Difference between revisions of "Kinslaying"

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* [[Harlan Hunter]]: According to [[Petyr Baelish]], Harlan murdered his father [[Eon Hunter]].{{ref|affc|23}}
 
* [[Harlan Hunter]]: According to [[Petyr Baelish]], Harlan murdered his father [[Eon Hunter]].{{ref|affc|23}}
  
*[[Black Walder Frey]]: After Ser [[Ryman Frey]]'s death while returning to the Twins, Ser [[Edwyn Frey]] confesses to Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] that he suspects Black Walder had a hand in their father's death, and he is afraid that he will be the next.{{ref|AFFC|44}} Black Walder is also theorized by fans to have murdered his grandfather, Ser [[Stevron Frey]], who suffered a minor wound at the [[Battle of Oxcross]], but was found dead on his tent three days later.{{Ref|ACOK|35}}
+
*[[Black Walder Frey]]: After Ser [[Ryman Frey]]'s death while returning to the Twins, Ser [[Edwyn Frey]] confesses to Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] that he suspects Black Walder had a hand in their father's death, and he is afraid that he will be the next.{{ref|AFFC|44}} Black Walder is also [[Walder Frey (son of Ryman)/Theories|theorized]] by fans to have murdered his grandfather, Ser [[Stevron Frey]], who suffered a minor wound at the [[Battle of Oxcross]], but was found dead on his tent three days later.{{Ref|ACOK|35}}
  
 
* [[House Frey]]: [[Tytos Blackwood]], accuses the Freys of commiting kinslaying during the [[Red Wedding]] for the murder of [[Lucas Blackwood]], as [[Alyssa Blackwood]] was [[Walder Frey]]'s fourth wife.{{Ref|ADWD|48}} [[Lothar Frey]] was one of the planners of the Red Wedding, while [[Whalen Frey]] took active part in the massacre and both are sons of Alyssa.
 
* [[House Frey]]: [[Tytos Blackwood]], accuses the Freys of commiting kinslaying during the [[Red Wedding]] for the murder of [[Lucas Blackwood]], as [[Alyssa Blackwood]] was [[Walder Frey]]'s fourth wife.{{Ref|ADWD|48}} [[Lothar Frey]] was one of the planners of the Red Wedding, while [[Whalen Frey]] took active part in the massacre and both are sons of Alyssa.

Revision as of 14:27, 26 March 2020

Aemond Targaryen killed his nephew Lucerys Velaryon during the Dance of the Dragons. Art from the Game of Thrones Season 5 Blu-ray, supplemental content.

Kinslaying is a great taboo in Westeros. Any individual who kills a member of their own family is dubbed a kinslayer, and believed to be cursed forever.[1] Many nobles and smallfolk believe this, and thus those who slay their own blood are usually looked down upon or shunned. Across Westeros, in the religions of the old gods, the Faith of the Seven, and even of the Drowned God, men state that "no man is so accursed as the kinslayer" and that "the kinslayer is accursed in the eyes of gods and men".[1][2][3][4]

The stigma and notoriety of kinslaying can go both ways. For example, Victarion Greyjoy hates his brother Euron and thinks about killing him, but the stigma and curse associated with kinslaying is what restrains him from doing so.[2][5] However, when Tristifer Botley, who believes Aeron Greyjoy was killed by his brother Euron, says Euron is afraid of being seen as a kinslayer, Asha Greyjoy responds that if Euron heard this, he would murder one of his sons to prove them wrong.[6]

According to George R.R. Martin:

There are degrees in kinslaying, as in anything else. Fighting a battle in which a brother dies might be frowned upon, but killing him with your own hand would be considered far worse.[7]

Kinslayers and people suspected or accused of kinslaying

  • Euron Greyjoy: Is suspected of being involved in the death of his older brother Balon.[2] Because of the disappearence of his younger brother Aeron after the Kingsmoot, some ironborn think that he murdered him as well.[6] Euron confesses to Aeron, whom he had seized and captured, that he killed Balon, though his was not the hand that did so, and two of his half-brothers, Harlon and Robin.[12]
  • Robb Stark: When preparing to execute Rickard Karstark, per Eddard Stark's custom that the man who passes the sentence should also swing the sword, Karstark calls Robb a kinslayer due to the blood ties between House Stark and House Karstark.[13] However, Rickard was stretching the concept of kinslaying in hopes of saving his head,[7] as House Karstark split from House Stark over a thousand years before, and Robb was only a distant cousin through his great-great-great grandmother Alys Karstark.[14]
  • Theon Greyjoy: Named a kinslayer by some for his supposed murder of Bran and Rickon Stark; although they are not his blood kin, he was their father's ward and was raised with them.[15]


Historical kinslayers and people suspected of kinslaying

Quotes

Fratricide ... my lord, this is evil, unthinkable.[24]

—Maester Cressen, considers the thought of Stannis killing his younger brother, Renly

Old gods or new, it makes no matter, no man is so accursed as the kinslayer.[13]

Jaime had not wanted to believe it. Kinslaying was worse than kingslaying, in the eyes of gods and men. He knew the boy was mine. I loved Tyrion. I was good to him. Well, but for that one time ... but the imp did not know the truth of that.[25]

Jaime Lannister's thoughts

The gods hate kinslayers, even when they kill unknowing.[22]

Kinslaying is dry work. It gives a man a thirst.[26]

Tyrion Lannister, to Illyrio Mopatis, on his drinking too much wine

Kinslayer or no, I am a lion still.[26]

Tell me, my lord ... if the kinslayer is accursed, what is a father to do when one son slays another?[11]

The gods hate kinslayers.[27]

See also

Customs, for additional information on customs and traditions of Westeros.

References