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The '''Unsullied''' are eunuch slave soldiers, trained from a young age in [[Astapor]] to unquestioning obedience and martial prowess. They are used as guards all over the [[Free Cities]]. They are sold by the century or the thousand. They make excellent guards, do not loot and will never rape.{{Ref|aSoS|23}} They also worship a goddess of their own, whose name is kept in secret among them but is known as the [[Lady of Spears]], the Bride of Battle and the Mother of Hosts.
[[File:Unsullied Amok.jpg|400px|thumb|Unsullied by Amok ©]]
The '''Unsullied''' are [[eunuch]] slave soldiers, trained from a young age in [[Astapor]] to unquestioning obedience and martial prowess. Sold by the century or the thousand, they are used as guards all over the [[Free Cities]]. They make excellent guards, do not loot, and will never rape.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}


They were most famously used in the [[Battle of Qohor]], where three thousand Unsullied held back a [[Dothraki]] khalasar over fifty thousand strong. Only 600 of the Unsullied survived, having killed 12,000 of the Dothraki. To honor the Unsullied, the Dothraki rode in before the Unsullied line, throwing their cut braids down in front of them {{Ref|aSoS|8}}  
==Recruitment and Training==
[[File:T Jedruszek SpearBrigade.jpg|350px|thumb|right|A line of disciplined Unsullied spearman routing a cavalry charge, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Unsullied begin as young male [[slave]]s chosen for their size, speed, and strength. Every day they choose new names at random by drawing tokens from a bucket, each consisting of a color and a type of vermin, such as "[[Grey Worm]]".{{Ref|ASOS|23}}


==Training==
Their training starts at age five and is from dawn to dusk. It is brutal, designed not only to teach them how to fight, but to strip away all individuality, empathy, and self-worth. Slaves that fail any aspect of their training are killed. Only a third of the slaves to enter training survive to become Unsullied.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}
Unsullied are all former male slaves chosen young, for their size, speed and strength. The training starts a age 5 and is from dawn to dusk. It is brutal, designed not only to teach them how to fight, but to strip away all individuality, empathy, and self-worth. Only one in three survive, and those that fail at any stage are killed. They are fully castrated - penis and testicles cut - and their manhoods burned at the altar of the Lady of Spears. This means that they cannot be a strong as non-castrated man, but this is more than made up for by discipline. They regularly consume an elixir called the Wine of Courage (made with deadly nightshade, blood fly larva, lotus root, and many secret things) to deaden their sensitivity to pain. They drink it with every meal, and every year feel less and less pain.  


Every day they choose new names at random by drawing tokens from a bucket, each consisting of a color and a type of vermin, such as "Grey Worm". Slaves that fail any aspect of their training are killed. Only a third of the slaves to enter training survive to become Unsullied.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
The [[eunuch]]s are fully castrated, with their penis and testicles cut, and their manhoods are burned at the altar of the [[Lady of Spears]]. This means that they cannot be as strong as whole men, but this is more than made up for by discipline.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}{{Ref|ASOS|27}}


On the day a boy is cut, he is given a puppy to take care of. At the end of the first year, the boy is made to strangle the puppy. Should he fail to do so, he is killed and fed to the surviving dogs. During training boys are culled whenever they fail a task, be it running all day in full pack, scaling a mountain at night or walking across a bed of coals. To win their spiked cap they must take a silver mark go to the slave markets and buy a newborn slave child and kill it before its mother and pay the slave's owner for his loss.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
On the day a boy is cut, he is given a puppy to take care of. At the end of the first year, the boy is made to strangle the puppy. Should he fail to do so, he is killed and fed to the surviving dogs. During training boys are culled whenever they fail a task, be it running all day in full pack, scaling a mountain at night or walking across a bed of coals. To win their spiked cap they must take a silver mark go to the slave markets and buy a newborn slave child and kill it before its mother and pay the slave's owner for his loss.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}


The slavers used to sell Unsullied in groups of 10 for household guards, but that proved unsound since they mingle with others, and forget who they are. Now they are sold only in groups of a century or thousand.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
The [[Good Masters]], the slavers of Astapor, used to sell Unsullied in groups of ten for household guards, but that proved unsound since they mingle with others, and forget who they are. Now they are sold only in groups of a century or thousand.{{Ref|ASOS|23}} The only vice left for the Unsullied is food, so Unsullied serving as household guards often grow fat.{{Ref|ASOS|8}}


The only vice left for the Unsullied is food, so they often grow fat.
==Military Tactics==
The Unsullied are inspired by the [[lockstep legions]] of the [[Old Empire of Ghis]], who were free men.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} The Unsullied fight in formation as light infantry, equipped with spears, swords, shields, and distinctive spiked caps. They fight fearlessly and obey without question. Their elite, highly specialized training makes them most effective in their phalanx formation. They do not ride horses.{{Ref|ASOS|8}}
 
Unsullied uniform are plain and without ornament, quilted tunic, a short sword, three spears and spiked bronze caps. One spike indicates a low rank, while three spikes going from front to back represent an officer.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1247/ Concerning Grey Worm (July 31, 2003)]</ref>
 
==Customs==
[[File:Pike PhalanxGoran Delic.png|400px|thumb|right|Unsullied pikemen by Goran Delic © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The Unsullied worship a goddess of their own whose true name is kept in secret among them. The slave soldiers refer to her to others as the [[Lady of Spears]], the Bride of Battle, and the Mother of Hosts.{{Ref|ADWD|36}}
 
The slaves regularly consume an elixir called the [[wine of courage]] to deaden their sensitivity to pain. They drink it with every meal, and every year feel less and less pain.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}{{Ref|ASOS|27}}


==Military Tactics==  
==History==
They fight in formation as light infantry, equipped with short spears, swords, round shields, and distinctive spiked caps. They fight fearlessly and obey without question. Their elite, highly specialized training makes them most effective in their phalanx formation.
The most famous Unsullied were the [[Three Thousand of Qohor]], who held back a [[Dothraki]] ''[[khalasar]]'' over fifty thousand strong. Only six hundred Unsullied survived, having killed twelve thousand of the Dothraki. To honor the Unsullied, the surviving Dothraki rode in before the Unsullied line, throwing their cut braids down in front of them.{{Ref|ASOS|8}} Unsullied have since made up, or at least been supported by, the [[city watch (Qohor)|city watch]] of [[Qohor]].{{ref|ASOS|8}}{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Qohor}}
They do not ride horses. {{Ref|aSoS|8}}  
 
[[Lysaro Rogare]] bought a thousand Unsullied from [[Astapor]] in {{Date|135}} after the death of his father, [[Lysandro Rogare]]. When Lysaro fled [[Lys]], he surrounded himself with one hundred of the [[slave]] soldiers. Lysaro was later caught in [[Volon Therys]] with only twenty Unsullied, as he had been forced to sell the rest along the way. The twenty Unsullied fought to the end on the docks of the town and perished. Lysaro was captured and sent back to Lys in chains.{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}


Unsullied uniform are plain and without ornament, quilted tunic, a short sword, three spears and spiked bronze caps. One spike indicates a low rank, while three spikes going from front to back represent an officer.<ref>[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1247/ SSM]</ref>
The three brothers of [[Missandei]],{{ref|ASOS|27}} including [[Mossador]] and [[Marselen]], were taken from [[Naath]] by raiders from the [[Basilisk Isles]] and sold into slavery in Astapor,{{ref|ADWD|11}} where they were trained as Unsullied.{{ref|ASOS|27}}


==Recent Events==
==Recent Events==
===A Storm of Swords===
===''A Storm of Swords''===
While becalmed during the voyage to [[Pentos]] to join up with Magister [[Illyrio Mopatis]], [[Jorah|Ser Jorah]] convinces [[Daenerys Targaryen]] to change their destination to the [[Astapor]] to buy [[Unsullied]]). Dany is initially skeptical since all the Unsullied do not ride horses and all the Unsullied she had seen were fat. Ser Jorah tells her she should not judge all Unsullied against some old household guards. He further explains that food is the only vice allowed them. He then tells her about the [[Battle of Qohor]]. This would be a great test of Magister [[Illyrio Mopatis]] dedication to her cause. To buy the Unsullied they could use the trade goods being carried by the ship.{{Ref|aSoS|8}}
During the voyage to [[Pentos]] to join up with Magister [[Illyrio Mopatis]], Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] convinces [[Daenerys Targaryen]] to change their destination to [[Astapor]] to buy Unsullied. He tells her about the [[Three Thousand of Qohor]], and to buy the Unsullied they could use the trade goods being carried onboard.{{Ref|ASOS|8}}
Dany is shown the Unsullied by the slaver [[Kraznys mo Nakloz]] in the Plaza of Pride in [[Astapor]] where 10 ranks of 100 Unsullied stand. Their eyes are fixed straight ahead, as they have been for a day and a night. The slaver tells her that they will stand there unmoving until the last had died. This demonstrates their obedience. Dany asks about the castration since un-castrated are said to be stronger. The slaver admits this, but states that they have discipline instead. They fight in fashion of the old empire (like the lock-step legions of old Gis); they are absolutely obedient, absolutely loyal, and without fear. After Whitebeard tells the slaver that even brave men show fear when faced with death or maiming, the slaver whips one of the Unsullied across the face, the man does not move. Dany stops him from whipping another. Then the slaver cuts another eunuch, following this he cuts off a nipple. The Unsullied does not move, and when handed back his sword, states he was pleased to serve. Afterwards It is because the show no fear because of the wine of courage. The slave then tells how in other slave cities a eunuch is made by just removing the testicles but leaving the penis, but only trouble can come of this. The salve then asks Whitebeard about those in [[Westeros]] that have sworn to celibacy. Whitebeard confirms this, and the slaver states that there is still temptation, but the Unsullied have not such temptation. Next the slaver tells them that they have no name, only that which they get at the beginning of the day from a name disk taken from a barrel. Whitebeard then exclaims that there is no way a man can remember a new name every day. Next Dany is told that an Unsullied graduates by killing a baby in front of its slave mother which is paid to the child’s owner (the Unsullied), and few fail this test. Dany is horrified. Then the slaver reveals that dogs are harder. Each boy is given a puppy when they are cut, and must strangle the puppy at the end of the first year. Any that fail are killed and fed to the other dogs. Next Dany asks whether they can be tempted by freedom. The slave states they cannot tempted because they have no life outside their duty. Dany then states that it is soldiers she needs. Dany asks how many are available, and is told 8,000, but they are not cheap because their training takes years. They are like valerian steel, hammered and folded over and over. They are only trained to fight so officers would have to be provided. Each comes with swords, shield, spear, sandals, quilted tunic, and spiked caps. Finally, when Dany has no more questions for the slaver, she asks Whitebeard for his opinion in front of the slave girl that is serving as interpreter so the response will get back to the slaver. He says no because there have been no slaves in [[Westeros]] thousands of years; slavery is held to be an abomination, and for this many good men would not support her for this reason. It would also do great dishonor to her house. Dany and Whitebeard continue to discuss where she is to acquire an army to conquer [[Westeros]]. Dany tells the slaver that she will have to have some time to consider. The slaver tells her there is another potential buyer (a [[Pirates|Corsair]] king) that is interested in them all. Dany hears the interpreter (a slave girl) tell the slaver that the Corsair only wanted a hundred (Dany had been pretending she did not understand the slaver’s language so information like this might slip).{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
 
When she gets back to the ship, Ser Jorah is waiting for her and tells her that the several slavers had come and gone with many scribes; they had come from the slaver and gone over every inch of the ships. Then when Ser Jorah asks how many men they had to sell, she responds with a slap and angry words that they had no men to sell, but eunuchs made of bricks. She wants to sail immediate from the vile sty that is Astapor, but she needs to by 8,000 brick eunuchs and she must find some way to buy them.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
Dany is shown Unsullied by [[Kraznys mo Nakloz]], one of the [[Good Masters]], in the Astapori [[Plaza of Pride]], where ten ranks of a hundred Unsullied stand. More than half are of [[Dothraki]] stock, while others appear to be from [[Lys]] and [[Qarth]] and even the same ethnicity as their slavers, while others are from peoples she does not recognize.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}
Later Ser Jorah follows her, asking to speak to her. She does not really want to talk to him, but agrees. He tells her that she must win Westeros as [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Dragon]] with steel and dragon-fire, which will mean blood on her hands. When she talks about the 8,000 Unsullied represent 8,000 puppies and babies, Ser Jorah points out that when [[Kings Landing]] was sacked there were dead babies, rapes and burning. The Unsullied will not sack, rape or kill without her direction. When Dany asks why the [[Dothraki]] have not sacked the city given that the walls are crumbling, and there are no guards, [[Sons of the Harpy]] that guard the city are weak. Ser Jorah reveals that the Sons of the Harpy are all officers, it is the Unsullied that die, and there are two reasons Astapor has not been attacked: the attackers would know that they would be facing the Unsullied, and the Sons of the Harpy give gifts to those that might attack).{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
 
Dany tells the slaver Kraznys mo Nakloz through the slave girl serving as translator that she wants all the Unsullied. There are 8 greatest slavers in front of her. When asked she wants the 6 centuries, and the 8,000 and those in training. The slavers are hesitant to sell those in training since if they fail in battle they will shame them. There is also the issue that they will not have any to sell to the next buyer. Finally Dany is told she can only have the 8,600 if her gold is sufficient. She tells them that she will pay the same for those in training. This provoked an argument among the slavers, some liking having the gold now instead of the future, and others worried about the reputation of the Unsullied if they fail. The lead slaver tells her that she can have the 8,600, and in a year she can buy another 2,000. She replies that she will be in Westeros in a year. Then she tells them she will pay as much for the boy with its puppy as for a full Unsullied. This does not sway the slavers, and she tells them she will pay double. Then the question of how she will pay; she has enough for a thousand (500 if she were paying double) in good in her ships, and can buy another thousand with her crown. She will not part with her crown because [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] had sold their mother’s crown. She also she tells them that she will not sell any of her people as slaves, but they can have the ships (she had warned the captains that she might have to sell the ships, and they were not happy). With the ships the slavers agree to 2000. She then offers a dragon despite the bad taste; Whitebeard objects telling her to win her throne with dragons not slaves. She responds to Whitebeard that he should not presume to instruct her and orders Ser Jorah to remove him. The eldest of the slavers agree to sell her all the Unsullied for the black dragon, [[ Drogon]] (the largest and healthiest), trade goods and the ships. This is agreed with Dany stating “done” and then each of the slavers state “done” and the slave girl states eight times “done.” The slaver tells Dany that the Unsullied will learn her language quickly, but she will need a translator, and so she is given the slave girl, [[Missandei]], who was serving as the translator during the negotiations as a token.{{Ref|aSoS|27}}
After [[Arstan Whitebeard]] tells Kraznys that even brave men show fear when faced with death or maiming, the slaver whips and mutilates Unsullied who do not react. Daenerys is horrified by the training regime which the Unsullied endure. Dany is told eight thousand Unsullied are available, but they are not cheap because their training takes years. Arstan tells her that [[slavery]] is held to be an abomination in [[Westeros]], and using slave soldiers would do great dishonor to [[House Targaryen]]. Kraznys says that a [[corsair king]] was also recently interested in purchasing Unsullied.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}
The slave girl Missandei accompanies her when she leaves. After telling Whitebeard not to question her in front of strangers, she asks the slave girl her name in high Valerian; the slave girl is surprised. Then Dany tells her that she is now free and can leave, but if she decides not to leave, she can serve as one of her handmaidens, but it will be dangerous and uncomfortable. Missandei tells Dany that she will stay. Then Dany asks about the Unsullied. Dany asks Missandei if the Unsullied are fearless and feel no pain and is told they do. Then Dany asks if they are obedient, and Missandei tells her that if she tells them not to breath, they would not. Next Dany asks what to do with the Unsullied after she has won, and the girl tells her that there is good market for blooded Unsullied, but they also make fine guards and excellent watchmen. Then Dany asks how she would know if she sells them that the Unsullied would not be used against her. The slave girl tells her that they would do as commanded without question. Missandei tells Dany that she could command that they fall on their swords. Dany can tell that Missandei would not be happy if she commanded the Unsullied to commit suicide, and gets the slave girl to admit to her that 3 of the Unsullied were her brothers.{{Ref|aSoS|27}}
 
Dany brings her whole company with her to the plaza where the Unsullied standing straight and still with the boys in the back standing just as straight and still. Kraznys mo Nakloz tells Missandei that the slaves are here and hers if she can pay. Dany has her people stack the trade good in front of the slaver, telling him there was more that they could not carry that were still on the ships. Kraznys had told her that they are green and that she should blood them early. There are many small city along her route ripe for plunder, and the plunder will her hers alone; the Unsullied have lust for gold. Also that she can send the captives back to Astapor for good prices. Then Dany hands the slaver the end of Drogon’s chain, and then Kraznys hands her a whip with 9 ends, the Harpies’ fingers. When Kraznys announces that it is done, she raised the whip above her head and gallops in front of the Unsullied ranks announcing that it is done. Drogon does not move from litter no matter how much Kraznys jerked on the chain. Dany returns asking Kraznys if he is having trouble and when he agrees, she said that there is a reason: Dragons are not slaves. Drogon’s fire takes Kraznys in the face. Soon all dragons have been released, and are in the air. The dragons take some of the Astapori soldiers, and arrows from Dany’s retinue take others. When the slavers call for the Unsullied to defend their masters, they do not move. Then Dany commands the Unsullied to slay the [[Good Masters]], the soldiers, and slay every man the wears a [[Tokar]] or holds a whip, and to strike the chains off every slave. Then Freedom!{{Ref|aSoS|27}}
Dany later tells Kraznys through the translating slave [[Missandei]] that she wants all the Unsullied, including six centuries, the eight thousand, and those still in training. Eight slavers are hesitant to sell those in training since if they fail in battle they will shame them, and they would not have any to sell to the next buyer. Dany tells them that she will pay the same for those in training. This provokes an argument among the slavers, some liking having the gold now instead of the future, and others worried about the reputation of the Unsullied if they fail. The eldest of the slavers, [[Grazdan mo Ullhor|Grazdan]], agrees to sell Daenerys all the Unsullied for her black [[dragon]], [[Drogon]], her trade goods, and her ships. Dany is given Missandei as a token. Missandei tells Dany of the Unsullied's unflinching discipline, and the slave girl reveals that three were her brothers.{{Ref|ASOS|27}}
When Dany arrives outside [[Yunkai]], the host standing against them is too great not for her forces to take significant losses. There are also cavalry which she knows the Unsullied could withstand, but not her other troops, who are mostly too weak to fight, and untrained. When she talks with each of the captains of the sell swords she tells each of them that their numbers are too small to stand against her Unsullied.{{Ref|aSoS|42}} It is the Unsullied under [[Grey Worm]] that will attack the Yunkai from right and left while the her horse attack the center. The battle is won with less than a dozen losses in part because the [[Stormcrows]] defected to Dany and the [[Second Sons]] were drunk.{{Ref|aSoS|42}}
 
[[File:David Horne Loyal to the Last.JPG|350px|thumb|right|[[Daenerys Targaryen]] rides her [[silver mare]] among her Unsullied, by David Horne © Fantasy Flight Games]]
 
When Dany brings her whole company to the Plaza of Pride for the transaction, Kraznys advises her that her Unsullied are inexperienced. They exchange Drogon's chain and a whip with nine ends, the harpy's fingers. Daenerys, however, then has Drogon kill the slaver with [[dragonfire]]. During the ensuing [[fall of Astapor]], the Unsullied refuse the slavers' orders to defend their masters. Dany commands the Unsullied to slay the Good Masters, their soldiers, and any man that wears a ''[[tokar]]'' or holds a whip, and to strike the chains off every slave.{{Ref|ASOS|27}}
 
When Dany later arrives outside [[Yunkai]], it is the Unsullied under [[Grey Worm]] that will attack the Yunkai'i from right and left while her horse attack the center. The [[battle near Yunkai]] is won with less than a dozen losses in part because the [[Stormcrows]] defect to Dany and the [[Second Sons]] are drunk.{{Ref|ASOS|42}}
 
The Unsullied commander, [[Grey Worm]], is among those present during planning for the [[siege of Meereen]]. Daenerys tells him she will not throw away Unsullied lives in storming the city walls. When a plan is presented to invade [[Meereen]] through the sewers, Daenerys thinks it would not make use of the Unsullied's discipline.{{Ref|ASOS|57}} Some Unsullied are among those that invade Meereen through the sewers and free [[pit fighters]] in an uprising of slaves.{{Ref|ASOS|71}} The Unsullied crush Meereenese resistance and punish murderers, looters, and rapers.{{Ref|ASOS|71}}
 
The [[Qarth]]een master of the ''[[Indigo Star]]'' tells Daenerys that [[Cleon]], the new king in Astapor, is training new Unsullied from the highborn boys in Astapor.{{Ref|ASOS|71}}
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
[[File:T Jedruszek GreyWormsElite.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Unsullied soldiers in action, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
In [[Volantis]], [[Quentyn Martell]] sees Unsullied spearmen in ornate armor and [[tiger]]-skin cloaks guarding the [[triarchs of Volantis]].{{Ref|ADWD|6}}
 
Cleon marches against Yunkai with his new Unsullied, but they are defeated in a [[battle at the Horns of Hazzat]].{{Ref|ADWD|16}} During the [[siege of Astapor]], these Unsullied are butchered by the [[Windblown]], the [[Company of the Cat]], and a [[Ghiscari legion]] from [[New Ghis]].{{Ref|ADWD|25}}
 
Some of the Unsullied in Daenerys's service reclaim their birth names, while others choose new names. Several Unsullied, such as [[Stalwart Shield]], [[Duran]], and [[Mossador]], are murdered in Meereen by the [[Sons of the Harpy]].{{Ref|ADWD|2}}{{ref|ADWD|11}} The queen assigns her Unsullied to guard the city walls and her person, and directs [[Skahaz mo Kandaq]] to create a Meereenese city watch, the [[Brazen Beasts]],{{ref|ADWD|16}} consisting of [[freedmen]] and [[shavepates]].{{Ref|ADWD|11}}
 
Grey Worm and fifty of the Unsullied aid refugees outside of Meereen's walls and help with burning the dead.{{Ref|ADWD|36}} [[Hero]], a captain of the Unsullied, is among the hostages sent to the Yunkish camp when Daenerys makes peace with the Yunkai'i.{{Ref|ADWD|50}}
 
Daenerys disappears from [[Daznak's Pit]] on [[Drogon]]'s back.{{Ref|ADWD|52}} Her new husband, King [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]], attempts to gain control of the Unsullied but they refuse to obey him.{{Ref|ADWD|55}} Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] is able to convince them to follow him if Yunkai should attack Meereen.{{Ref|ADWD|70}}
 
==Known Unsullied==
*{[[Black Fist]]}
*{[[Cetherys]]}
*[[Dogkiller]], a Captain of Daenerys Targaryen's Unsullied
*{[[Duran]]}
*{[[Eladon Goldenhair]]}
*[[Grey Worm]], the Commander of Daenerys Targaryen's Unsullied
*[[Hero]], the Second-in-command of Daenerys Targaryen's Unsullied
*{[[Loyal Spear]]}
*[[Marselen]], Commander of the [[Mother's Men]]
*{[[Mossador]]}
*[[Red Flea]]
*{[[Stalwart Shield]]}
*[[Sure Spear]], a Captain of Daenerys Targaryen's Unsullied
 
==Quotes==
[[File:T Jedruszek GreyWormStrongest.jpg|350px|thumb|right|A column of Unsullied soldiers, headed by [[Grey Worm]], by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
{{Quote|A [[eunuch]] who is cut young will never have the brute strength of one of your [[Westeros]]i [[knight]]s, this is true. A bull is strong as well, but bulls die every day in the [[fighting pits]]. A girl of nine killed one not three days past in [[Jothiel's Pit]]. The Unsullied have something better than strength, tell her. They have discipline. We fight in the fashion of the [[Old Empire of Ghis|Old Empire]], yes. They are the [[lockstep legions]] of [[Old Ghis]] come again, absolutely obedient, absolutely loyal, and utterly without fear.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}|[[Kraznys mo Nakloz]] to [[Missandei]] and [[Daenerys Targaryen]]}}
 
{{Quote|This beggar queen must understand, such wonders do not come cheaply. In [[Yunkai]] and [[Meereen]], [[slave]] swordsmen can be had for less than the price of their swords, but Unsullied are the finest foot in all [[known world|the world]], and each represents many years of training. Tell her they are like [[Valyrian steel]], folded over and over and hammered for years on end, until they are stronger and more resilient than any metal on earth.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}|[[Kraznys mo Nakloz]] to [[Missandei]] and [[Daenerys Targaryen]]}}


The Unsullied commander [[Grey Worm]] is among those present during planning for the attack on [[Meereen]]. [[Daario Naharis]] states that the Unsullied could take down the gates with axes since they consider boiling oil to be no more than a warm bath. Grey Worm responds that this is false; although Unsullied would not feel burns like men do, but the oil, would blind and kill, but give the Unsullied a ram they would batter down the gate or die. [[Daenerys Targaryen]] tells Gray Worm she will not throw away Unsullied lives. Later there is a plan presented to invade the city through the cities; Daenerys includes the Unsullied as those she does not believe are appropriate for invading through the sewers.{{Ref|aSoS|57}}
{{Quote|'''Ben''': Did you see them [[bronze]] heads above the gates? Rows of [[Harpies|harpy]] heads with open mouths? The [[Meereen]]ese can squirt boiling oil out them mouths, and cook your axemen where they stand.<br>
Unsullied are among those that invade Meereen through the sewers.{{Ref|aSoS|71}}
'''Daario''': Perhaps the Unsullied should wield the axes. Boiling oil feels like no more than a warm bath to you, I have heard.<br>
'''Grey Worm''': This is false. These ones do not feel burns as men do, yet such oil blinds and kills. The Unsullied do not fear to die, though. Give these ones rams, and we will batter down these gates or die in the attempt.{{Ref|ASOS|57}}|[[Ben Plumm]], [[Daario Naharis]], and [[Grey Worm]]}}


===A Dance with Dragons===
{{Quote|Even those who lack a man's parts may still have a man's heart, Your Grace.{{ref|ADWD|2}}|[[Grey Worm]] to [[Daenerys Targaryen]]}}
Several Unsullied soldiers are murdered by the [[Sons of the Harpy]]. When [[Daenerys Targaryen]] disappears on [[Drogon]]s back, her new husband [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]] attempts to gain control of the Unsullied but they refuse to obey him. Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] however was able to convince them to follow him if the [[Yunkai]] should attack [[Meereen]].


==Notable Members==
{{Quote|'''Daenerys''': Do you know how Unsullied are made and trained?<br>
===Under [[Daenerys Targaryen]]===
'''Xaro''': Cruelly, I have no doubt. When a [[smith]] makes a sword, he thrusts the blade into the fire, beats on it with a hammer, then plunges it into iced water to temper the steel. If you would savor the sweet taste of the fruit, you must water the tree.{{Ref|ADWD|16}}|[[Daenerys Targaryen]] and [[Xaro Xhoan Daxos]]}}
*[[Grey Worm]]
*[[Hero]]


==Real life Influence==
{{Quote|'''Archibald''': We fought the Unsullied at [[siege of Astapor|Astapor]].<br>
The Unsullied are most likelly fashioned after the soldiers of antiquity, most probably the Greek hoplites or Roman legionnaires. They're well equipped with spears, shortswords and shields, and are highly disciplined, drilled and trained, just like a Roman legionnaire. We're also told that they build field fortifications or entrenchments while on the march, an attribute which the Roman army also had a passion for.
'''Beans''': I said real Unsullied. Hacking off some boy's stones with a butcher's cleaver and handing him a pointy hat don't make him Unsullied. That [[Daenerys Targaryen|dragon queen's]] got the real item, the kind that don't break and run when you fart in their general direction.{{ref|ADWD|25}}|[[Archibald Yronwood]] and [[Beans]]}}


They fight in either packed phalanx- or in superior, loose cohort-formations ("lockstep formations of the Old Empire"). Roman cohort-formations provided more space for maneuver and were consequently more flexible and responsive. This battle formation allowed the soldiers to take better advantage of their primary weapon, the shortsword (the Greeks relied on spears), and made them less vulnerable to flank attacks. During battle, they used to throw pilums (javelins) before closing in with shortswords and shield.
{{Quote|Unsullied are brave soldiers ... but not warriors. Not [[knights]].{{Ref|ADWD|70}}|[[Barristan Selmy]] to [[Archibald Yronwood]]}}


The Roman army is also well-known for its administrative organization, but the organization of the Unsullied seems far less sophisticated in comparison. The buyer is supposed to integrate the troops into their own military organization and doctrine, and has to set his own officers over them. But in each unit (Unsullied are sold by the hundreds or thousands) there are probably several lower-ranked officers or instructors who are sold together with their unit, in order to preserve the integrity of the group.<Ref>[http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~madsb/home/read/asoiaf/unsullied/index2.php Digital attic]</Ref>
{{Quote|Man to man, the Unsullied are no better or worse than any other spearmen. It's their discipline that makes them dangerous, but if they cannot form up into a spear wall ...<ref>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[Tyrion II (The Winds of Winter)|Tyrion II]]</ref>|[[Tyrion Lannister]] to [[Penny]]}}


The [[Battle of Qohor]] bears some similarities to the famous Battle of Thermopylae during the Greco-Persian War.
==Behind the Scenes==
According to [[George R. R. Martin]], the Unsullied are partially inspired by slave legions like the [[w:Mamluk|Mamluks]] and the [[w:Janissaries|Janissaries]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1282/ ConJose (San Jose, CA; August 29-September 2)], August 29, 2002</ref>


==References and Notes==
==References==
{{references|2}}
{{References|2}}


[[Category:Mercenaries]]
[[Category:Astapor]]
[[Category:Eunuchs]]
[[Category:Slave soldiers]]
[[Category:Slaves and freedmen]]
[[Category:Slaves and freedmen]]
[[Category:Unsullied| ]]
[[Category:Unsullied| ]]


[[es:Inmaculados]][[fr:Immaculés]][[ru:Безупречные]][[zh:无垢者]]
[[es:Inmaculados]]
[[fr:Immaculés]]
[[pt:Imaculados]]
[[ru:Безупречные]]
[[zh:无垢者]]

Latest revision as of 19:55, 24 June 2026

Unsullied by Amok ©

The Unsullied are eunuch slave soldiers, trained from a young age in Astapor to unquestioning obedience and martial prowess. Sold by the century or the thousand, they are used as guards all over the Free Cities. They make excellent guards, do not loot, and will never rape.[1]

Recruitment and Training

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A line of disciplined Unsullied spearman routing a cavalry charge, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

Unsullied begin as young male slaves chosen for their size, speed, and strength. Every day they choose new names at random by drawing tokens from a bucket, each consisting of a color and a type of vermin, such as "Grey Worm".[1]

Their training starts at age five and is from dawn to dusk. It is brutal, designed not only to teach them how to fight, but to strip away all individuality, empathy, and self-worth. Slaves that fail any aspect of their training are killed. Only a third of the slaves to enter training survive to become Unsullied.[1]

The eunuchs are fully castrated, with their penis and testicles cut, and their manhoods are burned at the altar of the Lady of Spears. This means that they cannot be as strong as whole men, but this is more than made up for by discipline.[1][2]

On the day a boy is cut, he is given a puppy to take care of. At the end of the first year, the boy is made to strangle the puppy. Should he fail to do so, he is killed and fed to the surviving dogs. During training boys are culled whenever they fail a task, be it running all day in full pack, scaling a mountain at night or walking across a bed of coals. To win their spiked cap they must take a silver mark go to the slave markets and buy a newborn slave child and kill it before its mother and pay the slave's owner for his loss.[1]

The Good Masters, the slavers of Astapor, used to sell Unsullied in groups of ten for household guards, but that proved unsound since they mingle with others, and forget who they are. Now they are sold only in groups of a century or thousand.[1] The only vice left for the Unsullied is food, so Unsullied serving as household guards often grow fat.[3]

Military Tactics

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The Unsullied are inspired by the lockstep legions of the Old Empire of Ghis, who were free men.[4] The Unsullied fight in formation as light infantry, equipped with spears, swords, shields, and distinctive spiked caps. They fight fearlessly and obey without question. Their elite, highly specialized training makes them most effective in their phalanx formation. They do not ride horses.[3]

Unsullied uniform are plain and without ornament, quilted tunic, a short sword, three spears and spiked bronze caps. One spike indicates a low rank, while three spikes going from front to back represent an officer.[5]

Customs

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Unsullied pikemen by Goran Delic © Fantasy Flight Games

The Unsullied worship a goddess of their own whose true name is kept in secret among them. The slave soldiers refer to her to others as the Lady of Spears, the Bride of Battle, and the Mother of Hosts.[6]

The slaves regularly consume an elixir called the wine of courage to deaden their sensitivity to pain. They drink it with every meal, and every year feel less and less pain.[1][2]

History

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The most famous Unsullied were the Three Thousand of Qohor, who held back a Dothraki khalasar over fifty thousand strong. Only six hundred Unsullied survived, having killed twelve thousand of the Dothraki. To honor the Unsullied, the surviving Dothraki rode in before the Unsullied line, throwing their cut braids down in front of them.[3] Unsullied have since made up, or at least been supported by, the city watch of Qohor.[3][7]

Lysaro Rogare bought a thousand Unsullied from Astapor in 135 AC after the death of his father, Lysandro Rogare. When Lysaro fled Lys, he surrounded himself with one hundred of the slave soldiers. Lysaro was later caught in Volon Therys with only twenty Unsullied, as he had been forced to sell the rest along the way. The twenty Unsullied fought to the end on the docks of the town and perished. Lysaro was captured and sent back to Lys in chains.[8]

The three brothers of Missandei,[2] including Mossador and Marselen, were taken from Naath by raiders from the Basilisk Isles and sold into slavery in Astapor,[9] where they were trained as Unsullied.[2]

Recent Events

[edit]

A Storm of Swords

[edit]

During the voyage to Pentos to join up with Magister Illyrio Mopatis, Ser Jorah Mormont convinces Daenerys Targaryen to change their destination to Astapor to buy Unsullied. He tells her about the Three Thousand of Qohor, and to buy the Unsullied they could use the trade goods being carried onboard.[3]

Dany is shown Unsullied by Kraznys mo Nakloz, one of the Good Masters, in the Astapori Plaza of Pride, where ten ranks of a hundred Unsullied stand. More than half are of Dothraki stock, while others appear to be from Lys and Qarth and even the same ethnicity as their slavers, while others are from peoples she does not recognize.[1]

After Arstan Whitebeard tells Kraznys that even brave men show fear when faced with death or maiming, the slaver whips and mutilates Unsullied who do not react. Daenerys is horrified by the training regime which the Unsullied endure. Dany is told eight thousand Unsullied are available, but they are not cheap because their training takes years. Arstan tells her that slavery is held to be an abomination in Westeros, and using slave soldiers would do great dishonor to House Targaryen. Kraznys says that a corsair king was also recently interested in purchasing Unsullied.[1]

Dany later tells Kraznys through the translating slave Missandei that she wants all the Unsullied, including six centuries, the eight thousand, and those still in training. Eight slavers are hesitant to sell those in training since if they fail in battle they will shame them, and they would not have any to sell to the next buyer. Dany tells them that she will pay the same for those in training. This provokes an argument among the slavers, some liking having the gold now instead of the future, and others worried about the reputation of the Unsullied if they fail. The eldest of the slavers, Grazdan, agrees to sell Daenerys all the Unsullied for her black dragon, Drogon, her trade goods, and her ships. Dany is given Missandei as a token. Missandei tells Dany of the Unsullied's unflinching discipline, and the slave girl reveals that three were her brothers.[2]

Daenerys Targaryen rides her silver mare among her Unsullied, by David Horne © Fantasy Flight Games

When Dany brings her whole company to the Plaza of Pride for the transaction, Kraznys advises her that her Unsullied are inexperienced. They exchange Drogon's chain and a whip with nine ends, the harpy's fingers. Daenerys, however, then has Drogon kill the slaver with dragonfire. During the ensuing fall of Astapor, the Unsullied refuse the slavers' orders to defend their masters. Dany commands the Unsullied to slay the Good Masters, their soldiers, and any man that wears a tokar or holds a whip, and to strike the chains off every slave.[2]

When Dany later arrives outside Yunkai, it is the Unsullied under Grey Worm that will attack the Yunkai'i from right and left while her horse attack the center. The battle near Yunkai is won with less than a dozen losses in part because the Stormcrows defect to Dany and the Second Sons are drunk.[10]

The Unsullied commander, Grey Worm, is among those present during planning for the siege of Meereen. Daenerys tells him she will not throw away Unsullied lives in storming the city walls. When a plan is presented to invade Meereen through the sewers, Daenerys thinks it would not make use of the Unsullied's discipline.[11] Some Unsullied are among those that invade Meereen through the sewers and free pit fighters in an uprising of slaves.[12] The Unsullied crush Meereenese resistance and punish murderers, looters, and rapers.[12]

The Qartheen master of the Indigo Star tells Daenerys that Cleon, the new king in Astapor, is training new Unsullied from the highborn boys in Astapor.[12]

A Dance with Dragons

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Unsullied soldiers in action, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

In Volantis, Quentyn Martell sees Unsullied spearmen in ornate armor and tiger-skin cloaks guarding the triarchs of Volantis.[13]

Cleon marches against Yunkai with his new Unsullied, but they are defeated in a battle at the Horns of Hazzat.[14] During the siege of Astapor, these Unsullied are butchered by the Windblown, the Company of the Cat, and a Ghiscari legion from New Ghis.[15]

Some of the Unsullied in Daenerys's service reclaim their birth names, while others choose new names. Several Unsullied, such as Stalwart Shield, Duran, and Mossador, are murdered in Meereen by the Sons of the Harpy.[16][9] The queen assigns her Unsullied to guard the city walls and her person, and directs Skahaz mo Kandaq to create a Meereenese city watch, the Brazen Beasts,[14] consisting of freedmen and shavepates.[9]

Grey Worm and fifty of the Unsullied aid refugees outside of Meereen's walls and help with burning the dead.[6] Hero, a captain of the Unsullied, is among the hostages sent to the Yunkish camp when Daenerys makes peace with the Yunkai'i.[17]

Daenerys disappears from Daznak's Pit on Drogon's back.[18] Her new husband, King Hizdahr zo Loraq, attempts to gain control of the Unsullied but they refuse to obey him.[19] Ser Barristan Selmy is able to convince them to follow him if Yunkai should attack Meereen.[20]

Known Unsullied

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Quotes

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A column of Unsullied soldiers, headed by Grey Worm, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

A eunuch who is cut young will never have the brute strength of one of your Westerosi knights, this is true. A bull is strong as well, but bulls die every day in the fighting pits. A girl of nine killed one not three days past in Jothiel's Pit. The Unsullied have something better than strength, tell her. They have discipline. We fight in the fashion of the Old Empire, yes. They are the lockstep legions of Old Ghis come again, absolutely obedient, absolutely loyal, and utterly without fear.[1]

—Kraznys mo Nakloz to Missandei and Daenerys Targaryen

This beggar queen must understand, such wonders do not come cheaply. In Yunkai and Meereen, slave swordsmen can be had for less than the price of their swords, but Unsullied are the finest foot in all the world, and each represents many years of training. Tell her they are like Valyrian steel, folded over and over and hammered for years on end, until they are stronger and more resilient than any metal on earth.[1]

—Kraznys mo Nakloz to Missandei and Daenerys Targaryen

Ben: Did you see them bronze heads above the gates? Rows of harpy heads with open mouths? The Meereenese can squirt boiling oil out them mouths, and cook your axemen where they stand.

Daario: Perhaps the Unsullied should wield the axes. Boiling oil feels like no more than a warm bath to you, I have heard.

Grey Worm: This is false. These ones do not feel burns as men do, yet such oil blinds and kills. The Unsullied do not fear to die, though. Give these ones rams, and we will batter down these gates or die in the attempt.[11]

—Ben Plumm, Daario Naharis, and Grey Worm

Even those who lack a man's parts may still have a man's heart, Your Grace.[16]

—Grey Worm to Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys: Do you know how Unsullied are made and trained?
Xaro: Cruelly, I have no doubt. When a smith makes a sword, he thrusts the blade into the fire, beats on it with a hammer, then plunges it into iced water to temper the steel. If you would savor the sweet taste of the fruit, you must water the tree.[14]

—Daenerys Targaryen and Xaro Xhoan Daxos

Archibald: We fought the Unsullied at Astapor.
Beans: I said real Unsullied. Hacking off some boy's stones with a butcher's cleaver and handing him a pointy hat don't make him Unsullied. That dragon queen's got the real item, the kind that don't break and run when you fart in their general direction.[15]

—Archibald Yronwood and Beans

Unsullied are brave soldiers ... but not warriors. Not knights.[20]

—Barristan Selmy to Archibald Yronwood

Man to man, the Unsullied are no better or worse than any other spearmen. It's their discipline that makes them dangerous, but if they cannot form up into a spear wall ...[21]

—Tyrion Lannister to Penny

Behind the Scenes

[edit]

According to George R. R. Martin, the Unsullied are partially inspired by slave legions like the Mamluks and the Janissaries.[22]

References

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  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 27, Daenerys III.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 8, Daenerys I.
  4. ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
  5. ↑ So Spake Martin: Concerning Grey Worm (July 31, 2003)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 36, Daenerys VI.
  7. ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Qohor.
  8. ↑ Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
  10. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 57, Daenerys V.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 71, Daenerys VI.
  13. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 16, Daenerys III.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 25, The Windblown.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 2, Daenerys I.
  17. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 50, Daenerys VIII.
  18. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 52, Daenerys IX.
  19. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 55, The Queensguard.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 70, The Queen's Hand.
  21. ↑ The Winds of Winter, Tyrion II
  22. ↑ So Spake Martin: ConJose (San Jose, CA; August 29-September 2), August 29, 2002
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