A bounty is a payment or reward of money to locate, capture or kill an outlaw or a wanted person.
History
During the First Dornish War, King Aegon I Targaryen and his sister, Queen Visenya, placed bounties on the heads of Dornish lords, who, in turn, placed bounties on the Targaryens and their allies. Lord Fowler, Lord Vaith, Lady Toland, and four successive Lords Uller were assassinated despite their attempts to go into hiding, though only two of their killers ever lived to collect their bounties.[1]
During the Faith Militant uprising, King Maegor I Targaryen placed bounties on the heads of those faithful who remained defiant: a gold dragon was given for the scalp of a Warrior's Sons and a silver stag for the scalp of a Poor Fellow.[2][3] In 44 AC, the Faith Militant dubbed its new High Septon "the High Lickspittle", because he never spoke against King Maegor while hundreds of Poor Fellows were hunted and murdered for the bounty Maegor put on their scalps.[2] Following Jaehaerys Targaryen's uprising, the new King removed the bounties that his uncle Maegor had placed on the heads of the faithful.[4]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
When Ser Jaime Lannister escapes the dungeons of Riverrun, Lord Rickard Karstark sends his cavalry to scour the riverlands for him, promising the hand of his daughter Alys to whomever brings him Jaime's head.[5] Karstark men search the crownlands and riverlands, including Acorn Hall, Blackbottom Bend, the Hayford road, Sallydance,[6] and Sow's Horn, where they are defeated by the men of House Hogg, resulting in three Karstarks being killed and buried.[7] Jaime is eventually captured by the Brave Companions and brought to Lord Bolton at Harrenhal.[5] To protect Jaime from roving Karstarks, Roose has Steelshanks Walton escort the Kingslayer from Harrenhal to King's Landing.[8]
A Feast for Crows
When Tyrion Lannister escapes the black cells of the Red Keep, Dowager Queen Cersei Lannister offers a lordship to anyone who brings her Tyrion's head.[9] Her bounty results in the murder of several innocent dwarfs and children throughout Westeros and the Free Cities, including the dwarf brother and the dwarf juggler. Cersei refuses to execute these murderers, for fear it will discourage other such bounty hunters and allow Tyrion to escape,[10] though she does eventually punish those who attempt to defraud her, such as a Tyroshi bounty hunter.[11]
Along the road to Duskendale, Brienne meets Ser Shadrich of the Shady Glen, a hedge knight seeking Sansa Stark for a gold bounty.[12]
A Dance with Dragons
In Volantis, Tyrion encounters Penny, a dwarf woman whose brother Oppo was murdered by Westerosi sailors who thought he was Tyrion.[13]
When Yellow Dick is found dead in Winterfell, Ramsay Bolton offers a bounty of a golden dragon for his killer.[14]
References
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 31, Jaime IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 22, Arya IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion VII.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 46, A Ghost in Winterfell.