Master of coin
| Master of coin | |
|---|---|
| Office |
Chief financial advisor Treasurer |
| Region | Seven Kingdoms |
| Current Holder | Ser Harys Swyft |
| First Holder | Lord Crispian Celtigar |
| Creator | Aegon I Targaryen |
| Created | Aegon's Conquest |
The master of coin is the chief financial adviser of the king and is a member of the small council in King's Landing.
Contents
Duties
Duties of the master of coin include keeping account of the receipts and expenditures from the royal treasury, receiving reports from royal officials, supervising the collection of taxes and custom duties, borrowing money, managing the royal treasury and supervising the three royal mints. The master of coin oversees a large number of offices and positions in the royal bureaucracy including the four Keepers of the Keys, the King's Counter, the King's Scales, the officers in charge of mints, harbormasters, tax farmers, customs sergeants, wool factors, toll collectors, pursers and wine factors.[1]
History
During the War of Conquest Crispian Celtigar served Aegon I Targaryen as the first master of coin. Nearly two centuries later, even though Elaena Targaryen's husband, Lord Ronnel Penrose, sat on the king's small council as master of coin, it was widely known that she was the one performing the duties.[2]
List of Known Masters of Coin
- Lord Crispian Celtigar, served under Aegon I Targaryen.
- Lord Alton Butterwell, served under Maegor I Targaryen.[3]
- Lord Edwell Celtigar during the regency of Jaehaerys I Targaryen.[3]
- Rego Draz of Pentos during the early reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
- Martyn Tyrell, in the reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen, though unofficially the duties were performed by his wife, Florence Fossoway.[4]
- Lord Lyman Beesbury, served in the late reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen and then his grandson Viserys I Targaryen.[5]
- Prince Daemon Targaryen, served under his brother Viserys I Targaryen before being removed and later made master of laws.[6]
- Ser Tyland Lannister, served Aegon II Targaryen and the Greens during the Dance of the Dragons.[5]
- Lord Bartimos Celtigar, served Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and the Blacks during the Dance of the Dragons.[7]
- Isembard Arryn during the regency of Aegon III.[8]
- Lord Ambrose Butterwell, served under Aegon IV Targaryen.[9]
- Lord Ronnel Penrose, served under Daeron II Targaryen, though unofficially the duties were performed by his wife, Princess Elaena Targaryen.[10]
- Lord Qarlton Chelsted, served Aerys II Targaryen, later made Hand of the King.
- Lord Petyr Baelish, appointed during the reign of Robert I Baratheon; continued to serve under his successor Joffrey I Baratheon.
- Tyrion Lannister, appointed when Littlefinger left to court Lady Lysa Arryn.
- Lord Gyles Rosby - Lord treasurer. Appointed after Tyrion's trial for Joffrey's murder.
- Ser Harys Swyft - Lord treasurer. Demoted from Hand of the King to replace Lord Rosby after his death.
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Lord Petyr Baelish continues to serve as master of coin, as he has done for several years. He must pay for the extravagance of Robert I Baratheon's court, often by borrowing from Lord Tywin Lannister.
A Clash of Kings
Baelish is sent to recruit House Tyrell to support King Joffrey I Baratheon.
A Storm of Swords
When Baelish goes to the Eyrie to court Lysa Arryn, Tyrion Lannister is named as his replacement, charged with funding the royal wedding. Tyrion is blamed for the so-called dwarf's pennies.[11] After Tyrion is imprisoned for the death of Joffrey, Tywin calls for Garth Tyrell to fill the post.
A Feast for Crows
After the death of Tywin Lannister, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister renames the office lord treasurer, a style used in the Free Cities,[12] as well as in Sunspear.[13] When she hears Garth Tyrell will soon fill the seat, she appoints Lord Gyles Rosby to take the seat. When Lord Rosby dies, Ser Harys Swyft replaces him in the office.
A Dance with Dragons
Ser Harys's main concern is the massive debt owed by the crown to the Iron Bank of Braavos.
The Winds of Winter
| Warning This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change. |
Harys Swyft has traveled to Braavos to treat with the Iron Bank in person.[14]
Quotes
The master of coin must be frugal.[16]
—Varys, to Eddard Stark
Within three years of his coming to court, he was master of coin and a member of the small council, and today the crown's revenues were ten times what they had been under his beleaguered predecessor… though the crown's debts had grown vast as well.[1]
—Tyrion Lannister about Petyr Baelish
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Three Maidens in the Tower (June 27, 2006)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Princess and the Queen.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
- ↑ The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ The Winds of Winter, Chapter , Mercy.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
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