Slaver Cities[1] or slaver cities[2] refers to the cities of Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen, located on the coast of Slaver's Bay on the continent of Essos. Drawing on the culture of the Old Empire of Ghis, the Slaver Cities have been ruled by aristocrats who call themselves "masters". Their wealth derives from engaging in slavery.[1] They are distinct from the Free Cities located to the west, which are either former Valyrian colonies or colonies formed by Valyrian refugees.[3]
History
The Old Empire of Ghis, one of the first great civilizations of the known world, turned their conquered foes into slaves.[4] The Valyrian Freehold eventually conquered the Ghiscari over the course of five wars, with the Valyrians learning slavery from their defeated foes and incorporating the practice into their own empire.[4]
The remaining Ghiscari cities regained their independence from Valyria in the aftermath of the Doom.[4] They reestablished their own slave trade, now acquiring new slaves by purchasing and breeding them.[4] The Dothraki and corsairs from the Basilisk Isles sell their captives to the Slaver Cities.[5] Tolos and Elyria have developed close ties with the Ghiscari cities.[6]
Recent Events
A Storm of Swords
Daenerys Targaryen attempts to end the slave trade with her campaign against the Good Masters of Astapor,[7] the Wise Masters of Yunkai,[8] and the Great Masters of Meereen.[9]
Quotes
What now remains of the once-proud empire of Old Ghis is a paltry thing—a few cities clinging like sores to Slaver's Bay and another that pretends to be Old Ghis come again. For after the Doom came to Valyria, the cities of Slaver's Bay were able to throw off the last of the Valyrian shackles, ruling themselves in truth rather than playing at it. And what remained of the Ghiscari swiftly reestablished their trade in slaves—though where once they won them by conquest, now they purchased and bred them.[4]
—writings of Yandel
Everything she'd ever heard of the flesh marts in the great slave cities of Yunkai, Meereen, and Astapor was dire and frightening.[10]
—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 2, Daenerys I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Other Lands: The Free Cities.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 16, Daenerys III.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 27, Daenerys III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 71, Daenerys VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.