Could a king order a Kingsguard to kill themselves?

[Canon Claude]

I figured this wasn’t a thing, or else Joffrey would have ordered one of his men to do it just for fun. Admittedly, I’m thinking of it again based on what Marston Waters says in “Fire and Blood” about his obedience to the king. It could have just been him trying to flatter Aegon out of the Red Keep, but would Aegon have had that power? Marston Waters stood by when his mother was eaten alive, after all. If Aegon was a truly vengeful person, could he have ordered Marston to slay himself? And would Marston then have done it?

[Floki of the Ironborn]

In theory, yes, he could very well have done that. And I wish he had, because kings who do that to their own sworn bodyguards don't live for long.

[John Suburbs]

Anyone can "order" anyone else to do anything. The question is whether that order will be obeyed.

But Joffrey doesn't just go around hurting people just for kicks. Every act of cruelty he's shown had a reason behind it -- not necessarily a good reason, but a reason nonetheless.

[Lord Lannister]

I hear Aerys tried ordering Jaime to do that.

[James Arryn]

You’d have to be mad to try it, and mad to follow it. Even if you were incredibly zealous about your honour, you can’t protect anyone dead. 

[Haus Berlin]

Barristan‘s story would’ve been over then. But Joffrey handled the KG’s servitude for lifetime through retirement.

 

Curious about what the White Book could tell about such matters, though. Surely there were mad kings enough to hit that special case.

[Canon Claude]

On 4/27/2022 at 2:47 PM, James Arryn said:

, you can’t protect anyone dead. 

That’s not the point I was trying to make. A king ordering a Kingsguard to kill themselves is doing it to get rid of that particular guard, since they serve for life. Marston Waters even declares that they would fall upon their swords if Aegon III commanded it once he came of age. And frankly, I feel like Aegon would have been tempted to make Marston do that as vengeance for helping Aegon II. Plus it clears the way for a more loyal Kingsguard of Aegon’s own choosing.

And yes, Joffrey might have done that with Barristan, ordering an old man to kill himself so a younger man could replace him. Assuming that that’s an option.

[Thedog]

A kingsguard can be sent to the wall to end his vows. Lucamore Strong was sent to the Wall after he was found to have broken his vows. Similarly Maegor’s surviving Kingsguard were given the option of taking the black or have trials by combat. So while they serve for life, going to the wall ends that service. Just like being sent to wall, strips a lord or heir of any rights to land or titles. 
 

if a knight of the kingsguard believed strongly enough to actually literally fall in his sword for the king, that is the type of knight that no king would ever want to be rid of. As mediocre as some Targaryens were, none seemed dumb enough to actually want to rid themselves of loyal kingsguard. Even the Mad King seemed to trust his kingsguard with the exception of Jamie. And we know Jamie would never follow such an order. 
 

 

[GOTSeriesfan]

Such an ironic twist of fate. Aerys was unnerved by Tywin's influence and power and he made Jaime a Kingsguard to prevent Tywin from opposing him, and keeping him close ended up screwing him over in the biggest way; he was betrayed by the one person he thought was the most loyal and trustworthy