Why would Rhaegar make such a great king?

[Woftis]

So it's mentioned a couple of times by different characters that Rhaegar would make a great king, also, that he's loved by the small folk.

Do we have any examples of why Rhaegar was loved by the small folk, or anything that would lead us to believe he'd be a great king other than some character's opinions?

Please note: This isn't an attack on Rhaegar, I would love to see a POV from the Trident period but just trying to piece him together with the small amount of info we have.

ETA: if you don't have any examples to the above questions, would still like yo hear your opinion on why...

[King of Winters]

I don't remember the exact quote but in AFFC Cersei is remembering a tourney in Lannisport, where the crowd cheered twice as loud for Tywin than Aerys, but they cheered loudest for Rhaegar

[WhiteGuts]

Well I think that Rhaegar was (is) loved mainly because he was the exact opposite of his father. As the heir, he as the small folk's hope for better days.

[The guy from the Vale]

Also, Rhaegar was both charismatic and dutiful, at least in the words of Barristan. He'd actually care about the realm, something neither Aerys nor Robert did, and he'd also inspire widespread loyalty, something Stannis struggles to do.

[eggs]

The smallfolk loved Rhaegar because he was a skilled knight and pretty musician. Everyone who says he would make a great king are pretty biased. that he kidnapped a girl shows that he can make some really fucked up decisions.

[King of Winters]

The smallfolk loved Rhaegar because he was a skilled knight and pretty musician. Everyone who says he would make a great king are pretty biased. that he kidnapped a girl shows that he can make some really fucked up decisions.

F*cked up decisions that led to AA

[Woftis]

Kidnapping the fiancée of one of the more powerful lords definitely isn't a very wise thing for a king to do haha.

It's mentioned that he's skilled with a lance, and that he's a good musician but I don't see how these contribute to him being loved by the small folk. I would assume if your dad is as cruel as Aerys, you would need to do something pretty special to win them over.

[Baelor Swyft]

To be fair, Rhaegar's blunder with Lyanna is worse than all the dumb decisions Ned, Robb, and Catelyn made combined. He did think he was saving the world, but... a little diplomacy could have helped.

[King of Winters]

Kidnapping the fiancée of one of the more powerful lords definitely isn't a very wise thing for a king to do haha.

It's mentioned that he's skilled with a lance, and that he's a good musician but I don't see how these contribute to him being loved by the small folk. I would assume if your dad is as cruel as Aerys, you would need to do something pretty special to win them over.

As Tyrion's said, young, stupid and in love

[Lion of Judah]

I'm not sure how good of a king Rhaegar would have been, but he would have been a better alternative to Aerys and Robert.

[Artos Stark]

Kidnapping the fiancée of one of the more powerful lords definitely isn't a very wise thing for a king to do haha.

It's mentioned that he's skilled with a lance, and that he's a good musician but I don't see how these contribute to him being loved by the small folk. I would assume if your dad is as cruel as Aerys, you would need to do something pretty special to win them over.

I'm not sure that Robert was one of the most owerful lords at the time. Surely the Lannisters, Starks, Arryns and Tyrells were more powerful both in military strength and finances.

As for Rhaegar, I think he woul have made a good king because he actually cared about the realm. He would have made decisions for the benefit of the realm and actually took his job seriously.

[Woftis]

I'm not sure that Robert was one of the most owerful lords at the time. Surely the Lannisters, Starks, Arryns and Tyrells were more powerful both in military strength and finances.

As for Rhaegar, I think he woul have made a good king because he actually cared about the realm. He would have made decisions for the benefit of the realm and actually took his job seriously.

I would consider any of the main houses amongst the most powerful lords, but yes, some of the houses you suggested are probably a lot stronger.

[Pod The Impaler]

Rhaegar was a pretty boy, intelligent and "sensitive" / artistic, and didn't seem to be a wuss in tourneys. Popular? A rock star prince (harp instead of guitar). Every girl in the realm was squeeing with delight over him for years (And a few boys too, it seems.) And every guy around him seemed to get a social bump-up just by being in his entourage.

Of course in the adult sense, everyone was just waiting for him to be king instead of his cowardly, cruel, and crazy old man. That contrast probably made Rhaegar seem more promising that he actually was.

So, maybe the problem was he bought into the hype himself: "I can do no wrong ! Everyone will love me regardless of my decisions ! My child will be the Prince Who Was Promised !"

Then he steals the one girl who probably wouldn't be willingly thrown into his bed by her as a royal favour. The one girl whose betrothed is pretty much the anti-Rhaegar incarnate, and with an elder brother who is the last sort of person to just hold his nose and accept it.

Great move, Rhaegar.

(Bonus foolishness: he already has a wife and kids too!)

Rhaegar's just proof that intelligent peoiple can still make dumb decisions.

Still, better than Aerys ? Yes. It would be hard not to be.

[BericDondarrion]

As Tyrion's said, young, stupid and in love

Rhaegar wasn't THAT young. He was 24 at his death, pretty old for Westerosi standards. Look at Robb Stark, crowned at 15/16 and fighting a war. Robert rebelled and won his throne at 21. Rhaegars age is no excuse. Especially since he was "old"

[BlackStark]

I'm not sure how good of a king Rhaegar would have been, but he would have been a better alternative to Aerys and Robert.

I am not sure a messianic view of one's self and an inflated sense of "I can do no wrong" would have been a better alternative to the relatively benign neglect of Robert that characterized his rule.

[The guy from the Vale]

I am not sure a messianic view of one's self and an inflated sense of "I can do no wrong" would have been a better alternative to the relatively benign neglect of Robert that characterized his rule.

I'm not so sure this is an accurate description of Rhaegar. Just a hunch, though.

[Woftis]

Rhaegar was a pretty boy, intelligent and "sensitive" / artistic, and didn't seem to be a wuss in tourneys. Popular? A rock star prince (harp instead of guitar). Every girl in the realm was squeeing with delight over him for years (And a few boys too, it seems.) And every guy around him seemed to get a social bump-up just by being in his entourage.

Of course in the adult sense, everyone was just waiting for him to be king instead of his cowardly, cruel, and crazy old man. That contrast probably made Rhaegar seem more promising that he actually was.

So, maybe the problem was he bought into the hype himself: "I can do no wrong ! Everyone will love me regardless of my decisions ! My child will be the Prince Who Was Promised !"

Then he steals the one girl who probably wouldn't be willingly thrown into his bed by her as a royal favour. The one girl whose betrothed is pretty much the anti-Rhaegar incarnate, and with an elder brother who is the last sort of person to just hold his nose and accept it.

Great move, Rhaegar.

(Bonus foolishness: he already has a wife and kids too!)

Rhaegar's just proof that intelligent peoiple can still make dumb decisions.

Still, better than Aerys ? Yes. It would be hard not to be.

This is a great run down :)

[Lion of Judah]

I am not sure a messianic view of one's self and an inflated sense of "I can do no wrong" would have been a better alternative to the relatively benign neglect of Robert that characterized his rule.

True Rhaegar had his quirks, but considering the results Robert got as king I would be willing to give him a shot.

[BlackStark]

True Rhaegar had his quirks, but considering the results Robert got as king I would be willing to give him a shot.

But it wasn't Robert's spendthrift ways that led to the current situation in Westeros...his fatal flaw was the same as Rhaegar's, an obsessive focus on Lyanna which in his case led to a chilly relationship with Cersei and a lack of a true heir. Had Cersei popped out at least one little black haired baby the seven kingdoms would still be united.

[Fire Eater]

Rhaegar was a pretty boy, intelligent and "sensitive" / artistic, and didn't seem to be a wuss in tourneys. Popular? A rock star prince (harp instead of guitar). Every girl in the realm was squeeing with delight over him for years (And a few boys too, it seems.) And every guy around him seemed to get a social bump-up just by being in his entourage.

Of course in the adult sense, everyone was just waiting for him to be king instead of his cowardly, cruel, and crazy old man. That contrast probably made Rhaegar seem more promising that he actually was.

So, maybe the problem was he bought into the hype himself: "I can do no wrong ! Everyone will love me regardless of my decisions ! My child will be the Prince Who Was Promised !"

Then he steals the one girl who probably wouldn't be willingly thrown into his bed by her as a royal favour. The one girl whose betrothed is pretty much the anti-Rhaegar incarnate, and with an elder brother who is the last sort of person to just hold his nose and accept it.

Great move, Rhaegar.

(Bonus foolishness: he already has a wife and kids too!)

Rhaegar's just proof that intelligent peoiple can still make dumb decisions.

Still, better than Aerys ? Yes. It would be hard not to be.

I agree with most of that except for the part where he thinks he could do no wrong. He isn't described as arrogant.