King's blood is the blood of kings. It is the most powerful blood for bloodmagic.
About
According to Melisandre, only a king's blood can wake the stone dragon.[1]
Recent Events
A Storm of Swords
Melisandre pleads to Stannis Baratheon to give her Edric Storm, the acknowledged bastard son of the late King Robert I Baratheon, as there is power in king's blood, believing that Edric's sacrifice will allow her to wake "the stone dragon", as prophesied. Stannis refuses, but Melisandre is able to leech some of Edric's blood. She has Stannis cast the leeches into the fire of a brazier, while stating the names of the "three false kings", Balon Greyjoy, Robb Stark, and Joffrey Baratheon.[1] In time, Balon falls from a bridge at Pyke,[2] Robb is killed at the Red Wedding,[3] and Joffrey is poisoned at his own wedding feast.[4]
A Feast for Crows
Pyp reports that Stannis Baratheon intends to burn Mance Rayder because of his king's blood.[5]
Fearing that the priestess Melisandre will wish to sacrifice Maester Aemon Targaryen to R'hllor for his king's blood to use in a spell, Jon Snow, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, orders Aemon to travel to Oldtown, accompanied by Samwell Tarly, Gilly, and her child.[5] However, he also hears that Melisandre plans to sacrifice the son of Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, in order to wake a dragon,[6] so Jon arranges for the baby to be secretly switched with Gilly's son.[7][8]
A Dance with Dragons
Gerrick Kingsblood claims he and his offspring have "king's blood" because he descends from Raymun Redbeard, a King-Beyond-the-Wall who invaded the north, but he actually descends from Raymun's younger brother.
Asha Greyjoy fears Clayton will burn her because of her king's blood, as her father Balon was King of the Isles and the North.[9]
Quotes
Fool's blood, king's blood, blood on the maiden's thigh, but chains for the guests and chains for the bridegroom, aye, aye, aye.[10]
—Patchface to Davos Seaworth
The Lord of Light cherishes the innocent. There is no sacrifice more precious. From his king's blood and his untainted fire, a dragon shall be born.[11]
Mance's blood is no more royal than mine own.[5]
Justin: The king has other plans for his prize captive.
Clayton: The king? Or you? Scheme all you like, Massey. She'll still be for the fire, her and her king's blood.[9]—Justin and Clayton Suggs
Behind the Scenes
Chapter drafts dating back to October 2003 and June 2004 present an alternative origin of Maelys's sobriquet "the Monstrous." In these early versions, Tyrion Lannister assists a history lesson given by Haldon Halfmaester to Young Griff, in which lore about the Blackfyres is taught, with Haldon explaining that Maelys read in old Valyrian scrolls gifted by Samarro Saan that king's blood could wake dragons out of stone. He then sacrificed his only son, a boy of four, in a fire ritual in order to hatch old dragon eggs. The attempt failed, however, and Maelys was thereafter known as "Maelys the Monstrous".[12][13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 3, Jon I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 7, Jon II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 15, Samwell II.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 62, The Sacrifice.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 10, Davos II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ Reddit: Secrets of the Cushing Library: The Grand Finale by u/gsteff
- ↑ asoiaf.westeros.org: The ASOIAF wiki thread (October 5, 2025)