Difference between revisions of "Maesters"
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− | The perceived "master" of any area of study is given a mask, ring | + | The perceived "master" of any area of study is given a mask, ring, and rod and the title Archmaester in the corresponding metal to signify his expertise. For example, an archmaester who specializes in ravenry will have a mask, ring or rod made of black iron. Archmaesters are the senior members of the Order and are given the right to sit on the Conclave. The Conclave is the governing body of the Citadel and is the same body that elects the Grand Maester. All the meetings of the Conclave are confidential in nature and conducted behind closed doors at the Citadel only.{{ref|asos|12}} |
Marwyn the Mage is the order's leading researcher into the occult and [[magic]]. For his strange pursuits and gruff manner he is ostracized by others in the Citadel. | Marwyn the Mage is the order's leading researcher into the occult and [[magic]]. For his strange pursuits and gruff manner he is ostracized by others in the Citadel. |
Revision as of 19:17, 23 February 2014
The maesters are an order of scholars, healers, postmen, and scientists who are trained at a school called the Citadel. House Hightower was integral in the Citadel's foundation, and continues to patronize the order. As advisers to the Westerosi nobility, the maesters have largely supplanted the Alchemists' Guild. They are sometimes called "the knights of the mind."
Contents
The Citadel
The Citadel is an impressive structure in the city of Oldtown, and is considered the home of all maesters. Here they undergo all of their training from the time they arrive as novices until they have achieved the status of maester. At the entrance of the Citadel are green marble sphinxes.
Organization
The maesters are scholars, scientists, learned advisors to the nobility, and occasionally pseudo-religious researchers in the occult. Males of any age may begin training as a maester; females are not permitted to study or join the order. Noble families in Westeros sometimes send their younger sons to the Citadel. A bastard may study at the Citadel and become a maester. The maesters, like the brothers of the Night's Watch, are considered to be servants of Westeros and all its people and in theory have no political allegiance. After finishing his course of study, a maester is assigned to a castle, keep or other holding, and is loyal to the people of that place as a mentor, healer and adviser, regardless of changes in control of that holding. To this end a man who earns his chain is stripped of his family name and from that time on is known only by his title and first name. In practice some maesters hold over old allegiances and loyalties.
Grand Maester
The Grand Maester is considered the senior member of the Order and serves as its representative to the King. He can only be made or unmade by the Conclave.[1] He sits on the Small council and acts as the King's adviser. The Grand Maester wears many interwoven maester chains to indicate his high office, but these do not reflect his true studies. Gems are woven into the chains.[2]
Pycelle has served in the office for over forty years, though his loyalties lie with House Lannister rather than the realm. His advanced age has slowed him down, and he often dozes off during small council meetings. He was thrown in the dungeons of the Red Keep by Tyrion Lannister, but Tywin Lannister recalled him to his duties when it appeared the Citadel was going to replace him with Maester Gormon, formerly of House Tyrell. After his imprisonment Cersei perceives him as a broken man, but in spite of his past failings in court intrigue, Pycelle successfully seizes control of King Tommen I and the council after Cersei's arrest by the High Sparrow, offering Kevan Lannister the regency. As they attempt to fix Cersei's follies, Pycelle and Kevan are both assassinated by Varys, the former Master of Whisperers.
Archmaester
The perceived "master" of any area of study is given a mask, ring, and rod and the title Archmaester in the corresponding metal to signify his expertise. For example, an archmaester who specializes in ravenry will have a mask, ring or rod made of black iron. Archmaesters are the senior members of the Order and are given the right to sit on the Conclave. The Conclave is the governing body of the Citadel and is the same body that elects the Grand Maester. All the meetings of the Conclave are confidential in nature and conducted behind closed doors at the Citadel only.[3]
Marwyn the Mage is the order's leading researcher into the occult and magic. For his strange pursuits and gruff manner he is ostracized by others in the Citadel.
Seneschal
The Seneschal is chosen from among the archmaesters by lot. A new one is chosen each year. The Seneschal is tasked with the governance of the Citadel. Most archmaesters consider it a thankless task that takes them away from their true calling.[4]
Traditions and Culture
Maesters begin their training as novices in the Citadel. Once they begin their study and have been seen as proficient in a particular course of study they are tested and awarded a link of a certain metal to reflect their skill and knowledge. A student with a link is known as an acolyte until he has a full chain; it is not until he has completed extensive study in various subjects and has earned enough links to form a chain (to be worn around the neck) that he is considered worthy of advancement to the title of Maester, no longer a student but a peer. The night before the acolytes swear their vows to become maesters, they must stand a vigil in a vault with a black Glass candle. He is allowed no lantern or any other source of light. Unless he can light the candle, he will spend the night in total darkness.[5] There have been whispers that the maesters have held much more power and sway than they are ready to admit. Archmaester Marwyn suspects that they had a role in the demise of House Targaryen's Dragons. Some consider most maesters to be categorically opposed to magic and its influence on Westeros.
The collar
The collar signifies that maesters do not serve themselves, but are instead servants of all of Westeros. The collar consists of several links of different types of metal. These chains are formed from every metal known to man, but almost no maester will ever wear them all. Maesters do not remove the chain ever, not even when sleeping.[6]
According to semi-canon sources, it is possible to earn multiple links of the same metal.[7]
These metals include:
- Black iron (Ravenry)
- Brass
- Bronze (Astronomy)
- Copper (History)
- Electrum
- Yellow Gold (Economics)
- Iron (Warcraft)
- Lead
- Pale steel (Smithing)
- Pewter
- Platinum
- Red gold
- Silver (Medicine and healing)
- Steel
- Tin
- Valyrian steel (Magic and the occult) - Only one in one hundred holds a link of Valyrian steel; the study of magic is looked down upon by most Maesters.[8]
Practices and observances
Maesters chiefly communicate through messenger ravens. These ravens are trained specifically for one route; for example, for a message that must be sent to Castle Black, the maester uses the raven from the Castle Black cage. One of the typical duties of a maester is care of a keep's ravens. A special breed of white ravens that are larger and more intelligent than average are maintained at the Citadel for important communications. Maesters also constantly monitor the seasons. When the seasons are about to change, they send white ravens to spread the announcement throughout the realm.[9] Maesters who are skilled in astronomy often watch the skies and study constellations. When the red comet appeared during the events of the War of the Five Kings, the maesters were among the first to notice.
Known Members
Archmaester
- Archmaester Norren, Seneschal for the waning year, whose ring and rod and mask are electrum,
- Archmaester Theobald, Seneschal for the coming year, whose ring and rod and mask are lead,
- Archmaester Ebrose, the healer, whose ring and rod and mask are silver,
- Archmaester Marwyn, called "Marwyn the Mage", whose ring and rod and mask are Valyrian steel,
- Archmaester Perestan, the historian, whose ring and rod and mask are copper,
- Archmaester Vaellyn, called "Vinegar Vaellyn", the stargazer, whose ring and rod and mask are bronze,
- Archmaester Ryam, whose ring and rod and mask are yellow gold,
- Archmaester Walgrave, an old man of uncertain wit, whose ring and rod and mask are black iron,
- Gallard, Castos, Zarabelo, Benedict, Garizon, Nymos, Cetheres, Willifer, Mollos, Harodon, Guyne, Agrivane, Ocley, archmaesters all.
Maester
- Grand Maester {Pycelle}, served in King's Landing and on the Small council for over forty years. Murdered during the reign of King Tommen I.
- Maester {Aemon}, Maester of the Night's Watch at Castle Black, one of three living members of House Targaryen. Died of a chill after crossing by sea to the Free Cities in the company of his student, Samwell Tarly.
- Maester {Cressen}, Maester at Dragonstone and advisor to Stannis Baratheon. He drank from the cup of poison that was meant for Stannis' red priestess, Melisandre. The poison did not affect Melisandre, but Cressen was killed.
- Maester Colemon, personal maester to Jon Arryn while he was in King's Landing, currently living at the Eyrie.
- Maester Harmune, a maester for the Night's Watch at Eastwatch-by-the-sea.
- Maester {Luwin}, Maester of Winterfell and trusted advisor to House Stark. Killed during the Sack of Winterfell by men of House Bolton. One of the few maesters to have studied magic.
- Maester Mullin, a maester for the Night's Watch at the Shadow Tower.
- Maester Pylos, successor to Cressen at Dragonstone. Aided Davos Seaworth in smuggling out Edric Storm, in order to spare him from being burned as a sacrifice by Melisandre.
- Maester Gormon, an uncle to Mace Tyrell, nearly chosen to become Grand Maester.
- Maester Theomore, originally of House Lannister of Lannisport, in service at White Harbor. Lord Wyman Manderly does not trust him due to his Lannister blood.
- Qyburn, advisor to Queen Cersei. Former maester stripped of his chain and title by the Citadel for conducting immoral research - vivisection and other experiments performed on living human subjects.
Acolytes and Novices
- Acolyte Leo Tyrell, called "Lazy" Leo, a follower of Marwyn.
- Acolyte Robert Frey
- Acolyte Armen, called "Armen the Acolyte" by his friends.
- Novice Samwell Tarly, a brother of the Night's Watch and student of Maester Aemon.
- Novice Alleras, called "the Sphinx", also a follower of Marwyn
- Novice {Pate}, Archmaester Walgrave's assistant, killed and replaced by the Alchemist. Some speculate that Jaqen H'ghar was the Alchemist, and took up Pate's identity after killing him.
- Novice Mollander
- Novice Roone
Historic Members
- Grand Maester Aethelmure, whose biography exists in the library at Winterfell and whose harsh view on poisoners is referenced by Grand Maester Pycelle.
- Grand Maester Orwyle, who held the office at the onset of the Dance of the Dragons
- Grand Maestar Gerardys, who was fed to a dragon by Aegon II.
- Grand Maester Munkun, who wrote the book The Dance of the Dragons, A True Telling.
- Grand Maester Hareth, who was executed for attempting to usurp Targaryen rule.
- Grand Maester Kaeth, who wrote the book Lives of Four Kings.
- Grand Maester Ellendor
- Grand Maester Malleon, who wrote the book The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms, With Descriptions of Many High Lords and Noble Ladies and Their Children.
- Grand Maester Merion
- Archmaester Gyldayn, who wrote the book The Princess and The Queen, or, The Blacks and The Greens.
- Maester Walys, Maester of Winterfell and trusted advisor to Rickard Stark.
See Also
- The Maester's Path - A viral marketing campaign for HBO's Game of Thrones.
Quotes
- Queen Daenerys Targaryen
If you do not have a maester, it is taken to mean that you are of little consequence." [11]
- Lady Barbrey Dustin, to Theon Greyjoy
- Lady Barbrey Dustin, to Theon Greyjoy
References and Notes
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 12, Tyrion
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 12, Tyrion II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Prologue
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 41, Jon
- ↑ Dragon Limbs and Gender, Valyrian Weapons and Maesters' Chains. (April 16, 2008) So Spake Martin
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 28, Bran
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Prologue
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 50, Daenerys VIII.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.
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