Customs

This article is about the known customs in the known world. Most information will reflect the customs as they are in the Seven Kingdoms, though customs as they are elsewhere will be stated whenever possible

## Monarchy and Nobility

In the Seven Kingdoms, all authority derives from the king. The King’s right hand is his Hand of the King. When the King is sick, or unable to attend court sessions, the Hand of the King can take his plA.C. e and sit on the Iron Throne to dispense justice. Additionally, nobles are charged with keeping the king’s peA.C. e. In the king’s name, they can punish criminals.

It is possible for the king to redistribute lands and grant titles of nobility as he sees fit; He may also sign bills of attainder to strip lords of their lands and incomes. A lord can conceivably hold more than one title; However, it is unusual for noble holdings to be divided or combined. Younger siblings of a lord can become bannerman to their sibling, and hold a keep in his name. Territorial disputes between landowners are adjudicated, either by the liege lord or the king or his Hand.

On extremely rare occasions, the lords of the kingdom may be gathered together to decide some great matter. The first of these Great Councils was convened in 101 A.C. , when King Jaehaerys I Targaryen found himself unable to decide on who to name his heir.

### Social Ranks

The Seven Kingdoms is a feudal society. Below the King and the royal family rank the Great Houses (House Arryn, House Baratheon of Storm's End, House Greyjoy, House Martell, House Stark, House Targaryen, House Tully, and House Tyrell), followed by other noble houses, both greater and small, knights (landed knights, household knights, and hedge knights), and commoners. Nobles are addressed as "my lord" by other highborns, or "m’lord" by the smallfolk. Commoners might be addressed as goodwoman or goodman.

Every noble house has a house motto, while a coat of arms can be used by both nobility and knights, as a sign of status and identification (e.g. on the battlefield). Both nobles and knights can be ransomed, so in battle it might be preferred to capture them instead of killing them. Three hundred golden dragons is considered to be a fair ransom for a knight, whereas a nobleman’s son might be ransomed for three thousand golden dragons. A noble prisoner can be treated with honour and be kept in isolation in rooms as his status requires. However, making offense can result in the loss of the right for such honourable treatment.

At feasts, great honour can be given to a guest by seating him or her on the dais, with the plA.C. e of highest honour being on the right side of the host. Being seated at the far end of the hall, far from the dais, however, is regarded as a plA.C. e of little honour and regard. When a lord presides over a feast, he receives first choice of all dishes. He might send some of the especially fine dishes down to specific guests, showing friendship and respect.

## Inheritance

Inheritance laws in the Seven Kingdoms are not clear cut. Male-preference primogeniture is customary, but not binding, for most nobles. A man's eldest son is his heir, followed by his second son, then his third son, and so on. In theory, the youngest son is followed in the line of succession by the eldest daughter, after whom come her sisters in birth order. A man’s daughter inherits before her father’s brother. However, a lord also has the option of naming one of his younger sons heir, passing over his elder children, or to name the child of another as his heir. When there is no clear heir, claims can be presented to the King. The only exception is Dorne, where no distinction is made between sons and daughters. Instead, children inherit in order of birth regardless of gender, as per Rhoynish custom. In the case of an inheriting female, her last name will be passed on to her children, instead of the name of her husband. When a ruling lord dies and leaves no clear heir, his widow might lay claim upon his lands and rule until her own death, and in such a case, might name an heir by herself.

A lord may lay out specific terms for inheritance or pass over their offspring in his will, which may invite legal wrangling after their death, and potentially violence during it. For instance, Reynard Reyne preferred his brother, Lyonel, over his daughter to be heir to Casterly Rock, and as such, his daughter, Liane Reyne was moved down in the succession, below Lyonel's son, despite custom dictating Liane had a stronger claim as the sole child to Reynard.

The role of legitimised bastards throughout the Seven Kingdoms is also unclear i.e., whether they follow trueborn children, or join the line of succession in order of birth as if they had been trueborn all along. Legitimisation, once made, is irreversible. The claims of legitimized bastards can present dangerous consequences for trueborn relatives, a famous example being the claim of the legitimized bastard son of Aeron Targaryen, Rhaelor. However, this claim was deftly avoided, by wedding his only child, Rhaecaera, to his half-brother's eldest son, Aeric. While unlegitimised bastards have no legal claim, they may still threaten legitimate descendants' inheritance, which is partly why Cassandra Baratheon loathes Ardan Storm.

Heirs born into a different house drop their birth surname when they come into their inheritance, adopting the name of the inherited house as their own. For example, Joffrey Lydden adopted the name Lannister upon marrying the heiress of that house.

### Loss of succession right

The right of succession may be renounced, such as when Liane Reyne did so at her father's behest. A king or lord can also name another as his heir. However, even in such cases, claims might still be made later on. Right of succession is also lost when someone becomes a member of the Night's Watch, a septon, a septa, a silent sister, a maester, or joins the Kingsguard. Traitors may be attainted, in which case even his descendants would lose their right to succeed.

### Inheritance of the Iron Throne

Inheritance customs for the Iron Throne differ from the inheritance customs in the rest of Westeros. The inheritance rights of females with regard to the Iron Throne have changed over the years, as a result of several power struggles.

Females have, over the years, been declared heir to the throne, both directly and indirectly. When King Aegon I Targaryen's eldest grandchild, Princess Rhaena Targaryen, was born in 23 A.C. , she was regarded as second in line to the throne (her father, Prince Aenys Targaryen, being King Aegon's immediate heir), plA.C. ed before her father’s half-brother Maegor in the line of succession. Upon the birth of Aenys's second child, Prince Aegon Targaryen, Aegon became the first in line after Aenys. When King Maegor I Targaryen was still childless in 47 A.C. , he named his niece, Princess Aerea Targaryen, as his heir. And in 105 A.C. , following the death of his newborn son, King Viserys I Targaryen named his daughter Rhaenyra, his only surviving child at the time, as his heir, had the lords of the realm swear fealty to her, and refused to alter the line of succession even after the birth of three sons in a second marriage.

However, despite these examples, towards the end of the first century of the Targaryen Dynasty, the first hesitations towards female inheritance of the throne arose. King Jaehaerys I Targaryen's eldest son, Prince Aemon Targaryen, had been the king's heir until his death in 92 A.C. . Aemon had only had one child, a daughter named Rhaenys. When naming his new heir, King Jaehaerys I chose his next eldest son, Prince Baelon, over Aemon's daughter Rhaenys. When Baelon died in 101 A.C. , a Great Council was called, in which the Westerosi lords voted on the succession. The lords voted for Baelon's son Viserys over Rhaenys's son Laenor Velaryon, by a vote of twenty to one. The lords felt that a male line was preferred over a female line, and believed that a precedent was set stating that the Iron Throne could not pass to a woman, or to the male descendants of a woman. Ironically, it was Prince Viserys, by then crowned king, who later disregarded these precedents by naming his daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen as his heir despite having three healthy sons by a second marriage. Viserys' decision would eventually lead to the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

This war began when Viserys I's eldest surviving son, Aegon II Targaryen, claimed the throne after Viserys' death, dividing the loyalties of the kingdoms between Aegon II and Rhaenyra. Aegon II's sons, Jaehaerys and Maelor, both died during the war, as did Rhaenyra's eldest three sons (JA.C. aerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon), while her youngest son, Prince Viserys, was presumed dead. In an attempt to end the war, Lord Corlys Velaryon ensured that Aegon II's only remaining heir, his daughter Jaehaera, was betrothed to Rhaenyra's son, Aegon the Younger, and that both were named Aegon II's heirs. While the King agreed to do so, he also arranged a betrothal of his own. Even though Aegon II died before fathering any more children, and the marriage between Aegon the Younger and Princess Jaehaera did occur, the marriage ended childless, but Aegon the Younger would never reign as monarch, as Aemond Targaryen would snatch the throne.

The agnatic principle laid down in the Great Council of 101 A.C. was slightly modified after the Dance of the Dragons. Thereafter, A.C. cording to a semi-canon source, *women came after all men in the Targaryen succession,* i.e., women could only succeed if the entire male line of House Targaryen became extinct. Nonetheless, several females claims have since been considered.

It is possible that some of the kingdoms of old practiced different customs regarding the inheritance of the throne. The heir of King Argilac Durrandon, the last Storm King, was his maiden daughter, Princess Argella, while on the Three Sisters, Marla Sunderland was installed as Queen shortly after Aegon's Conquest.

## Age of majority

For both boys and girls, sixteen is the age of legal majority. From that point, there are referred to as a "man grown" and "woman grown".

However, for girls, there are exceptions. A girl who has had her first flowering (i.e. first menstruation) is considered to be fit for both marriage and consummation of the marriage. Most highborn girls have their first flowering at the age of twelve or thirteen, bringing them in a somewhat ambiguous position. They are considered to be "part child, part woman", and can be referred to as a "maid" or "maiden", and, even if she has not yet reached the age of sixteen, a "woman grown".

Young highborn boys can be sent away for fosterage to other noble families. While there are exceptions, it appears that boys who have reached the age of majority are free to go where they like, thereby ending their fosterage.

Ruling lords and ladies who inherit while still in their minority usually have a regent, who serves as the decision-making ruler until they come of age.

## Marriage

Marriages are frequently preceded by a betrothal. Betrothals are expected to be arranged by the head of a house, both for his or her children and any unwed younger siblings. There is no age limit to betrothals or marriages. Children might be as young as two years old when betrothed  although generally children are somewhat older. Marriages to girls who have not yet reached their majority or even their first flowering (i.e., has had her first menstruation) do happen, although not often. Usually, the bride has already reached her majority, or is even older, although marriages involving infants have also occurred, although this happens rarely and usually is only done for specific reasons.

### Marriage ceremonies

Marriage customs vary considerably between the lands and major faiths, though all appear to be religious ceremonies between one man and one woman (who should not be more closely related than first cousins). Wedding ceremonies involve the exchange of vows in the presence of particular sacred witnesses, and are followed by a feast, where the bride and groom eat and drink with everyone. Afterwards, the bedding takes place, where the marriage is consummated.
Wedding ceremonies differ between religions. While a priest is involved in ceremonies following the customs of the Faith of the Seven and Lord of Light, the same is not said for ceremonies for followers of the Old Gods and the Mother Rhoyne. Ceremonies involving the Faith, the Lord of Light, and the Old Gods involve the exchange of a "maiden's cloak" and a "bride's cloak"

Wedding ceremonies are generally followed by a feast, which in turn is followed by the bedding. For highborn weddings officiated by the Faith of the Seven, it is customary to present a wedding pie during the feast, filled with living birds. Towards the end the bride is presented with her bride gifts, after which the marriage will be consummated.

### First night

Lords in Westeros once had the right to the first night, the custom of bedding newly-wed women before their husbands. Queen Alysanne convinced King Jaehaerys I to abolish it, but it is still practiced illegally in some parts of the north.

### Polygamy

While most marriages are between only one man and one woman, polygamous marriages do occur in the known world. Before the Andal invasion, kings from the Kingdom of the Reach and the Kingdom of the Storm practiced polygamy, as did the dragonlords and sorcerer princes in Valyria, albeit rarely. Followers of the Drowned God are allowed to take multiple "salt wives" in addition to their "rock wife". Although only the children fathered upon the latter are considered trueborn, any children fathered on salt wives still hold more rights than a man's bastards.

## Funeral customs

Funeral customs can differ between followers of different religions, but also between families following the same religion. The Starks of Winterfell, followers of the old gods, bury their dead in the crypts in the castle, where the Kings of Winter and Lord of Winterfell are given a statue. At many other places in the north, barrows of the First Men can still be found. The funeral rites of the Tully's of Riverrun place the deceased members of their house in a boat which is sent downriver and lit afire. Followers of the Faith of the Seven can be buried with a crystal on their grave. The deceased of House Manderly have their bones placed in the Snowy Sept of White Harbour, surrounded by burning candles.

The Targaryens have the tradition of cremating their dead. It is unknown whether this tradition was practiced in the entire Valyrian Freehold, by all the dragonlords, or by House Targaryen alone, but it was described as a custom since the days of Old Valyria. If a dragon is available, it is used to light the flame of the pyre. The ashes are traditionally interred on Dragonstone, but some have been interred elsewhere or scattered on the wind.

Mourning clothes are black of colour. Some might tear up their clothes as a sign of mourning. Houses can show marks of mourning as well, though these remain unspecified.

When Lord Corlys Velaryon, Hand of the King at the time of his death, died in 132 A.C. , his body was plA.C. ed beneath the Iron Throne where it remained for seven days. Similarly, when Lord Tywin Lannister, also Hand of the King in addition to being the grandfather of King Tommen I Baratheon, died in 300 A.C. , his body was placed in the Great Sept of Baelor, where it was supposed to remain for seven days. Embalming the body of the deceased involved removing the bowels, internal organs, and blood, and replaced with salt and fragrant herbs. During a funeral service lasting several days, prayers are held both in the morning and the evening; While the morning services are open only to nobility, the afternoon prayers are open to the smallfolk, and the evening prayers for all.

A great lord who dies away from home will usually be escorted back home. A funeral procession of a lord of high nobility can include an escort of knights, vassal lords, members of the household guard, and others. In any case, several silent sisters will accompany the body. Especially among the nobles, great importance is placed on returning the body to the family of the deceased, and failing to do so might be cause for resentment.

## Naming customs

### First names

In the Seven Kingdoms, children receive a name at their birth, causing the day of their birth being called "nameday" or "name day". The free folk who live beyond the Wall name their children only after they reach the age of two, believing it to be bad luck if children are given a name at an earlier age, as child mortality is high north of the Wall. They can, however, decide on which name to give the child while the child is still younger.

### Surnames

Upon marriage, noblewoman ruling in their own right retain their house name, though most women take their husband's surname. However, usage can vary. For example, while she is referred to most frequently as Cassandra Baratheon, Cassandra is also referred to as "Cassandra Wylde" and "Cassandra Wylde Baratheon". The consort of the reigning monarch retain their surname (e.g. Vaena Celtigar), as does the spouse of a royal prince. Conversely, a royal princess may take on the surname of her husband, but may prefer using the name of their royal house. If the family of the woman is significantly higher born than the family of the husband, the wife might chose to use mostly her maiden name, and her husband's name little, or not at all.

In Dorne, customs vary from the rest of Westeros. As firstborn children inherit in Dorne, following Rhoynish customs, females more frequently inherit their family's lands and titles. In such cases, they do not take the name of their husband.

Bastards with at least one noble parent can be given surnames by their parents. There are "usual bastard surnames", which differ per region. In the North, bastards are usually called "Snow", in the Riverlands "Rivers", in the Westerlands "Hill", on the Iron Islands "Pyke", in the Vale "Stone", in the Crownlands "Waters", in the Stormlands "Storm", in the Reach "Flowers", and in Dorne "Sand". When a male bastard has legitimate children, these children receive their father's bastard name, though a later generation might adjust the name as to remove the taint of bastardy. When a male and female noble-born bastard from a different region (i.e., with a different surname) marry, the child will most likely take the surname of the father. Parents can also decide to give their bastard a surname different from the "usual bastard surnames", or no surname at all. Men who receive lands and knighthood might also take a (new) surname.

The bastards of two common born people do not receive a surname.

## Holy days

In Westeros, in custom to the Faith of the Seven, each of the seven gods have their own holiday. However, only three are currently known by name. Maiden's Day, a day on which maidens of noble houses are required to go to the sept to light tall white candles at the Maiden's feet and hang parchment garlands about her neck. Mothers, whores and widows are barred from the sept along with men. Those maidens who enter the sept sing songs of innocence. The Feast Day of Our Father Above is considered to be the most propitious day for making judgments. There is also the Smith's Day.

In the Free City of Qohor, the Black Goat of Qohor is given a daily blood sacrifice. Though usually animals (calves, bullocks, and horses) are used to this end, on holy days condemned criminals are sacrificed.

## Hospitality

The custom of “guest right” is both sacred rule and ancient. The obligations of hospitality are taken very seriously, both Beyond the Wall, and in the Seven Kingdoms; However, the custom of guest right looms less in the southron kingdoms, but is held most dear in the north. There, breaking the guest right is rare, but when it occurs, is punished similarly to the direst of treasons. At least in the Free City of Pentos, guest right is practiced as well. Hospitality can be offered by a lord upon the arrival of the host. The most common way of receiving hospitality, also called “guest right” is by eating “bread and salt”. Once guest right has been offered and accepted, the guests and hosts are protected from harm by one another for the length of the stay. Guest gifts can be given on the day the guests depart, possibly as a means of ending the protection of the guest right. Guest gifts are no longer given by all lords, however.

## Pastimes

Nobles and smallfolk alike can participate in a variety of pastimes for their entertainment.

Children play with toys (e.g., puppets, barrel hoops, blocks, carved wooden statues, and dolls) or play a variety of games. Noble born children, especially when they grow older, are expected to train in several skills for their entertainment as well as general education. Both boys and girls learn to ride horses. Girls are taught womanly arts, which include sewing, embroidering, dancing, singing, writing poetry, or playing musical instruments (e.g., the high harp or the bells). From a certain age and onwards, boys begin to train in martial skills. Usually starting at a young age, boys are trained with spear, sword, and shield. Younger boys train with wooden swords. By the time boys are twelve, they have often been training at arms for years.

Places adults might like to visit for their entertainment include taverns and brothels. Most nobles are literate, and therefore might prefer to spend their times reading books, such as Arrec Baratheon. Nobles might prefer to sail for their pleasure, or simply take a horse ride, sometimes to pick flowers or feast outdoors. Both adults and children, noble and smallfolk, enjoy swimming in lakes, rivers, pools, and moats.

### Games

Westerosi children's games include come-into-my-castle, monsters-and-maidens, hide-the-treasure, hopfrog, spin-the-sword, and rats and cats. Popular among children from House Frey at the Twins is the game lord of the crossing, named for the title held by the head of House Frey.

Children in Meereen play a game involving sitting in a circle and taking turns to spin a dagger. When it stops, they cut off a lock of hair from whoever the dagger is pointing at. A similar game is played in the Stormlands, the Reach and the Westerlands, though it involves kissing.

The finger dance is a game played by the ironborn of the Iron Islands, and involves throwing a hand axe which must be caught or leaped over without missing a step. The game is named for the fact that it usually ends with a dancer losing one or more of his fingers.

Quarryboard is a board game of strategy originating from the Wolfswood in the North.

### Hunting

Both male and female nobles might hunt for sport. Men might like to hunt a large variety of animals, like boar, aurochs, or deer. Hunting hounds might be used. When hunting boar, a boarspear is needed, as well as horses and dogs, and men to flush the boar from its lair. Women do not generally join such hunting parties.

Both men and women can practice a more specific form of hunting: falconry (frequently called "hawking"), the sport of hunting with falcons, hawks, eagles, or other birds of prey. Nobles might own a falcon (e.g., Myra Snow), an eagle, or a hawk of their own.

Hunts can be dangerous, and accidents during a hunt are common enough that they might be faked in order to assassinate someone. Although hawking is much safer, deathly accidents still occur. Rhea Royce suffered a lethal wound when she was thrown off her horse whilst hawking.

### Combat

Popular in Westeros are tourneys, chivalrous competitions where men compete against one another either in a joust, a melee, an archery competition. The format and rules used during a tourney can vary between different regions in Westeros, demonstrating the desires of the hosting lord. Westerosi additionally participate in bear-baiting and boar-baiting. Rat pits are also popular in the slum districts of major cities such as King's Landing and Oldtown, though bulls and dogs also often fight in the pits.

The Ghiscari cities in Slaver's Bay prefer to watch gladiatorial combats in the fighting pits. These pits can be found in at least Astapor and Meereen. Within these pits, the both male and female pit fighters battle either one another, or an animal, until one dies. Additionally, children might be made to fights against wild animals.

### Gambling

Other pastimes include gambling, like playing at dice or tiles. The latter can be three-sided. However, bets and wagers can be placed upon anything, including the outcome of a tournament.

### Mummers and music

Mummers, singers, and puppeteers often travel from place to place in Westeros and Essos. While singers often travel alone, mummers and puppeteers travel in troupes, performing their acts wherever they go. Places located more remotely, like Winterfell or Bear Island, might not be visited by traveling entertainment for years or seasons on end. Traveling singers, called "wandering singers", rarely travel far north. Tourneys and weddings can attract mummer troupes and singers. Additionally, mummers, singers, and puppeteers can find service with a lord or lady.

Some mummer groups prefer to perform from a fixed location (e.g., the Blue Lantern and the Dome, two mummers' playhouses in Braavos, and the mummers' hall in White Harbor). At least in the mummers' playhouses in Braavos, the mummers play out written stories, instead of making up farces.

In Essos, mummer troupes might contain enslaved mummers. These slaves can buy themselves free once they have gained enough wealth.

## Idioms and sayings

### Westeros

* *Dark wings, dark words.*
* *Words are wind.*
* *What the king dreams, the Hand builds.*
* *The king eats, the Hand takes the shit.* (a cruder version of the precedent saying)
* *A Lannister always pays his debts.*
* *Oak and iron, guard me well, or else I'm dead, and doomed to hell.* (an old shield rhyme)
* *A naked man has few secrets, but a flayed man has none.* (a Bolton saying)
* *What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.* (an Ironborn saying)
* *Kings and corpses always draw attendants.*
* *Half of the Ullers are half-mad, and the other half are worse.* (a Dornish saying)
* *Bleed a cold but feast a fever.*
* *Never drink with Dornishmen when the moon is full.*
* *Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.*

### Essos

* *The Iron Bank will have its due.*
* *Bricks and blood built Astapor, and bricks and blood her people.*
* *A warlock's house is built of bones and lies.* (a Qartheen saying)

## See also

* Bastardy
* Kinslaying