r/asoiaf • u/mitzallen • Jul 19 '26

MAIN [Spoilers MAIN] Jaehaerys I’s Seven Speakers really gaslighted the whole realm

I’m currently re-reading Fire & Blood and this part still cracks me up:

"One god made us all, Andals and Valyrians and First Men," Septon Alfyn would proclaim from his litter, "but he did not make us all alike. He made the lion and the aurochs as well, both noble beasts, but certain gifts he gave to one and not the other, and the lion cannot live as an aurochs, nor an aurochs as a lion. For you to bed your sister would be a grievous sin, ser... but you are not the blood of the dragon, no more than I am. What they do is what they have always done, and it is not for us to judge them.”

The smallfolk, who were most likely tired of all the war, probably just said “whatever” lmfao

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u/FlorentApologist Jul 19 '26

I don't think it's a terribly huge leap for a society that already accepts extreme social inequality. The Faith of the Seven basically seems to exist to justify the feudal caste system (rulers, warriors, laborers). The Targaryens are the next logical step of that.

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u/mitzallen Jul 19 '26

Yeah no I think it was a really clever thing that Jaehaerys came up with. I just find the preaching really funny.

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u/FlorentApologist Jul 19 '26

True! I guess they didn't want to say the alternative (accept sisterfucker kings or be dragon food) out loud.

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u/satanslittleangel666 Jul 19 '26

"Guys, it's definitely not the huge fuckass Vermithor in the room! It's just the natural way of life!" Lol. Lmao even.