The wedding of Stannis Baratheon and Selyse Florent took place in either 286 AC or 287 AC.[1]
History
Wedding
While Lord Stannis Baratheon and Lady Selyse Florent were dancing at their wedding feast, Stannis's elder brother, King Robert, deflowered Delena Florent, Selyse's cousin and one of her bedmaids, in the wedding bed.[2] Robert later told Stannis he had not recognized the bedchamber because he was drunk, and had not meant to cause shame.[3] However, Stannis felt his brother's actions were an insult to House Florent.[2]
Aftermath
When Delena gave birth to Robert's bastard, Edric Storm, Stannis had the infant sent to Storm's End to be fostered by his younger brother, Lord Renly Baratheon.[2]
Lord Tywin Lannister offered to betroth his son Tyrion to Delena, but her father, Ser Colin Florent, refused, and instead married her to one of his household knights, Ser Hosman Norcross.[4]
Stannis only does his duty in the marriage bed once or twice a year, taking no joy in it.[5] Though he once hoped for sons, Stannis has only had a daughter, Shireen, with Selyse.[5] Selyse believes that Robert and Delena's dalliance cursed her marriage and made her unable to birth a son.[3]
Some years before the start of A Song of Ice and Fire, Lord Varys informed Robert's small council that Selyse had taken up with a red priestess, Melisandre of Asshai, at Dragonstone.[6]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone, announces his claim for the Iron Throne during the War of the Five Kings, with Selyse Florent as his queen.[5][7]
A Storm of Swords
Melisandre of Asshai advises Stannis to sacrifice Edric Storm, his bastard nephew, so that his king's blood can be used to awaken a stone dragon at Dragonstone.[3] To save Edric, Lord Davos Seaworth has the boy smuggled across the narrow sea.[8]
A Dance with Dragons
Selyse has often asked Stannis that they marry again, this time in a ceremony under the Lord of Light.[9] Jon Snow believes that Melisandre is Stannis's true queen,[10] and that the queen's men might attend Selyse but actually serve the red priestess.[11]
Attendees
Quotes
If you bed enough women, some will give you presents, and His Grace has never been shy on that count. I know he's acknowledged that boy at Storm's End, the one he fathered the night Lord Stannis wed. He could hardly do otherwise. The mother was a Florent, niece to the Lady Selyse, one of her bedmaids. Renly says that Robert carried the girl upstairs during the feast, and broke in the wedding bed while Stannis and his bride were still dancing. Lord Stannis seemed to think that was a blot on the honor of his wife's House, so when the boy was born, he shipped him off to Renly.[2]
Selyse: Robert and Delena defiled our bed and laid a curse upon our union. This boy is the foul fruit of their fornications. Lift his shadow from my womb and I will bear you many trueborn sons, I know it. He is only one boy, born of your brother's lust and my cousin's shame.
Stannis: He is mine own blood. Stop clutching me, woman. Perhaps Robert did curse our marriage bed. He swore to me that he never meant to shame me, that he was drunk and never knew which bedchamber he entered that night.[3]
Snow during a wedding means a cold marriage. My lady mother always said so.[9]
—Alys Karstark, to Jon Snow
—thoughts of Jon Snow
... such a beautiful rite. I could feel our lord's fiery gaze upon us. Oh, you cannot know how many times I have begged Stannis to let us be wed again, a true joining of body and spirit blessed by the Lord of Light. I know that I could give His Grace more children if we were bound in fire.[9]
References
- ↑ See the calculation for Stannis Baratheon's wedding to Selyse Florent
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 35, Eddard IX.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 15, Tyrion III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 63, Davos VI.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 49, Jon X.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 53, Jon XI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 44, Jon IX.