Hizdahr zo Loraq

Hizdahr zo Loraq
Personal information
Culture	Ghiscari
World of Westeros
Season(s)	4, 5
Appeared in	6 episodes (see below)
First seen in	"Breaker of Chains"
Portrayed by	Joel Fry

"What is done is done. You are the Queen and I am a servant of Meereen; a servant who does not wish to see its traditions eradicated."

―Hizdahr zo Loraq

Hizdahr zo Loraq is a recurring character in the fourth and fifth seasons. He is played by Joel Fry and debuts in "Breaker of Chains". He is a former slave-trader from the city of Meereen, on the coast of Slaver's Bay, and a scion of the House of Loraq, an ancient and proud line of slavers.

Biography

Background

Hizdahr belongs to the ancient aristocratic House of Loraq, who have been one of the ruling families of slavemasters in Meereen for many generations.

Hizdahr zo Loraq is fluent in the Common Tongue of Westeros, which is not unusual for merchants in Essos, as they take part in long-distance trade.

Season 4

Hizdahr zo Loraq is the son of one of the many Great Masters. He, along with his father and the rest of Meereen's nobility, gather over the walls of the city when Daenerys Targaryen and her army appear before the city gates to lay siege to it.

His father is crucified in the aftermath of the siege, a matter which he later confronts her about personally. Hizdahr pleads to be allowed to bury him at the Temple of the Graces, to which she agrees, after learning that he had opposed the crucifixion of the slave children as an ill-conceived warning against Daenerys.

Some weeks later, Daenerys tells Jorah Mormont to send Hizdahr to Yunkai as her ambassador. Hizdahr is to offer the Wise Masters a choice: they can "live in her new world" and accept the abolition of slavery, or "die in their old one" at the hands of the Second Sons sent under the command of Daario Naharis.

Season 5

Hizdahr and Daario return to Meereen to find the Unsullied patrolling the streets in response to attacks by the Sons of the Harpy. Hizdahr is initially happy to report that the Wise Masters have agreed to have Yunkai governed by a council of freed slaves and former Masters. They have even agreed to submit their important decisions to Daenerys for authorization. However, they insist that the city's infamous fighting pits be reopened. Daenerys is furious at this concession and refuses, even though the Wise Masters have agreed that all fighters will be free men who enter the arena willingly. Hizdahr is frustrated when Daenerys ends the argument by declaring that she is a queen, not a politician.

Hizdahr later becomes a member of Daenerys's small council, representing the former Great Masters. After White Rat's killer is caught, he and Mossador butt heads over what to do with him. Hizdahr disagrees with Mossador's insistence that the Sons of the Harpy are funded by the Great Masters. Mossador ultimately kills the murderer without Daenerys's consent, and Hizdahr witnesses his execution, voicing his opinion that Daenerys should have killed Mossador inside the pyramid with few witnesses instead of publicly executing him.

On the day that usually marks the traditional opening of the fighting season Hizdahr again entreats Daenerys to reopen the fighting pits, noted that while it is not a perfect solution, it will at least be enough to bring the Meereenese and Yunkish Masters to the table.

Appearances

Template:Season Four Appearances Template:Season Five Appearances

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Hizdahr zo Loraq is also a scion of the House of Loraq. He is described as tall and slender, with flawless amber skin. In keeping with the elaborate hairdos the Meereenese favor, his red-black Ghiscari hair is styled into a pair of harpy's wings.

Hizdahr is actually the fourteenth member of the House of Loraq to bear that name. He is descended from a long line of famous Meereenese nobles, including the original "Hizdahr zo Loraq", who was also known as "Hizdahr the Handsome". The current Hizdahr is formally addressed as "Hizdahr, Fourteenth of That Noble Name".

The novels do not reveal if Hizdhar's father was among the people who were crucified at Daenerys' command as retribution for the crucifixion of the slave children.

Quotes

"I pray you will never live to see a member of your family treated so cruelly."

―Hizdahr to Daenerys.

"Is it justice to answer one crime with another?"

―Hizdahr to Daenerys.

"I cannot defend the actions of the Masters. I can only speak to you as a son who loved his father."

―Hizdahr to Daenerys.

Hizdahr zo Loraq: "When did the Unsullied start patrolling the streets of Meereen?"

Daario Naharis: "Looks like your friends haven't been behaving themselves."

— Hizdahr zo Loraq and Daario Naharis.

Hizdahr zo Loraq: "Politics is the art of compromise, Your Grace."

Daenerys Targaryen: "I'm not a politician. I'm a Queen."

— Hizdahr zo Loraq and Daenerys Targaryen.

"It's easier to rule happy subjects than angry ones."

―Hizdahr to Daenerys.

"Traditions are the only thing that will hold this city - YOUR city - together. Without them, the former slaves and former masters have nothing in common. Nothing but centuries of mistrust and resentment. I can't promise this is the answer to all our problems, but it's a start."

―Hizdahr to Daenerys, as the Sons of the Harpy plan another attack.

See also

• Hizdahr zo Loraq on A Wiki of Ice and Fire (MAJOR spoilers from the books)