The right of pit and gallows is the feudal law granting lords the privilege of inflicting capital punishment and imprisoning people within their own domains.[1][2]
Landed knights do not possess the right of pit and gallows, they only are allowed to punish people if they have been granted leave by their liege lord.[2]
History
After Aegon's Conquest, King Aegon I Targaryen allowed the high lords to retain this right.[3]
King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his advisors —particularly his Hand, Septon Barth— worked on creating the Books of Law during his reign. Their goal was to unify Westeros under one organized judiciary system, and in the process getting rid of the mass of contradictory precedents that were set over the centuries. During their work, they found that some nobles who were not lords also held the right of pit and gallows.[4]
Rohanne Webber, as the ruling Lady of Coldmoat, sentenced Dake, a notorious sheep-stealer from neighboring Standfast to death using her right of pit and gallows. However, the squire Egg argued that she overstepped, as the king's law grants this right only on a lord's own lands.[2]
Quotes
The right of the first night is an ancient one, as much a part of lordship as the right of pit and gallows.[4]
Rohanne: The king's law grants me the power of pit and gallows.
Egg: On your own lands. The king's law gives lords the power of pit and gallows on their own lands.
Rohanne: Clever boy. If you know that much, you will also know that landed knights have no right to punish without their liege lord's leave.[2]
References
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Lords and Knights (March 2, 2002)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.