Customs

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Inheritance

The lordships of Westeros are for the most part hereditary. The eldest son are the legitimate heirs, followed by their brothers in order of birth. Then his Sisters who inherit only if no sons exist to do so. Although a lord might use his will to lay out specific terms for the inheritance of his title and lands. For example, if his heir is a daughter without a husband, he might specify that she must wed by a certain time or the inheritance will pass to a cousin If a house's succession is uncertain, a related kinsman might well be seen as the best choice to be heir, next comes the lords bastards. They would then take the House's name as his own, despite his father being of another house There are regional variations to those rules. Most notably, in Dorne where it's determined by order of birth, with women having equal rights with men.

So in theory, it's all but impossible for a noble house to become extinct, and with enough digging each line can be traced up to the age of heroes. However, in practice, the king can redistribute lands and titles as he see fit and the sword can be all the hereditary justification that is needed, as was with kings robert.

Some titles and positions are not hereditary. like Knighthood...

Marriage

Westeros society is male-dominated for the most part, with exception of Drone and which was influenced by Rhoynar customs and exhibit greater freedoms. it's used to be better before the dance of the dragons.

Marriage in Westeros is largely dictated by it's dominant religion the faith of the seven, as union between one man and one woman, that should not be any more closely related than first cousins. With the exceptions of the Targaryens customs, of incest, which is the the reason for the faith militant uprising.

Marriage ceremonies vary greatly but for the most part inlcude three main elements: Religious, exchange of vows, before the the Septons for followers of the Faith, and heart trees for followers of the old gods. the feast and the bedding.

Sometime Witnesses may be called upon to witness the bedding of a newly wedded couple. How far this witness duty goes is uncertain

Fostering

Noble boys of about seven or eight are often sent to other noble houses to be raised until they reach the age of majority. The boys serve as pages and squires, acquiring training in arms, law, and courtesy.

Younger sons of the Great Houses would be bannermen to their elder brother, and hold small keeps in his name.

See Also:

• Bastardy
• Hospitality & Guest right
• Tourneys]

Un used Facts list

• Vows said at swordpoint are not valid (II: 384)

Of nobles and Kings

Authority runs from the king, Nobility are born to their status. have more rights and powers than those of lower status.

• The king or his Hand might hear disputes between rival holdfasts, petitions, and the adjudicating of the placement of boundary stones.
• The Great Council is a rare event which has not been called in a hundred years, and is the gathering of the assembled lords of the kingdom to decide some matter. The last time it was convened, it choose the next king of the Seven Kingdoms, over-riding proper lines of inheritance to give the crown to the youngest son of Maekar I, Aegon V (II: 78, 366. SSM:

• Bills of attainder can be signed by the king to strip lords of their lands and incomes.
• If the queen of the Seven Kingdoms were to commit adultery, it would be considered high treason (IV: 577)
• Lords in Westeros once had the right to the first night (the custom of bedding newlywed common women before their husbands), but Queen Alysanne convinced King Jaehaerys I to abolish it (TSS: 94)
• Noble holdings are seldom divided, nor are they generally combined, although one person could concievably hold more than one title. If a lord intended to pass his lands in some unusual fashion, however, that would carry some weight (and likely lead to disputes) (SSM: 1)

• Lords are not bound by custom or law to support relatives. Some do, however, by giving them posts and positions, or by granting them vassal holdfasts (SSM: 1)
• A lord is expected to arrange matches for his children and his younger, unwed siblings, but he cannot force the marriages if they refuse to say the vows. However, there would be serious consequences to this. Moreover, he does not necessarily arrange marriages for his vassals and household knights, but they would be wise to consult him and respect his feelings when arranging their own matches (SSM: 1)
• Some lords ban smallfolk from keeping bows as an attempt to keep them from poaching (TSS: 95)

Crimes and punishment

• Slavery is illegal, the punishment for enslaving a person is execution.

• In some cases, poachers and thieves might be forced to row ships as a punishment for their crimes (IV: 249)
• A man who steals from a sept might be judged to have stolen from the gods, and so receive a harsher punishment (IV: 206)
• A prostitute accused of carrying a pox might be punished by having her private parts washed out with lye before being thrown into a dungeon (IV: 207)

• Being caught abed with another man's wife can lead to being sent to the Wall.
• Being caught smuggling by the sea watch about Dragonstone was death in the days of Aerys.

• Wildlings are executed if caught south of the Wall.

• In ancient days, wrongful deaths could be addressed by the paying of a blood price, and in the Age of Heroes a man's life might be reckoned at being worth no more than a sack of silver (TSS: 104, 126)

Marriages

• Marriages can very well be completed between children, even babies or a baby to a young boy, especially if inheritances are the chief concern (II: 210)
• Not even the High Septon himself can declare a person married if they refuse to say the vows (III: 907)
• Marriage contracts can be broken (II: 388)

• No one needs to be present for the High Septon to annul the marriage, but at least one of the wedded pair must request the annulment (SSM: 1)

• It is not uncommon for a noble maiden, betrothed early, to wed within the year following her first flowering (IV: 203)