Torrhen’s sons were not happy with their submission to the Targaryens: “though Torrhen Stark had given up the ancient crown of the Kings of Winter, his sons were less glad of the Targaryen yoke, and some among them entertained talk of rebelling, and of raising the Stark banner whether Lord Torrhen consented or not.” Indeed, much of the North was not happy, hence the formation of the Company of the Rose, “formed by wild men (and, according to some accounts, women) from the North who refused to bend the knee…and instead chose exile across the narrow sea.”

Rhaenys Targaryen was the driving force in making the marriage. While part of her purpose was to “knit together the new, single realm with marriages between the great houses,” another part was to demonstrate that the Iron Throne was the new liege lord of House Stark and had the ultimate authority in dynastic marriages.  

I listen to it about once a year. I’ve read a bunch of Blight’s work, which is quite good, but I think he has a great voice for lecturing. 

I did. Short version of my thoughts on Dorne are here. Long version I’m trying to get published, but I can do something intermediate here:

1. It did a huge disservice to all of the characters involved. Doran comes off like a chump, Areo Hotah bad at his job, Ellaria and the Sand Snakes sneering villains. 

2. I have a sneaking suspicion it was done largely to keep the salary budget down. 

3. It doesn’t seem to make much sense politically – since when is Dorne going to be ok with kinslaying, treason, and murder? And why would any of House Martell’s rival houses recognize a blatantly illegitimate ruler coming out of it?

4. The logistics of Trystane’s death are very confusing. Wasn’t he on the boat with Myrcella? 

Wrote an essay about it. Trying to get it published somewhere. If no one bites, I’ll put it up on the main blog. 

Well, historically, it is a successful strategy – the Stark Kings bound much of the North together with marriages, the Lannisters and the Gardeners prevented war with the Andals through marriages, the Gardeners brought the Arbor and Oldtown into the Reach by marriage when war failed, the Rhoynar assimilated into Dorne through mass marriage, etc. 

I suppose the major distinction is to what degree these marriages are embarked on by both sides (and I mean both the Houses and the married couple) as a means to peace. 

I think it was more of the former. If you study Craster’s relationship, it’s not a relationship of equals or one he particularly understands – the Cold Gods come for reasons of their own, and they do not communicate their reasons to him. All he can do is obey and try to survive. 

If you want to know the answer, I recommend reading Robert E. Howard’s stories “Shadows in the Moonlight,” “Xuthal of the Dusk,” “Pool of the Black One,” “The Devil in Iron,” and “Jewels of Gwahlur.”

I assure you, George R.R Martin has read them many times.  

I don’t think she got a great deal, no.

It’s enough work just maintaining the one blog I have. It’s way easier for me to post my stuff on Graphic Policy and LG&M.

Well, keep in mind that there’s not a lot of travel in preindustrial societies/economies to begin with. And the Vale and Dorne have the advantage of giant mountain chains that funnel movement to a few points.

Yes, people could try to get around that by summiting the mountains, but the chances of someone who’s got the Spring Sickness pulling that off are pretty minor.