Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin recently shed light on the character Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), revealing more about her backstory and confirming she has a famous ancestor.

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According to Vanity Fair , Martin appeared at a convention in Baltimore called Balticon to read aloud to those in attendance a new chapter from his forthcoming book The Winds of Winter. During his time in front of the crowd, the author announced that Brienne of Tarth is the descendant of Ser Duncan the Tall.For those who don't know, Ser Duncan the Tall is one of Westeros' most famous knights, making this connection with Brienne particularly noteworthy, especially when considering he's one of Martin's favorite characters.In fact, the author wrote an entire series of novellas centered around the character, which was later adapted by Marvel into graphic novels. In addition, Martin has said that if there were to be a Game of Thrones spin-off, he'd like it to center around Ser Duncan and his squire.For more on Game of Thrones, be sure to check out IGN's review of this week's episode, titled "Blood of My Blood." While you're at it, take a look at out list of the series' 11 most heartbreaking moments

Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter