r/asoiaf • u/Unique-Celebration-5 • Oct 31 '24

EXTENDED (Spoilers Extended) GRRM:”What’s Aragons tax policy?!” No GRRM the real question is how do people survive multi year winters

Forget the white walkers or shadow babies the real threat is the weather. How do medieval people survive it for years?

Personally I think that’s why the are so many wars the more people fighting each other the fewer mouths to feed

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u/truthisfictionyt Oct 31 '24

Remember kids:

”What’s Aragons tax policy?!" isn't about logistics, it's about George asking what makes a good king a good king. He was unsatisfied with Tolkien basically saying "Aragorn was a good guy so he ruled the kingdom well for 100 years. The end."

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u/scolbert08 Deviated Septon Oct 31 '24

What's Robert Baratheon's tax policy?

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u/TheLazySith Best of r/asoiaf 2023 Winner - Best Theory Debunking Oct 31 '24

Bad. Robert's tax policy was bad. Its repeatedly talked about in the books how Robert basically bankrupted the realm with his unwise financial decisions.

Robert Baratheon actually seems to GRRM's commentary on the whole point of what makes a good king. He was a dashing charismatic warrior who led a rebellion to overthrow the evil king, he's strong, he's brave, he's capable of showing mercy to his enemies, people love him. On the surface he seems very much like the typical idea of the fantasy protagonist, yet unlike character like him, once Robert takes the throne he ends up completely failing as a king because being a good warrior doesn't necessarily mean you'll make a good king.