The Grand Maester Conspiracy: what are the maesters up to? 

"Maesters are supposed to be politically neutral" GRAND MAESTER PYCELLE BURSTS OUT LAUGHING.

Sometimes when reading GoT and associated lore I sometimes stop myself and think, "Wait, none of this is real"

I don't think Maester Aemon's statement that he came to be the Maester of the Night's Watch of his own will and Marwyn's words contradict each other. The text says "Ask yourself why he was ALLOWED to waste his life upon the Wall". I'd say it was Aemon's own choice and the other Maesters didn't oppose it, because it seemed convenient to them: The Targaryen removes himself from the picture. It implies that they would have argued against someone like Aemon going to the Wall if he WASN'T a Targaryen, because they wouldn't want someone as talented/knowledgeable "wasting" himself on the Night's Watch, when they would need/want him as an archmaester

It's a shame HBO are gonna rush the next 2 seasons. Edited 07/08/2020: Wow I hate being right.

You missed a pretty important detail, which is that in a Dance with Dragons, Tyrion mentions that somewhere in the Citadel is a book explaining *how to kill dragons*. It's heavily implied that *that's* what Jaqen is looking for, and why he needs an archmaester's key. The Faceless Men hate Valyrians and dragons even more than the maesters do, so it would make sense that Jaqen's mission is to figure out how to kill Daenerys' dragons. But the fact that the maesters even have that book in the first place backs up Marwyn's claim that they killed off the Targaryen dragons.

"killing the dragons" means "killing the Targaryens" which Pycelle directly oversaw and virtually succeeded in doing at the end of Robert's Rebellion, when he got Aerys to open the gates to Tywin, who he knew would kill them all.

It's so easy to forget the depth of these books when we complain about Martin taking so long to write them...

Guess you could call it their...Maester Plan

Most of the maesters we've met are extremely loyal to their appointed or chosen lords. Pycelle is devoted to the Lannisters. Aemon is loyal to the Night's Watch. Sam is loyal to Jon. Leuwin to the Starks. Cressen to Stannis. Even vile Qyburn seems loyal to Cersei. It seems that every maester has his own agenda based on his own loyalties -- like everyone else is Westeros.

Dany is known as the "Breaker of Chains." The maesters all wear a heavy chain, almost like it's their sigil = MINDBLOWN!

6 years later and we still waiting on that next book to find out what the maesters are up to

Cressen was a good person, I actually felt sad when he died. Plus, if I was him, I would also fear Melissandre and her black destructive magic.

What if grand maester Pycelle is actually Jon Snow's mother?

that's an amazing picture of lady stoneheart 10:56

For there to be a big 'maester conspiracy' it doesn't mean that all maesters would have to be in on it. It could just be a relatively small, but powerful, contingent of elites within the maesters. So guys like Crennen and even the Grand Maester may have no idea, and their ignorance of any grand plot could even be something by design. For a conspiracy to work, I imagine you don't want a whole heckuva lot of people to know about it -- because each additional person is a risk. IMO, you'd want as few as possible to be successful.

"I always wanted to be a wizard" - Sam Tarly

I need a "Who is responsible for this event" table. Bloodraven, the Maesters, Lil' Finger, or Varys

Point of order (@ about 7:25mins), regarding the growth of Dany's dragons. 'A Dance with Dragons' clearly tells us that while the dragon Drogon is free and flying around, he grows much bigger than the other two, who are kept in chains in a closed pit. So, captive dragons indeed do NOT grow as large as one left free.

Knowing that the the first 3 books were planned to be a trilogy, I think a lot of the newer plotlines like this maester conspiracy are newer ideas from Martin. Thats why I dont think Cressens POV had any references to the glass candles or being anti magic rather than purely pro stannis.

Maester Pycelle is shown to be quite manipulative in the deleted scene where he and Tywin have a conversation. He drops the character and speaks freely, showing his intelligence and capability in a conspiracy.

Jet fuel can't melt obsidian beams.

I have never been more baffled at GRRM's attention to detail than I was when I saw the names of 21 archmaesters, one of which we've actually seen in the books. This man is freakishly into detail.

Just came back to this and realized that after seeing season 1 of HOTD, it does seem like the maester's played some part in speeding the demise of king Viserys. Meaning that it could have been interpretted by Marwin that the maester's were responsible for killing Viserys while they knew that there was bad blood surrounding who was regarded as his rightful heir, creating the conflict of the dance of dragons and killing off the dragons.

I think a strong point of evidence in favor of the Masters (and Hightowers) at least starting the Dance of Dragons is that when Rhaenyra sent a message asking Baratheon to join her cause, Baratheon responded that he wouldn't be called like some dog, and said this i believe with his master right by his side. It's totally conceivable that the Master of his purposely read the message in a much more demanding/negative tone than Rhaenyra intended so that she wouldn't get them as allies

I've read all the books, but I always feel lost and clueless when I see these.

Wildfire can't melt Valyrian steel beams, investigate the Maesters. #SummerhallTruth

Pycelle had the right idea coming across as a poor old man, but he played his role too outwardly and was too political. If he had talked a bit less and stopped kissing the Lannister’s boots so much, he’d be living a lot more comfortably.

I think it's important to remember that a conspiracy involving maesters doesn't necessarily involve all or even the majority of them. It could be a small clique of influential ones exerting pressure on other maesters and lords

So they're like the Illuminati of Westeros?

Props for that DJ Khaled loyal reference

Maybe Marwyn is referring to the Targs being killed when he says dragons. The Targs often get referred to as dragons and he also says "gallant dragonslayers with swords", sounds kinda like the Kingslayer Jaime, the knight in shining armour sort of thing, with him being handsome and all. So eventually this would refer to the maesters not directly killing the Targs but causing the rebellion just like the other source stated (I forget the name), plus Pycelle personally contributing a great deal to the killing of the Targs.

The two dragons that Dany chained up were much smaller than the dragon she left free...

So excited when I see Alt Shift X in my sub box

Quick thought--"killing all the dragons" might well mean the killing of the actual Targaryen blood line--the Kings/Queens. Perhaps they contributed to the "madness" of Aerys--providing potions causing hallucinations and paranoia?

Well, the maesters “killing off all the dragons” could be a metaphor for a conspiracy to unseat the Targaryans and aid in Robert’s Rebellion.

6 years later and after watching two episodes of house of the dragon i can agree with you + the high towers are involved 👍🏽

Lady Dustin only hates the Maesters because it was a Maester who recommended the wedding between Brandon Stark and Caetelyn Tully. Brandon took Lady Dustin's maidenhead and she wanted to marry him. Of course he strangled himself to death so she should really get over it...

9:14 "they don't wantchu to have dragons"

I mean there is most definitely a conspiracy. Only ONE university in the entirety of the seven kingdoms, and graduates from university are guaranteed a lifetime career in government at some of the most highest levers of power? Man I'd love to meet the guy who made that deal with the Iron Throne.

This also was shown the last episode of hotd. When the maester read the letter to Lord Borros. He could make it sound more angry, so Borrod would choose the greens.

I remember reading a pretty rock solid theory about how the maesters caused the Dance of Dragons (manipulating letters, causing miscarriages, etc). I've never considered there to be any doubt about it since I read it.

Had something important to do. Really important. Yet here I am because these videos are like are Christmas presents.

The Bene Lesserit

What if the dragons got smaller over time due to inbreeding? This would make sense and would also be a nice nod to the fact that the targaryens were married off to each other to keep the bloodline pure. While most likely being part of the cause of them becoming less significant over time. As valerians i mean

I always thought that when Marwyn said that, he was referring that the maesters had something to do with the disaster at Summerhall.

Preston and AltShiftX in the same day? Whooo!

I'm watching these backwards so I get to hear the mic quolaty deteriate

I genuinely believe that at the *very* least, the Hightowers have long been manipulating events to gain the upper hand, and try to achieve the throne. Dance is a big example, but with the Faith and the Citadel both in Oldtown, they could be behind a lot of what has happened to the Targaryens throughout the years outside of the obvious situation with Alicent.

I love how wildly complex and realistic the politics in ASOIAF are. Thanks for making these videos Alt Shift X!

I certainly can believe that individual maesters might take advantage of their positions to manipulate the lords they serve with some ulterior motives (i.e. Lord Manderly's maester possibly spying for the Lannisters). However, there's one very big problem with the idea of an overarching maester conspiracy. Conspiracies require communication, especially over the massive distances in Westeros given the level of technology. The maesters do control a means of communication (ravens), however it is not SECURE communication. Numerous characters throughout the series explicitly choose not to trust messages to ravens for fear of interception or loss, particularly when the information must remain secret (i.e. military movements or the news of the assassination attempt on Bran). Plus, ravens appear to be very noticeable when leaving or arriving at a castle. The people in castles seem to immediately notice when ravens arrive, and shooting down any ravens trying to leave a besieged castle is a standard military tactic. Therefore, it's hard to imagine how maesters could be sending illicit communications by raven without notice.

Find out more in the next book. Imagine it being 7 years later and we are still waiting

I always listen to these as I’m heading to sleep. Such great videos.

I just found your channel today and LOVE IT. I've been binge watching all evening and I'm addicted. You really have the best discussions on Game of Thrones and I love how you put all of the pieces together. For someone who only discovered GofT through the show and not the books, I really appreciate how you connect what was in the books to what's in the show. It has given me so much insight into the characters that I didn't have before. I'm going to Patreon to check you out there.

Drogon is clearly bigger in the books as Rhaegal and Viserion. I thin that the chains are the reason for this indeed.

I cried when Master Cressen died alone, with no on in his support, and all for love of Stannis. Stannis does not deserve that man.

Question: Are the maesters considering the Starks magical house too? Because they are (wolfblood, wargs), but the knowledge for warging and that they are wargs at all is forgotten, lost. Do the maesters know about them that wargs really exist? And House Stark is a family with a strong magical blood in their veins either? They are in denial about the existence of White Walkers, so maybe they are in denial about every other northern magic either.

Correct if I'm wrong, but didn't Varys say I quote "I, my dear Lord Tyrion, work for the realm, somebody has to." Strange that Varys would add that last little bit. Seems to me as though he is implying that he, and only him, wishes the best for the realm and not just himself. I believe that this little piece of evidence strongly supports the claim that the Maesters only want to support their own interests rather than helping the realm.

Saw this video in my feed and gasped; had to watch it immediately! You're awesome at what you do!

This guy really puts time and work in to his videos and I appreciate that, thank you...

From my reading of the books, magic has a life cycle with ebbs and flows. It explains the heights and lows of magic. These ebbs and flows last years slowly building and once they reach a peak they slowly recede, the dragons and their growth over is the best example. I believe the Doom was the apex and the sign of the fall of magic over the next decades.

So glad that Varys killed Pycelle

6 years later still waiting for this fun. 😄

In every your video I watched where you say "we'll find out in the next book" I want to cry

Who’s here after season 8 but still wants more Asoiaf

I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to include captions with your videos. I'm hard of hearing (genetic defect) and a lot of times its a struggle to enjoy youtube vids because they don't bother with CC's. So thanks for letting my enjoy your great work :)

TBH maester conspiracy could be solved maybe if we could learn Pycelles and other maester family names.

Every single video on this channel is so well done and informative. The only problem is that it is making me even more impatient as we all wait for the next book to come out!

Man the format of your videos is amazing and so watchable/understandable, thank you so much, i've also read the books but with your videos I got a whole new perspective. Cheers, subsribed4life

LOL That DJ Khaled edit!! 😂😂

A friend of mine said an interesting thing that very much applies here I believe, that the rich don't need to sit in a big dark room together to plot how to best serve their rich friends, they know what other rich people want and need. In the same way a lot of the Maesters are like minded and share the same feelings about the dragons. So without having to get together in a dark room to plot, they know what would be best for their goals, add in some personal drama, the fact that the less people in on a big secret, the more likely it is for it to stay a secret and the Maesters subtly scraping away at the Targaryens for a few centuries with some help from the Hightowers, the faith, the commons, and the Targaryen's self destructive tendencies seems a lot easier to accept on a case by case basis rather than a long intricate plot.

what about maester Luwin? he basically manipulated Jon Snow to join the nights watch when Ned and Benjen didnt want him to.

At 8:33 A maester cover up is still possible. They stock and tend to the libraries after all. Keeping books around not written by them but that also don't necessarily damn them would be a good way of making the cover up more concealed.

A topic idea for next time : "Where is Gendry ?"

Great video, love all of them! I wonder if you could make a video about "Tragedy at Summerhall"? The event seems interesting enough, all I know was sorcery(according to Ser Barristan) and dragon breeding was involved and it ended the life of Ser Duncan the Tall. I've heard that some people think it was a plot to end the Targaryens. Again, great work man. Keep it up!

THIS is how you theorise! Well done sir, while most channels are blurting out nonsensical hypotheses with no evidence to back up their claims, you go ahead and create a masterpiece like this with an in-depth breakdown from a non-biased viewpoint. Absolutely incredible stuff, have my insignifigant +1 sub for your research and efforts.

Watching these lore videos now is risky af. When you mentioned dance of the dragons I had to turn it off to avoid spoilers from House of The Dragon

Excellent job as always!

I've been noticing the Master's disdain for magic from the very beginning. Maester Luwin's minimizing old Nan's stories to Bran, the shunning of Qyburn due to his dalliances in magic...their revisionist tendencies toward history...and then there is their placement attaching themselves to the noble houses. It hasn't gone unnoticed by me that they also advise on marriages AND that the two most powerfully magic bloodlines in the world have never converged. Some ppl feel that it's terribly predictable that Jon Snow IS the convergence of those two bloodlines, but I don't think that is the real story. The REAL story is that the Maesters have very subtly prevented this convergence & that it happened despite their interference, the only way it could...a forbidden love affair, and that no one knows WHAT Jon Snow is, not who...who is pretty cool in and of itself, but WHAT that will make him, is the forest behind the family trees. It's no coincidence that humanity has brought forth this convergence exactly when it was needed in the coming war for the dawn? Perhaps the faceless men know the Maesters have been supressing magic & ironically that their trying to save humanity by supressing magic would cause humanity to be defenseless against the army of the dead? So they are there to steal knowledge, in order to aid in the war to come by hatching the dragon egg in their possession & have already helped power up the magic in Stark bloodline? It would certainly go toward explaining why Jaqen H'ghar took such interest in Arya Stark & training her, if he knew the power in her bloodline. It's absolutely true the Maesters have an agenda against magic, but it's no mistake that Marwyn has become a rebel & stepped outside of the box. He sees what the faceless men see...that fully supressing magic would doom the realm of men. And then there is the REAL story. If the story of Azor Ahai was completed 1000s of years ago, then that should be the most significant story & it would have ended the struggle of the living vs the dead, but it ISN'T. The story we are immersed in right now is. What could possibly be a bigger story than Azor Ahai? Because AA didn't rid the world of the threat of the others, it just beat it back for 8 millenia. Something must break that wheel. Dany speaks of breaking it, perhaps that foreshadows the endgame of this story. Jon Snow is the key. We don't know the bloodline of AA, but there is no mention of him having power blood abilities. So we wait patiently to see exactly what Jon Snow is....not who.

Watching this after the latest HOTD episodes is like night and day difference! Amazing!

[SPOILER ALERT for House of the Dragon] Aegon III was so traumatized by watching his mother get eaten by a dragon that the very mention of a dragon would send him into a raging fit after. He also had a loud argument about it with his brother Viserys, and yelled "get that thing out of my sight" when he saw his cousin on a dragon. Dragons going extinct during his reign cant be a coincidence. Sure many of them died during the dance, but there were still a few dragons left and there were eggs left. Why did only a few of these eggs hatch, and why is it that the dragons didnt grow more than the size of a cat? It is very likely that Aegon III sneakily ordered the maesters to poison the dragons or simply not feed them until they died of starvation. As for the maesters "overthrowing the targaryens", we have strong reason to suspect that many big houses were planning to dethrone Aerys II and install Rhaegar as the king. These lords wanted this purely for the safety and security of their houses and lands, and the good of the realm. Its not hard to imagine the maesters agreeing with this plan if they agreed that it would be best for all Westeros. Thats not necessarily overthrowing targaryens or "getting rid of magic"; thats simply getting rid of a mad king and installing a good/decent one instead. Keep in mind that at this time House Targaryen had no magical abilities, so getting rid of them wouldnt really do much to get rid of magic in Westeros. The only way the maesters could truly have been plotting to overthrow Targaryens is if they were somehow involved in Rhaegar's plot to abduct/run away with Lyanna (which seems unlikely, because why would they want to start a war for no reason if the Targaryens didnt have magic anyway).

Love your theories man

Love the videos, really great work! I think you should make an Aegon=Blackfyre theory video next!

Shift is so real for putting Mellos on the thumb

Your videos on various small sections of ASOIAF are so well thought out and well explained. I'd like to see a unified video in which some choice theories are taken for granted, and pulled together to form a large picture of what's really happening on Planetos.

Probably been said before and may be intentional on the part of GRRM, but the maesters remind me of the Bene Gesserit from Dune

Walks in Says the Maesters killed the dragons Refuses to elaborate Leaves

I love your big theory videos for ASoIaF!!! Keep them coming.

@Alt Shift X : You have some of the best GOT videos on YT. Interesting and informative. As a result of these videos I went out and bought a few of the books. Salute.

2:24 Joffrey """Baratheon""" absolutely savage

Is maester Pycelle Azor Ahai?

I've been clicking on your vids for a while now, and there don't seem to be any bad ones, so hang it, I'm just going to click "Uploads, play all". Good job Sir!

Well spoken. Excellent voice. I enjoyed this much. You got yourself about 5 new subs. Cheers!

Who else watched this after House Of The Dragon aired and got somewhat spoiled halfway through this video? Still love the content, keep it up!

The ending for game of thrones and the books will be bran "woke up from his sleep it was all a dream"

Great video as usual! I think the Maesters played a big part in the Targaryen civil war, they call the beginnings of that the War of the Ravens. Preston Jacobs also has a good video on the Maester Master Plan

I love the way these videos are set up

Great breakdown vid sir! Don't worry about us Maesters,we just chilling and sharing our wisdom with the BLING around our necks!

15:50 "The good news is we will find more in the next book" Well...i have some bad news for you....

I have been watching RU-vid videos for YEARS and this is my first ever comment. The tone, timber, and melodic flow of your speaking voice is seductive. If you are not a singer, you may wish to consider giving that a go.

Haha it took me a moment to figure out what you meant with the picture of the rocks until I noticed they are arranged in a heart shape xD Nice vid!