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I read this article and realized that things kinda only got worse in GoT's political situation after King Bran, and the underlying issues of the Iron Throne were never resolved. Here are my thoughts as to what could happen next. THREAD vulture.com/2019/05/game-o…
AKA: The "resolution" as anything but, and once the initial exhaustion after the war of five kings/war of two queens ends conflict is set up to begin more viciously than before.
In the last small council scene, the tension building up isn't good. King Bran shows disinterest in governance and quickly withdraws from the meeting. The Hand, Tyrion is unpopular by lords and smallfolk alike for his role on both sides of the war,
and his power base is the exhausted (probably third only to the Riverlands and North) and gold depleted Westerlands. Meanwhile the other members of the small council have no power bases at all (Brienne, Davos, Sam)
Except one. Bronn, Lord of the Reach and Master of Coin, roles that make the former mercenary the power behind the throne.
As Lord of the Reach , Bronn commands the breadbasket of Westeros and its armies, which have been mostly preserved (Fighting only in the Battle of the Blackwater and the Battle of the Goldroad in the show).
During the long winter, the Reach, and by extension Bronn, will be the primary food suppliers of Westeros, giving him immense influence. But that's not all. Bronn has also been appointed Master of Coin, and given that most of the Iron Bank's debts have been paid by Cersei....
Bronn will have wide latitude to shore up his position with the royal treasury. Like a previous Master of Coin, Littlefinger, he will likely bribe the City Watch of King's Landing to act on his bidding (he is also the former commander, which helps.
Thus with the royal treasury, Westeros' food supply, one of the largest armies remaining, and the only standing armed force in the nation's capital likely in his back pocket, Bronn is in a prime position to undermine Tyrion's position as hand, let alone set his sights higher.
The new elective monarchy system of Westeros is very unstable. Due to a lack of a dynasty that Bran can have (due to his infertility and the rest of the Starks leading a independent country)...
and Tyrion seemingly declining to install any kind system for Bran to designate a desired heir, the Great Council after Bran's death (or if he just up and leaves one day) will have no clear front-runner.
Due to the devastation the wars wrecked on the traditional relationships between the noble houses it's hard to say how it'd shake out. But there'd be one person with an edge. Lord Bronn Blackwater.
Controlling vast wealth, the food supply, and the armed force for the city that the council would likely take place in, Bronn would call in favors, bribe nobles, and threaten them with the City Watch to succeed. But Bronn would have major disadvantages as well, even if he wins.
Bronn is lowborn, coming from all we know as part of the smallfolk, his rise to power from lone mercenary to lord of the largest remaining kingdom is unprecedented in Westerosi history, but becoming king? It could threaten the stability of the feudal system that governs Westeros
Another point is that Bronn isn't afraid of getting his hands dirty for power. From S8E4: "Kill a few hundred people, they make you a lord. Kill a few thousand, they make you king." If King Bran dies under mysterious circumstances, nobles may suspect Bronn had a hand in his death
And he may well have! Bronn has no moral scruples and a is a ruthless social climber, if he sees a chance he'd go for it. But the other lords might not stand for King Bronn, they have little to lose from declaring the Great Council result null and seeking the throne with swords.
If there is peace for a time, Bronn does not seem the type to rule well. All he cares for is power, wealth, and sex. King Bronn would likely not be a wise ruler, and could provoke a revolt. If Bronn loses the Great Council, he could war to win the throne. He's not a loyal man.
Thus the Blackwater War begins. But who could rise against Bronn? The dynasties that competed for the Throne during the previous wars have been ruined and mostly exhausted. There is only one lord left that has any bloodline claim on the Throne, though. Gendry Baratheon.
Gendry is the perfect figure for the Anti-Bronn coalition to rally behind. The last son of King Robert of House Baratheon, a dynasty descended from the Targeryans. Gendry also has close ties with the Starks.
Even if Gendry himself wishes to remain neutral, his lineage makes him a threat for any would be king, meaning he may be forced to take up arms to defend himself.
But he won't have the whole of Westeros on his side. Dorne and the Iron Islands could take the opportunity to follow the Northern precedent and declare independence. In a state of war, the Throne would not be able to reassert control.
When the ashes settle once more, the chance of the elective system remaining in place is near none. But this could provide stability in the future. The new Five Kingdoms are ethnically and religiously homogeneous, sharing Andalish heritage and keeping the Faith of the Seven
Anyway those are my thoughts about hat happens in Westeros after King Bran ascends to the throne.
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