Chapter Text
The Succession Decree
Issued by the Grace of His Majesty, Viserys of House Targaryen, First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.
Let it be known that uncertainty concerning succession, inheritance, and the rights of lawful heirs has endangered the peace of the realm and invited disputes contrary to the stability of the Crown.
Therefore, for the preservation of the realm and the prevention of future crises, the following laws are enacted and entered into the permanent records of the Iron Throne.
- On Absolute Primogeniture
Henceforth the Iron Throne shall pass according to absolute primogeniture.
The eldest lawful child shall inherit regardless of sex.
The descendants of the eldest lawful child shall inherit before the siblings of the eldest lawful child.
The rights of succession shall pass through the line of the heir before passing to collateral branches.
No claim based solely upon sex shall supersede the claim of an elder lawful child.
- On Multiple Marriages and Successive Lines
The Crown recognizes that disputes have arisen when sovereigns have entered multiple lawful marriages.
Therefore:
The descendants of a prior lawful marriage shall inherit before the children and descendants of any subsequent lawful marriage.
No later marriage shall displace the succession established by an earlier lawful marriage.
No child born of a second, third, or subsequent lawful marriage shall inherit before the descendants of a prior lawful marriage while such descendants survive.
The rights of inheritance shall pass through the senior line before passing to junior lines.
The Crown shall follow the line and not the marriage.
III. On Future Interpretation
All future disputes concerning inheritance and succession shall be interpreted according to the principles herein established.
The descendants of the lawful heir shall inherit before collateral branches.
The descendants of an elder line shall inherit before younger lines.
No custom, preference, marriage, office, title, or influence shall supersede the established order of succession.
The succession shall remain with the succession.
- On the Application of this Decree
The Crown recognizes that laws established for the future must also be applied to the present.
Therefore the principles of absolute primogeniture shall govern the succession to the Iron Throne from this day forward.
- On the Present Succession
For the avoidance of future dispute, the Crown declares the lawful order of succession to be:
- Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone.
- Prince Matarys Targaryen and his descendants.
- Prince Aelor Targaryen and his descendants.
- Prince Valarr Targaryen and his descendants.
- Any future lawful children of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and their descendants according to the principles established herein.
- Prince Aegon Targaryen and his descendants.
- Princess Helaena Targaryen and her descendants.
- Prince Aemond Targaryen and his descendants.
- Prince Daeron Targaryen and his descendants.
Should any line fail, succession shall pass to the next lawful line according to the principles established within this decree.
- On the Heir
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen remains the lawful heir to the Iron Throne.
All oaths sworn to her remain valid and binding.
No petition, dispute, marriage, interpretation of custom, or question concerning the circumstances of her children shall alter her position as Princess of Dragonstone and heir to the Seven Kingdoms.
The Crown reaffirms her rights fully, lawfully, and without reservation.
VII. On the Permanence of this Decree
This decree shall serve as the governing law of royal succession unless amended by a future sovereign through formal royal decree.
All prior customs, traditions, interpretations, and precedents contrary to the provisions herein are hereby superseded.
So decreed.
So recorded.
So witnessed before the realm.
By the word of Viserys of House Targaryen, First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.