The king sits on the Iron Throne and claims ownership of the land. The King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, also known as the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, has the highest feudal rank beneath him are the various lords and knights, with smallfolk at the bottom. This is not to say that it is impossible, only that it is very difficult, usually bestowed by lords to those who have done a great service to them, or knights bestow the rank and title of knighthood on any individual who has proven himself worthy. There are no provisions for the advancement of individuals from a lower class into the higher classes. Most lowborn can, however, expect to die as commoners. Davos hopes his sons will become knights, and his grandchildren will be highborn. Despite House Seaworth's creation, most highborn scorn Ser Davos, and being lowborn embarrasses his sons. Smallfolk who become members of nobility can still be considered lowborn. Those who are not highborn are lowborn or smallfolk. Highborn bastards have special surnames, highborn lords rarely ride with hedge knights (and highborn women are unlikely to marry them), and highborn prisoners of war are held for ransom when others are killed. People expect highborn to differ from others in behavior, dress, speech, given names, and even their flowering and maidenheads. Highborn status is desirable Jon Snow, a bastard, dreams that his unknown mother is "beautiful, and highborn". The former smuggler Davos Seaworth of Flea Bottom says that highborn do not consider him one of them despite his knighthood, land, keep, and banner. One cannot gain or lose the status the impoverished, exiled, and powerless Daenerys Targaryen is still highborn, as is Alliser Thorne despite him having joined the Night's Watch to avoid execution. ![]() Arya Stark and Tyrion Lannister are examples of highborn, those born into prestigious noble families. The feudal system has a rigid structure of social classes. Lord Tywin Lannister, by Michael Komarck © Fantasy Flight Games The liege and vassal each have responsibilities to one another the vassal must remain loyal to the liege above any other lords, while the liege is the vassal's principal protector.įeudalism existed in Westeros prior to Aegon's Conquest, and King Aegon I Targaryen confirmed the feudal structure after creating his realm. Vassals or bannermen are those granted the use of land, in return for rendering homage, fealty, and usually military service or its equivalent to a liege lord or other superior. In this system each man owes military service to his lord in return for protection, a grant of land, and the peasants to work it. Nobles rule over the smallfolk within their territory through a system of fealty and sworn oaths. This society is based on a rigid social structure and government consisted of kings, lords, and peasants. ![]() King Robert I Baratheon, by Tiziano Baracchi © Fantasy Flight Gamesįeudalism is the the structure of society in the Seven Kingdoms, as it is largely resembles the feudal system of medieval Europe.
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