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Which Small Council replacements Ned should have made ?


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One of the powers and opportunities that Ned had when Robert made him Hand of the King was to bring changes and replacements to the Small Council which means that he could have dismissed at least one or two members of the Small Council to replace them by people he trusted more or wanted to become closer to in order to prevent the Lannisters coup that Ned was foreseeing. 

Knowing this, whose allies or bannermen loyal to him do you think that Ned should have called to King's Landing to make them members of his Small Council ? At which positions ? What would have been the changes in the balance of powers and other consequences with them ? 

Also which members of the Council do you think that he would have removed and replaced in priority if he had used that power, even knowing about the true colors and motivés of the Small Council members such as Pycelle, Littlefinger Varys and Renly ?

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Realistically he wouldn't be able to remove anyone because Robert would probably put them right back again. He probably has the best chance of dismissing Littlefinger and possibly Varys but Robert will definitely want both of his brothers to stay and Pycelle he would need good reason to dismiss since Pycell is chosen by the citadel and so is supposedly neutral.

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29 minutes ago, Craving Peaches said:

Realistically he wouldn't be able to remove anyone because Robert would probably put them right back again. He probably has the best chance of dismissing Littlefinger and possibly Varys but Robert will definitely want both of his brothers to stay and Pycelle he would need good reason to dismiss since Pycell is chosen by the citadel and so is supposedly neutral.

I doubt it, Robert has never been very interested in ruling and aside from naming Jon Arryn and his brothers and later Ned, he seemed happy to let Jon name and replace members of the Small Council as he saw fit.  I doubt he would have reinstated men removed by Ned nor would have made a ruckus of it if Ned placed men such as Wyman Manderly or Yohn Royce on the Small Council. 

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Theres few he could have altered he has no reason to suspect pycelle , roberts brothers are sound(sorta) , varys he has no one to replace him.with (roose would be a good choice though if he had reason to repace him ) and of course his own wife told.him to trust littlefinger who seemingly has a rep.from the vale.of vastly increasing revenue anyway! 

 

So for changes  hmmm maybe  placed jory or someone honest like him in charge of the gold cloaks , if he suspected LF (or just wanted a 2nd opinion on where all the money went) hes shown he can reach out and use bravosi experience  (his daughters water dancer , bravos is across the sea from the north so there prob  is strong trade and plenty of  northern knowledge of that area) thus ned might ask the iron bank  for accountants etc to reasses things.

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2 hours ago, Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 said:

One of the powers and opportunities that Ned had when Robert made him Hand of the King was to bring changes and replacements to the Small Council which means that he could have dismissed at least one or two members of the Small Council to replace them by people he trusted more or wanted to become closer to in order to prevent the Lannisters coup that Ned was foreseeing. 

Knowing this, whose allies or bannermen loyal to him do you think that Ned should have called to King's Landing to make them members of his Small Council ? At which positions ? What would have been the changes in the balance of powers and other consequences with them ? 

Also which members of the Council do you think that he would have removed and replaced in priority if he had used that power, even knowing about the true colors and motivés of the Small Council members such as Pycelle, Littlefinger Varys and Renly ?

Hand of the King- Ned Stark

Grand Maester- Marwyn

Master of Laws- Renly (i'd prefer to have him on hand than not)

Master of Ships- Stannis (Prior to Roberts death)

Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Sir Barristan Selmy

Master of Whispers Sir Rufus 'The Red Wolf' Bolton

Master of Coin Wyman Manderley

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Ok assuming ned wants a proper clear out

Hand: himself

Master of laws: stannis = places him in a powerful position to soothe his ego, will be utterly ruthless and tireless in persuing justice and rooting out corruption. Will push to crack down on vice but ned can push back on that. Insist 1st new law  declared to all lords is that  all currently held prisoners to be offered chance to be  sent to the wall unless murderers or rapists etc they will get sent regardless

Master of ships : lord  paxter rydwynne , the man runs the largest military and trading fleet in westeros hes perfect for the role.

Master of whispers: roose bolton =brings the  head of the most traditionaly rebellious house with him AND roose would be great at the role, excellent at keeping and getting secrets from people (even supressing ramsays crimes) ...he may begin with fleying  secrets from varys and maybe even LF before he goes. Add in the crowns finances for a force of snitches and hes in hogs heaven

Grand maester: id send pycelle home citing concern for  his fake weak  old man routine and ask for someone fit and young

Commander of the kingsguard : keep on ser barristan but insist on jamie being released and replace him with someone like loras and  at the same time replace blout,greenfield and trant with swann or other decent fighters

 

Master of coin: id invite tywin or kevan lannister given half the crowns debt is to them and insist they bring in experts hired from the iron bank to check littlefingers accounts and investments etc. 

Commander of the goldcloaks: hand this to greatjon umber , putting the goldcloaks undersomeome reliable (rooting out the unreliable ) and having the big man protecting your back.

 

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Ned very likely had some say who was on the small council, if not directly he likely could have convinced Robert on some changes.  I don't think that Ned really moved to make some changes as he trying solve Jon Arryn's murder, that was his initial focus.

However:

Master of Ships:  Stannis arguably deserted the role.  Ned should have reached out, if he declined to come back, then Ned should have replaced him with Wyman Manderly.  He is capable enough, and this gives Ned a much needed ally at court.

Master of Coin:  Mace Tyrell, if for no other reason than some powerful new allies / players are going to be needed counter the Lannister's power and influence.  

Not a member of small council (initially), but get rid of Janos Slynt and replace him Yohn Royce or one of the Royce boys.  This again give Ned an ally, Robert will not likely object as he seems friendly with Yohn Royce and we get someone who isn't corrupt in the position.  

Additionally, Ned should have looked for a new Squire and a Page from houses outside the North to try and build some minor alliances with.  

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Ned's got bigger fish to fry than changing the membership of the small council.  He's mainly focused on solving Arryn's murder and figuring out what Stannis is up to.

He has no real reason to suspect anyone of disloyalty, dishonesty, or incompetence, so no good excuse to replace anyone.  And those he might suspect the most, like Baelish or Varys, he has no good replacements for.  

If he'd been around longer and was more secure in his position, changes might have been made.  He would have more authority and could search out replacements for the difficult positions (masters of coin and whispers mainly).

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5 hours ago, Nevets said:

Ned's got bigger fish to fry than changing the membership of the small council.  He's mainly focused on solving Arryn's murder and figuring out what Stannis is up to.

He has no real reason to suspect anyone of disloyalty, dishonesty, or incompetence, so no good excuse to replace anyone.  And those he might suspect the most, like Baelish or Varys, he has no good replacements for.  

If he'd been around longer and was more secure in his position, changes might have been made.  He would have more authority and could search out replacements for the difficult positions (masters of coin and whispers mainly).

He really doesn't, he has no reason to trust any of them part from Stannis and Selmy who he knows from the Greyjoy Rebellion, as for Varys specifically, hes either imcompetent or he knows who killed Jon Arryn and hasn't brought it to the king, the first makes him unfit for his position and the second makes him a traitor

Ned doing nothing to get his own people into position is why he died

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1 hour ago, Alden Rothack said:

If I was Ned I'd send someone directly to Stannis preferably before I leave Winterfell

 

1 hour ago, Craving Peaches said:

Had Stannis left at that point? If so, he's not responding to any messages.

Stannis was already gone when Ned arrived in Kings Landing.  And travelers to Dragonstone weren't being allowed to leave.  So Ned essentially has no means of communication with him.

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He should have kept Renly and got rid of everyone else. Littlefinger and Varys first. Luwin or Pylos would be good replacements for Grand Maester. Wyman Manderly would be great for Littlefingers job. Replacing Varys will be the hard part; I honestly can't think of anyone.

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