Prince of Pentos
The Prince of Pentos is the titular ruler of the eponymous city. He is chosen from the forty families and has a mostly ceremonial function. Chiefly, the Prince presides over balls and feasts.
About
The prince rides about the city in a palanquin of ivory and gold. Three heralds go before him carrying the golden scales of trade, the iron sword of war and the silver scourge of justice. On the first day of every New Year, the Prince must deflower the maid of the fields and the maid of the seas. However when the Pentoshi believe the gods are angry at them—such as after loss in a war or a crop failure—they sacrifice the prince by cutting his throat to appease the gods and then choose a new prince from amongst the forty families.[1]
It appears that the chosen prince has no say in whether he wants to be Prince of Pentos or not.[2][3]
Over the course of the last two centuries, Braavos and Pentos fought no less than six wars. Four of them ended in Pentoshi submission. The last one, that ended a century ago, went so poorly that Pentos had no fewer than four princes chosen and sacrificed within a single year. The fifth one, Prince Nevio Narratys, convinced the magisters to sue for peace after a rare victory - one rumored to have been purchased by Nevio himself through bribery.[3]
Years ago, an elected prince fled Pentos after being selected. When the Windblown’s Tattered Prince was twenty-three, the magisters of Pentos chose him to be their new prince almost right after they have beheaded the previous one. Instead of accepting their offer he fled to the Disputed Lands and never returned to Pentos.[2][3]
Illyrio Mopatis grew so respectable that a cousin of the Prince of Pentos let him wed his maiden daughter. After Illyrio married his second wife, the palace gates were closed to him thereafter, but he did not care, the price was small enough, for Serra.[1][4]
Known Princes of Pentos
- The Prince of Pentos before Aegon's Conquest, who hosted the young Aegon Targaryen when he visited Pentos on Balerion before his conquest of Westeros.[5]
- The Prince of Pentos in 58 AC, who met the Sealord of Braavos in King's Landing to settle their differences.[6]
- The Prince of Pentos in 116 AC, who hosted Prince Daemon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon.[7][N 1]
- The Prince of Pentos in 129 AC, who agreed to foster Princes Aegon and Viserys Targaryen until Rhaenyra Targaryen took the Iron Throne.[8]
- The Prince of Pentos in 133 AC, whose daughter was the first lady presented to King Aegon III Targaryen in the Maiden's Day Ball.[9]
- Four Princes of Pentos executed in 209 AC.[3]
- Nevio Narratys, the fifth Prince elected in 209 AC. He bribed the Braavosi to accept peace with Pentos after a victorious battle.[3]
- The Prince of Pentos executed in 262 AC.[2][3]
- The Tattered Prince, who fled Pentos to avoid being made a sacrifice.[2]
- The cousin of Illyrio Mopatis' first wife.[4]
- The current Prince of Pentos. He summoned the Magisters to a session when Tyrion is in Illyrio's manse.[1]
Quotes
Notes
- ↑ In the television adaptation, House of the Dragon, he is named Prince Reggio Haratis.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 1, Tyrion I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 25, The Windblown.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Pentos.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.