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'''Born of dragonseed''' or '''seeds''' is a term to describe [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and [[House Velaryon|Velaryon]] [[bastard]]s born of the [[first night]] law before King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] outlawed the custom. Unlike the rest of [[Westeros]], the [[smallfolk]] of [[Dragonstone]] were not upset by this custom, but viewed it as a blessing if they had a child with dragon blood from the union and celebrated the birth of such children. Mothers were given lavish gifts and were envied. Even after the first night was abolished, some Targaryens continued to sleep with Dragonstone smallfolk.{{ref|tpatq}}
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'''Born of dragonseed''' or '''seeds''' is a term to describe some [[bastard]]s of [[House Targaryen]] as well as [[House Velaryon]].{{Ref|TPATQ}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
In the [[Dance of the Dragons]], [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] offered lands, riches, and knighthood to any seeds that could master a dragon. Most candidates failed and were either killed or burned by the dragons. It is unconfirmed if the successful candidates had Targaryen blood or, if they did, if that ancestry is what allowed them to master the dragons.
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===Origins===
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The custom of the [[first night]] had been greatly resented in the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. However, it was less protested on [[Dragonstone]], where the Targaryens had ruled for centuries, because there the common folk viewed their beautiful, foreign rulers almost as gods.{{Ref|TPATQ}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} When a [[Lord of Dragonstone]] took his rights according to the first night custom, the brides were seen as "blessed", and the children born of such unions were often given lavish gifts by their father. These bastards were born of "dragonseed", and in time, became known as "seeds".{{Ref|TPATQ}}
  
===Successful Dragonseed===
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Though the right of the first night ended when it was outlawed by King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], some Targaryens continued to carry on relationships with the daughters of innkeeps and the wives of fishermen. Seeds and the sons of seeds thus remained plentiful on Dragonstone and surrounding areas,{{Ref|TPATQ}} and there were many on Dragonstone who could rightly claim — or at least suspect — that some Targaryen blood ran in their veins.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
*[[Hugh Hammer]], bonded with [[Vermithor]]
 
*[[Ulf the White]], bonded with [[Silverwing]]
 
*[[Addam of Hull]], bonded with [[Seasmoke]]
 
*[[Nettles]], bonded with [[Sheepstealer]] by feeding it sheep each morning
 
  
===Unsuccessful Dragonseed===
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===The Dance of the Dragons===
* Ser [[Steffon Darklyn]], Lord Commander of Kingsguard, burned to death trying to claim [[Seasmoke]]
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During the civil war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] realised that his mother Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s faction, [[the blacks]], had many [[dragon]]s but was in need of [[dragonrider]]s. He offered lands, riches, and [[knighthood]] to any such man that could master a dragon; his sons would be ennobled, his daughters wed to lords.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} According to ''[[The Testimony of Mushroom]]'', the [[Mushroom|eponymous]] [[fool]] had prompted Jacaerys to do so.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
* Lord [[Gormon Massey]], burned to death trying to claim [[Vermithor]]
 
* [[Silver Denys]], rejected by Sheepstealer and slain with his sons by [[Cannibal]]
 
* [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn of Hull]], rejected by Sheepstealer
 
  
==References and Notes==
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Jacaerys's offer gained the attention of more than just dragonseeds. Most candidates failed and were either killed or burned by the dragons. (These included Rhaenyra's Lord Commander Ser [[Steffon Darklyn]], and Lord [[Gormon Massey]].){{Ref|TPATQ}} Grand Maester [[Munkun]] dubbed this event "the [[Sowing of the Seeds]]", whilst others "the Red Sowing".{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
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It is unconfirmed if the successful candidates truly had Targaryen blood, or if they did, if that ancestry is what allowed them to master the dragons. But whatever their origin in truth, the successful baseborn dragonriders were referred to as dragonseeds for the remainder of the war and within historical records.{{Ref|TPATQ}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
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After the [[Two Betrayers|betrayal]] of [[Hugh Hammer]] and [[Ulf the White]] at the [[First Battle of Tumbleton]], Queen Rhaenyra and most of her council believed none of the other dragonseeds could be trusted, and ordered their arrest. [[Addam Velaryon]] escaped upon his dragon [[Seasmoke]], but later proved his loyalty at the [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]]. In the case of [[Nettles]], it was not only arrest that was ordered, but also execution, because she had become the lover of Rhaenyra's husband [[Daemon Targaryen]]; however, the girl fled upon [[Sheepstealer]] and was never seen again "at court or castle".{{Ref|TPATQ}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
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==Named Dragonseeds==
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* [[Hugh Hammer]], a blacksmith's bastard, bonded with [[Vermithor]].{{Ref|TPATQ}}
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* [[Ulf the White]], a man-at-arms, bonded with [[Silverwing]].{{Ref|TPATQ}}
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* [[Addam of Hull]], bonded with [[Seasmoke]]. Was legitimized as Addam Velaryon and made heir to [[Driftmark]] shortly thereafter.{{Ref|TPATQ}}
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* [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn of Hull]], the younger brother of Addam of Hull. Unable to find [[Grey Ghost]], rejected by [[Sheepstealer]], but legitimized as Alyn Velaryon nevertheless.{{Ref|TPATQ}}
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* [[Nettles]], bonded with [[Sheepstealer]] by feeding it sheep each morning.{{Ref|TPATQ}}
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* [[Silver Denys]], claimed to have been descended from a bastard son of King [[Maegor I Targaryen]]. Had an arm torn off by Sheepstealer, and was devoured with his sons by the [[Cannibal (dragon)|Cannibal]] while trying to staunch his wound.{{Ref|TPATQ}}
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==References==
 
{{references}}
 
{{references}}
  
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Dragonseeds| ]]
 
[[Category:Dragonseeds| ]]
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[[Category:House Targaryen]]
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[[Category:House Velaryon]]
  
 
[[es:Semilla de dragón]]
 
[[es:Semilla de dragón]]
 
[[fr:Dragonseed]]
 
[[fr:Dragonseed]]
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[[ru:Отпрыски дракона]]
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[[pt:Sementes de dragão]]

Revision as of 01:43, 7 November 2021

Born of dragonseed or seeds is a term to describe some bastards of House Targaryen as well as House Velaryon.[1]

History

Origins

The custom of the first night had been greatly resented in the Seven Kingdoms. However, it was less protested on Dragonstone, where the Targaryens had ruled for centuries, because there the common folk viewed their beautiful, foreign rulers almost as gods.[1][2] When a Lord of Dragonstone took his rights according to the first night custom, the brides were seen as "blessed", and the children born of such unions were often given lavish gifts by their father. These bastards were born of "dragonseed", and in time, became known as "seeds".[1]

Though the right of the first night ended when it was outlawed by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, some Targaryens continued to carry on relationships with the daughters of innkeeps and the wives of fishermen. Seeds and the sons of seeds thus remained plentiful on Dragonstone and surrounding areas,[1] and there were many on Dragonstone who could rightly claim — or at least suspect — that some Targaryen blood ran in their veins.[2]

The Dance of the Dragons

During the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon realised that his mother Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's faction, the blacks, had many dragons but was in need of dragonriders. He offered lands, riches, and knighthood to any such man that could master a dragon; his sons would be ennobled, his daughters wed to lords.[3] According to The Testimony of Mushroom, the eponymous fool had prompted Jacaerys to do so.[2]

Jacaerys's offer gained the attention of more than just dragonseeds. Most candidates failed and were either killed or burned by the dragons. (These included Rhaenyra's Lord Commander Ser Steffon Darklyn, and Lord Gormon Massey.)[1] Grand Maester Munkun dubbed this event "the Sowing of the Seeds", whilst others "the Red Sowing".[3]

It is unconfirmed if the successful candidates truly had Targaryen blood, or if they did, if that ancestry is what allowed them to master the dragons. But whatever their origin in truth, the successful baseborn dragonriders were referred to as dragonseeds for the remainder of the war and within historical records.[1][2]

After the betrayal of Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White at the First Battle of Tumbleton, Queen Rhaenyra and most of her council believed none of the other dragonseeds could be trusted, and ordered their arrest. Addam Velaryon escaped upon his dragon Seasmoke, but later proved his loyalty at the Second Battle of Tumbleton. In the case of Nettles, it was not only arrest that was ordered, but also execution, because she had become the lover of Rhaenyra's husband Daemon Targaryen; however, the girl fled upon Sheepstealer and was never seen again "at court or castle".[1][2]

Named Dragonseeds

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 The Princess and the Queen.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.