Highlights
- Alliser Thorne, a member of the Night’s Watch in Game of Thrones, initially disliked Jon Snow and constantly berated him due to his noble background.
- Thorne orchestrated a mutiny against Jon Snow, leading to Jon’s death, because he believed Jon’s decision to welcome the wildlings into Castle Black put them all in danger.
- Jon Snow is resurrected and ultimately becomes the new Lord Commander, sentencing Thorne and other mutineers to death by hanging. Thorne’s disdain for Jon ultimately costs him his life.
In Game of Thrones, the Night’s Watch is responsible for guarding the Wall in the North of Westeros, stationed at Castle Black. North of the Wall lies unforeseen dangers like wildlings, giants, and, eventually, the White Walkers. With such a perilous responsibility to uphold, the Black Brothers are rarely there by choice. Rather, they’re there as an alternate to serving prison time.
Jon Snow, however, thought Castle Black was to be a more fitting home than the one he felt he didn’t belong to in Winterfell. Perhaps his greatest opposition in choosing to become a member of the Night’s Watch in Game of Thrones was Ser Alliser Throne. He constantly berated Snow and made it very clear to him and everyone else at Castle Black that he was not a fan. But his exaggerated disapproval and pettiness would ultimately cost him everything.
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Who Is Alliser Thorne?
During Robert’s Rebellion against House Targaryen and the Mad King, Alliser’s family fought for the Targaryens. Upon their defeat, Thorne was given the option of being executed or to join the Night’s Watch, to which he chose to reside in Castle Black for the remainder of his life.
Quick Facts
- Hails from House Thorne of the Crownlands
- Fought against Robert’s Rebellion
- As a Targaryen loyalist, he was given the choice of death or the Night’s Watch
Thorne served the Night’s Watch for seventeen years of his life, eventually being promoted from ranger to master-of-arms. For a brief time, he was also the acting Lord Commander, but he didn’t hold that position for very long. Thorne had also been one of the few to live at Castle Black during the winter before the second coming of the White Walkers. He stated that he and his comrades had to resort to cannibalism during a particularly severe winter storm in which they were trapped beyond the Wall.
By the time Jon Snow joined the Night’s Watch, Alliser was already master-of-arms, serving under Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. Thorne constantly went after Jon because of his social status being a part of House Stark of Winterfell. He disgraced Snow for being privileged, evident by his freedom to choose to join the Night’s Watch when many of his Black Brothers had no other option.
Thorne’s contempt for Jon grows even more when Jon tries to convince Castle Black to be allies with the wildlings. But upon Jeor Mormont’s death, both Thorne and Snow are in the running to be elected the new Lord Commander.
What Happens to Alliser Thorne?
The men of the Night’s Watch vote for their new Lord Commander, and in a tie-breaking vote, Maester Aemon Targaryen sways the decision in Jon’s favor. Alliser is fittingly discouraged by the decision, especially since Jon will try to utilize his position in power to open the gate to the remaining peaceful wildlings.
Instead of taking advantage of his promotion and reassigning Thorne to an inferior position than before, Jon actually promotes the master-of-arms, naming him First Ranger. For the first time, Alliser expresses a genuine respect and gratitude towards his new Lord Commander, being more civilized in conversation when discussing various missions and endeavors, one of which is welcoming the wildlings into Castle Black, although he still disagrees with the decision.
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Soon, his disapproval gets the best of him, and he sees Jon as an enemy once again, badmouthing him to the other Night’s Watch members while Jon is away with Tormund recruiting the remaining wildlings. It’s here that Alliser decides to stage a mutiny against Jon upon his return.
All the while Jon has been a part of the Night’s Watch, his uncle Benjen Stark has been missing, presumably beyond the Wall. Alliser decides to use this as bait to summon Jon to the Castle Black courtyard, where Jon is told they may have found his uncle. Instead, Alliser and a large group of the other Night’s Watch are waiting with daggers and proceed to take turns stabbing him, all declaring, “For the Watch”, killing Jon and leaving him on the snowy ground.
Alliser assumes the position as Lord Commander, and admits to those absent from Jon’s murder that he orchestrated the mutiny. His reasoning is because he believed Jon put them in danger by inviting the wildlings into Castle Black. Soon after, though, Jon is resurrected through dark magic, performed by Melisandre, aka the Red Woman.
Jon retakes his place as Lord Commander, and sentences Alliser, along with a handful of other mutineers, including the young farm boy Olly, to death by hanging. Jon walks across the gallows and gives each man a chance to speak one last time. Alliser says:
I had a choice, Lord Commander: betray you, or betray the Night’s Watch. You brought an army of wildlings into our lands, an army of murderers and raiders. If I had to do it all over — knowing where I’d end up — I pray I’d make the right choice again… I fought. I lost. Now I rest. But you, Lord Snow, you’ll be fighting their battles forever.
A reluctant Jon Snow slashes the rope, hanging the soldiers and ending Alliser Thorne’s life for good. Jon went on in Game of Thrones to lead an army against the White Walkers, while Alliser Thorne became but a mere memory.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
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