3 replies to this topic

[momentimori]

I'm curious what legal system they use to decide inheritance in Westeros.

Is it Salic Law, inheritance is trced only through male lines and women can't inherit, or Semi-Salic Law, only men inherit but females can pass on inheritance rights?

I don't think it is male preferrence primogeniture as female heads of houses are virtually unheard of; Maege Mormont being the only one I can think of.

The reason I ask is how this affects House Lannister and Tyrion in particular.

Jaime cannot inherit due to being in the Kingsguard leaving Tyrion as Tywin's heir.

If they operate under Salic Law why hasn't Tywin married him off?

He may be ugly but being heir to one of the richest and most powerful of the Great Houses would make him an good political husband for another house's daughter.

Considering Tywin's wealth and power it is conceivible he could attempt to get some Westeros equivalent of a pragmatic sanction enabling them to bend the rules of inheritance and bypass Tyrion.

If they were under Semi-Salic Law Tywin's preparedness to sacrifice Tyrion in battle is understandable as the inheritance can be traced through Cersei making Joffrey heir to House Lannister.

Edited by momentimori, 11 May 2012 - 04:14 AM.

[David Selig]

Daughters inherit when they have no living brothers (or those brothers can't inherit for some specific reasons, like joining the Kingsguard).

Edited by David Selig, 11 May 2012 - 05:42 AM.

[Distorted Humor]

I get the impression of a variation of

]male preference primogeniture, with bastards being lower then they where in real life.   I am surprised that Tywin hadn't married someone else to produce a few more heirs.  

Edited by Distorted Humor, 11 May 2012 - 08:16 AM.

[Aelinor Keath]

the nobility practice male preference primogeniture for their respective titles and the targs use semi-salic law for the iron throne only. so lannister inheritance goes tyrion - cersei - joffery - tommen - myrcella. so, yes tywin is probably banking on cersei and her children.