176 replies to this topic

[Qhorin Halfhand and Yoren]

No flashback, past characters. All characters who were kings since the start of the story, count. Danny also counts as she considers herself the rightful heir of the kingdom.

So basically out of

Danny
Robert
Renly
Stannis
Balon
Robb
Aegon
Edit: Forgot Joffrey, I guess if you (are crazy enough to) think that he was the best King you can mention him too.
Edit2: Tommen
Edit3: Euron
Edit4: Beggar King Viserys

who is the best King? (or in Danny's case Queen).

I will probably have to go with Stannis. He has his flaws, but he is to an important extend motivated by duty and does not have a teenager's naivety. He is instead pretty focused on his goal. He also can be pretty pragmatic.

Edited by Qhorin Halfhand and Yoren, 24 February 2012 - 03:35 PM.

[Apple Martini]

Dany has good intentions but everything she touches turns to shit or dies.

Robert was a whoring drunk who spent the realm's money and had other people do all the work.

Renly liked the idea of being a king but not actually being one; namely, he thought being a king meant looking pretty and watching jousts.

Stannis is a hardass but he seems to take his responsibility seriously. Shame about the burning thing, although I think he might be coming around on that.

Balon's ambition was always too big for the Iron Islands.

Robb had good intentions and would have been OK in peacetime but he lost it on a few bad personal decisions.

We haven't really seen Aegon do any actual ruling, have we?

I'll throw in Joffrey -- an evil little sadist -- and Tommen -- who's still just a child.

Overall, despite his setbacks, I have to go with Stannis, too.

ETA: Another thing in Stannis' favor is, you can achieve a position of authority in his court without being a kissass or a born lordling. Would any of those other kings, even Robb, have elevated a Davos Seaworth type based on merit? I doubt it. Stannis is also one of the few people who actually would rather you didn't blow sunshine up his ass.

Edited by Apple Martini, 24 February 2012 - 04:07 PM.

[Dracarya]

Arghh! Such a difficult question haha it depends on what you mean by 'best'. Robb and Renly inspired loyalty and had large followings, but they both died, and Robb lost the North, so that definitely counts against them.

I think I'd go with Stannis as well actually. Or Robert - he held the realm for how long? 15 years? And it was at peace for the most part. So in terms of ruling and length of time, he was probably the best king. But he had his faults ofc, like whoring and drinking and getting the crown into debt. Very difficult to give a straight answer here

Edited by Fire&Blood, 24 February 2012 - 03:28 PM.

[LifeRuiner]

I think that given the chance, Robb would have turned out okay.

[The Storm Queen]

STANNIS STANNIS STANNIS

runner-ups:
- Renly with Olena as eminence grise
- A Robb who actually listens to Cat and the Blackfish

Big no:
- Dany
- Robert B

Shouldn´t Cersei as Queen Regent be on the list, too?

Edited by The Storm Queen, 24 February 2012 - 03:31 PM.

[The King in the South]

Definetely King Bread. He's the only one that ever showed any concern for the rampant hunger problems in Westeros

[fassreiter]

Mance.

[Gingerly Grumkin]

What about Viserys? Robb's reign was non stop fighting so we cant see if he would be good or not. But im willing to bet my last Dragon that he would be better then

Qhorin Halfhand and Yoren, on 24 February 2012 - 03:21 PM, said:

basically out of Danny
Robert
Renly
Stannis
Balon
Aegon
Edit: Forgot Joffrey, I guess if you (are crazy enough to) think that he was the best King you can mention him too.
Edit2: Tommen Edit3:
Euron

take your pick

Edited by Ndrew of Typhgarian, 24 February 2012 - 03:36 PM.

[Lady Kraken]

Well, they all have pretty glaring flaws, don't they? It's pretty difficult to choose the best of the worst.

i don't think we've seen enough out of Aegon yet to decide anything about him. His cyvasse fit with Tyrion was definitely unsettling, but I think he's shown moments of decisiveness and bravery as well. And as Varys said, he didn't grow up in the lap of luxury as a Westerosi noble. This might help him empathize with the smallfolk more rather than just being concerned about extravagant tournaments or power games. A lot of people think he'll die early on, but I think he could prove an effective king. It seems he's been educated by some competent people, so that might help.

Robb had potential. He really did. But he just wasn't politically savvy enough to be a king yet. There was too much Ned in him.

I see what you mean about Stannis, but his commitment to R'hllor worries me, and it's not going to win him any friends in the North or the South... And he's not well-loved as it is.

Dany is well meaning, but that's the best I think I can say about her current leadership. Though I would not be shocked if she improved in the future. She has potential.

Balon was finally offered a chance to win a better position for the struggling Iron Islands and spat on it.

Renly... Renly never should have declared himself a king. And he never treated it with the seriousness such as position should demand.

Don't even get me started on Robert, Euron, and Joffrey.

Ahh... I don't know. I'll go with Aegon because he hasn't really screwed anything up yet.

[Val the Wildling Princess]

fassreiter, on 24 February 2012 - 03:30 PM, said:

Mance.

It is known. No names, no birthright, you have to be a badass to rule over the free folk

[Ice Turtle]

I was not sure if pick Renly (who was good politician) or Stannis the just but then I remembered the one from beyond the Wall, it's Mance for me all the way.

[Lady Kraken]

fassreiter, on 24 February 2012 - 03:30 PM, said:

Mance.

Yes! Good call.

[LifeRuiner]

The Storm Queen, on 24 February 2012 - 03:30 PM, said:

- Renly with Olena as eminence grise

Oh, I really like that.

[The Duke]

Robb probably had the best potential, but he never really reigned he only fought.  Of actual governing kings, they have all sucked.  There have been a few good Hands (Ned, Tyrion, Tywin, Kevan, Davos) but in each case they were being plotted against from within.

[PatrickStormborn]

My top two are easily Stannis and Daenerys. Both are far from perfect, I know, but they're much better than the others. I'd pick Dany over Stannis, though, simply because I find rigidity to be a flaw in ruling. I know it's one of the reasons he's respected, but it's one of the few reasons I dislike him.

[Walder_Frey]

I think that Stannis would make the best king out of that bunch, and that the person who did the best job ruling the seven kingdoms was Robert.

I think that of any character in the story, Tywin would make the best king, followed only by Tyrion.

[TheHedgeWizard]

Tommen no doubt. a sweet boy.

[ARYa_Nym]

Stannis is probably the most suited to be king in the series but he has obvious flaws that he needs to get rid of.

[trins]

Apple Martini, on 24 February 2012 - 03:27 PM, said:

Dany has good intentions but everything she touches turns to shit or dies.

LMFAAOOO

True.  A also agree Stannis, he's just so much like a King already just give him the throne already goddammit!

[Talleyrand]

Mance: Badass and the only king who's goal has been to protect his people.