Difference between revisions of "Bastardy"

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In ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'', it is not unexpected for noblemen to have bastard children. While it is not typical for a noble to bring his bastards home and raise them with his own children, it is usually expected that he will see to the child's well-being to some degree.{{Ref|aGoT|6}} A noble-born wife has the right to take insult at her husband's bastards being introduced into her household and being commensurate in rank with her legally-born children.  
 
In ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'', it is not unexpected for noblemen to have bastard children. While it is not typical for a noble to bring his bastards home and raise them with his own children, it is usually expected that he will see to the child's well-being to some degree.{{Ref|aGoT|6}} A noble-born wife has the right to take insult at her husband's bastards being introduced into her household and being commensurate in rank with her legally-born children.  
  
Bastards whose parents are both of the nobility may be considered non-baseborn, although even a royal decree has considerable difficulty in removing the stigma of a bastard{{Ref|TSS||''Legends II'', ISBN 978-0345456441, page 97 of 73-152}} and trueborn children of a bastard might change their surnames to show their legitimate nature. For example, a legitimate son of a Waters might change his surname to [[House Longwaters|Longwaters]].{{Ref|aFfC|8}}<ref name=SF>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2999/ SF, Targaryens, Valyria, Sansa, Martells, and More], June 26, 2001</ref>
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Bastards whose parents are both of the nobility are referred to as bastard-born, though not baseborn. Even a royal decree will have considerable difficulty in removing the stigma of a bastard{{Ref|TSS}} and trueborn children of a bastard might change their surnames to show their legitimate nature. For example, a legitimate son of a Waters might change his surname to [[House Longwaters|Longwaters]].{{Ref|aFfC|8}}<ref name=SF>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2999/ SF, Targaryens, Valyria, Sansa, Martells, and More (June 26, 2001)]</ref>
  
At any point, the biological father of a bastard may acknowledge him and bring him formally into his house. King [[Robert I Baratheon]] acknowledged [[Edric Storm]], although the boy was raised at [[Storm's End]].{{ref|ACOK|10}} After the death of [[Domeric Bolton]], Lord [[Roose Bolton]] brought [[Ramsay Snow]] to the [[Dreadfort]], although Roose did not recognize Ramsay as his heir.{{ref|ACOK|16}}{{ref|AWOIAF| Ramsay Snow}}
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At any point, the biological father of a bastard may acknowledge him and bring him formally into his house. King [[Robert I Baratheon]] acknowledged [[Edric Storm]], although the boy was raised at [[Storm's End]].{{ref|ACOK|10}} After the death of [[Domeric Bolton]], Lord [[Roose Bolton]] brought his bastard son, [[Ramsay Snow]], to the [[Dreadfort]], although Roose did not recognize Ramsay as his heir.{{ref|ACOK|16}}{{ref|AWOIAF| Ramsay Snow}}
  
A more drastic measure is legitimization, a power traditionally reserved to monarchs alone. Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] legitimized the brothers [[Addam Velaryon|Addam]] and [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn of Hull]] as heirs of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]].{{ref|TPATQ}} [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] legitimized many of his bastards of noble birth on his deathbed (the so-called [[Great Bastards]]).  
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A more drastic measure is legitimization, a power traditionally reserved to monarchs alone. Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] legitimized the brothers [[Addam Velaryon|Addam]] and [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn of Hull]] as heirs of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]].{{ref|TPATQ}} [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] legitimized all of his bastards on his deathbed, both those born by highborn mothers, and baseborn.{{ref|tss}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
  
Far more often a bastard is acknowledged but not legitimized. For example, [[Eddard Stark]] acknowledged Jon Snow as his son and a member of [[House Stark]], but did not legitimize him. Snow retained the bastard name of the north and the social status it conferred, and did not enter the line of succession of House Stark. Many bastards, such as [[Gendry]], are never acknowledged and do not know who their fathers are.
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Far more often a bastard is acknowledged but not legitimized. For example, [[Eddard Stark]] acknowledged [[Jon Snow]] as his son and a member of [[House Stark]], but did not legitimize him. Snow retained the bastard name of the north and the social status it conferred, and did not enter the line of succession of House Stark. Other bastards, like  [[Gendry]], have no idea who their father is, and it might be the case that their father doesn't know about them, either.
  
===Bastards in Dorne===
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In [[Dorne]], bastards are viewed slightly different compared to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Especially if the child is born to a [[paramour]], Dornishmen are not that concerned if the child was born in or out of wedlock. Many Dornish noblemen, and even some ladies, have paramours.{{Ref|TWOIAF| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}}
  
Due to its unique history and culture, bastards in [[Dorne]] are not looked down upon the way they are in the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Many present-day [[Dornishmen]] are descended from the [[Rhoynar]] people who migrated to Westeros a thousand years ago, and who possessed an urban culture based around city-states along the [[Rhoyne]] River in [[Essos]]. The culture they passed down to the present-day Dornishmen has relatively relaxed attitudes towards sexual matters. While the Rhoynar who came to Dorne did convert to the [[Faith of the Seven]], they basically just ignored the rules they didn't like, and follow the religion much less strictly than other parts of Westeros. Many Dornish nobles have formalized lovers known as [[Paramour|paramours]], and they do not possess the same stigma against homosexual behavior that the rest of Westeros does.
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In recent times, Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] has fathered eight bastard daughters of five different mothers.{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}} His children are raised at the court of [[Sunspear]], where several are close to the heir of Prince [[Doran Martell]], Princess [[Arianne Martell|Arianne]].{{Ref|AFFC|13}}{{Ref|AFFC|22}}
 
 
These relaxed sexual mores in Dorne extend to bastard children. The Dornish feel that bastards are born of passion and love - unlike the rest of the Seven Kingdoms that consider them born of lies and deceit - and thus would not disdain a child for such a parentage. While it is rare and scandalous for a lord from outside of Dorne to raise his bastard child in his home castle alongside his trueborn children (as [[Eddard Stark]] did with Jon Snow), it is actually commonplace in Dorne to see bastards living at the court of their noble parents; Oberyn Martell raised his eight illegitimate daughters in Sunspear, alongside his brother's legitimate children. The Dornish are also much more likely to acknowledge bastard children in the first place: they would consider it cruel for a lord to abandon his own flesh and blood, as King [[Robert Baratheon]] ignored the many bastard children he fathered over the years. Because Dornish culture holds little if any stigma against bastards, it is not unusual to see bastards work their way up to important social or court positions there, holding castles or leading armies for their families.
 
 
 
Bastards in Dorne still face a few restrictions, but these are relatively minor compared to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Bastards in Dorne must still use the special bastard surname "Sand", and they are less likely to inherit from their parents. But the Dornish feel that an older bastard does have a place within the family and is not shameful. A bastard child is also treated somewhat like a younger child in order of inheritance. For example, if the Starks lived in Dorne, Jon Snow would be treated as a younger brother behind even [[Rickon Stark]] in the line of succession, but otherwise, he would be treated as a full member of the family.
 
 
 
Another minor stigma against bastards in Dorne is that it would be considered marrying beneath one's station for a powerful lord to marry a noble-born bastard. Often, this is simply due to the practical reason that a bastard is less likely to inherit, and thus the marriage would probably not bring with it any new wealth or lands. This stigma is somewhat similar to a nobleman marrying a daughter from another House who was trueborn, but who was also the youngest of five daughters, and thus a very poor match. [[Ellaria Sand]] is an acknowledged bastard of [[House Uller]], one of the more powerful noble families in Dorne. Even in the relaxed social mores of Dorne, however, it would still have been beneath his station for Prince [[Oberyn Martell]], younger brother of the ruler of Dorne, to wed Ellaria. While Oberyn could not marry Ellaria, he simply made her his formal paramour, his wife in all but name.
 
  
 
==Rights of Inheritance==
 
==Rights of Inheritance==
The baseborn have few rights under [[Law and justice|law]] and [[customs|custom]] when it comes to rights of inheritance. A bastard may inherit if the father has no other trueborn children nor any other likely kin to follow him. Additionally, a bastard can inherit if he is legitimized by a royal decree. It is unclear whether a legitimized bastard would be placed in the succession according to birth order, or would be placed at the end, after the trueborn children.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Hornwood_Inheritance_and_the_Whents The Hornwood Inheritance and the Whents], November 02, 1999</ref>
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The bastardborn have few rights under [[Law and justice|law]] and [[customs|custom]] when it comes to rights of inheritance. A bastard may inherit if the father has no other trueborn children nor any other likely kin to follow him. In {{Date|299}}, after the deaths of Lord [[Halys Hornwood]] and his trueborn son, [[Daryn Hornwood|Daryn]], Halys's natural son [[Larence Snow]] is considered as a potential heir by [[House Hornwood]]s overlords, [[House Stark]].{{Ref|ACOK|16}} A bastard can inherit after being legitimized by a royal decree.{{Ref|ASOS|45}} It is unclear whether a legitimized bastard would be placed in the succession according to birth order, or would be placed at the end, after the trueborn children.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Hornwood_Inheritance_and_the_Whents The Hornwood Inheritance and the Whents (November 02, 1999)]</ref>
 
 
Heraldic custom regarding bastards is fairly loose; bastards who take arms (noble born, knighted, etc.) often, but not always, take the [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] of their fathers with the colors reversed.{{Ref|TSS||''Legends II'', ISBN 978-0345456441, page 104 of 73-152}} A bend sinister is sometimes added, as exemplified by Ser [[Walder Rivers]]'s sigil.{{Ref|aFfC|38}}  A bastard that wants to emphasize his filiation and minimize his own bastardy may decide to use the same sigil as his father, as did [[Glendon Flowers]],{{Ref|TMK|''Warriors 1'', ISBN 978-0-7653-6026-7, page 279 of 251-394}} perhaps illegally.{{Ref|THK}}{{Ref|AGOT|7}}
 
 
 
However, any man can be [[knight]]ed, even a bastard. A bastard may even be appointed to the [[Kingsguard]]; two such knights, [[Robert Flowers]] and [[Addison Hill]], rose to become [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]].{{ref|AFFC|16}} In the [[Night's Watch]], any man may rise to command, no matter the circumstances of their birth. Such were the cases of [[Cotter Pyke]], commander of [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]], and [[Robin Hill]], who became [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]]s.
 
  
 
==Social Status==
 
==Social Status==
It is considered rude to pry into the origins of a man's natural children. Men say that bastards are born from lust and lies, grow up more swiftly than other children, and their nature is wanton and treacherous.{{ref|AGOT|5}}{{ref|ASOS|73}}
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It is considered rude to pry into the origins of a man's natural children.{{ref|ASOS|73}} It is said that bastards are born from lust and lies, and that their nature is wanton and treacherous.{{ref|AGOT|5}} It is also said that bastards grow up faster than trueborn children.{{Ref|AGOT|5}}{{Ref|AGOT|26}}
  
A bastard may study at the [[Citadel]] and become a [[maester]]. It's also possible for bastards, males and females, to join the [[Faith of the Seven]] and become [[Septons]]/[[Septa]]s.
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A bastard may study at the [[Citadel]] and become a [[maester]]. One such an example is Maester [[Walys]], a former Maester of [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|ADWD|37}} It's also possible for female bastards to join the [[Faith of the Seven]] and become [[Septa]]s, like the bastard daughters of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] by [[Megette]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Possibly, this might mean that male bastards could become [[septon]]s.
  
===Coat of Arms===
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As any man can be [[knight]]ed, even a bastard. A bastard may even be appointed to the [[Kingsguard]]; two such knights, [[Robert Flowers]] and [[Addison Hill]], rose to become [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]].{{ref|AFFC|16}} In the [[Night's Watch]], any man may rise to command, no matter the circumstances of their birth. Such were the cases of [[Cotter Pyke]], commander of [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]], and [[Robin Hill]] and [[Jon Snow]], who became [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]]s.
  
Bastards do not have the right to use the arms of their families. The custom is thus a bastard using arms (when knighted for example) adds a distinction, called ''breaking''. This can be in the form of a color inversion on their own coats of arms, with the addition of a possible ''bend sinister''.
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===Coat of Arms===
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Bastards do not have the right to use the arms of the highborn families they descent from.{{Ref|AGOT|7}} Recognized bastards who take arms (noble born, knighted, etc.) often, but not always, take the [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] of their fathers with the colors reversed.{{Ref|TSS}} A bend sinister is sometimes added, as exemplified by Ser [[Walder Rivers]]'s sigil.{{Ref|aFfC|38}}  A bastard that wants to emphasize his filiation and minimize his own bastardy may decide to use the same sigil as his father, as did [[Glendon Flowers]],{{Ref|TMK}} perhaps illegally.{{Ref|THK}}{{Ref|AGOT|7}}
  
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Several examples:
 
{| cellspacing="5" border="0" style="text-align:left;"
 
{| cellspacing="5" border="0" style="text-align:left;"
 
| [[File:House_Targaryen_crest.PNG|75px|''House Targaryen'']]
 
| [[File:House_Targaryen_crest.PNG|75px|''House Targaryen'']]
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==Surnames==
 
==Surnames==
Each of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms have bastard surnames decreed by custom, not law.<ref name=SF/>  Bastards with a high-born parent are given these surnames to hold them apart from their fathers' houses. The parents may give a bastard a different surname if they wish, e.g. [[Tyrion Tanner]]. Bastards with no known relation to a noble house have no surname, like other [[smallfolk]].
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Each of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms have bastard surnames decreed by custom, not law.<ref name=SF/>  Bastards with a high-born parent are given these surnames to hold them apart from their fathers' houses. The parents may give a bastard a different surname if they wish, e.g. [[Tyrion Tanner]]. Bastards with no known relation to a noble house have no surname, like other [[smallfolk]].
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|}
 
|}
  
As the surname is applied depending on the region where the bastard is raised, bastards who are half-siblings may have different surnames. For example, King [[Robert I Baratheon]]'s eldest bastard, born in the Vale, is called Mya ''Stone'' while his bastard from the stormlands is called Edric ''Storm''.
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The surname a bastard received appears to be connected to the location the child is raised, though this is not a consistent rule. Because of this, bastards who are half-siblings might have different surnames. For example, King [[Robert I Baratheon]]'s eldest bastard, born in the Vale, is called [[Mya Stone|Mya ''Stone'']], while his bastard from the stormlands (fathered on a noblewoman from the [[Reach]]) is called [[Edric Storm|Edric ''Storm'']]. However, whilst [[Aegor Rivers]] was raised at [[Stone Hedge]] in the [[riverlands]], his half-brother [[Brynden Rivers|Brynden]], was also called ''Rivers'', despite having lived at least the first few years of his life with his mother at [[King's Landing]] in the [[Crownlands]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
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===''A Game of Thrones''===
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Prince [[Joffrey Baratheon]] was believed by King [[Robert I Baratheon]] to be his trueborn son, and therefore heir to [[House Baratheon]] and the [[Iron Throne]]. However, Lord [[Eddard Stark]] discovers that Joffrey, as well as his siblings [[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]] and [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen]], are actually the bastards of [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei]] and [[Jaime Lannister]].{{Ref|AGOT|45}}
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===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
[[Joffrey Baratheon]] was believed by King [[Robert I Baratheon]] to be his trueborn son, and therefore heir to [[House Baratheon]] and the [[Iron Throne]]. The revelation of Joffrey's bastardy, as the product of adultery on the part of Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], causes Joffrey's claim to the Iron Throne to be disputed after Robert's death by Robert's brother, [[Stannis Baratheon]].
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The revelation of Joffrey's bastardy, as the product of adultery on the part of Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], causes Joffrey's claim to the Iron Throne to be disputed after Robert's death by Robert's eldest brother, [[Stannis Baratheon]].{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}
  
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
[[Ramsay Snow]]'s official bastard status is removed by a royal decree, as a reward for the [[House Bolton|Boltons]] betraying the [[House Stark|Starks]] and bowing to the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]], and he becomes the heir of House Bolton. The social stigma of his bastardy is not lifted, however.
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[[Ramsay Snow]]'s official bastard status is removed by a royal decree, as a reward for the [[House Bolton|Boltons]] betraying the [[House Stark|Starks]] and bowing to the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]], and he becomes the heir of House Bolton.{{Ref|ASOS|72}}
  
[[Robb Stark]], as [[King in the North]], planned to legitimize his bastard half-brother [[Jon Snow]] and proclaim him as his heir; however, this would only be considered valid by those who supported Robb's claim to be King in the North. Following Robb's death, [[Stannis Baratheon]], having proclaimed himself King of the Seven Kingdoms, also proposes to legitimize Snow and make him Lord of [[Winterfell]], but Jon declines Stannis's offer, electing to become [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]] instead.
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[[Robb Stark]], as [[King in the North]], planned to legitimize his bastard half-brother [[Jon Snow]] and proclaim him as his heir;{{Ref|ASOS|45}} however, this would only be considered valid by those who supported Robb's claim to be King in the North. Following Robb's death, [[Stannis Baratheon]], having proclaimed himself King of the Seven Kingdoms, also proposes to legitimize Snow and make him Lord of [[Winterfell]],{{Ref|ASOS|76}} but Jon declines Stannis's offer, electing to become [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]] instead.{{Ref|ASOS|79}}
  
 
==Notable Bastards==
 
==Notable Bastards==
 
'''Crownlands'''
 
'''Crownlands'''
 
* Addam of Hull, legitimised as [[Addam Velaryon]], a dragonrider and heir to [[Driftmark]].
 
* Addam of Hull, legitimised as [[Addam Velaryon]], a dragonrider and heir to [[Driftmark]].
* Alyn of Hull, legitimised as [[Alyn Velaryon]], an admiral and heir to Driftmark.
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* Alyn of Hull, legitimised as [[Alyn Velaryon]], an admiral and heir to Driftmark after Addam's death.
 
*[[Tyrion Tanner]], the bastard son of [[Lollys Stokeworth]] and an unknown father, conceived in a riot at [[King's Landing]].
 
*[[Tyrion Tanner]], the bastard son of [[Lollys Stokeworth]] and an unknown father, conceived in a riot at [[King's Landing]].
 
* [[Aurane Waters]], better known as the Bastard of [[Driftmark]]. He was part of Queen [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei's]] small council as the grand admiral and [[master of ships]].
 
* [[Aurane Waters]], better known as the Bastard of [[Driftmark]]. He was part of Queen [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei's]] small council as the grand admiral and [[master of ships]].
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* [[Gendry]], an unrecognized bastard of King [[Robert I Baratheon]]. Unaware of his heritage but is the spitting image of Robert when he was young.
 
* [[Gendry]], an unrecognized bastard of King [[Robert I Baratheon]]. Unaware of his heritage but is the spitting image of Robert when he was young.
 
* [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey]], [[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]] and [[Tommen Baratheon]] are bastards conceived by Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] with her own twin brother, Ser [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]], although they are commonly believed to be her legitimate children by King [[Robert I Baratheon]].
 
* [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey]], [[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]] and [[Tommen Baratheon]] are bastards conceived by Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] with her own twin brother, Ser [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]], although they are commonly believed to be her legitimate children by King [[Robert I Baratheon]].
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'''Dorne'''  
 
'''Dorne'''  
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**[[Loreza Sand]], daughter of Ellaria Sand.  
 
**[[Loreza Sand]], daughter of Ellaria Sand.  
 
* Ser [[Daemon Sand]], better known as the Bastard of [[Godsgrace]], is the bastard son of [[Ryon Allyrion]].
 
* Ser [[Daemon Sand]], better known as the Bastard of [[Godsgrace]], is the bastard son of [[Ryon Allyrion]].
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'''Iron Islands'''
 
'''Iron Islands'''
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* [[Ramsay Snow|Ramsay Bolton]], formerly known as Ramsay Snow, the recognized and legitimised son of Lord [[Roose Bolton]]. Commonly known as the Bastard of Bolton or the Bastard of the [[Dreadfort]].
 
* [[Ramsay Snow|Ramsay Bolton]], formerly known as Ramsay Snow, the recognized and legitimised son of Lord [[Roose Bolton]]. Commonly known as the Bastard of Bolton or the Bastard of the [[Dreadfort]].
 
* [[Larence Snow]], the son of Lord [[Halys Hornwood]].
 
* [[Larence Snow]], the son of Lord [[Halys Hornwood]].
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'''The Reach'''
 
'''The Reach'''
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*[[Jafer Flowers]], a ranger of the Night's Watch.
 
*[[Jafer Flowers]], a ranger of the Night's Watch.
 
*Maester [[Walys Flowers|Walys]], the bastard son of a [[House Hightower|Hightower]] girl and an [[archmaester]] of the [[Citadel]]. He served at [[Winterfell]] when Lord [[Rickard Stark]] was head of [[House Stark]].
 
*Maester [[Walys Flowers|Walys]], the bastard son of a [[House Hightower|Hightower]] girl and an [[archmaester]] of the [[Citadel]]. He served at [[Winterfell]] when Lord [[Rickard Stark]] was head of [[House Stark]].
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'''Riverlands'''
 
'''Riverlands'''
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* Ser [[Tristan Rivers]], an exiled knight in service to the [[Golden Company]].
 
* Ser [[Tristan Rivers]], an exiled knight in service to the [[Golden Company]].
 
* Ser [[Walder Rivers]], recognized eldest bastard son of Lord [[Walder Frey]].
 
* Ser [[Walder Rivers]], recognized eldest bastard son of Lord [[Walder Frey]].
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'''Stormlands'''
 
'''Stormlands'''
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*[[Ronald Storm]], the bastard son of Ser [[Ronnet Connington]].
 
*[[Ronald Storm]], the bastard son of Ser [[Ronnet Connington]].
 
*King [[Ronard Storm]], called Ronard the Bastard, who usurped his half-brother's rule and ruled for a stable thirty years.
 
*King [[Ronard Storm]], called Ronard the Bastard, who usurped his half-brother's rule and ruled for a stable thirty years.
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'''Vale of Arryn'''
 
'''Vale of Arryn'''
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* [[Mya Stone]], the eldest bastard of King [[Robert Baratheon]]. (While she is not officially recognized, she is somewhat openly known to be the king's baseborn daughter.)
 
* [[Mya Stone]], the eldest bastard of King [[Robert Baratheon]]. (While she is not officially recognized, she is somewhat openly known to be the king's baseborn daughter.)
 
* Ser [[Samwell Stone]], better known as Strong Sam Stone, is the master-at-arms at [[Runestone]].
 
* Ser [[Samwell Stone]], better known as Strong Sam Stone, is the master-at-arms at [[Runestone]].
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'''Westerlands'''
 
'''Westerlands'''
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==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
{{Quote|The old [[High Septon]] told [[Maekar I Targaryen|my father]] that king's laws are one thing, and the laws of the gods another. Trueborn children are made in a marriage bed and blessed by [[Father (the Seven)|the Father]] and [[Mother (the Seven)|the Mother]], but bastards are born of lust and weakness, he said. King [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]] decreed that his bastards were not bastards, but he could not change their nature. The High Septon said all bastards are born to betrayal ...{{Ref|TSS|''Legends II'', ISNB 0-00-715436-4, page 160 of 88-190}}}} - [[Egg]] to [[Dunk]]
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{{Quote|The old [[High Septon]] told [[Maekar I Targaryen|my father]] that king's laws are one thing, and the laws of the gods another. Trueborn children are made in a marriage bed and blessed by [[Father (the Seven)|the Father]] and [[Mother (the Seven)|the Mother]], but bastards are born of lust and weakness, he said. King [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]] decreed that his bastards were not bastards, but he could not change their nature. The High Septon said all bastards are born to betrayal ...{{Ref|TSS}}}} - [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]] to [[Duncan]]
  
  
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{{Quote|Go away, I wanted only Freys up here, the [[Robb Stark|King in the North]] has no interest in base stock.{{Ref|asos|49|p 560}}}}  
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{{Quote|Go away, I wanted only Freys up here, the [[Robb Stark|King in the North]] has no interest in base stock.{{Ref|asos|49}}}}  
 
– [[Walder Frey]], to little [[Walda Rivers (daughter of Aemon)|Walda Rivers]]
 
– [[Walder Frey]], to little [[Walda Rivers (daughter of Aemon)|Walda Rivers]]
  
  
{{Quote|[[Orys Baratheon]] was a baseborn half brother to [[Aegon I Targaryen|Lord Aegon]], it was whispered, and the [[Argilac Durrandon|Storm King]] would not dishonor his daughter by giving her hand to a bastard. The very suggestion enraged him.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
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{{Quote|[[Orys Baratheon]] was a baseborn half brother to [[Aegon I Targaryen|Lord Aegon]], it was whispered, and the [[Argilac Durrandon|Storm King]] would not dishonor his daughter by giving her hand to a bastard. The very suggestion enraged him.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}}}
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- Archmaester [[Gyldayn]]
  
  
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{{Quote|Well, [[Aerion Brightflame]] did not stay in [[Lys]] all his life, only a few years. He may have fathered a few [[bastard]]s there, which would mean [[Dany]] has "relatives" of a sort in Lys... but they would be very distant relatives, from the wrong side of the blanket.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Many_Questions/ Many Questions], October 14, 1998</ref>}} - [[George R. R. Martin]]
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{{Quote|Well, [[Aerion Brightflame]] did not stay in [[Lys]] all his life, only a few years. He may have fathered a few [[bastard]]s there, which would mean [[Dany]] has "relatives" of a sort in Lys... but they would be very distant relatives, from the wrong side of the blanket.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Many_Questions/ Many Questions (October 14, 1998)]</ref>}} - [[George R. R. Martin]]
  
 
==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==

Revision as of 22:17, 17 February 2016

Aegor Rivers, a Great Bastard, fathered by Aegon IV Targaryen - by Marc Simonetti ©
A bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn Martell - by Magali Villeneuve. © Fantasy Flight Games
Jon Snow, the acknowledged bastard son of Eddard Stark - by Natascha Roeoesli. © Fantasy Flight Games

A bastard is a person whose parents, at the time of their birth, were not married to each other. There is a certain stigma that comes from being born as a bastard, as their nature is often seen as lustful and deceitful. As a polite way of referring to someone who is bastard-born, someone may be referred to as a "natural son" or "natural daughter". A less polite term, indicative of the social stigma against bastards, is "baseborn", although this term does not apply if both parents are noble. A euphemism for being bastard-born is "being born on the wrong side of the sheets".[1]

Family Life and Status

In A Song of Ice and Fire, it is not unexpected for noblemen to have bastard children. While it is not typical for a noble to bring his bastards home and raise them with his own children, it is usually expected that he will see to the child's well-being to some degree.[2] A noble-born wife has the right to take insult at her husband's bastards being introduced into her household and being commensurate in rank with her legally-born children.

Bastards whose parents are both of the nobility are referred to as bastard-born, though not baseborn. Even a royal decree will have considerable difficulty in removing the stigma of a bastard[3] and trueborn children of a bastard might change their surnames to show their legitimate nature. For example, a legitimate son of a Waters might change his surname to Longwaters.[4][5]

At any point, the biological father of a bastard may acknowledge him and bring him formally into his house. King Robert I Baratheon acknowledged Edric Storm, although the boy was raised at Storm's End.[6] After the death of Domeric Bolton, Lord Roose Bolton brought his bastard son, Ramsay Snow, to the Dreadfort, although Roose did not recognize Ramsay as his heir.[7][8]

A more drastic measure is legitimization, a power traditionally reserved to monarchs alone. Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen legitimized the brothers Addam and Alyn of Hull as heirs of Lord Corlys Velaryon.[9] Aegon IV Targaryen legitimized all of his bastards on his deathbed, both those born by highborn mothers, and baseborn.[3][10]

Far more often a bastard is acknowledged but not legitimized. For example, Eddard Stark acknowledged Jon Snow as his son and a member of House Stark, but did not legitimize him. Snow retained the bastard name of the north and the social status it conferred, and did not enter the line of succession of House Stark. Other bastards, like Gendry, have no idea who their father is, and it might be the case that their father doesn't know about them, either.

In Dorne, bastards are viewed slightly different compared to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Especially if the child is born to a paramour, Dornishmen are not that concerned if the child was born in or out of wedlock. Many Dornish noblemen, and even some ladies, have paramours.[11]

In recent times, Prince Oberyn Martell has fathered eight bastard daughters of five different mothers.[12] His children are raised at the court of Sunspear, where several are close to the heir of Prince Doran Martell, Princess Arianne.[13][14]

Rights of Inheritance

The bastardborn have few rights under law and custom when it comes to rights of inheritance. A bastard may inherit if the father has no other trueborn children nor any other likely kin to follow him. In 299 AC, after the deaths of Lord Halys Hornwood and his trueborn son, Daryn, Halys's natural son Larence Snow is considered as a potential heir by House Hornwoods overlords, House Stark.[7] A bastard can inherit after being legitimized by a royal decree.[15] It is unclear whether a legitimized bastard would be placed in the succession according to birth order, or would be placed at the end, after the trueborn children.[16]

Social Status

It is considered rude to pry into the origins of a man's natural children.[17] It is said that bastards are born from lust and lies, and that their nature is wanton and treacherous.[18] It is also said that bastards grow up faster than trueborn children.[18][19]

A bastard may study at the Citadel and become a maester. One such an example is Maester Walys, a former Maester of Winterfell.[20] It's also possible for female bastards to join the Faith of the Seven and become Septas, like the bastard daughters of King Aegon IV Targaryen by Megette.[10] Possibly, this might mean that male bastards could become septons.

As any man can be knighted, even a bastard. A bastard may even be appointed to the Kingsguard; two such knights, Robert Flowers and Addison Hill, rose to become Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.[21] In the Night's Watch, any man may rise to command, no matter the circumstances of their birth. Such were the cases of Cotter Pyke, commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, and Robin Hill and Jon Snow, who became Lord Commanders.

Coat of Arms

Bastards do not have the right to use the arms of the highborn families they descent from.[22] Recognized bastards who take arms (noble born, knighted, etc.) often, but not always, take the coat of arms of their fathers with the colors reversed.[3] A bend sinister is sometimes added, as exemplified by Ser Walder Rivers's sigil.[23] A bastard that wants to emphasize his filiation and minimize his own bastardy may decide to use the same sigil as his father, as did Glendon Flowers,[24] perhaps illegally.[25][22]

Several examples:

House Targaryen House Blackfyre Arms of House Blackfyre, founded by a bastard of the House Targaryen, has the colors reversed.[3]
House Frey  personnel arms of Walder Rivers The personal arms of Walder Rivers, bastard son of Lord Walder Frey, has the Frey colors reversed and a red bend sinister added.[26]
House Blackfyre House Bracken  personnel arms of Aegor Rivers The coat of arms of Aegor Rivers "Bittersteel", a bastard son of Aegon IV Targaryen. He has combined the sigils of House Bracken (his mothers house) and House Blackfyre.

Surnames

Each of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms have bastard surnames decreed by custom, not law.[5] Bastards with a high-born parent are given these surnames to hold them apart from their fathers' houses. The parents may give a bastard a different surname if they wish, e.g. Tyrion Tanner. Bastards with no known relation to a noble house have no surname, like other smallfolk.

Region Surname Example
Crownlands Waters Aurane Waters
Dorne Sand Nymeria Sand
Iron Islands Pyke Wex Pyke
North Snow Jon Snow
Reach Flowers Robert Flowers
Riverlands Rivers Walder Rivers
Stormlands Storm Rolland Storm
Vale of Arryn Stone Mya Stone
Westerlands Hill Joy Hill

The surname a bastard received appears to be connected to the location the child is raised, though this is not a consistent rule. Because of this, bastards who are half-siblings might have different surnames. For example, King Robert I Baratheon's eldest bastard, born in the Vale, is called Mya Stone, while his bastard from the stormlands (fathered on a noblewoman from the Reach) is called Edric Storm. However, whilst Aegor Rivers was raised at Stone Hedge in the riverlands, his half-brother Brynden, was also called Rivers, despite having lived at least the first few years of his life with his mother at King's Landing in the Crownlands.[10]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Prince Joffrey Baratheon was believed by King Robert I Baratheon to be his trueborn son, and therefore heir to House Baratheon and the Iron Throne. However, Lord Eddard Stark discovers that Joffrey, as well as his siblings Myrcella and Tommen, are actually the bastards of Cersei and Jaime Lannister.[27]

A Clash of Kings

The revelation of Joffrey's bastardy, as the product of adultery on the part of Queen Cersei Lannister, causes Joffrey's claim to the Iron Throne to be disputed after Robert's death by Robert's eldest brother, Stannis Baratheon.[28]

A Storm of Swords

Ramsay Snow's official bastard status is removed by a royal decree, as a reward for the Boltons betraying the Starks and bowing to the Lannisters, and he becomes the heir of House Bolton.[29]

Robb Stark, as King in the North, planned to legitimize his bastard half-brother Jon Snow and proclaim him as his heir;[15] however, this would only be considered valid by those who supported Robb's claim to be King in the North. Following Robb's death, Stannis Baratheon, having proclaimed himself King of the Seven Kingdoms, also proposes to legitimize Snow and make him Lord of Winterfell,[30] but Jon declines Stannis's offer, electing to become Lord Commander of the Night's Watch instead.[31]

Notable Bastards

Crownlands


Dorne


Iron Islands


North


The Reach


Riverlands


Stormlands


Vale of Arryn


Westerlands

Quotes

The old High Septon told my father that king's laws are one thing, and the laws of the gods another. Trueborn children are made in a marriage bed and blessed by the Father and the Mother, but bastards are born of lust and weakness, he said. King Aegon decreed that his bastards were not bastards, but he could not change their nature. The High Septon said all bastards are born to betrayal ...[3]

- Egg to Duncan


Your mother was milking goats the first time I gave her my seed.[32]

Walder Frey, to Ryger Rivers


Go away, I wanted only Freys up here, the King in the North has no interest in base stock.[33]

Walder Frey, to little Walda Rivers


Orys Baratheon was a baseborn half brother to Lord Aegon, it was whispered, and the Storm King would not dishonor his daughter by giving her hand to a bastard. The very suggestion enraged him.[34]

- Archmaester Gyldayn


Bastard children were born from lust and lies, men said; their nature was wanton and treacherous. Once Jon had meant to prove them wrong, to show his lord father he could as good a true son as Robb Stark.[17]

Jon Snow


Well, Aerion Brightflame did not stay in Lys all his life, only a few years. He may have fathered a few bastards there, which would mean Dany has "relatives" of a sort in Lys... but they would be very distant relatives, from the wrong side of the blanket.[35]

- George R. R. Martin

References and Notes

  1. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 34, Catelyn VI.
  2. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Sworn Sword.
  4. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 8, Jaime I.
  5. 5.0 5.1 So Spake Martin: SF, Targaryens, Valyria, Sansa, Martells, and More (June 26, 2001)
  6. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
  7. 7.0 7.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
  8. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Ramsay Snow.
  9. The Princess and the Queen.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  11. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Queer Customs of the South.
  12. A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
  13. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
  14. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  15. 15.0 15.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
  16. So Spake Martin: The Hornwood Inheritance and the Whents (November 02, 1999)
  17. 17.0 17.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
  18. 18.0 18.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 5, Jon I.
  19. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.
  20. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.
  21. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
  22. 22.0 22.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 7, Arya I.
  23. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 38, Jaime VI.
  24. The Mystery Knight.
  25. The Hedge Knight.
  26. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
  27. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 45, Eddard XII.
  28. A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  29. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime IX.
  30. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 76, Jon XI.
  31. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
  32. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 59, Catelyn IX.
  33. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 49, Catelyn VI.
  34. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  35. So Spake Martin: Many Questions (October 14, 1998)

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