(For previous parts in the series, see here)
For rather idiosyncratic reasons, I’ve probably written more about the economic development of the Iron Islands (before starting this series) than any other part of the Seven Kingdoms other than the Westerlands – see here, here, here, here, and here. And one of the things I’ve learned is that the Iron Islands is a region that had a successful economic development strategy – the strategy of the Hoare Kings and Vickon and Quellon Greyjoys – and pissed it away.
Which of course complicates any future economic development plans, because all of your neighbors hate and mistrust you. So how do we proceed? In this case, I’m going to be taking on the role of Balon Greyjoy, but let’s say that in the wake of the disaster at the Mander, I have a Dickensian vision of the future that shakes me to the very core and causes a sudden conversion. So what do I do now?
I love the idea of a maritime crime syndicate as endgame for the
Greyjoy’s developmental focus. It’s 1. Incredibly Greyjoy. 2. A logical
exploitation of a kind of power Westerosi houses do not usually engage
in – beyond the local protection rackets necessary to prop up a feudal
system.My one issue is the supposition that the Braavosi wouldn’t contest rival navies for dominance of the merchant trade, or attempt to undermine a rival
bank. Someone write the fanfic where there’s a proxy war for the
Stepstones to settle the issue?
Oh, there would absolutely be contestation, but it would depend on the circumstances. The Braavosi were willing to let the Three Daughters control the Stepstones until the Three Daughters got too greedy. The Iron Bank has rivals in Tyrosh and Lys and Myr and Pentos who they don’t try to destroy (and whom they probably do business with all the time), but they destroyed the Rogare bank because it got too big and too powerful for their liking.
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