Difference between revisions of "Polygamy"

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(Polygamy in Westeros: Worldbook says Salt wives aren't just concubines. Added some historical examples.)
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[[House Targaryen]] was known to flout convention and openly practice polygamous marriages.  [[Aenar Targaryen]] took multiple wives with him when he left Valyria for Dragonstone.<ref>twoiaf</ref> [[Aegon the Conqueror]] was married to two women who were also his full sisters, [[Visenya Targaryen|Visenya]] and [[Rhaenys Targaryen |Rhaenys]]. When Aegon married his sisters, this was considered unusual although there was precedent for it.<ref>Chicon 7 Reading (September 02, 2012) [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Category/C92/ So Spake Martin]</ref>  He remained married to both of sisters even after converting to the Faith of [[the Seven]].   
 
[[House Targaryen]] was known to flout convention and openly practice polygamous marriages.  [[Aenar Targaryen]] took multiple wives with him when he left Valyria for Dragonstone.<ref>twoiaf</ref> [[Aegon the Conqueror]] was married to two women who were also his full sisters, [[Visenya Targaryen|Visenya]] and [[Rhaenys Targaryen |Rhaenys]]. When Aegon married his sisters, this was considered unusual although there was precedent for it.<ref>Chicon 7 Reading (September 02, 2012) [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Category/C92/ So Spake Martin]</ref>  He remained married to both of sisters even after converting to the Faith of [[the Seven]].   
  
Aegon's son [[Maegor]] is the last Targaryen known to have had multiple wives. His second marriage to [[Alys Harroway]] upset the Faith and led king [Aenys] to exile him to Pentos for a time.<ref>twoiaf</> With the death of their [[dragon]]s House Targaryen lost the clout that they needed to be able to get away with committing the sin of polygamy in [[Westeros]].  According to [[George R. R. Martin]],   
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Aegon's son [[Maegor]] is the last Targaryen known to have had multiple wives. His second marriage to [[Alys Harroway]] upset the Faith and led king [[Aenys]] to exile him to Pentos for a time.<ref>twoiaf</ref> With the death of their [[dragon]]s House Targaryen lost the clout that they needed to be able to get away with committing the sin of polygamy in [[Westeros]].  According to [[George R. R. Martin]],   
 
{{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>The Citadel. "Asshai.com Forum Chat" (July 27, 2008) [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Month/2008/07/ So Spake Martin]</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>The Citadel. "Asshai.com Forum Chat" (July 27, 2008) [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Month/2008/07/ So Spake Martin]</ref>}}
  
 
There has been no mention of a Targaryen woman having more than one husband.  
 
There has been no mention of a Targaryen woman having more than one husband.  
  
In the [[Iron Islands]] a man can still have several "[[Salt wife|salt wives]]" but only one true ironborn wife, his "[[rock wife]]".  Salt wives are considered more than mere concubines. Children born of such unions are not considered bastards and can inherit if their father has no surviving sons by his rock wife.  
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In the [[Iron Islands]] a man can still have several "[[Salt wife|salt wives]]" but only one true ironborn wife, his "[[rock wife]]".  Salt wives are considered more than mere concubines. Children born of such unions are not considered bastards and can inherit if their father has no surviving sons by his rock wife.
  
 
==Historical Polygamy in Westeros==
 
==Historical Polygamy in Westeros==

Revision as of 02:26, 14 December 2014

Polygamy can be defined as a marriage which includes more than two partners. In Westeros for the highborn and the lowborn marriage is chiefly between two people, a man and a woman. The Faith of the Seven does not permit polygamy.[citation needed]

Polygamy in Westeros

House Targaryen was known to flout convention and openly practice polygamous marriages. Aenar Targaryen took multiple wives with him when he left Valyria for Dragonstone.[1] Aegon the Conqueror was married to two women who were also his full sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys. When Aegon married his sisters, this was considered unusual although there was precedent for it.[2] He remained married to both of sisters even after converting to the Faith of the Seven.

Aegon's son Maegor is the last Targaryen known to have had multiple wives. His second marriage to Alys Harroway upset the Faith and led king Aenys to exile him to Pentos for a time.[3] With the death of their dragons House Targaryen lost the clout 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.[4]

There has been no mention of a Targaryen woman having more than one husband.

In the Iron Islands a man can still have several "salt wives" but only one true ironborn wife, his "rock wife". Salt wives are considered more than mere concubines. Children born of such unions are not considered bastards and can inherit if their father has no surviving sons by his rock wife.

Historical Polygamy in Westeros

King Garland II "The Bridegroom" Greenhand had multiple wives until he put them aside to marry the daughter of Lymond Hightower. [5]

King Ronard "the Bastard" of Storm's End was said to have twenty three wives.[6]

Polygamy Beyond the Wall

Polygamy in Essos

  • In Lengii, 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.[9]

References and Notes

  1. twoiaf
  2. Chicon 7 Reading (September 02, 2012) So Spake Martin
  3. twoiaf
  4. The Citadel. "Asshai.com Forum Chat" (July 27, 2008) So Spake Martin
  5. twoiaf
  6. twoiaf
  7. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 69, Jon XIII.
  8. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V.
  9. The World of Ice & Fire, Leng.