if the dothraki invaded westeros?

[anon76returns]

I believe that if they invaded during winter they would freeze to death. So I give them zero probability of surviving during LN2.0

Will the Long Night not exist in Essos? If not, then why does Asshai have such a strong association with Azor Ahai? I think the Winter stretches across the borders of the Narrow Sea.

[Draco_Dracul]

Jon Arryn supported an actual usurper and became hand, and nobody questioned his honor for it. There's also a good chance that Viserys becoming king would not be seen as a Usurper, but rather a restoration of the rightful ruling house.

The fact that said usurper didn't lead an army composed mostly of rapists and pillagers that contribute virtually economic activity and keep slaves. Not only that, but the Dothroki's many military weaknesses (lack of armor making them vulnerable to arrow fire, that the death of their leader will scatter them to the winds, their inferior swords, there near zero experience with siegecraft) means that they will have to do a fair amount of the heavy lifting.

[TheWanderer]

Depends on when the hypothetical Dothraki invasion occurs. I tend to run my estimates from Robert's conversation with The Ned. At that point the Tyrell's had nobody in a position of power, and both the King (Robert) and his heirs (Joffrey to Sansa & Stannis to Shireen) are already married, leaving the Tyrells with no route to put a daughter on the throne (until Robert died and Renly declared).

Also at that point, the entire kingdom was united and at peace. Therefore it wouldn't really matter whether the Tyrells sided with the Dothraki, the Dothraki would still lose as the North would be quick to descend to aid the Crown/Stormlands (under his good friend Robert), the Westerlands would be quick to aid their queen and future, and the Riverlands and Vale would both also be quite likely to respond. Siding with the loosing side is bad business, and Mace knows this.

Jon Arryn supported an actual usurper and became hand, and nobody questioned his honor for it. There's also a good chance that Viserys becoming king would not be seen as a Usurper, but rather a restoration of the rightful ruling house.

1) People supported both Jon Arryn and Robert because they recognized or accepted that the reasoning behind his rebellion was sound. Further the Arryn's have a long history of honour and are generally well liked by the other Houses. So his strong reputation is not weakened by an understandable decision.

2) Viserys comes from across the sea and leads an army of savage barbarians. He is a stranger and his people's reputation is one of violence and slavery and therefore his reputation becomes the same. Most people will not approve of his return, simply because it brings yet more, unneeded, war and because they do not know him. People will view him as an invader (because he is invading) and usuper follows easily from that.

3) I was actually referring to Dany (and thus actually largely Drogo) leading the army, as I was going off a latter arrival time for the Dothraki.

[Jon's Queen Consort]

Will the Long Night not exist in Essos? If not, then why does Asshai have such a strong association with Azor Ahai? I think the Winter stretches across the borders of the Narrow Sea.

have we seen any Asshai? I don’t think that we have. We have seen a religion that believes that Azor Ahai saved the Realm. Yes one of the priests is from Asshai as far as we know but that doesn’t mean that the religion originates in Asshai.

[Lord Reaver]

Dothraki invade Westeros ?

Imagine the Dothraki trying to sail across the narrow sea with their horses, womenfolk and all.

Lots of new salt wives for the Ironborn is all I can say.

And they'd be better off for it, too.

[thecryptile]

Why? Sure they are the best "not-sellswords" in Essos, but is there at least one case where they have fought against a well organized westerosi army and won and not some of those ridiculous armies that you can find in Essos? I won´t say they aren´t great troops, but their Phalanx seems a bit outdated to me.

Worked well enough for the Scottish schiltroms at Bannockburn, the Swiss pike squares and the Landsknechts.

[thecryptile]

With Dothraki cavalry, Unsullied infantry bolstered by mercenary companies and Drogon for air support Dany would be near unstoppable...if she can get across the narrow sea.

It all depends on her interactions with Victarion Greyjoy IMO. With the Iron Fleet in her corner, a Targaryen Restoration would be very likely. Jon Connington and The GC would probably ally with her after a marriage to her nephew, giving her all of Cape Wrath as a staging area for an attack on Kings Landing

Dothraki= Scythians+Souix

Unsullied= Jannissaries+Swiss Pikemen

Drogon= Boeing B-52 dropping napalm

[conon394]

It all depends on her interactions with Victarion Greyjoy IMO

He has 60 ships he crammed to the bilge he might move the unsullied but no dothraki and no horses.

Unsullied= Jannissaries+Swiss Pikemen

I think you meant brain washed idiots, inflexible and using spears and only piss poor armor.

Drogon= Boeing B-52 dropping napalm

Except so far more or less on anyone even her own people...

-------

I think the main problem for a Dothraki invasion or even a Danny lead one is the lack of if you will officers - something Westros clearly has in Knights. Now I not saying all Knights are good soldiers buts its clear they are trained in everything from staff fighting, archery to cavalry to foot... Moreover the competent ones be it Selmy, or the Hound, or the Blackfish or even the odd Frey knight on patrol equip themselves for the job at hand and think about what they are doing. This goes on to logistics as well the Dothraki kill sheep of people they are attacking and let them rot while in Westros every dead animal is rendered if possible in a completely pragmatic way. Thd Dothraki are just well stupid and have nothing in the way of pragmatic officers to manage a fight in Westeros - it is known.

[Lord Reaver]

He has 60 ships he crammed to the bilge he might move the unsullied but no dothraki and no horses.

Slaver's bay is full of ships.

He's Victarion Greyjoy.

Do the math.

[Erudain]

On Jorah's opinion:

"“Now,” the knight said, “I am less certain. They are better riders than any knight, utterly fearless, and their bows outrange ours. In the Seven Kingdoms, most archers fight on foot, from behind a shieldwall or a barricade of sharpened stakes. The Dothraki fire from horseback, charging or retreating, it makes no matter, they are full as deadly... and there are so many of them, my lady. Your lord husband alone counts forty thousand mounted warriors in his khalasar.”

Honestly this looks to be a bit of if this is what GRRM wants than it is so.... But it not very logical.

Moving horse archery is of course going to be less accurate, and yes there fantastic ranges reported for the best Turkish competitions by the best of the best, but the same goes for Long-bowmen and crossbowmen, on balance I would bet on the footmen. Second of course at extreme range you have to assume the Dothraki will suffer more than the well armored infantry of Westros - to close to effective armor piecing range the Dothraki would face withering counter fire for which that have no practical defense.

As I said there are lots of claims for what the best range a Longbow, or Crossbow or Steppe bow could do with competition arrows/bolts in the hands of the very best marksman. But in terms of effective range and given the lack of Dothraki armor I would give the edge to Westeros. Again if we believe Jorah's other story the Dothraki were not able to do much with archery vs a tiny force of unsullied who were very much less well armored than a Westros army.

As you say....it's one of the cases of "GRRM says so"....there is absolutely no way from a physics standpoint that an archer on horse can outrange a standing archer armed with a proper bow.

While drawing a bow, the strenght and position of your legs is as important as your arms. A standing and set archer can muster strength from all his body, use heavier bows with a string with way more tension and angle/aim its release better.

A riding archer can only gather whatever strength he gets from his arms since his legs are not set.

The english longbow (the closet to the ones described in Westeros) has an average range of 180-250mts though some replicas used in modern demonstrations were able to reach over 300mts range.

They had a draw weigth of aroung 75-85kgms and that's is using both your arms and with your legs firmly set.....how much more strength would you need to get that same draw if you are on horseback?

Not to mention the release would be worst since the animal will most likely be moving and you cannot angle as accurately as on foot.

[E-Ro]

Ok, so i have compiled every description of westerosi armies we see in the books and here is what we have.(this assumes the dothraki somehow manage to make it to westeros full force.)

More and more men were pouring from the trees, not only knights now but freeriders and mounted bowmen and men at arms in jacks and kettle helms, dozens, hundreds of men. A blaze of banners flew above them. The wind was whipping them too wildly for jon to see the sigils, but he glimpsed a seahorse, a field of birds, a ring of flowers. And yellow, so much yellow, yellow banners with a red device, whos arms were those?

The karstarks came in on a cold windy morning, bringing three hundred horsemen and near two thousand foot from their castle at karhold. The steel points of their pikes winked in the pale sunlight as the column approached.

Ser wylis and his brother ser wendel followed, leading their levies, near fifteen hundred men: some twenty odd knights and as many squires, two hundred mounted lances, swordsmen, and freeriders, and the rest foot armed with spears, pikes and tridents.

Behind her came ser jared frey, ser hosteen frey, ser danwell frey, and lord walders basterd son ronald rivers, leading a long column of pikemen, rank on rank of shuffling men in blue steel ringmail and silver grey cloaks...

The larger part of the northern host, pikes and archers and great masses of men at arms on foot, remained on the east bank under the command of roose bolton.

His uncle would lead the center. Ser kevan had raised his standerds above the kingsroad. Quivers hanging from their belts, the foot archers arrayed themselves into three long lines to east and west of the road, and stood calmly stringing their bows. Between them pikemen formed squares, behind were rank on rank of men at arms with spear and sword and axe. Three hundred heavy horse surrounded ser kevan and the lords bannermen lefford, lydden and serrett with all their sworn retainers. The right wing was all cavalry, some four thousand men, heavy with the weight of their armor. More then three quarters of the knights were there massed together like a great steel fist. Ser adam Marbrand had the command. Tyrion saw his banner unfurl as his standerd bearer shook it out, a burning tree, arange and smoke. Behind him flew ser flements purple unicorn the brindled boar of crakehall the bantam rooster of swyft, and more. His lord father took place on the hill where he had slept. Around him the resrve assembled, a huge force half mounted and half foot, five thousand strong. Lord tywin almost always chose to command the reserve...

Were the right was a mailed fist of knights and heavy lances the vanguard was made up of the sweepings of the west: mounted archers in leather jerkins, a swarming mass of undisciplined freeriders and sellswords, fieldhands on plow horses armed with scythes and their fathers rusted swords half trained boys from the stews of lannisport, and tyrion and his mountain clansmen.

Now tell me, what apart from the last bit,(witch is the smallest part of the army and used to try and trick robb) says armies are composed of untrained men? Please note that when refering to the last part he says "half trained" not untrained, as well tyrions shock at the low quality of the troops is an obvious indication that most troops are not like this at all. Also for further reading on the subject http://www.wars-of-t...f_the_roses.htm

Here, a cursory search will yeild this(taken from wikepedia)

Defence of the realm was especially important and most English people are believed to have placed great value on success in arms: hence, the king had to be seen as a competent warrior. A crucial point about the series of conflicts that came to be known as The Wars of the Roses was that the king did not maintain a standing army. Rather, he relied upon his nobles to furnish him with troops when necessary, so it was vital that he maintained good relations with aristocracy and gentry who, if provoked, might use their armed strength against him. It followed that the king was duty bound to prevent power struggles between the magnates, especially if these could impact the stability of the realm.

The Wars of the Roses were fought primarily by the great magnates of the landed aristocracy. These were the royal dukes, marquesses and earls who were relatively few in number; and a greater number of barons, knights and landed gentry. Besides the huge estates they controlled, many enhanced their wealth by investment in trade and expanded their influence through political marriage alliances. They were supported by armies of feudal retainers and tenants, sometimes with the aid of foreign mercenaries; this practice of controlling large numbers of paid men-at-arms was known as "maintenance". Besides the size of his private army, a nobleman's prestige was measured by his "affinity" (i.e., those bound by contract to serve him). The retainer who became a member of an affinity wore the nobleman's "livery" (a uniform and badge) and accompany him on military campaigns; in return, the nobleman would pay him a pension, provide protection and grant rewards such as land or a lucrative office.This unofficial system of "livery and maintenance" largely came about through the decline of feudalism in the wake of the Hundred Years War to be replaced by what some historians call "bastard feudalism" whereby the retainer did not serve the nobleman as a feudal vassal but as a liveried retainer under contract or indenture.

Most armies fought entirely on foot. In several cases, the magnates dismounted and fought among the common foot-soldiers, to inspire them and to dispel the notion that in the case of defeat they might be ransomed while the common soldiers, being of little value, faced death.

He had no time to think about it. The drums were so near that the beat crept under his skin and set his hands to twitching. Bronn drew his longsword, and suddenly the enemy was there before them, boiling over the tops of the hills, advancing with measured tread behind a wall of sheilds and pikes. Gods be damned, look at them all, tyrion thought, though he knew his father had more men on the field. Their captains led them on armored warhorses, standard bearers riding alongside with their banners. He glimpsed the bull moose of the hornwoods, the karstark sunburst, lord cerwyns battle axe, and the mailed fist of the glovers...and the twin towers of frey, blue on grey. So much for his fathers certainty lord walder would not bestir himself. The white of house stark was seen everywhere, the grey direwolves seeming to leap and run as the banners swirled and streamed from the high staffs. A warhorn blew. its voice long and low and chilling as a cold wind from the north. The lannister trumpets answered, brazen and defiant yet it seemed to tyrion they sounded smaller. As the horns died away, a hissing filled the air, a vast flight of arrows arched up from his right, where the archers stood flanking the road. The northerners broke into a run, shouting as they came, but the lannister arrows fell on them like a hail, hundreds of arrows, thousands, and shouts turned to screams as men stumbled and went down. By then a second flight was in the air, and the archers were fitting a third arrow to their bowstrings. Ser gregor waved his huge sword and bellowed a command, and a thousand other voices screamed back at him. Tyrion put his spurs to his horse and added one more voice to the cacophony, and the van surged forward."The river!" he shouted at his clansmen as they rode. "remeber, hew to the river." He was still leading when they broke a canter, untill chella gave a bloodcurdling shriek and galloped past him, shagga howled and followed. The clansmen charged after them, leaving tyrion in their dust. A crescent of enemy spearmen had formed ahead, a double hedgehog bristling with steel, waiting behind tall oaken sheilds marked with the sunburst of karstark. Gregor clegane was the first to reach them, leading a wedge of armored veterans. Half the horses shied at the last second, breaking their charge before the row of spears. The others died, sharp steel points ripping through their chests. Tyrion saw a dozen men go down. The mountains stallion reared, lashing out with iron shod hooves as a barbed spearhead raked across his neck. Madened, the beast lunged into the ranks. Spears thrust at him from every side, but the shield wall broke beneath his weight. The northernors stumbled away from the animals death throwes. As his horse fell, snorting blood and biting with his last red breath, the mountain rose untouched laying about him with his two handed greatsword. Shagga went bursting through the gap before the sheilds could close, other stone crows hard behind him. Tyrion shouted, "burned men! moon brothers! After me" but most of them were ahead of him. He glimpsed timmett son of timmet vault free as his mount died under him in full stride, saw amoon brother impaled on a karstark spear, watched connns horse shatter a mans ribs with a kick. A flight of arrows descended on them, were they came from he could not say, but they fell on stark and lannister alike, rattling off armor or finding flesh. Tyrion lifted his sheild and hid beneath it. The hedgehog was crumbling, the northernors reeling back under the impact of the mounted assault. Tyrion saw shagga catch a spearman full in the chest as the fool came on at a run, saw his axe shear through mail and leather and muscle and lungs. The man was dead on his feet, the axehead lodged in his chest, yet shagga rode on, cleaving a shield in two with his left hand battle axe while the corpse was bonellesly along on his right. By then the enemy was on him, and tyrions battle shrunk to the few feet of ground around his horse. A man at arms thrust at his chest and his axe lashed out knocking the spear aside. The man danced back for another try, but tyrion spured his horse and rode right over him...

His quarry met him sword in hand. He was tall and spare wearing a long chainmail hauberk and gauntlets of lobstered steel, but hed lost his helm and blood ran down into his eyes from a gash on his forehead. Tyrion aimed a swipe at his face but the man slammed it aside....

He saw ser kevan had bought up his center in support of the van, his huge mass of pikemen had pushed the northernors back against the hills. They were struggling on the slopes, pikes thrusting against another wall of sheilds, these oval and reinforced with iron studs. As he watched the air filled with arrows again, and the men behind the oak wall crumbled beneath the fire....

Tyrion watched his father fly past, the crimson and gold banner of lannister rippling over his head as he thundered across the field. Five hundred knights surrounded him, sunlight flashing off the points off their lances. The remnants of the stark lines shattered like glass beneath the hammer of their charge.

So we can see, it took tywin bringing in the reserve, and kevans pikes, and a hail of arrows to break the northmen. No hastily assembled peasent levy would last for a fraction of that time. As well, if the northern infantry is standing up to all that heavy infantry, battle hardened clansmen in lannister steel, and a hail of arrows, then heavy horse how hard do you think it will be for dothraki to break them? Another interesting tidbit from all that that I had not considered, every north man tyrion fights is described as wearing mail. Mail is very expensive, just as expensive as plate and almost as good. At the end of the Middle Ages mail was more expensive then plate because plate could be mass produced. We can deduce from this that anyone wearing mail is a professional due to the expense of a mail hauberk.

Time and again we see references to training men to march them into combat. The lannisters at oxcross did not just raise men and march them off, they stayed back to train them. Rodrick cassel at the end of got is seen by bran to be training more men. The vast majority of westerosi forces will be well trained and equipped, as a force from the hundred years war and wars of the roses which grrm has based this on. The dothraki cant possibly face all that and hope to win unless they have a huge numerical advantage and they wont. Khal drogo has 40k men, all it would take is the north and riverlands teaming up to crush them. Or the north and west, or any combination of two kingdoms. In fact I would go so far as to say every kingdom on its own could destroy the dothraki, the only ones that would have a harder time of it would be the riverlords, but if the tullys manage to gather their levies before they can be destroyed piecmeal im sure they would be able to handle the dothraki. Combined arms forces composed of numerous elements(heavy cavalry, heavy infantry, archers, light cavalry, cavalry archers, etc) trumps an army of just light cavalry every single time.

[Bad Hound!]

Thank you E-Ro, this is good research and you are right.

the only thing that Dothrakis have in their favour is the Mongol/Hun example, but as has been said before, the Dothraki are no Mongol.

[Maegor the Cuddly]

Thank you E-Ro, this is good research and you are right.

the only thing that Dothrakis have in their favour is the Mongol/Hun example, but as has been said before, the Dothraki are no Mongol.

Simplified Mongol Expies minus advantages.

[Dukhasinov]

Combined arms forces composed of numerous elements(heavy cavalry, heavy infantry, archers, light cavalry, cavalry archers, etc) trumps an army of just light cavalry every single time.

False. Military history overflows with examples of light cavalry armies defeating mixed forces. I don`t think the Mongols are a good example, because they had many advantages that the Dothraki do not (elements of armored heavy cavalry, siege equipment, complex command and communication system.) When the Avars invaded Europe, Charlemain reigned supreme, and Europe was at its most stable and united state it had seen since the collapse of Rome. The Avar Khanate in Hungary trounced the Byzantines, making it as far as Constantinople, raided as far west as Burgundy, and defeated Charlemain`s armies numerous times.

After a few generations their confederacy broke up and was replaced by the Magyars, who raided into Italy, badly defeating the armies of the Holy Roman Empire after leading them on a chase for several days. The Huns are very comparable to the Dothraki. When they came on the scene in Eastern and Central Europe, The Roman Empire had its shit together better than Westeros (maybe not by much) and they had a horrible time dealing with the Huns. Look at the battle of Carhae. The Romans had just such an army that you described. A core of heavy infantry leavened with skirmishers, supported by light and heavy cavalry. They were obliterated by the Parthians, who were entirely mounted archers. The Parthians feigned a retreat to lure the Roman cavalry away, and, when they were too far out to be aided by the infantry, the Parthians wheeled about, enveloped, and annihilated the Roman cavalry. From then on, the Roman legionaries were helpless to come to grips with the Parthian horse archers. Granted, the Romans were incompetently led, but they also outnumbered the Parthians 5 to one.

The real question is not whether the Dothraki could defeat Westerosi armies, but whether they would be any use in consolidating power and ruling the Seven Kingoms. Danny would have to restrain them from raping, anslaving and massacring her subjects. This would not be easy, since the Dothraki warriors would consider it their just reward for risking their lives in battle. It`s not like they get a sallary. But there are examples in history of steppe nomads adjusting to rule sedentary populations. The transition is usually painful, but it happened. When the Mongols took Northern China, Ghengis Khan opined that it would be a good idea to exterminate the Chinese and allow their farms to revert to pastures to graze the Mongols` livestock, People around him convinced him that ruling and taxing the Chinese cities would be more profitable in the long-run.

[Batman]

Oh gods, someone is debating E-Ro, this can only end in bruises, blood, and broken bones.

Internet muscles are a dangerous thing

[Barty]

False. Military history overflows with examples of light cavalry armies defeating mixed forces. I don`t think the Mongols are a good example, because they had many advantages that the Dothraki do not (elements of armored heavy cavalry, siege equipment, complex command and communication system.) When the Avars invaded Europe, Charlemain reigned supreme, and Europe was at its most stable and united state it had seen since the collapse of Rome. The Avar Khanate in Hungary trounced the Byzantines, making it as far as Constantinople, raided as far west as Burgundy, and defeated Charlemain`s armies numerous times.

After a few generations their confederacy broke up and was replaced by the Magyars, who raided into Italy, badly defeating the armies of the Holy Roman Empire after leading them on a chase for several days. The Huns are very comparable to the Dothraki. When they came on the scene in Eastern and Central Europe, The Roman Empire had its shit together better than Westeros (maybe not by much) and they had a horrible time dealing with the Huns. Look at the battle of Carhae. The Romans had just such an army that you described. A core of heavy infantry leavened with skirmishers, supported by light and heavy cavalry. They were obliterated by the Parthians, who were entirely mounted archers. The Parthians feigned a retreat to lure the Roman cavalry away, and, when they were too far out to be aided by the infantry, the Parthians wheeled about, enveloped, and annihilated the Roman cavalry. From then on, the Roman legionaries were helpless to come to grips with the Parthian horse archers. Granted, the Romans were incompetently led, but they also outnumbered the Parthians 5 to one.

The real question is not whether the Dothraki could defeat Westerosi armies, but whether they would be any use in consolidating power and ruling the Seven Kingoms. Danny would have to restrain them from raping, anslaving and massacring her subjects. This would not be easy, since the Dothraki warriors would consider it their just reward for risking their lives in battle. It`s not like they get a sallary. But there are examples in history of steppe nomads adjusting to rule sedentary populations. The transition is usually painful, but it happened. When the Mongols took Northern China, Ghengis Khan opined that it would be a good idea to exterminate the Chinese and allow their farms to revert to pastures to graze the Mongols` livestock, People around him convinced him that ruling and taxing the Chinese cities would be more profitable in the long-run.

All your examples are from the wrong era. The Avars were completely destroyed as a military power by Charlemagne in 802-3. The Huns were highly successful but they come from an even earlier era - 400-500 AD. The battle of carrhae is the worst example of all - First it occurred in 53 BC, secondly the Roman armies were mainly on foot legions with virtually no cavalry or archers and on top of that Crassus was a fool.

The armies described in westeros are more in line with middle ages - think 15th century without gunpowder. We are talking about steel crossbows, English longbows and full plate heavy armor. The Dothraki as you say have most in common with Huns and hence when compared to Westerosi military are a thousand years behind.

There is a reason that horse archers died down with the invention of the crossbow and longbow. Massed foot archers had a much longer range and horse archers could get nowhere near enough to shoot them down.

A light cavalry charge on a massed line of 15th century heavy infantry with pikes is suicide. Especially when those pikes are backed with longbows.

[E-Ro]

All your examples are from the wrong era. The Avars were completely destroyed as a military power by Charlemagne in 802-3. The Huns were highly successful but they come from an even earlier era - 400-500 AD. The battle of carrhae is the worst example of all - First it occurred in 53 BC, secondly the Roman armies were mainly on foot legions with virtually no cavalry or archers and on top of that Crassus was a fool.

The armies described in westeros are more in line with middle ages - think 15th century without gunpowder. We are talking about steel crossbows, English longbows and full plate heavy armor. The Dothraki as you say have most in common with Huns and hence when compared to Westerosi military are a thousand years behind.

There is a reason that horse archers died down with the invention of the crossbow and longbow. Massed foot archers had a much longer range and horse archers could get nowhere near enough to shoot them down.

A light cavalry charge on a massed line of 15th century heavy infantry with pikes is suicide. Especially when those pikes are backed with longbows.

This.

Also when confronted with heavy infantry it seems to me the dothraki just charge them head on.(see qohor dothraki vs unsullied)

[Night's Ranger]

False. Military history overflows with examples of light cavalry armies defeating mixed forces. I don`t think the Mongols are a good example, because they had many advantages that the Dothraki do not (elements of armored heavy cavalry, siege equipment, complex command and communication system.) When the Avars invaded Europe, Charlemain reigned supreme, and Europe was at its most stable and united state it had seen since the collapse of Rome. The Avar Khanate in Hungary trounced the Byzantines, making it as far as Constantinople, raided as far west as Burgundy, and defeated Charlemain`s armies numerous times.

After a few generations their confederacy broke up and was replaced by the Magyars, who raided into Italy, badly defeating the armies of the Holy Roman Empire after leading them on a chase for several days. The Huns are very comparable to the Dothraki. When they came on the scene in Eastern and Central Europe, The Roman Empire had its shit together better than Westeros (maybe not by much) and they had a horrible time dealing with the Huns. Look at the battle of Carhae. The Romans had just such an army that you described. A core of heavy infantry leavened with skirmishers, supported by light and heavy cavalry. They were obliterated by the Parthians, who were entirely mounted archers. The Parthians feigned a retreat to lure the Roman cavalry away, and, when they were too far out to be aided by the infantry, the Parthians wheeled about, enveloped, and annihilated the Roman cavalry. From then on, the Roman legionaries were helpless to come to grips with the Parthian horse archers. Granted, the Romans were incompetently led, but they also outnumbered the Parthians 5 to one.

The real question is not whether the Dothraki could defeat Westerosi armies, but whether they would be any use in consolidating power and ruling the Seven Kingoms. Danny would have to restrain them from raping, anslaving and massacring her subjects. This would not be easy, since the Dothraki warriors would consider it their just reward for risking their lives in battle. It`s not like they get a sallary. But there are examples in history of steppe nomads adjusting to rule sedentary populations. The transition is usually painful, but it happened. When the Mongols took Northern China, Ghengis Khan opined that it would be a good idea to exterminate the Chinese and allow their farms to revert to pastures to graze the Mongols` livestock, People around him convinced him that ruling and taxing the Chinese cities would be more profitable in the long-run.

bro,this is epic fantasy,not history of earth.screamers are just horny,bloodwanting duds on horses with arrows and curwed swords that do shit agains westros armor.their tactic is send arrows agains westros shields and then rush into wall of spears.robert doesnt even have to confront them in open battle.he just has to rush at landing place of screamers and suround them with walls of spears and slowly push them back into the sea.

[anon76returns]

This.

Also when confronted with heavy infantry it seems to me the dothraki just charge them head on.(see qohor dothraki vs unsullied)

Are we discussing a hypothetical invasion 200 years before Aegon (i.e., contemporary with the battle of Qohor), or are we talking around 300 AL? Because if it's the latter case, then it should be pointed out that Jorah's description of Dothraki tactics differ from those employed 500 years earlier.

[anon76returns]

The battle of carrhae is the worst example of all - First it occurred in 53 BC, secondly the Roman armies were mainly on foot legions with virtually no cavalry or archers and on top of that Crassus was a fool.

First True, second false, third very true.

The Romans had approximately 10% cavalry, the best being auxiliaries as was their custom. This was obviously less than the 20-25% cavalry we see in Westerosi forces, but still not negligible.

There is a reason that horse archers died down with the invention of the crossbow and longbow. Massed foot archers had a much longer range and horse archers could get nowhere near enough to shoot them down.

Except that in the case of ASoIaF, we're explicitly told that Dothraki archers outrange Westerosi archers. Real world history is a great resource, but when applied to a fantasy setting it is always trumped by explicit evaluations in said setting.