Difference between revisions of "Secret marriage pact"

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The '''secret marriage pact''' was a clandestine agreement signed in [[Braavos]] many years ago forging an alliance between [[Dorne]] and primarily [[Viserys Targaryen]]. Its purpose was to aid in the overthrow of King [[Robert Baratheon]] and restore [[House Targaryen]] to the [[Iron Throne]]. The alliance was to be sealed by a marriage between [[Viserys Targaryen]] and Princess [[Arianne Martell]]. Viserys died unaware of the secret pact. [[Dany]] was not made aware of the pact until she became Queen of [[Meereen]].
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[[File:Carolina Eade Secret AllianceIII.png|thumb|400px|right|According to the pact [[Viserys Targaryen]] was to wed [[Arianne Martell]]. © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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The '''secret marriage pact''' is a clandestine agreement signed in [[Braavos]] about a decade before the start of ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', forging an alliance between [[House Martell]] of [[Dorne]] and exiled [[House Targaryen]]. Its purpose is to aid in the overthrow of King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and restore House Targaryen to the [[Iron Throne]]. The alliance is to be sealed by a marriage between [[Viserys Targaryen]] and Princess [[Arianne Martell]].{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
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==History==
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The pact was made in [[Braavos]] when [[Daenerys Targaryen]] was a little girl. Ser [[Willem Darry]] signed on behalf of [[House Targaryen]], and Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] signed for [[Dorne]]. The [[Sealord of Braavos]] was a witness.{{Ref|ADWD|43}} The pact was written on parchment, in the [[Common Tongue]]. It has [[w:Seal (emblem)|seals]], with gold and ribbons and signatures.
  
==About==
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The pact verbatim has not been revealed. [[Viserys Targaryen]] was still an immature child when the pact was signed, and since he was not yet ready for the information, Willem did not inform him about it.<ref name=Asshai>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/6539 Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona (July 28, 2012)]</ref> When Viserys was around thirteen or fourteen,<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued3)#Willem Darry|Willem Darry]] calculation.''</ref> Willem took ill and died{{ref|agot|3}} without ever informing him of the marriage pact.{{Ref|ADWD|43}} Neither [[Varys]] nor [[Illyrio Mopatis]] are aware of the secret pact.<ref name=Asshai/>
The pact was made on parchment and was written in the [[Common Tongue]].  It has [[w:Seal (emblem)|seals]], with gold and ribbons and signatures. It is yellowed with age. It was made in [[Braavos]] when Daenerys was a little girl.  Ser [[Willem Darry]] signed on behalf of (presumably) [[House Targaryen]].  Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] signed for Dorne, with the [[Sealord of Braavos]] as witness.  The pact verbatim has not been revealed (as in, for example, the [[Bastard Letter]]).  
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According to Ser [[Barristan Selmy]], the secret marriage pact contains "not a word" about [[Daenerys Targaryen]],{{Ref|ADWD|59}} although Daenerys states after reading the pact that Ser Willem Darry signed "for us".{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
  
According to Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] the secret marriage pact contains ''“not a word”'' about [[Daenerys Targaryen]] although Dany does say after reading the pact that Ser [[Willem Darry]] signed ''“for us”'', she dies not elaborate on exactly who ''“us”'' are, it may be [[House Targaryen]] in general or she may have meant her brother.  It is not known if [[Varys]] knows of the pact.
 
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
===A Feast For Crows===
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===''A Game of Thrones''===
Prince [[Doran Martell]] finally reveals to [[Arianne Martell]] that she had secretly been promised to the now-dead Viserys Targaryen in an effort to undermine those who lead to Elia's death.  He tells her that the man she was promised to is dead, putting an end to careful planning.  He tells her than Dorne will be hers.  
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[[Viserys Targaryen]] dies at [[Vaes Dothrak]] unaware of the secret pact.{{Ref|AGOT|46}}{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
  
He tells her that her brother has a harder road to walk than she.  Doran’s new plan is for Prince Quentyn travel across the [[Narrow Sea]] to meet Viserys's sister Daenerys and wed her instead.
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===''A Feast For Crows''===
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[[Doran Martell]], [[Prince of Dorne]], reveals to his daughter, Princess [[Arianne Martell]], that she had secretly been promised to the now-dead Viserys as part of his planned vengeance for his sister, [[Elia Martell]], who was killed in the [[Sack of King's Landing]]. He informs her that the man she had been promised to is dead, and because of this, her brother [[Quentyn Martell|Quentyn]] has gone across the [[narrow sea]] to meet with Viserys's sister, [[Daenerys Targaryen]], and wed her.{{Ref|AFFC|40}}
  
===A Dance with Dragons===
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===''A Dance with Dragons''===
Prince Quentyn Martell journeys to [[Meereen]] with the pact parchment hidden in a flap in his boot. Once presented to Daenerys Quentyn and his two companions reveal themselves to the Queen as Westerosi knights.  Quentyn hands the parchment, which he refers to as a gift,  to Daenerys so that she can read it.  When Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] asks her what the parchment says Dany tells him and hands it to him saying,
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Quentyn journeys to [[Meereen]] with the pact parchment hidden in a flap in his boot. Once presented to Daenerys, Quentyn and his two companions, [[Gerris Drinkwater]] and [[Archibald Yronwood]], reveal themselves to the queen as Westerosi [[knight]]s. When Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] reads the parchment, yellowed with age, he thinks that King [[Robert I Baratheon]] would have retaliated against [[Sunspear]] if he had known of its contents. Daenerys believes that Viserys would have crossed to Westeros if he had been aware of the pact.
{{Quote|“The alliance is to be sealed by a marriage, it says.  In return for [[Dorne]]’s help overthrowing the [[Usurper]], my brother Viserys is to take Prince Doran’s daughter Arianne for his queen.}}
 
As Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] reads the pact her remarks to Dany,  
 
{{Quote|“If Robert had known of this, he would have smashed [[Sunspear]] as he [[Greyjoy Rebellion|once smashed Pyke]], and claimed the heads of Prince [[Doran Martell|Doran]] and the [[Red Viper]] . . . and like as not, the head of this Dornish Princess too.”}}
 
Dany replies that no doubt that was why Prince Doran chose to keep the pact a secret, 
 
{{Quote|“If my brother had known that he had a Dornish princess waiting for him, he would have crossed to Sunspear as soon as he was old enough to wed.”}}
 
  
Prince Quentyn then reveals his true identity to Dany.  Dany immediately surmises that with Viserys dead he means to marry her, that it is now she who must seal the pact if she wants Dorne. Quentyn tries to convince Daenerys to marry him, telling her that it will mean 50,000 Dornish swords pledged to her service. The Queen, however, does not accept Quentyn's proposition.  She tells him of her upcoming marriage to [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]], and remarks,
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Daenerys surmises that with Viserys dead, Quentyn means to marry her to secure the alliance. Quentyn tries to convince Daenerys to marry him, telling her that it will mean fifty thousand Dornish swords pledged to her service. Daenerys tells him of her upcoming marriage to [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]], however, and remarks that it would have been different if he had come earlier. After Daenerys dismisses her audience, she realizes the pact was executed in [[Braavos]], while they were living in the [[house with the red door]]. When Barristan tells her that the sigil of [[House Martell]] is a sun transfixed by a spear, Daenerys shivers after remembering [[Quaithe]]'s warning to not trust the "sun's son".{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
{{Quote|“Would that you had come a year ago.”}}
 
Quentyn tells her that it's not too late but Dany replies that she will be the judge of that.  
 
After she dismisses her audience she examines the pact again.  She realizes that it was executed in [[Braavos]], while they were living in [[The house with the red door in Braavos|the house with the red door]]. She wonders why that makes her feel strange.
 
Daenerys soon goes through with her marriage to [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]].  Although Daenerys is courteous to Quentyn and his companions, she urges Quentyn to go home. <ref>[[A Dance with Dragons]], [[A Dance with Dragons-Chapter 43|Chapter 43 (Daenerys VII)]], pages 566-576</ref> 
 
  
After [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]] assumes control of Meereen in [[Daenerys]]’s absence Ser Barristan realises that Quentyn’s continued presence is a provocation for Hizdahr. {{Ref|aDwD|59}} In the [[Audience chamber (Great Pyramid)|audience chamber]] of the [[Great Pyramid]] Ser Barristan warns him to leave the city of [[Meereen]]. {{Ref|aDwD|59}} When Quentyn tries to mention marriage pact, Ser Barristan immediately interrupts him, saying,
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After the wedding feast, Barristan tells his queen that ancient House Martell has been a leal friend to House Targaryen for more than a century. Daenerys replies that she needs to protect her people, but the Martell spears are far away in Westeros. Daenerys introduces Quentyn to her imprisoned [[dragon]]s and tells him that [[Polygamy|"the dragon has three heads"]], suggesting that her marriage to Hizdahr need not be the end of his hopes. Daenerys councils him to leave, but he refuses.{{Ref|ADWD|50}}
{{Quote|“[the marriage pact] - was made by two dead men and contained not a word about the queen or you.  It promised your sister’s hand to the queen’s brother, another dead man. It has no force.  Until you turned up here, Her Grace was ignorant of its existence,  your father keeps his secrets well, Prince Quentyn.  Too well, I fear.  If the queen had known of this pact in [[Qarth]], she might never have turned aside for [[Slaver's Bay]], but you came too late,  I have no wish to salt your wounds, but Her Grace has a new husband and an old paramour, and seems to prefer both of them to you.}}
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After Hizdahr assumes control of Meereen in Daenerys's absence, Barristan realises that Quentyn's continued presence is a provocation for the king.{{Ref|aDwD|59}} In the [[Audience chamber (Great Pyramid)|audience chamber]] of the [[Great Pyramid]], Barristan warns Quentyn to leave Meereen. The unenforceable pact contains nothing about Daenerys or Quentyn, but instead promises Arianne's hand to the late Viserys. He adds that while Daenerys might have considered the marriage alliance while in [[Qarth]], Quentyn is now too late.{{Ref|ADWD|59}}
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
{{Quote|“You were promised, Arianne.}} – Prince [[Doran Martell|Doran]], to his daughter
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{{Quote|You were promised, Arianne.{{ref|AFFC|40}}|[[Doran Martell]] to [[Arianne Martell]]}}
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{{Quote|'''Quentyn''': The marriage pact—<br>
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'''Barristan''': —was made by two dead men and contained not a word about [[Daenerys Targaryen|the queen]] or you. It promised [[Arianne Martell|your sister's]] hand to [[Viserys Targaryen|the queen's brother]], another dead man. It has no force. Until you turned up here, Her Grace was ignorant of its existence. [[Doran Martell|Your father]] keeps his secrets well, Prince Quentyn. Too well, I fear. If the queen had known of this pact in [[Qarth]], she might never have turned aside for [[Slaver's Bay]], but you came too late. I have no wish to salt your wounds, but Her Grace has [[Hizdahr zo Loraq|a new husband]] and [[Daario Naharis|an old paramour]], and seems to prefer both of them to you.{{Ref|aDwD|59}}|[[Quentyn Martell]] and [[Barristan Selmy]]}}
  
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==References==
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{{references|2}}
  
{{Quote|“It has no force."}} - Ser [[Barristan Selmy]]
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[[Category:Braavos]]
==References and Notes==
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[[Category:House Martell]]
{{references}}
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[[Category:House Targaryen]]
 
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[[Category:Objects]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Objects]]
 

Revision as of 22:21, 6 February 2019

According to the pact Viserys Targaryen was to wed Arianne Martell. © Fantasy Flight Games

The secret marriage pact is a clandestine agreement signed in Braavos about a decade before the start of A Game of Thrones, forging an alliance between House Martell of Dorne and exiled House Targaryen. Its purpose is to aid in the overthrow of King Robert I Baratheon and restore House Targaryen to the Iron Throne. The alliance is to be sealed by a marriage between Viserys Targaryen and Princess Arianne Martell.[1]

History

The pact was made in Braavos when Daenerys Targaryen was a little girl. Ser Willem Darry signed on behalf of House Targaryen, and Prince Oberyn Martell signed for Dorne. The Sealord of Braavos was a witness.[1] The pact was written on parchment, in the Common Tongue. It has seals, with gold and ribbons and signatures.

The pact verbatim has not been revealed. Viserys Targaryen was still an immature child when the pact was signed, and since he was not yet ready for the information, Willem did not inform him about it.[2] When Viserys was around thirteen or fourteen,[3] Willem took ill and died[4] without ever informing him of the marriage pact.[1] Neither Varys nor Illyrio Mopatis are aware of the secret pact.[2]

According to Ser Barristan Selmy, the secret marriage pact contains "not a word" about Daenerys Targaryen,[5] although Daenerys states after reading the pact that Ser Willem Darry signed "for us".[1]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Viserys Targaryen dies at Vaes Dothrak unaware of the secret pact.[6][1]

A Feast For Crows

Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, reveals to his daughter, Princess Arianne Martell, that she had secretly been promised to the now-dead Viserys as part of his planned vengeance for his sister, Elia Martell, who was killed in the Sack of King's Landing. He informs her that the man she had been promised to is dead, and because of this, her brother Quentyn has gone across the narrow sea to meet with Viserys's sister, Daenerys Targaryen, and wed her.[7]

A Dance with Dragons

Quentyn journeys to Meereen with the pact parchment hidden in a flap in his boot. Once presented to Daenerys, Quentyn and his two companions, Gerris Drinkwater and Archibald Yronwood, reveal themselves to the queen as Westerosi knights. When Ser Barristan Selmy reads the parchment, yellowed with age, he thinks that King Robert I Baratheon would have retaliated against Sunspear if he had known of its contents. Daenerys believes that Viserys would have crossed to Westeros if he had been aware of the pact.

Daenerys surmises that with Viserys dead, Quentyn means to marry her to secure the alliance. Quentyn tries to convince Daenerys to marry him, telling her that it will mean fifty thousand Dornish swords pledged to her service. Daenerys tells him of her upcoming marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq, however, and remarks that it would have been different if he had come earlier. After Daenerys dismisses her audience, she realizes the pact was executed in Braavos, while they were living in the house with the red door. When Barristan tells her that the sigil of House Martell is a sun transfixed by a spear, Daenerys shivers after remembering Quaithe's warning to not trust the "sun's son".[1]

After the wedding feast, Barristan tells his queen that ancient House Martell has been a leal friend to House Targaryen for more than a century. Daenerys replies that she needs to protect her people, but the Martell spears are far away in Westeros. Daenerys introduces Quentyn to her imprisoned dragons and tells him that "the dragon has three heads", suggesting that her marriage to Hizdahr need not be the end of his hopes. Daenerys councils him to leave, but he refuses.[8]

After Hizdahr assumes control of Meereen in Daenerys's absence, Barristan realises that Quentyn's continued presence is a provocation for the king.[5] In the audience chamber of the Great Pyramid, Barristan warns Quentyn to leave Meereen. The unenforceable pact contains nothing about Daenerys or Quentyn, but instead promises Arianne's hand to the late Viserys. He adds that while Daenerys might have considered the marriage alliance while in Qarth, Quentyn is now too late.[5]

Quotes

You were promised, Arianne.[7]

Quentyn: The marriage pact—
Barristan: —was made by two dead men and contained not a word about the queen or you. It promised your sister's hand to the queen's brother, another dead man. It has no force. Until you turned up here, Her Grace was ignorant of its existence. Your father keeps his secrets well, Prince Quentyn. Too well, I fear. If the queen had known of this pact in Qarth, she might never have turned aside for Slaver's Bay, but you came too late. I have no wish to salt your wounds, but Her Grace has a new husband and an old paramour, and seems to prefer both of them to you.[5]

References