Alex13

The Greyjoy rebellion took place in 289 AC and Robert was crowned in 283 AC. Not to mention, that Joffrey, Robert's son and heir was born in 286 AC. How come Balon waited so long, considering that before Joffrey was born, Robert's line was not secure. And Robert's reign and hold on the Iron Throne was also not secure, as Robert winning the Greyjoy Rebellion lead to his rule being secure.

I think that is (at least partially) due to the pride of having the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms. They don't want to tear it down and build a smaller, stronger castle, because they are the lord that has the biggest castle. And i think tearing down the current castle and building a smaller, more acceptable one would cost a lot of coin and take a lot of time. Although the costs and time might be reduced, if stone from Harrenhal could be reused.

From what i have seen and from what i remember, the Lord of Harrenhal, doesn't seem as wealthy and powerful as he could be. It's mentioned that the Lord of Harrenhal commands vast tracts of fertile land and that at a stroke of the pen/quill, a newly named Lord of Harrenhal would become one of the wealthiest and powerful lords of Westeros. And if the lands are as vast and fertile as it is mentioned, then the lands should also house a sizable population, which would also translate into a large (3000-5000) army/levy at the disposal of the Lord. But none of these things are mentioned. And it's pretty central location, would also give it ample opportunities to become a commerce and trading hub. It's close to or on the king's road and i think that it's a few days ride or a weeks ride from King's Landing and it is also close to the Crossroads of the the Trident and where the King's Road, the River Road and the road leading to the Vale meet. Not to mention, the God's Lake has a river running from it to the Blackwater Rush, on which products could easily and cheaply be shipped to King's Landing. Are these things not mentioned and is the Lord of Harrenhal actually poor or struggling due to the fact that he needs to invest a large portion of his income into maintaining Harrenhal, thus not allowing him to gather wealth and to maintain a large army? Or did George not fully develop the lordship of Harrenhal, it's lands and it's economy and simply stated that Harrenhal is the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms, the Hoare's died there and that the castle is cursed? And if Harrenhal were a smaller castle, but still command it's current lands/territory, how wealthy and powerful (military, economically and political) would the Lord of Harrenhal be?

But if the Stark's/the North would be very interested in establishing a port city there, would they also not develop a fleet, to protect the city and the merchant ships? Plus, if the Ironborn start raiding the city, then wouldn't that be a declaration of war and would they not be breaking the king's peace? The last time they attacked a city on the western coast of Westeros, it was Lannisport and the Greyjoy rebellion had started.

Would a new house be created with the house becoming a vassal or House Dustin or House Stark? Or would it be an independent house, with possibly their own vassal/s and answering directly to House Stark? And would House Dustin be able to directly control it, possibly moving their castle/court to the new port city or will they or the Starks (depending on who establishes the castle) have to give it to someone? If the Starks were to establish the port city, with the city and the lands around it remaining within the control of House Dustin, would they be able to create a new lord, without any relation to the Dustin's and they make them vassals of House Dustin? Or would they have to create a new cadet branch of House Dustin?

It seems foolish/stupid for Walder to agree to that, considering that Robb could die or get injured in the war and not be able to have children, thus depriving Walder of his desire to have a daughter of his as the Lady of Winterfell and the North. I understand that they were under a time constraint and could not have a wedding at the Twins, as they needed to march and relieve Riverrun. But the wedding could have taken place after the siege of Riverrun was lifted and thus Walder and the Frey's would have been more secure in Robb's camp. Not to mention, Robb would have done his duty and slept with his wife and she might end up pregnant quickly, which would have secured Robb's line, in case he would be injured or killed.

Daemon Sand squired for Oberyn Martell and Samwell Stone who is a knight and the master at arms at Runestone. So i imagine that Samwell also squired.

I'm guessing that the reason Ned didn't foster any of the children, is due to the trauma of losing 3 family members during the Rebellion and wishing to keep them all close. And in Jon's case, it was also to keep him safe within Winterfell's walls. That being said, what events could have prompted Ned to foster Robb, say for a few years with the Umbers or Karstarks and then for a few years with the Manderly's? That would ensure that Robb is first fostered with a northern house that follows the Old Gods and to see how things are done someplace else and to form bonds. And with the Manderly's, he would form bonds with the wealthiest house of the North and see how a city is run and possibly get a better understanding of trade, economy and how politics is played. While with Jon, what could prompt Ned to foster him somewhere in the North or the South and to also squire him either with one of the houses that follow the Seven in the North or with a southern house from the South? I know that Jon is a bastard, but he is the son of the Lord of Winterfell and the North, so i'm guessing that Ned could find a lord/knight in the Riverlands or Vale that might be willing to take Jon as a squire. And if Jon is a knight and a follower (real or not) of the Seven, than that could serve to ease Catelyn's worry about Jon taking Winterfell. And with who might Ned squire Jon, if he would have found a squireship in the south?

I was wondering what are the theories of Lyanna not being betrothed to Elbert Arryn? I mean, i understand that the Starks already had a relationship with House Arryn, due to Ned being fostered there, but a marriage would have been a more serious alliance. And by marrying Lyanna to Elbert, the North, Riverlands and Vale, would be been connected by marriage to one another and it also makes sense, as these three regions are easily connected to one another, by the Riverlands, which shares borders with both regions; which would have made trade and military assistance, much easier. As opposed to a marriage alliance between the North and Stormlands, which where separated from the Riverlands, by the Crownlands and the Reach. Plus, House Arryn is far older than House Baratheon and they were kings of the Vale, before the conquest. The major advantage that Robert had, was that he was second cousin to Rhaegar and that House Baratheon was tied by blood to House Targaryen. In the books, we don't really know anything about Elbert. We don't know if he was betrothed or married.

That's what i am also thinking. That would be a good area to have a large population and multiple settlements, not towns, but many villages with high populations. The being in the south of the North and having multiple rivers, could/should allow them to have a better climate and better soil.

Well, from the various theories that i have read and heard, it would seem that at the end of A Dream of Spring, once the situation with the Others is resolved, the seasons should/will become more regular, similar to real world seasons. That is, if the theories will be right, of course.

I imagine that if the climate of Planetos/Westeros will become more real world like, more regular, then the southern part of the North (the Barrowlands and lands of House Manderly) would become more fertile, due to a stable climate, warmer weather coming from the south and possibly increased rainfall.

I would be curious to know what region of the North, besides the lands controlled by House Manderly, would be rich; i am referring to income obtained through rents from people living on the lands, income obtained through trade, agriculture and/or natural resources and lands that should have a pretty high population. And what house or houses control that region. I would imagine that such lands exist, but that they are probably under-developed. Also, i imagine that with the climate/season change that will most likely happen during or after A Dream of Spring (with the seasons being the same length as they are in the real world), places in the North, will become more fertile and will start yielding more crops, especially in places like the Barrowlands or the lands of House Manderly, which are situated in the south of the North and where the climate will be warmer. But are there any other regions in the North, that could benefit from a more stable climate and season change, which could lead to a more fertile land, that produces more agricultural goods and that would possibly lead to an increase of population and riches? It won't make the North the new Reach or Arbor, but it could allow them to become more agriculturally developed and more food independent, without relying so much on food imports from the Riverlands and the reach.

And how would that income/revenue compare to Gulltown, Lannisport, Oldtown and the houses that control them? And how would White Harbor compare to european port cities, during the Middle Ages?

I am unfamiliar with the show. Could you please elaborate?

And in what business/industry (energy, mining, finance, medical, farming/animal husbandry, etc) would the major houses (e.g Stark, Tyrell, Lannister, Hightower, Tully, Baratheon etc) be involved?