King Maegor's laws
King Maegor's laws, or Maegor's laws, forbid holy men in Seven Kingdoms from being able to bear arms. The laws helped to break the Faith's political power.
Origins
When the Faith of the Seven and the Faith Militant rose against King Aenys I Targaryen, he was unable to properly deal with the crisis before his death.[1] His successor, King Maegor the Cruel, outlawed armed holy men and took brutal steps to put down the rebelling orders and the houses supporting them, including offering bounties for their heads.[2] Not even the death of the High Septon and his replacement for a more pliable successor,[3] one who officially disbanded the Faith Militant, put an end to the rebellious orders.[4]
After Maegor's death, his successor, Jaehaerys the Conciliator, offered amnesty to the rebels in exchange for the disarmament of the Faith Militant.[5] However, he also deprived the Faith of the right of judgment.[6]
Recent Events
A Feast for Crows
The Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister, has her son, King Tommen Baratheon, repeal Maegor's laws and officially reinstates both orders of the Faith Militant in an attempt to secure the support of the new High Septon, the High Sparrow.[7] Many knights, including Cersei's cousin Lancel Lannister, join the reformed Warrior's Sons in the aftermath.
See also
Quotes
Instead of taking the swords out of the hands of the faithful, he should have used them for his own ends.[7]
—Cersei Lannister, on King Maegor
The Faith Militant reborn . . . that would be the answer to three hundred years of prayer, Your Grace. The Warrior would lift his shining sword again and cleanse this sinful realm of all its evil. If His Grace were to allow me to restore the ancient blessed orders of the Sword and Star, every godly man in the Seven Kingdoms would know him to be our true and rightful lord.[7]
—The High Sparrow, on the repeal of Maegor's laws, to Cersei Lannister
—Cersei Lannister, to Grand Maester Pycelle
Just as Maegor the Cruel once took the swords from the Faith, so Jaehaerys the Conciliator deprived us of the scales of judgment.[6]
—The High Sparrow, to Queen Cersei Lannister
References
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.