Arthur Lannister Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 With the war of the Five Kings going on in Westeros, why does not any of the Free Cities invade Westeros in this time? Westeros is a big continent full of natural resources, with the political turmoil and unstable situation Westeros has as of this moment, Westeros is ripe for invasion. So why didn't they invade Westeros? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Blue Eyes Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Because they know how their strength compares to Westeros and how distance will impede them. In the War of the Nine Penny Kings, a (relatively small) Westerosi expedition force curbstomped the allied armies of half the Free Cities together.Furthermore, the Free Cities are trade-based city states. Even if they take some parts of Westeros, after a generation or two at most, they will be lost because the governor there won't listen to the Free City anymore. Why should he? That's true the other way round as well, Westeros can't hold the Free Cities either. Basically, they've nothing to gain and are fighting against an enemy, who even while sick, is at least two classes above their weight. As a union of all the Free Cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight Of Winter Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Because Westeros, with all of its internal wars, still has many dozens times more manpower than any of the Free Cities. Braavos (richest and largest of 7C) conquering Westeros would be akin to medieval Venice conquering all of Europe. Seven Cities don't even have enough troops for their own in-fighting, seeing how heavily they rely on mercenaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ser piggy of horn hill Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 they would get crushed. and they often fight among themselves"The most constant ongoing struggle in the Free Cities is between the cities of Myr and Lys for control of the Stepstones and Disputed Lands, which frequently erupts into low-level warfare. Tyrosh and Volantis sometimes become embroiled in these conflicts." braavos is the only one that is possibly strong enough to fight, but as tyrion said - they fight with coins, not swords. the iron bank lends money to people in westeros including the king. that wouldnt really work , if they were at war with westeros Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apovsic Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 In the War of the Nine Penny Kings, a (relatively small) Westerosi expedition force curbstomped the allied armies of half the Free Cities together. From which book is that info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Blue Eyes Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 From which book is that info? Distributed, the backstory of Barristan Selmy, the Golden Company, Jon Arryn, Hoster Tully, the Blackfish and Lord Baelish senior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sylva Santagar Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Why endanger the status quo by such a foolish attempt?? There is nothing to gain from it. The Free Cities live of trade, not of warfare with no expectations to succeed... They'd sign their own death warrant if they would try that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferocious Veldt Roarer Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 You invade a land you could, possibly, in favorable conditions, take, but have no means to hold, and you'll look like a Greyjoy. Ruling class of the Free Cities wouldn't stand for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joluoto2 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 The Free Cities are mainly Naval powers. Huge parts of their armed forces consist of mercenaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLittleFinger Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Adding to the other reasons provided, if one of the Free Cities was mad enough to launch an invasion, their neighbours would immediately begin swallowing them in their weakened state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grip Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Interesting question, but as Bright Blue Eyes says the odds against such an invasion being succesful are probably way to high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Señor de la Tormenta Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Because others cities would take advantage of a city involved in a foreign war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aFeastForDragons Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I always had the hunch that Volantis or one of the other cities was sending out its Navy towards Westeros and not Mereen. Time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion of the West Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 The Free Cities would have the same problem as the Ironborn. They are strong at sea and can cause all manner of hell but I seriously doubt that they can raise enough armed and trained men to both take and then hold ground in Westeros once the Westerosi gets their armies together. Maybe in a divided Westeros one or two of the Free Cities could take over a kingdom, but they could never challange the united realm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WakeTheDragon Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 The free cities aren't united Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Lee knot Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 - They have no real motives. There wouldn't be a whole lot of gold return for their effort. Unlike Westeros the free cities don't have a "conquer and submit" culture. - Bravos and Volantis are the two most powerful free cities and even they could only conquer Dorne or the Stormlands. - Westeros has a history of heavy war. They've been fighting among each other for thousands and thousands of years so naturally they'd put more effort into improving their armies. In Essos the Valyrians conquered everyone with dragons and then held it for 5,000 years. No wars means no reason to build war machines and thus no advances. This is why Westeros is in like the 1300's and Essos has the military organization of Bronze age armies. I think Essos knows this so they try to stay out of conflicts with Westeros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarl the climber Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Historicaly Westeros has been invaded by peoples from Essos. The First Men were the first group to do it. Then the Andals invaded or migrated there and the Southern part of Westeros assimilated their culture. The Rhoynish sort of invaded Dorne I suppose. Then some remanants of the Valyrian Empire established the Iron Throne. Mostly when these invasions or migrations have had some sucsess is when they have been driven by desperation and involved the movement of an entire people as opposed to just an army. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion of the West Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 - They have no real motives. There wouldn't be a whole lot of gold return for their effort. Unlike Westeros the free cities don't have a "conquer and submit" culture. - Bravos and Volantis are the two most powerful free cities and even they could only conquer Dorne or the Stormlands. - Westeros has a history of heavy war. They've been fighting among each other for thousands and thousands of years so naturally they'd put more effort into improving their armies. In Essos the Valyrians conquered everyone with dragons and then held it for 5,000 years. No wars means no reason to build war machines and thus no advances. This is why Westeros is in like the 1300's and Essos has the military organization of Bronze age armies. I think Essos knows this so they try to stay out of conflicts with Westeros. isn't that a bit harsh? The Sellsword companies would seem to stand up fairly well to Westerosi armies from their description. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegaAIP Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Just because is not a reason to invade someone. The free cities are more civilized, trade is the economy etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Blue Eyes Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 isn't that a bit harsh? The Sellsword companies would seem to stand up fairly well to Westerosi armies from their description. Yes, they do. Because they are predominantly founded by Westerosi, modelled after Westerosi military doctrine and reinforced by well-trained Westerosi exiles.In a long conflict, that will cause problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.