#and using that to deduce a possible change of inheritance goes at the matter backwards

[moonlitgleek]

Hello! I really enjoy your analyses on inheritance in Westeros, so I want to ask; How possible do you think it is that absolute primogeniture is established by the end of ASOIAF? The reason I am asking is that a lot of fans seem to consider it likely (usually with Jon/Dany being the ones to do it). It's not that I am against it of course, but based on the way the books approach the issue, I would say that it's very improbable. What is your opinion? Thank you for your time!

I received another message touching on this issue a short while before yours.

not the same anon from the sansa qitn ask, another way sansa (or arya) could end up ruling is if rules of inheritance change in westeros (or at least the north) to benefit the oldest child regardless of gender. It wouldn’t requiere a unanimous decision by the starklings to specifically choose sansa above all, nor would it be a radical change from the previous societal structure, just little step in the right direction.

This is what I was talking about when I said I was wary of treating the War for the Dawn as a curative event that would magically burn off all wrongs and existing prejudices. I’m obviously not opposed to such a change as applying absolute succession across Westeros, but this raises the question: why would the War for the Dawn result in a change in succession principles? What’s the link here? The War for the Dawn isn’t going to make people miraculously decide to reject every aspect of the patriarchy or wipe away thousands of years of accepted traditions in a society that doesn’t see anything amiss with male-preference primogeniture. Expecting it to inexplicable usher in a change that is considered radical within the bounds of the in-universe society, when we literally have nothing to link said change to the war feels more like the readers are projecting a certain expectation of progressiveness on the story. This series may have some rather radical thinkers, but it’s not like they are going to wake up and decide to dismantle the monarchy.

Also, change doesn’t happen overnight, it builds up so I don’t see how we’re going from a story where some places have never seen a female ruler to a sudden shift where people don’t particularly care about gender in succession.