Bastardy

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] As the youngest region in the realm, it is unclear exactly when "Waters" became the common surname for bastards from the crownlands: the earliest mention of it is from 74 AC, applied to the children of shamed kingsguard knight Lucamore Strong.^[30]

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.^[31] 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.^[32][33] His trueborn son changed his name from "Waters" to "Longwaters" in an attempt to remove the taint of bastardy,^[33] and to demonstrate he was of legitimate birth himself.^[26]

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.^[40] 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][42] 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.^[43] His children are raised at the court of Sunspear, where several are close to the heir of Prince Doran Martell, Princess Arianne.^[44][45] 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.^[46] 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.^[43][44][47]

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 usually reserved to monarchs alone,^[48][49] Once a bastard is legitimized, this cannot be undone.^[48] but in some cases even to High Septons.^[50][51]

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen legitimized the brothers Addam and Alyn of Hull as heirs of Lord Corlys Velaryon.^[52]

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.^[48]

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.^[53]

Rights of Inheritance

See also: 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.^[54]

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.^[48]

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.^[54]

Coat of Arms

Bastards do not have the right to use the arms of the highborn families from which they descend.^[55] 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.^[56] 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.^[57][55] Other bastards might choose to combine multiple sigils, as Aegor Rivers did.^[58]

Several examples:

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]

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.[56]

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.^[59]

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.^[60]

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.^[53]

Robb Stark, as King in the North, plans to legitimize his bastard half-brother Jon Snow and proclaim him as his heir.^[48] 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,^[61] 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.^[62]

A Dance with Dragons

Tyrion Lannister uses the name Hugor Hill while traveling through Essos, pretending to be a bastard from Lannisport.^[63][64]

Notable Bastards

See also: List of known bastards

Crownlands

• Addam of Hull, legitimised as Addam Velaryon, a dragonrider and heir to Driftmark.
• Alyn of Hull, legitimised as Alyn Velaryon, an admiral and heir to Driftmark after Addam's death.
• Tyrion Tanner, the bastard son of Lollys Stokeworth and an unknown father, conceived in a riot at King's Landing.
• Aurane Waters, better known as the Bastard of Driftmark. He was part of Queen Cersei's small council as the grand admiral and master of ships.
• Ser Daemon Waters, later known as Daemon I Blackfyre, was the recognized and legitimised son of King Aegon IV Targaryen and Daena Targaryen. Founder of House Blackfyre.
• Humfrey Waters, the current Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.
• Ser Marston Waters, was a knight of Kings Aegon II's and Aegon III's Kingsguard.
• Gendry, an unrecognized bastard of King Robert I Baratheon. Unaware of his heritage but is the spitting image of Robert when he was young.
• Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen Baratheon are bastards conceived by Queen Cersei Lannister with her own twin brother, Ser Jaime, although they are commonly believed to be her legitimate children by King Robert I Baratheon.

Dorne

• Ellaria Sand, the bastard daughter of Lord Harmen Uller. She is also the paramour of Prince Oberyn Martell.
• The Sand Snakes is the collective name for the eight bastard daughters of Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper. They are, in order of age:
  • Obara Sand, daughter of an Oldtown whore.
  • Nymeria Sand, called Lady Nym, her mother was a noblewoman from Volantis.
  • Tyene Sand, daughter of a septa.
  • Sarella Sand, daughter of a trader from the Summer Isles.
  • Elia Sand, called Lady Lance. The oldest daughter of Oberyn's paramour Ellaria Sand, and granddaughter of Lord Harmen Uller.
  • Obella Sand, daughter of Ellaria Sand.
  • Dorea Sand, daughter of Ellaria Sand.
  • Loreza Sand, daughter of Ellaria Sand.
• Ser Daemon Sand, better known as the Bastard of Godsgrace, is the bastard son of Ryon Allyrion.

Iron Islands

• 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; the squire of Theon Greyjoy.

North

• Jon Snow, the recognized bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark and 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
• Ramsay Bolton, formerly known as Ramsay Snow, the recognized and legitimised son of Lord Roose Bolton. Commonly known as the Bastard of Bolton or the Bastard of the Dreadfort.
• Larence Snow, the son of Lord Halys Hornwood.

The Reach

• Blackshield, an identity assumed by the Bastard of Uplands.
• 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.
• Garrett Flowers, the bastard son of Garth Tyrell the Gross. Garse's brother.
• Garse Flowers, the bastard son of Garth the Gross. Garrett's brother.
• Ser Glendon Flowers, mockingly referred to as the Knight of the Pussywillows, claimed to be the son of Ser Quentyn Ball.
• Ser Mervyn Flowers, was the bastard brother of Lord Unwin Peake and a knight of King Aegon III's Kingsguard.
• Ser Robert Flowers, a former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
• 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, the bastard son of a Hightower girl and an archmaester of the Citadel. He served at Winterfell when Lord Rickard Stark was head of House Stark.

Riverlands

• The Bastard of Harrenhal, who was defeated by Ser Arlan of Pennytree.^[57]
• 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 legitimized son of King Aegon IV Targaryen and Barba Bracken. Founder of the Golden Company.
• Alys Rivers, was a bedmate of Prince Aemond Targaryen.
• Ser Benedict Rivers, later known as King Benedict I Justman, was a bastard from Houses Blackwood and Bracken. Founder of House Justman and the first Justman King of the Trident.
• 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.
• Mya Rivers, recognized and legitimized daughter of Aegon IV Targaryen and Melissa Blackwood.
• 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 Tristan Rivers, an exiled knight in service to the Golden Company.
• Ser Walder Rivers, recognized eldest bastard son of Lord Walder Frey.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Vale of Arryn

• 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.
• Ser Samwell Stone, known as Strong Sam Stone, the master-at-arms at Runestone.

Westerlands

• Ser Addison Hill, also known as the Bastard of Cornfield, a former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
• Joy Hill, the recognized daughter of Gerion Lannister.
• "Sweet" Donnel Hill, who claims to be a bastard of the Lannisters.
• Lynora Hill, the bastard daughter of Jason Lannister and a serving girl.
• 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.

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.^[65]

—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.^[66]

—Walder Frey to little Walda Rivers

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.^[67]

—George R. R. Martin

References