Dowry

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A dowry, or a dower, is the transfer of parental property to a daughter at her marriage.[N 1] Lands, gifts, and money can constitute a dowry.

History

Targaryen Era

King Argilac Durrandon wished to create an alliance with Lord Aegon Targaryen of Dragonstone in order to thwart Harren the Black to conquer more lands. Argilac offered his maiden daughter, Argella, in marriage to Aegon with all the lands east of the God's Eye as her dowry. However, Aegon refused the proposal as he was already married to his two sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys.[1][2]

According to Grand Maester Munkun, Lord Borros Baratheon and Prince Aemond Targaryen were negotiating dowries for the upcoming marriage of Aemond to one of Borros' daughters when Prince Lucerys Velaryon arrived at Storm's End.[3]

King Daeron II Targaryen paid the dowry his late father, King Aegon IV, had promised to the Archon of Tyrosh so that his half-brother, Ser Daemon Blackfyre, could marry Rohanne of Tyrosh.[4]

Lord Tywin Lannister intended to betroth his son and heir, Jaime, to Lord Hoster Tully's second daughter, Lysa. Jaime, who was fostered at Crakehall at the time, was even sent to Riverrun once so that Hoster could see him in person.[5] It seems Hoster was happy with the match as Tywin later invited him to King's Landing to discuss the question of Lysa's dowery.[6]

Baratheon Era

Lord Nestor Royce once hoped to marry his daughter, Myranda, to Lady Anya Waynwood's ward, Harrold Hardyng, but Anya refused. Myranda does not know if it is her or her dowry that Lady Anya found unsuitable.[7]

The only daughter of Lord Paxter Redwyne, Desmera, is known to be nicely dowered.[5]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Lord Roose Bolton agrees to take a Frey for his new wife. He chooses the fattest Frey maiden, Walda, because the patriarch of the family, Lord Walder Frey, has offered him the bride's weight in silver as a dowry.[8][9]

A Feast for Crows

Ser Jaime Lannister promises his captive, Ser Edmure Tully, that if his pregnant wife, Roslin Frey, gives him a daughter, then the Lannisters will give her a good dowry when she is old enough to marry.[10]

Lord Petyr Baelish arranges the marriage of Lord Lyonel Corbray of Heart's Home to the sixteen-year-old daughter of a rich Gulltown merchant. Lyonel is pleased with the match but even more so with her immense dowry.[7][11]

Petyr later offers Lady Anya Waynwood an even bigger dowery than the one Lyonel received to marry his daughter Alayne Stone (in reality Sansa Stark) to Harrold Hardyng. Anya accepts his offer.[7][11]

Notes

  1. It is usually the bride's family who gives the dowry to the groom's family, but on certain occasions it is the opposite (e.g. the union of Daemon Blackfyre and Rohanne of Tyrosh).

References

  1. Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.
  2. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  3. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  5. 5.0 5.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
  6. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 42, Brienne VIII.
  8. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
  9. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
  10. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 38, Jaime VI.
  11. 11.0 11.1 The Winds of Winter, Alayne I