Paramour: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:19, 13 August 2026

A paramour, ^[1] mistress,^[2] or concubine^[3]^[4] is the unmarried lover of a noble.

Culture

In Dorne, it is common for lords and ladies to have paramours, chosen out of love and lust rather than political alliances. Dornishmen are not greatly concerned if a bastard is born to a paramour.^[5] Dorne gives a degree of social status to paramours, despite the "unchaste" nature of the relationship. Outside of Dorne, a Dornish paramour's status is less certain. They may be afforded the esteem granted in their homeland by the diplomatic-minded, or they may receive treatment ranging from slight social disdain to moral condemnation.^[1]

That same varying treatment also applies to paramours of non-Dornish nobles, even the mistresses of kings.^[6] A paramour can be of the same sex as their lover.^[7] Each partner in a marriage can have their own paramour, though it depends on the rank of the partners.^[8]

The Citadel does not allow its novices to keep wives or paramours, at least not openly.^[9]

History

When Lord Lyonel Hightower was forbidden by the High Septon from marrying his widowed step-mother, Samantha Tarly, he kept her as a paramour and fathered six children on her, before the election of a new High Septon allowed their marriage. The relationship was deemed highly scandalous.^[10]

Ser Terrence Toyne was found abed with King Aegon the Unworthy's mistress, Lady Bethany Bracken.^[11] Even though they proclaimed their love, Aegon had them executed.^[12]^[13]

It was a closely held secret that Prince Lewyn Martell kept a paramour despite the Kingsguard oaths of chastity.^[13] Ser Barristan Selmy and his other sworn brothers were aware of this, but kept his secret.^[14]

After Lord Selwyn Tarth's wife died, he kept a new "lady" every year.^[15]

Lynesse Hightower abandoned Ser Jorah Mormont in Lys, becoming instead the chief concubine of Tregar Ormollen.^[3]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Against the order of his father, Lord Tywin Lannister, Tyrion Lannister keeps Shae as his concubine in King's Landing.^[4]

A Storm of Swords

A degree of social deference is given to Ellaria Sand by virtue of her relationship with Prince Oberyn Martell.^[1] While esteemed as a high-ranking woman by the Dornishmen, in King's Landing her presence at the high table at the royal wedding of King Joffrey I Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell would be taken as an insult by the noblewomen seated near her. Ellaria is instead placed at a place of honor near the dais.^[1] Olenna Redwyne refers to her as "the serpent's whore",^[16] in reference to Prince Oberyn's nickname of "the Red Viper".

Known paramours

Tyanna of the Tower, to King Maegor I Targaryen^[7] (eventually married)
Alys Harroway, to King Maegor I Targaryen^[7] (already married)
Tyanna of the Tower, to Alys Harroway^[7] (rumored)
Mysaria, to Prince Daemon Targaryen^[17]
Ser Harwin Strong, to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen^[17] (rumored)
Unnamed paramour, to King Aegon II Targaryen^[18]
Unnamed lowborn paramour, to Lord Humfrey Bracken^[19]
Unnamed favorite mistress, to Lord Jason Lannister^[19]
Sylvenna Sand, to Essie^[5]
Samantha Tarly, to Lord Lyonel Hightower^[10] (eventually married)
Lord Alyn Velaryon, to Princess Aliandra Martell^[20] (rumored)
Rue, to Lord Alyn Velaryon^[20] (rumored)
Unnamed mistress, to Lord Leowyn Corbray^[10]
The nine mistresses of King Aegon IV Targaryen:^[6]

Shiera Seastar, to Lord Brynden Rivers^[21]^[22]
First unnamed mistress, to Lord Tytos Lannister^[23]
Second unnamed mistress, to Lord Tytos Lannister^[23]
Several unnamed paramours, to King Aerys II Targaryen^[24]
Unnamed paramour, to Prince Lewyn Martell^[13]
Lynesse Hightower, to Tregar Ormollen^[3]
Unnamed draper's wife in King's Landing, to Ser Preston Greenfield^[13]
Unnamed paramour, to Lord Edgar Yronwood^[1]
Ellaria Sand, to Prince Oberyn Martell^[1]
Shae, to Tyrion Lannister^[4]
Daario Naharis, to Queen Daenerys Targaryen^[14]

Quotes

It was not as though he was the first man ever to keep a concubine.^[4]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

And this is Ellaria Sand, mine own paramour.^[1]
—Oberyn Martell to Tyrion Lannister

Prince Lewyn was my Sworn Brother. In those days there were few secrets amongst the Kingsguard. I know he kept a paramour. He did not feel there was any shame in that.^[14]
—Barristan Selmy to Quentyn Martell

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 29, Tyrion VII.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Seven Kingdoms: Dorne (Queer Customs of the South).
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
↑ So Spake Martin: ConJose (San Jose, CA; August 29-September 2) (August 29, 2002).
↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 ^10.2 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 16, Sansa II.
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 ^13.2 ^13.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
↑ ^14.0 ^14.1 ^14.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 59, The Discarded Knight.
↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.
↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
↑ ^19.0 ^19.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
↑ ^20.0 ^20.1 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist.
↑ The Sworn Sword.
↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
↑ ^23.0 ^23.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Seven Kingdoms: The Westerlands (House Lannister Under the Dragons).
↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.

[Rasos38{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.

[Rasos24{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-2] A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.

[Racok12{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.

[Racok29{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 29, Tyrion VII.

[Rtwoiaf795-5] 5.0 ^5.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Seven Kingdoms: Dorne (Queer Customs of the South).

[Rtwoiaf411{{{4}}}-6] 6.0 ^6.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.

[Rfab4{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-7] 7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.

[Rssm1285{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-8] So Spake Martin: ConJose (San Jose, CA; August 29-September 2) (August 29, 2002).

[Raffc45{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-9] A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.

[Rfab20{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-10] 10.0 ^10.1 ^10.2 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.

[Rtwoiafthe_targaryen_kings:_aegon_iv{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-11] The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.

[Rasos16{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-12] A Storm of Swords, Chapter 16, Sansa II.

[Raffc13{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-13] 13.0 ^13.1 ^13.2 ^13.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.

[Radwd59{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-14] 14.0 ^14.1 ^14.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 59, The Discarded Knight.

[Racok45{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-15] A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.

[Rasos53{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-16] A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.

[Rtwoiaf45{{{4}}}-17] 17.0 ^17.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.

[Rfab13{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-18] Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.

[Rfab15{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-19] 19.0 ^19.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.

[Rfab22{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-20] 20.0 ^20.1 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist.

[Rtss{{{2}}}{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-21] The Sworn Sword.

[Rtwoiaf413{{{4}}}-22] The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.

[Rtwoiaf761-23] 23.0 ^23.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Seven Kingdoms: The Westerlands (House Lannister Under the Dragons).

[Rtwoiaf417{{{4}}}-24] The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.

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Revision as of 20:00, 14 April 2026 edit Nittanian (talk \| contribs) Members 35,468 edits No edit summary ← Older edit		Latest revision as of 18:19, 13 August 2026 edit undo Image link cleanup (talk \| contribs) 121 edits m Remove invisible characters and trailing spaces from File/Image filenames
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	[[File:Sedone Thongvilay Paramour.~~jpg‎~~\|thumb\|350px\|A paramour, by Sedone Thongvilay © Fantasy Flight Games]]		[[File:Sedone Thongvilay Paramour.jpg\|thumb\|350px\|A paramour, by Sedone Thongvilay © Fantasy Flight Games]]
	A '''paramour''', {{Ref\|ASOS\|38}} '''mistress''',{{Ref\|ASOS\|24}} or '''concubine'''{{ref\|ACOK\|12}}{{ref\|ACOK\|29}} is the unmarried lover of a [[Nobility\|noble]].		A '''paramour''', {{Ref\|ASOS\|38}} '''mistress''',{{Ref\|ASOS\|24}} or '''concubine'''{{ref\|ACOK\|12}}{{ref\|ACOK\|29}} is the unmarried lover of a [[Nobility\|noble]].