime, without making his baby sister Alliandre impossible or his big brother having Edric at age fifty or the like.

Oswell Whent is impossible to pin down.

Hightower seems clearly older than that. He was an old man when Jaime joined, not in his 30's or 40's like you're implying.

Arthur Dayne has to be a little older because was already a legend by the time Jaime joined. He was the one closest to Rhaegar in age, but he has to be a few years older, maybe born in, say, 254.

[Consigliere]

Hightower seems clearly older than that. He was an old man when Jaime joined, not in his 30's or 40's like you're implying.

I'd actually place Hightower in his late 40's by the time Jaime was inducted into the KG. What we in the modern era would consider "old" is not necessarily the same as what would be considered "old" in this medieval setting. Afterall both Robert and Aerys are referred to as "the old king" but were approx. 36 and 39 respectively when they died.

[Bright Blue Eyes]

Hightower seems clearly older than that. He was an old man when Jaime joined, not in his 30's or 40's like you're implying.

Arthur Dayne has to be a little older because was already a legend by the time Jaime joined. He was the one closest to Rhaegar in age, but he has to be a few years older, maybe born in, say, 254.

Eh, being ~52 isn't "in his 30's or 40's".

Similar for Arthur Dayne. Early twenties is good enough to be a legend, no need to be 30. Which would really mess with the ages of Edric and Alliandre.

[Winterfell is Burning]

I'd actually place Hightower in his late 40's by the time Jaime was inducted into the KG. What we in the modern era would consider "old" is not necessarily the same as what would be considered "old" in this medieval setting. Afterall both Robert and Aerys are referred to as "the old king" but were aprrox. 36 and 39 respectively when they died.

He was old compared to the other KG. Barristan was 47 and no one called him old back then.

[Consigliere]

He was old compared to the other KG. Barristan was 47 and no one called him old back then.

Actually Barristan would have been 43/44 at the time. How old would you say Hightower is at the tourney of harrenhal? Taking into consideration that he has been described as the "new, young" LC of the KG in 260AC.

[Mikkel]

Well the new, young probably refers to his position as Lord Commander, so it needn't be young in the traditional sense, the same way a US president is considered young until around 50 or so.

[Consigliere]

Jaime is never referred to as being young for LC of the KG even though he was named to this position when he was 32/33.

[Mikkel]

Jaime is never referred to as being young for LC of the KG even though he was named to this position when he was 32/33.

True enough, but is anyone really referring to this appointment at all?

Besides, that whole thing happened in a cloud of controversy, with the realm at war, numerous pretenders to the throne, the king dead, the legendary Barristan Selmy dishonorably dismissed, and a non-knight being named to the Kingsguard. With all that in mind, the age of the Lord Commander becomes a rather small thing - and besides as far as Kingsguard gossip goes, Jaime has far more juicy stuff than his age to focus on (the affair with Cersei, the ever-present "Kingslayer" epithet).

So all-in-all I wouldn't put too much weight on his age not being a cause of comment.

[Theon {HUNGRY WOLF} Stark]

At the time of Rebellion Barry was already 47 years old, so White Bull has to be older than him. So somewhere between mid fifty's to mid sixty's would be my guess.

[Consigliere]

True enough, but is anyone really referring to this appointment at all?

Besides, that whole thing happened in a cloud of controversy, with the realm at war, numerous pretenders to the throne, the king dead, the legendary Barristan Selmy dishonorably dismissed, and a non-knight being named to the Kingsguard. With all that in mind, the age of the Lord Commander becomes a rather small thing - and besides as far as Kingsguard gossip goes, Jaime has far more juicy stuff than his age to focus on (the affair with Cersei, the ever-present "Kingslayer" epithet).

So all-in-all I wouldn't put too much weight on his age not being a cause of comment.

I guess the point I'm making is that I don't think Hightower is that much older than Barristan as some seem to be suggesting. I'd guess that he is between 5 and 10 years older. Therefore he would be in his late twenties to early thirties when chosen to be LC (which would fit with him being described as young) and in his late forties to early or mid fifties during Harrenhal.

[HosteenOsteen]

Agree with Consigliere, he would have been slightly older than Tywin Lannister and Hoster Tully.

[Theon {HUNGRY WOLF} Stark]

Agree with Consigliere, he would have been slightly older than Tywin Lannister and Hoster Tully.

Tywin was 4 years younger than Barry. White Bull must have been older than Barry to become LC upon Dunk's death. So maybe he was 10 years older than Tywin, so in mid fifties at the time of Rebellion.

[Mikkel]

I guess the point I'm making is that I don't think Hightower is that much older than Barristan as some seem to be suggesting. I'd guess that he is between 5 and 10 years older. Therefore he would be in his late twenties to early thirties when chosen to be LC (which would fit with him being described as young) and in his late forties to early or mid fifties during Harrenhal.

You're probably right, I just don't think we should attribute too much to the "young" label, because in this context it doesn't necessarily mean the same as it would in another (a young husband, say, or a young father).