A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Fossoway Betrayal’s Impact on Game of Thrones

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Okay, huge spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 here! As a fan, I was really interested to see Steffon and Raymun Fossoway show up. Their choices in this episode felt like a really important moment for their family’s history. Now, the Fossoways aren’t one of the biggest houses like the Lannisters or Starks, but they’re definitely part of the larger Game of Thrones world. George R.R. Martin mentions them a lot in A Song of Ice and Fire, and they’re always involved in the major battles and conflicts we see on the show.

Steffon and Raymun Fossoway are the most memorable members of their family. In the fourth episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Steffon initially pledges his loyalty to Dunk, but then shockingly switches sides to support Prince Aerion. This leaves Dunk in a tough spot, needing to quickly find another fighter. It’s then that Raymun, Steffon’s cousin and squire, volunteers to be knighted so he can join Dunk’s team instead.

Steffon Fossoway’s Betrayal In AKOTSK Leads To A Century-Long Divide In The Family

Photograph by Steffan Hill/HBO

The events involving Steffon and Raymun in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are presented identically to how they appear in Martin’s The Hedge Knight. While seemingly minor, this detail becomes significant for readers familiar with the Fossoway family from Game of Thrones, as it establishes the existence of two distinct branches of the house: those who bear the red apple sigil and those who bear the green apple.

The events of Dunk and Egg’s adventure, known as the Trial of Seven, caused a lasting division within House Fossoway. After Steffon Fossoway’s disloyalty, Raymun Fossoway changed his family’s symbol, replacing the traditional red apple on his shield with a green one. This split continues over a century later, during the time of Game of Thrones, and it all stems from the actions of Ser Duncan the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

The Fossoways’ Role In Game Of Thrones Explained

In the world of Game of Thrones, the Fossoway family is divided into two branches. One, known as the red-apple Fossoways of Cider Hall, and the other, the green-apple Fossoways of New Barrel, are both descendants of Ser Raymun Fossoway. Despite their differences, both groups pledged their allegiance to House Tyrell of Highgarden. After Robert Baratheon’s death, both the red and green Fossoways shifted their support, first to Renly Baratheon, and then to Stannis Baratheon.

The HBO show didn’t focus much on the Fossoway family, but their involvement between A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Game of Thrones is interesting. Both branches of the family – the green and red apples – supported the Baratheon siblings, who were descendants of the knight who originally honored Raymun during Dunk’s Trial of Seven. It’s a minor detail, but it’s these kinds of connections that make prequels like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms so enjoyable.

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2026-02-09 04:20