Myr

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Myr
Free City
Allan Bednar Myrish villa.jpg
Myrish villa © FFG
Location Essos, Free Cities
Government Magisters
Religion Mixed religions

Myr is one of the Free Cities of western Essos. Myr sits on the eastern shore of the Sea of Myrth.[1]

Nine Free Cities:
Pentos, Braavos, Lys, Qohor, Norvos, Myr, Tyrosh, Volantis, Lorath

City

Myr is located on the "heel" of Essos, where an ancient Valyrian dragonroad on the mainland meets the Sea of Myrth. Myr is a port, and its inhabitants have no established faith. Temples and shrines for many different gods can be found at the waterfronts and streets. A slave city, three slaves can be found for every freeborn. Myr is ruled by a conclave of magisters, chosen from amongst the most wealthy and noble men of the city. A city dealing with trade, Myrish ships have sailed the Narrow Sea for hundreds of years.[2] The magisters will give lavishly to passing Dothraki khal's, so they'll not savage the city.[3]

People

According to certain maesters, the Myrmen are descended from the Rhoynar, as many of the Myrmen share their olive skin and dark hair. Likely, this supposed link is spurious.[2]

Bravos can be found in Myr.[4] There are those in Myr who have Unsullied in their service.[5] In Myr, they speak a dialect[6] of bastard Valyrian.[7]

The slaves in Myr are collared and branded.[8]

Economy

A coin of Myr, as depicted by Nutchapol Thitinunthakorn in The World of Ice and Fire
A Myrish tradeswoman - by Magali Villeneuve ©

Myr is considered to be among the most advanced of the Free Cities, and famed for its arts and learning.[9] Their main exports are finished goods, such as carpets and lace.[10] The best glass and lenses come from Myr,[11][12] and lenscrafters from Myr are considered to be without equal in all the world.[2][11] Myrish lenses are known to have been used in in Winterfell[13] and Castle Black.[14]

Other goods from Myr include pale green nectars[15][16], carpets,[17] and lace.[18] The artisans of Myr, many born as slaves, are greatly renowned. Myrish lace and tapestries, it is said, are worth their weight in gold and spice.[2] The tapestries woven in Myr are more costly than those from Qohor.[19] Myrish paintings and miniatures are regarded highly,[9] and have a vivid style.[20] Myr also produces thin stilettos[21] and fire wine.[22]

History

Origins

The origins of Myr are disputed. There is some evidence of the vicinity having been inhabited by a now-vanished people during the Dawn Age and the Long Night. Modern Myr was founded by Valyrian merchant adventurers after they conquered a walled Andal town.[2]

After the Doom of Valyria, Volantis took Myr with an army and Lys with a fleet, and for two generations all three cities were ruled from within the Black Walls. That ended when the tigerss of Volantis tried to swallow Tyrosh. Pentos came into the war on the Tyroshi side, along with the Storm King, Argilac Durrandon. Lord Aegon Targaryen flew forth from Dragonstone on Balerion the Black Dread, and Myr and Lys rose in rebellion.[6]

During the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Myrish pirates seized the eastern side of Tarth. In a battle that followed the Myrish killed King Jaehaerys' heir, Prince Aemon Targaryen.[2]

The Triarchy

Myr combined its strengths with Lys and Tyrosh and defeated Volantis in the Battle of the Borderland. They united, and pledged eternal friendship, forming the Triarchy, in Westeros also known at the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, in 96 AC.[2][23] The Triarchy was involved in a conquest for the Stepstones, led by the Myrish prince-admiral Craghas Drahar. The Triarchy increased the toll in the Stepstones for passing ships, and would eventually battle for the Stepstones against the alliance of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Prince Daemon Targaryen, starting in 106 AC, continueing beyond 115 AC.[23] A High Council of the Triarchy accepted the offer of Hand of the King Otto Hightower for an alliance in 129 AC, pledging to support to King Aegon II Targaryen against his half-sister, Rhaenyra.[24]

The Triarchy did not survive for much longer, as internal conflicts brought them down. An alliance between Braavos, Pentos, and Lorath helped bring an end to the Kingdom of the Three Daughters.[2]

After the Triarchy

During the First Blackfyre Rebellion, Lord Bracken tried to aid the Blackfyres with Myrish crossbowmen, but was delayed from sailing by storms.[25]

At some point in between 236 AC and 241 AC, Myr fought a meaningful skirmish against Tyrosh, in which the Golden Company was hired.[26] In the middle of the reign of King Aerys II Targaryen, Myr sided with Tyrosh in a trade war against Volantis.[27]

Varys claims to have been made a eunuch in Myr,[28], and has lived there as a thief afterwards, until a rival thief informed on him, causing him to flee to Pentos.[22] Lord Orton Merryweather, grandson of the exiled Hand of the King Owen Merryweather, returned from his exile with a Myrish wife, Taena.[29][30] The Myrish priest of R'hllor, Thoros, was sent to King's Landing during the reign of Aerys II Targaryen, attempting to convert the King.[31] Myr was among the Free Cities visited by Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen, in their years of exile.[3][32]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Lord Varys reports that sellsails from Myr are joining the cause of Stannis Baratheon.[33]

Varys reveals to Tyrion Lannister that he became a eunuch while he was part of a mummer's company in Myr.[28]

A Storm of Swords

When Tyrosh and Lys are on the verge of war, they both attempt to make Myr their ally.[34]

The red priest Thoros of Myr explains to Arya Stark that he had been sent to King's Landing in an unsuccessful attempt to convert King Robert I Baratheon.[35]

A Feast for Crows

Queen Regent Cersei Lannister befriends Taena of Myr, the wife of Lord Orton Merryweather.[36]

Myr is on the verge of war with Tyrosh and Lys. They had contracted the sellsword company, the Golden Company, however the sellswords broke their contract.[37]

A Dance with Dragons

Tyrion Lannister discovers that Illyrio's manse has wine from Myr in the cellar.[16] During Young Griff's lessons with Haldon on the Shy Maid, Tyrion observes that the youth is fluent in the low dialect of Myr.[6] He also notices a Myrish carpet on the floor of a whore's bedchamber in Selhorys. The carpet is wonderful, thick and "as comforting as lie"s, but the drunken Tyrion retches onto it.[38]

The Selaesori Qhoran carries fifty Myrish carpets amongst its cargo.[39]

Davos Seaworth notices a threadbare Myrish carpet on the floor of Lord Godric Borrell’s hall in Breakwater.[40] He also notices a Myrish carpet on the floor of Lord Wyman Manderly's secret room in the New Castle where he meets with Wyman and Robett Glover.[41]

At the Wall, Jon Snow muses that glass might be of use there; Castle Black needs its own glass gardens, like the ones at Winterfell, allowing the Night’s Watch to grow vegetables even in the deep of winter. He recalls that the best glass comes from Myr, but a good clear pane is worth its weight in spice, and green and yellow glass would not work as well. If they had enough coin, the Watch could buy apprentice glass-blowers and glaziers in Myr, bring them north, and offer them their freedom for teaching their art to some of the Watch's recruits.[12]

Victarion Greyjoy captures a Myrish cog named Dove on her way to Yunkai by way of New Ghis with a cargo of carpets, sweet green wines, and Myrish lace. Her captain owned a Myrish eye, which makes far-off objects appear close, and Victarian claims it for himself.[42]

References and Notes

  1. A Dance with Dragons, Map of the Free Cities
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
  4. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 10, Jon II.
  5. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 8, Daenerys I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  7. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Pentos.
  9. 9.0 9.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Myr.
  10. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 2, Daenerys I.
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  12. 12.0 12.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 35, Jon VII.
  13. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
  14. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 69, Jon IX.
  15. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 54, Daenerys VI.
  16. 16.0 16.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 1, Tyrion I.
  17. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
  18. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
  19. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Qohor.
  20. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
  21. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.
  22. 22.0 22.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
  23. 23.0 23.1 The Rogue Prince.
  24. The Princess and the Queen.
  25. The Sworn Sword.
  26. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
  27. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  28. 28.0 28.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 44, Tyrion X.
  29. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
  30. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
  31. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 34, Arya VI.
  32. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  33. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 17, Jon IV.
  34. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  35. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
  36. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
  37. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
  38. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion VI.
  39. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion VII.
  40. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  41. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.
  42. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 63, Victarion I.