Ser Barristan Selmy...

[Full-Faced Braavosi]

Dragons.

[Blackfyre the Bold]

Aegon has Jon Connington and other Westeros in his company.

Ser Barristan joined the cause late. It made the most sense to send him to Danaerys. He's a boss though.

[Ser Areo Mace]

I always figured it was because Jorah had stopped informing them so they sent Barristan and SB to bring her back cause they couldn't get a hold of her.

[Damar]

As mentioned, having a knight famous for killing one of the Golden Company's commanders join them would not be that wise.

[TheGreyKraken]

I don't think the Golden Company would have like Ser Barristan the Bold fighting alongside them so this could be a reason for Illyrio sending him to Danny instead or he just thinks Danny doesn't have enough truly loyal people protecting her and that Barristan can fill that much needed role.

However other people state the reason could be related to Young Griff being a Blackfyre instead of a true Targaryen and this could possibly be a factor.

[TheButcherCrow]

Do we know for sure that Illyrio knew who Barristan was? Could it not be that he went to Pentos to begin his search for Dany (this was the last confirmed place that she was known to live) & there he met Belwas (pos in a bar?) who, while in his cups, told Selmy about being sent to Qarth by Mopatis to guard "The Dragon Queen"? Selmy signs on as Belwas squire/valet and off they go. Just a thought.

[Lady Sansa Stark]

Do we know for sure that Illyrio knew who Barristan was? Could it not be that he went to Pentos to begin his search for Dany (this was the last confirmed place that she was known to live) & there he met Belwas (pos in a bar?) who, while in his cups, told Selmy about being sent to Qarth by Mopatis to guard "The Dragon Queen"? Selmy signs on as Belwas squire/valet and off they go. Just a thought.

Illyrio would recognize Barristan Selmy, longtime member of the Kingsguard of Westeros. And I highly, highly doubt that Belwas would do such a thing - or that Illyrio would allow it if he knew what a drunkard he was. ;) I think it was intentional.

[TheButcherCrow]

Illyrio would recognize Barristan Selmy, longtime member of the Kingsguard of Westeros.

How would he recognize him? From his Barristan the Bold TM action figure? There is no reason to believe Illyrio would recognize Selmy on sight.

And I highly, highly doubt that Belwas would do such a thing - or that Illyrio would allow it if he knew what a drunkard he was. ;) I think it was intentional.

Belwas always struck me as exactly the type of person who would do that :dunno:

[Ser Daegon]

We had it from Selmy himself in his own POV chapters that he had help from Varys to get across the narrow sea, wherein we also learned from Arstan Whitebeard that he and Strong Belwas was sent by Magister Illyrio to Qarth to bring Dany and her dragons to Pentos. I believe that from there Illyrio would have called for Connington and fAegon to come to Pentos so they could introduce Dany to her "Nephew" and have them marry. At that point, even if fAegon was indeed a Blackfyre and not a Targ, that would have given him legitimate right to the throne and the three new Dragons. Only Ser Jorah mucked up that already amended plan by convincing Dany not to return to Pentos without her own army. After which she marched on Yunkai and Mereen. Thus Illyrio and Varys had to amend their plan once again, and called the Golden Company to escort fAegon to Mereen to declare himself as her old brother's son and her "rightful king," and absorb her dragons and make her his wife. The original plan, I believe, was to have Dany marry Khal Drogo in exchange for an army of Dothraki to greatly supplement their invasion to the west to put fAegon on the IT. As far as Selmy's role, again I believe he was sent to Dany to bring her back to Pentos. His great reputation would lend weight to his counsel to Dany, had he revealed himself much sooner to her.

[TheButcherCrow]

^^^ Thankyou, I just couldn't be ars*d looking it up :drunk: You're logic is also solid, in short :agree:

[Ser Daegon]

Thankyou, I just couldn't be ars*d looking it up :drunk: You're logic is also solid, in short :agree:

Thank you, TheButcherCrow, I may indeed make a new thread about my theory. I do believe it was always Varys and Illyrio's intent to put fAegon on the Iron Throne, as I believe Varys is a Blackfyre and that Illyrio married his sister who gave birth to fAegon. Viserys and Dany were pawns from the beginning.

[novem ice]

Couple of other points I don't think were made. While Selmy may not have been able to ID a teenager he last saw as a baby, he really should've been able to ID Jon Connington, former hand of the king. Then who knows what their past relationship was like, but Selmy probably would've had a few questions for why he was still alive. Heck he might even know who Septa Lemore is!

Selmy was heard saying he wanted to find the rightful king which in his mind was Viserys and/or Dany. Varys knows this and tells Illyrio to direct him to Dany. fAgeon stays hidden.

[Kittykatknits]

We had it from Selmy himself in his own POV chapters that he had help from Varys to get across the narrow sea, wherein we also learned from Arstan Whitebeard that he and Strong Belwas was sent by Magister Illyrio to Qarth to bring Dany and her dragons to Pentos. I believe that from there Illyrio would have called for Connington and fAegon to come to Pentos so they could introduce Dany to her "Nephew" and have them marry. At that point, even if fAegon was indeed a Blackfyre and not a Targ, that would have given him legitimate right to the throne and the three new Dragons. Only Ser Jorah mucked up that already amended plan by convincing Dany not to return to Pentos without her own army. After which she marched on Yunkai and Mereen. Thus Illyrio and Varys had to amend their plan once again, and called the Golden Company to escort fAegon to Mereen to declare himself as her old brother's son and her "rightful king," and absorb her dragons and make her his wife. The original plan, I believe, was to have Dany marry Khal Drogo in exchange for an army of Dothraki to greatly supplement their invasion to the west to put fAegon on the IT. As far as Selmy's role, again I believe he was sent to Dany to bring her back to Pentos. His great reputation would lend weight to his counsel to Dany, had he revealed himself much sooner to her.

Spot on! I agree completely. And one more piece of evidence to support this, it was Varys who planted the idea with Cersei and Joff to dismiss Barristan in the first place. They didn't think of this on their own. Remember Tywin's comment that Barristan may be old but he lends credibility to whoever sits on the IT? He's the most famous knight in Westeros and Varys wanted him. So, he got the man fired and then arranged for him to be sent to Pentos and the story unfolds just as you describe it.

[jarl the climber]

Why did Illyrio and Varys send Ser Barristan to Dany instead of (F)Aegon?

Was it just that they felt she needed more protecting?

I couldn't come up with a reason for this, somone help me.

Honestly I do not thiink Varys and Illryio knew what was going to happen with Dany and Barristan. Keep in mind that Barristan checked to see if she was insane for a while til his true identity was outed. I do not think Barristan knows that Varys had anything to do with it. I do not think Barristan would have lied about his intentions to Illryio. It seems like Barristan has his own personal agenda

[jarl the climber]

We had it from Selmy himself in his own POV chapters that he had help from Varys to get across the narrow sea,

Where does he ever mention that he had help from Varys? Remember that Barristan sat on the council he knew enough about Illryio to make his way there on his own.

[Budj]

I believe when Tyrion and Tywin are talking about the malarky going down in KL under Cersei's guidance they mention how Cersei didn't consider how terrible it would look if Barristan Selmy went to go represent another claimant. Of course they were considering those Kings closer to home at the time, but it is funny that they half put it together...

[Ser Daegon]

Where does he ever mention that he had help from Varys? Remember that Barristan sat on the council he knew enough about Illryio to make his way there on his own.

I don't have the exact quotes or the chapters, but in Barristan's POV chapters in aDwD he either thinks about how he got across or talked about it... I don't remember exactly right now but I do believe it mentions that Varys' people found him after he returned to KL and helped arrange a ship to take him to Pentos.

[Maester Tormund]

Barristan was sent, not to aid Dany, but to bring her back to Illyrio. He was a tool ready for use so they used him for a need.

[novem ice]

Barristan was sent, not to aid Dany, but to bring her back to Illyrio. He was a tool ready for use so they used him for a need.

Sure that's what Illyrio wanted, but Barristan Selmy is a man of action. He's no patsy gopher (go fer dis). I think Illyrio's message was lost and Selmy fell back into the role he's known since he was 16.

[Maester Tormund]

Sure that's what Illyrio wanted, but Barristan Selmy is a man of action. He's no patsy gopher (go fer dis). I think Illyrio's message was lost and Selmy fell back into the role he's known since he was 16.

Of course, I agree 100%. I was answering the OP's question though which was "Why did they send him to Dany vs Aegon?"

They're originally plan probably involved bringing Dany back to Pentos and then introducing her and Barristan to Aegon.