First Men: Difference between revisions
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The war went in the First Men's favour until the two sides reached a peace agreement, called the [[Pact]], on the [[Isle of Faces]]. The First Men gave dominion over the forests to the children and promised not to cut down any more weirwood trees. In return, they received claim to the rest of the Westeros. {{ref|aGoT|66}} | The war went in the First Men's favour until the two sides reached a peace agreement, called the [[Pact]], on the [[Isle of Faces]]. The First Men gave dominion over the forests to the children and promised not to cut down any more weirwood trees. In return, they received claim to the rest of the Westeros. {{ref|aGoT|66}} | ||
===Four Thousand Years of Friendship=== | ===Four Thousand Years of Friendship=== | ||
The Pact began 4,000 years of friendship between the two peoples. The First Men set aside their religion to worship the children's nature gods. When the [[Others]] began to invade from the far north of Westeros, the First Men and the children joined forces in the [[The Long Night#War for the Dawn|War for the Dawn]]. A legendary hero called the [[last hero]] is said to have led the coalition against the Others. The Others were driven back, and the [[Night's Watch]] was created to keep them at bay. The First Men are also the ones responsible for building the [[Wall]] {{ref|aGoT|70}}, which still stands to this day. | The Pact began 4,000 years of friendship between the two peoples. The First Men set aside their religion to worship the children's [[old gods|nature gods]]. The [[children of the forest]] taught them to use [[raven]]s to communicate over long distances, but in those days the birds would speak the words. The [[greenseer]]s of the children could change their skins and speak through the birds.{{ref|aDwD|34}}When the [[Others]] began to invade from the far north of Westeros, the First Men and the children joined forces in the [[The Long Night#War for the Dawn|War for the Dawn]]. A legendary hero called the [[last hero]] is said to have led the coalition against the Others. The Others were driven back, and the [[Night's Watch]] was created to keep them at bay. The First Men are also the ones responsible for building the [[Wall]] {{ref|aGoT|70}}, which still stands to this day. | ||
===Invasion of the Andals=== | ===Invasion of the Andals=== | ||
Around 6,000 years before Aegon's Landing, the [[Andal]]s began their invasion of Westeros. For several hundred years the First Men and the Andals fought for control of the continent. Eventually, the Andals conquered the southern half of the continent, while the Kings of Winter stopped all Andal incursions through the Neck at [[Moat Cailin]]. | Around 6,000 years before Aegon's Landing, the [[Andal]]s began their invasion of Westeros. For several hundred years the First Men and the Andals fought for control of the continent. Eventually, the Andals conquered the southern half of the continent, while the Kings of Winter stopped all Andal incursions through the Neck at [[Moat Cailin]]. | ||
==Culture== | ==Culture== | ||
Revision as of 02:56, 25 April 2013
The First Men were the culture of humans who first set foot on Westeros. The influence of the First Men is still felt in Westeros, most strongly in the North. The North remembers.
History
Arrival in Westeros
Around 12,000 years before Aegon's Landing, the First Men came to Westeros from the eastern continent by crossing the landbridge called the Arm of Dorne, under the leadership of the so-called "First King". The First Men supposedly found the Seastone Chair upon the shores of Old Wyk when they first came to the Iron Islands. [1] It was the First Men who named the woh dak nag gram "children".
War with the Children of the Forest
As they settled in the new land, they chopped down the carved weirwoods that were sacred to the children of the forest's gods and burned them. This provoked a war between the children and the First Men. [2] Though the children had powerful magic, which they used to shatter the Arm of Dorne into an island chain, the First Men were larger, stronger, and more technologically advanced.
The Pact
The war went in the First Men's favour until the two sides reached a peace agreement, called the Pact, on the Isle of Faces. The First Men gave dominion over the forests to the children and promised not to cut down any more weirwood trees. In return, they received claim to the rest of the Westeros. [2]
Four Thousand Years of Friendship
The Pact began 4,000 years of friendship between the two peoples. The First Men set aside their religion to worship the children's nature gods. The children of the forest taught them to use ravens to communicate over long distances, but in those days the birds would speak the words. The greenseers of the children could change their skins and speak through the birds.[3]When the Others began to invade from the far north of Westeros, the First Men and the children joined forces in the War for the Dawn. A legendary hero called the last hero is said to have led the coalition against the Others. The Others were driven back, and the Night's Watch was created to keep them at bay. The First Men are also the ones responsible for building the Wall [4], which still stands to this day.
Invasion of the Andals
Around 6,000 years before Aegon's Landing, the Andals began their invasion of Westeros. For several hundred years the First Men and the Andals fought for control of the continent. Eventually, the Andals conquered the southern half of the continent, while the Kings of Winter stopped all Andal incursions through the Neck at Moat Cailin.
Culture
Language
The First Men spoke the Old Tongue, a harsh, clanging language that is still spoken by some wildlings and the giants. Names originating from the Old Tongue tend to be short, simple, and descriptive.
Runes
They wrote with runes, which they carved on rocks and into metal, but the meanings behind most runes became lost in time. [5]
Armour and Weaponry
The First Men wielded bronze swords and large, leather shields. They rode horses into battle.
Laws
They obeyed the laws of hospitality. Hosts were expected to serve guests bread and salt upon arrival, and guests received protection once they had eaten. Disputes were often handled by paying a blood price, even for crimes such as murder. If a man was to be executed for his crimes, the man delivering the sentence was expected to wield the killing blade himself, a tradition carried on by House Stark. [6]
Legacy
While much of their culture was lost over the millennia, the people of the North retained the spirit of the First Men and many carry the blood of the First Men in their veins, including those of House Stark.
Places Associated with the First Men
- The Wall
- Great Barrow
- The Fist of the First Men
- Seal Rock
- The old ruins of ancient strongholds of the First Men in Sea Dragon Point
References and Notes
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 34, Bran III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 1, Bran I.