106 replies to this topic

[The Frosted King]

Which house is strongest in general, at the outset of GOT?
The first two sought to break House Starks power, and the last is seeking to restore it....

Edited by Scootydowop, 10 May 2012 - 08:45 AM.

[Alric Stark]

I think it breaks down like this:
Frey: has sheer numbers, some of this however are not trained fighting men. They also have a defensible fortress that is able to generate funds.
Bolton: has history, and intimidation. Smaller in size but has a long storied history, and has had ruthless and cunning leaders making them more feared despite their smaller size and lesser income.
Manderly: largest and most powerful, but new to the North which has them lacking in history/loyalty of the banner men.

[Artos Stark]

I would say Manderly is the strongest, then comes Frey and then Bolton.  Maybe Frey and Bolton are swtiched but certainly Manderly is the strongest.

[bloodymime]

I'd have to say it's between Frey and Manderly mainly. Up until Robb decided to give the Roose command of his army I'd think it would have been in the Starks interest in making sure the Boltons didn't get too powerful.

One's a seaport which is always an advantage in a world with such limited transportation technology and their silver is often mentioned, do they have silver mines?

Freys get to charge tolls for crossing their bridge. It's always seemed strange they could become powerful doing that since it's not like they're in a central location but they apparently get enough traffic to get rich off of it.

Freys seem to be the only game in town if people want to cross the river, but the Manderlys seem to be more diversified so I'll go with them.

I believe the Manderlys have had their seat longer than the Freys.

[Eejit]

Alric Stark, on 10 May 2012 - 08:59 AM, said:

Manderly: largest and most powerful, but new to the North which has them lacking in history/loyalty of the banner men.

They're only new relatively speaking. Manderly left the south about 1000 years ago...

[Gronzag]

Manderlys are the strongest because they have a power (men, coin, and strong base), but they don't have some mad ambitions like the other two

Edited by Gronzag, 10 May 2012 - 09:15 AM.

[Gurkhal]

Its probably the Manderlys but then again we don't know how the Bolton lands are but given that the Manderlys have the only harbor city and seems to rule some fertile lands they are probably the strongest. I wouldn't buy the numbers lord Manderly gives Davos though as I doubt that House Manderly can put much more than, say 5000 men on the move.

[RobertOfTheHouseBaratheon]

^{At the begginning of GoT Manderlys are the richest and most powerfull. At the end of DWD it depends on who the Northern Lords would side with and prefer as Lord Paramount. Roose without the Bastard may seem more amiable to many than Manderly especially as the Boltons have more Stark blood in them and worship the Old Gods. Bolton may therefore have access to more battle hardened troops than Manderly. If Manderly get's Rickon though it's a game changer and he becomes the most powerfull, no other northern lord would stand against him and most would flock to the direwolf including Robb's old troops.}

[jarl the climber]

The Freys are on the rise as well as the Boltons. The Freys have grabbed up Seagard, Darry, and they have designs on Riverrun. The Boltons are going after Hornwood and Winterfell both are trying to become Lord Paramors of their regions. The question is, is whether or not they have overeached themselves. They have little popularity in their regions and their allies, the Lannisters are unstable. Their plans will probaly collapse in the long run.

Manderly posistion is stronger because he doesn't have to occupy hostile areas. Manderly also has 2 unmarried granddaughters to secure alliances, the oldest is particulary attractive because she is the problae heir after Manderly and his son.

[TheFlayedMan]

Roose Bolton is currently Warden in the North and has hostages for most of the other Great Northern Houses, so I'd go with them. We'll just have to see what happens in the Battle of Winterfell.

[Mr Motte]

Manderlys are most powerful. They control one of the five cities which I can only assume generates more income than the crossing at the Green Fork. Not to mention I believe Wyman has been building a navy as well.

[Gingerly Grumkin]

The Freys have hardly anything anymore, most died fighting for the Young Wolf and the rest are being killed by (Wyman?), BWB, Nymeria and even Lannisters.
The Manderly's are were mayhaps the richest city in the North and they have a  undiscovered navy that I think rivals the Iron Fleet.
Yet I would give it to the Boltons. The Boltons are the Warden of the North. They own Dredfort, Hornwood's lands and Winterfell. The Manderlys and Freys are sworn to the Boltons under the order of King Tommen Baratheon

[David C. Hunter]

Manderlys because no one is expecting any kind of brilliancy from a northerner. Everyone outside of the north thinks the north are nothing but barbarians and defeated. Meanwhile, The Manderlys have a super plan that involves cannibalism

[bbqq]

David C. Simmons, on 10 May 2012 - 12:23 PM, said:

Manderlys because no one is expecting any kind of brilliancy from a northerner. Everyone outside of the north thinks the north are nothing but barbarians and defeated. Meanwhile, The Manderlys have a super plan that involves cannibalism

But the people he has to fight are northmen..

[Apple Martini]

bbqq, on 10 May 2012 - 12:31 PM, said:

But the people he has to fight are northmen..

The Freys aren't northerners. The Boltons are northern traitors. And other than the Dustins and Ryswells, none of Bolton's northern "allies" are allies because they believe in his cause. They're there because of hostages or because they feel they have no other options.

[bbqq]

Apple Martini, on 10 May 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

The Freys aren't northerners. The Boltons are northern traitors. And other than the Dustins and Ryswells, none of Bolton's northern "allies" are allies because they believe in his cause. They're there because of hostages or because they feel they have no other options.

Good point about the Freys, but really I just meant that it makes no sense for Roose and friends to expect the Manderlys to be barbarians, because they're both from the north.

[Gurkhal]

Apple Martini, on 10 May 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

The Freys aren't northerners. The Boltons are northern traitors. And other than the Dustins and Ryswells, none of Bolton's northern "allies" are allies because they believe in his cause. They're there because of hostages or because they feel they have no other options.

Which will still make them swords that fights for the Bolton cause.

[PrinceHenryris]

That's kind of the point.  As soon as the captive Northmen have an option they'll rebel against Bolton.

[Gingerly Grumkin]

Apple Martini, on 10 May 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

The Freys aren't northerners. The Boltons are northern traitors. And other than the Dustins and Ryswells, none of Bolton's northern "allies" are allies because they believe in his cause. They're there because of hostages or because they feel they have no other options.

What do the Freys own short of the TwinTowers? Because that castle is located in the North just as much as the South.
And I agree that most are hostages not allies, (and the others are just as sketchy as the hostages) but Stannis won't tell the difference

[bbqq]

Grumpkin Ahai, on 10 May 2012 - 01:31 PM, said:

What do the Freys own short of the TwinTowers? Because that castle is located in the North just as much as the South.
And I agree that most are hostages not allies, (and the others are just as sketchy as the hostages) but Stannis won't tell the difference

Actually it seems that anything north or west of the Neck is the north, and anything below is the south, which places the Twins quite firmly in the south, being that they're located at the top of the riverlands.