Aegon should have divided the Reach in two

[Game Of Thrones]

The Reach, with 90,000 soldiers, is far too overpowered. And Aegon the Conqueror had just killed the last King in the Reach, so Aegon could do whatever he wanted with the Reach. If I were him, I would have divided the Reach into two, with the lands north of Brightwater being ruled by the Tyrells and the lands south of it being ruled by the Hightowers.

What do you think?

[Equilibrium]

Of all the houses Tyrells had the least of cause to rebel against the IT, he got them power after all

[Lion of the West]

The Reach, with 70,000 soldiers, is far too overpowered. And Aegon the Conqueror had just killed the last King in the Reach, so Aegon could do whatever he wanted with the Reach. If I were him, I would have divided the Reach into two, with the lands north of Brightwater being ruled by the Tyrells and the lands south of it being ruled by the Hightowers.

What do you think?

Dividing the Reach would've gone against the entire political philosophy of Aegon. He tries to disturb the existing feudal pattern as little as he could and dividing the Reach could lead to all manner of unrest.

[Hos the Hostage]

Apparently, Aegon wasn't British.

[Good Guy Garlan]

Of all the houses Tyrells had the least of cause to rebel against the IT, he got them power after all

And the Targs also married Hightowers, keeping everyone happy

[averde]

Dividing the Reach would've gone against the entire political philosophy of Aegon. He tries to disturb the existing feudal pattern as little as he could and dividing the Reach could lead to all manner of unrest.

This.

[PrinceHenryris]

Why would he have wanted to weaken the Reach with Dorne unconquered?

[cassidyaj]

I was wondering why the Lannisters were the most powerful, when it seemed that the Reach was the most prosperous and largest of the area.

[DavosSeaworthy]

No need to do it really, as others have mentioned. To add, the Reach is like Riverlands, it does not have good natural defenses, so they could not engage in tactics like the Dornish used, so to resist the IT was death for them.

[LordToo-Fat-to-Sit-a-Horse]

Dividing the Reach would've gone against the entire political philosophy of Aegon. He tries to disturb the existing feudal pattern as little as he could and dividing the Reach could lead to all manner of unrest.

since when? he divided the kingdom of the iron islands and the trident.. he took a chunk out of the stormlands to create the crownlands..

confirming titles and lands for those who bent the knee makes sense, but the gardeners fought against him, leaving no clear heir..

the timing was great to divide the reach in two.. since the tyrells couldn´t expect more than being the Lord paramounts of the "northern reach" (lets call it that)

and the hightowers would be happy to get overlordship of the "southern reach". and not having to kneel for Highgarden..

[LordToo-Fat-to-Sit-a-Horse]

No need to do it really, as others have mentioned. To add, the Reach is like Riverlands, it does not have good natural defenses, so they could not engage in tactics like the Dornish used, so to resist the IT was death for them.

there is always need to atomize ones vassal lords...Clearly the reach is a threat to any king.. they can raise 100k men armies.. their relative power is very important.. compare it with the crownlands..

[LordToo-Fat-to-Sit-a-Horse]

Of all the houses Tyrells had the least of cause to rebel against the IT, he got them power after all

friends in this generation can become enemies in the next one.. just because house tyrell was happy then, it doesn´t mean they´ll stay happy forever..

[DavosSeaworthy]

there is always need to atomize ones vassal lords...Clearly the reach is a threat to any king.. they can raise 100k men armies.. their relative power is very important.. compare it with the crownlands..

Aegon did not have foresight. He proved at the field of fire that the Gardner and Lannister armies were no match for his dragons. He likely would have assumed his families dragons would be able to deal with any threat posed by the Reach. or else he may have considered splitting the Reach, but as mentioned above, he decided to keep most of the previous fedual arrangements intact.

[LordToo-Fat-to-Sit-a-Horse]

Aegon did not have foresight. He proved at the field of fire that the Gardner and Lannister armies were no match for his dragons. He likely would have assumed his families dragons would be able to deal with any threat posed by the Reach. or else he may have considered splitting the Reach, but as mentioned above, he decided to keep most of the previous fedual arrangements intact.

he kept most of the feudal arragements intact as long as the lords bend the knee... those who didn´t, had to lose lands, as the stormlands and iron islands....in fact the ironborn are the best example.

Would you give house greyjoy dominium over the trident? no way!! and even they have more legitimacy than house tyrell, since the greyjoys at least got elected by the traditional method of the iron islands.

the gardeners fought and were destroyed leaving no clear heirs, but rather distant claimants.

Aegon awarded some random house with the lands and titles of house gardener..How is that keeping most previous feudal arragements intact?

[Pod The Impaler]

The Reach, with 70,000 soldiers, is far too overpowered. And Aegon the Conqueror had just killed the last King in the Reach, so Aegon could do whatever he wanted with the Reach. If I were him, I would have divided the Reach into two, with the lands north of Brightwater being ruled by the Tyrells and the lands south of it being ruled by the Hightowers.

What do you think?

I agree, but I have a hard time picturing where the dividing line should be.

[LordToo-Fat-to-Sit-a-Horse]

i think Aegon should have divided the reach.. As any liege lord should try to divide his sworn houses in as many houses as possible. Atomized vassals are least likely to create coalitions that can depose liege lords/kings. So, the incentive is there. And since the Reach is way too powerfull, it should be something of a priority

There are two powerful seats in the Reach, Highgarden, and Oldtown. It would make sense to divide the region in two.

The "southern Reach" already have houses sworn to house Hightower, probably houses that were vassals from the time the Hightowers were kings themselves. So the Hightowers already have legitimacy over most of those houses (beesbury, bulwer, constayne, cuy, Mullendore), this makes for a peaceful transition since there is no risk of those houses rebelling against what could have been "new overlords" in the south.

Furthermore, its very easy to divide the territory. The "southern reach" would have the current Reach´s southern limits, until the eastern torentine. From there Aegon would draw a direct line towards the mander.

The Northern Reach would get the rest of the Reach.

Furthermore, both new regions would have similar relative power. The Northern reach gets more castles, more lands, and more population. While the southern Reach gets Oldtown, the citadel, and the faith of the seven (starry sept)... A political marriage with the redwyne would give them also the fleet. This again makes for a peaceful coexistence, since no new region would try to conquer (recover) the other new region. The new lords of highgarden wouldn´t be able to conquer the "southern reach", and the Hightowers wouldn´t be able to try to extend their over lordship to the northern reach.

Also, both new overlords would get ambitious sworn houses. The Hightowers would have to deal with the Florents. And house Tyrell would have to deal with the Rowans and Oakhearts both claiming to have more rights to highgarden and dominium of the Reach. A king always wants to have vassals who have to deal with their own ambitious vassals themselves, with some power to challenge their own liege lords. some wars can be won with letters in those cases.

Lastly, the political scenario was superb. House Tyrell would be happy to improve their position. While House Hightower would also be happy to recover over lordship of their historical lands.. it´s best to kneel for a king, than to kneel for a lord who then kneels for a king.

[Game Of Thrones]

I agree, but I have a hard time picturing where the dividing line should be.

Reach: Red Lake, Old Oaks, Golden Grove, Shield Islands, Tumbleton, Bitterbridge, Grassy Vale, Longtable, Cider Hall, Ashford, Highgarden. Ruled by the Tyrells from Highgarden.

Hightoweria: Brightwater Keep, Bandallon, Honeyholt, Blackcrown, Uplands, Sunhouse, Three Towers, Oldtown, the Arbor, Horn Hill. Ruled by the Hightowers from Oldtown.

[Game Of Thrones]

i think Aegon should have divided the reach.. As any liege lord should try to divide his sworn houses in as many houses as possible. Atomized vassals are least likely to create coalitions that can depose liege lords/kings. So, the incentive is there. And since the Reach is way too powerfull, it should be something of a priority

There are two powerful seats in the Reach, Highgarden, and Oldtown. It would make sense to divide the region in two.

The "southern Reach" already have houses sworn to house Hightower, probably houses that were vassals from the time the Hightowers were kings themselves. So the Hightowers already have legitimacy over most of those houses (beesbury, bulwer, constayne, cuy, Mullendore), this makes for a peaceful transition since there is no risk of those houses rebelling against what could have been "new overlords" in the south.

Furthermore, its very easy to divide the territory. The "southern reach" would have the current Reach´s southern limits, until the eastern torentine. From there Aegon would draw a direct line towards the mander.

The Northern Reach would get the rest of the Reach.

Furthermore, both new regions would have similar relative power. The Northern reach gets more castles, more lands, and more population. While the southern Reach gets Oldtown, the citadel, and the faith of the seven (starry sept)... A political marriage with the redwyne would give them also the fleet. This again makes for a peaceful coexistence, since no new region would try to conquer (recover) the other new region. The new lords of highgarden wouldn´t be able to conquer the "southern reach", and the Hightowers wouldn´t be able to try to extend their over lordship to the northern reach.

Also, both new overlords would get ambitious sworn houses. The Hightowers would have to deal with the Florents. And house Tyrell would have to deal with the Rowans and Oakhearts both claiming to have more rights to highgarden and dominium of the Reach. A king always wants to have vassals who have to deal with their own ambitious vassals themselves, with some power to challenge their own liege lords. some wars can be won with letters in those cases.

Lastly, the political scenario was superb. House Tyrell would be happy to improve their position. While House Hightower would also be happy to recover over lordship of their historical lands.. it´s best to kneel for a king, than to kneel for a lord who then kneels for a king.

:agree:

[BRANDON GREYSTARK]

He probably would have if a Reachlord had allied them.

[Gendry_Goldeneyes]

I was wondering why the Lannisters were the most powerful, when it seemed that the Reach was the most prosperous and largest of the area.

Tywin, plus his relationship with Aerys, plus the gold minds