Do you think Stannis is being smart by seeking to reward his southron bannermen with northern lands and titles? On the one hand, he’s definitely right that he needs to reward and maintain their loyalty by recognizing that they’ve lost lands to the south and thus giving them new lands now that he’s operating in the North. On the other hand, it seems like a sure way to alienate both northern lords and the Watch by taking castles and lands for the purpose of redistribution to southron newcomers.

I think he’s doing what’s necessary. It is hard, hard work to get men to follow you after a defeat as comprehensive as the Battle of the Blackwater, and after the Battle of Castle Black and knowing you’ll need them again and again, yeah you’re going to want to keep them loyal.

Keep in mind, ALL of the castles he was talking about belong to the Night’s Watch, so while the Watch would be pissed, they also A. don’t really have anything they can do about it, and B. owe him their very lives. As for the Northern lords, they might not be super happy that traditions are being flouted, but they themselves aren’t losing any land, so they’re unlikely to start a ruckus.