By Georgia Charlie-Anne Wood [Edited by Jonny & Zhara Adal]
HST5413 (re)Writing History
To what extent were the 100 years of peace following the ascension of King Eddard I Stark directly a result of the reforms made by Stark?
The historiographical debate surrounding the 100 years of peace from 282AC to around 382AC has focused significantly on the economic state of the Kingdoms of Westeros at this time and how the ruling Stark’s fostered the peace created using economic and social strategies and the importance of existing systems in Westeros. Eddard I Stark’s policies, aided by the existing structures, were vital to the 100 years of peace. The policies created a more socially and economically unified Westeros with the importance placed on justice and increased communication between the Great Lords. In this essay, I will discuss how Stark’s immediate actions upon his ascension to the throne set a tone of impartial justice and its continuation through the reign, the existing systems which aided Stark’s reforms, how his decision to impose laws which forced specification within each Kingdom creating economic dependency, creation of closer familial and working relationships to increase communication and loyalty all facilitated the 100 years of peace.
Eddard ‘Ned’ Stark’s ascension to the throne was a direct result of the conflict in 281 to 282 AC precipitated by the madness of Aerys II. The tension surrounding the King’s insanity culminated in the trial by combat of Brandon and Rickard Stark, Ned’s older brother and father. The Kings champion was wildfyre and this resulted in the brutal deaths of both Stark’s, the trial concerning the crown prince Rhaegar’s abduction of Lyanna Stark. This incident led to the rebellion of the Kingdoms of the North, the Stormlands, the Riverlands and the Vale, because of alliances forged in marriage and the foster system. Eddard’s claim to the throne comes from his great grandmother, Raelle Targaryen, and the eight-thousand-year reign of the Kings of winter, who were Stark’s. The right of conquest also gave Eddard this title as he was the first of the main conquering army to reach Kings landing. The seven Kingdoms had been more united than they had been for centuries to rid the Kingdoms of the ‘dragon lord’, but Dorne, the Iron Islands and the Westerlands, whose Lord Tywin Lannister joined the rebellious force at the end of the rebellion had not been united under this common cause which would be a constant fractious issue.
The ninety days after the proclamation of Eddard Stark as King set the precedent of the energetic and impartial justice system which dominated Stark rule, the executions and use of alternative punishment for war criminals from all Kingdoms displayed the even-handedness which would quell any tension leading to the 100 years of peace. The trials that immediately followed the ascension highlights how justice being served was a priority for the new regime and set the tone of accountability in Westeros. The execution of Tywin Lannister the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands - Aerys’ previous hand of the King- and Gregor ‘the Mountain’ Clegane for ordering and carrying out the brutal murders of Princess Elia Martell and the royal children Rhaenys and Aegon, set the tone of responsibility for crime no matter how powerful the person who committed the atrocity. Historian John Green has argued in accordance with this view that the image of Stark personally beheading two of the most feared men in Westeros created a dual sentiment of contentment and wariness that no crime would go unpunished, no matter the perpetrator.[1] The debate surrounding the young King’s treatment of Ser Jaime Lannister was controversial at the time and has been closely examined by historians since. Lannister was put on trial for regicide but retained his position in the King’s guard. The reasoning given for this by Stark, in a statement as documented by the Grandmaester Luwin given to the royal court, was focused on what the ‘Kingslayer’ did being wrong but for the right reasons, as his trial revealed the extent to Aerys madness.[2] Jaime Lannister’s pardon when even northerners such as Gerold Manderly were sent to the Wall for his part in sacking various towns during the rebellion shows the unbiased continuity which characterised Stark Rule. In a letter to his wife ‘the great Jon’ Umber called the lack of favouritism shown a “new way that will forge a level field of greater contentment”.[3] While Umber’s writings must be considered within the context of him being a loyal bannerman to Stark the evidence suggests that this contentment was felt continent wide. The continued punishment of Great Lords in this manner would continue with Stark sending Balon Greyjoy to the Wall after his failed rebellion; this persistent policy reinforced the impact of the beginning of his reign. This new level field would decrease friction when it would arise due to the fair judgement and therefore avoid conflict.
The decision to treat war crimes, other than killing on the field of battle, as a punishable crime was not only a departure from typical rule and highly controversial but was a clear deterrent for the reasons why some would go to war. In the 90 days following the end of the Targaryen reign and the beginnings of the trials for actions during the war, the criminal standards act was introduced.[4] This act meant that actions such as pillaging and rape during war would be punished identically to during peace times. Ser Matthew of House Wood, a knight from the Riverlands, who fought in the rebellion, wrote in a letter to his daughter “a great many will refrain from war now that the plunders have been outlawed”.[5] The use of policy to stop the aspects of war which were seen positively due to the possible plunder to be gained by both minor nobles and the average foot soldier, which would reduce numbers who would respond if the banners of a noble house were called. Historian Austin Swift has argued that the failed attempt by Balon Greyjoy to rebel in 288AC, as the typically violent iron islanders refused to take up arms against the crown, shows the effectiveness of these policies.[6] Having experienced a suppression on pillaging in the first two years of Eddard’s reign wherein over two hundred iron islanders were sent to the wall or hand a hand amputated for raping and sacking of coastal locations.[7] Swift’s argument is convincing as only two of Balon’s vassal houses gave their swords to the cause and no action was seen due to the fear created after the issuing of a proclamation which stated that all land would be stripped from rebellious lords.[8] The capturing of new land being illegal under the criminal standards act, what Balon proposed- to declare independence for the Iron islands and raid along the coasts of Westeros freely- was not as appealing as it would have been under Targaryen reign. The introduction of punishments for actions during war time which previously had gone unpunished made going to war less desirable because of the consequences which would have occurred, thus making peace possible.
The existing infrastructure established under the Targaryen Kings was central to the success of Stark reforms as it facilitated ambitious reforms. The Kingsroad built under Jaeherys I over two centuries before the rebellion was central to Stark’s measures being implemented as it enabled expedient travel and therefore oversight of the massive continent.[9] Ned’s successor, his son King Robb I even undertook further expansion of the Kingsroad, expanding to the Westerlands and Dorne. The surveys undertaken by the master of coins deputies every two years highlights how central this was to reform, as during the survey’s town along the Kingsroad with over 800 inhabitants would be surveyed for general growth.[10] Without the Targaryen road infrastructure, the justice system and the specification of crops would not have been as successful due to isolation of the deputies who were dispatched to enforce the policies. Tywin Lannister expanded the taxation and trade systems of Westeros massively. Grand Maester Luwin described the modernised system created by Lannister, Hand of the King under Aerys II, as “a spiders web of interconnectedness”. He goes on to conclude that these routes were central to the ability to tax and enforce law in all areas of the Kingdoms. Historian Ruby West has concluded that without the establishment of complex land and sea routes by Lannister and facilitated by the Kingsroad Stark’s measures would have been largely unsuccessful as the policies would not be enforceable without these routes being open for easy trading.[11] The overhaul of the taxation system Tywin oversaw created more than 200,000 more gold dragons in collected tax, because of the decision to send officers of the crown to remote areas, making Stark’s policies which needed royal enforcers less jarring to local communities, which generally were only exposed to the authority of the vassal lord of the area. Targaryen infrastructure and expansive policies were used centrally to enforce new legislation to create growth and peace in the united Westeros.
A contested aspect of Ned Stark’s rule was the ordered specification of each of the seven Kingdoms economic system regarding their production, however, it was this policy strategy which most forcefully ensured peace. The seven Kingdoms of Westeros after the Aegon the Conqueror were all united under one crown and began to trade with one another, however, most Kingdoms maintained their autonomy by ensuring they could support their population through their efforts alone, by making each Kingdom dependent on the other Kingdoms for certain resources. It increased positive relations. The most fertile areas: the Reach, the Riverlands and the Crownlands played a vital role in sustaining the seven Kingdoms even before Stark’s measures. In a personal account kept by Stannis Baratheon, who would become Hand of the King in the last twenty years of Eddard’s rule, he called the specification “a means to control and make dependent the nations of this united Westeros”.[12] This measure was met with resistance, however incentives offered and financed by the Master of Coin Tyrion Lannister which would facilitate relocation of specialists in certain types of agriculture, dissuaded any possible unrest. Stark also aided this measure by sending ravens with the reasoning for this decision and the belief it would yield greater crop production in allowing the more arid climates in Westeros to plant only what would continuously grow successfully. Comparing the trade between Kingdoms as documented in 284AC by Master of Coin Baelish and in 298AC by Tyrion Lannister- four years after the legislation enforcing the specification of crop production and material production such as ships- increased by 400,000 gold dragons.[13] This shows that not only were Stark’s policies abided, it also implies an increase in wealth in the Kingdoms due to the prosperity created by these policies. Historian Linda Denton has argued that it was successive years of crop failure and the expenditure of resources in the rebellion and the wars of the ninepenny kings which was an ongoing conflict twenty years before the rebellion that created peace not the measures taken by Stark. However, this fails to account for the latter part of Stark’s reign, wherein the King focused more resources into ensure economic prosperity for all Kingdoms and preventing devastating bad harvests. While initial peace may have been influenced by poor crop harvests, after the specification policies, the Masters of Coin ledgers imply increased crop production even in years of bad weather because of measures to ensure crops were grown where they were most likely to succeed. In ensuring all Kingdoms could easily trade with one another for necessary resources, Stark promoted prosperity and peace as it would have been untenable to war against one another.
Interconnectivity had a significant spike in the year of the false spring and while historians such as Iain Decaestecker and Levi Flannel have argued this was to form an alliance to oust the mad King Aerys before the Lyanna Stark incident which was subsequently fruitful, Ned Stark, in his reign, recreated some of these strategies to create close ties to avoid conflict between the major houses of Westeros.[14] Alliance marriages were common in Westeros at this time, before Aerys’ madness many great lords would marry their offspring to a loyal vassal, however the need to form a power base created more high profile marriages such as the Stark Tully union. It has been argued by Historian Claire Saffitz that interconnectivity was known to avoid war as your spouse or mother’s family have a predisposition to help their family, especially during this period where familial ties were so crucial.[15] All but one of Stark’s legitimate children had high profile marriages. The marriage of Sansa Stark to Tyrion Lannister, which was arranged when the princess was 6 when her future husband was 24 was highly controversial. However, this marriage eased tension with house Lannister and gave them prominence once more as they had lost status after the execution of Tywin and Tyrion, a dwarf becoming their Lord at only 16.[16] In the 7 years of Eddard’s reign before this promise, the Westerlands had commonly been perceived as a non-peaceful realm and there was a particular skirmish on the border over relinquishing a known wealthy tax evader.[17] In a letter to his adviser Jon Arryn in 287AC, following this skirmish, two years before the formal betrothal, Eddard wrote that he “fear[s] recompense from the proud Lion of Lannister, while their Lord appears weak his gold would support their houses fury” this refers to the execution of Tywin Lannister, as mentioned previously.[18] This fear of a possible attack would motivate Stark to improve relations with house Lannister by recognising their importance through a symbol like marrying its eldest daughter to its Lord, especially due to the stigma surrounding Tyrion’s stature as a dwarf.[19] The crown prince’s marriage to Margaery Tyrell ensured the continued loyalty of the wealthiest house.[20] Bestowing the honour of marriage to the monarchs children ensured their loyalty and therefore would create further peace as it showed the importance of these noble houses to the crown and they would therefore not rebel against it in open war fare, it also decreased the likelihood of other conflicts due to the close nature of the stark family and the relation of the family to most great houses by the end of Eddard’s reign.
The council of 302AC, which included the head of all great households and members of organisations such as the Maesters and the brothers of the nights watch, was designed to increase communication and handle any grievances which would decrease any growing resentment. Grand Maester Luwin’s account of this meeting shows the positive interactions which took place describing the feast of the last night as “jovial” and that the Lords “were like brothers all”. Historian Amber Korde studied the number of letters received by each major household before and after this event and saw a spike in communication from an average of one raven per year from each major household to four.[21] Korde also noted the contents of the letters were far more familiar in tone and increasingly positive, even when discussing logistical issues, which highlights the growing peace and communication which did eliminate any possible tension.[22] Historian Linda Denton has argued that the increased communication was a necessity in the period because of the economic specification legislation, not because of increased collaboration or because it was a means of maintaining the much desired peace. However, this neglects the continued requests for more council activity, which became a staple of Stark rule and took place every three years for 132 years after the first. One moment of tension was a quarrel over timber in the Reign of Robb I in 342AC. This quarrel between the Baratheon’s of Storms Ends and the Martell’s of Dorne, as the Baratheon fleet was destroyed in a great storm and growing Dornish desire to expand international trade to Essos, put a stall on the export of wood from the North; this necessitated the calling of a council as the request by both parties for more steel implied arming for conflict. The council resolved that until the fleet of Storms End matched that of the existing Martell fleet wood from the North would be diverted to Stroms End, then the normal trading patterns would resume. This decision was assented to by all parties after three days of negotiation and letters were continually exchanged between the Baratheons and Martells during this time. The council system Eddard implemented, after witnessing the positive aspects of collaboration during the false spring, was central to avoiding war as it allowed for positive negotiation instead of war being made over minor circumstances.
Overall, Westeros experienced 100 years of peace because of the proactive leadership which began with Eddard I Stark and continued through the subsequent reigns. The justice system which punished crimes, even in war, made for a society which respected the legal system which would support later policies and promote peace because of the know certainty of penalty. In creating an economy which forced each Kingdom to rely on each other for staples of living made war an untenable position as a Kingdom could not feed its army or supply weapons without the other six Kingdoms. Building upon both existing systems such as the vast trade routes or the gatherings of noble lords at tourneys and evolving that into a council, as well as giving status and importance to noble families through marrying the royal children to members of those houses to create feelings of dignity which would reduce pride based conflicts which had previously affected the continent. The argument that it was exhaustion from previous conflicts which enabled peace does not explain the longevity of the peace and the increase in positive sentiment in this society which experienced war regularly and glorified the practice. The reforms made by Stark were revolutionary and peace would not have maintained without their implementation.
Notes [1] John Green, The Complex world of Targaryen and Stark Westeros (The Reach: Strong Publisher Inc, 2012 AC), pp. 406-412. [2] Grand Maester Luwin, Grand Maester Stark, Proceedings of the Royal Court from 283 AC to 368 AC (Old Town: The Citadel, 369 AC), p. 8. [3] Charles Bowern (ed.), The Great Jon Umber: Inclusive of Personal accounts (The Wall: University of Castle Black Printing, 2006AC), pp. 56-59. [4] Rebekah Phillips (ed.), A Collection of the letters of the Westerosi Monarchy 200AC-410AC (Westerlands: Gold Lion Publishing, 2016AC), p. 42. [5] Emilia Kent (ed.), The personal accounts and documents of Ser Matthew of House Wood (Storms End: Stag Publishing, 1998 AC), pp. 24-28. [6] Austin Swift, The Headsman Kings: Stark Justice, (Riverlands: Blackfish Inc, 2019AC), pp. 108-112. [7] Swift, The Headsman Kings, pp. 108-112. [8] Maester Luwin, Proceedings of the Royal Court from 283 AC to 368 AC, p. 68. [9] Linda Denton, Debt, Famine and Isloationism in Early Westeros (Pyke: Iron Price Publishers, 2000AC), p. 4. [10] Levi Flannel, Westeros 200-400 AC, (The Wall: University of Castle Black Printing, 2004AC), p. 348. [11] Ruby West, Restructuring Westeros after the fall of the Dragon Kings, (Old Town: Hightower Publishing, 1992AC), pp. 234-236. [12] Shireen Baratheon (ed.), Personal letters and Documents of Hand of the King and Lord of Dragonstone Stannis Baratheon (Dragonstone Island: Dragonstone, 396 AC), p. 126. [13] Peytr Baelish, Tyrion Lannister, Jaime Lannister, The accumulated accounts of the Masters of Coin from the Reigns of His Grace Eddard Stark and His Grace Robb Stark (Old Town: The Citadel, 382 AC) pp. 10-58. [14] Iain Decaestecker, Council power: Increase in communication 230-289AC, (Riverlands: Blackfish Inc, 2007AC). [15] Claire Saffitz, ‘Marriage and interconnectedness in Westeros from Aegon to Arya’, Social Aspects of Westerosi History, 42:6 (Winter 1986AC), pp. 24-62. [16] Saffitz, ‘Marriage and interconnectedness in Westeros from Aegon to Arya’, p.36. [17] Swift, The Headsman Kings, pp. 54-56. [18] Phillips (ed.), A Collection of the letters of the Westerosi Monarchy 200AC-410AC, p. 42. [19] Green, The Complex world of Targaryen and Stark Westeros, p. 246. [20] Flannel, Westeros 200-400 AC, p. 386. [21] Amber Korde, ‘Strength in unity: a study into the success in Westeros during the Stark Reigns’, KPIL Journal,106:82 (Summer: 2016AC), pp. 6-48. [22] Korde, ‘Strength in unity’, pp. 6-48. Bibliography
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Kent, Emilia (ed.). The personal accounts and documents of Ser Matthew of House Wood. Storms End: Stag Publishing, 1998AC
Korde, Amber. ‘Strength in unity: a study into the success in Westeros during the Stark Reigns’, KPIL Journal, 106:82. Summer: 2016AC. pp. 6-48
Luwin, Grand Maester. Stark, Grand Maester. Proceedings of the Royal Court from 283 AC to 368 AC. Old Town: The Citadel, 369AC
Phillips, Rebekah (ed.). A Collection of the letters of the Westerosi Monarchy 200AC-410AC. Westerlands: Gold Lion Publishing, 2016AC
Saffitz, Claire. ‘Marriage and interconnectedness in Westeros from Aegon to Arya’, Social Aspects of Westerosi History, 42:6. Winter 1986AC. pp. 24-62
Swift, Austin. The Headsman Kings: Stark Justice. Riverlands: Blackfish Inc, 2019AC
West, Ruby. Restructuring Westeros after the fall of the Dragon Kings. Old Town: Hightower Publishing, 1992AC
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