Why did Stannis end up married with a Florent?

[Djinn]

Lynesse Hightower, Arienne Martell, Delena Florent. Just another example of how Bob & Jon messed up.

[CosimaistheHottest]

Lynesse Hightower, Arienne Martell, Delena Florent. Just another example of how Bob & Jon messed up.

Arianne Martell was never in the cards. She could also do better. Lynesse Hightower is also the tenth child of Lord Hightower. He was lucky to get such a high ranking Lord in the North for her. His eldest had already married Mace. Selyse would also be ahead of Delena in the line of succession. Stannis wasn't even second in line anymore. By the time of that marriage, Joffrey had already been born.

[Señor de la Tormenta]

Arianne Martell was never in the cards. She could also do better. Lynesse Hightower is also the tenth child of Lord Hightower. He was lucky to get such a high ranking Lord in the North for her. His eldest had already married Mace. Selyse would also be ahead of Delena in the line of succession. Stannis wasn't even second in line anymore. By the time of that marriage, Joffrey had already been born.

He was a member of the small council, master of ships and lord of Dragon Stone, a lordship with some houses sworn to. (Celtigar, Velaryon, Sunglass etc. Probably he is the 8-9 most important lord in whole westeros. He was also Roberts second heir, and first in line to get the Storm Lands if Renly died.

[TonoMakai]

I had always assumed it was to keep Highgarden in 'check' after Roberts Rebellion, just kind of a 'They are part of the family and you fought against us, so play nice.'

Not that Stannis couldn't do much better, or have a much more politically advantageous marriage. But it is what it is.

[Dr. Pepper]

- She is ugly as hell.

- Being Stannis Lord of DS with houses sworn to him, and second in throne line at the time, this marriage makes no sence. Theres no political gain for him to marry a second daughter of a small house of the Reach, a region he has no ties with. She is not going to inheritate anything, and as Stannis himself says, they can only rise 2k swords in case of war. And she is not even pretty, in fact she is one of the ugliest wifes in the realm. Stannis is a far more better match to end so poorely. He gained nothing.

It doesnt make ANY sence.

Anyone has a why?

He actually would ve gained something more than big ears.

Mr Monopoly, you seem particularly hostile about the fact that Selyse is unattractive, yet are not equally hostile about the fact that Stannis is not described as particularly handsome. He's bald, never smiles, and has thin lips.

Others have already answered why Stannis and Selyse were wed so I won't repeat that.

About what he gained...let's see. A loyal wife who supports his ambitions and ideals. Check. A loyal wife who supports his ambitions and ideals and also brings an advisor along to add spice and merit to his cause. Check.

I'm starting to wonder what Selyse gained out of all of it. Her husband has an affair with the advisor she brought in. He ignores her. He's rude to her. Hmm...who got the better deal?

[Draco_Dracul]

He was a member of the small council, master of ships and lord of Dragon Stone, a lordship with some houses sworn to. (Celtigar, Velaryon, Sunglass etc. Probably he is the 8-9 most important lord in whole westeros. He was also Roberts second heir, and first in line to get the Storm Lands if Renly died.

Ninth at best assuming you don't count the king himself because there is no way he rates above any of the Lord Paramounts or the Prince of Dorne. Technically, Robert is first in line to the Storm Lands and it honestly didn't make sense for him to give it away in the first place because pre-Aegon the Crownlands where a part of the Storm Lands.

[Señor de la Tormenta]

Ninth at best assuming you don't count the king himself because there is no way he rates above any of the Lord Paramounts or the Prince of Dorne. Technically, Robert is first in line to the Storm Lands and it honestly didn't make sense for him to give it away in the first place because pre-Aegon the Crownlands where a part of the Storm Lands.

And ninth I said! About SL, I guess if Robert resigned to them he is no longer in line.

[Draco_Dracul]

And ninth I said! About SL, I guess if Robert resigned to them he is no longer in line.

As the eldest Baratheon brother and Renly's liege, the Storm Lands would go to Robert. He may then either keep it or give it to anyone he chooses to. Stannis the most likely to get it, but then again he was the most likely to get it at the end of the Rebellion too.

[Señor de la Tormenta]

.

[Minsc]

and first in line to get the Storm Lands if Renly died.

Only if Renly doesn't have a heir, it could be possible that Renly might place in his will that if he dies before begetting a heir that he wants Edric to inherit seeing how he has been raising the boy.

[Señor de la Tormenta]

Mr Monopoly, you seem particularly hostile about the fact that Selyse is unattractive, yet are not equally hostile about the fact that Stannis is not described as particularly handsome. He's bald, never smiles, and has thin lips.

Others have already answered why Stannis and Selyse were wed so I won't repeat that.

About what he gained...let's see. A loyal wife who supports his ambitions and ideals. Check. A loyal wife who supports his ambitions and ideals and also brings an advisor along to add spice and merit to his cause. Check.

I'm starting to wonder what Selyse gained out of all of it. Her husband has an affair with the advisor she brought in. He ignores her. He's rude to her. Hmm...who got the better deal?

He does smiles! There is proof! Im not buying all that bad propaganda.

[Señor de la Tormenta]

Only if Renly doesn't have a heir, it could be possible that Renly might place in his will that if he dies before begetting a heir that he wants Edric to inherit seeing how he has been raising the boy.

Yes. That was a huge possibility.

[SimonSez]

I'd say it's a mix of the Reach being on the wrong side of Robert's Rebellion, and because it's no secret that the Tyrells claim to Highgarden isn't the greatest and Mace Tyrell is an idiot. Also, since the Reach is wealthy in terms of food, the rest of Westeros is covering their options for when winter comes.

[Martini Sigil]

I think that a lot of guys, (Lords included) would like a wife that gives him hall passes with gorgeous Redheads....

[Señor de la Tormenta]

Arianne Martell was never in the cards. She could also do better. Lynesse Hightower is also the tenth child of Lord Hightower. He was lucky to get such a high ranking Lord in the North for her. His eldest had already married Mace. Selyse would also be ahead of Delena in the line of succession. Stannis wasn't even second in line anymore. By the time of that marriage, Joffrey had already been born.

Ynys Yronwood would be the best choice for stannis. Yronwoods are even a bigger pain in the ass to Martells than Florents to Tyrells. They seam to be stronger, and even better: they would end inheriting Yronwood gaining strength to their house.

[GallowsKnight]

Ynys Yronwood would be the best choice for stannis. Yronwoods are even a bigger pain in the ass to Martells than Florents to Tyrells. They seam to be stronger, and even better they would end inheriting Yronwood gaining strength to their house.

But is Dorne is nowhere near the threat the Reach is to their regime. The Reach borders the Stormlands, Crownlands, Riverlands and Westerlands. It has many times more soliders. If there is any rebellion the key battle would be in the Reach not Dorne.

[Señor de la Tormenta]

But is Dorne is nowhere near the threat the Reach is to their regime. The Reach borders the Stormlands, Crownlands, Riverlands and Westerlands. It has many times more soliders. If there is any rebellion the key battle would be in the Reach not Dorne.

As we learned, Martells were a much bigger threat to roberts reign than Tyrells. And the only likely rebelion was the one planned in Dorne with the marriage pact with Viserys.

[CosimaistheHottest]

Ynys Yronwood would be the best choice for stannis. Yronwoods are even a bigger pain in the ass to Martells than Florents to Tyrells. They seam to be stronger, and even better: they would end inheriting Yronwood gaining strength to their house.

Even though that is true about the Yronwood being a pain in the ass. Don't forget that Dornishmen themselves not just the Martells still burn for vengeance for Elia and the children so it is not out of the possibility that even though the Yronwoods had animosity with the Martells. The fact that their beloved princess's murder went unpunished could sour that relation too.

Ynys is also the heir to House Yronwood, which is probably much wealthier than Dragonstone. Not that they couldn't allow one child to be heir to Yronwood and one Dragonstone. It doesn't seem to happen alot. Who is to say that the husband that she has isn't the one that she chose.

[GallowsKnight]

As we learned, Martells were a much bigger threat to roberts reign than Tyrells. And the only likely rebelion was the one planned in Dorne with the marriage pact with Viserys.

Yes we know with hindsight. But at the end of the Rebellion the Tyrell's had been loyalists (if not good ones) and they had the huge army that had taken no casualities. If Dorne rebels most of the Seven Kingdoms is safe. If the Reach rebelled it'd be a big threat.

[Sansa_Stark]

Yes we know with hindsight. But at the end of the Rebellion the Tyrell's had been loyalists (if not good ones) and they had the huge army that had taken no casualities. If Dorne rebels most of the Seven Kingdoms is safe. If the Reach rebelled it'd be a big threat.

Dorne can field approx. 20-35 thousand men I believe.

The Reach can field approx. 75-110 thousand.

One is far more powerful than the other.