In this article I will
discuss the numerous institutions that can be found in Westeros. I
will not mention or detail the ones in Essos nor will I mention them
all. To help you understand how this feudal society works, you also
need to have a good representation of the hierarchy and the social
classes.
Feudal System
Westeros' feudal system is
very similar to medieval Europe and its structure is composed by
social classes.
The common people: also
called smallfolk, they represent the largest social class but also
the bottom of the ladder. They work the lands of a lord ( and
sometimes a landed knight ) and dispose of various rights and laws
protecting them from life's mistreatment. The men can be raised as
levies by their liege lord should he be at war or should his own
liege call his banners. Despite a commoner will certainly remain in
this social class his whole life, some of them can be knighted for
great deed or service. In general, smallfolk are farmers,
craftsmen,...etc
The knights: Though being
knighted is not always synonym of wealth or power, they posses a
social status higher than the common people. Knighthood is a
tradition proper to the Andal culture and generally a knight follows
the Faith of the Seven. Once a man is knighted, he is granted the
title of Ser and depending of his family name, wealth and renown he
will be sworn to a lord, hold lands or seek a master his entire life.
The traditional way to become a knight is to serve an anointed knight
as a page then a squire. Should the squire be worthy of the title “
Ser “ at the minimum of the age of 16 ( legal majority for both men
and women in the Seven Kingdoms ), a knight place his sword on the
squire's shoulder who will henceforth be asked to keep virtues of
knighthood ( defend the weak, be just,...Etc ). A more traditional
ceremony also exist, consisting of standing a night before the
Warrior in a sept but a man can be knighted any time if he is worthy,
on the field of battle for example. A knight can be granted a land
and thus rule over it as a lord would but they have less rights
concerning justice for example. Landless knights are often sworn to a
noble house, serving as a captain of the guard or accompanying his
master in battle. Some other knights though are not rich enough and
wander through the Seven Kingdoms in hope of temporary finding a
master, they are called hedge knights.
They are less knights in the
North and in the Iron Islands since they generally do not follow the
Faith of the Seven but it does not mean that men are not just as
honourable and just as the Southerners. If the tradition wants the
knight to be virtuous, oaths can easily be forgotten and some knights
are remembered to have shame knighthood and their name.
The Lords: The title of Lord
is given to the head of a noble house who rules the familial lands.
It is an hereditary title generally given to the oldest son,
sometimes the oldest daughter or the next of kin. Lords are sometimes
vassals to an other lord ( who can also be a vassal of higher lord )
and can themselves have vassals. Some houses are very powerful and
wealthy when some are poorer than a landed knight. Several houses are
also known to hold honorary titles making them, if not more powerful,
more respected. The Lords Paramount only answer to the King and rule
the nine regions of Westeros and some of them were kings before the
Aegon Targaryen's conquest. Poor or rich, it is a lord's duty to keep
the king's peace and justice over their lands.
The King: The king answers
to no one and rule the Seven Kingdoms from the Iron Throne in King's
Landing until his death. Despite having all powers, the King needs to
keep the support of both the nobles and the smallfolk. A council (
the Small Council ) appointed by the King is charged to help him
during his reign, generally high-born councillors but it happened
through history that commoners or members of minor houses were raised
to the Small Council.
In the next article, we will
talk about the Citadell, the Kingsguard, the Sellsword
Companies,...Etc
