In AFFC Sam V it says that “Randyll Tarly was known in Old Town, but little loved” and Sam is worried about being recognized by “one of his lord father’s enemies”. Do we know/can we surmise the backstory to this or should we just attribute it to Randyll Tarly just being an unlikeable dickhead?

anonymousautonomousavatar:

goodqueenaly:

racefortheironthrone:

A combination of geopolitical rivalries and personality. The Tarlys are Marcher Lords of the Western Marches, and may well be the most prominent of the Western Marcher Lords, since the Carons of Nightsong owe their allegiance to Storm’s End. At the same time, the lands of House Hightower border the Western Marches, and there are some marcher lords like the Mullendores of Uplands, who are vassals of Oldtown. 

I would imagine there’s been some conflict over spheres of influence between Horn Hill and Oldtown. 

I wonder if marital politics also play a part in Tarly’s apparent enemies. Because Lord Hightower and Lord Tarly are married to a pair of sisters – Rhea and Melessa Florent, respectively – perhaps there is a bitterness about the potential for Tarly closeness with with the mighty Hightowers. Any of the great reacher families might have hoped that one of their daughters would become Lady of the Hightower, and subsequently might disdain Lord Randyll for having such a cozy family relationship to the Hightower (and thus the apparent potential to ask for his wife’s brother-in-law’s help with any troublesome Reach matters).

In the wake of the Florents siding with Stannis, Garlan Tyrell got Brightwater Keep, and Lord Tyrell is upset that his wife’s claim is passed over. House Hightower could have a similar and rival grievance, from an opposing branch of the (fertile, florid, fecund) Florents. Brightwater Keep neatly flanks Oldtown and Horn Hill, making it a substantial gain for either house if they are indeed geostrategic rivals. While both would be upset at the Tyrells, neither could trust the other enough to advocate together for either of their rights.

I don’t know how much Sam would know or be able to deduce about such a potential conflict, as removed from the dynastic politics of the Reach as he was at the Wall, but it’s a neat idea.

I’d like to add a potential geopolitical element to the marriage thing. It’s possible that Tarly was hoping to use his marriage with the Florents to extend his influence “downhill” as it were, only to be checked when the Hightowers married into the Florents and now in the case of a Tarly/Hightower dispute the Florents will be split rather than on Tarly’s side.