Better to know where you are weaker and delegate to more capable individuals. Compare that to Robb who arguably only listened to one person “Blackfish” throughout the books.
It's a surprise that neither the Starks or Tully's were given a seat on Robert's small council, given how vital they were in his rise to power. I get that Ned had just unexpectedly inherited the largest of the kingdoms and so was probably needed at home to manage the North, but Hoster Tully was an experienced and respected lord who could have taken that vacant seat of Master of Laws. I wonder if GRRM has a canon reason for why not, or whether it was just a story decision designed to ensure Ned starts as a complete outsider in the world of Kings Landing politics.
The Riverlands was the main battleground of the rebellion, as it is in the war of the five kings. It's possible that Hoster had to focus on restoring order and prosperity to his own domain
I think the reason given is that Ned was pissed that the Lannisters killed Rhaegar's young children and that Robert supported the decision. Ned left the city angry to go find his sister and found out about everything that happened there, plus Lyanna died. So Ned and Robert's relationship was strained, Lyanna was dead so one of the key links holding them together was gone, and Ned just dipped out to Winterfell to bury his sister and protect her Targaryan son. Neither Robert nor Ned bothered to patch things up in the ensuing years.
@@BR-re7oz They didn't talk again until the Grayjoy rebellion unless I'm remembering right... No doubt still as brothers in heart even if still strained.. Robert knew that KL was not a place for Ned imo and set him free of all but necessary duty
True! Also, remember, Hoster was a local man. He liked hanging around in the holdfasts, dealing with his local lieges, drinking with his bannermen, and bullying Walder Frey. Also, the Riverlands is probably the worst place to run as your kingdom, since every other family is either fathering bastards, doing magical bullshit, feuding over marriage rights, or is a Frey. Hoster had his hands full, he didn't need the small council as well.
@@BR-re7oz Actually, there's a theory (by InDeepGeek) that Ned had known what happened with Lyanna long ago he arrived at the Tower of Joy. The point it, Lyanna was most close with Benjen, as two other brothers were fostered elsewhere. Benjen must have helped Lyanna at the tourney at Harrenhall - all that stuff with avenging the squires who attacked Howland Reed, obviously Lyanna should have been the Knight of the Laughing Tree, and somehow Rhaegar learnt about it, admired her and gave her those blue roses. Anyway, Benjen must have known Lyanna was fond of Rhaegar, but unfirtunately, when Brandon came to Kingslanding demanding his sister back, it was too late for Benjen or Lyanna to spill the beans about her own affection here. Most likely, as a teenage girl she just agreed to have a short leisurely trip with Prince Charming and was planning to be safely back. However, someone immediately told Brandon she was kidnapped, and that might have been Littlefinger who was heading home to the Fingers around that time and was stuck somewhere around the Inn at the Crossroads because of snowstorms up in the Eyree mountains, and he accidentally saw Lyanna meeting Rhaegar. Brandon came soon after that because he'd known by that time that LF made Lysa pregnant and was not going to pardon him this time. So telling Brandon about Lyanna's kidnapping was the simplest way to channel his rage onto someone else. And then, seeing the events that unfolded, young LF discovered the power of his own. Long story short, that's probably why Ned avoided staying in KL after the war was over. Poor Benjen probably had told him the truth as early as Ned came to Winterfell to gather his initial army, and decided to take the black ASAP cause he was so shaken by his own participation in the events that led to his father and older brother's deaths (namely, him having helped Lyanna to find armor and eventually attract Rhaegar's attention). Ned could not back off after Rickard and Brandon were killed by Aerys but was extremely repulsed by the catastrophic civil war over what he knew was a lie (Lyanna's supposed kidnapping). Elia and her children's murder was not just an insult for his code of honor but a direct attack on his family, as he had already known by that time Lyanna wanted to be with Rhaegar and he'd probably find her with a Targ kid she'd wanted herself.
Yes, planting seeds and watching them grow or die clearly takes decades to write and re-write even if GRRM has the end game in his head, he doesn't seem to be able to finish the mammoth task he set out to do. Another much appreciated video.
As someone who worked in politics I recognize Robert’s prowess as a soldier seeking office and his total misery with holding office as very understandable and realistic. The best leaders are usually the worst campaigners - never seen someone excel at both.
another triumph! this channel has inspired me to write some copy about my favorite ancillaries: Bittersteel, Euron-as-Godhead, and Maelys the Monstrous/9 Penny Kings. my deepest thanks for your top-notch content - solid copy, great narration, and some of the best grammar on YT (showing my Lit Nerd tendencies, but I do appreciate this latter greatly).
Robert was wiser than many kings that preceeded him due to basically letting his Hand do all the real ruling, and be king in all but name, but he still ranks for me on the lower echelon of kings. below such men as Daeron II, Jaehaerys I and II, Viserys II and Aegon V
He was not wise. He simply doesn't care about ruling. Now that's a bad king cause he doesn't care about the people. Even the mad king attended the meetings during his sane years. Aerys even dreamt of making his reign glorious. Robert just didn't care.
How was Jaehaerys ii a good king? All I can remember about his reign was the War of the Ninepenny Kings, a war he didn't even fight in (his hand, Ormund Baratheon, lead the Seven Kingdoms army) and him forcibly marrying his son (Aerys ii) to his daughter (Rhaella) making a horrible royal marriage with the two hating eachother for the rest of their lives.
@@amanimckenzie32 it’s ironic because as far as I remember, I’m pretty sure Jaehaerys II married for love himself and defied his father’s arrangement to marry another (or maybe I’ve muddled him for another group of siblings that all broke off the kings betrothals for love).
@@hi-ls6lt You’re right. Jaehaerys ii married his sister Seara Targaryen out of love and prophecy. He was originally betrothed to Celia Tully and his sister to Luthor Tyrell ( Mace’s father). However, he disobeyed his father, King Aegon V (who disliked incest), and married his sister secretly. They both believed that through their bloodline would come the Prince that was Promised. The prophecy was also the reason he forced Aerys and Rhaella to marry. But for a man that refused his betrothed to later force his son to marry, he is a giant hypocrite.
Robert should have listened to Stannis and scoured that court clean. It's telling that if he HAD listened to Stannis, Pycelle, Baelish, and Varys all wouldn't have been on the Council and two would have been short their heads. Similarly, Balon Greyjoy would have been executed preventing a second Greyjoy Rebellion. Much would have been different if Robert had heeded Stannis.
Every time I hear about Varys shipping Aegon to Essos before the sack, I’m just reminded of how little sense it makes, like why would you do that if u didn’t know that rhaegar was going to lose? And also how did u even successfully manage to make the switch, and where did u find a boy with the same hair colour but also same age as Aegon in such a short while? There’s just too many holes
IIRC A young Lannister lord close to Aegon's age went missing during a scuffle and Jaime suspected Varys. I think Varys is/was gonna pull a Percy Warbeck and try to pass Tyrek off as Aegon. Whether he uses face changing/brainwashing is up in the air (otherwise how would people not recognize him), but with GoT being based off of the War of the Roses, it would fit.
@@Prussie it’s loosely based off it, at least the actual war of five kings is, but even still there’s no way to brainwash someone to that extent that we’ve ever seen before, so I doubt that, I’m pretty sure Tyrek was either killed and eaten or Varys is holding him captive to make him lord of Casterly Roxk under Aegon, Cerci is technically heir but her kids are bastards and can’t inherit plus I’m pretty sure they’re all gonna die, and then Lancel is a godly man so he’s out, Kevan is dead, and one of his younger sons was killed by the Karstarks so I think he has 1 son left, who Varrys can argue is too young to be a fit ruler and then place Tyrek as lord
With your permission, I'd like to make a few suggestions for future videos. First, I'd like to suggest something on the Tyrell brothers. Each of them have a fascinating history and I think they'll become more important as the story progresses in the Winds of Winter. Second, I'd like suggest you look at House Florent. Their history is quite fascinating and their rise and fall in the books would be an interesting subject. Finally, please consider doing something on Dorne after the conquest. I was surprised how much it wasn't covered in Fire and Blood and A World of Ice and Fire. They must have been completely isolated, and yet they survived for nearly 200 years almost unchanged. They must have had Septons, and Maestors like the rest of Westoros but they were not part of the rest of the Kingdom. Also, if possible, in the future can you do a video on The Three Sisters; a history of Lys, Myr and Tyrosh, and how they came together, though briefly. It'll be pretty important come season two of House of the Dragon. I doubt it would be covered much in the show, but for your viewers, I'm sure they'll like to know more. Thanks again for your output, it's been amazing!
The irony is that Ned cared so much for honor, yet he couldn’t tell his bff, King Robert, the truth about Joffrey, Myrcella, & Tommen. Yes, he felt kids were innocent & didn’t want them to be hurt. However, he saved Jon & had Robert call the wolves off on Daenerys Targaryen. Therefore, I feel Ned could’ve told him & prevented any harm from coming to them. He even gave Cersei a heads up before too, so I know Ned would do everything in his power…. Now back to the “honor” part of this rant - Ned could’ve prevented the War of the 5 Kings by telling Robert the truth. The irony here is that Ned fought though Robert’s Rebellion & had seen the devastation of war, yet he as Hand of the King, allowed for another succession dispute. In fact, he waited until after Robert’s death to waive his piece of paper around (after already giving Cersei a heads up warning too). For somebody who commanded many battles in times of war, and ruled as Lord of Winterfell & Warden of the North, Ned seemed to suddenly lose his politic savvy/skills @ King’s Landing & arguably put his friendship above the well-being of the realm. Why did Ned become so incompetent as Hand? Also, did Jon Arryn not have any allies in King’s Landing? It seems as if Ned had nobody else in the capitol besides the men from the north that came with him (who also were new to the area)….
Robert always cared about the lives of children. That was what most of his (admittedly unsaved) actions were driven by. He didn’t want to see more bodies of children under cloaks. He was naive to underestimate the scale of Cersei’s rage, lack of shame, cunning, and ruthlessness to stick it to him anyway.
It's still interesting to consider that the Small Council had led to a decent reign during peacetime. The Crown lost a lot of money sure but, other than that, King Robert's Peace was alright.
I can't put in my two cents regarding book Varys, due to limited knowledge, but a detail that I always loved in the show was Varys' defense of King's Landing. Varys, from the very start served no king, he served the realm. But he stayed true to the mad king to the bitter end. Why? He could have told Aerys to open the gates in hopes to gain favour with the new king but for once he told the truth. Well, Varys was very much aware of all the events that transpired at the trident, and knew that the Targaryen dinasty was at an end. He knew that Tywin was coming to King's Landing, and going to destroy the city in the process, killing tens of thousands of innocents. But, he also knew that Robert had been injured at the Trident, and that he had sent Ned Stark to deal with the Mad King in his place. Varys had no hope of defending the city foorever, and he knew it, but it was more than possible to hold down the fort long enough for the Quiet Wolf to get there, and give the revolution a more peaceful ending. So he told the truth, and protected the people, as he always had. Or tried.
I think Varys was loyal to Aerys at first due to him giving Varys such a high level job but once he saw how insane Aerys was becoming, wanted to get him ousted so he could be replaced with someone else.
I think Varys remained in his position when Robert became King simply because it was too dangerous to have anyone else in Westeros employ his services at that point. Compare with the last spider - Tyanna of the Tower, she died long before the end of Maegor's reign - and it seems her whisperers died with her, so there was no choice for Jaehaerys I to show continuity in that regard. Reinstating the office of Master of Whisperers would have just been bad PR, and seen as unnecessary. But Varys was very much alive - and had become ever more infamous in the years leading up to Robert's Rebellion. Whether Jon Arryn trusted Varys or not - I imagine he thought it better to have the spider where he could keep an eye on him. If only he knew.
I really like your videos I’ve been watching them for over a year now. If it isn’t too much to ask can you make videos on some of the lords we know of in the show? Like their fighting skills as knights all the way to their old age as lords.
Always wondered, is there not secretaries, admin and record keepers in with them? Do the books suggest bureaucracy to support each seat on the council?
Its implied in the show they all have their own staff like master of coin oays everyone and has tax collectors custom agents etc etc. But no secretary to keep track of things during the meeting...i think outside of the grand maester who is supposed to do that. Its all implied not outright said.
@@pinecactus9672 yeah seems strange. They had organisers in medieval courts eg scribes. I guess they have departments eg master of laws but have never been shown.
You should make a small council video for Joffrey and Tommen obsiously, also a cool addition would be Stannis and Renly Robb/Daenarys/Balon/Aegon/Euron would be good too though those didn't use a small council
Part of me thinks Ned should have been appointed Master of Laws on his accession, but a bigger part of me knows that he would be too rigid, underestimate basically everyone on the council, and cause a massive rift. That being said, Jon Arryn had the diplomatic skills Ned lacked, and if he went to a barely winnable war to not behead Ned, he'd probably cover his ass when he antagonises every aristocrat in KL. Plus butting heads so frequently with every aristocrat in KL would probably win him a lot of love from the commoners (it did with the Duke of York, one of the historical figures Ned is partly based on). And his career would most likely involve allying with Stannis and Barristan a lot, and since Ned was the one who won over the Tullys to Robert's cause Cat can call on them in any eventual internal conflict. So his ass is covered on land and at sea.
Weird theory here but could varys in the books be a blackfyre himself or a bracken, he seems to be supporting young grif alot for someone who only from essos and doesn't have any ties to westeros
You could say Jon was a bad Hand as he let the crown go so far in debt. Ned would have been a decent hand and do things right by the people but he is to honorable and doesn't know how to play politics for all those schemers that lurks in the shadow.
As a Mother myself,I would NEVER let them switch out one child WITHOUT switching BOTH. Elia would NEVER have just given up the boy so she and her daughter sits and waits to be murdered. NEVER HAPPEN. Ask ANY decent Mother and they will tell you that.
Could you do a video on sexism in the world of game of thrones and a break down of what little rights women have/don't have within politics and society?
You should try and do real kings’ councils, Henry VII and Henry VI had notoriously corrupt councillors. Henry VII so much so that two had to be put to death after he died to wipe the blame off the dead king and ensure no resentment fell on his son Henry VIII.
Everybody who says Robert was a good king only follow the HBO version. Robert is the main reason that the realm collapsed. A land without an authority for 15 years. People schemed so many things and most of them could be easily avoided especially considering how strong Baratheons were. Lannisters for example wasnt that strong till Robert let them. Starks were a strong north keep till Robert caused Ned's death, eventually. He never wanted to be a king, i get that but also he was a very shitty one, arguebly close to the Mad King. One was Mad, other was Drunk and uninterested.
A council he almost never attended...
3 times i believe😅
@@temesk7631 in 15 years... such a good King🙄🙄🙄
Better to know where you are weaker and delegate to more capable individuals. Compare that to Robb who arguably only listened to one person “Blackfish” throughout the books.
@@DanLanningPRTeam Yes, but he still should've attended the meetings.
@@billcipherproductions1789 he wasn't quite a good king, he was a based king.
It's a surprise that neither the Starks or Tully's were given a seat on Robert's small council, given how vital they were in his rise to power.
I get that Ned had just unexpectedly inherited the largest of the kingdoms and so was probably needed at home to manage the North, but Hoster Tully was an experienced and respected lord who could have taken that vacant seat of Master of Laws.
I wonder if GRRM has a canon reason for why not, or whether it was just a story decision designed to ensure Ned starts as a complete outsider in the world of Kings Landing politics.
The Riverlands was the main battleground of the rebellion, as it is in the war of the five kings. It's possible that Hoster had to focus on restoring order and prosperity to his own domain
I think the reason given is that Ned was pissed that the Lannisters killed Rhaegar's young children and that Robert supported the decision. Ned left the city angry to go find his sister and found out about everything that happened there, plus Lyanna died. So Ned and Robert's relationship was strained, Lyanna was dead so one of the key links holding them together was gone, and Ned just dipped out to Winterfell to bury his sister and protect her Targaryan son. Neither Robert nor Ned bothered to patch things up in the ensuing years.
@@BR-re7oz They didn't talk again until the Grayjoy rebellion unless I'm remembering right... No doubt still as brothers in heart even if still strained.. Robert knew that KL was not a place for Ned imo and set him free of all but necessary duty
True! Also, remember, Hoster was a local man. He liked hanging around in the holdfasts, dealing with his local lieges, drinking with his bannermen, and bullying Walder Frey. Also, the Riverlands is probably the worst place to run as your kingdom, since every other family is either fathering bastards, doing magical bullshit, feuding over marriage rights, or is a Frey. Hoster had his hands full, he didn't need the small council as well.
@@BR-re7oz Actually, there's a theory (by InDeepGeek) that Ned had known what happened with Lyanna long ago he arrived at the Tower of Joy. The point it, Lyanna was most close with Benjen, as two other brothers were fostered elsewhere. Benjen must have helped Lyanna at the tourney at Harrenhall - all that stuff with avenging the squires who attacked Howland Reed, obviously Lyanna should have been the Knight of the Laughing Tree, and somehow Rhaegar learnt about it, admired her and gave her those blue roses.
Anyway, Benjen must have known Lyanna was fond of Rhaegar, but unfirtunately, when Brandon came to Kingslanding demanding his sister back, it was too late for Benjen or Lyanna to spill the beans about her own affection here.
Most likely, as a teenage girl she just agreed to have a short leisurely trip with Prince Charming and was planning to be safely back. However, someone immediately told Brandon she was kidnapped, and that might have been Littlefinger who was heading home to the Fingers around that time and was stuck somewhere around the Inn at the Crossroads because of snowstorms up in the Eyree mountains, and he accidentally saw Lyanna meeting Rhaegar.
Brandon came soon after that because he'd known by that time that LF made Lysa pregnant and was not going to pardon him this time. So telling Brandon about Lyanna's kidnapping was the simplest way to channel his rage onto someone else. And then, seeing the events that unfolded, young LF discovered the power of his own.
Long story short, that's probably why Ned avoided staying in KL after the war was over. Poor Benjen probably had told him the truth as early as Ned came to Winterfell to gather his initial army, and decided to take the black ASAP cause he was so shaken by his own participation in the events that led to his father and older brother's deaths (namely, him having helped Lyanna to find armor and eventually attract Rhaegar's attention).
Ned could not back off after Rickard and Brandon were killed by Aerys but was extremely repulsed by the catastrophic civil war over what he knew was a lie (Lyanna's supposed kidnapping). Elia and her children's murder was not just an insult for his code of honor but a direct attack on his family, as he had already known by that time Lyanna wanted to be with Rhaegar and he'd probably find her with a Targ kid she'd wanted herself.
He was really a trailblazer for remote working the way he never attended this council 🤣🤣🤣
🤣 indeed!
Absolutely
Yes, planting seeds and watching them grow or die clearly takes decades to write and re-write even if GRRM has the end game in his head, he doesn't seem to be able to finish the mammoth task he set out to do.
Another much appreciated video.
As someone who worked in politics I recognize Robert’s prowess as a soldier seeking office and his total misery with holding office as very understandable and realistic.
The best leaders are usually the worst campaigners - never seen someone excel at both.
Julius Caesar
A vid about King Maegor's council would be a very interesting topic, considering he kept executing its members so often 😅
😂
I'd really like to see the roller coaster of Joffrey and Tommen's Small Councils.
another triumph! this channel has inspired me to write some copy about my favorite ancillaries: Bittersteel, Euron-as-Godhead, and Maelys the Monstrous/9 Penny Kings. my deepest thanks for your top-notch content - solid copy, great narration, and some of the best grammar on YT (showing my Lit Nerd tendencies, but I do appreciate this latter greatly).
i think you got maegor the cruel and maelys the monstrous mixed up 😅
@@angryerika I did! good call. i thank you for the correction!
@@robsop9512 just helping a fellow fan :)
Robert was wiser than many kings that preceeded him due to basically letting his Hand do all the real ruling, and be king in all but name, but he still ranks for me on the lower echelon of kings. below such men as Daeron II, Jaehaerys I and II, Viserys II and Aegon V
He was not wise. He simply doesn't care about ruling. Now that's a bad king cause he doesn't care about the people. Even the mad king attended the meetings during his sane years. Aerys even dreamt of making his reign glorious. Robert just didn't care.
How was Jaehaerys ii a good king? All I can remember about his reign was the War of the Ninepenny Kings, a war he didn't even fight in (his hand, Ormund Baratheon, lead the Seven Kingdoms army) and him forcibly marrying his son (Aerys ii) to his daughter (Rhaella) making a horrible royal marriage with the two hating eachother for the rest of their lives.
@@amanimckenzie32 it’s ironic because as far as I remember, I’m pretty sure Jaehaerys II married for love himself and defied his father’s arrangement to marry another (or maybe I’ve muddled him for another group of siblings that all broke off the kings betrothals for love).
@@hi-ls6lt You’re right. Jaehaerys ii married his sister Seara Targaryen out of love and prophecy. He was originally betrothed to Celia Tully and his sister to Luthor Tyrell ( Mace’s father). However, he disobeyed his father, King Aegon V (who disliked incest), and married his sister secretly. They both believed that through their bloodline would come the Prince that was Promised. The prophecy was also the reason he forced Aerys and Rhaella to marry. But for a man that refused his betrothed to later force his son to marry, he is a giant hypocrite.
@@amanimckenzie32 he wasn't top 5, but he wasn't worse than robert
You forgot to mention the most important member, the honorable position of Wine Pourer
Robert should have listened to Stannis and scoured that court clean. It's telling that if he HAD listened to Stannis, Pycelle, Baelish, and Varys all wouldn't have been on the Council and two would have been short their heads. Similarly, Balon Greyjoy would have been executed preventing a second Greyjoy Rebellion.
Much would have been different if Robert had heeded Stannis.
i think there two reason why didn't clean house one is he listen to jon arryn and second he wants that Rebellion wasn't about them.
Every time I hear about Varys shipping Aegon to Essos before the sack, I’m just reminded of how little sense it makes, like why would you do that if u didn’t know that rhaegar was going to lose? And also how did u even successfully manage to make the switch, and where did u find a boy with the same hair colour but also same age as Aegon in such a short while? There’s just too many holes
IIRC A young Lannister lord close to Aegon's age went missing during a scuffle and Jaime suspected Varys. I think Varys is/was gonna pull a Percy Warbeck and try to pass Tyrek off as Aegon. Whether he uses face changing/brainwashing is up in the air (otherwise how would people not recognize him), but with GoT being based off of the War of the Roses, it would fit.
@@Prussie it’s loosely based off it, at least the actual war of five kings is, but even still there’s no way to brainwash someone to that extent that we’ve ever seen before, so I doubt that, I’m pretty sure Tyrek was either killed and eaten or Varys is holding him captive to make him lord of Casterly Roxk under Aegon, Cerci is technically heir but her kids are bastards and can’t inherit plus I’m pretty sure they’re all gonna die, and then Lancel is a godly man so he’s out, Kevan is dead, and one of his younger sons was killed by the Karstarks so I think he has 1 son left, who Varrys can argue is too young to be a fit ruler and then place Tyrek as lord
With your permission, I'd like to make a few suggestions for future videos. First, I'd like to suggest something on the Tyrell brothers. Each of them have a fascinating history and I think they'll become more important as the story progresses in the Winds of Winter. Second, I'd like suggest you look at House Florent. Their history is quite fascinating and their rise and fall in the books would be an interesting subject. Finally, please consider doing something on Dorne after the conquest. I was surprised how much it wasn't covered in Fire and Blood and A World of Ice and Fire. They must have been completely isolated, and yet they survived for nearly 200 years almost unchanged. They must have had Septons, and Maestors like the rest of Westoros but they were not part of the rest of the Kingdom. Also, if possible, in the future can you do a video on The Three Sisters; a history of Lys, Myr and Tyrosh, and how they came together, though briefly. It'll be pretty important come season two of House of the Dragon. I doubt it would be covered much in the show, but for your viewers, I'm sure they'll like to know more. Thanks again for your output, it's been amazing!
Can you make a video about the River Kings? Mudds, Justman, Hoare for example.
The irony is that Ned cared so much for honor, yet he couldn’t tell his bff, King Robert, the truth about Joffrey, Myrcella, & Tommen. Yes, he felt kids were innocent & didn’t want them to be hurt. However, he saved Jon & had Robert call the wolves off on Daenerys Targaryen. Therefore, I feel Ned could’ve told him & prevented any harm from coming to them. He even gave Cersei a heads up before too, so I know Ned would do everything in his power…. Now back to the “honor” part of this rant - Ned could’ve prevented the War of the 5 Kings by telling Robert the truth. The irony here is that Ned fought though Robert’s Rebellion & had seen the devastation of war, yet he as Hand of the King, allowed for another succession dispute. In fact, he waited until after Robert’s death to waive his piece of paper around (after already giving Cersei a heads up warning too). For somebody who commanded many battles in times of war, and ruled as Lord of Winterfell & Warden of the North, Ned seemed to suddenly lose his politic savvy/skills @ King’s Landing & arguably put his friendship above the well-being of the realm. Why did Ned become so incompetent as Hand? Also, did Jon Arryn not have any allies in King’s Landing? It seems as if Ned had nobody else in the capitol besides the men from the north that came with him (who also were new to the area)….
Robert always cared about the lives of children. That was what most of his (admittedly unsaved) actions were driven by. He didn’t want to see more bodies of children under cloaks. He was naive to underestimate the scale of Cersei’s rage, lack of shame, cunning, and ruthlessness to stick it to him anyway.
It's still interesting to consider that the Small Council had led to a decent reign during peacetime. The Crown lost a lot of money sure but, other than that, King Robert's Peace was alright.
I can't put in my two cents regarding book Varys, due to limited knowledge, but a detail that I always loved in the show was Varys' defense of King's Landing. Varys, from the very start served no king, he served the realm. But he stayed true to the mad king to the bitter end. Why? He could have told Aerys to open the gates in hopes to gain favour with the new king but for once he told the truth. Well, Varys was very much aware of all the events that transpired at the trident, and knew that the Targaryen dinasty was at an end. He knew that Tywin was coming to King's Landing, and going to destroy the city in the process, killing tens of thousands of innocents. But, he also knew that Robert had been injured at the Trident, and that he had sent Ned Stark to deal with the Mad King in his place. Varys had no hope of defending the city foorever, and he knew it, but it was more than possible to hold down the fort long enough for the Quiet Wolf to get there, and give the revolution a more peaceful ending. So he told the truth, and protected the people, as he always had. Or tried.
7:00 Jon did not advise it, the Lannisters were the ones Robert was barrowing a lot of money from, plus his wife
I think Varys was loyal to Aerys at first due to him giving Varys such a high level job but once he saw how insane Aerys was becoming, wanted to get him ousted so he could be replaced with someone else.
Robert Baratheon is easily one of the worst kings Westeros has ever seen.
I think Varys remained in his position when Robert became King simply because it was too dangerous to have anyone else in Westeros employ his services at that point. Compare with the last spider - Tyanna of the Tower, she died long before the end of Maegor's reign - and it seems her whisperers died with her, so there was no choice for Jaehaerys I to show continuity in that regard. Reinstating the office of Master of Whisperers would have just been bad PR, and seen as unnecessary. But Varys was very much alive - and had become ever more infamous in the years leading up to Robert's Rebellion.
Whether Jon Arryn trusted Varys or not - I imagine he thought it better to have the spider where he could keep an eye on him. If only he knew.
These are great! Please do lots more. :3
Love the channel, might have been done already, but have you got a video on the best spy master in ASOIAF?
Aegon the 3rds council would make for a good vid as well I think 🙌🏻
Please make a video on Aegon I small council, if there is any source
I read mall council and Robert would be a great mall cop that never does his job
I definitely read this as "Mall Council"
When was that scene of maester pycelle walking to Tywin by black water bay? I’ve watched every single episode 20 times and have never seen that scene
how about king jaehaerys targaryen or king maegor the cruel small councils we have alot of details on both.
So are the Velaryons still at Driftmark? And where they allowed to keep their lands too?
I really like your videos I’ve been watching them for over a year now. If it isn’t too much to ask can you make videos on some of the lords we know of in the show? Like their fighting skills as knights all the way to their old age as lords.
Does anyone know who the artist is at 4:42?
Always wondered, is there not secretaries, admin and record keepers in with them? Do the books suggest bureaucracy to support each seat on the council?
Its implied in the show they all have their own staff like master of coin oays everyone and has tax collectors custom agents etc etc. But no secretary to keep track of things during the meeting...i think outside of the grand maester who is supposed to do that.
Its all implied not outright said.
@@pinecactus9672 yeah seems strange. They had organisers in medieval courts eg scribes. I guess they have departments eg master of laws but have never been shown.
You should make a small council video for Joffrey and Tommen obsiously, also a cool addition would be Stannis and Renly
Robb/Daenarys/Balon/Aegon/Euron would be good too though those didn't use a small council
Oddly enough, there is no master of war.
Sorry I missed a few videos where is Otto hightower?
Small Council member tier list on how good they are for the realm.
Can you do Jahaerys It's council, thank you.
Part of me thinks Ned should have been appointed Master of Laws on his accession, but a bigger part of me knows that he would be too rigid, underestimate basically everyone on the council, and cause a massive rift.
That being said, Jon Arryn had the diplomatic skills Ned lacked, and if he went to a barely winnable war to not behead Ned, he'd probably cover his ass when he antagonises every aristocrat in KL. Plus butting heads so frequently with every aristocrat in KL would probably win him a lot of love from the commoners (it did with the Duke of York, one of the historical figures Ned is partly based on). And his career would most likely involve allying with Stannis and Barristan a lot, and since Ned was the one who won over the Tullys to Robert's cause Cat can call on them in any eventual internal conflict. So his ass is covered on land and at sea.
I'm not first but I love your content regardless ❤️
Please do King Jahaerys!
What do you think of king jahaerys I smal council
Why not do a video on HOTD's small counsel and how it changes through out the first season in the same style as this?
Who's master of ships and laws for Joffrey?
Do his small council and Tommem (the most wild prob)
In the thumbnail I thought it was mall council 😂
Could have been a very interesting april fools video 😂
If we're enjoying shadow politics, covering the Secret Siege in detail could be fun
Do the small council of Jaehaerys the First. He had one of the all time best!
MY KING ROBERT
Amazing!
Please make vedios (book based) like, young grief, lady stoneheart.... people who dont know about.
I thik Robert portrays George R R Martin so well, one became a king and became a drunk, other became successful writer and lazy.😂
Weird theory here but could varys in the books be a blackfyre himself or a bracken, he seems to be supporting young grif alot for someone who only from essos and doesn't have any ties to westeros
You could say Jon was a bad Hand as he let the crown go so far in debt. Ned would have been a decent hand and do things right by the people but he is to honorable and doesn't know how to play politics for all those schemers that lurks in the shadow.
As a Mother myself,I would NEVER let them switch out one child WITHOUT switching BOTH. Elia would NEVER have just given up the boy so she and her daughter sits and waits to be murdered. NEVER HAPPEN. Ask ANY decent Mother and they will tell you that.
robert came, became king, changed the royal house and the whole "aesthetic" of the realm yet the regime remained the same
Cheers
You think the Master of Coin position sat vacant for 9 years?
Could you do a video on sexism in the world of game of thrones and a break down of what little rights women have/don't have within politics and society?
I thought stannis was older..you said 19?
You should try and do real kings’ councils, Henry VII and Henry VI had notoriously corrupt councillors. Henry VII so much so that two had to be put to death after he died to wipe the blame off the dead king and ensure no resentment fell on his son Henry VIII.
Do what you think Stannis Baratheon’s small council would have been had he won at Blackwater
LOL ..Cant unsee the "Mall Council" in the Thumbnail :D
Pycell is far from. The most educated man in the citidel
Yeah do everybody’s small council
WC!!!!!
👍🏾
A better video would be a showcasing of the small councils Robert DID actually attend. Lol.
Hi
Varys lying that's not a Targaryen but a Blackfyre that he is supporting just sayin
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Everybody who says Robert was a good king only follow the HBO version. Robert is the main reason that the realm collapsed. A land without an authority for 15 years. People schemed so many things and most of them could be easily avoided especially considering how strong Baratheons were. Lannisters for example wasnt that strong till Robert let them. Starks were a strong north keep till Robert caused Ned's death, eventually.
He never wanted to be a king, i get that but also he was a very shitty one, arguebly close to the Mad King. One was Mad, other was Drunk and uninterested.