Murmison
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 Septon Murmison as depicted in Game of Thrones: Histories & Lore. | ||||
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41 AC[1] King's Landing[1] | |||
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Murmison was a renowned septon of the Faith, who served as the Hand of the King for King Aenys I Targaryen, from 39 AC until his death in 41 AC.[2] He is now used as a warning about the makings of a good Hand.[3]
Contents
Character
Septon Murmison was a cleric renowned for his piety.[1] A reputed miracle-worker,[2] Murmison was said to be able to heal the sick through prayer and by laying his hands upon the ailing.[1]
History
In 39 AC, the Faith was furious when King Aenys I Targaryen's brother, Prince Maegor, took a second wife, Lady Alys Harroway. Maegor arguing that his first wife, Lady Ceryse Hightower, was barren, but the High Septon denounced the marriage as "sin and fornication" and pious lords across the realm began to turn against the crown.[1] Aenys tried to placate the Faith by stripping Maegor of his office as Hand of the King and sending him into exile to Pentos, appointing the pious cleric Murmison in his brother's place.[2] Aenys had Murmison lay hands on Lady Ceryse's belly every night in the hope that Prince Maegor might repent if his lawful wife became fertile. However, Murmison only succeeded in making Ceryse grow weary of the nightly ritual and she departed King's Landing for Oldtown.[1]
However, not even the appointment of the reputed miracle-worker Murmison, could repair the breach with the Faith. Murmison could do little to heal the discontent across the realm, nor did his reputed miracles make Ceryse fertile. The High Septon continued to speak against the crown while lords across the realm spoke of the king's weakness and inability to rule.[1]
Aenys enraged the Faith even further in 41 AC when he wed his daughter, Princess Rhaena, to his son and heir, Prince Aegon, and was denounced as "King Abomination". Pious lords and the smallfolk who once loved Aenys turned against him. For performing the incestuous marriage ceremony, Murmison was expelled from the Faith as the High Septon sent out decrees to septons across the realm condemning the marriage. Aenys took it upon himself to write to the High Septon asking for Murmison to be restored to his status, explaining the history of sibling marriages in Old Valyria, but the High Septon's response was to declare the king a pretender and a tyrant.[1]
The Faithful responded to the High Septon's denunciations; less than a fortnight later, as Septon Murmison was crossing King's Landing in his litter, a group of Poor Fellows came swarming from an alleyway and hacked the septon to pieces with their axes.[1] The Faith Militant uprising had begun and Aenys was forced to flee to Dragonstone, the office of Hand remaining vacant for the rest of the king's reign.[1][2]
Recent Events
A Storm of Swords
Lord Davos Seaworth, now Hand of the King to Stannis Baratheon, is concerned that he has risen too high from his humble origins. When Davos suggests that the Hand should be someone who is wise and learned, Maester Pylos reminds him that the miracle-worker Murmison was an unsuccessful Hand.[3]
Quotes about Murmison
Septon Murmison's prayers worked miracles, but as Hand he soon had the whole realm praying for his death.[3]
—Pylos to Davos Seaworth
References
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