Bastardy

Bastardy is a social status in the Seven Kingdoms held by people who were born illegitimately, out of wedlock to unwed parents. It is possible for bastards to go on to win high offices and acclaim, and to found new houses, but they generally have a hard life and have to prove themselves moreso than legitimate children.
Each of the constituent regions of Westeros has a different surname taken by bastards to identify their status. These are as follows:
* The North: 'Snow'
* The Iron Islands: 'Pyke'
* The Westerlands: 'Hill'
* The Riverlands: 'Rivers'
* The Vale: 'Stone'
* The Crownlands: 'Waters'
* The Reach: 'Flowers'
* The Stormlands: 'Storm'
* Dorne: 'Sand'
==Notable bastards in the books==
* Gendry
* Cotter Pyke
* Ellaria Sand and the Sand Snakes
* Jon Snow
* Mya Stone
* Edric Storm
* Ramsay Bolton, formerly Snow
==Notable historical bastards==
* Orys Baratheon, a rumored Targaryen bastard who fathered a new dynasty
* Daemon Blackfyre, originally a Targaryen bastard legitimised by his father
* Aegor Rivers, called Bittersteel
* Brynden Rivers, called Bloodraven
Category:Concepts
Category:Terms