I’ll never forget watching Cersei Lannister – the woman who blew up the Great Sept with wildfire – forced to walk naked through King’s Landing while a gaunt man in tattered robes watched with pious satisfaction. In that moment, a single question burned in my mind:
How does the High Sparrow have power?
This wasn’t some lord with armies. Not a wealthy merchant. Just an old man who looked like he hadn’t eaten properly in months. And yet, he’d brought the most powerful family in Westeros to their knees.
As I rewatched every scene and reread every chapter about this enigmatic figure, I discovered his rise wasn’t miraculous – it was masterful. Here’s how a beggar became the most dangerous man in the Seven Kingdoms.
The Perfect Storm: A Kingdom Ripe for Revolution
To understand the High Sparrow’s power, we need to see Westeros through his eyes in Season 5:
- The War of the Five Kings had left the countryside in ruins
- The smallfolk were starving while nobles feasted
- The Iron Throne was bankrupt
- The Faith of the Seven had grown corrupt and decadent
“When the people are starving and see their leaders as sinful, they’ll follow anyone who offers bread and righteousness,” a medieval historian friend told me. “Especially if that someone looks as poor as they are.”
The High Sparrow didn’t create this situation – he simply recognized it before anyone else.
Weapon #1: The Faith Militant – Cersei’s Fatal Gift
Remember when Cersei thought rearming the Faith was a brilliant move? That moment when she smugly tells the High Sparrow: “The Crown and the Faith are the twin pillars of the world.”
Oh, the irony.
By legalizing the Faith Militant, Cersei gave the High Sparrow:
✔ A private army (the Sparrows)
✔ Legal authority to arrest “sinners”
✔ Control of the streets
“I once thought the Mountain was terrifying,” a Kings Landing extra told me during a convention panel. “Then I saw those Sparrows with their clubs and stars. At least the Mountain kills you quick.”
Weapon #2: Poverty as Power
The genius of the High Sparrow’s appearance:
- Roughspun robes (no silk or jewels)
- Bare feet (while nobles wore fine leather)
- Simple wooden staff (not a jeweled scepter)
This wasn’t just humility – it was psychological warfare. Every time he stood beside richly dressed nobles, he made them look corrupt by comparison.
Game of Thrones costume designer Michele Clapton revealed in an interview: “We made his robes intentionally shapeless and colorless. He needed to look like he emerged from the dirt itself.”
Weapon #3: The Nuclear Option – Noble Secrets
The High Sparrow didn’t need spies – he had something better: guilty consciences.
His targets were perfectly chosen:
- Lancel Lannister: Knew about Cersei’s incest and Robert’s murder
- Margaery Tyrell: Could be accused of perjury
- Loras Tyrell: Vulnerable for his sexuality
“In medieval times, confession wasn’t just spiritual – it was political,” my historian friend noted. “The Church could destroy kings with what they knew.”
Why Tommen’s Crown Meant Nothing
Here’s the terrifying part – the High Sparrow was more powerful than the king because:
- He controlled the mob (and Kings Landing runs on mob rule)
- He decided what was “moral” (making Tommen beg for legitimacy)
- He held the queen mother prisoner
“Power resides where men believe it resides,” Varys once said. The High Sparrow made millions believe it resided with him.
The Real-World Terror Behind the Character
What makes the High Sparrow so chilling is how real he feels:
- Medieval parallels: The Poor Fellows (real religious militants)
- Modern echoes: Populist leaders using moral rhetoric
- Psychological truth: People will trade freedom for certainty during chaos
George R.R. Martin didn’t create a cartoon villain – he showed us how zealots rise in broken societies.
FAQs
1. How does the High Sparrow get power?
Through religious fervor, Cersei’s mistake in arming the Faith, and strategic blackmail – not armies or gold.
2. Who gave power to the High Sparrow?
Cersei Lannister, by legalizing the Faith Militant. Her arrogance blinded her to the danger.
3. Why is the High Sparrow more powerful than the king?
He controlled the people’s hearts and the nobles’ secrets – Tommen only had a hollow crown.
4. How did the High Sparrow get control?
By mobilizing the starving masses, restoring the Faith Militant, and weaponizing the nobility’s sins.
