Queen of love and beauty
In the Seven Kingdoms, tradition holds that the victor in a tourney may select any woman present and name her the queen of love and beauty, crowning her with a wreath of flowers and dedicating his victory to her.
The victor often chooses a woman he loves or intends to court, and it can be a source of scandal if the victor crowns a woman already bound to another man, or if a married man crowns someone other than his wife.
Past Queens of Love and Beauty
- Princess Daenerys Targaryen - named by Ser Simon Dondarrion in the tourney celebrating the completion of the Dragonpit in 55 AC, earning the love of the smallfolk and Queen Alysanne Targaryen.[1]
- Queen Alysanne Targaryen - named by Ser Ryam Redwyne in the 10th Anniversary tourney in 58 AC. [1]
- Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen - named by Ser Criston Cole in a tourney staged in 104 AC.[2]
- Queen Naerys Targaryen - named by Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, who was disguised as a mystery knight known as the Knight of Tears.[3]
- Unknown daughter of Lord Ashford - at the opening of the tourney at Ashford Meadow in 209 AC.[4]
- Princess Rhaella Targaryen - named by Ser Bonifer Hasty.[5]
- Unknown daughter of Lord Walter Whent and Lady Shella Whent - reigning Queen at the opening of the tourney at Harrenhal.[3]
- Lyanna Stark - named by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen at the tourney at Harrenhal.[6][3][7]
- Lynesse Hightower - named by Ser Jorah Mormont at the tourney at Lannisport.[8]
Quotes
Ned remembered the moment when all the smiles died, when Prince Rhaegar Targaryen urged his horse past his own wife, the Dornish Princess Elia Martell, to lay the queen of beauty’s laurel in Lyanna’s lap. He could see it still: a crown of winter roses, blue as frost.[6]
—thoughts of Eddard Stark
Rhaegar had chosen Lyanna Stark of Winterfell. Barristan Selmy would have made a different choice. Not the queen, who was not present. Nor Elia of Dorne, though she was good and gentle; had she been chosen, much war and woe might have been avoided. His choice would have been a young maiden not long at court, one of Elia's companions ... [7]
—thoughts of Barristan Selmy
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ The Rogue Prince.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
- ↑ The Hedge Knight.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 43, Daenerys VII.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.