Game of Thrones and George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series, in many ways, revolves around family legacies. It is for the idea of family that each royal house battles for the iron throne in the first place.
That being said, not much has ever been revealed about Brienne of Tarth's heritage. We know little of where she comes from, only that she is a skilled knight and that men and woman alike are often shocked by her size and warrior status. Her backstory, up to this point, has often been tragic. She lost her mother and siblings at a young age, and was deemed unfit to marry by many due to her appearance.
As revealed by Martin at Balticon (via Vanity Fair), it turns out there is a good reason for Brienne's bulky frame. The author told fans in attendance that Brienne is a descendant of none other than Ser Duncan the Tall, a legendary knight and member of the Kingsguard who was famous for his size.
Ser Duncan doesn't ever appear on the show or even in Martin's series proper. By the time of Game of Thrones, Ser Duncan is long dead, though he does get a shout-out on HBO's show in season four as Joffrey flips through a book documenting the deeds of all the various members of the Kingsguard.
Dunk and his squire Egg do serve an important role in Westerosi history, however, with Martin even dedicating a series of short stories to the pair. Egg is none other than Aegon Targaryen in disguise, a young boy that would eventually become Aegon V, king of the Seven Kingdoms. Martin's stories document the travels of the unlikely duo, as they roam across the Seven Kingdoms helping those in need.
It's a scenario that isn't all that different from the adventures of Brienne and her squire Podrick in Game of Thrones, as they roam Westeros looking for the missing daughters of Catelyn Stark. It seems the parallel between the two was no mere coincidence.
Unfortunately, Martin didn't exactly elaborate on how Brienne came to be related to Ser Duncan. Was Duncan her great grandfather? Great uncle? No doubt, fans will begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together and come up with an answer soon. It's unlikely Brienne even knows of her heritage. She has often viewed her appearance as a curse, but perhaps that would change if she learned she is a descendant of a legendary member of the Kingsguard. Either way, it's these kinds of connections and family histories that have kept fans so engaged in Martin's fictional universe, and will likely continue to do so for years to come.
