'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' reveals Dunk’s family link to 'Game of Thrones' Brienne

HBO’s 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' confirms Ser Duncan the Tall is an ancestor of Brienne of Tarth

HBO’s upcoming series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms places Ser Duncan the Tall, known as Dunk, at the centre of its story, while also reinforcing his direct family connection to a popular Game of Thrones character.

Dunk, portrayed by Peter Claffey, is confirmed within George R.R. Martin’s canon as an ancestor of Brienne of Tarth, played by Gwendoline Christie in Game of Thrones. The link between the two knights is supported by textual evidence in Martin’s novels and comments he has made at public events.

One of the clearest references appears in A Feast for Crows, when Brienne recalls the shield from her father’s armoury. The description references a falling star above an elm tree, the same sigil associated with Ser Duncan the Tall. Brienne later adopts that same design for her own shield, connecting her lineage to Dunk and Evenfall Hall, her family home.

At a book signing in 2005, Martin stated that one of Dunk’s descendants appears in the novels and said there was “a pretty strong hint” in A Feast for Crows. In 2016, when asked at Balticon whether readers would learn how Brienne descends from Dunk, Martin replied, “Eventually. All will be revealed in time.”

Within the lore of Westeros, Dunk later becomes one of the most renowned Kingsguard knights in history. As members of the Kingsguard swear vows of celibacy, Brienne’s descent is believed to trace back to Dunk’s life before he joined the order.

Claffey has spoken about Christie’s influence on his portrayal of Dunk, saying, “I was a huge fan of the original series, and I loved Gwendoline Christie as Brienne. She was amazing, and there are a lot of aspects to Dunk’s character that she shares.” He added, “She’s very chivalrous. She wants to do what’s right.”

Further details about Dunk’s descendants are expected to emerge in The Winds of Winter, whenever the novel is released.