Jonah Patel
The world of Game of Thrones is a richly imagined one, with a complex web of familial relationships, house sigils, and a legal system that governs the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. While the world of Westeros is violent and unruly, it is not without laws. Westeros has a complex and detailed constitution, which is not written down, but is legally binding even for the highest Kings and Lords. The laws of Westeros are diverse and brutal, with trial by combat and the king's justice, reflecting a society where power often trumps fairness. The first law of the land is the 'King's Peace', which requires petty lords and landed knights to take their disputes to their liege lord, and for disputes between great houses to be adjudicated by the Crown.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Written constitution | No, but it is legally binding |
| System of government | Kingship and feudalism |
| Power structure | Hierarchical, with the king at the top, followed by powerful lords, knights, and finally, the smallfolk |
| Law enforcement | Lords have the right to pronounce justice in the name of the king and have the authority to hang people or arrest them |
| Trial by combat | Yes |
| Religious influence on law | Yes, primarily the Faith of the Seven, but also the Old Gods in the North and the Drowned God in the Iron Islands |
| Protection of religious groups | Yes, the Faith Militant embraces a fanatical version of the Faith of the Seven, and the Night's Watch and the Maesters of the Citadel are sworn brotherhoods that stand apart from the traditional power structures |
| Slavery | Illegal |
| Rape | A heinous crime, but the wealthy and powerful often get away with it |
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What You'll Learn
- Westeros is not a dictatorship, it has an unwritten constitution
- The King's Peace is the first law of the land
- The Seven Kingdoms are ruled by a single king, but have unique laws
- The Faith of the Seven is the dominant religion with special privileges
- The Night's Watch is a sworn brotherhood with unique legal protections
Westeros is not a dictatorship, it has an unwritten constitution
Westeros is not a dictatorship, despite being ruled by a king or queen. It has an unwritten constitution, which is legally binding even on the highest kings and lords. While the king or queen sits at the top of the hierarchical structure, they are not the only source of law and custom in the Seven Kingdoms.
The first law of the land is the "King's Peace", which requires petty lords and landed knights to take their disputes to their liege lord, and for disputes between great houses to be adjudicated by the Crown. The King's Peace also extends to protection from outlaws and pirates. The king's power is delegated to the other great lords of the realm, who have the right of pit and gallows over their own lands, meaning they have the authority to hang or arrest people according to the king's law. Landed knights, however, cannot exercise the same right without the leave of their liege lord.
The Seven Kingdoms also have sworn brotherhoods that stand apart from the traditional power structures of the realm, such as the Night's Watch and the Maesters of the Citadel. These brotherhoods take vows to disavow their lands and titles and play no part in the wars and political jockeying for the Iron Throne. They have unique legal protections and enjoy a special status.
In addition, members of religious organizations, such as the clergy of the Faith of the Seven, possess special privileges that commoners do not. In the past, the Faith of the Seven had the power to conduct its own trials in ecclesiastical courts, but they lost this right after the Targaryen Conquest, when public powers were brought under the exclusive control of the king on the Iron Throne.
The laws of Westeros reflect a society where power often trumps fairness, and the strong and cunning survive. While the legal system is based on kingship and feudalism, with loyalty and service exchanged for protection and land, it is not an absolute monarchy, as the king's power is checked by various traditions and institutions.
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The King's Peace is the first law of the land
While Westeros is ruled by a king, it is not an absolute dictatorship. It has a complex and richly imagined constitution, which is not written down but is nonetheless legally binding. The first law of the land is the King's Peace, a concept and law devised by Aegon I Targaryen for all subjects of the Iron Throne, including nobles, prohibiting violence and war for the settling of disputes. Before the Conquest, wars between the realms of Westeros were common, and neighbouring lords would often settle disputes violently. Aegon's Conquest unified six of the seven kingdoms under Targaryen rule and ended this practice. Under the King's Peace, liege lords must adjudicate disputes of their vassal petty lords or landed knights, while those between the great houses of the realm are settled by the Iron Throne. Any lord who goes to war without the king's leave is considered a rebel and an enemy to the Iron Throne.
The King's Peace is enforced by the Hand of the King, such as Lord Eddard Stark, who reminds Queen Cersei Lannister that he is charged with keeping the King's Peace and enforcing the King's Justice. The Lannisters themselves break the King's Peace by invading the riverlands and attacking settlements. The punishment for breaking the King's Peace is not always clear-cut, as in the case of Tywin, who provoked his vassals into civil war but was not punished because he was smart about it. He prepared beforehand, becoming close friends with the heir to the Iron Throne, and then painted the rebels as the aggressors.
The King's Peace is not the only law in Westeros, which has a unique blend of medieval justice, political intrigue, and ruthless power plays. Trial by combat and the King's Justice are also practised, reflecting a society where power often trumps fairness. The Seven Kingdoms also have sworn brotherhoods that stand apart from the traditional power structures of the realm, such as the Night's Watch and the Maesters of the Citadel, who take vows to disavow their lands and titles and play no part in the wars and political jockeying for the Iron Throne. These brotherhoods have unique legal protections and enjoy a special status.
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The Seven Kingdoms are ruled by a single king, but have unique laws
The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are ruled by a single king, but each kingdom has unique laws and customs. While the king's power is absolute, it is not a dictatorship. The Westerosi Constitution, though unwritten, is legally binding even for the highest kings and lords.
At the heart of Westeros' legal system is Kingship and Feudalism, a hierarchical structure where loyalty and service are exchanged for protection and land. The king sits at the top of this pyramid, followed by powerful lords, knights, and finally, the smallfolk. The king's power is delegated to the other great lords of the realm, with the rulers of the Great Houses, such as House Lannister, wielding significant influence.
The first law of the land is the "King's Peace", which requires petty lords and landed knights to take their disputes to their liege lord and abide by their judgement, while disputes between great houses are settled by the Crown. The King's Peace also provides protection from outlaws and pirates, and aims to prevent small-scale feuds and succession wars between the kingdoms.
Each of the Seven Kingdoms has unique legal practices and traditions. For example, Dorne, which was an independent realm for 187 years, was allowed to maintain its own laws and gather its own taxes when it united with the Iron Throne. The Faith of the Seven, the dominant religion in the Seven Kingdoms, once had the power to conduct its own trials, but lost this right after the Targaryen Conquest when public powers were brought under the control of the king.
Westeros also has sworn brotherhoods that stand apart from the traditional power structures, such as the Night's Watch and the Maesters of the Citadel, who take vows to disavow their lands and titles and play no part in the political jockeying for the Iron Throne. These brotherhoods have unique legal protections and enjoy a special status.
The laws of Westeros are as diverse and brutal as the world itself, with practices such as trial by combat and the king's justice reflecting a society where power often trumps fairness.
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The Faith of the Seven is the dominant religion with special privileges
The Faith of the Seven is the dominant religion in most of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It is sometimes referred to as the Holy Faith or simply the Faith. The religion is analogous to the medieval Catholic Church, with a seven-faced or seven-in-one godhead, each face representing one part of life or existence. The seven faces are: the Father, the Mother, the Maiden, the Crone, the Warrior, the Smith, and the Stranger. The Father, for example, represents divine justice and judges the souls of the dead, while the Mother represents mercy, peace, fertility, and childbirth. The Warrior, meanwhile, represents strength and courage in battle, and the Smith represents creation and craftsmanship. The Stranger, rarely prayed to, represents death and the unknown.
The Faith is ruled over by a council known as the Most Devout, which elects the High Septon. The High Sparrow, who leads the Faith Militant, is a notable member of the Faith. The Faith Militant was once prohibited from arming itself by Maegor the Cruel, who placed a bounty on them. The Faith's support was critical to Aegon the Conqueror's success in invading and subduing Westeros. When Aegon's son Aenys, born of incest (which is proscribed by the Faith), took the throne, the Faith led an uprising against him.
The Faith of the Seven is deeply entrenched in the society and culture of Westeros. It is a subject of debate, constantly pulling characters in various directions. The religion also influences the laws and legal practices of Westeros, with trial by combat outlawed in favour of trial by seven septons.
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The Night's Watch is a sworn brotherhood with unique legal protections
The world of Game of Thrones is a richly imagined one, with a complex web of familial relationships, house sigils, and societal details. The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros operate under a unique blend of medieval justice, political intrigue, and ruthless power plays. At the heart of Westeros' legal system is Kingship and Feudalism, a hierarchical structure where loyalty and service are exchanged for protection and land.
The Night's Watch is a sworn brotherhood that stands apart from the traditional power structures of the realm. They are a military order that guards the Wall to keep the wildlings and White Walkers from crossing into the Seven Kingdoms. Members of the Night's Watch swear an oath of duty that prohibits marriage, family, and land ownership which lasts until death. Recruits renounce all past allegiances and birthrights, receiving absolution for past crimes and immunity from further punishment.
The vows of the Night's Watch provide unique legal protections for its members. While they are meant to be for life, it is possible to leave the order with the ruling monarch's approval. The vows also protect the men of the Night's Watch from interference by the Kings and Lords in the South, allowing members like Aemon Targaryen to remain unmolested despite Robert Baratheon's hatred for House Targaryen.
The Night's Watch is similar to a medieval holy order, forswearing land ownership and family in service of defending the realm. They are often referred to as "crows" or "black brothers" due to their all-black attire. While the order was once highly regarded, with volunteers from noble houses, it has declined in recent times, now attracting criminals, nobles avoiding scandal, and social outcasts.
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Frequently asked questions
The Westerosi Constitution is unwritten but it is richly imagined and legally binding.
Kingship and feudalism form the backbone of Westerosi law. The King or Queen sits at the top of a hierarchical structure where loyalty and service are exchanged for protection and land.
The first law of the land is the King's Peace. Any lord who goes to war without the King's leave is considered an enemy of the Iron Throne.
The Faith of the Seven is the dominant religion in the Seven Kingdoms. In the past, it had the power to conduct its own trials but this right was revoked after the Targaryen Conquest.
Westerosi law includes trial by combat, the King's justice, and the right of lords to pronounce justice in the name of the ruling monarch.
