What if Stannis was the king's Hand instead of Ned?

[straits]

He's a more pragmatic, less trusting version of Ned in matters of state. I believe that his presence would ruin Littlefinger/Varys games. You can't play a man in circles if he cuts your head off while Robert is off drinking.

[Lion of Judah]

I actually believe that Stannis had a legitimate beef with Ned being named hand instead of him. He was more qualified to be hand and more than likely would have thwarted Varys and LF plans.

[E-Ro]

There would be no war of five kings. The lannisters would all be dead and robert married to marg.

[The Monkey]

Well, with Jon Arryn dead, Stannis couldn't have told Robert that his children were fathered by Jaime, as Robert would've seen that as a cheap attempt to make himself the heir, so I can't imagine how he would have handled that whole situation. Might be he would actually have send for Ned Stark to share the evidence with, as he knows Robert would've listened to him.

[King Daemon Blackfyre]

First thing Stannis would do as Hand is scour out the corrupt cesspit of a court in KL:

1. Varys beheaded, for treason, espionage, etc, take your pick, (basically Stannis mistrusts him).

2. Littlefinger beheaded for massive corruption. Janos Slynt dismissed from the City Watch (and possibly beheaded).

3. Stannis would then pick his own loyal men for Master of Coin, Master of Whispers, Master of Ships and Commander of the City Watch. He can't touch Pycelle, as the Grand Maester is elected by the Conclave of Archmaesters of the Maester's Order.

4. Wait for the right time, and then bring forth a large body of evidence to King Bob (all his bastards and the book of geneaology showing historical Baratheon-Lannister marriages, and also pointing out that Stannis, Renly and Shireen have the same hair and eye colour) about the incest, but not before quickly and with surprise and no forewarning (similar to what he did to Arnolf Karstark in the gift TWOW chapter) arresting Cersei, Jaime and the royal children, and holding them securely. Flooding the Red Keep with Baratheon soldiers, while disarming and capturing the Lannister soldiers would also be a priority.

5. King Bob then loses his shit, and orders both Cersei and Jaime's executions in a rage. The three royal children are unfortunately executed as well, (Stannis may come to be seen publicly as a 'evil/bloodthirsty uncle-vizier' after this, but he doesn't give a shit).

6. War is declared on House Lannister - the newly-single and bereft of trueborn-children King Bob calls his banners, and the Stormlands, Crownlands, North, Riverlands, Vale, Reach and Dorne respond. The Westerlands is smashed and utterly defeated, and Tywin is probably killed (he won't bend the knee to those who killed his precious twins). House Lannister surrenders, and some surviving senior member (maybe Kevan) is made Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. Hostages are taken and financial penalties paid, as per usual. Needless to say, the entirety of the crown's debt to the Lannisters is wiped away. (King Bob wasn't about exterminating or disinheriting families, as long as they weren't Targs, and it would be impractical anyway with the large and long-reigning Lannister brood).

7. King Bob marries Margaery, but with Stannis as Hand the Tyrells won't be accumulating the same amount of power and influence that the Lannisters previously had in the royal court. King Bob has several trueborn children with her (he's still quite virile), and their upbringing is mostly entrusted to Margaery and the master-at-arms, soldiers and maesters of the Red Keep (basically similar to Edric Storm's upbringing). King Bob drinks and whores his way to an early grave.

8. Stannis spends the remainder of King Bob's reign trying to forestall a fiscal cliff and bring the national debt under control, and countering Renly's ambitions.

[GallowsKnight]

I think Stannis would understand and utilize a lot more of the powers available to the King's Hand. Much like Tyrion does.

He might have a good chance at arresting the Queen and her children, then calling a grand council to prove their incestuous nature.

[Lion of Judah]

First thing Stannis would do as Hand is scour out the corrupt cesspit of a court in KL:

1. Varys beheaded, for treason, espionage, etc, take your pick, (basically Stannis mistrusts him).

2. Littlefinger beheaded for massive corruption. Janos Slynt dismissed from the City Watch (and possibly beheaded).

3. Stannis would the pick his own men for Master of Coin, Master of Whispers and Commander of the City Watch.

:agree: He did say that he told Robert to take Varys head.

[Winds of Winter blow cold]

First thing Stannis would do as Hand is scour out the corrupt cesspit of a court in KL:

1. Varys beheaded, for treason, espionage, etc, take your pick, (basically Stannis mistrusts him).

2. Littlefinger beheaded for massive corruption. Janos Slynt dismissed from the City Watch (and possibly beheaded).

3. Stannis would then pick his own men for Master of Coin, Master of Whispers and Commander of the City Watch.

4. Wait for the right time, and then bring forth a large body of evidence to King Bob (all his bastards and the book of geneaology showing historical Baratheon-Lannister marriages, and also pointing out that he, Renly and Shireen have the same hair and eye colour) about the incest, but not before quickly and with surprise (similar to what he did to Arnolf Karstark in the gift TWOW chapter) arresting both Cersei and Jaime and holding them securely. Flooding the Red Keep with Baratheon soldiers, while disarming and capturing the Lannister soldiers would also be a priority.

5. King Bob then loses his shit, and orders both Cersei and Jaime's executions in a rage. The three royal children are unfortunately executed as well, (Stannis may come to be seen publicly as a 'evil/bloodthirsty uncle-vizier' after this, but he doesn't give a shit).

6. War is declared on House Lannister - the newly-single and childless King Bob calls his banners, and the Stormlands, Crownlands, North, Riverlands, Vale, Reach and Dorne respond. The Westerlands is ravaged and utterly defeated, and Tywin is probably killed (he won't bend the knee to those who killed his precious twins). House Lannister surrenders, and some surviving senior member (maybe Kevan) is made Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. Hostages are taken and financial penalties paid, as per usual. Needless to say, the entirety of the crown's debt to the Lannisters is wiped away. (King Bob wasn't about exterminating families, and it would be impractical anyway with the large Lannister brood).

7. King Bob marries Margaery, but with Stannis as Hand the Tyrells won't be accumulating the same amount of power and influence that the Lannisters previously had in the royal court. King Bob has several trueborn children, and their upbringing is mostly entrusted to Margaery and the master-at-arms, soldiers and maesters of the Red Keep (basically similar to Edric Storm's upbringing).

8. Stannis spends the remainder of King Bob's reign trying to forestall a fiscal cliff and bring the national debt under control, and countering Renly's ambitions.

Tyrion would probably be installed as Lord of Casterly Rock.

[Larry of the Lawn]

There would be a big fiery party in the Sept of Baelor R'hllor's Barbecue

[camelcant]

Stannis would have been as ineffective as Ned, if not more so. He is too rigid to wield power in the conditions that were set. Robert wouldn't value his council. Varys, Cersei, Littlefinger, Renly, and Pycelle would not tolerate him and seek to depose him. He would have ended up as dead as Arryn and Stark.

I love Ned but he was a terrible choice for political intrigue. Stannis more so. His no-nonsense approach to cleaning up corruption would bring him down before he could clear out the council. His antagonism toward brothels would be unpopular with the citizenry, Littlefinger and Robert.

It is probably not an accident that GRRM went out of his way to have every major playing in KL comment on what a disaster Stannis would be as king in AGoT

[Anwar]

The reason all the schemers say Stannis would be a horrible King is because under him, they wouldn't be able to get away with anything anymore. It's not because he'd really be a bad King.

[Tony Soprano]

I think he would have done quite well as Hand, thwarting Littlefiger and Varys' games, but I also think that might put him in danger. So, the only way to secure his position and safety, and Robert's for that matter, would be to remove the both of them from the Small Council, and then put them in chains.

And, if we're talking about the post Robert/Boar situation, he could have done what Ned should have done. Flood the Red Keep with his own men and paint the Red Keep with Lannister blood.

[The Wolves]

I actually believe that Stannis had a legitimate beef with Ned being named hand instead of him. He was more qualified to be hand and more than likely would have thwarted Varys and LF plans.

He absolutely had a problem with Robert naming Ned Hand he told Catelyn that he should have been Robert's hand not Ned. When Catelyn replied that Ned never wanted the job Stannis said something like he took it nevertheless. But he was qualified to be hand but instead ran to Dragonstone and sat there waiting for Robert to die

[Hear Us Roar]

The Lannsiters and their men in KL would be dead or captured.

[ed Lannister]

now that would have been a shorter term than even Ned's reign as hand

the immediate naming of stannis as hand would make enemies will be gunning for him from the start....ned atleast had the various antagonists varys,littlefinger and cersei tyring to win him first to their schemes

1.varys

2.littlefinger

3.the lannisters

4.the reach

5.the citadel :- the maesters despise magic alot

6.greyjoys

7.lisa arryn

8.and finally the faith coz of his mellisandre bollox that the faith/high septon would never entertain

king Bob made a safe choice in picking ned over stannis........

[James Arryn]

There would have been rainbows and lollipops and a daily parade of neurotic needy bad assedness, and probably chocolate flavoured sunshine and at night instead of getting darker, things would just be set to a 4 on the floor beat.

[Queen of Procrastination]

He would grid his teeth all the time.

[Lady Hornwood]

First thing Stannis would do as Hand is scour out the corrupt cesspit of a court in KL:

1. Varys beheaded, for treason, espionage, etc, take your pick, (basically Stannis mistrusts him).

2. Littlefinger beheaded for massive corruption. Janos Slynt dismissed from the City Watch (and possibly beheaded).

3. Stannis would then pick his own men for Master of Coin, Master of Whispers and Commander of the City Watch.

4. Wait for the right time, and then bring forth a large body of evidence to King Bob (all his bastards and the book of geneaology showing historical Baratheon-Lannister marriages, and also pointing out that he, Renly and Shireen have the same hair and eye colour) about the incest, but not before quickly and with surprise (similar to what he did to Arnolf Karstark in the gift TWOW chapter) arresting both Cersei and Jaime and holding them securely. Flooding the Red Keep with Baratheon soldiers, while disarming and capturing the Lannister soldiers would also be a priority.

5. King Bob then loses his shit, and orders both Cersei and Jaime's executions in a rage. The three royal children are unfortunately executed as well, (Stannis may come to be seen publicly as a 'evil/bloodthirsty uncle-vizier' after this, but he doesn't give a shit).

6. War is declared on House Lannister - the newly-single and childless King Bob calls his banners, and the Stormlands, Crownlands, North, Riverlands, Vale, Reach and Dorne respond. The Westerlands is ravaged and utterly defeated, and Tywin is probably killed (he won't bend the knee to those who killed his precious twins). House Lannister surrenders, and some surviving senior member (maybe Kevan) is made Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. Hostages are taken and financial penalties paid, as per usual. Needless to say, the entirety of the crown's debt to the Lannisters is wiped away. (King Bob wasn't about exterminating families, and it would be impractical anyway with the large Lannister brood).

7. King Bob marries Margaery, but with Stannis as Hand the Tyrells won't be accumulating the same amount of power and influence that the Lannisters previously had in the royal court. King Bob has several trueborn children, and their upbringing is mostly entrusted to Margaery and the master-at-arms, soldiers and maesters of the Red Keep (basically similar to Edric Storm's upbringing).

8. Stannis spends the remainder of King Bob's reign trying to forestall a fiscal cliff and bring the national debt under control, and countering Renly's ambitions.

9. Illegal brothels!

[turinturambar1]

he wouldn't do nothing of that because bob would never listen to him even Stannis said so

[E-Ro]

he wouldn't do nothing of that because bob would never listen to him even Stannis said so

Bob doesnt run the kingdom. His hand does, meaning the hand would have free reign except for a few issues(dany and brothels)