Difference between revisions of "Secret marriage pact"

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[[File:Carolina Eade Secret AllianceIII.png|thumb|400px|right|According to the pact [[Viserys Targaryen]] was to wed [[Arianne Martell]]. © Fantasy Flight Games]]
 
[[File:Carolina Eade Secret AllianceIII.png|thumb|400px|right|According to the pact [[Viserys Targaryen]] was to wed [[Arianne Martell]]. © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The '''secret marriage pact''' is a clandestine agreement signed in [[Braavos]] many years ago forging an alliance between [[Dorne]] and [[House Targaryen]]. Its purpose is to aid in the overthrow of King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and restore House Targaryen to the [[Iron Throne]]. The alliance is to be sealed by a marriage between [[Viserys Targaryen]] and Princess [[Arianne Martell]].{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
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The '''secret marriage pact''' is a clandestine agreement signed in [[Braavos]] some years before the start of ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', forging an alliance between [[Dorne]] and [[House Targaryen]]. Its purpose is to aid in the overthrow of King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and restore House Targaryen to the [[Iron Throne]]. The alliance is to be sealed by a marriage between [[Viserys Targaryen]] and Princess [[Arianne Martell]].{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
 
    
 
    
 
Viserys died unaware of the secret pact. His younger sister, [[Daenerys Targaryen]] was not made aware of the pact until she became Queen of [[Meereen]].{{Ref|ADWD|43}}
 
Viserys died unaware of the secret pact. His younger sister, [[Daenerys Targaryen]] was not made aware of the pact until she became Queen of [[Meereen]].{{Ref|ADWD|43}}

Revision as of 00:53, 3 April 2016

According to the pact Viserys Targaryen was to wed Arianne Martell. © Fantasy Flight Games

The secret marriage pact is a clandestine agreement signed in Braavos some years before the start of A Game of Thrones, forging an alliance between Dorne and House Targaryen. Its purpose is to aid in the overthrow of King Robert I Baratheon and restore House Targaryen to the Iron Throne. The alliance is to be sealed by a marriage between Viserys Targaryen and Princess Arianne Martell.[1]

Viserys died unaware of the secret pact. His younger sister, Daenerys Targaryen was not made aware of the pact until she became Queen of Meereen.[1]

About

The pact was made on parchment and was written in the Common Tongue. It has seals, with gold and ribbons and signatures. It is yellowed with age. It was made in Braavos when Daenerys was a little girl. Ser Willem Darry signed on behalf of House Targaryen, and Prince Oberyn Martell signed for Dorne. The Sealord of Braavos was a witness.[1] The pact verbatim has not been revealed (unlike, for example, the Bastard Letter).

According to Ser Barristan Selmy the secret marriage pact contains "not a word" about Daenerys Targaryen, although Daenerys states after reading the pact that Ser Willem Darry signed "for us".[2] Neither Varys nor Illyrio Mopatis know of the secret pact.[3] Viserys was an immature child when it was decided, and he wasn't ready for the information.[3]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Viserys Targaryen dies unaware of the secret pact.[4][1]

A Feast For Crows

Prince Doran Martell reveals to his daughter, Princess Arianne Martell, that she had secretly been promised to the now-dead Viserys as part of his planned vengeance for his sister Elia Martell. He informs her her that the man she had been promised to is dead, and because of this, her brother Quentyn has gone across the Narrow Sea to meet with Viserys's sister, Daenerys, and wed her.[5]

A Dance with Dragons

Prince Quentyn Martell journeys to Meereen with the pact parchment hidden in a flap in his boot. Once presented to Daenerys, Quentyn and his two companions reveal themselves to the queen as Westerosi knights. Quentyn hands the parchment, which he refers to as a gift, to Daenerys so that she can read it. When Ser Barristan Selmy asks her what the parchment says, Dany hands it to him, saying,

The alliance is to be sealed by a marriage, it says. In return for Dorne's help overthrowing the Usurper, my brother Viserys is to take Prince Doran's daughter Arianne for his queen.

As Ser Barristan Selmy reads the pact, he remarks to Dany,

If Robert had known of this, he would have smashed Sunspear as he once smashed Pyke, and claimed the heads of Prince Doran and the Red Viper ... and like as not, the head of this Dornish Princess too.

Dany replies that no doubt that was why Prince Doran chose to keep the pact a secret, since,

If my brother had known that he had a Dornish princess waiting for him, he would have crossed to Sunspear as soon as he was old enough to wed.

Prince Quentyn then reveals his true identity to Daenerys. She immediately surmises that with Viserys dead he means to marry her, that it is now she who must seal the pact if she wants Dorne. Quentyn tries to convince Daenerys to marry him, telling her that it will mean fifty thousand Dornish swords pledged to her service. The queen, however, does not accept Quentyn's proposition. She tells him of her upcoming marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq, and remarks that it would have been different if he had come earlier. When Quentyn objects that it is not yet too late, Daenerys replies that she will be the judge of that. After she dismisses her audience she examines the pact again, and realizes that it was executed in Braavos, while they were living in the house with the red door. She wonders why that makes her feel strange. Daenerys soon goes through with her marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq. Although Daenerys is courteous to Quentyn and his companions, she urges Quentyn to go home.[1]

After hosting the wedding feast, Daenerys is counselled by Ser Barristan. Their talk turns to her options; he reminds her that there is another road, and Daenerys knows he means the Dornish. He tells her that House Martell is ancient and noble and has been a leal friend to House Targaryen for more than a century. Daenerys replies that she needs to protect her people, and that Quentyn cannot help her in this, as his fifty thousand spears are all the way in Westeros, and they are in Meereen. She feels that Quentyn should return to Dorne, and believes he will die if he doesn't. She later councils Quentyn to leave, but he refuses.[6]

After Hizdahr zo Loraq assumes control of Meereen in Daenerys's absence, Ser Barristan realises that Quentyn's continued presence is a provocation for Hizdahr.[2] In the audience chamber of the Great Pyramid, Ser Barristan warns Quentyn to leave Meereen. When Quentyn brings up the marriage pact, Ser Barristan immediately interrupts him, saying that the pact contained not a word about Daenerys or Quentyn, but instead promised Arianne's hand to Viserys, who is dead, and that while Daenerys might have considered enforcing the pact while at Qarth, Quentyn is now too late.[2]

Quotes

You were promised, Arianne.[5]

- Prince Doran Martell, to his daughter

[the marriage pact] - was made by two dead men and contained not a word about the queen or you. It promised your sister's hand to the queen's brother, another dead man. It has no force. Until you turned up here, Her Grace was ignorant of its existence. Your father keeps his secrets well, Prince Quentyn. Too well, I fear. If the queen had known of this pact in Qarth, she might never have turned aside for Slaver's Bay, but you came too late. I have no wish to salt your wounds, but Her Grace has a new husband and an old paramour, and seems to prefer both of them to you.[2]

- Ser Barristan Selmy to Prince Quentyn Martell


References and Notes