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Was Joffrey coronated?


maiden of tarth

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I can’t seem to remember if he had a coronation ceremony to officially crown him king. In England, uncoronated monarchs aren’t counted in the list of ruling monarchs. That’s why Matilda/Maude, Lady Jane Grey and the two boys in the tower aren’t listed in the official list of ruling monarchs. 

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Joffrey commands to be crowned within the fortnight during the first court session when Ned is arrested. One assumes this did happen off screen while Ned was in his cell and Sansa in her confinement.

It is an odd omission of George's to not depict as important a ceremony, either through Sansa's eyes or at least by having her referencing it taking place, especially since coronations have become the most crucial events during the rise and reign of a monarch in TWoIaF and, especially, FaB.

It makes not sense to assume Joffrey wasn't crowned considering his two uncles actually did crown themselves - Renly at Highgarden and Stannis at Dragonstone. They both wear crowns, too. One assumes that Joffrey actually was crowned and anointed in the Great Sept by the High Septon himself.

He doesn't yet wear a crown during his first stint on the Iron Throne immediately after Robert's death, but he wears a crown later, and his crown is also inherited by Tommen later on in the story - who wears it, too, never mind that it doesn't properly fit and Cersei thinks it has to be changed.

Crowns are only worn by monarchs who have been crowned in some fashion. In fact, we also have it implicitly confirmed that Tommen was crowned and anointed, too, considering Cersei makes it clear that the High Sparrow's predecessor actually did anoint King Tommen - and that would have happened at his coronation soon after Joffrey's death. One assumes that this took place sometime between Joffrey's and Tywin's death, considering that it definitely didn't take place thereafter.

Might also be that Joffrey and Tommen both got more modest coronations in the throne room of the Red Keep, with the High Septon coming to them rather than the other way around. We don't know yet.

However, it would be good to ask George about that, and whether there is narrative significance to the fact that those coronations were not depicted. The same goes for Stannis' coronation.

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Technical point here I'm afraid.

Kings and queens can only be crowned. Coronated or uncoronated terms are not recognised or legitimate. You can have a coronation ceremony of course.

Boring I know, but an editor or teacher would pull you up on this.

 

 

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