Errata of history novellas

This page contains the errata for The Princess and the Queen, The Rogue Prince, and The Sons of the Dragon.

Background

In his A Song of Ice and Fire series, George R. R. Martin uses the "unreliable narrator". As such, not all inconsistencies in the books that are mistakes. However, Martin has expressed that accidental mistakes can distract from the planned inconsistencies, making them less effective.^[1] As such, the pages indexed here represent a collection of gathered possible and confirmed mistakes and, if possible, their confirmed corrections within Martin's series.

What you will not find on this page are discussions of information from the So Spake Martins which contradicts with more recently released printed material, contradictions found in sample chapters from unreleased books (e.g., The Winds of Winter), or speculations about possible solutions.

Examples of what will not be found on the errata pages include:

• According to Osha, "the blue star in the rider's eye" of the constellation the Ice Dragon points north.^[2] However, when Bran Stark later recalls Osha's statement, he does so incorrectly: "The blue star in the dragon's eye pointed the way north, as Osha told him once."^[3]
• Differences in views on certain events. While the "commonly told story about the Battle of the Bells" apparently states that Robert I Baratheon and Jon Connington did not come face to face during the battle (as stated by Maester Yandel ["Rightly famed is Robert's grand victory at Stoney Sept, also called the Battle of the Bells, where he slew the famous Ser Myles Mooton—once Prince Rhaegar's squire—and five men besides, and might well have killed the new Hand, Lord Connington, had the battle brought them together."]^[4] and Harwin of Winterfell ["Robert came out of hiding to join the fight when the bells began to ring. He slew six men that day, they say. One was Myles Mooton, a famous knight who'd been Prince Rhaegar's squire. He would have slain the Hand too, but the battle never brought them together."]),^[5] Connington himself recalls it rather differently ("Bells and battle followed, and Robert emerged from his brothel with a blade in hand, and almost slew Jon on the steps of the old sept that gave the town its name.").^[6]

The Princess and the Queen

• The crown of King Aegon I Targaryen has been described in So Spake Martin as "a simply circle of Valyrian steel set with big square-cut rubies"^[7] and in The World of Ice & Fire as being made of "Valyrian steel"^[8][9] and as a "crown of rubies and Valyrian steel".^[10] However, The Princess and the Queen and The Sons of the Dragon incorrectly describe the crown as being "iron and ruby".^[11][12]
• A flock of ravens is once referred to as a "murder".^[11] However, a murder refers to flock of crows. A gathering of ravens is either a congress or an unkindness of ravens.

The Rogue Prince

• Grand Maester Orwyle is described as having amputated the fingers of King Viserys I Targaryen in The World of Ice & Fire,^[13] whereas The Rogue Prince states that this was done by Grand Maester Gerardys.^[14] It has been confirmed that Orwyle is correct.^[15] What happend to Gerardys will be explained in Fire and Blood.^[16]

The Sons of the Dragon

• The crown of King Aegon I Targaryen has been described in So Spake Martin as "a simply circle of Valyrian steel set with big square-cut rubies"^[7] and in The World of Ice & Fire as being made of "Valyrian steel"^[8][9] and as a "crown of rubies and Valyrian steel".^[10] However, The Princess and the Queen and The Sons of the Dragon incorrectly describe the crown as being "iron and ruby".^[11][12]
• Although The World of Ice & Fire consistently calls the Lord of Storm's End during the end of Maegor I's reign "Robar Baratheon", The Sons of the Dragon is inconsistent in the spelling of his first name. The original manuscript used both "Robar" and "Rogar", with the former being chosen for The World of Ice & Fire^[17] as it was the name Martin wrote down towards the end of the manuscript.^[18] Dozois, when faced with the choice, chose "Rogar" for the e-book version.^[19] However, in the printed version, both "Rogar" and "Robar" are used.^[12] As revealed by Garcia in July 2018, Martin decided he preferred the name "Rogar", which will be used for Fire & Blood onwards.^[20]
• Several dates given differ from earlier sources. For example, the High Septon during King Maegor I Targaryen's reign was stated to have died in 44 ᴀᴄ in The World of Ice & Fire,^[21] but in 43 ᴀᴄ in The Sons of the Dragon. Garcia has confirmed that 44 AC is indeed erroneous.^[22]
• Several Houses are associated with the incorrect region of origin. For example, House Wayn, Deddings, Lychester, Blanetree, and Terrick reside in the riverlands sworn into service to House Tully of Riverrun, but The Sons of the Dragon erroneously states at one point that they are residing in the Reach.^[23]
• Reference is made to a knight called "Loadows of Grassy Vale", a misspelling of "Meadows of Grassy Vale".
• Ceryse Hightower, identified as Lord Martyn Hightower's daughter in The World of Ice & Fire,^[9] is once identified as Lord Martyn's sister in The Sons of the Dragon.
• Prince Viserys Targaryen, born in 29 ᴀᴄ, is incorrectly described as having been sixteen years old at his death in 44 ᴀᴄ.^[12] He was fifteen.
• The late King Aenys I Targaryen is mentioned as having had "sons and grandsons" during the reign of his brother Maegor. However, at the time, Aenys only had sons, no grandsons.
• It is said that "His Grace ordered his mother's body burned, her bones and ashes interred beside those of her brother and sister";^[12] However, The World of Ice & Fire states that "Queen Rhaenys's body was never returned to King's Landing.".^[24]

References