Myr

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Myr
Free City
350px
Myrish villa © FFG
Location Essos, Free Cities
Government Magisters
Religion Mixed religions
Founded Approx 1,000 years ago

Myr is one of the Free Cities. It is known for its lace and its green nectar.[1] Myr sits on the eastern shore of the Sea of Myrth, along the western coast of Essos.[2]

Nine Free Cities on the continent of Essos:
Pentos, Braavos, Lys, Qohor, Norvos, Myr, Tyrosh, Volantis, Lorath

About

A Myrish tradeswoman - by Magali Villeneuve ©

The inhabitants of the city are renowned for being great craftsmen. Its main exports are its finished goods, such as its carpets and lace. The best glass comes from Myr; a clear pane is worth its weight in spice. The best far-eyes are also made in Myr, and are as a result known as Myrish eyes. Myr produces gowns made of Myrish lace.[3] The city also has artisans skilled in creating crossbows and carving.[4]

The city is located on the mainland of Essos and is ruled by magisters. It has its own language. Most native Myrmen are dark-haired and dark-eyed.[5]

Slaves outnumber the freeborn three to one.[6]

History

The origins of Myr are rather murky. Certain maesters believe Myrmen are akin to the Rhoynar, in account of their olive skin and dark hair. There are certain signs that indicate a city stood where Myr is located during the Dawn Age and the Long Night, raised by an ancient, vanished people. Modern Myr, however, was founded by a group of Valyrian merchant adventurers on the site of a walled Andal town whose population they butchered or enslaved.[7]

After the Doom a Volantene army took Myr and a Volantene fleet took Lys, and for two generations all three cities were ruled from within the Black Walls. That ended when the tigers tried to swallow Tyrosh. Pentos came into the war on the Tyroshi side, along with the Westerosi Storm King. Aegon Targaryen flew forth from Dragonstone on Balerion the Black Dread, and Myr and Lys rose up in rebellion.[8] Myr joined forces with Tyrosh and Lys and defeated Volantis in the Battle of the Borderland.[7]

Roughly a century later, along with Lys and Tyrosh, Myr formed the Kingdom of the Three Daughters. Craghas Drahar was a Myrish prince-admiral who led the conquest of much of the Stepstones, earning the name Craghas Crabfeeder. After pacifying the pirates there, Craghas and his compatriots demanded tolls for safe passage, eventually leading to his death in battle against Prince Daemon Targaryen.[9] The Three Daughters broke apart around 130 AC,[10] brought down by internal conflict following the murder of a Lyseni admiral by a rival for the affections of the Black Swan, a famed courtesan, and, later, an alliance of Braavos, Pentos, and Lorath.[7]

During the Blackfyre Rebellion, Lord Bracken tried to aid the Blackfyres with Myrish crossbowmen but was delayed from sailing by storms.[11]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Varys reveals that he became a eunuch while he was part of a mummer's company in Myr.[12]

A Storm of Swords

When Tyrosh and Lys are on the verge of war, they both attempt to make Myr their ally.[13]

A Feast for Crows

Myr is on the verge of war with Tyrosh and Lys. They had contracted the sellsword company, the Golden Company, however the sellswords broke their contract.[14]

A Dance with Dragons

Tyrion Lannister discovers that Illyrio's manse has wine from Myr in the cellar.[15] There is a Myrish carpet on the floor of Tyrion’s whore’s bedchamber in Selhorys. Drunk, Tyrion retches onto it. The carpet is wonderful, thick and as comforting as lies. The Selaesori Qhoran carries 50 Myrish carpets amongst its cargo.[16]

Davos Seaworth notices a threadbare Myrish carpet on the floor of Lord Godric Borrell’s hall in Breakwater.[17] He also notices that there is a Myrish carpet on the floor of Lord Wyman Manderly’s secret room in the New Castle where he meets with Wyman and Robett Glover.[18]

One of Haldon’s lessons with Young Griff on the Shy Maid is on languages, which includes the low dialect of Myr, which Tyrion notices Young Griff is fluent in.

At the Wall, Jon Snow muses that glass might be of use there. Castle Black needs its own glass gardens, like the ones at Winterfell. He thinks that they could grow vegetables even in the deep of winter. He recalls that the best glass comes from Myr, but a good clear pane is worth its weight in spice, and green and yellow glass would not work as well. He realises what they need is gold. If they had enough coin, the watch could buy ‘prentice glass-blowers and glaziers in Myr, bring them north and offer them their freedom for teaching them their art to some of the Night’s Watch recruits.[19]

Victarion Greyjoy captures a Myrish cog named Dove on her way to Yunkai by way of New Ghis with a cargo of carpets, sweet green wines, and Myrish lace. Her captain owned a Myrish eyes that makes far-off things look close. Victarian claims it for himself.[20]

References and Notes