Courtesan

The Black Swan, by viscardiac ©

Courtesan is a profession which uses charm, refinement and sexuality to attract high status suitors, patrons and lovers. Though the term courtesan usually refer to women, male courtesans exist also. They are found in the Free Cities of Essos, most notably Braavos and Lys.

Culture

Braavos

Braavos is renowned worldwide for its cultured courtesans who enjoy high status. Every courtesan has her own barge and servants to work them. They are showered with gifts from goldsmiths, and craftsmen beg for their custom. Nobility and rich merchants pay the courtesans large amounts of money to appear alongside them at events, and bravos are known to kill each other in their names. The courtesans of Braavos are all free women, with the most famous taking poetic names.

The beauty of famed courtesans has inspired many songs, and there are marble and bronze statues of some Braavosi courtesans.

Some families have produced many generations of courtesans, such as the descendants of Bellegere Otherys.

Lys

The courtesans from the pleasure gardens of Lys are famed for their beauty, but they are all slaves, unlike the free women of Braavos. The Lyseni breed their slaves to develop beautiful courtesans and bedslaves.

History

Tyanna of the Tower, by Laura Avellino ©

Prior to becoming involved with Maegor Targaryen, Tyanna of the Tower was a tavern dancer who became a courtesan in Pentos.

Courtesans across the narrow sea were among the informants whom Grand Master Benifer utilized during his search for the dragon eggs taken by Elissa Farman.

Known as the Black Swan, Johanna Swann was a courtesan who rose to become ruler of Lys in all but name. The Triarchy fell into infighting after the murder of Sharako Lohar by a rival for the affections of the Black Swan.

Part of Lord Manfryd Mooton's mission to the Sealord of Braavos, Lord Follard chose to remain in Braavos because of a courtesan instead of returning to Westeros.

Lysandro Rogare is said to have contemplated having Viserys Targaryen work as a courtesan at the Perfumed Garden before the boy revealed his true identity.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

The kindly man offers to send Arya Stark from the House of Black and White to become a courtesan in Braavos, but the girl refuses and chooses to remain with the Faceless Men.

Brusco makes it plain to Cat of the Canals (a disguised Arya) that while selling her oysters, clams, and cockles she is never to speak to a courtesan unless spoken to first. Cat tells crew from the Brazen Monkey that she sold three cockles to Bellegere Otherys, the Black Pearl, who called to Cat as she was stepping off her barge. As she pushes her barrow along the canals, Cat sometimes glimpses courtesans floating by on their way to evenings with some lovers.

Dareon deserts from the Night's Watch while in Braavos, preferring instead to write songs for the city's courtesans.

A Dance with Dragons

Arya learns that pretty young girls at the Satin Palace dream of being courtesans.

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.

Bellegere Otherys, the Black Pearl, by Rae Lavergne ©

Famous courtesans attend a performance of The Bloody Hand at the Gate. Ser Harys Swyft is accompanied by the Black Pearl, and three members of Otharys are each accompanied by a courtesan as well.

Famous courtesans

Historical:

• Tyanna of the Tower, a mistress then wife of King Maegor I Targaryen.
• Johanna Swann, who became ruler of Lys in all but name as the Black Swan.
• Bellenora Otherys, the second Black Pearl of Braavos, bastard daughter of Aegon IV Targaryen and Bellegere Otherys.
• Bellonara Otherys, a former Black Pearl and mother to the current one.

During A Song of Ice and Fire:

• Bellegere Otherys, the current Black Pearl.
• The Veiled Lady
• The Merling Queen
• The Moonshadow
• The Daughter of the Dusk
• The Nightingale
• The Poetess

Quotes

The Lyseni are also great breeders of slaves, mating beauty with beauty in hopes of producing ever more refined and lovely courtesans and bedslaves.

—writings of Yandel

It must also be said that the courtesans of Braavos are renowned throughout the world, yet are all free women, unlike the more famous beauties of the pleasure gardens of Lys or the brothels of Volantis. Their art is not only for the bedchamber; their wit and their bearing make them much sought after by the richest merchants, the boldest captains, the most distinguished visitors. Keyholders, lords, and princes seek their favors. The most famous courtesans take poetic names that add to their allure and mystery.

—writings of Yandel

Would you sooner be a courtesan, and have songs sung of your beauty? Speak the word, and we will send you to the Black Pearl or the Daughter of the Dusk. You will sleep on rose petals and wear silken skirts that rustle when you walk, and great lords will beggar themselves for your maiden’s blood.

—Kindly man to Arya Stark

The good folk of Braavos would soon be shuttering their windows and sliding bars across their doors. Night belonged to the bravos and the courtesans.

—thoughts of Samwell Tarly

The courtesans of Braavos were famed across the world. Singers sang of them, goldsmiths and jewelers showered them with gifts, craftsmen begged for the honor of their custom, merchant princes paid royal ransoms to have them on their arms at balls and feasts and mummers shows, and bravos slew each other in their names.

—thoughts of Arya Stark