The Ancient Origins Unveiled: Unraveling the Enigmatic First Men of Game of Thrones
Unveiling the Enigmatic Origins: Delve into the Mysterious First Men, their Legacy, and the Intriguing Lineages Descended from Them All about the mythical Game of Thrones world! (348 characters)
In the Known World of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice & Fire, consisting of Westeros, Essos, and Sothoryos, numerous lands showcase diverse cultures with rich histories. Among them, Westeros stands out due to its violent past, characterized by successive conquests carried out by different invaders.
The main timeline revolves around a civil war fueled by major houses in Westeros, with Daenerys Targaryen and the enigmatic Others serving as the current invaders. However, predating the Targaryen dragons and the ominous march of the ancient Others from the Lands of Always Winter, there existed the First Men. These ancient, almost mythical figures played a pivotal role in shaping the present era.
Who Were the First Men?
The continent of Westeros was once home to the Children of the Forest, who were similar to Elves, as Martin envisioned them, and the giants. However, their unquestioned rule came to an end between eight to twelve thousand years prior to Aegon Targaryen's conquest, when the First Men arrived in Westeros through a submerged land bridge called "the Arm of Dorne." The reasons behind the First Men's migration remain unknown, but they were said to have been led by "the First King," whose name varies across different cultures in Westeros. Starting from Dorne, the First Men gradually spread across the entire continent, leading to conflicts with the original inhabitants.
The First Men gave the name "the Children of the Forest" to these native inhabitants, emphasizing their short stature and childlike appearances. The Children referred to themselves as "those who sing the song of the earth," reflecting their deep spiritual connection to Westeros. The First Men, with their uncultured customs and disregard for the land, angered the Children by building forts and farms, as well as cutting down weirwood trees for their wood. Weirwood trees were considered sacred in Northern households, and the Children used them to communicate with the gods. The destruction of these trees was not only seen as an attack on their culture, but also a threat to the natural balance of Westeros.
The conflict for control of Westeros did not drag on. Despite the Children's possession of magic and an extensive ancestral understanding of the land, the First Men held the advantage in terms of size, strength, technological advancement, and most importantly, numbers. They had migrated from the neighboring continent of Essos during a period known as the Bronze Age, equipped with swords, shields, and well-trained war horses.
According to legend, in order to prevent the First Men from entering Westeros, the Children resorted to dark magic and destroyed the Arm of Dorne, creating the Stepstones and transforming the Neck into a swamp. However, this drastic action did not bring an end to the war. Eventually, both sides agreed to a peace treaty called "The Pact." Under this agreement, the Children gained control over the deep woods while the First Men ruled the rest of Westeros, but they agreed to cease cutting down the sacred weirwood trees.
Following "The Pact," the First Men and the Children enjoyed a peaceful and friendly period known as the Age of Heroes, which lasted for four thousand years. The bond between these two groups was so strong that the First Men abandoned their previous religions and adopted the beliefs of the Children. They also began carving their faces into the weirwood trees, turning them into what is now known as "heart trees." The Children shared their knowledge of using ravens as messengers with the First Men, and it's said that during that time, the ravens were able to actually speak the messages they carried.
Who Is Descended From the First Men?
The alliance between the two peoples reached its pinnacle during The Long Night as they combined forces to combat the Others. By working in unison, the Children, the First Men, and the giants succeeded in driving back the Others beyond the northernmost point of Westeros, into the desolate Lands of Always Winter. Following this turbulent period, the three factions constructed The Wall as a precautionary measure against the potential resurgence of these malevolent ice wraiths.
Following The Long Night, the Andals, a different group of human beings, arrived in Westeros from Essos, bringing with them iron weapons that were more advanced. Over the course of several centuries of conflict, the Andals conquered or formed unions with the various southern kingdoms of Westeros, while introducing their own pantheon, known as the Seven Gods. As a consequence of this invasion, the Children of the Forest, who had already dwindled in numbers, were essentially eradicated, transforming the political and cultural landscape of the continent. Nonetheless, the North remained primarily under the control of the First Men and their descendants.
In Game of Thrones, the Northern Houses and their subjects can trace their ancestry back to the First Men, dating back to the time of the First Long Night. One of the prominent ancient houses is the Starks, who have preserved numerous customs from their ancestors. They continue to worship the Old Gods and have a sacred heart tree in Winterfell. Additionally, they uphold the tradition of guest right, which ensures the safety and protection of guests once they have been offered food and shelter. Furthermore, in line with their ancestral beliefs, those in positions of power personally carry out death sentences to emphasize the value of human life and prevent arbitrary actions by rulers.
The wildlings, known as the "Free Folk," have a lineage that can be traced back to the First Men. They are essentially the descendants of those unfortunate First Men who were stranded North of the Wall when it was erected. While the wildlings have developed their own customs over thousands of years of isolation, they still share many core beliefs and traditions with their southern counterparts. This shared heritage has fueled a deep animosity towards the Starks among the Free Folk, who believe that the Northern House is complicit in the slaughter of their own distant relatives. The Starks and the Northern Houses have exacerbated this divide by defining themselves as more civilized in contrast to the wildlings, even though their differences are primarily a result of geographical happenstance rather than a sense of Westerosi exceptionalism.
The legacy of the First Men can be seen in various aspects of Westeros. The border conflict between the Northerners and the Free Folk, the presence of the Wall and weirwoods, as well as the very DNA of the Westerosi people, all serve as reminders of their significant impact. Despite their assimilation into the Seven Kingdoms and the decay of their remarkable landmarks, the influence of the First Men can still be perceived in the homes and centers of authority throughout Westeros.
