Establishing Ashara Dayne's birth year.

[Starspear]

This is important for various theories. Many threads seem to be stifled at initiation because this piece is lacking. Hence this thread.

Here is what we know:

283 AL: Ashara "death"

282-283 AL: RR

263 AL: Ned Stark birth

257 AL: Elia Martell birth

What we know: Elia Martell and Ashara Dayne were companions. There is an assumption here that the age groups must be similar.

All relevant information is welcome.

[Mladen]

Ashara Dayne came as companion to Elia Martell, but that doesn't mean they were of the same age. As we have seen, Margaery's companions are of all ages, and some are significantly younger than her.

Ashara is described by Barristan as young maid in his reminiscence of events prior to RR. This would put her to be between 12/13 and 18, but not necessarily. Given that Ned was in love with her, one can assume that she was his age, or approximately there, so around mid 260s.

Please keep opinions outside equation. Simple statements, simple facts of what can and cannot be.

Well, you should have listened your own advice given that you did put your opinion on the matter and didn't stick to facts. Some would call that hypocritical...

[Kienn]

Well the only assumption is already full of holes so...

[Hippocras]

We actually do not know that Ned was in love with her at all. And there is nothing stopping Ned from being in love with a woman a few years older

[Mladen]

We actually do not know that Ned was in love with her at all. And there is nothing stopping Ned from being in love with a woman a few years older

Yeah, we do know that he wanted to dance with her, so we can assume that he at least had some crush during Harrenhal tourney. Also, yeah, she could be older than he is, but somehow I doubt that people would call her maid in her twenties, even if she was indeed a virgin. But, overall, we don't know her age...

[Hippocras]

Yeah, we do know that he wanted to dance with her, so we can assume that he at least had some crush during Harrenhal tourney. Also, yeah, she could be older than he is, but somehow I doubt that people would call her maid in her twenties, even if she was indeed a virgin. But, overall, we don't know her age...

There is a pretty large gulf between a crush and "in love". And a bit too much has been made of Ashara's dance partners, frankly, for it to be just about Ned's crush.

[Mladen]

There is a pretty large gulf between a crush and "in love". And a bit too much has been made of Ashara's dance partners, frankly, for it to be just about Ned's crush.

True... Although I imagine that there were some attraction on Ned's side at least. All and all, we can't say with certainty.

[Mladen]

OK, after some digging, here are two quotes that might help the discovery:

And they told how afterward Ned had carried Ser Arthur’s sword back to the beautiful young sister who awaited him in a castle called Starfall on the shores of the Summer Sea.

“I make no such claim, ser. Myles Mooton was Prince Rhaegar’s squire, and Richard Lonmouth after him. When they won their spurs, he knighted them himself, and they remained his close companions. Young Lord Connington was dear to the prince as well, but his oldest friend was Arthur Dayne.”

From the first quote, we can conclude two things: that Ashara was considered to be young and that she is Arthur's younger sister. The second quote points that Arthur and Rhaegar were childhood friends, meaning that Arthur must have been of Rhaegar's age or somewhere close to it. Rhaegar was born in 259AL, which means that Arthur was also born around that age. Ashara as younger sister would definitely be born in 260s, and given that at the 283, she was considered young, according to Westerosi customs, that would mean the teen years. Which return us to the estimation that Ashara was born around mid 260s.

[Roddy the Ruin]

OK, after some digging, here are two quotes that might help the discovery:

From the first quote, we can conclude two things: that Ashara was considered to be young and that she is Arthur's younger sister. The second quote points that Arthur and Rhaegar were childhood friends, meaning that Arthur must have been of Rhaegar's age or somewhere close to it. Rhaegar was born in 259AL, which means that Arthur was also born around that age. Ashara as younger sister would definitely be born in 260s, and given that at the 283, she was considered young, according to Westerosi customs, that would mean the teen years. Which return us to the estimation that Ashara was born around mid 260s.

which means she would be around 25 or so years old.

[Mikkel]

Listen to Mladen, he knows what's up.

[Mladen]

which means she would be around 25 or so years old.

Ashara died at 283, and if she was born in mid 260s, she would be between 15 and 20.

Listen to Mladen, he knows what's up.

Thanks, but even I can't say we know for sure.

[Jon's Queen Consort]

It's so funny to see this thread. I almost expect the next thread to be "What are Lady in waiting's dutys."

Ashara Dayne came as companion to Elia Martell, but that doesn't mean they were of the same age. As we have seen, Margaery's companions are of all ages, and some are significantly younger than her.

Ashara is described by Barristan as young maid in his reminiscence of events prior to RR. This would put her to be between 12/13 and 18, but not necessarily. Given that Ned was in love with her, one can assume that she was his age, or approximately there, so around mid 260s.

Well, you should have listened your own advice given that you did put your opinion on the matter and didn't stick to facts. Some would call that hypocritical...

Once again Mladen has the answers.

[Roddy the Ruin]

Ashara died at 283, and if she was born in mid 260s, she would be between 15 and 20.

Thanks, but even I can't say we know for sure.

i need to get better at math.....

[Hippocras]

OK, after some digging, here are two quotes that might help the discovery:

From the first quote, we can conclude two things: that Ashara was considered to be young and that she is Arthur's younger sister. The second quote points that Arthur and Rhaegar were childhood friends, meaning that Arthur must have been of Rhaegar's age or somewhere close to it. Rhaegar was born in 259AL, which means that Arthur was also born around that age. Ashara as younger sister would definitely be born in 260s, and given that at the 283, she was considered young, according to Westerosi customs, that would mean the teen years. Which return us to the estimation that Ashara was born around mid 260s.

Well he would not have a huge age difference from Rhaegar, no, but he could easily have been older by around two or three years. Ashara also need not have been much younger than him. Might be just a year difference in age. So the upper limit of Ashara's current age would be early to mid fourties, and born in 256 probably earliest.

[Jon's Queen Consort]

Well he would not have a huge age difference from Rhaegar, no, but he could easily have been older by around two or three years. Ashara also need not have been much younger than him. Might be just a year difference in age. So the upper limit of Ashara's current age would be early to mid fourties, and born in 256 probably earliest.

Ashara's current age is non existent. Ashara is dead everything else is between theory and fan fiction. Also if Allyria who is now is a unwed maiden having a huge age difference between her siblings and herself so could Ashara. Don't start distorting the facts to match your theory.

[Mladen]

Well he would not have a huge age difference from Rhaegar, no, but he could easily have been older by around two or three years. Ashara also need not have been much younger than him. Might be just a year difference in age. So the upper limit of Ashara's current age would be early to mid fourties, and born in 256 probably earliest.

Problem in Ashara being born in 256 is that in 283, she would be 27. That certainly is not someone who would be called "young maid". Once again, the expression in medieval times means basically teen years.

[Jon's Queen Consort]

Young maid iirc in the books is between 14-18/19. How could the most beautifull woman in the world be unwed till her late 20s?

[Hippocras]

Problem in Ashara being born in 256 is that in 283, she would be 27. That certainly is not someone who would be called "young maid". Once again, the expression in medieval times means basically teen years.

Described as a young maid by Barristan Selmy remember. ;)

"Young" is a relative thing. Also Barristan may have cloudy eyes on the question of her maiden status.

[Ingelheim]

Probably 263, as Ned.

[BRANDON GREYSTARK]

She was 21 GrrM likes older woman younger man relations.