Qhorin Halfhand
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2008
- Messages
- 63
I was reading this thread: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/46551-best-hand-of-the-king.html
While I was reading it and writing my reasons for not crowning Tyrion, it occurred to me that the people most suited to ruling Westeros are people who have absolutely no claim to the throne. The Targaryens have shown a tendancy to quite often make a huge hash of the job and the Baratheons don't do much better.
So if you could choose any character, no matter how minor, from Westeros to be king, who would it be? Personally, I would look for a combination of competence demonstrated in Tywin Lannister balanced with a sense of honour like you see in Eddard. Either one would have been a relatively effective ruler but either would eventually see their reign end in blood, Ned because he wouldn't have stomped out people like the Lannisters who would eventually challenge his power and Tywin because he would eventually take measures too extreme against someone and end up with someone opposing him (eg. another Robb Stark).
For me, I can't decide. It is between Tyrion Lannister, who demonstrates considerable capacity for deceit and political maneuvering as well as a concern for the smallfolk. The main problem with Tyrion as a ruler is that he's a dwarf. It sounds horrible to say but we see in the books that even when he is the only person in King's Landing looking out for the smallfolk, he is hated. If he were king, the first time something bad happened (famine, plague, etc) people would react with violence against their "tainted ruler" and probably riot.
My other choice would be Doran Martell. He demonstrates a very similar sort of competence to either Tywin or Tyrion Lannister; he can be quite ruthless but seems to demonstrate qualities such as loyalty and care for the realm. My foundation for choosing him is a lot less solid, he just seems to be the kind of guy who would be a strong and effective ruler. The main problems with him would be (a) his health which obviously isn't good and so he probably wouldn't last and (b) his obvious loyalty to the Targaryen cause demonstrates that maybe he has absolutely no desire for rule. On the other hand, his desire is to marry one of his children to the Targaryens, who have a claim to the throne so maybe he does have desire for rule.
As more discussion, who would you choose as the Hand for your choice(s)?
Oddly, I think I would put someone like Jon Arryn as Tyrion's hand. A hugely powerful noble (Warden of the East) and obviously able to draw on a lot of respect from pretty much anyone given the strength of his line and house. Tyrion wouldn't need a hand who could manage politics and economics and so on for him, he would need a hand who could enhance the standing of his rule with a noble name and military power. He would need a member of one of the great houses. His reasons for not having his father would be obvious, Mace Tyrell and Renly Baratheon are useless and Doran would too unhealthy and doens't bring enough military power. Dorne is too divorced from Westeros for Doran Martell to enhance Tyrion's image. I think Jon Arryn would be a better choice than Ned Stark, he seems more willing to engage in underhanded methods (Varys obviously brought his information to Jon Arryn more than Robert). I think he'd be effective at facilitating Tyrion as a ruler.
For Doran Martell, you would need someone more capable of being proactive and rule in the kings stead a lot more because of his health. I would say Doran Martell would need a Petyr Baelish or a Tywin Lannister, someone capable of ruling in concordance with him, but taking their lead from him. The problem with both of those choices is that neither would be loyal to any significant degree. I can't think of anyone really suitable for Doran's hand. Tyrion may in fact be the best choice but that could just be my brain trying to have my cake and eat it too.
While I was reading it and writing my reasons for not crowning Tyrion, it occurred to me that the people most suited to ruling Westeros are people who have absolutely no claim to the throne. The Targaryens have shown a tendancy to quite often make a huge hash of the job and the Baratheons don't do much better.
So if you could choose any character, no matter how minor, from Westeros to be king, who would it be? Personally, I would look for a combination of competence demonstrated in Tywin Lannister balanced with a sense of honour like you see in Eddard. Either one would have been a relatively effective ruler but either would eventually see their reign end in blood, Ned because he wouldn't have stomped out people like the Lannisters who would eventually challenge his power and Tywin because he would eventually take measures too extreme against someone and end up with someone opposing him (eg. another Robb Stark).
For me, I can't decide. It is between Tyrion Lannister, who demonstrates considerable capacity for deceit and political maneuvering as well as a concern for the smallfolk. The main problem with Tyrion as a ruler is that he's a dwarf. It sounds horrible to say but we see in the books that even when he is the only person in King's Landing looking out for the smallfolk, he is hated. If he were king, the first time something bad happened (famine, plague, etc) people would react with violence against their "tainted ruler" and probably riot.
My other choice would be Doran Martell. He demonstrates a very similar sort of competence to either Tywin or Tyrion Lannister; he can be quite ruthless but seems to demonstrate qualities such as loyalty and care for the realm. My foundation for choosing him is a lot less solid, he just seems to be the kind of guy who would be a strong and effective ruler. The main problems with him would be (a) his health which obviously isn't good and so he probably wouldn't last and (b) his obvious loyalty to the Targaryen cause demonstrates that maybe he has absolutely no desire for rule. On the other hand, his desire is to marry one of his children to the Targaryens, who have a claim to the throne so maybe he does have desire for rule.
As more discussion, who would you choose as the Hand for your choice(s)?
Oddly, I think I would put someone like Jon Arryn as Tyrion's hand. A hugely powerful noble (Warden of the East) and obviously able to draw on a lot of respect from pretty much anyone given the strength of his line and house. Tyrion wouldn't need a hand who could manage politics and economics and so on for him, he would need a hand who could enhance the standing of his rule with a noble name and military power. He would need a member of one of the great houses. His reasons for not having his father would be obvious, Mace Tyrell and Renly Baratheon are useless and Doran would too unhealthy and doens't bring enough military power. Dorne is too divorced from Westeros for Doran Martell to enhance Tyrion's image. I think Jon Arryn would be a better choice than Ned Stark, he seems more willing to engage in underhanded methods (Varys obviously brought his information to Jon Arryn more than Robert). I think he'd be effective at facilitating Tyrion as a ruler.
For Doran Martell, you would need someone more capable of being proactive and rule in the kings stead a lot more because of his health. I would say Doran Martell would need a Petyr Baelish or a Tywin Lannister, someone capable of ruling in concordance with him, but taking their lead from him. The problem with both of those choices is that neither would be loyal to any significant degree. I can't think of anyone really suitable for Doran's hand. Tyrion may in fact be the best choice but that could just be my brain trying to have my cake and eat it too.
