Excerpts from: A History of Unified Arms in Westeros, Abridged

Archmaester Bellose: published three hundred and seventy after Aegon's Conquest

"Westeros, by and large, has followed the natural way of war. This has been through the levying of a lord's smallfolk, his men-at-arms, and any sworn knights. This can be complemented by sellswords and hedge knights.

Prior to Aegon's Conquest, each of the Seven Kingdoms largely followed this method. A few exceptions was the chivalric Order of the Green Hand; the closest thing to a permanent military force in the Reach. As well as the Winterfell Honor Guard; similar to other noble guards, the North's honor guard also acted at the King in the North's personal levy, and even in peacetime, would be sent out occasionally to handle issues considered vital to the Crown.

After Aegon's Conquest, Aegon I Targaryen issued a number of laws, including the famous Golden Laws. However, a far less known law, though very much prevalent, was the Bull of Swords and Shields. This law made it illegal for any noble in the newly established Realm of the Seven Kingdoms, to fund and sustain a standing force greater than the need of a household guard during peacetime. It was because of this that the Order of the Green Hand died out, only carried on in spirit by the Manderlys of White Harbor…far less storied than the tales of bravery in the face of dragon fire at the Field of Fire.

The first instance which the Citadel has been able to find that upset this strict law, occurred in the North. Under the lordship of Eddard Stark, the now legendary Lord that is considered to have helped save the Realm from the Second Darkness, the Hunters of the Guard were established. Officially, this body was an extension to the Honor Guard. Indeed, this is only considered the unofficial start of a standing army. This body was formed by Eddard Stark after Robert's Rebellion.

The first, true, standing army however, officially, was still created during the reign of Robert I Baratheon. Though, in reality, it had been the work of his brother and heir, Prince Stannis. Under his regency, the King's Forces was created. Headed by the Captain-General of the King's Forces. When this was first announced, it caused a wave of anger throughout Westeros. Including, primarily from the four Wardens, even including Eddard Stark, infamous for his loyalty. They feared that their long-standing rights were being taken away from them as the traditional four holders of military power in the realm. It did not help that the first Captain-General was a junior noble from the Riverlands.

Under the reign of Stannis I Baratheon, known before his coronation as Stannis the Stern, though given the epithet of Stannis the Iron-Willed; the King's Forces were reformed further. Stannis I implemented a strict policy of merit-based movement, similar to the Night's Watch. This did not sit well with the nobles at all thought. Near the end of his reign, the Great Uprising spelled doom for the young Baratheon Dynasty. Not all was lost though, great hope was put onto Stannis I's heir, Prince Raymont.

The Great Uprising severely depleted Stannis I's ailing health. Though he would emerge victorious and live through it, he would not survive much longer. After he died, Raymont I Baratheon reformed the King's Forces once more. He separated the Forces into two distinct groups; the men-at-arms, and the officers. The men-at-arms would keep the meritocracy that it had become known for. However, all officers were required to be knights or of noble birth. Though, he allowed all officers already serving, regardless of station, to remain.

This was seen as a compromise for the realm. Raymont I had great assistance from his goodfather, Lord Robb Stark, in rallying the other great Wardens. With the four Wardens on his side, the rest of the nobility, begrudgingly, accepted.

Under Raymont I's son and successor, our most gracious and magnanimous King, His Grace Bohemund I, also known as Bohemund the Beast, the King's Forces are being put into use for the first time as an invasion force. Yester-year, His Grace announced the launch an invasion of the Stepstones. Not an attempt to suppress Essosi pirates, but now an occupation, and eventual annexation. This will be a thrilling time for all of Westeros to see how the King's Forces stand against an external threat."

Excerpts from: Rolls of the Kingdom – 79 AC

Master of Laws & Clerk of the Rolls, Lord Rodrik Arryn

"**King's Peace:

I) All petty lords and knights and nobles shall take their grievances, disputes, and conflicts to their liege lord; the liege lord in question shall rule in such a case and those lords and knights shall be hitherto required to abide by such a decision.

II) It shall be the right of all petty lords, knights, and nobles to send, by raven or messenger, a writ of appeal to the King. However, the King shall not be required to hear the case and may allow the previous liege lord's ruling to stand. The King may, at their discretion, appoint the Master of Laws, or others commissioned to stand in, to re-try the specific case if the King has no personal interest to sit, but political interest to hear the case.

III) All grievances, disputes, and conflicts between those of great houses shall be arbitrated by the King or Crown Commissioners who are duly appointed. Such decisions made here shall be supreme and may not be issued a writ of appeal.

IV) It shall be the responsibility of the Master of Laws, to, in good face, enforce all laws issued by the King or the King-in-Council. The Master of Laws shall possess the right to issue Commissions of Reeving to any men-at-arms or knights who wish to enforce peace in the Seven Kingdoms.

V) All crimes considered evil by the Faith of the Seven, the Old Gods, and the Rhoynar, shall be considered an offense against the King and therefore, a breaking of the King's Peace. This includes but are not limited to; murder, theft, rape, kidnapping, arson, poaching, the stealing of crops and livery, and sheltering criminals.

VI) All accusations of Treason against the Iron Throne, or any accusations or crimes committed against the Royal Family, regardless of where they were done or station of those involved, shall have immediacy in the Royal Court of the Iron Throne. All crimes relating to Treason to the Iron Throne shall be overseen by; if not the King himself, a bench of three. Of which, the Master of Laws shall be one.

**Golden Laws of Aegon I Targaryen:

I) All smallfolk shall be hitherto required to pay a tax, of commensurate, but fair value set by their lord, once every year. Should a person be unable to pay such a tax out of currency, they shall be compelled to substitute this for valuable goods such as cattle, horses, jewelry, or any other commodity that can be measured by value.

II) All individuals who collect taxes from the smallfolk shall be entitled to collect them by virtue of their lordship, not by their family or House. Only those individuals who sit as lords as prescribed by long-standings laws of inheritance, or by the Iron Throne's grace, shall be afforded the right to collect such tax.

III) The Iron Throne shall withhold the right to, at any time deemed fit, send Knights Inquisitor, tax investigators, or any other Crown Commissioner to a great lord or petty lord; this shall be done to ensure that all nobles are paying the correct taxes, and to ensure that lords do not overtax their smallfolk.

**Rule of Six:

No Man may, through course of anger or judicial punishment, strike their lawfully-wedded wife more than six times.

**Rule of Thumb:

No Man may strike their lawfully-wedded wife with an instrument thicker than the thumb of said wife.

**Maegor's Laws on the Activities of the Holy:

I) It is forbidden, for any man or woman who is officially or unofficially, associated with the Faith of the Seven, from bearing arms of any kind. Those that actively preach the Faith of the Seven, yet are not recognized by the Starry Sept, shall be considered accessories to this ruling.

II) It is expressly forbidden for any holy order associated with the Faith of the Seven to organize. This shall include the Warrior's Sons or the Poor Fellows or any other body attempted to be raised for any purpose in the name of the Faith of the Seven or the Starry Sept.

III) It is forbidden for the Faith of the Seven, or any order acting in their name, to issue their own trials or courts; the law of the Iron Throne shall be supreme. Any attempt to override this, or pass this, shall be considered Treason against the Iron Throne.

**Widow's Law:

I) The Iron Throne hereby recognizes that the Kingdoms of the Crownlands, the Riverlands, the Vale, the Reach, and the Westerlands follow strict and agnatic primogeniture. This shall be subject to the considerations made by a Lord's written or spoken Will. Thusly, such primogeniture shall be tradition and custom, yet not set in stone.

II) The Iron Throne hereby recognizes that the Kingdom of the North follows male preference cognatic primogeniture. This shall not be subject to considerations of Wills or wishes. Thusly, though sons inherit before daughters, daughters inherit before uncles.

III) Regardless of succession, the Iron Throne hitherto demands that any successor continues to maintain their predecessors consorts, regardless of station. This shall continue until death, or written, signed, and published writ of release by the consort with witnesses is made before the Lord's liege lord.

IV) No Lord, or Lady Regnant, shall possess the power to unilaterally bar children from a previous marriage to the succession of the lordly seat, even if said noble remarries and sires additional children.

**Right of First Night:

I) It shall be considered an offense against the Iron Throne for any man; lord, knight, or smallfolk, to engage in the act of First Night. Should such an instance be found to have occurred it is the responsibility of the lord to punish the knight or man, the liege lord to punish the lord. It is encouraged that should a petty lord or man believe their liege lord to have committed the crime, to report this to the Iron Throne immediately and without let or hindrance.

**Trials of Crown:

I) All trials, regardless of station shall be allowed to start with a blessing from the faith of the peoples involved.

II) All witnesses, accused, defenders, and all others involved in a trial shall pledge to the Iron Throne and to their faith to be honest. Any occurrence in which an individual is found to have broken this oath is grounds for their own trial.

III) Any knight or noble, accused of any crime, shall withhold the right to demand a trial by combat. They may fight for themselves, or may declare a champion in their place, subject to the champion's agreement. Death within the trial by combat is not considered murder and is not subject to such laws; given the death was found to be fair and within the expectations of the Trial. Similarly, an individual may demand a trial by seven, following the same rules set by the previous trial.

IV) Should the accused be a member of the Royal Family, they must name a member of the Kingsguard as their champion; unless otherwise allowed by the King.

V) Should the accuser be a member of the Royal Family, they may name any individual as their champion.

**Laws of Inheritance:

I) All lines of noble succession are recognized by the Iron Throne within the previously decreed Widow's Laws.

II) A lord shall possess the right to disinherit an older child, for the preference of a younger, so long as such a decision is not based on the legitimate motherhood as found in the Widow's Laws.

III) All changes to inheritance a lord wishes to make must be presented and confirmed by their liege lord, or the King.

**Gaoling and Holding:

I) Though it is the understanding of the Iron Throne that for practical purposes individuals may need to be held in dungeons or other fortified areas prior to their presence before a trial. However, it shall be considered law that all individuals, regardless of rank or station, must face trial within a year of their arrest and gaoling.

II) To ensure the previous article is enforced, all landed knights and petty lords shall be required to send a record, at the turn of every moon, to their liege, detailing any gaoling undertaken so that the liege lord may ensure proper and fair justice. Those individuals found to have arrested and gaoled without sending records shall themselves be accused of slavery and shall be sent to trial before their liege.

**Sentencing:

I) Only landed knights and lords may carry out the King's justice; in that, the ability to carry out the sentence of which was prescribed at a fair trial. Knights sworn to the service of another house, or have no landed house themselves, may not unilaterally carry out such sentences, unless otherwise commissioned by those that are able to.

II) It shall be reserved to the noble in question regarding sentencing; however, there are limits. Execution shall only be considered for the crimes of Treason, murder, rape, excessive theft, banditry, desertion from the Night's Watch, or any other crimes proscribed by the King.

*I thought I would add this as a sort of accessory to the previous mini-series. I personally enjoyed the world-building aspect of it and it allows me to de-stress helps with writer's block for the main story. I hope you enjoy it, if not, think of it as a little bonus.