Difference between revisions of "Polygamy"

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==Polygamy in [[Westeros]]==
 
==Polygamy in [[Westeros]]==
In [[Westeros]], for both the highborn and lowborn, marriage is chiefly between two people, a man and a woman.  The [[Faith of the Seven]] does not permit polygamy.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}}
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In [[Westeros]], for both the highborn and lowborn, marriage is chiefly between two people, a man and a woman.  The [[Faith of the Seven]] does not permit polygamy and considers it a sin.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}}
  
King [[Garland II Gardener|Garland II "The Bridegroom" Greenhand]], [[King of the Reach]] in time before the [[Andals]] came, had multiple wives. In order to marry the daughter of Lord [[Lymond Hightower]], Lord of [[Oldtown]], he put aside his other wives. This union, combined with the marriage of Lord Lymond and King Garland's daughter, brought [[Oldtown]] into the kingdom of [[House Gardener]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: The Gardener Kings}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: Oldtown}}
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During the [[Age of Heroes]], the legendary [[Florys the Fox]], cleverest of the children of [[Garth Greenhand]], kept three husbands, each ignorant of the existence of the others.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: Garth Greenhand}}
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King [[Garland II Gardener|Garland II "The Bridegroom" Greenhand]], [[King of the Reach]] in the time before the [[Andals]] came to Westeros, had multiple wives. In order to marry the daughter of Lord [[Lymond Hightower]], Lord of [[Oldtown]], he put aside his other wives. This union, combined with the marriage of Lord Lymond and King Garland's daughter, brought [[Oldtown]] into the kingdom of [[House Gardener]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: The Gardener Kings}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: Oldtown}}
  
 
According to the songs, [[Storm King]] [[Ronard Storm|Ronard "the Bastard"]] of [[Storm's End]] had twenty-three wives.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Stormlands: House Durrandon}}
 
According to the songs, [[Storm King]] [[Ronard Storm|Ronard "the Bastard"]] of [[Storm's End]] had twenty-three wives.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Stormlands: House Durrandon}}
  
In [[Valyria]], amongst the [[dragonlords]] there had been precedent for taking multiple wives, though it was considered unusual. Lord [[Aenar Targaryen]] took multiple wives with him when he left [[Valyria]] for [[Dragonstone]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} His descendant, King [[Aegon I Targaryen]], took to wife both his sisters, [[Visenya Targaryen|Visenya]] and [[Rhaenys Targaryen|Rhaenys]].  
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In [[Valyria]], the [[dragonlords]] and sorcerer princes took more than one wife when it pleased them, though this was less common than [[incest]]uous marriage.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}} Lord [[Aenar Targaryen]] took multiple wives with him when he left [[Valyria]] for [[Dragonstone]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} His descendant, King [[Aegon I Targaryen]], took to wife both his sisters, [[Visenya Targaryen|Visenya]] and [[Rhaenys Targaryen|Rhaenys]]. This was unusual, as per tradition he was expected to wed only his older sister, but not without precedent. It was said by some that Aegon wed Visenya out of duty and Rhaenys out of desire.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
  
 
During the [[Aegon's Conquest|Conquest]], Aegon received a proposal from the Storm King, [[Argilac Durrandon]], who offered his daughter [[Argella Durrandon|Argella]] as a wife to Aegon. Stating he did not need a third wife, Aegon refused the suggestion. Dowager Queen [[Sharra Arryn]] offered herself in marriage to Aegon, but Aegon refused her offer as well.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
 
During the [[Aegon's Conquest|Conquest]], Aegon received a proposal from the Storm King, [[Argilac Durrandon]], who offered his daughter [[Argella Durrandon|Argella]] as a wife to Aegon. Stating he did not need a third wife, Aegon refused the suggestion. Dowager Queen [[Sharra Arryn]] offered herself in marriage to Aegon, but Aegon refused her offer as well.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
  
Aegon I's younger son [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor]] is the last Targaryen currently known to have had multiple wives. He had been married to Lady [[Ceryse Hightower]] in {{date|25}}. In {{date|39}}, he took [[Alys Harroway]] to wife in a Valyrian ceremony led by his mother, Dowager Queen [[Visenya Targaryen]],{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}} after they could not find a septon to perform the marriage.<ref name=Sons>[http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/115696-spoilers-sons-of-the-dragon-reading-at-loncon-today/&do=findComment&comment=6134038 The Sons of the Dragon] reading, Loncon 2014</ref> This marriage upset the [[Faith of the Seven|Faith]], especially the [[High Septon (Hightower)|High Septon]], who was the uncle of Maegor's first wife, Ceryse). When Maegor refused to set Alys aside, King [[Aenys I Targaryen]] send him into exile to [[Pentos]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}}<ref name=Sons/>  
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Aegon I's younger son [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor]] is the last Targaryen currently known to have had multiple wives. He had been married to Lady [[Ceryse Hightower]] in {{date|25}}. In {{date|39}}, he took [[Alys Harroway]] to wife in a Valyrian ceremony led by his mother, Dowager Queen [[Visenya Targaryen]],{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}} after they could not find a [[septon]] to perform the marriage.<ref name=Sons>[http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/115696-spoilers-sons-of-the-dragon-reading-at-loncon-today/&do=findComment&comment=6134038 The Sons of the Dragon] reading, Loncon 2014</ref> This marriage upset the [[Faith of the Seven|Faith]], especially the [[High Septon (Hightower)|High Septon]], who was the uncle of Maegor's first wife, Ceryse. When Maegor refused to set Alys aside, King [[Aenys I Targaryen]] sent them into exile in [[Pentos]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}}<ref name=Sons/>  
  
 
When Aenys died in {{Date|42}}, Maegor returned from Pentos, and a courtesan named [[Tyanna]] arrived not much later together with Queen Alys. Maegor took Tyanna to wife that same year. In {{Date|45}}, Maegor's first wife, Ceryse, died due to sudden illness. Two years later, Maegor married his three [[Black Brides]], widowed women of proven fertility, in a single ceremony.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}
 
When Aenys died in {{Date|42}}, Maegor returned from Pentos, and a courtesan named [[Tyanna]] arrived not much later together with Queen Alys. Maegor took Tyanna to wife that same year. In {{Date|45}}, Maegor's first wife, Ceryse, died due to sudden illness. Two years later, Maegor married his three [[Black Brides]], widowed women of proven fertility, in a single ceremony.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}
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{{Quote|[[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor the Cruel]] has multiple wives, from lines outside his own, so there was and is precedent. However, the extent to which the Targaryen kings could defy convention, the Faith, and the opinions of the other lords decreased markedly after they no longer had dragons. If you have a [[dragon]], you can have as many wives as you want, and people are less likely to object.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2997 Asshai.com Forum Chat (July 27, 2008)]</ref>}}
 
{{Quote|[[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor the Cruel]] has multiple wives, from lines outside his own, so there was and is precedent. However, the extent to which the Targaryen kings could defy convention, the Faith, and the opinions of the other lords decreased markedly after they no longer had dragons. If you have a [[dragon]], you can have as many wives as you want, and people are less likely to object.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2997 Asshai.com Forum Chat (July 27, 2008)]</ref>}}
  
Despite the lack of dragons, it is possible that King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] promised his [[bastard]] son [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon Blackfyre]] that he could marry both [[Rohanne of Tyrosh]] and Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Aegon IV)|Daenerys]]. King Aegon's successor, King [[Daeron II Targaryen]], however, did not permit the second marriage.{{ref|twoiaf| The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}
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Despite the lack of dragons, it is possible that King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] promised his [[bastard]] son [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon Blackfyre]] that he could marry both [[Rohanne of Tyrosh]] and Aegon's daughter Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Aegon IV)|Daenerys]]. King Aegon's successor, King [[Daeron II Targaryen]], however, did not permit the second marriage.{{ref|twoiaf| The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}
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There has been no mention of a Targaryen or Valyrian woman ever having more than one husband at a time. Nonetheless, in {{Date|299}} Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] proposes the idea to Queen [[Daenerys Targaryen]] as a possible meaning for "the dragon has three heads",{{ref|asos|8}} which Daenerys had heard in her [[vision]]s at the [[House of the Undying]].{{ref|acok|48}} Daenerys speaks of the possibility to Prince [[Quentyn Martell]] a year later, suggesting that her marriage to [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]] need not be the end of Quentyn's hope to marry her, but his reaction to her [[dragon]]s causes her to dismiss the idea.{{ref|adwd|50}}  
  
There has been no mention of a Targaryen or Valyrian woman having more than one husband at a time. Nonetheless, Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] proposes to Queen [[Daenerys Targaryen]] that it is a possibility in {{Date|299}},{{ref|asos|8}} which Daenerys states to Prince [[Quentyn Martell]] a year later as well,{{ref|adwd|50}}  
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In the era of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], there was a [[Kingsguard]] [[knight]] named Ser [[Lucamore Strong]], called "Lucamore the Lusty", who had three wives and sixteen children. Knights of the Kingsguard are not allowed to have wives or children, so when Lucamore's deceit was discovered, his own brothers of the Kingsguard gelded him, and the king sent him to the [[Wall]].{{ref|affc|13}}
  
On the [[Iron Islands]], a man can have one true- and freeborn "[[rock wife]]". However, he can also have "[[salt wife|salt wives]]", usually women captured on raids. Salt wives are considered more than mere concubines, and any sons born of such unions are not considered bastards, but can inherit should their father have no surviving sons by his rock wife. The number of salt wives a man can support is considered to be an indication of his power, wealth, and virility.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}}{{ref|acok|11}}
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On the [[Iron Islands]], a man can have one true- and freeborn "[[rock wife]]". However, he can also have "[[salt wife|salt wives]]", usually women captured on raids. Salt wives are considered more than mere concubines, and any sons born of such unions are not considered [[bastard]]s, but can inherit should their father have no surviving sons by his rock wife. The number of salt wives a man can support is considered to be an indication of his power, wealth, and virility.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}}{{ref|acok|11}}
  
 
In [[Dorne]], it is not uncommon for a nobleman or a noblewoman to have a spouse for political reasons and a [[paramour]] for love. While the Dornish are not very concerned if a child is born out of marriage, children by paramours are nevertheless considered to be [[Bastardy|bastards]], and thus have to use the surname "Sand", while the children by the spouse use the family name and inherit.{{Ref|TWOIAF| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}}
 
In [[Dorne]], it is not uncommon for a nobleman or a noblewoman to have a spouse for political reasons and a [[paramour]] for love. While the Dornish are not very concerned if a child is born out of marriage, children by paramours are nevertheless considered to be [[Bastardy|bastards]], and thus have to use the surname "Sand", while the children by the spouse use the family name and inherit.{{Ref|TWOIAF| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}}
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==Polygamy in [[Essos]]==
 
==Polygamy in [[Essos]]==
Amongst the Dothraki, ''[[khal]]s'' can have more than one wife, such as Khal [[Jommo]], who has four.{{ref|agot|46}}
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The [[Lys]]eni pirate [[Salladhor Saan]] claims to have multiple wives, although [[Davos Seaworth]] says they are only concubines.{{Ref|aCoK|10}}
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 +
Amongst the [[Dothraki]], ''[[khal]]s'' can have more than one wife, such as Khal [[Jommo]], who has four.{{ref|agot|46}}
 +
 
 +
In [[Astapor]], [[Cleon]] the Great had multiple wives, which he said he would put aside if Daenerys Targaryen would marry him.{{ref|asos|71}}
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 +
At the docks of [[Qarth]], a brass merchant refers to his wives.{{ref|acok|63}}
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 +
The emperors of [[Yi Ti]] may have multiple wives, such as the last indigo emperor [[Choq Choq]], who had a hundred wives and a thousand concubines.{{ref|twoiaf| The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
 
In [[Leng]], the first god-empress of the current dynasty, [[Khiara|Khiara the Great]], took two husbands, one [[Lengii]] and one [[YiTish]] - a customary pattern followed by her daughters and their daughters in turn.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Bones and Beyond: Leng}}
 
In [[Leng]], the first god-empress of the current dynasty, [[Khiara|Khiara the Great]], took two husbands, one [[Lengii]] and one [[YiTish]] - a customary pattern followed by her daughters and their daughters in turn.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Bones and Beyond: Leng}}
 
The [[Lys]]eni pirate [[Salladhor Saan]] has multiple wives.{{Ref|aCoK|10}}
 
  
 
==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==

Revision as of 22:05, 6 May 2016

File:Amok-Aegon and his sisters.jpg
King Aegon I Targaryen had taken both of his sisters to wife. Artwork by Amok©

Polygamy can be defined as a marriage which includes more than two partners.[1]

Polygamy in Westeros

In Westeros, for both the highborn and lowborn, marriage is chiefly between two people, a man and a woman. The Faith of the Seven does not permit polygamy and considers it a sin.[2][3]

During the Age of Heroes, the legendary Florys the Fox, cleverest of the children of Garth Greenhand, kept three husbands, each ignorant of the existence of the others.[4]

King Garland II "The Bridegroom" Greenhand, King of the Reach in the time before the Andals came to Westeros, had multiple wives. In order to marry the daughter of Lord Lymond Hightower, Lord of Oldtown, he put aside his other wives. This union, combined with the marriage of Lord Lymond and King Garland's daughter, brought Oldtown into the kingdom of House Gardener.[5][6]

According to the songs, Storm King Ronard "the Bastard" of Storm's End had twenty-three wives.[7]

In Valyria, the dragonlords and sorcerer princes took more than one wife when it pleased them, though this was less common than incestuous marriage.[3] Lord Aenar Targaryen took multiple wives with him when he left Valyria for Dragonstone.[8] His descendant, King Aegon I Targaryen, took to wife both his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys. This was unusual, as per tradition he was expected to wed only his older sister, but not without precedent. It was said by some that Aegon wed Visenya out of duty and Rhaenys out of desire.[8]

During the Conquest, Aegon received a proposal from the Storm King, Argilac Durrandon, who offered his daughter Argella as a wife to Aegon. Stating he did not need a third wife, Aegon refused the suggestion. Dowager Queen Sharra Arryn offered herself in marriage to Aegon, but Aegon refused her offer as well.[8]

Aegon I's younger son Maegor is the last Targaryen currently known to have had multiple wives. He had been married to Lady Ceryse Hightower in 25 AC. In 39 AC, he took Alys Harroway to wife in a Valyrian ceremony led by his mother, Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen,[9] after they could not find a septon to perform the marriage.[10] This marriage upset the Faith, especially the High Septon, who was the uncle of Maegor's first wife, Ceryse. When Maegor refused to set Alys aside, King Aenys I Targaryen sent them into exile in Pentos.[3][10]

When Aenys died in 42 AC, Maegor returned from Pentos, and a courtesan named Tyanna arrived not much later together with Queen Alys. Maegor took Tyanna to wife that same year. In 45 AC, Maegor's first wife, Ceryse, died due to sudden illness. Two years later, Maegor married his three Black Brides, widowed women of proven fertility, in a single ceremony.[9]

With the death of their dragons, House Targaryen saw a decrease in their power and threat that they needed to be able to get away with committing the sin of polygamy in Westeros. According to George R. R. Martin,

Maegor the Cruel has multiple wives, from lines outside his own, so there was and is precedent. However, the extent to which the Targaryen kings could defy convention, the Faith, and the opinions of the other lords decreased markedly after they no longer had dragons. If you have a dragon, you can have as many wives as you want, and people are less likely to object.[11]

Despite the lack of dragons, it is possible that King Aegon IV Targaryen promised his bastard son Daemon Blackfyre that he could marry both Rohanne of Tyrosh and Aegon's daughter Princess Daenerys. King Aegon's successor, King Daeron II Targaryen, however, did not permit the second marriage.[12]

There has been no mention of a Targaryen or Valyrian woman ever having more than one husband at a time. Nonetheless, in 299 AC Ser Jorah Mormont proposes the idea to Queen Daenerys Targaryen as a possible meaning for "the dragon has three heads",[13] which Daenerys had heard in her visions at the House of the Undying.[14] Daenerys speaks of the possibility to Prince Quentyn Martell a year later, suggesting that her marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq need not be the end of Quentyn's hope to marry her, but his reaction to her dragons causes her to dismiss the idea.[15]

In the era of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, there was a Kingsguard knight named Ser Lucamore Strong, called "Lucamore the Lusty", who had three wives and sixteen children. Knights of the Kingsguard are not allowed to have wives or children, so when Lucamore's deceit was discovered, his own brothers of the Kingsguard gelded him, and the king sent him to the Wall.[16]

On the Iron Islands, a man can have one true- and freeborn "rock wife". However, he can also have "salt wives", usually women captured on raids. Salt wives are considered more than mere concubines, and any sons born of such unions are not considered bastards, but can inherit should their father have no surviving sons by his rock wife. The number of salt wives a man can support is considered to be an indication of his power, wealth, and virility.[2][17]

In Dorne, it is not uncommon for a nobleman or a noblewoman to have a spouse for political reasons and a paramour for love. While the Dornish are not very concerned if a child is born out of marriage, children by paramours are nevertheless considered to be bastards, and thus have to use the surname "Sand", while the children by the spouse use the family name and inherit.[18]

Polygamy Beyond the Wall

North of the Wall, the wildling Craster has multiple wives. By 299 AC, he is married to nineteen women, many of whom are also his daughters.[19] Ygon Oldfather has eighteen wives.[20]

Polygamy in Essos

The Lyseni pirate Salladhor Saan claims to have multiple wives, although Davos Seaworth says they are only concubines.[21]

Amongst the Dothraki, khals can have more than one wife, such as Khal Jommo, who has four.[22]

In Astapor, Cleon the Great had multiple wives, which he said he would put aside if Daenerys Targaryen would marry him.[23]

At the docks of Qarth, a brass merchant refers to his wives.[24]

The emperors of Yi Ti may have multiple wives, such as the last indigo emperor Choq Choq, who had a hundred wives and a thousand concubines.[25]

In Leng, the first god-empress of the current dynasty, Khiara the Great, took two husbands, one Lengii and one YiTish - a customary pattern followed by her daughters and their daughters in turn.[26]

References and Notes

  1. Wikipedia: Polygamy
  2. 2.0 2.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Garth Greenhand.
  5. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: The Gardener Kings.
  6. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Oldtown.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Durrandon.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  9. 9.0 9.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  10. 10.0 10.1 The Sons of the Dragon reading, Loncon 2014
  11. So Spake Martin: Asshai.com Forum Chat (July 27, 2008)
  12. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  13. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 8, Daenerys I.
  14. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 48, Daenerys IV.
  15. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 50, Daenerys VIII.
  16. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
  17. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 11, Theon I.
  18. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Queer Customs of the South.
  19. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 23, Jon III.
  20. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 69, Jon XIII.
  21. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
  22. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V.
  23. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 71, Daenerys VI.
  24. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 63, Daenerys V.
  25. The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti.
  26. The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: Leng.