Myr

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Myr
Free City
Allan Bednar Myrish villa.jpg
Myrish villa © FFG
Location Essos, Free Cities
Government Magisters
Religion Mixed religions

Myr is one of the Free Cities of western Essos. It is known for its lace and its green nectar.[1] Myr sits on the eastern shore of the Sea of Myrth.[2]

Nine Free Cities on the continent of Essos:
Pentos, Braavos, Lys, Qohor, Norvos, Myr, Tyrosh, Volantis, Lorath

Culture

The city is ruled by magisters and has its own language. Most native Myrmen are dark-haired and dark-eyed.[3] Some maesters believe Myrmen are related to the Rhoynar, on account of their olive skin and dark hair.

Some powerful Myrmen have Unsullied in their service,[4] and slaves outnumber freeborn three to one.[5] There are also bravos in the city.[6]

Economy

A coin of Myr, as depicted by Nutchapol Thitinunthakorn in The World of Ice and Fire
A Myrish tradeswoman - by Magali Villeneuve ©

The inhabitants of Myr are renowned for being great craftsmen. Their main exports are finished goods, such as carpets and lace.[7]

The best glass comes from Myr; a clear pane is worth its weight in spice. The best far-eyes are also made in Myr, and are as a result known as Myrish eyes. The city has artisans skilled in creating crossbows and carving.[8] Myr also produces thin stilettos[9] and fire wine.[10]

History

The origins of Myr are disputed. There is some evidence of the vicinity having been inhabited by a now-vanished people during the Dawn Age and the Long Night. Modern Myr was founded by Valyrian merchant adventurers after they conquered a walled Andal town.[11]

After the Doom of Valyria, Volantis took Myr with an army and Lys with a fleet, and for two generations all three cities were ruled from within the Black Walls. That ended when the tigerss of Volantis tried to swallow Tyrosh. Pentos came into the war on the Tyroshi side, along with the Storm King, Argilac Durrandon. Lord Aegon Targaryen flew forth from Dragonstone on Balerion the Black Dread, and Myr and Lys rose in rebellion.[12] Myr joined with Tyrosh and Lys and defeated Volantis in the Battle of the Borderland.[11]

Roughly a century later, along with Lys and Tyrosh, Myr formed the Kingdom of the Three Daughters. Craghas Drahar was a Myrish prince-admiral who led the conquest of much of the Stepstones, earning the name Craghas Crabfeeder. After pacifying the pirates there, Craghas and his compatriots demanded tolls for safe passage, eventually leading to his death in battle against Prince Daemon Targaryen.[13] The Three Daughters broke apart around 130 AC,[14] brought down by internal conflict following the murder of a Lyseni admiral by a rival for the affections of the Black Swan, a famed courtesan, and, later, an alliance of Braavos, Pentos, and Lorath.[11]

During the First Blackfyre Rebellion, Lord Bracken tried to aid the Blackfyres with Myrish crossbowmen but was delayed from sailing by storms.[15]

Myr was among the Free Cities visited by the exiled Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen in the aftermath of the War of the Usurper.[16]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Lord Varys reports that sellsails from Myr are joining the cause of Stannis Baratheon.[17]

Varys reveals to Tyrion Lannister that he became a eunuch while he was part of a mummer's company in Myr.[18]

A Storm of Swords

When Tyrosh and Lys are on the verge of war, they both attempt to make Myr their ally.[19]

The red priest Thoros of Myr explains to Arya Stark that he had been sent to King's Landing in an unsuccessful attempt to convert King Robert I Baratheon.[20]

A Feast for Crows

Queen Regent Cersei Lannister befriends Taena of Myr, the wife of Lord Orton Merryweather.[21]

Myr is on the verge of war with Tyrosh and Lys. They had contracted the sellsword company, the Golden Company, however the sellswords broke their contract.[22]

A Dance with Dragons

Tyrion Lannister discovers that Illyrio's manse has wine from Myr in the cellar.[23] During Young Griff's lessons with Haldon on the Shy Maid, Tyrion observes that the youth is fluent in the low dialect of Myr.[12] He also notices a Myrish carpet on the floor of a whore's bedchamber in Selhorys. The carpet is wonderful, thick and "as comforting as lie"s, but the drunken Tyrion retches onto it.[24]

The Selaesori Qhoran carries fifty Myrish carpets amongst its cargo.[25]

Davos Seaworth notices a threadbare Myrish carpet on the floor of Lord Godric Borrell’s hall in Breakwater.[26] He also notices a Myrish carpet on the floor of Lord Wyman Manderly's secret room in the New Castle where he meets with Wyman and Robett Glover.[27]

At the Wall, Jon Snow muses that glass might be of use there; Castle Black needs its own glass gardens, like the ones at Winterfell, allowing the Night’s Watch to grow vegetables even in the deep of winter. He recalls that the best glass comes from Myr, but a good clear pane is worth its weight in spice, and green and yellow glass would not work as well. If they had enough coin, the Watch could buy apprentice glass-blowers and glaziers in Myr, bring them north, and offer them their freedom for teaching their art to some of the Watch's recruits.[28]

Victarion Greyjoy captures a Myrish cog named Dove on her way to Yunkai by way of New Ghis with a cargo of carpets, sweet green wines, and Myrish lace. Her captain owned a Myrish eye, which makes far-off objects appear close, and Victarian claims it for himself.[29]

References and Notes