Difference between revisions of "Elections"

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'''Elections''', or '''choosings''',{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|45}} are held by several different governments or organizations in the [[known world]], to select individuals to hold an office. There are various different kinds of elections, ranging from the representative republic that governed the old [[Valyrian Freehold]], to elections held within trade guilds{{fact}} and the like to select new office-holders.
  
'''Elections''' are held by several different governments or organizations in the [[known world]], to select individuals to hold an office. There are various different kinds of elections, ranging from the representative republic that governed the old [[Valyrian Freehold]], to elections held within trade guilds and the like to select new office-holders. 
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==Elections in Westeros==
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Few formal elections are held in the [[Seven Kingdoms]], which remains a [[Feudalism|feudal]] society, though several organizations hold internal elections:
  
==Elections in Westeros==
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* The [[High Septon]] of the [[Faith of the Seven]] is elected by a council known as the [[Most Devout]].{{ref|AFFC|28}} In practice, the crown can usually influence the Most Devout to select a candidate they prefer, through a combination of bribery and political favors.{{ref|ACOK|49}}{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
Few formal elections are held in [[Westeros]], which remains a feudal society, though several organizations hold internal elections.  The [[High Septon]] of the [[Faith of the Seven]] is elected by the ruling council known as the [[Most Devout]]. The [[Grand Maester]], who is not the leader of the Order of the Maesters but rather their representative to the Iron Throne, is elected to the position by the ruling council known as the [[Conclave]].
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* The [[Grand Maester]], an adviser to the [[Iron Throne]], is a [[maester]] selected to the position by the [[Conclave]].{{ref|ASOS|12}}
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* The [[Warrior's Sons]], the upper order of the [[Faith Militant]], were led by a [[Grand Captain]] before their disbandment. Similar to the [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], a new Grand Captain was elected in a vote by members of the order.{{ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}
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The [[free folk]] who live [[beyond the Wall]] follow whom they like{{ref|ASOS|15}} and often feel comfortable to speak freely with their leaders.{{ref|ASOS|7}} At several times during history, they have united behind a non-hereditary over-chief known as the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]].{{Ref|AGOT|1}}{{Ref|ACOK|51}}{{Ref|ASOS|26}} The [[Vale mountain clans]] allow all men and women to participate in their councils.{{ref|AGOT|56}} Neither group, however, holds "elections" as such.
  
The '''[[Kingsmoot]]''' was an election held by the [[ironborn]] in ancient times: it was not an open electorate, but a system of elected monarchy. Every ship captain had the right to vote, and could put his name forward in the election so long as he had the support of at least three champions.  Women in the Iron Islands are rarely ship captains, though there is technically no formal rule against them voting or even standing in the election (though in practice they have never had an elected queen in their entire history).  Kingdsmoots were held at the sacred site of [[Nagga's Bones]] on [[Old Wyk]] island, and officiated by the [[Drowned Men]] priests. There are no formal political parties or even formal vote counts: all ship captains are present, and the priests simply declare when a clear majority of them have announced their support for one candidate. Divided elections could end in violence.
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On a few occasions throughout the [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] rule over Westeros, [[Great Council]]s have been held to decide the succession to the [[Iron Throne]],{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}} or to appoint [[regent]]s of an [[Customs#Age of majority|under-aged]] king.{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
  
During the [[War of the Five Kings]], following the death of [[Balon Greyjoy]], the Drowned Men insist on reviving the tradition of the kingsmoot election.  Half a dozen major candidates put their names forward, most prominently Balon's brothers [[Victarion Greyjoy]] and [[Euron Greyjoy]], as well as Balon's daughter [[Asha Greyjoy]]. Heavily divided between Victarion's insistence on continued raiding and Asha's plea to stop before the mainland inevitably counter-attacks, the kingsmoot is instead swayed by Euron Greyjoy's audacious plan to conquer all of Westeros using [[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s [[dragons]].
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===Kingsmoot===
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[[File:Chris Dien Kingsmoot Candidate.jpg|thumb|350px|Kingsmoot Candidate by Chris Dien © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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The [[kingsmoot]] was a system of elected monarchy held by the [[ironborn]] to choose their [[rock king|rock]] and [[salt king]]s in ancient times.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}} After a king died, [[priests of the Drowned God]] would call an assembly of ship captains to choose a successor.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}} Every man who owned and captained a boat had the right to vote.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}} Women in the [[Iron Islands]] are rarely ship captains, though there is technically no formal rule against them voting or even standing in the election (though in practice they have never had an elected queen in their entire history).{{fact}} The priests declare when a clear majority of the assembled captains have announced their support for one candidate.{{ref|AFFC|19}} Divided elections could end in violence.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}}
  
Several other groups that descend from the ancient [[First Men]], like the ironborn, also held kingsmoots—or some form of rule-by-consensus among local chieftains. The ancient [[High King of Dorne]], before the coming of the Andals, was also elected in a kingsmoot, but the tradition fell apart after a contested result. The [[Free Folk|wildlings]] beyond the Wall and the [[Vale mountain clans|Hill Tribes of the Vale]] also follow only leaders they choose to follow, and hold open councils with their chieftains, but this does not involve voting or an "election" as such.
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Kingsmoots to choose the [[High King of the Iron Islands]] were held at the sacred site of [[Nagga's Bones]] on [[Old Wyk]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}}
  
'''Military orders''', however, hold their own internal elections in which every member, from the highest captain to the lowest guardsman, gets an equal vote:
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===Night's Watch===
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The [[Night's Watch]] holds elections to choose its [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]], who serves as their leader until his death. Any man who has sworn his vows—whether born noble, [[bastard]], or [[smallfolk|commoner]]—can be put forth as a candidate,{{ref|ASOS|79}} though nobles are often better trained and thus have a greater chance of rising through the ranks. All members of the Night's Watch are allowed to vote in the election of the next Lord Commander.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Wall and Beyond: The Night's Watch}} Given that not all members can leave their post to vote in person, friends are allowed to cast votes on behalf of the absent member.{{Ref|ASOS|75}} Since elections are held at [[Castle Black]], commanders of other castles like [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]] and the [[Shadow Tower]] can cast votes on behalf of their garrisons.{{ref|ASOS|75}}
  
*The [[Night's Watch]] holds elections to choose its [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]], who serves as the leader of the entire organization until his death. The Night's Watch technically controls the territory of [[the Wall]] and the lands of [[the Gift]] behind it, making the Lord Commander the elected ruler of these regions ''ex officio''. Any man, noble-born, bastard, or even commoner, can stand in the election (though noble-borns are often better-trained and thus have a better chance of rising through the ranks). Any man can put his name forward, and requires the initial support of only one other member to qualify as a candidate in the first round of voting (in practice, most serious candidates put their name forward when they already known they have a large number of supporters). The Night's Watch has no long-standing political parties, but the election is still a formal process in which every vote is tallied. Given that not all members can physically leave their posts to vote in person, it is the duty of the commanders of the different castle garrisons to report their vote tally to their headquarters at [[Castle Black]]. To win the election, a candidate must receive a two-third majority of the votes. If no candidate receives a two-thirds majority, the election simply continues the next day, with no set time limit, on and on as more minor candidates drop out and votes realign to the other candidates. Once, an election was so deadlocked that the voting continued for two years and 700 rounds of voting—though this was a remarkable case. Most elections only last several days.
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To win the election, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes. If no candidate receives this majority, the election continues with another round of voting, with no set time limit, on and on as candidates drop out and votes realign to the other candidates. Elections can last several days. Once an election was so deadlocked that the voting continued for two years and seven hundred rounds of voting, though this was a remarkable case.{{ref|ASOS|75}}
*The [[Warrior's Sons]], the upper order of the [[Faith Militant]], were led by a [[Grand Captain]] before their disbandment. Similar to the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, a new Grand Captain was elected in a vote by members of the order.
 
  
 
==Elections in Essos==
 
==Elections in Essos==
The old [[Valyrian Freehold]] was a republic, in which every "free-born land-holder" had the right to vote for [[Archon]]s. Over the centuries, politics came to be dominated by the forty aristocratic families of [[Dragonlords]], who were divided into quarrelling factions.
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===Valyria and the Free Cities===
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In the old [[Valyrian Freehold]], all citizens who owned land were allowed a voice,{{ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} with every freeborn landholder sharing rule in the freehold.{{ref|ADWD|6}} [[Archon]]s were provisionally elected by their lords freeholder of [[Valyria]].{{ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} Over the centuries, politics came to be dominated by forty aristocratic families of [[dragonlords]], who were divided into quarreling factions.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
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After the [[Doom of Valyria]], however, the Freehold collapsed, with its surviving colonies splitting up into various local forms of government. [[Slaver's Bay]] came to be ruled by aristocratic oligarchies, while several [[Free Cities]] came to be ruled by councils of oligarchic merchant nobles known as [[magisters]]. The [[Archon of Tyrosh]] is elected from and by a council of magisters.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}} The [[Sealord of Braavos]] is selected by the magisters and [[keyholders]] of the city through a complicated process.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Braavos}} The choosing of a new Sealord often leads to murders in the city.{{Ref|ADWD|45}} The [[Prince of Pentos]] is elected by the city's magisters.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Pentos}} The ''[[gonfaloniere]]'' and [[First Magister]] of [[Lys]] are also chosen by election.{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
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===Volantis===
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[[File:Marc Fishman TriarchsElephant.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A [[triarch]] being transported by [[elephant]], by Marc Fishman ©]]
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Only in [[Volantis]], oldest and largest of the Free Cities, is the freehold system of government still practiced,{{ref|ADWD|6}} as its aristocracy consider their city to be the first daughter and the heir of Valyria.{{ref|ADWD|14}} Volantis is ruled by [[Triarch of Volantis|three triarchs]]. Their one-year terms end on the first day of the new year, at the end of a ten-day long campaign period featuring speeches by candidates, torch-lit parades, bribery, mummer's shows, and the like to win votes. Triarchs are allowed to run for re-election and incumbents often serve for many years. Despite all of the overt campaigning and bribery, the Volantene have a deep respect for their elections.{{ref|ADWD|27}}
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Only members of the Volantene aristocracy who can prove their unbroken descent from old Valyria can run for triarch.{{ref|ADWD|6}} Any freeborn in the city has the right to vote—though there is a disproportion of about five slaves for each free person in the city.{{ref|ADWD|5}} Both men and women have the right to vote.{{ref|ADWD|27}} Women can run for triarch, though a woman has not won since [[Trianna]] at the end of the [[Century of Blood]] three hundred years ago.{{ref|ADWD|27}}
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Elections in Volantis are organized around two factions with long-standing policy platforms, the [[Tigers (Volantis)|tigers]] who advocate for war and conquest and the [[Elephants (Volantis)|elephants]] who encourage peace and trade.{{ref|ADWD|14}}
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==History==
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Before the [[coming of the Andals]], the [[High King of Dorne]] was a monarch of the [[First Men]] who ruled near the [[Greenblood]]. The High King was chosen from among a dozen local families, but the tradition fell apart after a contested result.{{ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Kingdoms of the First Men}}
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[[Urron Greyiron]] ended the tradition of the [[kingsmoot]] in the [[Iron Islands]] by massacring rivals at [[Old Wyk]] and establishing the [[King of the Iron Islands]] as a hereditary position.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}}
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During the [[Century of Blood]], the beloved military commander [[Horonno]] was re-elected forty years in a row as a [[triarch of Volantis]]. When Horonno tried to declare himself triarch for life, however, he was caught by rioters and executed by being tied to two [[elephant]]s and ripped in half.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}} The [[Tigers (Volantis)|tigers]] were in power for much of the Century of Blood, but after suffering numerous defeats they were finally voted out for the [[Elephants (Volantis)|elephants]], who have elected at least two out of three triarchs in every annual election in [[Volantis]] for the past three hundred years.{{ref|ADWD|14}}
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==Recent Events==
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===''A Clash of Kings''===
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After the death of the [[High Septon (Fat One)|previous High Septon]] during the [[riot of King's Landing]], [[Tyrion Lannister]] selects his replacement by influencing the Most Devout. Tyrion, the acting [[Hand of the King]], believes the new High Septon will be loyal to him.{{ref|ACOK|49}}
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===''A Storm of Swords''===
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Following the death of [[Jeor Mormont]] and the [[battle beneath the Wall]], the [[Night's Watch]] holds an election to choose the next [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]]. [[Janos Slynt]], [[Cotter Pyke]], and Ser [[Denys Mallister]] receive a number of votes, but [[Jon Snow]] is eventually chosen by the brothers gathered at [[Castle Black]].{{ref|ASOS|79}}
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===''A Feast for Crows''===
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[[File:Kingsmoot-by-Arkoniel.jpg|thumb|The [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]] contenders during the [[kingsmoot]], by Mathia Arkoniel ©]]
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[[Aeron Greyjoy]] calls for a [[kingsmoot]] on [[Old Wyk]] after the death of his oldest brother, [[Balon Greyjoy]], [[King of the Isles and the North]], during the [[War of the Five Kings]].{{ref|AFFC|1}} Half a dozen major candidates put their names forward, most prominently Aeron's older brothers, [[Euron Greyjoy|Euron]] and [[Victarion Greyjoy|Victarion]], as well as Balon's daughter, [[Asha Greyjoy]].{{ref|AFFC|19}} Each candidate in the kingsmoot is supported by three champions.{{ref|AFFC|19}} Heavily divided between Victarion's insistence on continued raiding and Asha's plea to stop before the mainland inevitably counter-attacks, the kingsmoot is eventually swayed by Euron's audacious plan to conquer all of [[Westeros]] using the [[dragon]]s of [[Daenerys Targaryen]].{{ref|AFFC|19}}
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[[High Septon (Tyrion's)|Tyrion's High Septon]] dies in his sleep, secretly smothered with a pillow at the order of [[Cersei Lannister]], and the [[Most Devout]] begin the selection process to see who of them will become his successor.{{Ref|AFFC|17}} Cersei expects the new High Septon will be [[Torbert]] or [[Raynard]].{{ref|AFFC|17}} According to [[Qyburn]], the [[sparrows]] forcibly took over the selection process. They burst into the chambers with axes in hand and with their leader, the small septon, on their shoulders. The Most Devout relent in fear and name him the new High Septon. Afterwards, he is nicknamed the [[High Sparrow]].{{Ref|AFFC|28}}
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===''A Dance of Dragons''===
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Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] and [[Tyrion Lannister]] visit [[Volantis]] on the third day of the triarch elections. They board the ''[[Selaesori Qhoran]]'' two days later, before the elections end.{{Ref|ADWD|27}}
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The city's incumbent triarchs are:
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* [[Malaquo Maegyr]], a tiger{{Ref|ADWD|14}}{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}
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* [[Doniphos Paenymion]], an elephant{{Ref|ADWD|14}}{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}
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* [[Nyessos Vhassar]], an elephant{{Ref|ADWD|14}}{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}
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Known candidates to become new triarchs are:{{Ref|ADWD|27}}{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}
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* [[Alios Qhaedar]]
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* [[Parquello Vaelaros]]
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* [[Belicho Staegone]]
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While the elections have ended,{{Ref|aDwD|56}} the results of the new elections have not yet been revealed. With the city thirsty for war against [[Daenerys Targaryen]], {{Ref|aDwD|22}} speculation is that, no matter who is elected triarch, Volantis will go to war against Daenerys Targaryen.{{Ref|ADWD|27}}
  
After the [[Doom of Valyria]], however, the Freehold collapsed, with its surviving colonies splitting up into various local forms of government. [[Slaver's Bay]] came to be ruled by aristocratic oligarchies, while the [[Free Cities]] for the most part came to be ruled by councils of oligarchic merchant-lords known as [[Magisters]]. [[Tyrosh]] is ruled by an Archon, who is elected from and by council of magisters, not popular vote. The [[Sealord of Braavos]] is selected by the magisters and keyholders of the city through a "convoluted" process.
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[[Arya Stark]] reports to the [[kindly man]] that the [[Sealord of Braavos]], [[Ferrego Antaryon]], is sick and dying. The patrons of the [[Inn of the Green Eel]] believe [[Tormo Fregar]] will be chosen as the new Sealord once Ferrego is dead.{{Ref|ADWD|45}}
  
Only in [[Volantis]], oldest and largest of the Free Cities, is the "Freehold" system of government still practiced, as its aristocracy consider themselves the last ember of fallen Valyria. Volantis is ruled by three [[Triarch of Volantis|Triarchs]], who serve one-year terms that end on the first day of the new year, at the end of a ten-day long campaign period featuring speeches by candidates, torch-lit parades, bribery, mummer's shows, and the like to win votes. The campaign season seems chaotic to foreigners, but functions orderly enough. Triarchs are allowed to run for re-election and incumbents often serve for many years. Despite all of the overt campaigning and bribery, the Volantene fundamentally have a deep respect for their elections: during the [[Century of Blood]], beloved military commander [[Horonno]] was re-elected forty years in a row—but when he tried to declare himself triarch-for-life, the Volantene turned out to not love him as much as their sacred customs. Instead, Horonno was caught by rioters, and executed by being tied to two elephants and ripped in half.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}}
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==Quotes==
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{{quote|I just want to say to whoever is voting for me that I would certainly make an awful [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]]. But so would all these others.{{ref|ASOS|75}}|[[Eddison Tollett]] to the [[Night's Watch]]}}
  
Only members of the Volantene aristocracy who can prove their unbroken descent from old Valyria can run for Triarch. Any freeborn in the city has the right to vote—though there is a large disproportion of about five slaves for each free person in the city. Both men and women have the right to vote, and can even run for Triarch, though in practice a woman hasn't won the election for three hundred years, since the time of the famous Triarch [[Trianna]] at the end of the Century of Blood, who ended the city's disastrous foreign wars and was re-elected to office four times.
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{{quote|'''Meldred''': A [[kingsmoot]]? There has not been a true kingsmoot in ...<br>
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'''Aeron''': ... too long a time! Yet in the [[dawn of days]] the [[ironborn]] chose their own kings, raising up the worthiest amongst them. It is time we returned to the [[Old Way]], for only that shall make us great again.{{ref|AFFC|1}}|[[Meldred Merlyn]] and [[Aeron Greyjoy]]}}
  
The elections in Volantis are actually organized around formal political parties, with long-standing policy platforms. The two factions in Volantis are the "[[Tigers (Volantis)|Tiger]]" party that advocates war and conquest, and the "[[Elephants (Volantis)|Elephant]]" party that advocates peace and trade. The Tiger party was in power during the Century of Blood, but after suffering numerous defeats they were finally voted out for the Elephant party, who have elected at least two out of three Triarchs in every annual election for the past three hundred years.
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{{quote|'''Tyrion''': Do all these would-be [[triarchs of Volantis|triarchs]] provide [[mummer]] shows?<br>
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'''Jorah''': They do whatever they think will win them votes.{{ref|ADWD|27}}|[[Tyrion Lannister]] and [[Jorah Mormont]]}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 16:38, 3 September 2020

Elections, or choosings,[1][2] are held by several different governments or organizations in the known world, to select individuals to hold an office. There are various different kinds of elections, ranging from the representative republic that governed the old Valyrian Freehold, to elections held within trade guilds[citation needed] and the like to select new office-holders.

Elections in Westeros

Few formal elections are held in the Seven Kingdoms, which remains a feudal society, though several organizations hold internal elections:

The free folk who live beyond the Wall follow whom they like[8] and often feel comfortable to speak freely with their leaders.[9] At several times during history, they have united behind a non-hereditary over-chief known as the King-Beyond-the-Wall.[10][11][12] The Vale mountain clans allow all men and women to participate in their councils.[13] Neither group, however, holds "elections" as such.

On a few occasions throughout the Targaryen rule over Westeros, Great Councils have been held to decide the succession to the Iron Throne,[14][15] or to appoint regents of an under-aged king.[16]

Kingsmoot

Kingsmoot Candidate by Chris Dien © Fantasy Flight Games

The kingsmoot was a system of elected monarchy held by the ironborn to choose their rock and salt kings in ancient times.[17] After a king died, priests of the Drowned God would call an assembly of ship captains to choose a successor.[17] Every man who owned and captained a boat had the right to vote.[17] Women in the Iron Islands are rarely ship captains, though there is technically no formal rule against them voting or even standing in the election (though in practice they have never had an elected queen in their entire history).[citation needed] The priests declare when a clear majority of the assembled captains have announced their support for one candidate.[18] Divided elections could end in violence.[17]

Kingsmoots to choose the High King of the Iron Islands were held at the sacred site of Nagga's Bones on Old Wyk.[17]

Night's Watch

The Night's Watch holds elections to choose its Lord Commander, who serves as their leader until his death. Any man who has sworn his vows—whether born noble, bastard, or commoner—can be put forth as a candidate,[19] though nobles are often better trained and thus have a greater chance of rising through the ranks. All members of the Night's Watch are allowed to vote in the election of the next Lord Commander.[20] Given that not all members can leave their post to vote in person, friends are allowed to cast votes on behalf of the absent member.[21] Since elections are held at Castle Black, commanders of other castles like Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and the Shadow Tower can cast votes on behalf of their garrisons.[21]

To win the election, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes. If no candidate receives this majority, the election continues with another round of voting, with no set time limit, on and on as candidates drop out and votes realign to the other candidates. Elections can last several days. Once an election was so deadlocked that the voting continued for two years and seven hundred rounds of voting, though this was a remarkable case.[21]

Elections in Essos

Valyria and the Free Cities

In the old Valyrian Freehold, all citizens who owned land were allowed a voice,[22] with every freeborn landholder sharing rule in the freehold.[23] Archons were provisionally elected by their lords freeholder of Valyria.[22] Over the centuries, politics came to be dominated by forty aristocratic families of dragonlords, who were divided into quarreling factions.[24]

After the Doom of Valyria, however, the Freehold collapsed, with its surviving colonies splitting up into various local forms of government. Slaver's Bay came to be ruled by aristocratic oligarchies, while several Free Cities came to be ruled by councils of oligarchic merchant nobles known as magisters. The Archon of Tyrosh is elected from and by a council of magisters.[25] The Sealord of Braavos is selected by the magisters and keyholders of the city through a complicated process.[26] The choosing of a new Sealord often leads to murders in the city.[2] The Prince of Pentos is elected by the city's magisters.[27] The gonfaloniere and First Magister of Lys are also chosen by election.[16]

Volantis

A triarch being transported by elephant, by Marc Fishman ©

Only in Volantis, oldest and largest of the Free Cities, is the freehold system of government still practiced,[23] as its aristocracy consider their city to be the first daughter and the heir of Valyria.[28] Volantis is ruled by three triarchs. Their one-year terms end on the first day of the new year, at the end of a ten-day long campaign period featuring speeches by candidates, torch-lit parades, bribery, mummer's shows, and the like to win votes. Triarchs are allowed to run for re-election and incumbents often serve for many years. Despite all of the overt campaigning and bribery, the Volantene have a deep respect for their elections.[29]

Only members of the Volantene aristocracy who can prove their unbroken descent from old Valyria can run for triarch.[23] Any freeborn in the city has the right to vote—though there is a disproportion of about five slaves for each free person in the city.[30] Both men and women have the right to vote.[29] Women can run for triarch, though a woman has not won since Trianna at the end of the Century of Blood three hundred years ago.[29]

Elections in Volantis are organized around two factions with long-standing policy platforms, the tigers who advocate for war and conquest and the elephants who encourage peace and trade.[28]

History

Before the coming of the Andals, the High King of Dorne was a monarch of the First Men who ruled near the Greenblood. The High King was chosen from among a dozen local families, but the tradition fell apart after a contested result.[31]

Urron Greyiron ended the tradition of the kingsmoot in the Iron Islands by massacring rivals at Old Wyk and establishing the King of the Iron Islands as a hereditary position.[17]

During the Century of Blood, the beloved military commander Horonno was re-elected forty years in a row as a triarch of Volantis. When Horonno tried to declare himself triarch for life, however, he was caught by rioters and executed by being tied to two elephants and ripped in half.[1][29] The tigers were in power for much of the Century of Blood, but after suffering numerous defeats they were finally voted out for the elephants, who have elected at least two out of three triarchs in every annual election in Volantis for the past three hundred years.[28]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

After the death of the previous High Septon during the riot of King's Landing, Tyrion Lannister selects his replacement by influencing the Most Devout. Tyrion, the acting Hand of the King, believes the new High Septon will be loyal to him.[4]

A Storm of Swords

Following the death of Jeor Mormont and the battle beneath the Wall, the Night's Watch holds an election to choose the next Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Janos Slynt, Cotter Pyke, and Ser Denys Mallister receive a number of votes, but Jon Snow is eventually chosen by the brothers gathered at Castle Black.[19]

A Feast for Crows

The Greyjoy contenders during the kingsmoot, by Mathia Arkoniel ©

Aeron Greyjoy calls for a kingsmoot on Old Wyk after the death of his oldest brother, Balon Greyjoy, King of the Isles and the North, during the War of the Five Kings.[32] Half a dozen major candidates put their names forward, most prominently Aeron's older brothers, Euron and Victarion, as well as Balon's daughter, Asha Greyjoy.[18] Each candidate in the kingsmoot is supported by three champions.[18] Heavily divided between Victarion's insistence on continued raiding and Asha's plea to stop before the mainland inevitably counter-attacks, the kingsmoot is eventually swayed by Euron's audacious plan to conquer all of Westeros using the dragons of Daenerys Targaryen.[18]

Tyrion's High Septon dies in his sleep, secretly smothered with a pillow at the order of Cersei Lannister, and the Most Devout begin the selection process to see who of them will become his successor.[33] Cersei expects the new High Septon will be Torbert or Raynard.[33] According to Qyburn, the sparrows forcibly took over the selection process. They burst into the chambers with axes in hand and with their leader, the small septon, on their shoulders. The Most Devout relent in fear and name him the new High Septon. Afterwards, he is nicknamed the High Sparrow.[3]

A Dance of Dragons

Ser Jorah Mormont and Tyrion Lannister visit Volantis on the third day of the triarch elections. They board the Selaesori Qhoran two days later, before the elections end.[29]

The city's incumbent triarchs are:

Known candidates to become new triarchs are:[29][34]

While the elections have ended,[35] the results of the new elections have not yet been revealed. With the city thirsty for war against Daenerys Targaryen, [36] speculation is that, no matter who is elected triarch, Volantis will go to war against Daenerys Targaryen.[29]

Arya Stark reports to the kindly man that the Sealord of Braavos, Ferrego Antaryon, is sick and dying. The patrons of the Inn of the Green Eel believe Tormo Fregar will be chosen as the new Sealord once Ferrego is dead.[2]

Quotes

I just want to say to whoever is voting for me that I would certainly make an awful Lord Commander. But so would all these others.[21]

Meldred: A kingsmoot? There has not been a true kingsmoot in ...
Aeron: ... too long a time! Yet in the dawn of days the ironborn chose their own kings, raising up the worthiest amongst them. It is time we returned to the Old Way, for only that shall make us great again.[32]

Tyrion: Do all these would-be triarchs provide mummer shows?
Jorah: They do whatever they think will win them votes.[29]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Volantis.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 45, The Blind Girl.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
  4. 4.0 4.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
  5. Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
  6. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 12, Tyrion II.
  7. Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  8. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 15, Jon II.
  9. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
  10. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 1, Bran I.
  11. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 51, Jon VI.
  12. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 26, Jon III.
  13. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 56, Tyrion VII.
  14. Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  15. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.
  19. 19.0 19.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
  20. The World of Ice & Fire, The Wall and Beyond: The Night's Watch.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 75, Samwell IV.
  22. 22.0 22.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.
  24. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  25. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
  26. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Braavos.
  27. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Pentos.
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion VII.
  30. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
  31. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Kingdoms of the First Men.
  32. 32.0 32.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 1, The Prophet.
  33. 33.0 33.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
  34. 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
  35. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
  36. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion VI.