Editing Customs (section)

==Inheritance==
Inheritance laws in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] are not clear cut. According to [[George R. R. Martin]], 
{{Quote|The short answer is that the laws of inheritance in the Seven Kingdoms are modelled on those in real medieval history... which is to say, they were vague, uncodified, subject to varying interpretations, and often contradictory.<ref name=HW>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Category/C91/P210/ The Hornwood Inheritance and the Whents], November 02, 1999</ref>}}

Male-preference [[w:primogeniture|primogeniture]] is customary, but not binding, for most nobles.<ref>Ran at [http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/120966-errors-in-the-woiaf/&page=4#comment-6801531 A Forum of Ice and Fire]: "Primogeniture is customary, but not binding... especially not to a king. We have other examples of people being passed over, or potentially passed over, for others."</ref> A man's eldest son is his heir, followed by his second son, then his third son, and so on. In theory, the youngest son is followed in the line of succession by the eldest daughter, after whom come her sisters in birth order.{{Ref|AGOT|63}}{{Ref|ASOS|16}}

[[Andal]] tradition holds that the rights of a trueborn son come before those of a daughter.{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} In most of the Seven Kingdoms, including the [[Iron Islands]] and the [[north]], a man's daughter inherits before her father's brother.<ref group="N">[[Asha Greyjoy]]: "[[Euron Greyjoy|The elder brother]] comes before [[Victarion Greyjoy|the younger]]. But I am the child of King [[Balon Greyjoy|Balon's]] body, so I come before you both." (''A Feast for Crows'', [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 18|The Iron Captain]])</ref>{{ref|AFFC|18}}<ref group="N">[[Alys Karstark]]: "My brother [[Harrion Karstark|Harry]] is the rightful lord, and by law I am his heir. A daughter comes before [[Arnolf Karstark|an uncle]]." (''A Dance With Dragons'', [[A Dance with Dragons-Chapter 44|Jon IX]])</ref>{{Ref|ADWD|44}} Members of [[House Frey]], however, have omitted daughters when discussing their line of succession.{{ref|ACOK|35}}{{ref|ASOS|Epilogue}}{{ref|AFFC|44}} Additionally, no distinction is made between sons and daughters in [[Dorne]], where children inherit in order of birth regardless of gender, as per [[Rhoynish]] custom.{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}}{{ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}} In the case of an inheriting female, her last name will be passed on to her children, instead of the name of her husband.{{Ref|ASOS|Appendix}}<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Martell_Names_Inheritance The Martell Name’s Inheritance], June 13, 2001</ref>

A lord has the option of naming one of his younger sons heir, passing over his elder children,{{Ref|AGOT|59}} or to name the child of another as his heir.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} When a ruling lord dies and leaves no clear heir, his widow might lay claim upon his lands and rule until her own death (e.g., Lady [[Donella Hornwood]] and Lady [[Barbrey Dustin]]), and in such a case, might name an heir by herself.{{Ref|ADWD|37}}

A lord may lay out specific terms for inheritance or pass over their offspring in his will, which may invite legal wrangling after their death, and potentially violence during it. For instance, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] preferred his elder son, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], to be the heir to [[Casterly Rock]], and as such refused to acknowledge the claim of his younger son, [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]], despite custom disqualifying Jaime due to being a member of the [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|ASOS|4}} Another example is Lord [[Wyman Webber]], who declared in his will that his daughter and only heir, [[Rohanne Webber|Rohanne]], had to be wed by a specifically determined time in order to keep her inheritance. If she were to remain unwed passed the determined date, her inheritance was set to pass on to another relative.{{Ref|TSS}} Lady [[Jeyne Arryn]] also wrote a last testament stating that her rebellious cousin, Ser [[Arnold Arryn|Arnold]] and his son [[Eldric Arryn|Eldric]] should be passed over for her more distant cousin, Ser [[Joffrey Arryn|Joffrey]]. However, a war of succession in the [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]] ensued upon her death, between Arnold, Joffrey, and another claimant, [[Isembard Arryn]].{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}

The role of legitimized [[Bastardy|bastards]] throughout the Seven Kingdoms is also unclear i.e., whether they follow trueborn children, or join the line of succession in order of birth as if they had been trueborn all along.<ref name=HW/> Legitimization, once made, is irreversible.{{Ref|ASOS|45}} The claims of legitimized bastards can present dangerous consequences for trueborn relatives, a famous example being the claim of the legitimized bastard son of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]], [[Daemon I Blackfyre]], whose descendants sought to claim the [[Iron Throne]] from Aegon’s trueborn descendants for five generations.{{Ref|ASOS|45}} While unlegitimized bastards have no legal claim,{{Ref|ASOS|45}} they may still threaten legitimate descendants' inheritance. The illegitimate [[Jon Snow]]'s decision to join the [[Night's Watch]] pleases [[Catelyn Stark]], because Jon will never father children who might contest her grandchildren's inheritance of [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|AGOT|6}}

Heirs born into a different house drop their birth surname when they come into their inheritance, adopting the name of the inherited house as their own. For example,  [[Joffrey Lannister|Joffrey Lydden]] adopted the name Lannister upon marrying the heiress of that house,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands}} while the possibility of [[Beren Tallhart]] adopting the [[House Hornwood|Hornwood]] name upon inheriting the Hornwood lands is considered.{{Ref|ACOK|16}}

When there is no clear heir, claims can be presented to the king.{{Ref|ACOK|16}}{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}}

===Loss of succession right===
The right of succession may be renounced. A famous example is Prince [[Duncan Targaryen]], the eldest son of King [[Aegon V Targaryen]], who broke his betrothal to marry [[Jenny of Oldstones]]. When made to choose between his right to the throne and his wife, Duncan renounced his claim, making his younger brother, [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen|Jaehaerys]], the new heir.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}{{Ref|ADWD|67}}

A king or lord can also name another as his heir. For example, King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] named his younger son, Prince [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]], as his heir over his grandson, Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]], following the death of his eldest son, Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar]], Aegon's father.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} Lord [[Walder Frey]] threatens to name his youngest son as his heir, passing over all other sons and (great)grandsons.{{Ref|AGOT|59}} However, even in such cases, claims might still be made later on.

Right of succession is also lost when someone becomes a member of the Night's Watch,{{Ref|AGOT|6}} a [[septon]], a [[septa]], a [[silent sister]], a [[maester]], or joins the [[Kingsguard]]. Traitors may be attainted, in which case even his descendants would lose their right to succeed.

===Inheritance of the Iron Throne===
Inheritance customs for the Iron Throne differ from the inheritance customs in the rest of Westeros. The inheritance rights of females with regard to the Iron Throne have changed over the years, as a result of several power struggles.

Females have, over the years, been declared heir to the throne, both directly and indirectly. When King [[Aegon I Targaryen]]'s eldest grandchild, Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]], was born in {{Date|23}}, she was regarded as second in line to the throne (her father, Prince [[Aenys I Targaryen|Aenys Targaryen]], being King Aegon's immediate heir), placed before her father’s half-brother [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor]] in the line of succession.<ref name=sons>[http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/115696-spoilers-sons-of-the-dragon-reading-at-loncon-today/&do=findComment&comment=6134038 The Sons of the Dragon reading notes (August 16, 2014)]</ref> Upon the birth of Aenys's second child, Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon Targaryen]], Aegon became the first in line after Aenys.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}} When King [[Maegor I Targaryen]] was still childless in {{Date|47}}, he named his niece, Princess [[Aerea Targaryen]], as his heir.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}} And in {{Date|105}}, following the death of his newborn son, King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] named his daughter [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], his only surviving child at the time, as his heir, had the lords of the realm swear fealty to her, and refused to alter the line of succession even after the birth of three sons in a second marriage.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

However, despite these examples, towards the end of the first century of the Targaryen Dynasty, the first hesitations towards female inheritance of the throne arose. King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]'s eldest son, Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon Targaryen]], had been the king's heir until his death in {{Date|92}}. Aemon had only had one child, a daughter named [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys]]. When naming his new heir, King Jaehaerys I chose his next eldest son, Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon]], over Aemon's daughter Rhaenys. When Baelon died in {{Date|101}}, a [[Great Council]] was called, in which the [[Westeros]]i lords voted on the succession. The lords voted for Baelon's son [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys]] over Rhaenys's son [[Laenor Velaryon]], by a vote of twenty to one. The lords felt that a male line was preferred over a female line, and believed that a precedent was set stating that the Iron Throne could not pass to a woman, or to the male descendants of a woman.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}} Ironically, it was Prince Viserys, by then crowned king, who later disregarded these precedents by naming his daughter [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] as his heir despite having three healthy sons by a second marriage.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}} Viserys's decision would eventually lead to the civil war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]].

This war began when Viserys I's eldest surviving son, [[Aegon II Targaryen]], claimed the throne after Viserys's death, dividing the loyalties of the kingdoms between Aegon II and Rhaenyra.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Aegon II's sons, [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys]] and [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]], both died during the war, as did Rhaenyra's eldest three sons ([[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]], [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]], and [[Joffrey Velaryon]]), while her youngest son, Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]], was presumed dead.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} In an attempt to end the war, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] ensured that Aegon II's only remaining heir, his daughter [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]], was betrothed to Rhaenyra's son, [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]], and that both were named Aegon II's heirs.<ref>asoiaf.westeros.org: [http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/139166-aegon-ii-and-aegon-iii/&do=findComment&comment=7552930 Aegon II and Aegon III (April 23)]</ref> While the king agreed to do so, he also arranged a betrothal of his own.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Stormlands: House Baratheon }} Even though Aegon II died before fathering any more children, and the marriage between Aegon the Younger and Princess Jaehaera did occur, the marriage ended childless, and Aegon the Younger reigned as monarch as King [[Aegon III Targaryen]] after Jaehaera's death.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}

The agnatic principle laid down in the Great Council of 101 AC was slightly modified after the Dance of the Dragons. Thereafter, according to a semi-canon source, ''women came after all men in the Targaryen succession,''<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Comic_Con_San_Diego_CA_July_20_232/ Comic Con San Diego (July 23, 2006)]</ref> i.e., women could only succeed if the entire male line of House Targaryen became extinct. Nonetheless, several females claims have since been considered. In {{Date|171}},  following the deaths of Aegon III's two sons  [[Daeron I Targaryen|Daeron I]] and [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor I]], both childless, the claims of Aegon III’s three daughters were considered. However, with the Dance of the Dragons still fresh in their minds, the claims of the three women were passed over and Aegon III’s brother [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]] ascended the throne.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}} Another few decades later, King [[Maekar I Targaryen]] died without a clearly established heir. His simple-minded granddaughter [[Vaella Targaryen (daughter of Daeron)|Vaella Targaryen]], the only child of Maekar's [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|eldest son]], was seen as a possible claimant. However, her claim was quickly dismissed.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}}{{Ref|ACOK|6}}

In {{Date|283}}, the [[Sack of King's Landing]] during [[Robert's Rebellion]] led to the death of King [[Aerys II Targaryen]]. His sister-wife, Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]], pregnant with Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]], was at [[Dragonstone]] with Aerys's surviving son, Prince [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]], who was declared king on the island fortress.{{Ref|AWOIAF|Rhaella Targaryen}} [[Robert I Baratheon]], however, acceded the Iron Throne by right of conquest,{{Ref|ACOK|22}} chosen as claimant by the rebels due to his Targaryen descent,{{Ref|AGOT|30}} as he was the grandson of Princess [[Rhaelle Targaryen]], the youngest daughter of King [[Aegon V Targaryen]], {{Ref|AFFC|35}} which gave him the better claim. Nonetheless, the exiled Viserys declared his sister Daenerys his heir, naming her [[Princess of Dragonstone]],{{Ref|AGOT|3}} and following Viserys's death, Daenerys has declared her own claim for the Iron Throne.{{Ref|ACOK|40}}

It is possible that some of the kingdoms of old practiced different customs regarding the inheritance of the throne. The heir of King [[Argilac Durrandon]], the last [[Storm King]], was his maiden daughter, Princess [[Argella Durrandon|Argella]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} while on the [[Three Sisters]], Marla Sunderland was installed as queen shortly after [[Aegon's Conquest]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Vale}}