Jorah Mormont

Lore & Background

Jorah's path began as the only son of Jeor Mormont, who joined the Night's Watch before Robert's Rebellion. Jorah married a Glover lady who died from a miscarriage after ten years. He distinguished himself in Greyjoy's Rebellion at the siege of Pyke and was knighted by King Robert Baratheon. At a tourney in Lannisport, he named Lynesse Hightower Queen of Love and Beauty, marrying her despite her wealth as a Hightower. Unable to sustain her luxuries on Bear Island, Jorah sold poachers to a Tyroshi slaver, an act that led Lord Eddard Stark to condemn him to death. Fleeing to Lys with Lynesse, he became a sellsword but failed to satisfy her; she eventually became a concubine for a wealthy merchant who warned Jorah of enslavement. Drifting through the Free Cities and among the Dothraki, he worked as a spy for Varys before entering Daenerys' service in Pentos.

In Their Own Story

In A Game of Thrones, Jorah served Daenerys while secretly reporting to Varys to earn a royal pardon. He admired her strength, saving her from poison in Vaes Dothrak after Illyrio Mopatis warned him of Robert's assassination order. Following Drogo's death, he was the first to pledge fealty and witnessed her emergence with three dragon hatchlings. By A Clash of Kings, he ceased sending reports to Varys as his love turned genuine. At Qarth, he encountered Strong Belwas and Arstan Whitebeard, whom he found familiar but did not recognize. In A Storm of Swords, Jorah confessed his love to Daenerys; she rejected him but accepted his counsel to sail to Astapor for the Unsullied. After the capture of Meereen, Ser Barristan Selmy revealed Jorah's past as a spy. Despite Jorah's refusal to beg, claiming he deserved forgiveness for his service, Daenerys banished him without granting it.

Reader's Guide

Jorah Mormont is not a point-of-view character in the novels; his actions are witnessed through Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister. He serves as a source of background information on Westerosi history and Essosi cultures. In A Dance with Dragons, Jorah encounters exiled Tyrion in a brothel in Selhorys and abducts him to gift to Daenerys. They travel with the dwarf Penny to Volantis. During their voyage to Meereen, their ship is disabled by a storm and seized by slavers; Jorah is badly beaten and branded while fighting them off. Sold to Yezzan zo Qaggaz in Meereen, Jorah becomes despondent upon learning Daenerys married Hizdhar zo Loraq. After Yezzan dies of dysentery, Jorah and Tyrion escape to the Second Sons camp, formerly loyal to Daenerys but now defected to the slavers. Jorah realizes the Yunkai'i will lose the coming battle and urges Tyrion to convince the company to defect again.

Did You Know?

• Jorah named Lynesse Hightower the 'Queen of Love and Beauty' after winning a tourney at Lannisport.
• He was knighted by King Robert Baratheon for distinguishing himself as one of the first to enter the fray during the siege of Pyke in Greyjoy's Rebellion.
• Jorah served as a spy for Varys, reporting on Daenerys while hiding his true identity even from her until Ser Barristan Selmy revealed it in Meereen.
• In A Dance with Dragons, Jorah was branded by slavers after being badly beaten while trying to fend them off during their voyage to Meereen.
• Jorah is the only son of Jeor Mormont, who abdicated his lordship shortly before Robert's Rebellion to join the Night's Watch.