When there is no clear heir, claims can be presented to the King. However, a lord also has the option of naming one of his younger sons heir, passing over his elder children, or to name the child of another as his heir. A man’s daughter inherits before her father’s brother. In theory, the youngest son is followed in the line of succession by the eldest daughter, after whom come her sisters in birth order. A man's eldest son is his heir, followed by his second son, then his third son, and so on. Male-preference primogeniture is customary, but not binding, for most nobles. which is to say, they were vague, uncodified, subject to varying interpretations, and often contradictory. The short answer is that the laws of inheritance in the Seven Kingdoms are modelled on those in real medieval history. Inheritance laws in the Seven Kingdoms are not clear cut. He might send some of the especially fine dishes down to specific guests, showing friendship and respect. When a lord presides over a feast, he receives first choice of all dishes.
Being seated at the far end of the hall, far from the dais, however, is regarded as a place of little honor and regard. However, making offense can result in the loss of the right for such honorable treatment.Īt feasts, great honor can be given to a guest by seating him or her on the dais, with the place of highest honor being on the right side of the host. A noble prisoner can be treated with honor and be kept in isolation in rooms as his status requires. Three hundred golden dragons is considered to be a fair ransom for a knight, whereas a nobleman’s son might be ransomed for three thousand golden dragons. Both nobles and knights can be ransomed, so in battle it might be preferred to capture them instead of killing them. Įvery noble house has a house motto, while a coat of arms can be used by both nobility and knights, as a sign of status and identification (e.g.
Commoners might be addressed as goodwoman or goodman. Nobles are addressed as "my lord" by other highborns, or "m’lord" by the smallfolk. Below the King and the royal family rank the Great Houses ( House Arryn, House Baratheon of Storm's End, House Greyjoy, House Martell, House Stark, House Targaryen, House Tully, and House Tyrell), followed by other noble houses, both greater and small, knights (landed knights, household knights, and hedge knights), and commoners. The last Great Council was convened was in 233 AC, when King Maekar I Targaryen died without having named a new heir. The first of these Great Councils was convened in 101 AC, when King Jaehaerys I Targaryen found himself unable to decide on who to name his heir. On extremely rare occasions, the lords of the kingdom may be gathered together to decide some great matter. Territorial disputes between landowners are adjudicated, either by the liege lord or the king or his Hand. Younger siblings of a lord can become bannerman to their sibling, and hold a keep in his name. A lord can conceivably hold more than one title However, it is unusual for noble holdings to be divided or combined. It is possible for the king to redistribute lands and grant titles of nobility as he sees fit He may also sign bills of attainder to strip lords of their lands and incomes. In the king’s name, they can punish criminals. Additionally, nobles are charged with keeping the king’s peace. When the King is sick, or unable to attend court sessions, the Hand of the King can take his place and sit on the Iron Throne to dispense justice. The King’s right hand is his Hand of the King. In the Seven Kingdoms, all authority derives from the king.