“King Joffrey the Misrepresented: Reformer and Champion of the People.”ĪBSTRACT: An old tradition of historiography holds that King Joffrey Baratheon was cruel and vindictive, and that his victory in the War of the Five Kings was due to other efforts and not his own. In this paper, Professor Tyrell explores homosexuality and queer practices in Westeros during the War of the Five Kings, challenges conventional wisdom that these practices were marginal and few in number, and concludes that Renly sought to promote acceptance of queer sexuality and marginalized groups. “Queer Representation in Renly Baratheon’s Court: An Interrogation of the Rainbow Guard, Gender Roles, and Subversive Homosexuality.”ĪBSTRACT: It is well known that Renly Baratheon established his famous Rainbow Guard, and that he had an affinity for queer imagery. Instead, it was the culmination of ambitions and revenge that Eddard Stark and previous Starks had nurtured for generations, dating all the way back to Torrhen Stark’s kneeling before Aegon the Conqueror.
#The war of the 5 kings install#
What motivated Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell to try to seize power following King Robert Baratheon’s death, how did he go about it, and how widespread was his support? In this provocative paper, Professor Tully argues that Stark’s effort to install himself as king was no spur-of-the-moment decision. “Southron Ambitions: The Motivations for Eddard Stark’s Attempted Coup.”ĪBSTRACT: The event that precipitated the War of the Five Kings has been the subject of much debate among historians. Recent archaeological discoveries have shown that the reports of giant boar during this historical period were not exaggerated tusks, skulls, and bones have been found indicating that large males could stand four and a half feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 700 or more pounds! They are currently smaller than in the past because hunters usually went after the largest animals.
NOTE: After being hunted for so long, wild boar are now making a comeback throughout Westeros. Special attention is also given to the behavior and intelligence of wild boar and the famous hunt that resulted in King Robert Baratheon’s death. This paper examines the practice of boar hunting and the culture surrounding the practice, including its portrayal in art, literature, and music.
“Training for War: Boar Hunting After Aegon’s Conquest”ĪBSTRACT: After Aegon the Conqueror’s subjection of Westeros, boar hunting rapidly became a popular pastime among the nobility. Were they a tribe that was significantly taller than the rangers? Was that label attached to them because of their courage or ferocity, or an ancient legend? Or was it an attempt by Redwyn to explain to his superiors why he failed to defeat them by exaggerating their size and claiming they were not human? NOTE: Speculation continues as to who exactly these ‘giants’ were and what is meant by that description. In this damaged and incomplete manuscript, the ranger recounts his journey far north to Lorn Point on the Frozen Shore, describes the people he encountered, and claims to have fought ‘giants’ and traded with mysterious people he calls ‘children of the forest.’ This intriguing work, while blending fact with fiction, nevertheless contains much valuable ethnographic information about the Night’s Watch and the regions north of the Wall, if carefully read. “The Chr onicle of Redwyn the Ranger: Giants and Children and Trading, Oh My!”ĪBSTRACT: One of the most exciting events of the past couple of years has been the rediscovery of an account by Redwyn, a ranger of the Night’s Watch. We look forward to hearing what the authors have to say, and to the discussions that will follow. With over 300 of the finest history professors in Westeros, this is the largest conference yet organized! Below are just a few of the academic papers being presented. The University of Oldtown is pleased to present this academic conference, “The War of the Five Kings: Its Origins, Conduct, and Aftermath.” The subject matter will be the War of the Five Kings, as well as the period leading up to it and its aftermath (obviously).