Template:Infobox organization
- "We are the Thirteen: charged with the governance and protection of Qarth, the greatest city that ever was or will be."
- ―The Spice King
The Thirteen are the ruling council of the city-state of Qarth.[1]
History
Background
Most of its members hail from the Pureborn, descendants of the deposed Kings of Qarth, who hold hereditary seats and possess a majority of members. The Warlocks of Qarth also hold a single permanent seat, occupied by an envoy of their order. The rest of the seats are occupied by merchants invited by the council, and remain there for as long as they are powerful and feared enough not to be dismissed or replaced by another candidate. Because of this, the members of the Thirteen pay attention not only to amassing wealth, but also to appear wealthy.[2]
Season 2
The Thirteen open the gates of Qarth to see for themselves Daenerys Targaryen's three dragons but turn her away when she tries to enter the city, fearing that her Dothraki may attempt to plunder the city. Xaro Xhoan Daxos, however, invokes Sumai, a blood oath in which a Qartheen vouches for outsiders that wish to enter the city.[3]
Xaro Xhoan Daxos orchestrates the elimination of his fellow council members with the aid of the warlock Pyat Pree as part of his plan to crown himself King of Qarth.[4]
Known members
- "A merchant only remains in the Thirteen until the others are no longer afraid to deny him... or too afraid to deny his replacement."
- ―Xaro Xhoan Daxos
- The {Spice King}, killed by Pyat Pree.
- The {Copper King}, killed by Pyat Pree.
- The {Silk King}, killed by Pyat Pree.
- {Xaro Xhoan Daxos}, originally of the Summer Isles, locked inside his own vault to die of suffocation or starvation.
- {Pyat Pree}, a Warlock, burned alive by Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.
Image gallery
In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the Thirteen are not the ruling oligarchy of Qarth but a powerful merchant guild that competes with the "Tourmaline Brotherhood" and the "Ancient Guild of Spicers" (upon which the Spice King is apparently based) for supremacy over the city. Meanwhile, the rulers of Qarth are the "Pureborn" or "Enthroned", a group of aristocrats that descend from the ancient kings and queens of Qarth. These three large merchant guilds compete with the Pureborn and with each other for power in Qarth. Pyat Pree, as a warlock, is not a member of the Thirteen. The TV series condensed all of these into one group.
See also
References
- ↑ HBO viewers guide, season 2 map, Qarth entry
- ↑ Qarth (Histories & Lore)
- ↑ "Garden of Bones"
- ↑ "A Man Without Honor"
| Leadership |
Thirteen · King of Qarth |
| Culture and institutions |
Civic Guard · Pureborn · Sumai · Warlocks |
| Places of note |
Garden of Bones · Hall of a Thousand Thrones · House of the Undying |