maesternewton

Why did she betroth her to Theomore Manderly, who had been married four times and had twice as many heirs? Viserra would be forced to have sex with a man old enough to be her grandfather and any children they might have would inherit nothing. This is often a form of punishment for young girls, for example Sylva Santagar and Cassandra Baratheon. It is not a fitting punishment for Viserra. Sure, she was a brat with some ambitions of becoming queen, but that doesn't mean she need to be punished for it for the rest of her life. She was 15. Given how awful Jaehaerys handled Saera, I fully expected him to do something like that but never Alysanne. She could have at least betrothed Viserra to someone's heir, plus there is nothing wrong with being ambitious. Was she jealous of her daughter's beauty or something? Why make her such an awful match?

It could, but I think the Grand Maester already has a lot of duties. Plus giving one position too many duties, is a risk for corruption.

I usually go with this interpretation, that the dragon stillborns are a result of whatever blood magics the Targaryens did onto themselves. That a Targaryen sacrifice is required for a dragon egg to hatch.

The text I quoted above literally implies they were given the dragon eggs soon after the rumors started and at the same time.

Let me quote you the paragraph from F&B. Right after Joffery's birth, the rumours began again that Rhaenyra's children were bastards. Then that's when Viserys decreed that all 3 boys being given dragon eggs. That's not a coincidence. Especially since all three were given those eggs at the same time, instead of being given them when they were immediately born, but instead when the rumours began circulating. I honestly don't see how you can say Jaehaerys didn't the rest of his children eggs to avoid trouble, but don't see the idea that Viserys gave the Strong boys dragon eggs because of the rumours. Aegon II's children are mentioned as being given dragon eggs in their cradle. I don't see why that wouldn't be the case for Aegon II. Compounded with the fact that Helaena and Aemond claimed dragons instead of having their hatchlings lends credence to the idea that none of the Green kids were given dragon eggs. Perhaps in-universe it's muddy, but I think it's quite obvious to us readers that they are bastards. It really doesn't, especially when it's not one marriage but two of them. I would agree with that point if it was only Jacaerys and Baela, but it wasn't. It was also Lucerys and Rhaena. Plus Jacaerys and Lucerys are officially Velaryons, so there is no need to marry them within the house, which again shows that those betrothals were done because of the boys bastardry. If anything, the marriage that would have made most sense if the Rhaenyra's boys weren't bastards, would have been Jacaerys/Helaena.

I was bored, and decided to expand King's Landing bureaucracy. Please note, that most of these positions come from Linda and Elio's Asoiaf game, Blood MUSH. THE KING THE KING'S HOUSEHOLD Steward - The steward's role involves managing the household for the king, overseeing a wide number of aspects and drawing from the king's personal household funds to see it take place. He oversees the servants, he helps arrange the king's daily schedule of audiences and meetings, he helps arrange the logistical aspects when the king chooses to travel outside of the city. The steward is a closely-trusted aide who alleviates many of the day-to-day tasks the king would otherwise have to see to. This is a Major Office. Master of Games - A subordinate of the steward, the master of games is in charge of the details of arranging tourneys, races, and other such sports for the court. This is a Lesser Office. Master of Feasts - A subordinate of the steward, the master of feasts is in charge of the details of arranging royal feasts, and has a daily role in helping to oversee the royal kitchens. This is a Lesser Office Master of Horse - The master of horse maintains the king's stables and studs. This includes all the horses that the king's household needs, from the horses used to cart goods to the hunters and destriers of knights, squires, and so on. In a military campaign, the master of horse may have a significant role in overseeing the process of cataloging and valuing all horses knights and soldiers in the king's army bring with them, to properly record how much the king must pay in case of loss. This is a Minor Office. Master-at-arms - The master-at-arms oversees training of the castle's pages and squires, and makes sure that the king's household knights are maintaining their readiness. A secondary role of the master-at-arms is managing and overseeing the king's armory in the Red Keep. This is a Minor Office. Keeper of the Royal Seal - responsible for safeguarding the royal seal and using it to authenticate official documents. Keeper of the Rolls - responsible for the preservation and maintenance of official records and documents. Ensuring the safekeeping of rolls, charters, and other important written materials. Royal Huntsman - The royal huntsman oversees and arranges hunts for the king. This includes hiring huntsmen, and interacting with the king's falconers and kennel keepers. They receive funds to carry out these tasks, as well as a limited license to hunt for their own pleasure in the kingswood, or to sell these licenses to others who wish to hunt there. This is a Lesser Office. THE SMALL COUNCIL: Office of the Hand: The Hand of the King - The Hand speaks with the king's voice. He can carry out all tasks that the king himself might perform, from leading armies to sitting the Iron Throne, all in the king's name. This is a Greater Office. Captain of the Hand's Guard - Head of the Hand's guards, the captain oversees their training and readiness. This is a Lesser Office. Steward - The Hand's steward arranges his household and his activities. This is a Lesser Office. Small Council: Hand of the King, the chief advisor of the king and the second-most powerful man in the realm Grand Maester, a representative from the Citadel who advises the king on any matter concerning governance. Master of coin, head of the treasury and finances of the kingdom Master of laws, an expert in the laws of the realm Master of works, oversees the construction, maintenance of buildings and infrastructure projects. Harvesting, storage, and distribution of grain, as well as setting prices and regulating trade. Master of war, the realm's chief strategist and military commander. Master of ships, commander of the royal fleet Master of whisperers, the spymaster and gatherer of information Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, leader of the Kingsguard Royal Treasury: Master of Coin - head of the treasury Keeper of the Royal Ledger - responsible for maintaining accurate records of all financial transactions within the kingdom. This includes tracking income and expenses, managing accounts payable and accounts receivable, and preparing financial books and reports. Teller of the Receipt: responsible for receiving and recording all revenues that came into the Treasury, including taxes, fines, and other forms of income. Teller of the Issue: responsible for issuing payments from the Treasury, including payments to the Crown's creditors, as well as payments to the royal household and other officials. The Clerk of the Pells: responsible for recording and managing the Crown's debts and credits, and for issuing payments to the Crown's creditors. Harbormaster of King's Landing - Chief of the busy port at King's Landing, they oversee customs sergeants and others. They have a role in seeing who gets what berths, who has access to the royal shipyard among non-royal ships, and help to arrange transport of freight from ships to the dock warehouses. This is a Minor Office. Customs Sergeants - Officers in charge of assessing the value of cargos to be transferred through the port of King's Landing, and determining what customs duties are required. This is a Lesser Office. Keepers of the Keys - The four Keepers of the Keys literally control the keys that open certain doors and chests that belong to the king's household. Broadly speaking, this extends to having the responsibility of overseeing the items that these locks guard. One holds charge of the king's jewels, another has charge of the king's purse -- those funds that the king keeps purely for his own interests, another still commands the key to the armory (and so associates closely with the Master-at-Arms), and the last holds the keys to the king's manors outside of the city. With each office, there come responsibilities, including hiring of assistants, overseeing investments of personal wealth, acquiring such things as the king desires. This is a Minor Office. King's Counter - Subordinate most directly involved in managing the taxation of the realm, making sure that all that ought to be coming in in tax revenue comes in as intended. Royal tax assessors, tax farmers (men who pay to "farm" the royal tax for a lump sum, on the expectation that they'll be able to turn a profit), and so on are in their employment. This is a Major Office. Tax Assessors - Individuals tasked with assessing royal taxes and seeing to their collection. Licenses to carry out this task are often sold, with those purchasing the license allowed to keep what they collect, in which case they are called tax farmers and are not direct subordinates of anyone. This is a Lesser Office. King's Scales - Official keeper of the royal weights and measures, and enforcing them as the standard throughout the realm. Various kinds of factors -- wool, wine, spice factors -- are in his employment, and they play a more direct role in assessing tariffs and duties. This is a Major Office. Factors - The various factors under the King's Scales range in levels of importance. However, the chief factors help to sell various goods produced by the royal lands -- wool from the king's flocks, wine from the king's few vineyards, and so on. They also purchase such goods for the king's household, particularly spices, which is almost entirely imported. This is a Minor Office. Warden of the Mint - responsible for safeguarding the minting facilities, precious metals, and coin stocks from theft, counterfeiting, or other unauthorized activities. Conducting regular inspections and assays to ensure the accuracy, weight, and purity of coins. Verifying the quality of the minted coins and taking action against any deviations from standards. Master of the Mint - responsible for overseeing the operation of the royal mints. Designing the coins and creating the dies used for striking them. Managing the minting facilities, coordinating the work of coiners and mint workers. Clerk of the Mint - Maintaining detailed records of the mint's operations, including coin production, distribution, and financial transactions. Handling the administrative aspects of the mint, managing the budget, procuring raw materials such as precious metals, and maintaining records related to coin production, distribution, and inventories. Office of Laws: Master of Laws - The master of laws oversees the law of the realm, committing any changes to the records and maintaining the codices. They are advisory and supervisory in their role, and are not themselves justiciars -- they do not try cases or pronounce judgments, except in so far as is appropriate to their own rank (i.e. a lord who is master of law would still try cases within his own lands). They also carry the task of overseeing the specific legal apparatus of King's Landing, reducing the work the king himself must carry out in hearing petitions. This is a Greater Office. Keeper of the Texts - records all legal decrees, laws, judgments, precedents and historical events relevant to the Crown. This includes marriages, births, deaths, and any significant legal disputes. High Reeve - The chief judge of King's Landing, although their writ runs purely to low justice. Murder, treason, and crimes potentially meriting execution are high justice, and are dealt with by the king and his Hand in the city. This is a Major Office. Reeve - A lesser judge, carrying out rulings on cases of low justice. This is a Lesser Office. High Bailiff - The High Bailiff leads the bailiffs that act for the High Reeve. They are like the city watch, but purely under the authority of the High Reeve and the Master of Laws. Their origins relate to a dispute between a past master of laws and the Commander of the City Watch. This is a Minor Office. Bailiff - A member of the High Bailiff's command, the bailiffs investigate and gather information concerning cases that are or may be before the reeves. This often puts them in conflict with the City Watch. This is a Lesser Office. Chief Coroner - overseeing the investigation and certification of deaths of important individuals or ones related to mass disasters that occur within the coroner’s jurisdiction. King's Justice - The king's executioner, he also oversees the royal dungeons and gaols. This is a Minor Office. Chief Gaoler - Directly supervising the gaols, they hire undergaloers and keep track of the prisoners. This is a Lesser Office. Lord Confessor - The king's torturer. This is a Minor Office. Justiciar - A handful of men holding powers of high justice directly from the king, authorized to try matters involving pits and gallows. They travel around the Seven Kingdoms, commissioned by the king to bring his justice to those parts of the realm that require it. One common task is to call an open court in various areas where there have been complaints about the rule of local lords or knights, to hear complaints and make judgments. The justiciar's power can bring them into open conflict with lords, and some lords began their rebellions by murdering a justiciar who had attempted to force the king's law upon them. This is a Major Office Office of Works: Master of Works. Surveyor of Royal Gardens - responsible for overseeing the maintenance and design of the royal gardens and parks. Paymaster of the Works - in charge of budgeting for building projects, ordering and purchasing materials, and ensuring that all payments were made on time and in accordance with established procedures. Responsible for keeping detailed records of all financial transactions and presenting regular reports to the Master of Works. Architect of the Works - responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of the Crown's buildings and royal residences. Keeper of the King's Roads: responsible for maintaining and repairing the roads that were used by the monarch when traveling between royal residences. Keeper of the King’s Port: responsible for the administration and upkeep of the port in King’s Landing. Clerk of the Works: responsible for coordinating and overseeing the daily work of the craftsmen and laborers employed by the Office of Works. Responsible for ensuring that materials and supplies were ordered and delivered as needed. Keepers of the granaries: responsible for the day-to-day operations of the granary, including the receipt and storage of grain, the allocation of grain to various users, and the maintenance of the granary building and equipment. Warden of the Market: oversees public markets. Makes sure that people are using the right weights and measures, measured land, and helps to settle disputes between people who are buying and selling. Office of Navy: Master of Ships: commander of the royal fleet Commander of the SeaWatch - Head of the patrol fleet that specifically guards the waters of Blackwater Bay in the vicinity of King's Landing, stretching up towards Crackclaw Point, the shores of the kingswood, and Massey's Hook. This is a Minor Office. Royal Shipwright - Often a tradesman, the shipwright oversees the royal shipyard at King's Landing and the building of his galleys. This is a Minor Office. Royal Captains - Commanders of the king's war galleys. This is a Lesser Office. Keeper of the King's Storehouse: responsible for managing and safeguarding the weapons, armaments, and other supplies stored for the use of the navy. Keeper of the King's Galley: responsible for managing the docking, maintenance, and repairs of the galleys. Additionally, they may have been involved in the recruitment and organization of the crew members serving on these vessels. Clerk of the Navy: responsible for maintaining detailed records of the navy's ships, personnel, supplies, and financial transactions. Documenting the procurement and distribution of naval provisions, and ensuring that the necessary paperwork was completed for the maintenance and repair of ships. OTHER OFFICES Commander of the City Watch - Head of the city watch, the commander maintains a force of 2,000 men to police the city and maintain the peace. This is a Major Office. Officer of the Gate - One of the seven senior officers in command of the seven gates of the city, they oversee policing in the quarters of the city adjoining their gate. This is a Minor Office. Officer of the City Watch - One of a few score officers of the City Watch. This is a Lesser Office. Commander of the Road Watch - Head of the Road watch, the commander of a force of 1,000 men who police and maintain the peace on the King’s Roads. This is a Major Office. Officers; Officer of the King’s Road, Officer of the Gold Road, Officer of the Rose Road. Warden of Crackclaw Point - A deputy of the king assigned the duty of making sure the knights and lords of Crackclaw Point are able and prepared to answer his call. The petty lords and knights of the region are fiercely loyal to the Targaryens, but also famously insular and given to feuding, making the task of the warden more difficult. The warden must occasionally attempt to put an end to such feuding, as well as assisting when there are conflicts with certain lords of the narrow sea who attempt to impose taxes on the inhabitants, as has happened from time to time. Crackclaw Point, barren and often lawless as it is, also has several coves where smugglers are known to frequent. This is a Major Office. Deputy Warden of Crackclaw Point - The warden's right hand. This is a Minor Office. Officers of Crackclaw Point - Knights and men-at-arms in the pay of the warden to police Crackclaw Point and carry out his commands. This is a Lesser Office. Warden of the Kingswood - A deputy of the king assigned the duty of making sure that the kingswood is maintained for the king's pleasure, and that peace is kept within its lands. The warden oversees matters related to forestry, hunting, and fishing in this area. They are given funds to hire foresters and knights to prevent banditry and poaching, as well as certain privileges related to hunting and logging in the wood. This is a Major Office. Deputy Warden of the Kingswood - The warden's right and left hands. One is charged with command of the foresters, the other with matters related to the game that the king hunts. Each works to make sure no illict logging or poaching takes place. This is a Minor Office. Officers of the Kingswood - Knights and men-at-arms in the pay of the warden to police and maintain the kingswood as he commands. This is a Lesser Office.

Yes, it was started by Rhaena, but it became customary because of the Strong boys. Before the Strong boys, it was done sparingly, after the Strong boys every Targaryen was always given a dragon egg in their cradle.

My theory is that Dunk is a descendant of Lucamore Strong.

Why do you think so?

If you expect the books to tell you everything, instead of deducing the implicit point yourself, then it's not my fault you fail to comprehend it. F&B states Rhaenyra and Laena were friends, it doesn't state they betrothed their children to each other because of that! When you remove the fact that the Strong boys are bastards, then it makes sense for the reason to be friendship, when that fact is in the equation then it doesn't. If you don't get that simple reasoning, then it's not my fault. Read my statement again, I said the fact that Rhaenyra didn't betroth Aegon and Viserys when they were young, shows that something pushed her to betrothed Jacaerys and Lucerys to Baela and Rhaena at such young ages, and it was not friendship. Did you read the quote text from F&B and Wiki or should I post it again for you. The text literally says it truly customary to place eggs in the cradle of Targaryens during the era of Viserys. And here is the wiki, in the most simplest of terms, stating the same thing! Good lord. None of Viserys children got dragon eggs in their cradle, that is never mentioned once in F&B. It's only after the Strong boys that we hear about Aegon II's children being given dragon eggs in their cradle which hatched into dragons! And Jaehaerys I also didn't put dragon eggs into the cradle of everyone of his children. He only put dragon eggs in Daenerys and Aemon's cradle. So yes, it was done sparingly before the Strong boys. Did you even read F&B? It literally right there, the implicit point that Viserys gave the Strong boys dragon eggs because of the rumors of them being bastards. Because they were already whispering that Rhaenyra's sons were bastards, that's why he ordered those eggs to be put in their cradles!

Err, killing and riding a dragon are two very different things. I don't need the keys of car to be able to destroy one.

Lol, unless there is a serious need, it's very unusual for children who are around 4 to 6 years to be betrothed to one another, even in Westeros. Friendship doesn't even explain that urgency or need to announce so early. Especially betrothing not just one child, but both Jacaerys and Lucerys to Baela and Rhaena. Please, it was not even primarily because of their friendship but because of their bastardry. Betrothing Jaca and Luke to Baela and Rhaena kept the loyalty of Rhaenys and Corlys. This doesn't need to be spelt out when it's quite clear. Exactly, which goes back to my above point that betrothing Jace and Luke to Baela and Rhaena was done to early to just be because of "friendship." Anyways, Aegon and Viserys were literally young and stood to inherit nothing. At least with Luke he stands to inheriy Driftmark. It was started by Rhaena, but it became a practiced tradition because of the Strong boys. F&B and the wiki literally state so. Before the Strong boys, it was done sparingly, but after the Strong boys it was always done whenever a Targaryen was born. Again. F&B literally disagress with you. The Strong boys were given dragon eggs in their cradles because of the rumors of them being bastards/

My point is that, just because there has never been a ruling Queen of the Reach or a ruling Queen of the Vale, doesn't mean they are barred from succession. GRRM said that there has never been a ruling female monarch, he didn't say women are barred from ruling as Ladies of Winterfell. To conclude that women are barred from ruling based on that point is a reach. Characters in-universe don't even agree with that time frame of 8000 years to begin with. Learned men like Samwell Tarly and Hoster Blackwood openly recognize the implausibility of that. Jon is the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, but the most complete list in Castle Black only lists 667 Lord Commanders. Masters think the history is only about 2000 years. The Iron Throne had the same succession as the rest of Westeros until after the Dance, mind you the succession you put forward of the North is the same for the Iron Throne, but we are never told explicitily that Winterfell bares women from inheriting. Not in F&B or even in the main books when the topic of succession comes up concerning the North. Normal succession, as in the succession that most of Westeros follows, andal succession that even most of the North follows. Wherein sons inherit before daughters, and daughters inherit before uncles. That's the succession the rest of the North follows, we know this from Alys Karstark. And your logical assumption ends up being flawed because we know that the 8000 year timeline is not even remotely accurate nor is it a fact in-universe.

Again. Has there ever been a ruling Lady of Storm's End or a Storm Queen? No. Just because there hasn't ever been one, doesn't mean they are barred from ruling. If that was the case, George would have literally pointed it out, literally. Such an important detail would have been shared already, like the fact that no women can be the ruler of the Iron Islands. We don't know what exactly happened, Jonnel Stark could have usurped the rulership from Sansa Stark. Mind you, that idea doesn't make sense. Why would Winterfell have a different succession from the rest of the North exactly? We know in the North women can rule, and women like Jonelle Cerwyn, Lyessa Flint, Eddara Tallhart rule in the North. Donella Hornwood and Barbery also rule because they married into the houses and are the last remaning members. Most importantly, the fact that Cregard Stark was passed, and Winterfell went to Bathorgan Stark shows that they were some funny businesses taking place, because Winterfell was supposed to go to Cregard Stark after Jonnel Stark died childless, going by normal succession. Whatever occurred, is what would have happened to Cregan Stark, had he not imprisoned his Uncle Bennard Stark when he was slow to relinquish his power as his regent.

The theory I hate the most, is that anyone can ride a dragon. They just need to domesticate. That the point of Nettles is to show that. That Asoiaf is just a more brutal version of How To Train Your Dragon.

In a fictional fantasy world, which means it's not impossible in the slightest.

George answered that because someone asked if there was ever a Lady of Winterfell. I don't think that shows women are barred from inheriting. Just because there has never been a Lady of Highgarden, doesn't mean women are barred from inheriting.

Rhaenyra's heirs being bastards is the reason why they were betrothed to Rhaena and Baela, in order to keep the support of the Velaryons. If they are not bastards, it means they are not betrothed and marriage alliances can be made when the Dance occurs. That became a tradition because of the Strong boys. The Greens were whispering that they were bastards, so Viserys decreed that they be given dragon eggs. If there is no whispering of them being bastards, then they don't get dragon eggs in their cradles. Tbf, the chances of them succeeding are much smaller if Rhaenyra is in King's Landing. The Captain of the Gold Cloaks before Luthor Largent was a supporter of Rhaenyra.

Let's say, Rhaenyra's 3 sons are trueborn. Somehow, she managed to have legitimate children with Laenor. Due to not having the bastard allegations, Rhaenyra's boys are not given dragon eggs but claim the older dragons like Vermithor and Sliverwing. She also doesn't have beef with Criston Cole, and he is still her supporter. She is the perfect heir, spends her time in King's Landing, does royal progresses, basically she is Jaehaerys with teats. When Viserys dies, she is in King's Landing. What would the Greens do in this scenario?

Of course, they are a lot of unique names in the Stark tree, like Cregan, there difference being those individuals don't have sketchy backgrounds like Lynara Stark. The name is similar to Lianna Velayron. Why would GRRM waste time coming up with this character that doesn't exist? It served no purpose in the plot, so why? The only logic conclusion is that she exists.

That's the official narrative. My headcanon is that Cregan went and coerced or bribed a destitute Stark relative, from a minor branch of the family, to marry Sara and acknowledge Sara's child as their own and so they could hide the fact that she is the daughter of Jacaerys Velaryon. Mushroom suggests that Jacaerys forgot a clutch of dragon eggs in the crypts beneath Winterfell. The clutch of dragon eggs could stand for a (fertile) dragon lady born from the love between Jace and Sara. Plus she is the first Lynara, the is no other Lynara before her, which means she is the one who brought the name into the North. The only other time we see a name similar to Lynara is Lianna Velayron.

Mine are that: Daenys the Dreamer was the first rider of Balerion. Alicent Hightower’s mother was a Redwyne. Sara Snow and Jacaerys had a child together, that's another reason why Cregan was delayed. The child is Lynara Stark, who was eventually married by Cregan Stark himself. The main stark line had some Targ blood.

Not going to lie, I can't believe people still believe that R+L=J is not canon at this point.

Yeah, which is why when Daeron II was going to marry Mariah Martell, he should have arranged marriages also between the Marcher lords and Reach lords with Dornish lords.

A marriage between a Martell and a Targaryen, specifically one that involved Daeron himself at the least, would have completed the Conquest of Dorne and most likely stopped uprisings by the Dornish. It's honestly odd that it wasn't even tried, since it's playbook that most Kingdoms followed before the Conquest. Marrying their defeated vassals to cement the relationship. The Starks did it during their Conquest of the North. The Targaryen Queens did it after they conquered the realm. It's very suprising that Daeron I didn't attempt to do so after conquering Dorne, all he did was take hostages and left Lyonel Tyrell in charge as if Dorne was some colony. Then the is Daeron II who also didn't try it, which could have stopped the Blackfyre rebellions. Daeron I should have married a Martell right after the the Dornish nobles submitted and Daeron II should have negotiated marriages between Reach and Marcher nobles with Dornish ones to knit the realm together.