Smallfolks and Targaryns

[Kaibaman]

5 hours ago, BRANDON GREYSTARK said:

I could chalk it up to the loyalty of the Crown and Riverlands to the memory of the Targaryens  or the agitprop of Varys and Illyrio ,but the easy answer is nostalgia for the good old days ,one land one king ,the Westermen and the Northmen were where they belong in the own lands .Banditry was what happen to someone else .

Yep the loyalties of the Riverlands are no doubt attributed to Aegon burning down Harrenhal and freeing the Riverlands from the iron grip of Harren the Black. Not to mention unlike all the kings that came before the Targaryens did have a pretty good track record in giving the Riverlands peace. Sure there were some hiccups here and there but overall they did a pretty good job at keeping the place tidy. But since they've left we've had the WO5K and the Riverlands are in worse shape than ever before.

[Laughing Storm Reborn]

If you think aerys is more popular than robert in the smallfolk's eye you are losing a ridiculous one-sided battle, the quote comes from an old man who took advantage from other even poorer folk for business sake... heck even george would laugh his ass off by that comparison, hail aerys second of his name, fireshow extravaganza, who wanted to burn alive every soul in the capital from old to babe

[Protagoras]

It´s not really rocket-science is it? From a smallfolk perspektive - an old dynasty why has the reputation of stability and a slow, but steady growth of life standard is suddenly overthrowed by some disgrunted nobleman, who uses his personal issues to pick a fight, to start a rebellion. Then war and suffering ensures (Remember - Aerys took out his madness on the nobles, not the smallfolk). From a smallfolk perspektive, Robert was the one "starting it".

Then, 15 years later -  when some stability have dulled the memories of that war, a new, even worse war takes place. A war which is a direct consequence of Baratheon misrule and Lannister corruption. A war where all sides comes off as warmongerers. A war where even entire regions talk of leaving the realm. A war most likely unprecendented on a global scale of destruction. And, most importantly, a war not connected to the Targaryens in any way. No wonder people remember the dragons fondly and the days where there were stability, food and where the king didn´t bother them personally.