First Men

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The First Men is a overarching term that applied to the descendants of the first peoples to settle Westeros, walking across the [[Arm of Dorne]] during the [[Dawn Age]]. During the period of the early [[Coming of the Andals|Andal ~~Invasions~~]], the term was used in the main by the [[Andals]] to describe the peoples they found dwelling in Westeros when they crossed the Narrow Sea. The First Men themselves would likely more identify with their locality, their region, their gods, and their ruler than consider themselves part of one homogenous people - though certain kings and cultural traditions do preserve the idea of common descent from a single ancestral figure - though the nature of this personage varies greatly from region to region.

The First Men is a overarching term that applied to the descendants of the first peoples to settle Westeros, walking across the [[Arm of Dorne]] during the [[Dawn Age]]. During the period of the early [[Coming of the Andals|Andal invasions]], the term was used in the main by the [[Andals]] to describe the peoples they found dwelling in Westeros when they crossed the Narrow Sea. The First Men themselves would likely more identify with their locality, their region, their gods, and their ruler than consider themselves part of one homogenous people - though certain kings and cultural traditions do preserve the idea of common descent from a single ancestral figure - though the nature of this personage varies greatly from region to region.

== History ==

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The First Men began to enter Westeros approximately seven thousand years before the Coming of the Andals, though this period itself took place over a significant period of time, despite myths of a single leader and migration. This period came to an end with the breaking of the Arm of Dorne approximately 5000 B.I. - whether it came about as a result of natural forces, or supernatural ones.

It remains unclear in which order the First Men settled Westeros, whether [[Dorne]] was barren and unappealing, or whether it was settled first which prompted other groups to continue northwards beyond the Red Mountains. The peoples of the North would claim that the North was the earliest settled region, on account of the grave of the First King beneath the First Barrow. Other landmarks being given names such as [[House Locke|Oldcastle]] and First Hollow would also seem to suggest the First Men of [[the North]] see themselves as the descendants of the original settlers. Brandon the Builder is also seen as a foundational figure in the emergence of kingdoms elsewhere in Westeros, though this seems unlikely. The notion of the north being settled first is also contradicted by the tale of the second Hammer of the Waters, which was supposedly an attempt by the Children to safekeep the North for themselves, something that would surely seem folly if the First Men were well established in the region.

It remains unclear in which order the First Men settled Westeros, whether [[Dorne]] was barren and unappealing, or whether it was settled first which prompted other groups to continue northwards beyond the Red Mountains. The peoples of the North would claim that the North was the earliest settled region, on account of the grave of the First King beneath the First Barrow. Other landmarks being given names such as [[House Locke|Oldcastle]] and First Hollow would also seem to suggest the First Men of the [[the North|North]] see themselves as the descendants of the original settlers. [[Brandon the Builder]] is also seen as a foundational figure in the emergence of kingdoms elsewhere in Westeros, though this seems unlikely. The notion of the north being settled first is also contradicted by the tale of the second Hammer of the Waters, which was supposedly an attempt by the [[Children of the Forest|children]] to safekeep the North for themselves, something that would surely seem folly if the First Men were well established in the region.

The men of the Reach similarly claim to be descended from the First King of men in Westeros, in their tradition Garth the Green. In their traditions however, Garth himself is a contradiction - both leading the first men to Westeros, but also having dwelt alone in Westeros for centuries beforehand, treating with the giants and the children of the forest. It is possible this confusion comes from the fact that [[Oldtown]] is known to be the only confirmed settlement to predate the First Men, and may have been a site of cultural exchange between the Elder Races and an as yet unknown culture of men, who may have colonised certain coastal parts of Westeros during the Dawn Age.

The men of [[the Reach|Reach]] similarly claim to be descended from the First King of men in Westeros, in their tradition Garth the Green. In their traditions however, Garth himself is a contradiction - both leading the first men to Westeros, but also having dwelt alone in Westeros for centuries beforehand, treating with the [[Giants|giants]] and the children of the forest. It is possible this confusion comes from the fact that [[Oldtown]] is known to be the only confirmed settlement to predate the First Men, and may have been a site of cultural exchange between the Elder Races and an as yet unknown culture of men, who may have colonised certain coastal parts of Westeros during the Dawn Age.

Garth Greenhand as a potential First King in Westeros who settled in the Reach is also called into question by the existence of the Green Kings - the self-proclaimed High Kings of Dorne who dwell near the mouth of the Greenblood. The similar associations of these kings with the harvest, fertility and a sense of community call into question the unique circumstances of Garth, and the kingdom his declared descendants forged in the Reach.

[[Garth Greenhand]] as a potential First King in Westeros who settled in the Reach is also called into question by the existence of the Green Kings - the self-proclaimed High Kings of Dorne who dwell near the mouth of the Greenblood. The similar associations of these kings with the harvest, fertility and a sense of community call into question the unique circumstances of Garth, and the kingdom his declared descendants forged in the Reach.

Whatever the case of where the First Men first settled, what is plain is that wherever they went, they encountered the elder races. The Giants of the Mountains and the Children of the Forest were most often encountered by men - and despite early attempts at cohabitation, this quickly devolved into outright conflict. Men cut down weirwoods, fearful of the strange Children watching them through those bleeding eyes. The wars between men, giants and the children were many and terrible, and did not truly end until the signing of The Pact on the Isle of Faces.

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=== Succession ===

First Men succession practices, like many others, vary throughout the various lands and kingdoms of the First Men. What is almost universal however, is the notion that any man who would be a king or rule over his land - cannot hope to do so without winning the support of his fellows. Whether this takes the form of an official Kingsmoot on the Iron Islands, the Choosings that occur on the banks of the Greenblood in Dorne - or merely members of a single dynasty vying for support or even fighting one another for the right to rule - succession amongst the First Men is extremely rarely a mere matter of uncontested father to son succession, whether he were a great king, or a small master of lands.

First Men succession practices, like many others, vary throughout the various lands and kingdoms of the First Men. What is almost universal however, is the notion that any man who would be a king or rule over his land - cannot hope to do so without winning the support of his fellows. Whether this takes the form of an official Kingsmoot on the [[Iron Islands]], the Choosings that occur on the banks of the Greenblood in Dorne - or merely members of a single dynasty vying for support or even fighting one another for the right to rule - succession amongst the First Men is extremely rarely a mere matter of uncontested father to son succession, whether he were a great king, or a small master of lands.

=== Technology ===

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-The First Men is a overarching term that applied to the descendants of the first peoples to settle Westeros, walking across the [[Arm of Dorne]] during the [[Dawn Age]]. During the period of the early [[Coming of the Andals|Andal Invasions]], the term was used in the main by the [[Andals]] to describe the peoples they found dwelling in Westeros when they crossed the Narrow Sea. The First Men themselves would likely more identify with their locality, their region, their gods, and their ruler than consider themselves part of one homogenous people - though certain kings and cultural traditions do preserve the idea of common descent from a single ancestral figure - though the nature of this personage varies greatly from region to region.
+The First Men is a overarching term that applied to the descendants of the first peoples to settle Westeros, walking across the [[Arm of Dorne]] during the [[Dawn Age]]. During the period of the early [[Coming of the Andals|Andal invasions]], the term was used in the main by the [[Andals]] to describe the peoples they found dwelling in Westeros when they crossed the Narrow Sea. The First Men themselves would likely more identify with their locality, their region, their gods, and their ruler than consider themselves part of one homogenous people - though certain kings and cultural traditions do preserve the idea of common descent from a single ancestral figure - though the nature of this personage varies greatly from region to region.
 == History ==
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 The First Men began to enter Westeros approximately seven thousand years before the Coming of the Andals, though this period itself took place over a significant period of time, despite myths of a single leader and migration. This period came to an end with the breaking of the Arm of Dorne approximately 5000 B.I. - whether it came about as a result of natural forces, or supernatural ones.
-It remains unclear in which order the First Men settled Westeros, whether [[Dorne]] was barren and unappealing, or whether it was settled first which prompted other groups to continue northwards beyond the Red Mountains. The peoples of the North would claim that the North was the earliest settled region, on account of the grave of the First King beneath the First Barrow. Other landmarks being given names such as [[House Locke|Oldcastle]] and First Hollow would also seem to suggest the First Men of [[the North]] see themselves as the descendants of the original settlers. Brandon the Builder is also seen as a foundational figure in the emergence of kingdoms elsewhere in Westeros, though this seems unlikely. The notion of the north being settled first is also contradicted by the tale of the second Hammer of the Waters, which was supposedly an attempt by the Children to safekeep the North for themselves, something that would surely seem folly if the First Men were well established in the region.
+It remains unclear in which order the First Men settled Westeros, whether [[Dorne]] was barren and unappealing, or whether it was settled first which prompted other groups to continue northwards beyond the Red Mountains. The peoples of the North would claim that the North was the earliest settled region, on account of the grave of the First King beneath the First Barrow. Other landmarks being given names such as [[House Locke|Oldcastle]] and First Hollow would also seem to suggest the First Men of the [[the North|North]] see themselves as the descendants of the original settlers. [[Brandon the Builder]] is also seen as a foundational figure in the emergence of kingdoms elsewhere in Westeros, though this seems unlikely. The notion of the north being settled first is also contradicted by the tale of the second Hammer of the Waters, which was supposedly an attempt by the [[Children of the Forest|children]] to safekeep the North for themselves, something that would surely seem folly if the First Men were well established in the region.
-The men of the Reach similarly claim to be descended from the First King of men in Westeros, in their tradition Garth the Green. In their traditions however, Garth himself is a contradiction - both leading the first men to Westeros, but also having dwelt alone in Westeros for centuries beforehand, treating with the giants and the children of the forest. It is possible this confusion comes from the fact that [[Oldtown]] is known to be the only confirmed settlement to predate the First Men, and may have been a site of cultural exchange between the Elder Races and an as yet unknown culture of men, who may have colonised certain coastal parts of Westeros during the Dawn Age.
+The men of [[the Reach|Reach]] similarly claim to be descended from the First King of men in Westeros, in their tradition Garth the Green. In their traditions however, Garth himself is a contradiction - both leading the first men to Westeros, but also having dwelt alone in Westeros for centuries beforehand, treating with the [[Giants|giants]] and the children of the forest. It is possible this confusion comes from the fact that [[Oldtown]] is known to be the only confirmed settlement to predate the First Men, and may have been a site of cultural exchange between the Elder Races and an as yet unknown culture of men, who may have colonised certain coastal parts of Westeros during the Dawn Age.
-Garth Greenhand as a potential First King in Westeros who settled in the Reach is also called into question by the existence of the Green Kings - the self-proclaimed High Kings of Dorne who dwell near the mouth of the Greenblood. The similar associations of these kings with the harvest, fertility and a sense of community call into question the unique circumstances of Garth, and the kingdom his declared descendants forged in the Reach.
+[[Garth Greenhand]] as a potential First King in Westeros who settled in the Reach is also called into question by the existence of the Green Kings - the self-proclaimed High Kings of Dorne who dwell near the mouth of the Greenblood. The similar associations of these kings with the harvest, fertility and a sense of community call into question the unique circumstances of Garth, and the kingdom his declared descendants forged in the Reach.
 Whatever the case of where the First Men first settled, what is plain is that wherever they went, they encountered the elder races. The Giants of the Mountains and the Children of the Forest were most often encountered by men - and despite early attempts at cohabitation, this quickly devolved into outright conflict. Men cut down weirwoods, fearful of the strange Children watching them through those bleeding eyes. The wars between men, giants and the children were many and terrible, and did not truly end until the signing of The Pact on the Isle of Faces.
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 === Succession ===
-First Men succession practices, like many others, vary throughout the various lands and kingdoms of the First Men. What is almost universal however, is the notion that any man who would be a king or rule over his land - cannot hope to do so without winning the support of his fellows. Whether this takes the form of an official Kingsmoot on the Iron Islands, the Choosings that occur on the banks of the Greenblood in Dorne - or merely members of a single dynasty vying for support or even fighting one another for the right to rule - succession amongst the First Men is extremely rarely a mere matter of uncontested father to son succession, whether he were a great king, or a small master of lands.
+First Men succession practices, like many others, vary throughout the various lands and kingdoms of the First Men. What is almost universal however, is the notion that any man who would be a king or rule over his land - cannot hope to do so without winning the support of his fellows. Whether this takes the form of an official Kingsmoot on the [[Iron Islands]], the Choosings that occur on the banks of the Greenblood in Dorne - or merely members of a single dynasty vying for support or even fighting one another for the right to rule - succession amongst the First Men is extremely rarely a mere matter of uncontested father to son succession, whether he were a great king, or a small master of lands.
 === Technology ===

First Men: Difference between revisions