Difference between revisions of "Barth"

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Lord Smallwood, though a leal and well intentioned man, proved unsuited as the King's Hand which he acknowledged himself and vacated the office in {{Date|57}}. This time the king saw Barth's worth and named him his [[Hand of the King]]. Many [[lord]]s of long and noble lineage were aghast at the appointment of a smith's son to this prestigious office. Barth though would excel at the office, however, and served as Hand until his death. The forty-one years he was Hand are generally referred to as synonym for prosperity, much like the reign of Jaehaerys I. With Barth's aid Jaehaerys would reform the realm more than any king who lived before. Barth continued throughout his office to aid the king and council in creating the unified code, so that from the [[north]] to the [[Dornish Marches]] the realm would share common law.{{Ref|aSoS|54}}{{Ref|aSoS|54}}  
 
Lord Smallwood, though a leal and well intentioned man, proved unsuited as the King's Hand which he acknowledged himself and vacated the office in {{Date|57}}. This time the king saw Barth's worth and named him his [[Hand of the King]]. Many [[lord]]s of long and noble lineage were aghast at the appointment of a smith's son to this prestigious office. Barth though would excel at the office, however, and served as Hand until his death. The forty-one years he was Hand are generally referred to as synonym for prosperity, much like the reign of Jaehaerys I. With Barth's aid Jaehaerys would reform the realm more than any king who lived before. Barth continued throughout his office to aid the king and council in creating the unified code, so that from the [[north]] to the [[Dornish Marches]] the realm would share common law.{{Ref|aSoS|54}}{{Ref|aSoS|54}}  
  
His first task as the King's Hand was to go on a diplomatic trip to [[Braavos]], to treat with the [[Sealord]] over the three [[dragon eggs]] stolen by [[Elissa Farman]]. It was suspected that the Sealord had purchased the egg's. Although no trace of the eggs could be found. Some Lords claimed that Barth failed at his first task as Hand as he not returned with the eggs, however Barth did get the Sealord to cancel the crown's debt to the [[Iron Bank of Braavos]]. {{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
+
His first task as the King's Hand was to go on a diplomatic trip to [[Braavos]], to treat with the [[Sealord]] over the three [[dragon eggs]] stolen by [[Elissa Farman]]. It was suspected that the Sealord had purchased them. Although no trace of the eggs could be found. Some Lords claimed that Barth failed at his first task as Hand as he not returned with the eggs, however Barth did get the Sealord to cancel the crown's debt to the [[Iron Bank of Braavos]]. {{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
  
 
The crown now free of an enormous debt was able to take measures to improve the living conditions of [[King's Landing]]. Great works were implemented to improve the city, such as sewers, drains and wells. Barth believed fresh water and the flushing away of offal and waste are essential to a city's health, Barth pointed out that the [[smallfolk]] of the city only had river water and proposed the sinking of wells and creating a system of fountains to provide clean drinking water for the cities population. Jaehaerys and his [[master of coin]], [[Rego Draz]] at first protested the proposition of the fountains and sinking wells due to the cost, until queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]] presented them each with a tankard of river water at the next council meeting, daring them to drink it. Neither one of them was willing to do it, and the construction was approved.{{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
 
The crown now free of an enormous debt was able to take measures to improve the living conditions of [[King's Landing]]. Great works were implemented to improve the city, such as sewers, drains and wells. Barth believed fresh water and the flushing away of offal and waste are essential to a city's health, Barth pointed out that the [[smallfolk]] of the city only had river water and proposed the sinking of wells and creating a system of fountains to provide clean drinking water for the cities population. Jaehaerys and his [[master of coin]], [[Rego Draz]] at first protested the proposition of the fountains and sinking wells due to the cost, until queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]] presented them each with a tankard of river water at the next council meeting, daring them to drink it. Neither one of them was willing to do it, and the construction was approved.{{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}

Revision as of 09:06, 6 February 2019

FaithStar.png
Barth
FaithStar.png
Titles
Allegiances
Culture Reachmen[1]
Died In 99 ACRed Keep[2]
Books

Barth was a septon who served as Hand of the King for Jaehaerys I Targaryen.

History

"It is my own abiding sin that whenever I come upon a door I must needs see what lies upon the farther side", Barth wrote of his curiosity.[3] He was described as plain-spoken but possessing of a brilliant mind. Barth was common-born, his father a blacksmith. After he joined the Faith, his obvious intelligence caused his appointment to oversee the Red Keep's library; a position he excelled in, attending to the king's books and records.

In 50 AC, Barth arrived at court and replaced Septon Mattheus dismissed by Jaehaerys. He came from Highgarden and was said he rode passed Mattheus, though neither men knew the other. Barth attended the king's library and records, Jaehaerys became acquainted with Barth and they became good friends. Septon Barth later officiated the second marriage of king Jaehaerys and queen Alysanne Targaryen. Barth along with Septon Oswyck, aided the king in writing the Doctrine of Exceptionalism. Barth later took over the duties of Septon Oswyck after he passed away in 54 AC. That same year after the death of the High Septon, Jaehaerys entertained the idea of trying to persuade the Most Devout to make Barth the New High Septon, but Septon Barth persuaded the king otherwise.[4]

In 55 AC, Barth along with Grand Maester Benifer, Lord Albin Massey, and Queen Alysanne Targaryen assisted king Jaehaerys in beginning the work to create the first unified code of law for the entire Seven Kingdoms, the task of codifying, organising, and reforming all the laws of the kingdom. These reforms would take decades. Barth in the end, contributed three times more than any other man on these books of law.[3]

After the resignation of Lord Daemon Velaryon as Hand of the King, Jaehaerys wished to appoint Septon Barth to the office, but the other councillor's objected due to his low birth, and in the end the martial Lord Myles Smallwood was named to the office. [5]

In 56 AC, Barth helped Grand Maester Benifer care for Princess Aerea Targaryen before her horrific death, and told King Jaehaerys I Targaryen some of what they witnessed.[3]

Hand of the King

Lord Smallwood, though a leal and well intentioned man, proved unsuited as the King's Hand which he acknowledged himself and vacated the office in 57 AC. This time the king saw Barth's worth and named him his Hand of the King. Many lords of long and noble lineage were aghast at the appointment of a smith's son to this prestigious office. Barth though would excel at the office, however, and served as Hand until his death. The forty-one years he was Hand are generally referred to as synonym for prosperity, much like the reign of Jaehaerys I. With Barth's aid Jaehaerys would reform the realm more than any king who lived before. Barth continued throughout his office to aid the king and council in creating the unified code, so that from the north to the Dornish Marches the realm would share common law.[6][6]

His first task as the King's Hand was to go on a diplomatic trip to Braavos, to treat with the Sealord over the three dragon eggs stolen by Elissa Farman. It was suspected that the Sealord had purchased them. Although no trace of the eggs could be found. Some Lords claimed that Barth failed at his first task as Hand as he not returned with the eggs, however Barth did get the Sealord to cancel the crown's debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos. [3]

The crown now free of an enormous debt was able to take measures to improve the living conditions of King's Landing. Great works were implemented to improve the city, such as sewers, drains and wells. Barth believed fresh water and the flushing away of offal and waste are essential to a city's health, Barth pointed out that the smallfolk of the city only had river water and proposed the sinking of wells and creating a system of fountains to provide clean drinking water for the cities population. Jaehaerys and his master of coin, Rego Draz at first protested the proposition of the fountains and sinking wells due to the cost, until queen Alysanne presented them each with a tankard of river water at the next council meeting, daring them to drink it. Neither one of them was willing to do it, and the construction was approved.[3]

After the murder of Rego Draz in 59 AC, a new Master of Coin was needed. Septon Barth put forward Lord Martyn Tyrell, a man he knew from his time at Highgarden before coming to court. While not praising his wits, Barth mentioned that Martyn's wife, the Lady Florence had been doing the Reach's accounts for years and had increased the incomes by a third. [3]

Barth was sent to Oldtown to forge a lasting agreement between the Iron Throne and the Faith of the Seven. This agreement took away the right of the Faith to conduct criminal trials while at the same time Jaehaerys pledged upon the Iron Throne that the crown would always defend the Faith. The great schism between crown and faith were healed by this accord.[7]

In 98 AC, a great tourney was held in King's Landing to celebrate King Jaehaerys's fiftieth year on the Iron Throne. A fortnight after the tourney, Septon Barth who had served exceptionally as Hand of the King for over forty years died peacefully in his sleep. [8]

While it was said that Queen Alysanne Targaryen was Jaehaerys's great love, Barth was his greatest friend. No man of humble birth ever rose so high as the plain-spoken but brilliant septon.[7]

Writings

Barth wrote an important corpus about dragons, Dragons, Wyrms, and Wyverns: Their Unnatural History. When Jaehaerys I Targaryen was dying, his caregiver Alicent Hightower read to him; among the books were the writings of Barth.[9] His experience with Aerea challenged Barth's faith,[3] and his enemies always claimed he was more sorcerer than septon.[10] Barth's writings were ordered destroyed by King Baelor I Targaryen when he came to the Iron Throne, although some fragments have survived. However, it is unlikely that any of Barth's work found its way across the narrow sea.[10]

Barth claimed that dragons were neither male nor female.[11] He ruled out that dragons are vulnerable through their mouths. Barth, Munkun and Thomax hold markedly divergent views on the mating habits of dragons.[10]

He also speculated that the bloodmages of Valyria used wyvern stock to create dragons.[12]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

When Davos Seaworth feels insecure about his new position as Hand of the King to Stannis Baratheon due to his low birth, Maester Pylos reassures him by explaining the prosperous and peaceful tenures of the humbly-born Septon Barth and his time as Hand to illustrate that high birth does not equal ability.[6]

A Feast for Crows

In Braavos, the dying Maester Aemon hears the talk of Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons emanating from Qarth. He tells Samwell Tarly that Daenerys is the one, born amidst salt and smoke and that the dragons prove it. Aemon explains to Sam that no one ever looked for a girl, it was a prince that was promised, not a princess. He tells Sam that dragons are neither male nor female; Barth saw the truth of that, but now one and now the other, as changeable as flame.

Aboard the Cinnamon Wind Aemon's wits wander and his talk is all a jumble. He asks Sam to read for him from a book by Septon Barth, whose writings had been burned during the reign of Baelor the Blessed.

A Dance with Dragons

Aboard the Shy Maid while writing his dragonlore Tyrion Lannister thinks of the various books about dragons he would like to get his hands on. He is not hopeful concerning Septon Barth's Dragons, Wyrms, and Wyverns: Their Unnatural History. He recalls that Baelor the Blessed had ordered all Barth's writings destroyed when he came to the Iron Throne. Ten years ago, he had read a fragment of Unnatural History that had eluded the Blessed Baelor, but he doubts that any of Barth's work found its way across the narrow sea.

Later, outside of Meereen on his way to the camp of the Second Sons, the escaped slave Tyrion sees that the Yunkai besiegers are making preparations in case Drogon should return. He knows how hard dragons are to kill and is scornful of these would-be dragonslayers, remembering Barth's writings in Unnatural History.[13]

Quotes by Barth

It has been three days since the princess perished, and I have not slept. I do not know that I shall ever sleep again. The Mother is merciful, I have always believed, and the Father Above judges each man justly... but there was no mercy and no justice in what befell our poor princess. How could the gods be so blind or so uncaring as to permit such horror? Or is it possible that there are other deities in this universe, monstrous evil gods such as the priests of Red R'hllor preach against, against whose malice the kings of men and the gods of men are naught but flies?
I do not know. I do not want to know. If this makes me a faithless septon, so be it.[3]

—Barth in his account on the death of Aerea Targaryen


The Father made men curious, some say to test our faith. It is my own abiding sin that whenever I come upon a door I must needs see what lies upon the farther side, but certain doors are best left unopened.[3]

—Barth in his account on the death of Aerea Targaryen


Death comes out of the dragon's mouth, but death does not go in that way.[13]

Quotes about Barth

If his father beat out swords and shod horses, so be it. A knight needs his sword, a horse needs shoes, and I need Barth


As for birth, the dragonkings oft chose Hands from their own blood, with results as various as Baelor Breakspear and Maegor the Cruel. Against this you have, Septon Barth, the blacksmith's son the Old King plucked from the Red Keep's library, who gave the realm forty years of peace and plenty.[6]


What fools we were, who thought ourselves so wise! The error crept in from the translation. Dragons are neither male nor female, Barth saw the truth of that, but now one and now the other, as changeable as flame. The language misled us all for a thousand years.[11]

References

  1. Fire & Blood, A Time of Testing—The Realm Remade.
  2. Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon—A Question of Succession.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  4. Fire & Blood, A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade.
  5. Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
  7. 7.0 7.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Jaehaerys I.
  8. Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  9. The Rogue Prince.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
  12. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos.
  13. 13.0 13.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 57, Tyrion XI.