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The '''first night''' is a mostly extinct [[marriage]] tradition in [[Westeros]].{{Ref|aDwD|32}}
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The '''first night''' is a mostly extinct [[marriage]] tradition in [[Westeros]].{{Ref|aDwD|32}} The [[custom]] states that when [[smallfolk]] marry, their lord or king has the privilege to bed the bride on the first night.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
  
==Origin==
+
==History==
The practice is an ancient one believed to be ten thousand years old and started by the [[First Men]] who only followed strength and bravery. Their lords and kings were great warriors and mighty men. It was considered a blessing for a warlord to bestow his seed upon the bride on her [[wedding]] night, and if a child came of such a coupling so much the better, for the husband would have the honor of raising a hero's son. This tradition remained after the [[coming of the Andals]], the right states that when [[Smallfolk|commoners or peasants]] marry, their lord or king might bed the bride on the first night. This tradition sometimes even allows kings to bed the wives of noble ladies on their wedding night, although this rarely takes place, as a shrewd ruler would be aware of the resentment this would cause and how easily it could make enemies. The tradition of the lord's right to the first night led some commoners to marry in secret or not inform their lords of the marriage, as they had no wish to share their brides, nor did the bride often wished to be shared.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
+
===Origin===
 +
The practice is an ancient one, believed to be ten thousand years old. It was begun by the [[First Men]] of the [[Dawn Age]], who only followed strength and bravery. It was considered a blessing for a warlord or hero to bestow his seed upon a bride on her [[wedding]] night, and if a child came of such a coupling, the husband would have the honor of raising the hero's offspring. This tradition remained after the [[coming of the Andals]] from [[Andalos]], where [[Andals]] had not practiced the first night.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
  
==Under the Iron Throne==
+
This privilege sometimes allowed kings to bed the noble wives of vassal lords and [[bannermen]] on their wedding night, although this rarely took place, as a shrewd ruler would be aware of the resentment this would cause and how easily it could make enemies.{{fact}} The tradition of the lord's right to the first night led some commoners to marry in secret or not inform their lords of the marriage, as they had no wish to share their brides, nor did the bride often wish to be shared.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
The tradition was known to take place on [[Dragonstone]]. Though the custom was greatly resented in the rest of the [[Seven Kingdoms]], but not so on Dragonstone. The [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] had ruled for centuries, and there the common folk viewed their beautiful, [[Valyria|foreign rulers]] almost as gods.{{Ref|TPATQ}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} When a [[Lord of Dragonstone]] took his rights according to the first night custom, the brides were seen as "blessed", and the children born of such unions were often given lavish gifts by their father. These bastards were born of "[[dragonseed]]", and in time, became known as "seeds".{{Ref|TPATQ}}
 
  
Late in the reign of King Aegon I, Lord [[Gargon Qoherys]] of [[Harrenhal]] was infamously known as "Gargon the Guest", for inviting himself to weddings throughout his holdings to invoke his lordly right of first night with the brides as frequently as possible.  Gargon became much hated, and was eventually murdered by the rebel [[Harren the Red]], who after capturing Gargon cut off his genitals and fed them to dogs, while Gargon bled to death.{{Ref|tsotd}}
+
===Dragonseeds===
 
+
When the [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] first came to [[Dragonstone]] from the [[Valyrian Freehold]], they began practicing the tradition themselves. While the first night was greatly resented and loathed in the rest of the [[Seven Kingdoms]], the smallfolk of Dragonstone viewed their beautiful rulers of [[Valyria]]n origin almost as gods.{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} When a [[Lord of Dragonstone]] took his rights according to the first night custom, the brides were seen as "blessed", and the children born of such unions were often given lavish gifts by their father. [[Bastards]] who inherited Valyrian features such as [[purple eyes]] were said to be born of "[[dragonseed]]", and in time, they became known as "seeds".{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
During the reign of [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], his beloved wife Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]] overheard numerous stories involving the first night in her [[women's courts]]. The most disturbing came from a girl in a brothel at [[Mole's Town]] in {{Date|58}}, a daughter of a blacksmith was wed to her father's apprentice when she was fourteen. Just as they finished their marriage vows, their local lord came upon the wedding with his men-at-arms to claim his right. After the first night, she was returned to her husband, who lost all affection for her. Since he could not raise his hand against the lord for peril on his life, he raised it against his wife instead and when he discovered she was pregnant with the lord's child, he beat her until she wasn't and called her nothing but a whore. The woman decided if she was going to be called a whore she might as well live like one and fled to the [[Mole's Town brothel]], where she remained.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
 
  
Alysanne brought this story and the countless others she had been told of before the [[small council]]. Alysanne pointed out what happened to Lord Gargon the Guest which made [[Grand Maester]] [[Benifer]] state that there were many more instances of a lord being murdered by those seeking revenge due to the [[guest right]], thus the right was also a threat to the king's peace. Alysanne declared the law is not the same as it was when it was founded thousands of years ago, as none of the men practicing it now are mighty heroes. The council agreed and the lords right to the first night was abolished in what became known as the second of Queen Alysannes laws: henceforth a brides [[maiden]]head would only belong to her husband, whether joined before a [[septon]] or a [[heart tree]], and any man, be they lord or peasant who would forcibly take her on her wedding night or any other night would be guilty of rape. This law made Alysanne deeply beloved of the [[smallfolk]], though some lords resented it.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
+
===Under the Iron Throne===
 +
After [[Aegon's Conquest|the Conquest]], King [[Aegon I Targaryen]] allowed the high lords to retain both the [[right of pit and gallows]] and the first night.{{Ref|FAB|Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I}}
  
Although it is now against the law, some houses in the Seven Kingdoms, such as [[House Bolton|Boltons]] and [[House Umber|Umbers]] (although they deny it), as well as the inhabitants of [[Skagos]] and some [[northern mountain clans]], are rumored to still illicitly uphold the first night.{{Ref|ADWD|32}} At Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s marriage to Lady [[Joanna Lannister]], King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] drunkenly japed about how it was a pity the first night was banned, and he took certain liberties in the [[bedding]] ritual when the men at the feast had to disrobe the bride.{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
+
[[Gargon Qoherys]], [[Lord of Harrenhal]], was infamously known as "Gargon the Guest" for inviting himself to weddings throughout his holdings to invoke his lordly right of first night with the brides as frequently as possible. The despised Gargon was eventually murdered at the beginning of the rule of [[Aenys I Targaryen]] by the rebel [[Harren the Red]]. Gargon bled to death after Harren cut off his genitals and fed them to dogs. Harren was only able to get to Gargon due to the actions of a servant at [[Harrenhal]] whose daughter Gargon had "honored" at her wedding.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}
  
==Quotes==
+
However, by the time of King [[Jaehaerys I]], it was believed to be used only rarely south of the [[Neck]].{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
{{Quote|The Lords claiming the first night now are no heroes. You have not heard the [[Women's courts|women speak]] of them. I have. Old men, fat men, cruel men, poxy boys, rapers, droolers, men covered with scabs, with scars, with boils, lords who have not washed in half a year, men with greasy hair and lice. These are your mighty men. I listened to the girls, and none of them felt blessed.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}|Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]] to the [[Small council]] of [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]].}}
+
 
 +
===Abolition===
 +
During the reign of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]] overheard numerous stories involving the first night in her [[women's courts]]. The most disturbing came from a girl in a brothel at [[Mole's Town]] in {{Date|58}}, a daughter of a blacksmith who was wed to her father's apprentice when she was fourteen. Just as they finished their marriage vows, their local lord came upon the wedding with his men-at-arms to claim his right. After the first night, she was returned to her husband, who lost all affection for her. Since he could not raise his hand against the lord, the husband raised it against his wife instead. When he discovered she was pregnant with the lord's child, the apprentice beat her until she miscarried. The woman decided if she was going to be called a whore she might as well live like one and fled to the [[Mole's Town brothel]], where she remained.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
 +
 
 +
Alysanne brought this story and the countless others she had been told of before Jaehaerys's [[small council]]. Alysanne pointed out what happened to Lord Gargon the Guest. Grand Maester [[Benifer]] stated there were instances of lords being murdered by those seeking revenge due to the right of the first night, and thus the right was also a threat to the [[King's Peace]]. Alysanne declared the law was not the same as it was when it was founded thousands of years ago, as none of the men practicing it now are [[Age of Heroes|mighty heroes]].{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
 +
 
 +
Although Jaehaerys was initially reluctant to anger his subjects by taking away a lordly prerogative, the council agreed to abolish the lord's right to the first night. In what became known as the second of [[Queen Alysanne's laws]], a bride's [[maiden]]head would only belong to her husband, whether joined before a [[septon]] or a [[heart tree]]. Any man, be they lord or peasant, who would forcibly take her on her wedding night or any other night would be guilty of rape. This law made Alysanne deeply beloved of the [[smallfolk]], though some lords resented it.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
  
 +
===Recent History===
 +
Some houses in the [[Seven Kingdoms]], such as the [[House Bolton|Boltons]] and [[House Umber|Umbers]] (although they deny it), as well as the inhabitants of [[Skagos]] and some [[northern mountain clans]], are rumored to still illicitly uphold the first night.{{Ref|ADWD|32}} At Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s wedding to Lady [[Joanna Lannister]], King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] drunkenly japed about how it was a pity the first night was banned, and he took certain liberties in the [[Bedding|bedding ritual]] when the men at the feast had to disrobe the bride.{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
  
{{Quote|The moment I set eyes on her I wanted her. Such was my due. The maesters will tell you that King Jahaerys abolished the lord s right to the first night to appease his shrewish queen, but where the [[old gods]] rule, old customs linger. The Umbers keep the first night too, deny it as they may. Certain of the mountain clans as well, and on Skagos... well, only heart trees ever see half of what they do on Skagos... The miller's marriage had been performed without my leave or knowledge. The man had cheated me. So I had him hanged, and claimed my rights beneath the tree where he was swaying.{{Ref|aDwD|32}}|[[Roose Bolton]]}}
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[[Ramsay Snow]] was born to a [[miller's wife]] impregnated by Lord [[Roose Bolton]], who hanged the miller for marrying without his permission.{{Ref|ADWD|32}}
  
==See also==  
+
==Quotes==
:*[[Customs]]
+
{{Quote|The [[lord]]s claiming the first night now are no [[Age of Heroes|heroes]]. You have not heard the [[Women's courts|women speak]] of them. I have. Old men, fat men, cruel men, poxy boys, rapers, droolers, men covered with scabs, with scars, with boils, lords who have not washed in half a year, men with greasy hair and lice. These are your mighty men. I listened to the girls, and none of them felt blessed.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}|[[Alysanne Targaryen]] to the [[small council]] of [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]}}
 +
 
 +
{{Quote|The moment that I set eyes [[Miller's wife|on her]] I wanted her. Such was my due. The [[maesters]] will tell you that King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys]] abolished the lord's right to the first night to appease his [[Alysanne Targaryen|shrewish queen]], but where the [[old gods]] rule, old customs linger. The [[House Umber|Umbers]] keep the first night too, deny it as they may. Certain of the [[Northern mountain clans| mountain clans]] as well, and on [[Skagos]] ... well, only [[heart tree]]s ever see half of what they do on Skagos. This miller's [[marriage]] had been performed without my leave or knowledge. The man had cheated me. So I had him hanged, and claimed my rights beneath the tree where he was swaying.{{Ref|aDwD|32}}|[[Roose Bolton]] to [[Theon Greyjoy]]}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
Line 28: Line 38:
  
 
==External links==  
 
==External links==  
:*[[w:Droit du seigneur|Droit du seigneur]] -- Wikipedia article on a similar custom, though it is not proven to have existed.
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:*[[w:Droit du seigneur|Droit du seigneur]], Wikipedia article on a similar custom, though it is not proven to have existed.
  
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 +
[[Category:Andal culture]]
 +
[[Category:First Men culture]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
[[Category:First Men culture]]
 
[[Category:Andal culture]]
 
  
 
[[es:Primera Noche]]
 
[[es:Primera Noche]]
 
[[fa:شب اول]]
 
[[fa:شب اول]]
[[fr:Première nuit]][[zh:初夜权]]
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[[fr:Première nuit]]
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[[zh:初夜权]]

Revision as of 19:26, 19 July 2019

The first night is a mostly extinct marriage tradition in Westeros.[1] The custom states that when smallfolk marry, their lord or king has the privilege to bed the bride on the first night.[2]

History

Origin

The practice is an ancient one, believed to be ten thousand years old. It was begun by the First Men of the Dawn Age, who only followed strength and bravery. It was considered a blessing for a warlord or hero to bestow his seed upon a bride on her wedding night, and if a child came of such a coupling, the husband would have the honor of raising the hero's offspring. This tradition remained after the coming of the Andals from Andalos, where Andals had not practiced the first night.[2]

This privilege sometimes allowed kings to bed the noble wives of vassal lords and bannermen on their wedding night, although this rarely took place, as a shrewd ruler would be aware of the resentment this would cause and how easily it could make enemies.[citation needed] The tradition of the lord's right to the first night led some commoners to marry in secret or not inform their lords of the marriage, as they had no wish to share their brides, nor did the bride often wish to be shared.[2]

Dragonseeds

When the Targaryens first came to Dragonstone from the Valyrian Freehold, they began practicing the tradition themselves. While the first night was greatly resented and loathed in the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, the smallfolk of Dragonstone viewed their beautiful rulers of Valyrian origin almost as gods.[3][4] When a Lord of Dragonstone took his rights according to the first night custom, the brides were seen as "blessed", and the children born of such unions were often given lavish gifts by their father. Bastards who inherited Valyrian features such as purple eyes were said to be born of "dragonseed", and in time, they became known as "seeds".[3]

Under the Iron Throne

After the Conquest, King Aegon I Targaryen allowed the high lords to retain both the right of pit and gallows and the first night.[5]

Gargon Qoherys, Lord of Harrenhal, was infamously known as "Gargon the Guest" for inviting himself to weddings throughout his holdings to invoke his lordly right of first night with the brides as frequently as possible. The despised Gargon was eventually murdered at the beginning of the rule of Aenys I Targaryen by the rebel Harren the Red. Gargon bled to death after Harren cut off his genitals and fed them to dogs. Harren was only able to get to Gargon due to the actions of a servant at Harrenhal whose daughter Gargon had "honored" at her wedding.[6]

However, by the time of King Jaehaerys I, it was believed to be used only rarely south of the Neck.[2]

Abolition

During the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Queen Alysanne Targaryen overheard numerous stories involving the first night in her women's courts. The most disturbing came from a girl in a brothel at Mole's Town in 58 AC, a daughter of a blacksmith who was wed to her father's apprentice when she was fourteen. Just as they finished their marriage vows, their local lord came upon the wedding with his men-at-arms to claim his right. After the first night, she was returned to her husband, who lost all affection for her. Since he could not raise his hand against the lord, the husband raised it against his wife instead. When he discovered she was pregnant with the lord's child, the apprentice beat her until she miscarried. The woman decided if she was going to be called a whore she might as well live like one and fled to the Mole's Town brothel, where she remained.[2]

Alysanne brought this story and the countless others she had been told of before Jaehaerys's small council. Alysanne pointed out what happened to Lord Gargon the Guest. Grand Maester Benifer stated there were instances of lords being murdered by those seeking revenge due to the right of the first night, and thus the right was also a threat to the King's Peace. Alysanne declared the law was not the same as it was when it was founded thousands of years ago, as none of the men practicing it now are mighty heroes.[2]

Although Jaehaerys was initially reluctant to anger his subjects by taking away a lordly prerogative, the council agreed to abolish the lord's right to the first night. In what became known as the second of Queen Alysanne's laws, a bride's maidenhead would only belong to her husband, whether joined before a septon or a heart tree. Any man, be they lord or peasant, who would forcibly take her on her wedding night or any other night would be guilty of rape. This law made Alysanne deeply beloved of the smallfolk, though some lords resented it.[2]

Recent History

Some houses in the Seven Kingdoms, such as the Boltons and Umbers (although they deny it), as well as the inhabitants of Skagos and some northern mountain clans, are rumored to still illicitly uphold the first night.[1] At Lord Tywin Lannister's wedding to Lady Joanna Lannister, King Aerys II Targaryen drunkenly japed about how it was a pity the first night was banned, and he took certain liberties in the bedding ritual when the men at the feast had to disrobe the bride.[7]

Ramsay Snow was born to a miller's wife impregnated by Lord Roose Bolton, who hanged the miller for marrying without his permission.[1]

Quotes

The lords claiming the first night now are no heroes. You have not heard the women speak of them. I have. Old men, fat men, cruel men, poxy boys, rapers, droolers, men covered with scabs, with scars, with boils, lords who have not washed in half a year, men with greasy hair and lice. These are your mighty men. I listened to the girls, and none of them felt blessed.[2]

The moment that I set eyes on her I wanted her. Such was my due. The maesters will tell you that King Jaehaerys abolished the lord's right to the first night to appease his shrewish queen, but where the old gods rule, old customs linger. The Umbers keep the first night too, deny it as they may. Certain of the mountain clans as well, and on Skagos ... well, only heart trees ever see half of what they do on Skagos. This miller's marriage had been performed without my leave or knowledge. The man had cheated me. So I had him hanged, and claimed my rights beneath the tree where he was swaying.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 32, Reek III.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  5. Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
  6. Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  7. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 43, Daenerys VII.

External links

  • Droit du seigneur, Wikipedia article on a similar custom, though it is not proven to have existed.