High Sparrow

The High Sparrow is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of high fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin and its television adaptation, Game of Thrones. The High Sparrow first appears in A Feast for Crows (2005) and subsequently appeared in Martin's A Dance with Dragons (2011). He is the de facto leader of the protest 'sparrow' movement that arises from the Faith of the Seven as a result of the carnage inflicted by the War of Five Kings. Although he appears to be humble and compassionate, his demeanor belies his shrewd and unrelenting religious fanaticism, which often borders on dangerous zealotry. He becomes of central importance to the shadow conflicts at court between Houses Lannister and Tyrell, and he is open about his disgust with the corruption and impiety of the capital. His true name is unknown; his title was given mockingly by political opponents as a comparison to the formal leader of the Faith, the High Septon. The character is portrayed by Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce in the HBO television adaptation. The High Sparrow shares many similarities with Girolamo Savonarola, an Italian friar who de facto ruled the Republic of Florence from 1494 to 1498, denouncing clerical corruption, despotic rule and the exploitation of the poor.