Why didn't Barristan leave Joffrey ?

[JonCon's Red Beard]

Laughing Storm had claimed to be King, but as the Storm King. Did he have Kingsguard?

Renly had one, but it was more a PR stunt.

 

But seriously, the whole thing has lost credibility. Everybody has KG and Hands now... gosh, Duck's a KG too.

(Didn't Dany named Jorah a QG too? Because that would be the most subtle friendzoning ever... bless her)

 

[FuzzyJAM]

Queen Rhaenyra had apparently no control outside Dragonstone when Aegon II was crowned. It was only after Ser Steffon´s escape that Blacks around Westeros crawled out of woodwork. Aenys had also died a fugitive on Dragonstone.

Rhaenyra hadn't just lost a war and wasn't 7 years old and, importantly, had dragons.  Her position as not-queen was not nearly as clear as Viserys's position as not-king IMO.

It's also worth noting that the KG evenly split over the issue, 4-3.  At most, that's a precedent that it's unclear what to do in that situation.  Which is pretty much my whole point.  

[marsyao]

That´s not obvious! Robert did force Jaime to be Kingsguard.

Since Barristan was not there when Jaime was pardoned, and may not yet have been asked to decide, it was Jaime´s pardon that set the decision that Kingsguard vows still held. And this applied to Barristan - and the remaining three.

How could it automatically applied to Barristan? Robert did not respect Jaime, but he respected Barristan, and besides why Robert would want someone who did not want to be his Kingsguard to be his Kingsguard? Does that null the purpose of Kingsguard ? Jaime was a special case, he was also acting as a hostage for Tywin's good behavior

[Lord of Westeros]

You could have asked why he did not leave Aerys. He did not leave Joffrey because he was bound by the oath sworn to Robert.

He served Aerys because he swore an oath to Jaehaerys.