Who will be King of the Isles and the North when King Euron dies? (ADwD spoilers)

[KoolKiddo0]

If King Euron III Greyjoy dies, I believe the Ironborn will most likely declare Victarion Greyjoy as their King without a Kingsmoot, because he is the obvious choice. If the succession rules of most areas in the Seven Kingdoms would be followed, Theon Greyjoy would be king, but the Ironborn would certaily not pick him. First of all, the Ironborn follow their own "Old Way" and don't follow Crownlander traditions. Secondly, Theon spent most of his life at Winterfell and doesn't know the Ironborn culture and traditions well, making most Ironborn view him as not one of their own. Thirdly, they pick kings who are strong, fierce, and always victorious, while Theon is definitely neither, which is why when King Balon died, Theon wasn't considered by anyone to even be a possible candidate for monarch. Even if he has a big change in character, recruits an army, and takes the Iron Islands by force, Ironborn would mock him behind his back and many Ironborn nobles would constantly plot ways to kill him. Therefore, he would be the least likely Greyjoy to become king. Aeron Greyjoy, or Damphair, is well respected and loved amongst the Ironborn, but he doesn't want to be king and would support Victarion, or if he's dead, a well-respected and courageous noble or captain. The only scenarios where he could become king is if the Drowned God tells him to or he thinks all the other candidates are very unfit and takes up the role for his duty to the Ironborn. If Asha still held Deepwood Motte, it would most likely be hard to decide between Asha and Victarion as she is King Balon's daughter and a formidable warrior. However, she was defeated by Stannis I Baratheon and is still his captive, and also a woman, which the Ironborn believe are inferior to men. On the other hand, I believe it is more likely that Asha escapes King Stannis and either sails to Pyke after King Euron dies or kills him than Aeron decides to rule the Iron Islands and give up being a priest of the Drowned God. Therefore, in my opinion, this would be the order of likelihood the Greyjoys would become King/Queen of the Isles and the North after King Euron (even though it's more likely a renowned and respected Ironborn noble or captain would be chosen rather than Aeron or Theon):

1. Victarion Greyjoy, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet, master of the Iron Victory
2. Asha Greyjoy, captain of the Black Wind and former conqueror of Deepwood Motte, m. Erik Ironmaker, captive of King Stannis I Baratheon
3. Aeron Greyjoy, called Damphair, a priest of the Drowned God
4. Theon Greyjoy, called by the northmen “Theon Turncloak”, captive of King Stannis I Baratheon

[Aejohn the Conqueroo]

Vic will be hard pressed to outlast Euron. Iron born have the Kingsmoot precedent now so there's no reason to assume a Greyjoy will follow Euron (if there are even any left after Euron).  What I wonder is if the Iron Born will be able to choose their own leader or if it will be someone imposed by the Iron Throne.

[Terrorthatflapsinthenight9]

Right now none is able of succeeding Euron, with Aeron being about to get sacrificed, Victarion being so far from home and about to know "golden glory" and Asha and Theon being captives of Stannis.

[KingStoneheart]

Yeah similar to the above comments, I cannot see Victarion or Aeron outliving Euron. And with both Asha and Theon being captives of Stannis, when Euron dies I suspect it’ll be another Iron Islander who is named king, or if Euron dies unsuccessfully claiming the world as he promised or claiming the dragon queen, etc. the Iron Islanders may just do what they do best - reave, rape and raid, and return home

[Gilbert Green]

On 1/19/2023 at 3:58 PM, KingStoneheart said:

Yeah similar to the above comments, I cannot see Victarion or Aeron outliving Euron.

Victarion is doomed, bu King Aeron will sit the Seastone Chair, with Falia as his Queen.  Because no godless man may sit the Seastone Chair.  And Asha, with his blessing and pursuant to a treaty with the North, will settle Sea Dragon Point.  He will take a dimmer view of piracy, after his experiences, and his reign will be a relatively peaceable one.  But after surviving the grand tour Euron gave him, nobody will be able to say he is not tough.

[Aegon VI Blackfyre]

I could see Stannis releasing Asha (possibly also Theon, but that is more debatable) in an attempt to have them claim the Seastone Chair. While the northmen might resent this (especially Theon), they hold no value as hostages, as Euron doesn't care if they are killed. In fact, he might be hoping for that.

The story of Torgon Latecomer might also be an indication that they won't wait for Euron to die before challenging his power.

[GZ Bloodraven]

I think Asha wouldn't be set up if she wasn't endgame for the Iron Islands. Euron and Victarion aren't going to make it out of the books alive, probably, and Theon doesn't have "King Theon" in him anymore.