#free cities

[wardrobeoftime]

House of the Dragon + Costumes

Sharako Lohar's yellow-golden, red & blue vest, brown armor, blue pants and blue & brown tunic in Season 02, Episode 08 & Season 03, Episode 01.

[ilreleonewikiart]

Essos fashion studies: Volantis

"Volantis, often called Old Volantis and the First Daughter, is a city in southwestern Essos. Located at the mouth of the Rhoyne on the Summer Sea, it is the oldest and the proudest of the Nine Free Cities.  Volantis is one of the greatest, richest, and most powerful of these city-states, and despite depopulation by ancient wars it is still the most populous. The Volantenes feel that people of quality should not travel afoot, but instead by palanquin or in a hathay. Travelling afoot can taint a person in the eyes of both the native-born Volantenes and the foreign captains in the city.  According to semi-canon sources the freeborn citizens tattoo themselves to show prowess in battle and as a record of their exploits. The Old Blood refers to some of the population in Volantis, noble families who can prove unbroken descent from old Valyria itself. Only those of the Old Blood are allowed to live within the Black Walls of eastern Volantis, and only they can invite slaves, freedmen, or foreigners to enter. Freeborn Volantenes with enough property can vote. There are precious few voters on the western side of Volantis, over the river."

[forget-me-foramoment]

Dany

[pillbuggery]

some thoughts on Tyrosh

I was answering an ask that got a bit out of hand from its original purpose, so I guess I really needed to share (more of) my thoughts on Tyrosh and how it relates to Westeros. also, I love studying medieval history. shocker that I'm currently fixating on asoiaf haha

some important things of what we do know of Tyrosh in canon (taken from here) is that

it is a very wealthy city-state

it is entrenched in the slave trade and Tyroshi slavers have gone beyond the wall to enslave free folk/wildlings

slaves far outnumber freeborn in Tyrosh (and much of the free cities outside of Braavos, which has banned it)

the Archon of Tyrosh isn't hereditary, but they get chosen from the same group of noble and/or wealthy men

I've had multiple ideas of which real life cultures/cities Tyrosh is informed by in my brain, and I think I've landed on medieval Venice or Genoa (a maritime/mercantile city state that relies on the slave trade for continued economic prosperity that enslaves people of many different ethnic and religious backgrounds), as well as some al-Andalus (specifically as it relates to the Prague slave trade). The targeting of pagans by medieval states parallels what exists in ASOIAF canon of free folk being targeted. There's also the whole thing of the old gods being viewed as an illegitimate religion. While it is based on these culturally in my mind, Tyrosh is also kind of Poland because the Blackfyre rebellions are based on the Jacobite rebellions, and James Stuart (Daemon Blackfyre) married Maria Clementina Sobieska (Rohanne of Tyrosh) for her dowry and to support his cause as pretender to the British (Westerosi) throne. IWith all that in mind, Tyrosh doesn't have an exact parallel but it is greatly inspired by the historical record.

I think it is very important to recognize that Tyrosh is a slave state. There is a lot of irony many of the "Free" Cities heavily rely on slavery as an economic and social system. While Tyroshi wealth apparently has its origins in sea snails (why not), their existence as a mercantile society relies in large part on the slave trade. This isn't dissimilar to fellow slave state Lys, which has a relationship with the Targaryens, especially considering the amount of Valyrian descent amongst Lysene nobility. Lys parallels medieval Florence in the real world (which was also known for poisons of course). It's very.... interesting then that being sent to Lys was considered a punishment for Aerion (who might have been his generation's Valyrian supremacist if he didn't also think he was a dragon). Also, here's a quote from The World of Ice and Fire that makes the decision to send Aerion to Lys perhaps less of a punishment...

Even the Targaryen kings and princes of old sometimes turned to Lys in search of wives and paramours, for their blood as for their beauty.

I don't think there's the same thing in Tyrosh of going with the purpose of finding a 'proper' wife, but this provides the context that Targaryens have historically been willing to marry Free City nobility. However, the Blackfyre Tyroshi marriage (of Rohanne of Tyrosh and Daemon Blackfyre) is politically and economically motivated rather than by blood or beauty like it might have been for a Lysene noblewoman. Also don't pay too much attention to ages of the involved characters because it WILL give you a headache.

Despite the fact that slavery has long been outlawed in Westeros, the impact of the slave trade still impacts it. That the Blackfyre rebellion(s)/faction chooses to align themselves with Tyrosh is especially interesting. It shows that they care more about gaining financial backing than they do about upholding the moral code set forth by the Faith of the Seven/the people of Westeros that they intend to rule. Tyrosh has its own form of religion, more closely aligned to the Roman inspired religion practiced in Valyria (and the ancestors of the Targaryens). They are essentially the Catholic Jacobites to the CoE Englishmen (which gives so much context to the Targs being viewed as closer to God/the Seven). However, it isn't as if the people of Westeros aren't also benefiting from slavery, as the fancy armor of the nobility is Tyroshi in origin:

Tyroshi with a forked blue beard was selling ornate helms, gorgeous fantastical things wrought in the shapes of birds and beasts and chased with gold and silver. (The Hedge Knight)

Ok that is all! I need to write an essay of sorts about the Tyroshi armor and the slave labor implications another time. feel free to let me know your thoughts

[heregopoets]

aerion with the second sons....aerion in bravoos....the concept of aerion who takes pride in himself and in his family's name being stripped of them when he stumbles upon the faceless men....the beatings he would have to endure to be great.....wow why does this sound like a fic I would want to write

real women keep making up more wips they can't finish but hey inspiration struck for this one so keep your eyes peeled :D

oh and here's a line I wrote half asleep after finishing 50 school projects:-

The day had dawned too quickly, twilight coming on up above him as the swords cut through the woods, marching marching marching to seven gods knew where. First it was three miles, then ten. The sound of their voices, their talking and their laughter, the rough growls and jeers they threw at one another as they moved made Aerion’s head hurt. Twenty miles, thirty. Another day gone. He had never been subject to such a mummer’s farce, and never would…once this godsforsaken exile ended. It’s been to long. I want to go home, to see father and Daeron and Egg too, that brat, and mother….his feet hurt, how much farther to Bravoos?....mother, mother, mother, where have you gone?

Forgive me. I was in the depths of dreams during this.

[staranemonehotd]

Every time someone in this fandom puts up the Free Cities or Valyria as some sex-positive queer paradise in comparison to Westeros I just have to laugh. Because like, do you guys know what a charnel pit is? Cause Valyrians did, they had a shit ton at Gogossos where they bred slave women with animals to create horrible beasts and concocted terrible plagues. The official slave tattoo for enslaved prostitutes in Volantis is a teardrop on their cheek because they just have to rub in how tragic their lives are.

I know the Faith of the Seven looks like Christianity, but that doesn't make the people with literal charnel pits better in comparison. That's your religious trauma talking. Westeros is one of the only places on the Narrow Sea besides Braavos where slavery is illegal of their own free will, and its because the Seven specifically forbid it. (It's illegal in Pentos, but only because of a peace treaty with Braavos and they just switched to indentured servitude.) I'd much rather be a woman in Westeros than damn near anywhere else. It was a Pentoshi cheese merchant who helped sell Dany to the Dothraki. Lys was a pleasure colony that Valyria specifically cultivated to be their personal brothel. There are more slaves in Volantis than free people.

Essos ain't shit, guys.

[simstoricalish]

Fashion in Essos

Free Cities pt. 1

Tyrosh

💜01: Dress(PERMAPAYWALL) | Headpiece | Hair | Belt

💜02: Dress | Headpiece | Hair/gold piece n' ribbons |

Norvos

💜01: Dress | Headpiece | Tiara | Belt pendant

💜02: Dress | Sleeves | Headpiece | Tiara |

Braavos

💜01: Top | Skirt | Hair | Belt | Shawl | Necklace

💜02: Top | Skirt | Headpiece | Hair | Shawl