Women's courts

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Queen Alysanne Targaryen overseeing one of her women's courts, as depicted by Douglas Wheatley in Fire & Blood.

The women's courts were held by Queen Alysanne Targaryen during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.

About

Since holding the first of her women's courts during the first royal progress Alysanne and Jaehaerys made, the women's courts became an important part of every subsequent royal progress. Only women and girls were allowed to join Alysanne during these courts, regardless of their status of birth. Alysanne encouraged them speak freely and openly about their fears, concerns, and hopes.[1]

History

The first of Alysanne's women's courts was held in 51 AC at the town of Duskendale when King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne made their first royal progress. In 52 AC, during Jaehaerys's second royal progress, Alysanne held a women's court at Gulltown, and another at the Gates of the Moon. The things she heard from the women during these two women's courts resulted in her plea to Jaehaerys to protect the widows of the Seven Kingdoms from being cast aside by the children of their late husbands from earlier marriages. In response, Jaehaerys promulgated the Widow's Law.

In 53 AC, when Alysanne was unwilling to join Jaehaerys on his royal progress due to her pregnancy, Lady Jennis Templeton accompanied the king's retinue in order to hold women's courts at Riverrun and Stoney Sept.

In 58 AC while visiting the North, Alysanne held a women's court at White Harbour, where more than two hundred women and girls came before her. When she eventually arrived at the Wall to visit the Night's Watch, she held a women's court in a brothel at Mole's Town. Following their return to King's Landing, Alysanne brought to Jaehaerys's attention the stories she had heard in her women's court at Mole's Town, concerning the right to the first night. As a result, Jaehaerys abolished the lord's right to the first night. These policies influenced by Alysanne became to be called by the commons as Queen Alysanne's laws.[2][3]

References

  1. Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
  2. The Sworn Sword.
  3. Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.