Sandor Clegane

Lore & Background

Sandor Clegane serves as King Joffrey Baratheon's personal bodyguard and a retainer to House Lannister. He is regarded as one of the fiercest and strongest fighters in the Seven Kingdoms, yet he refuses knighthood, viewing the code of honor as hypocritical given his brother Gregor's nature as a sadist who delights in rape and bloodshed. Sandor is described as a tormented man driven by anger and post-traumatic stress from his childhood abuse. His story spans *A Game of Thrones*, *A Clash of Kings*, *A Storm of Swords*, and *A Feast for Crows*. In the novels, he is not a point-of-view character; his actions are witnessed through Sansa and Arya Stark, as well as Ned Stark and Tyrion Lannister. He acts as Joffrey's sworn shield but deserts during the Battle of the Blackwater after witnessing widespread wildfire use. Later, he is captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners, defeats their leader Beric Dondarrion in trial by combat, and kidnaps Arya to ransom her to Robb Stark at Riverrun.

In Their Own Story

In *A Clash of Kings*, Sandor protects Sansa Stark, calling her 'little bird' and advising her to obey Joffrey to survive. When Joffrey's entourage is attacked by citizens in King's Landing, he saves Sansa's life but becomes disillusioned by the use of wildfire at the Battle of the Blackwater. He offers to flee with Sansa, only for her to refuse; he leaves the capital alone after she sings him a song about mercy. In *A Storm of Swords*, Sandor takes Arya Stark on a journey to the Twins during Robb Stark's wedding, arriving just as the Red Wedding massacre begins. He knocks Arya unconscious to save her from running into the slaughter and fights his way out, killing three Frey knights. Later at the Crossroad Inn, he kills Polliver in an altercation but is seriously injured. His wounds fester, leaving him critically ill; Arya abandons him under a tree to await death. In *A Feast for Crows*, rumors spread of a man using his helmet committing atrocities, but the Elder Brother tells Brienne of Tarth that Sandor was found moribund and 'at rest,' implying he may have survived.

Reader's Guide

Portrayed by Scottish actor Rory McCann in the HBO adaptation, Sandor Clegane is introduced in Season 1 accompanying Robert Baratheon's court to Winterfell. He hunts down Mycah, a butcher's boy accused of attacking Joffrey, and leads the Lannister purge of Eddard Stark's men. Named to the Kingsguard, he continues to guard Sansa through her humiliation in Season 2, rescuing her from a riot before deserting at the Battle of the Blackwater. In Season 3, captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners, he is tried for murder but prevails against Beric Dondarrion, whose flaming sword he defeats. He kidnaps Arya to ransom her, escaping the Red Wedding at the Twins. By Season 4, after learning Lysa Arryn has died, they attempt to travel to the Vale until Brienne of Tarth intercepts them. A duel ensues where Brienne knocks Clegane off a cliff, gravely wounding him. McCann also narrates the animated 'History and Lore' for House Clegane in the Blu-Ray bonus material.

Did You Know?

• Sandor is 6'8" (2 m) tall and weighs over 300 lbs (140 kg), yet he is still smaller than his brother Gregor.
• He refuses to become a Knight despite being named to the Kingsguard, rejecting the vows and code of honor.
• In *A Storm of Swords*, Sandor kills three Frey knights while fighting his way out of the Red Wedding after knocking Arya unconscious.
• The Elder Brother tells Brienne that he found Sandor moribund, but a mute gravedigger matching his physical description appears later, leaving his death unconfirmed.
• Rory McCann narrates the animated 'History and Lore' for House Clegane in the *Game of Thrones* Blu-Ray bonus material.