game of thrones - Who was reputed to be the best swordsman of all Westeros?

Who was reputed to be the best swordsman of all Westeros, if there is such person at all?

I'm not interested on fan-made rankings, preferences or estimations, I'm talking about who, from an in universe point of view, held the reputation to be the best swordsman by other people in Westeros.

I'm well aware of many names that could claim to be just one of the best (Jaime Lannister, Arthur Dayne, Barristan Selmy, and many more), what I'd like to know is if there was someone that was considered so proficient and superior to everyone else to be reputed the best swordsman from an absolute point of view.

If possible I'd like to know who was the best swordsman during the timeframe of the novels, and (if a different person) also who held this "title" if considering all the history of Westeros.

Answer

Or as I like to call him: Ser Arthur Dayyuum

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There is not a doubt that Arthur was considered to be the best swordsman of at least the past 100 years, if not ever.

From The World of Ice and Fire:

At five-and-ten, Ser Jaime Lannister was already a knight—an honor he had received from the hand of Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, whom many considered to be the realm’s most chivalrous warrior.

_{-The World of Ice and Fire}

and

Prince Rhaegar’s support came from the younger men at court, including Lord Jon Connington, Ser Myles Mooton of Maidenpool, and Ser Richard Lonmouth. The Dornishmen who had come to court with the Princess Elia were in the prince’s confidence as well, particularly Prince Lewyn Martell, Elia’s uncle and a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard. But the most formidable of all Rhaegar’s friends and allies in King’s Landing was surely Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning.
_{-The World of Ice and Fire}

and:

the Swords of the Morning are all famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms. There are boys who secretly dream of being a son of Starfall so they might claim that storied sword and its title. Most famous of all was Ser Arthur Dayne, the deadliest of King Aerys II's Kingsguard.

_{-The World of Ice and Fire}

Even Jaime Lannister remarks at Arthur's reputation:

when Ser Arthur Dayne broke the Kingswood Brotherhood. He had saved Lord Sumner's life as Big Belly Ben was about to smash his head in, though the outlaw had escaped him. And he'd held his own against the Smiling Knight, though it was Ser Arthur who slew him. What a fight that was, and what a foe. The Smiling Knight was a madman, cruelty and chivalry all jumbled up together, but he did not know the meaning of fear. And Dayne, with Dawn in hand . . . The outlaw's longsword had so many notches by the end that Ser Arthur had stopped to let him fetch a new one. "It's that white sword of yours I want," the robber knight told him as they resumed, though he was bleeding from a dozen wounds by then. "Then you shall have it, ser," the Sword of the Morning replied, and made an end of it.
_{-A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Three - A Storm of Swords, Chapter Sixty-Seven (Jaime VIII).}

and

"I learned from the White Bull and Barristan the Bold," Jaime snapped. "I learned from Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, who could have slain all five of you¹ with his left hand while he was taking with a piss with the right^2..

_{-A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Three - A Storm of Swords, Chapter Sixty-Seven (Jaime VIII).}

Listen, if you don't believe me, or Jaime, or Archmaester Yandel, then believe the words of our mate, Ned Stark:

[Bran]:"Was there one who was best of all?"
[Ned]: "The finest knight I ever saw was Ser Arthur Dayne, who fought with a blade called Dawn, forged from the heart of a fallen star. They called him the Sword of the Morning, and he would have killed me [at the Tower of Joy] but for Howland Reed.".
_{-A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One - A Game of Thrones, Chapter Twenty-One (Bran III).}

---

A Caveat on being the 'best': George R. R. Martin is intelligent enough to realise that there is no real 'best' swordsman, or at least not one that is the best by far. So here, we're only talking about reputation. In fact, he goes on to say:

[Interviewer]:Who would win in a fight, Barristan Selmy or Arthur Dayne (in their best days)?
[Martin]: Dayne... if he was armed with Dawn.
If both men had equivalent weaponry, it might be a toss-up.
-So Spake Martin: THE SWORD OF THE MORNING VS. BARRISTAN THE BOLD.

And that also informs of the importance of the tools that the swordsman uses, Arthur had the advantage of having literally the best sword in all of Westeros, Dawn. Which is why no matter how confident I sounded before, it's important to know that this is all just based on renown.

Honourable and historical mentions

• Prince Aemon the Dragonknight
  
  
  
  
  • This is guy is literally the stuff of songs, forreal
  
  
  • With his possession of the Valyrian Steel sword Dark Sister he was formidable
  
  
  • Dead
  
  
  
  


• Ser Barristan Selmy
  
  
  
  • Still feared and respected as well as revered by everyone, even at his 'advanced' age
  
  
  • Has participated and won many tourneys, duels and battles
  
  
  
  • Undefeated
  
  
  • Alive
  
  
  
  


• Ser Jaime Lannister
  
  


• Ser Loras Tyrell
  
  
  
  • Hugely renown even though he isn't that great a swordsman
  
  
  
  • Gained his renown mostly in tourneys
  
  
  • Said and has proven to be the best jouster
  
  
  • Basically up here because of how much of a reputation he has
  
  
  • Questionably alive and severely maimed at minimum
  
  
  
  


• Ser Gregor Clegane³
  
  
  
  • A machine that needs no introduction, hence speaking to his renown
  
  
  • Almost a moot point if he's a good swordsman or not, his size, strength and speed make him good enough to need an incredible fighter to take him on
  
  
  
  • Ends here on the list given that he's not really that great a fighter and his 'negative' reputation as a brute
  
  
  • Dead and alive
  
  
  
  


• Prince Daemon Targaryen
  
  
  
  • He is one of my favourite of historical dragon princes
  
  
  • He wielded the Valyrian Steel sword Blackfyre and rode his dragon (yes, a m.f.ing dragon) Caraxes
  
  
  • This guy got bored of playing in King's Landing, so he just decided to take over the Stepstones and crowned himself King there; you know, for the lulz!
  
  
  • Reputed as the most experienced warrior of his time
  
  
  
  • Not many people mention him or sing much about him, reducing his renown
  
  
  • Guys, during the 'Dance of Dragons' in his duel with Aemond Targaryen (and his dragon, Vhagar), Daemon jumped from Caraxes onto Vhagar in mid-air and stabbed his brother in the eye. The crash ended up killing both dragons and their riders!
  
  
  
  


• Ser Duncan The Tall
  
  
  
  • If it wasn't for him being Aegon V Targaryen's personal bodyguard, friend and Lord Commander of his Kingsguard, Dunk would have basically no renown (at least in these days).
  
  
  • Also gained some renown as the instigator of the most recent Trial By Seven and his epic duel with and defeat of Ser Lyonel Baratheon "The Laughing Storm"⁴.
  
  
  • Dead, yet undefeated
  
  
  
  
  


• Ser Garlan Tyrell
  
  


• Lady Brienne of Tarth
  
  
  
  • Her skill is unmatched so far, but she ends the list here as she's got very little, if no, renown
  
  
  • With her Valyrian Steel sword Oathkeeper, she's bound to tear-up some foes
  
  
  
  

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^{1. Those 'five' were in fact, Ser Loras Tyrell, Ser Osmund Kettleblack, Ser Balon Swann, Ser Boros Blount and Ser Meryn Trant. Not the best fighters there ever was, but definitely good enough to get on Tommen's Kingsguard.}

^{2. Arthur was right-handed.}

^{3. I'd put Sandor Clegane here too, but he's not a knight so he's not got any renown as a swordsman. Sorry.}

^{4. You thought Robert Baratheon was a tank? Get a load of this guy}