Difference between revisions of "Bastardy"

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[[File:Marc Simonetti Bittersteel.jpg|[[Aegor Rivers]], a [[Great Bastard]], fathered by [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] - by Marc Simonetti © |thumb|400px|right]]
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A '''bastard''' is a person whose parents are not married to each other.{{Ref|TMK}} A bastard can also be referred to as '''natural son''' or '''natural daughter'''.{{ref|ASOS|38}}{{Ref|ASOS|53}}{{Ref|ASOS|68}}{{Ref|AFFC|21}}
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==Social status==
 
[[File:MagaliVilleneuve Bastard Daughter.jpg|A bastard daughter of Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] - by Magali Villeneuve. © Fantasy Flight Games|thumb|right|400px]]
 
[[File:MagaliVilleneuve Bastard Daughter.jpg|A bastard daughter of Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] - by Magali Villeneuve. © Fantasy Flight Games|thumb|right|400px]]
[[File:Natascha RoeoesliJonSnowGhost.jpg|[[Jon Snow]], the acknowledged bastard son of [[Eddard Stark]] - by Natascha Roeoesli. © Fantasy Flight Games|thumb|right|400px]]
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A polite way of referring to someone who is bastard-born is referring to them as a "natural son" or "natural daughter".{{ref|ASOS|38}}{{Ref|ASOS|53}}{{Ref|ASOS|68}}{{Ref|AFFC|21}} Others might refer to a bastard simply as "bastard-born".{{Ref|ASOS|15}}{{Ref|ASOS|36}}{{Ref|ASOS|48}} The term "baseborn"{{Ref|agot|19}}{{Ref|AGOT|30}} is used to refer to a child of whom one parent is of the [[smallfolk]].{{ref|TMK}}{{ref|agot|19}}{{Ref|agot|30}}{{Ref|agot|35}} A euphemism for being bastard-born is being "born on the wrong side of the blanket".{{ref|TMK}}
A '''bastard''' is a person whose parents, at the time of their birth, were not married to each other. There is a certain stigma that comes from being born as a bastard, as their nature is often seen as lustful and deceitful. As a polite way of referring to someone who is bastard-born, someone may be referred to as a "natural son" or "natural daughter". A less polite term, indicative of the social stigma against bastards, is "baseborn", although this term does not apply if both parents are noble. A euphemism for being bastard-born is "being born on the wrong side of the sheets".{{ref|AGOT|34}}
 
  
==Family Life and Status==
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It is not unexpected for noblemen to have bastard children,{{Ref|AGOT|6}} though it is considered rude to pry into the origins of a man's bastards.{{ref|ASOS|73}} While it is not typical for a noble to bring his bastards home and raise them with his own children, it is usually expected that he will see to the child's well-being to some degree.{{Ref|aGoT|6}} Some might chose to have their bastards fostered at the home of another lord,{{ref|acok|16}} while others might decide to raise their bastard at their own home, in the position of a servant (e.g. [[Falia Flowers]]).{{ref|AFFC|29}} A noble-born wife can take insult at her husband's bastards being introduced into her household and being commensurate in rank with her legally-born children.{{ref|agot|6}}
In ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'', it is not unexpected for noblemen to have bastard children. While it is not typical for a noble to bring his bastards home and raise them with his own children, it is usually expected that he will see to the child's well-being to some degree.{{Ref|aGoT|6}} A noble-born wife has the right to take insult at her husband's bastards being introduced into her household and being commensurate in rank with her legally-born children.  
 
  
Bastards whose parents are both of the nobility are referred to as bastard-born, though not baseborn. Even a royal decree will have considerable difficulty in removing the stigma of a bastard{{Ref|TSS}} and trueborn children of a bastard might change their surnames to show their legitimate nature. For example, a legitimate son of a Waters might change his surname to [[House Longwaters|Longwaters]].{{Ref|aFfC|8}}<ref name=SF>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2999/ SF, Targaryens, Valyria, Sansa, Martells, and More (June 26, 2001)]</ref>
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There is a certain stigma that comes from being born as a bastard. They are said to be born from lust, lies, and weakness,{{Ref|asos|55}}{{Ref|ASOS|73}}{{Ref|TSS}} and as such, they are said to be wanton and treacherous by nature.{{Ref|ASOS|55}}{{Ref|ASOS|73}}{{Ref|TSS}} Because of the stigma bastards have to deal with, they are said to grow up faster than trueborn children.{{Ref|AGOT|5}}{{Ref|AGOT|26}} Even after being legitimized, bastards will usually have considerable difficulty in removing the stigma of having been bastard-born.{{Ref|TSS}}
  
At any point, the biological father of a bastard may acknowledge him and bring him formally into his house. King [[Robert I Baratheon]] acknowledged [[Edric Storm]], although the boy was raised at [[Storm's End]].{{ref|ACOK|10}} After the death of [[Domeric Bolton]], Lord [[Roose Bolton]] brought his bastard son, [[Ramsay Snow]], to the [[Dreadfort]], although Roose did not recognize Ramsay as his heir.{{ref|ACOK|16}}{{ref|AWOIAF| Ramsay Snow}}
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Nonetheless, a bastard might rise high. Male bastards may study at the [[Citadel]] and become a [[maester]] (e.g., [[Walys]], a former maester of [[Winterfell]]{{Ref|ADWD|37}}) Female bastards are allowed to join the [[Faith of the Seven]] and become [[septa]]s, like [[Alysanne (daughter of Aegon IV)|Alysanne]], [[Lily]], [[Willow (daughter of Aegon IV)|Willow]], and [[Rosey (daughter of Aegon IV)|Rosey]], the four bastard daughters of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] by his second mistress, [[Megette]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Potentially, this might mean that male bastards could become [[septon]]s.
  
A more drastic measure is legitimization, a power traditionally reserved to monarchs alone. Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] legitimized the brothers [[Addam Velaryon|Addam]] and [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn of Hull]] as heirs of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]].{{ref|TPATQ}} [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] legitimized all of his bastards on his deathbed, both those born by highborn mothers, and baseborn.{{ref|tss}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
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Bastards can also be knighted, and may even be appointed to the [[Kingsguard]] (e.g., [[Mervyn Flowers]]{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}). Bastards can even rise to become the [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]], as [[Robert Flowers]] and [[Addison Hill]] did.{{ref|AFFC|16}} In the [[Night's Watch]], any man may rise to command, no matter the circumstance of his birth. Bastards who have risen to positions of command include [[Cotter Pyke]],{{ref|agot|19}} who is the commander at [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]], and [[Robin Hill]]{{Ref|ASOS|55}} and [[Jon Snow]],{{Ref|ASOS|79}} who both became [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]]s.
  
Far more often a bastard is acknowledged but not legitimized. For example, [[Eddard Stark]] acknowledged [[Jon Snow]] as his son and a member of [[House Stark]], but did not legitimize him. Snow retained the bastard name of the north and the social status it conferred, and did not enter the line of succession of House Stark. Other bastards, like  [[Gendry]], have no idea who their father is, and it might be the case that their father doesn't know about them, either.
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Another example is the origin of [[House Justman]]. This house was founded by [[Benedict Rivers]], a bastard son descending of both [[House Blackwood]] and [[House Bracken]]. House Justman ruled the [[riverlands]] for three centuries before being eventually wiped out during a war against the [[ironborn]] and King [[Qhored Hoare]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Riverlands}}
  
In [[Dorne]], bastards are viewed slightly different compared to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Especially if the child is born to a [[paramour]], Dornishmen are not that concerned if the child was born in or out of wedlock. Many Dornish noblemen, and even some ladies, have paramours.{{Ref|TWOIAF| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}}
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==Surnames==
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Each of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms have bastard surnames decreed by [[customs|custom]], not law.<ref name=SF>[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2999/ SF, Targaryens, Valyria, Sansa, Martells, and more (June 26, 2001)]</ref> Bastards with a high-born parent are given these surnames to hold them apart from their parent's houses.<ref name=SF/> The parents may give a bastard a different surname if they wish, e.g. [[Tyrion Tanner]]{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}, or no name at all.<ref name=SF/> Bastard children of two people of the [[smallfolk]] are not given a distinctive surname.<ref name=SF/> A bastard might also chose a surname for himself. [[Daemon Waters]] took the surname [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre]] at the age of twelve, after having been knighted and having received lands and the [[Valyrian steel]] sword [[Blackfyre|of the same name]] from his father, King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
  
In recent times, Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] has fathered eight bastard daughters of five different mothers.{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}} His children are raised at the court of [[Sunspear]], where several are close to the heir of Prince [[Doran Martell]], Princess [[Arianne Martell|Arianne]].{{Ref|AFFC|13}}{{Ref|AFFC|22}} Despite the fact that Oberyn's daughters were born of mothers of variable social stations - [[Obara Sand|Obara]]'s mother was a whore, [[Nymeria Sand|Nymeria]]'s mother a [[Volantis|Volantenese]] noblewoman, [[Tyene Sand|Tyene]]'s mother a septa and [[Sarella Sand|Sarella]]'s mother a trader captain from the [[Summer Islands]] - they appear not to be treated different from [[Elia Sand|Elia]], [[Obella Sand|Obella]], [[Dorea Sand|Dorea]], and [[Loreza Sand|Loreza]], the children he fathered on his recognized paramour, [[Ellaria Sand]].{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}}{{Ref|AFFC|13}}{{Ref|AFFC|40}}
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The surname a bastard received appears to be connected to the location the child is raised, though this is not a consistent rule. Because of this, bastards who are half-siblings might have different surnames. For example, King [[Robert I Baratheon]]'s eldest bastard, born and raised in the Vale, is called [[Mya Stone|Mya ''Stone'']], while his bastard from the stormlands (fathered on a noblewoman from the [[Reach]]) is called [[Edric Storm|Edric ''Storm'']]. However, whilst [[Aegor Rivers]] was raised at [[Stone Hedge]] in the [[riverlands]], his half-brother [[Brynden Rivers|Brynden]] was also called ''Rivers'', despite having lived at least the first few years of his life with his mother at [[King's Landing]] in the [[crownlands]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Prince [[Oberyn Martell]]'s eight bastard daughters all have the surname ''Sand'', even though the eldest, [[Obara Sand|Obara]], lived in [[Oldtown]] in the [[Reach]] during the earlier years of her life,{{Ref|AFFC|2}} and her sister [[Nymeria|Nymeria]] was born in [[Volantis]], across the [[narrow sea]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Nymeria Sand}}
  
The other known "Sands" are Ellaria Sand and [[Daemon Sand]]. They both are the offspring of powerful noblemen, Ellaria is the daughter of [[Harmen Uller]], the head of one of the more powerful houses of Dorne, and Daemon is the son of [[Ryon Allyrion]], the heir of another major house. Their mothers aren't revealed till now, but both are beloved members of their houses and respected people in Dorne. Ellaria was the paramour of Prince Oberyn and Daemon Sand was a squire to him, knighted by the "Red Viper" himself, and is described as one of Dornes finest swords.
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Most legitimate offspring of a bastard decides to keep the bastard surname.<ref name=SF/> If two bastards from two different regions (i.e. with two different surnames) marry, the children will most likely take their father's surname.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Bastards_Offspring Bastard's Offspring (January 20, 1999)]</ref> Some later legitimate offspring of bastards might change their surname to demonstrate their legitimate nature, and remove the bastard-born taint.<ref name=SF/> One such an example is the son of [[Jon Waters]]. Jon Waters was the bastard son of Princess [[Elaena Targaryen]] and Lord [[Alyn Velaryon]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}{{Ref|AFFC|8}} His trueborn son changed his name from ''"Waters"'' to ''"[[House Longwaters|Longwaters]]"'' in an attempt to remove the taint of bastardy,{{Ref|AFFC|8}} and to demonstrate he was of legitimate birth himself.<ref name=SF/>
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{| class="wikitable" width=50%i
 +
|-
 +
! Region
 +
! Surname
 +
! Example
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|-
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| [[Crownlands]] || Waters{{Ref|AFFC|34}}{{Ref|AFFC|12}} || [[Aurane Waters]]
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|-
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| [[Dorne]] || Sand{{Ref|ASOS|38}} || [[Ellaria Sand]]
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|-
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| [[Iron Islands]] || Pyke{{Ref|AGOT|19}}{{Ref|ASOS|70}} || [[Cotter Pyke]]
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|-
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| [[North]] || Snow{{Ref|agot|2}}{{Ref|AGOT|34}} || [[Jon Snow]]
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|-
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| [[Reach]] || Flowers{{Ref|AGOT|34}} || [[Falia Flowers]]
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|-
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| [[Riverlands]] || Rivers{{Ref|AGOT|59}} || [[Walder Rivers]]
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|-
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| [[Stormlands]] || Storm{{Ref|ACOK|10}} || [[Rolland Storm]]
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|-
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| [[Vale of Arryn]] || Stone{{Ref|AGOT|34}} || [[Mya Stone]]
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|-
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| [[Westerlands]] || Hill{{Ref|ASOS|Prologue}} || [[Joy Hill]]
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|}
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==Acknowledgement==
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[[File:Natascha RoeoesliJonSnowGhost.jpg|[[Jon Snow]], the acknowledged bastard son of [[Eddard Stark]] - by Natascha Roeoesli. © Fantasy Flight Games|thumb|right|400px]]
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At any point, the biological father of a bastard may acknowledge him and bring him formally into his house. King [[Robert I Baratheon]] acknowledged [[Edric Storm]] at his birth, although the boy was raised at [[Storm's End]].{{ref|ACOK|10}} Lord [[Roose Bolton]] brought his bastard son, [[Ramsay Snow]], to the [[Dreadfort]] following the death of his only trueborn son, [[Domeric Bolton|Domeric]], albeit without acknowledging him.{{ref|ACOK|16}}{{ref|AWOIAF| Ramsay Snow}} An acknowledged bastard might even be considered to inherit a seat when no direct heirs can be found.{{ref|ACOK|16}}
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Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] has fathered [[Sand Snakes|eight bastard daughters]] on five mothers.{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}} His children are raised at the court of [[Sunspear]], where several are close to the heir of Prince [[Doran Martell]], Princess [[Arianne Martell|Arianne]].{{Ref|AFFC|13}}{{Ref|AFFC|22}} The Dornish are not greatly concerned about whether or not a child is trueborn or bastard-born, especially not if the child born to a paramour.{{Ref|TWOIAF| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}} While Prince Oberyn's four elder daughters were born of mothers of variable social stations - [[Obara Sand|Obara]]'s mother was a whore, [[Nymeria Sand|Nymeria]]'s mother a [[Volantis|Volantene]] noblewoman, [[Tyene Sand|Tyene]]'s mother a septa and [[Sarella Sand|Sarella]]'s mother a trader captain from the [[Summer Islands]] - they appear to be treated no differently from [[Elia Sand|Elia]], [[Obella Sand|Obella]], [[Dorea Sand|Dorea]], and [[Loreza Sand|Loreza]], the children he fathered on his recognized paramour, [[Ellaria Sand]].{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}}{{Ref|AFFC|13}}{{Ref|AFFC|40}}
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===Legitimization===
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[[File:Marc Simonetti Bittersteel.jpg|[[Aegor Rivers]], a [[Great Bastard]], fathered by [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] - by Marc Simonetti © |thumb|400px|right]]
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Besides acknowledging bastards, they can also be legitimized. This power is reserved to monarchs alone.{{Ref|ASOS|45}}<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Jon_Snow Jon Snow (August 6, 2000)]</ref> Once a bastard is legitimized, this cannot be undone.{{Ref|aSoS|45}}
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Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] legitimized the brothers [[Addam Velaryon|Addam]] and [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn of Hull]] as heirs of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]].{{ref|TPATQ}}
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The children of Lord [[Lyonel Hightower]] and Lady [[Samantha Tarly]] were rendered legitimate once a new [[High Septon]] allowed the couple to marry.<ref>[https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/169198/which-bastards-in-westeros-were-automatically-legitimized-once-their-parents-mar Which bastards in Westeros were automatically legitimized once their parents married? (September 8, 2017)]</ref>{{ref|fab|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}
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King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] legitimized all of his bastards on his deathbed, both those born by highborn mothers, who were also known as the [[Great Bastards]], and those who had been baseborn.{{ref|tss}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} This act by King Aegon eventually played a large role in several wars fought over the [[Iron Throne]] between the trueborn descendants of King Aegon and his bastard-born offspring, the [[Blackfyre Pretenders]].{{Ref|asos|45}}
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Following his role in the [[War of the Five Kings]], the bastard-born son of Lord [[Roose Bolton]], [[Ramsay Snow]], is legitimized in order to marry a [[Arya Stark|highborn bride]].{{Ref|ASOS|72}}
  
 
==Rights of Inheritance==
 
==Rights of Inheritance==
The bastardborn have few rights under [[Law and justice|law]] and [[customs|custom]] when it comes to rights of inheritance. A bastard may inherit if the father has no other trueborn children nor any other likely kin to follow him. In {{Date|299}}, after the deaths of Lord [[Halys Hornwood]] and his trueborn son, [[Daryn Hornwood|Daryn]], Halys's natural son [[Larence Snow]] is considered as a potential heir by [[House Hornwood]]s overlords, [[House Stark]].{{Ref|ACOK|16}} A bastard can inherit after being legitimized by a royal decree.{{Ref|ASOS|45}} It is unclear whether a legitimized bastard would be placed in the succession according to birth order, or would be placed at the end, after the trueborn children.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Hornwood_Inheritance_and_the_Whents The Hornwood Inheritance and the Whents (November 02, 1999)]</ref>
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:{{See also|Inheritance}}
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The bastard-born have few rights under [[Law and justice|law]] and [[customs|custom]].{{Ref|AGOT|30}} When it comes to rights of inheritance, there are no clear cut laws.<ref name=hornwoods>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Hornwood_Inheritance_and_the_Whents The Hornwood Inheritance and the Whents (November 2, 1999)]</ref>
  
==Social Status==
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A bastard may inherit if the father has no other trueborn children nor any other direct heirs to follow him. For example, in {{Date|299}}, following the deaths of Lord [[Halys Hornwood]] and his trueborn son, [[Daryn Hornwood|Daryn]], Halys's natural son [[Larence Snow]] is considered as a potential heir by [[House Hornwood]]s overlords, [[House Stark]].{{Ref|ACOK|16}} However, in order to inherit or be installed as an heir, the bastard-born child will first have to be legitimized by a royal decree.{{Ref|ASOS|45}}
It is considered rude to pry into the origins of a man's natural children.{{ref|ASOS|73}} It is said that bastards are born from lust and lies, and that their nature is wanton and treacherous.{{ref|AGOT|5}} It is also said that bastards grow up faster than trueborn children.{{Ref|AGOT|5}}{{Ref|AGOT|26}}
 
  
A bastard may study at the [[Citadel]] and become a [[maester]]. One such an example is Maester [[Walys]], a former Maester of [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|ADWD|37}} It's also possible for female bastards to join the [[Faith of the Seven]] and become [[Septa]]s, like the bastard daughters of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] by [[Megette]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Possibly, this might mean that male bastards could become [[septon]]s.
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It is unclear whether a legitimized bastard would be placed in the succession according to birth order, or would be placed at the end, after the trueborn children.<ref name=hornwoods/>
 
 
As any man can be [[knight]]ed, even a bastard. A bastard may even be appointed to the [[Kingsguard]]; two such knights, [[Robert Flowers]] and [[Addison Hill]], rose to become [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]].{{ref|AFFC|16}} In the [[Night's Watch]], any man may rise to command, no matter the circumstances of their birth. Such were the cases of [[Cotter Pyke]], commander of [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]], and [[Robin Hill]] and [[Jon Snow]], who became [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]]s.
 
  
 
===Coat of Arms===
 
===Coat of Arms===
Bastards do not have the right to use the arms of the highborn families they descent from.{{Ref|AGOT|7}} Recognized bastards who take arms (noble born, knighted, etc.) often, but not always, take the [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] of their fathers with the colors reversed.{{Ref|TSS}} A bend sinister is sometimes added, as exemplified by Ser [[Walder Rivers]]'s sigil.{{Ref|aFfC|38}} A bastard that wants to emphasize his filiation and minimize his own bastardy may decide to use the same sigil as his father, as did [[Glendon Flowers]],{{Ref|TMK}} perhaps illegally.{{Ref|THK}}{{Ref|AGOT|7}}  
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Bastards do not have the right to use the arms of the highborn families from which they descend.{{Ref|AGOT|7}} Recognized bastards who take arms (noble born, knighted, etc.) often, but not always, take the [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] of their fathers with the colors reversed.{{Ref|TSS}} A bend sinister is sometimes added, as exemplified by Ser [[Walder Rivers]]'s sigil.{{Ref|aFfC|38}} A bastard that wants to emphasize his affiliation and minimize his own bastardy may decide to use the same sigil as his father, as did [[Glendon Flowers]],{{Ref|TMK}} perhaps illegally.{{Ref|THK}}{{Ref|AGOT|7}} Other bastards might choose to combine multiple sigils, as [[Aegor Rivers]] did.<ref name=greatbastards>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Great_Bastards/ (December 26, 2005)]</ref>
  
 
Several examples:
 
Several examples:
 
{| cellspacing="5" border="0" style="text-align:left;"
 
{| cellspacing="5" border="0" style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:House_Targaryen_crest.PNG|75px|''House Targaryen'']]
+
| [[File:House Targaryen.svg|75px|''House Targaryen'']]
| [[File:House_Blackfyre_crest.png|75px|''House Blackfyre'']]
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| [[File:House Blackfyre.svg|75px|''House Blackfyre'']]
|Arms of [[House Blackfyre]], founded by a bastard of the [[House Targaryen]], has the colors reversed.{{ref|TSS}}
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|Arms of [[House Blackfyre]] (right), founded by [[Daemon I Blackfyre]], a bastard descending from [[House Targaryen]], has the colors of the Targaryen sigil (left) reversed.{{ref|TSS}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
{| cellspacing="5" border="0" style="text-align:left;"
 
{| cellspacing="5" border="0" style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:House Frey.png|75px|''House Frey'']]
+
| [[File:House Frey.svg|75px|''House Frey'']]
| [[File:MiniWalder Rivers.png|75px|'' personnel arms of Walder Rivers'']]
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| [[File:House Frey (Walder Rivers).svg|75px|'' personal arms of Walder Rivers'']]
|The personal arms of [[Walder Rivers]], bastard son of Lord [[Walder Frey]], has the Frey colors reversed and a red bend sinister added.{{ref|affc|39}}
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|The personal arms of [[Walder Rivers]] (right), bastard son of Lord [[Walder Frey]], has the colors of the sigil of [[House Frey]] (left) reversed and a red bend sinister added.{{ref|affc|38}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
{| cellspacing="5" border="0" style="text-align:left;"
 
{| cellspacing="5" border="0" style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:House_Blackfyre_crest.png|75px|''House Blackfyre'']]
+
| [[File:House Blackfyre.svg|75px|''House Blackfyre'']]
| [[File:Bracken sigil coat.png|75px|''House Bracken'']]
+
| [[File:House Bracken.svg|75px|''House Bracken'']]
| [[File:COA Aegor Rivers.png|75px|'' personnel arms of Aegor Rivers'']]
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| [[File:Bittersteel.svg|75px|''personal arms of Aegor Rivers'']]
|The coat of arms of [[Aegor Rivers]] "Bittersteel", a bastard son of [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]. He has combined the sigils of House Bracken (his mothers house) and House Blackfyre.
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|The coat of arms of [[Aegor Rivers]] (right), a bastard son of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]. He has combined the sigils of his mother's house, [[House Bracken]] (middle), and [[House Blackfyre]] (left).
|}
 
 
 
==Surnames==
 
Each of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms have bastard surnames decreed by custom, not law.<ref name=SF/>  Bastards with a high-born parent are given these surnames to hold them apart from their fathers' houses. The parents may give a bastard a different surname if they wish, e.g. [[Tyrion Tanner]]. Bastards with no known relation to a noble house have no surname, like other [[smallfolk]].
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
! Region !! Surname !! Example
 
|-
 
| [[Crownlands]] || Waters || [[Aurane Waters]]
 
|-
 
| [[Dorne]] || Sand || [[Nymeria Sand]]
 
|-
 
| [[Iron Islands]] || Pyke || [[Wex Pyke]]
 
|-
 
| [[North]] || Snow || [[Jon Snow]]
 
|-
 
| [[Reach]] || Flowers || [[Robert Flowers]]
 
|-
 
| [[Riverlands]] || Rivers || [[Walder Rivers]]
 
|-
 
| [[Stormlands]] || Storm || [[Rolland Storm]]
 
|-
 
| [[Vale of Arryn]] || Stone || [[Mya Stone]]
 
|-
 
| [[Westerlands]] || Hill || [[Joy Hill]]
 
 
|}
 
|}
 
The surname a bastard received appears to be connected to the location the child is raised, though this is not a consistent rule. Because of this, bastards who are half-siblings might have different surnames. For example, King [[Robert I Baratheon]]'s eldest bastard, born in the Vale, is called [[Mya Stone|Mya ''Stone'']], while his bastard from the stormlands (fathered on a noblewoman from the [[Reach]]) is called [[Edric Storm|Edric ''Storm'']]. However, whilst [[Aegor Rivers]] was raised at [[Stone Hedge]] in the [[riverlands]], his half-brother [[Brynden Rivers|Brynden]], was also called ''Rivers'', despite having lived at least the first few years of his life with his mother at [[King's Landing]] in the [[Crownlands]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
 
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
Prince [[Joffrey Baratheon]] was believed by King [[Robert I Baratheon]] to be his trueborn son, and therefore heir to [[House Baratheon]] and the [[Iron Throne]]. However, Lord [[Eddard Stark]] discovers that Joffrey, as well as his siblings [[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]] and [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen]], are actually the bastards of [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei]] and [[Jaime Lannister]].{{Ref|AGOT|45}}
+
Prince [[Joffrey Baratheon]] is believed by King [[Robert I Baratheon]] to be his trueborn son, and is therefore the heir to [[House Baratheon]] of [[King's Landing]], and heir to the [[Iron Throne]]. However, Lord [[Eddard Stark]] discovers that Joffrey, as well as his siblings [[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]] and [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen]], are actually the bastards of Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] and her twin brother, [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]].{{Ref|AGOT|45}}
  
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
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[[Ramsay Snow]]'s official bastard status is removed by a royal decree, as a reward for the [[House Bolton|Boltons]] betraying the [[House Stark|Starks]] and bowing to the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]], and he becomes the heir of House Bolton.{{Ref|ASOS|72}}
 
[[Ramsay Snow]]'s official bastard status is removed by a royal decree, as a reward for the [[House Bolton|Boltons]] betraying the [[House Stark|Starks]] and bowing to the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]], and he becomes the heir of House Bolton.{{Ref|ASOS|72}}
  
[[Robb Stark]], as [[King in the North]], planned to legitimize his bastard half-brother [[Jon Snow]] and proclaim him as his heir;{{Ref|ASOS|45}} however, this would only be considered valid by those who supported Robb's claim to be King in the North. Following Robb's death, [[Stannis Baratheon]], having proclaimed himself King of the Seven Kingdoms, also proposes to legitimize Snow and make him Lord of [[Winterfell]],{{Ref|ASOS|76}} but Jon declines Stannis's offer, electing to become [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]] instead.{{Ref|ASOS|79}}
+
[[Robb Stark]], as [[King in the North]], plans to legitimize his bastard half-brother [[Jon Snow]] and proclaim him as his heir.{{Ref|ASOS|45}} Following Robb's death, [[Stannis Baratheon]], having proclaimed himself King of the Seven Kingdoms, also proposes to legitimize Snow and make him Lord of [[Winterfell]],{{Ref|ASOS|76}} but Jon declines Stannis's offer, electing to become [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]] instead.{{Ref|ASOS|79}}
 +
 
 +
Having fled [[King's Landing]] with the aid of Lord [[Petyr Baelish]], [[Sansa Stark]] poses as his natural daughter, named Alayne Stone.{{Ref|ASOS|68}}
 +
 
 +
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 +
[[Sansa Stark]] is still posing in the [[Vale]] as Alayne Stone, the bastard-born daughter of [[Petyr Baelish]].{{Ref|AFFC|10}}
 +
 
 +
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 +
[[Tyrion Lannister]] uses the name Hugor Hill while traveling through [[Essos]], pretending to be a bastard from [[Lannisport]].{{Ref|ADWD|8}}{{Ref|ADWD|14}}
  
 
==Notable Bastards==
 
==Notable Bastards==
 +
:''See also'': [[:Category:Bastards|List of known bastards]]''
 
'''Crownlands'''
 
'''Crownlands'''
 
* Addam of Hull, legitimised as [[Addam Velaryon]], a dragonrider and heir to [[Driftmark]].
 
* Addam of Hull, legitimised as [[Addam Velaryon]], a dragonrider and heir to [[Driftmark]].
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'''Iron Islands'''
 
'''Iron Islands'''
 
* [[Cotter Pyke]], a member of the Night's Watch and the current Commander of [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]].
 
* [[Cotter Pyke]], a member of the Night's Watch and the current Commander of [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]].
* [[Wex Pyke]], the baseborn son of [[Sargon Botley]] and the squire of [[Theon Greyjoy]].
+
* [[Wex Pyke]], the baseborn son of [[Sargon Botley]]; the squire of [[Theon Greyjoy]].
  
  
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'''The Reach'''
 
'''The Reach'''
 +
*[[Blackshield]], an identity assumed by the Bastard of Uplands.
 
*[[Falia Flowers]], the bastard daughter of Lord [[Humfrey Hewett]].
 
*[[Falia Flowers]], the bastard daughter of Lord [[Humfrey Hewett]].
 
*Ser [[Franklyn Flowers]], also known as the Bastard of [[Cider Hall]], a knight in service to the [[Golden Company]].
 
*Ser [[Franklyn Flowers]], also known as the Bastard of [[Cider Hall]], a knight in service to the [[Golden Company]].
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*Ser [[Robert Flowers]], a former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
 
*Ser [[Robert Flowers]], a former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
 
*[[Jafer Flowers]], a ranger of the Night's Watch.
 
*[[Jafer Flowers]], a ranger of the Night's Watch.
 +
*[[Tom Flowers]], also known as the Bastard of [[Bitterbridge]], a bastard of [[House Caswell]] who fought for the [[greens]] in the [[Dance of the Dragons]].
 
*Maester [[Walys Flowers|Walys]], the bastard son of a [[House Hightower|Hightower]] girl and an [[archmaester]] of the [[Citadel]]. He served at [[Winterfell]] when Lord [[Rickard Stark]] was head of [[House Stark]].
 
*Maester [[Walys Flowers|Walys]], the bastard son of a [[House Hightower|Hightower]] girl and an [[archmaester]] of the [[Citadel]]. He served at [[Winterfell]] when Lord [[Rickard Stark]] was head of [[House Stark]].
  
  
 
'''Riverlands'''
 
'''Riverlands'''
 +
* The [[Bastard of Harrenhal]], who was defeated by Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]].{{ref|THK}}
 
* Ser [[Addam Rivers]], claimed the title of [[river king]] or [[King of the Trident]].
 
* Ser [[Addam Rivers]], claimed the title of [[river king]] or [[King of the Trident]].
* Ser [[Aegor Rivers]], better known as Bittersteel, was the recognized and legitimised son of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] and [[Barba Bracken]]. Founder of the [[Golden Company]].
+
* Ser [[Aegor Rivers]], better known as Bittersteel, was the recognized and legitimized son of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] and [[Barba Bracken]]. Founder of the [[Golden Company]].
 
* [[Alys Rivers]], was a bedmate of Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]].
 
* [[Alys Rivers]], was a bedmate of Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]].
 
* Ser [[Benedict I Justman|Benedict Rivers]], later known as King Benedict I Justman, was a bastard from Houses [[House Blackwood|Blackwood]] and [[House Bracken|Bracken]]. Founder of [[House Justman]] and the first Justman [[King of the Trident]].
 
* Ser [[Benedict I Justman|Benedict Rivers]], later known as King Benedict I Justman, was a bastard from Houses [[House Blackwood|Blackwood]] and [[House Bracken|Bracken]]. Founder of [[House Justman]] and the first Justman [[King of the Trident]].
* [[Brynden Rivers]], better known as Bloodraven, recognized and legitimised son of King Aegon IV Targaryen and [[Melissa Blackwood]]. Former [[Hand of the King]] and [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]].
+
* [[Brynden Rivers]], better known as Bloodraven, recognized and legitimized son of King Aegon IV Targaryen and [[Melissa Blackwood]]. Former [[Hand of the King]] and [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]].
 +
* [[Gwenys Rivers]], recognized and legitimized daughter of Aegon IV Targaryen and Melissa Blackwood.
 
* [[Harry Rivers]], known as  the Bastard of Bracken, is the bastard son of Lord [[Jonos Bracken]].
 
* [[Harry Rivers]], known as  the Bastard of Bracken, is the bastard son of Lord [[Jonos Bracken]].
* [[Robb Rivers|Red Robb Rivers]], also known as the Bowman of [[Raventree]], was a bastard of [[House Blackwood]].  
+
* [[Mya Rivers]], recognized and legitimized daughter of Aegon IV Targaryen and Melissa Blackwood.
 +
* [[Robb Rivers|Red Robb Rivers]], also known as the Bowman of [[Raventree]], a bastard of [[House Blackwood]].  
 
* Ser [[Samwell Rivers]], the bastard son of Lord [[Tommen Tully]].
 
* Ser [[Samwell Rivers]], the bastard son of Lord [[Tommen Tully]].
 
* Ser [[Tristan Rivers]], an exiled knight in service to the [[Golden Company]].
 
* Ser [[Tristan Rivers]], an exiled knight in service to the [[Golden Company]].
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'''Stormlands'''
 
'''Stormlands'''
 +
*The [[Bastard of Blackhaven]], of [[House Dondarrion]], who fought and perished in the [[Last Storm]] during [[Aegon's Conquest]].
 
*[[Cedrik Storm]], also known as the Bastard of [[Bronzegate]].
 
*[[Cedrik Storm]], also known as the Bastard of [[Bronzegate]].
 
*[[Edric Storm]], the acknowledged bastard son of King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and [[Delena Florent]].
 
*[[Edric Storm]], the acknowledged bastard son of King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and [[Delena Florent]].
 
*Ser [[Rolland Storm]], better known as the Bastard of [[Nightsong]], is the baseborn son of Lord [[Bryen Caron]].
 
*Ser [[Rolland Storm]], better known as the Bastard of [[Nightsong]], is the baseborn son of Lord [[Bryen Caron]].
 
*[[Ronald Storm]], the bastard son of Ser [[Ronnet Connington]].
 
*[[Ronald Storm]], the bastard son of Ser [[Ronnet Connington]].
*King [[Ronard Storm]], called Ronard the Bastard, who usurped his half-brother's rule and ruled for a stable thirty years.
+
*King [[Ronard Storm]], called Ronard the Bastard, who usurped his [[Morden II Durrandon|half-brother's]] rule and ruled for a stable thirty years.
  
  
 
'''Vale of Arryn'''
 
'''Vale of Arryn'''
* ''[[Alayne Stone]]'', the bastard daughter of [[Petyr Baelish]], actually a false identity assumed by [[Sansa Stark]].
+
* [[Mya Stone]], the eldest bastard of King [[Robert I Baratheon]]. While she is not officially recognized, she is somewhat openly known to be the king's baseborn daughter.
* [[Mya Stone]], the eldest bastard of King [[Robert Baratheon]]. (While she is not officially recognized, she is somewhat openly known to be the king's baseborn daughter.)
+
* Ser [[Samwell Stone]], known as Strong Sam Stone, the master-at-arms at [[Runestone]].
* Ser [[Samwell Stone]], better known as Strong Sam Stone, is the master-at-arms at [[Runestone]].
 
  
  
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* [[Joy Hill]], the recognized daughter of [[Gerion Lannister]].
 
* [[Joy Hill]], the recognized daughter of [[Gerion Lannister]].
 
* "Sweet" [[Donnel Hill]], who claims to be a bastard of the Lannisters.
 
* "Sweet" [[Donnel Hill]], who claims to be a bastard of the Lannisters.
* ''Hugor Hill'', a bastard named in analogy of the mythical [[Hugor of the Hill]], actually a false identity assumed by [[Tyrion Lannister]]
 
 
* [[Lynora Hill]], the bastard daughter of [[Jason Lannister (son of Gerold)|Jason Lannister]] and a serving girl.
 
* [[Lynora Hill]], the bastard daughter of [[Jason Lannister (son of Gerold)|Jason Lannister]] and a serving girl.
 
* [[Robin Hill]], considered one of the worst Lord Commanders of the Night's Watch.
 
* [[Robin Hill]], considered one of the worst Lord Commanders of the Night's Watch.
* Ser [[Tyler Hill]], also known as the Bastard of [[Lannisport]], fought for the [[greens]] in the [[Dance of the Dragons]].
+
* Ser [[Tyler Hill]], also known as the Bastard of [[Lannisport]], fought for the [[greens]] in the Dance of the Dragons.
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
{{Quote|The old [[High Septon]] told [[Maekar I Targaryen|my father]] that king's laws are one thing, and the laws of the gods another. Trueborn children are made in a marriage bed and blessed by [[Father (the Seven)|the Father]] and [[Mother (the Seven)|the Mother]], but bastards are born of lust and weakness, he said. King [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]] decreed that his bastards were not bastards, but he could not change their nature. The High Septon said all bastards are born to betrayal ...{{Ref|TSS}}}} - [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]] to [[Duncan]]
+
{{Quote|[[Orys Baratheon]] was a baseborn half brother to Lord [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon]], it was whispered, and the [[Argilac Durrandon|Storm King]] would not dishonor [[Argella Durrandon|his daughter]] by giving her hand to a bastard. The very suggestion enraged him.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}|writings of [[Gyldayn]]}}
 
 
 
 
{{Quote|Your mother was milking goats the first time I gave her my seed.{{Ref|aGoT|59}}}}
 
– [[Walder Frey]], to [[Ryger Rivers]]
 
 
 
 
 
{{Quote|Go away, I wanted only Freys up here, the [[Robb Stark|King in the North]] has no interest in base stock.{{Ref|asos|49}}}}  
 
– [[Walder Frey]], to little [[Walda Rivers (daughter of Aemon)|Walda Rivers]]
 
 
 
  
{{Quote|[[Orys Baratheon]] was a baseborn half brother to [[Aegon I Targaryen|Lord Aegon]], it was whispered, and the [[Argilac Durrandon|Storm King]] would not dishonor his daughter by giving her hand to a bastard. The very suggestion enraged him.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}}}
+
{{Quote|The old [[High Septon]] told [[Maekar I Targaryen|my father]] that king's laws are one thing, and the laws of the gods another. Trueborn children are made in a marriage bed and blessed by [[Father (the Seven)|the Father]] and [[Mother (the Seven)|the Mother]], but bastards are born of lust and weakness, he said. King [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]] decreed that his bastards were not bastards, but he could not change their nature. The High Septon said all bastards are born to betrayal ...{{Ref|TSS}}|[[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]] to [[Duncan the Tall|Duncan]]}}
- Archmaester [[Gyldayn]]
 
  
 +
{{quote|A bastard had to learn to notice things, to read the truth that people hid behind their eyes.{{ref|AGOT|5}}|thoughts of [[Jon Snow]]}}
  
{{Quote|Bastard children were born from lust and lies, men said; their nature was wanton and treacherous. Once Jon had meant to prove them wrong, to show [[Eddard Stark|his lord father]] he could as good a true son as [[Robb Stark]].{{ref|asos|73}}}}
+
{{Quote|Go away, I wanted only Freys up here, the [[Robb Stark|King in the North]] has no interest in base stock.{{Ref|asos|49}}|[[Walder Frey]] to little [[Walda Rivers (daughter of Aemon)|Walda Rivers]]}}
[[Jon Snow]]
 
  
 +
{{Quote|Bastard children were born from lust and lies, men said; their nature was wanton and treacherous. Once Jon had meant to prove them wrong, to show [[Eddard Stark|his lord father]] he could as good a true son as [[Robb Stark]].{{ref|asos|73}}|thoughts of [[Jon Snow]]}}
  
{{Quote|Well, [[Aerion Brightflame]] did not stay in [[Lys]] all his life, only a few years. He may have fathered a few [[bastard]]s there, which would mean [[Daenerys Targaryen|Dany]] has "relatives" of a sort in Lys... but they would be very distant relatives, from the wrong side of the blanket.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Many_Questions/ Many Questions (October 14, 1998)]</ref>}} - [[George R. R. Martin]]
+
{{Quote|Well, [[Aerion Targaryen|Aerion Brightflame]] did not stay in [[Lys]] all his life, only a few years. He may have fathered a few [[bastard]]s there, which would mean [[Daenerys Targaryen|Dany]] has "relatives" of a sort in Lys... but they would be very distant relatives, from the wrong side of the blanket.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Many_Questions/ Many Questions (October 14, 1998)]</ref>|[[George R. R. Martin]]}}
  
==References and Notes==
+
==References==
{{References|2}}
+
{{References}}
{{EnWP|Bastard (Law of England and Wales)|small=yes}}
 
  
 
[[Category:Bastards| ]]
 
[[Category:Bastards| ]]
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[[fr:Bâtard]]
 
[[fr:Bâtard]]
 
[[ru:Бастард]]
 
[[ru:Бастард]]
 +
[[pt:Bastardia]]

Revision as of 05:37, 19 July 2021

A bastard is a person whose parents are not married to each other.[1] A bastard can also be referred to as natural son or natural daughter.[2][3][4][5]

Social status

A bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn Martell - by Magali Villeneuve. © Fantasy Flight Games

A polite way of referring to someone who is bastard-born is referring to them as a "natural son" or "natural daughter".[2][3][4][5] Others might refer to a bastard simply as "bastard-born".[6][7][8] The term "baseborn"[9][10] is used to refer to a child of whom one parent is of the smallfolk.[1][9][10][11] A euphemism for being bastard-born is being "born on the wrong side of the blanket".[1]

It is not unexpected for noblemen to have bastard children,[12] though it is considered rude to pry into the origins of a man's bastards.[13] While it is not typical for a noble to bring his bastards home and raise them with his own children, it is usually expected that he will see to the child's well-being to some degree.[12] Some might chose to have their bastards fostered at the home of another lord,[14] while others might decide to raise their bastard at their own home, in the position of a servant (e.g. Falia Flowers).[15] A noble-born wife can take insult at her husband's bastards being introduced into her household and being commensurate in rank with her legally-born children.[12]

There is a certain stigma that comes from being born as a bastard. They are said to be born from lust, lies, and weakness,[16][13][17] and as such, they are said to be wanton and treacherous by nature.[16][13][17] Because of the stigma bastards have to deal with, they are said to grow up faster than trueborn children.[18][19] Even after being legitimized, bastards will usually have considerable difficulty in removing the stigma of having been bastard-born.[17]

Nonetheless, a bastard might rise high. Male bastards may study at the Citadel and become a maester (e.g., Walys, a former maester of Winterfell[20]) Female bastards are allowed to join the Faith of the Seven and become septas, like Alysanne, Lily, Willow, and Rosey, the four bastard daughters of King Aegon IV Targaryen by his second mistress, Megette.[21] Potentially, this might mean that male bastards could become septons.

Bastards can also be knighted, and may even be appointed to the Kingsguard (e.g., Mervyn Flowers[22]). Bastards can even rise to become the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, as Robert Flowers and Addison Hill did.[23] In the Night's Watch, any man may rise to command, no matter the circumstance of his birth. Bastards who have risen to positions of command include Cotter Pyke,[9] who is the commander at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, and Robin Hill[16] and Jon Snow,[24] who both became Lord Commanders.

Another example is the origin of House Justman. This house was founded by Benedict Rivers, a bastard son descending of both House Blackwood and House Bracken. House Justman ruled the riverlands for three centuries before being eventually wiped out during a war against the ironborn and King Qhored Hoare.[25]

Surnames

Each of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms have bastard surnames decreed by custom, not law.[26] Bastards with a high-born parent are given these surnames to hold them apart from their parent's houses.[26] The parents may give a bastard a different surname if they wish, e.g. Tyrion Tanner[27], or no name at all.[26] Bastard children of two people of the smallfolk are not given a distinctive surname.[26] A bastard might also chose a surname for himself. Daemon Waters took the surname Blackfyre at the age of twelve, after having been knighted and having received lands and the Valyrian steel sword of the same name from his father, King Aegon IV Targaryen.[21]

The surname a bastard received appears to be connected to the location the child is raised, though this is not a consistent rule. Because of this, bastards who are half-siblings might have different surnames. For example, King Robert I Baratheon's eldest bastard, born and raised in the Vale, is called Mya Stone, while his bastard from the stormlands (fathered on a noblewoman from the Reach) is called Edric Storm. However, whilst Aegor Rivers was raised at Stone Hedge in the riverlands, his half-brother Brynden was also called Rivers, despite having lived at least the first few years of his life with his mother at King's Landing in the crownlands.[21] Prince Oberyn Martell's eight bastard daughters all have the surname Sand, even though the eldest, Obara, lived in Oldtown in the Reach during the earlier years of her life,[28] and her sister Nymeria was born in Volantis, across the narrow sea.[29]

Most legitimate offspring of a bastard decides to keep the bastard surname.[26] If two bastards from two different regions (i.e. with two different surnames) marry, the children will most likely take their father's surname.[30] Some later legitimate offspring of bastards might change their surname to demonstrate their legitimate nature, and remove the bastard-born taint.[26] One such an example is the son of Jon Waters. Jon Waters was the bastard son of Princess Elaena Targaryen and Lord Alyn Velaryon.[31][32] His trueborn son changed his name from "Waters" to "Longwaters" in an attempt to remove the taint of bastardy,[32] and to demonstrate he was of legitimate birth himself.[26]

Region Surname Example
Crownlands Waters[33][34] Aurane Waters
Dorne Sand[2] Ellaria Sand
Iron Islands Pyke[9][35] Cotter Pyke
North Snow[36][37] Jon Snow
Reach Flowers[37] Falia Flowers
Riverlands Rivers[38] Walder Rivers
Stormlands Storm[39] Rolland Storm
Vale of Arryn Stone[37] Mya Stone
Westerlands Hill[40] Joy Hill

Acknowledgement

Jon Snow, the acknowledged bastard son of Eddard Stark - by Natascha Roeoesli. © Fantasy Flight Games

At any point, the biological father of a bastard may acknowledge him and bring him formally into his house. King Robert I Baratheon acknowledged Edric Storm at his birth, although the boy was raised at Storm's End.[39] Lord Roose Bolton brought his bastard son, Ramsay Snow, to the Dreadfort following the death of his only trueborn son, Domeric, albeit without acknowledging him.[14][41] An acknowledged bastard might even be considered to inherit a seat when no direct heirs can be found.[14]

Prince Oberyn Martell has fathered eight bastard daughters on five mothers.[42] His children are raised at the court of Sunspear, where several are close to the heir of Prince Doran Martell, Princess Arianne.[43][44] The Dornish are not greatly concerned about whether or not a child is trueborn or bastard-born, especially not if the child born to a paramour.[45] While Prince Oberyn's four elder daughters were born of mothers of variable social stations - Obara's mother was a whore, Nymeria's mother a Volantene noblewoman, Tyene's mother a septa and Sarella's mother a trader captain from the Summer Islands - they appear to be treated no differently from Elia, Obella, Dorea, and Loreza, the children he fathered on his recognized paramour, Ellaria Sand.[42][43][46]

Legitimization

Aegor Rivers, a Great Bastard, fathered by Aegon IV Targaryen - by Marc Simonetti ©

Besides acknowledging bastards, they can also be legitimized. This power is reserved to monarchs alone.[47][48] Once a bastard is legitimized, this cannot be undone.[47]

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen legitimized the brothers Addam and Alyn of Hull as heirs of Lord Corlys Velaryon.[49]

The children of Lord Lyonel Hightower and Lady Samantha Tarly were rendered legitimate once a new High Septon allowed the couple to marry.[50][51]

King Aegon IV Targaryen legitimized all of his bastards on his deathbed, both those born by highborn mothers, who were also known as the Great Bastards, and those who had been baseborn.[17][21] This act by King Aegon eventually played a large role in several wars fought over the Iron Throne between the trueborn descendants of King Aegon and his bastard-born offspring, the Blackfyre Pretenders.[47]

Following his role in the War of the Five Kings, the bastard-born son of Lord Roose Bolton, Ramsay Snow, is legitimized in order to marry a highborn bride.[52]

Rights of Inheritance

The bastard-born have few rights under law and custom.[10] When it comes to rights of inheritance, there are no clear cut laws.[53]

A bastard may inherit if the father has no other trueborn children nor any other direct heirs to follow him. For example, in 299 AC, following the deaths of Lord Halys Hornwood and his trueborn son, Daryn, Halys's natural son Larence Snow is considered as a potential heir by House Hornwoods overlords, House Stark.[14] However, in order to inherit or be installed as an heir, the bastard-born child will first have to be legitimized by a royal decree.[47]

It is unclear whether a legitimized bastard would be placed in the succession according to birth order, or would be placed at the end, after the trueborn children.[53]

Coat of Arms

Bastards do not have the right to use the arms of the highborn families from which they descend.[54] Recognized bastards who take arms (noble born, knighted, etc.) often, but not always, take the coat of arms of their fathers with the colors reversed.[17] A bend sinister is sometimes added, as exemplified by Ser Walder Rivers's sigil.[55] A bastard that wants to emphasize his affiliation and minimize his own bastardy may decide to use the same sigil as his father, as did Glendon Flowers,[1] perhaps illegally.[56][54] Other bastards might choose to combine multiple sigils, as Aegor Rivers did.[57]

Several examples:

House Targaryen House Blackfyre Arms of House Blackfyre (right), founded by Daemon I Blackfyre, a bastard descending from House Targaryen, has the colors of the Targaryen sigil (left) reversed.[17]
House Frey  personal arms of Walder Rivers The personal arms of Walder Rivers (right), bastard son of Lord Walder Frey, has the colors of the sigil of House Frey (left) reversed and a red bend sinister added.[55]
House Blackfyre House Bracken personal arms of Aegor Rivers The coat of arms of Aegor Rivers (right), a bastard son of King Aegon IV Targaryen. He has combined the sigils of his mother's house, House Bracken (middle), and House Blackfyre (left).

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Prince Joffrey Baratheon is believed by King Robert I Baratheon to be his trueborn son, and is therefore the heir to House Baratheon of King's Landing, and heir to the Iron Throne. However, Lord Eddard Stark discovers that Joffrey, as well as his siblings Myrcella and Tommen, are actually the bastards of Queen Cersei Lannister and her twin brother, Jaime.[58]

A Clash of Kings

The revelation of Joffrey's bastardy, as the product of adultery on the part of Queen Cersei Lannister, causes Joffrey's claim to the Iron Throne to be disputed after Robert's death by Robert's eldest brother, Stannis Baratheon.[59]

A Storm of Swords

Ramsay Snow's official bastard status is removed by a royal decree, as a reward for the Boltons betraying the Starks and bowing to the Lannisters, and he becomes the heir of House Bolton.[52]

Robb Stark, as King in the North, plans to legitimize his bastard half-brother Jon Snow and proclaim him as his heir.[47] Following Robb's death, Stannis Baratheon, having proclaimed himself King of the Seven Kingdoms, also proposes to legitimize Snow and make him Lord of Winterfell,[60] but Jon declines Stannis's offer, electing to become Lord Commander of the Night's Watch instead.[24]

Having fled King's Landing with the aid of Lord Petyr Baelish, Sansa Stark poses as his natural daughter, named Alayne Stone.[4]

A Feast for Crows

Sansa Stark is still posing in the Vale as Alayne Stone, the bastard-born daughter of Petyr Baelish.[61]

A Dance with Dragons

Tyrion Lannister uses the name Hugor Hill while traveling through Essos, pretending to be a bastard from Lannisport.[62][63]

Notable Bastards

See also: List of known bastards

Crownlands


Dorne


Iron Islands


North


The Reach


Riverlands


Stormlands


Vale of Arryn


Westerlands

Quotes

Orys Baratheon was a baseborn half brother to Lord Aegon, it was whispered, and the Storm King would not dishonor his daughter by giving her hand to a bastard. The very suggestion enraged him.[64]

—writings of Gyldayn

The old High Septon told my father that king's laws are one thing, and the laws of the gods another. Trueborn children are made in a marriage bed and blessed by the Father and the Mother, but bastards are born of lust and weakness, he said. King Aegon decreed that his bastards were not bastards, but he could not change their nature. The High Septon said all bastards are born to betrayal ...[17]

Egg to Duncan

A bastard had to learn to notice things, to read the truth that people hid behind their eyes.[18]

—thoughts of Jon Snow

Go away, I wanted only Freys up here, the King in the North has no interest in base stock.[65]

Bastard children were born from lust and lies, men said; their nature was wanton and treacherous. Once Jon had meant to prove them wrong, to show his lord father he could as good a true son as Robb Stark.[13]

—thoughts of Jon Snow

Well, Aerion Brightflame did not stay in Lys all his life, only a few years. He may have fathered a few bastards there, which would mean Dany has "relatives" of a sort in Lys... but they would be very distant relatives, from the wrong side of the blanket.[66]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Mystery Knight.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 68, Sansa VI.
  5. 5.0 5.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  6. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 15, Jon II.
  7. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  8. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 48, Jon VI.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  11. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 35, Eddard IX.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
  15. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 55, Jon VII.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 The Sworn Sword.
  18. 18.0 18.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 5, Jon I.
  19. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.
  20. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.
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  22. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
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  27. A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
  28. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 2, The Captain Of Guards.
  29. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Nymeria Sand.
  30. So Spake Martin: Bastard's Offspring (January 20, 1999)
  31. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
  32. 32.0 32.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 8, Jaime I.
  33. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 34, Cat Of The Canals.
  34. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
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  38. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 59, Catelyn IX.
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  40. A Storm of Swords, Prologue.
  41. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Ramsay Snow.
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  44. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  45. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Queer Customs of the South.
  46. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 40, Princess In The Tower.
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  48. So Spake Martin: Jon Snow (August 6, 2000)
  49. The Princess and the Queen.
  50. Which bastards in Westeros were automatically legitimized once their parents married? (September 8, 2017)
  51. Fire & Blood, Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf.
  52. 52.0 52.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime IX.
  53. 53.0 53.1 So Spake Martin: The Hornwood Inheritance and the Whents (November 2, 1999)
  54. 54.0 54.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 7, Arya I.
  55. 55.0 55.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 38, Jaime VI.
  56. 56.0 56.1 The Hedge Knight.
  57. So Spake Martin: (December 26, 2005)
  58. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 45, Eddard XII.
  59. A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  60. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 76, Jon XI.
  61. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 10, Sansa I.
  62. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.
  63. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  64. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  65. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 49, Catelyn VI.
  66. So Spake Martin: Many Questions (October 14, 1998)