Braavos will end up as the strongest power in Planetos

[GoT_Academy]

The Free Cities represent urbanization, free speech, social mobility, capitalism. They are inspired by the Italian city states of the late middle ages and Braavos seem to have everything it needs to take over:

* trade

* the Iron Bank

* her rivals are on the verge of destruction

It's also a fine arc for the city - escaped slaves that hide for centuries become a proud superpower.

I also think that once Braavos was anti dragons because they were a weapons for enslavement, but now Dany's dragons are a force to destroy slavery, so the Iron Bank could end up supporting Dany destruction of the slave trade.

What do you think?

We have a video about it in our channel if you want more details >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faH_y1NR6qw

[zammey12]

In the end, it's whoever has the strongest military. I'm not sure how Braavos is in that aspect, but if it can be conquered, it isn't the strongest power.

[Daendrew]

In the end it is who has the strongest magic.

In the end there will be basically no one left to trade with :)

[Raving Stark the Mad]

Don't know if it has the population to ever outstrip Westeros in terms of power. I suppose, given a long enough timeline, and if Westeros and the other cities of Essos never change...

But the whole thing is ludicrously theoretical. This is a fantasy world. It doesn't have a history after the last page of the last book.

[hodorisfaclessman]

their divison of labour shipbuilding is wat ahead of anywhere else and thhey have virtualy impregnable borders mean they could rule the seas

their population and land forces are an unknown though

[GoT_Academy]

In the end, it's whoever has the strongest military. I'm not sure how Braavos is in that aspect, but if it can be conquered, it isn't the strongest power.

I think money will rule at the end

[ummester]

I don't think the saga was ever intended to spill over into Essos as much as it has.

Yea, that Bravos has a stable banking system could suggest a more industrious future for that city - but there are dragons and 10 year winters and so on, any of those is more than enough to be a black swan event that collapses whatever economic power the IB has.

[GoT_Academy]

Basically money can buy you armies while Westerosi armies will be depleted and the throne will be in debt to the bank.

[ummester]

Basically money can buy you armies while Westerosi armies will be depleted and the throne will be in debt to the bank.

No amount of money will pay someone to walk into the deathly cold or dragon fire, though. Bravos might just have to write Westeros off and suffer the losses - but, what if the collapse of Westeros cause a bank run in Bravos?

[Daendrew]

I believe the House of Black and White is one of the true anti-heroes of the story. The Others are not it. Of course they will inflict carnage. They are playing humanity just like Littlefinger plays Great Houses. Exactly how Littlefinger does it. He is of Braavos.

This post is foundational and this is the reason why.

[GoT_Academy]

No amount of money will pay someone to walk into the deathly cold or dragon fire, though. Bravos might just have to write Westeros off and suffer the losses - but, what if the collapse of Westeros cause a bank run in Bravos?

Braavos will not conquer Westeros, but the rules after the war will need the bank to rule and most of the Free Cities will get sacked by the Dothraki horde.

[ummester]

Braavos will not conquer Westeros, but the rules after the war will need the bank to rule and most of the Free Cities will get sacked by the Dothraki horde.

But, like any bank, the IB must have a base holdings which it draws credit against, right? Those base holdings are likely the property of various rich individuals from all over Planetos.

If the shit hits the fan globally, then what is to stop all the owners of the base holdings of the IB demanding a return? If the Dothraki are invading, it's better to have your money in soldiers, than in a bank, right?

I don't think the IB would get a bailout :D The world isn't as dependant on financial systems as the modern west is - people can just walk away from the cities and plant crops, if they really want to.

[Good Guy Garlan]

I don't know, man, Dany's dragons could finish what the lords of Valyria never did. At the very least, Dany has reason to consider the Iron Bank her enemy, just because they're funding a rival claimant to the throne who just so happens to be the Usurper's brother.

Plus, the Sealord who used to be Dany and Viserys' guardian/supporter is about to kick the bucket, and who knows what the new Sealord will do, once the knives come out

[HexMachina]

I seem to recall the base holdings of the Iron Bank are possessions brought by the escaped Valyrian slaves and the first Braavosi

[HexMachina]

I don't know, man, Dany's dragons could finish what the lords of Valyria never did. At the very least, Dany has reason to consider the Iron Bank her enemy, just because they're funding a rival claimant to the throne who just so happens to be the Usurper's brother.

Plus, the Sealord who used to be Dany and Viserys' guardian/supporter is about to kick the bucket, and who knows what the new Sealord will do, once the knives come out

We don't know that the current Sealord is the same one that oversaw the betrothal agreement. In fact, I suspect it isn't him, and the old Sealord (who Syrio was First Sword to) was the one who signed the agreement

[chris999]

I agree. They are the global banking cabal.

I think Bravos represents London or UK in real world.

[AdmiraloftheDothrakiSea]

In terms of military power? No. Nothing can beat Westeros. In terms of naval power Braavos is already the most powerful. Can't they supposedly build a war galley in a day? In terms of finance? Yes. Braavos contains the largest financial institution in Planetos that has the power to influence changes in kingdoms very easily and they always get their money back one way or another. On top of that the Faceless Men are also very powerful. In many aspects Braavos is the most powerful and it is also very progressive.

[GoT_Academy]

But, like any bank, the IB must have a base holdings which it draws credit against, right? Those base holdings are likely the property of various rich individuals from all over Planetos.

If the shit hits the fan globally, then what is to stop all the owners of the base holdings of the IB demanding a return? If the Dothraki are invading, it's better to have your money in soldiers, than in a bank, right?

I don't think the IB would get a bailout :D The world isn't as dependant on financial systems as the modern west is - people can just walk away from the cities and plant crops, if they really want to.

If I look at the story, when we start to find out about the bank in the fourth book, and then get another glimpse in the fifth book, it makes no sense not to have the bank's arc to play itself out. Why introduce a bank so late in the game, explain why it's so powerful, just to make the bank default or mean nothing. Don't see that happening, sorry.

[GoT_Academy]

In terms of military power? No. Nothing can beat Westeros. In terms of naval power Braavos is already the most powerful. Can't they supposedly build a war galley in a day? In terms of finance? Yes. Braavos contains the largest financial institution in Planetos that has the power to influence changes in kingdoms very easily and they always get their money back one way or another. On top of that the Faceless Men are also very powerful. In many aspects Braavos is the most powerful and it is also very progressive.

In terms of power - political and financial. Money will win out at the end over knights and honor.

[Ser Walter of AShwood]

Why introduce a bank so late in the game

I do believe you are wrong here. Even Ned has heard the stories of the money that is leant to the crown by the Bank of Braavos.

Source: the wiki

The bank has been in the books since the beginning, and even in the first book it is clearly stated that the bank always gets its money.