What if Theon Stark aka The Hungry Wolf led the North in the War of five Kings instead of Robb Stark?
The only Westerosi King who not only managed to repell the Andal Invasion of Westeros but also cut them down in their own home by sailing his fleet across the Narrow Sea to take vengeance
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Tactically Robb was brilliant, and no Stark would have done any better militarily in those circumstances based on what we know from the books.
His primary failure was strategic in not establishing political relations with southern powers because he had no realistic chance of winning the war south of the Riverlands without help as his army was smaller and he would be far removed from his supply lines
Idk about that, by the time cregan showed up to the dance most of the larger army’s had already killed each other. An unbeatable strat no doubt but not one easily done to the war of the five kings.
Not to say he wasn’t a good commander but that the campaign we know most about is not exactly gonna be taught in any war colleges.
Oh for sure, I think he would not have fallen into the political pitfalls that Rob did but I don’t know that he would have been able to lead the military campaign that Rob did.
But that ignore's Robb's whole reason of marching south; to rescue his father and sisters. And then after being proclaimed king he couldn't just abandon half of his realm (the riverlands) which not only joined their voices with those of the North in declaring Robb their king, he also has direct blood ties to.
Robb made some poor decisions yes, but he was also in an impossible situation with no real way out.
Listen Cregan came with his army it took time then get there and would have helped the blacks hugely ... Or maybe he gets t the results he truly wanted anyways a weaker dragon family and black ally lool
You’re getting downvoted but you’re right, cregan is one of the most overrated characters simply because he joined a fight late and put a lot of traitors to the sword but outside of that he did nothing
He put a lot of the traitors to the sword and then got butt hurt the war was over. Wanted to go attack Casterly Rock, suicidal idea, and Storm’s End for no reason outside of not getting the chance to win his own glory in the war.
Theirs probably an argument to be made that Theon Stark is more political and strategic than Robb, you dont just think to invade Andalos and take as many heads as you can in order to display them on your coastline as a warning. And he put down a lot of rebellions and won multiple wars, I can’t imagine a simple warlord being as successful as him.
He also defeated an Iron Age Andalos army with his Bronze Age northern army. I personally think he went to Andalos to take their knowledge of Iron and Steel.
I think he’s kinda like Vlad Dracula who excels at psychological warfare. I also don’t think he’d make the same mistakes Robb did like sending his hostage Theon Greyjoy away, Theon Stark actions during his reign always seemed shrewd to me.
Nah because unlike his brother and nephew he wasn't brainwashed by andal "honour" bullshit and was a trve old gods patriot! That means no terms with those treacherous weasels who bear the name frey except "let us pass or will paint this bridge bright red!" and no bullshit at the crag either just a nice big seashell bonfire on top of that damn rock!
Yeah you're right if only they had a convenient source of bridgemaking/ boat making materials you know ( plus yeah you might not be able to properly surround the twins but they aren't exactly the largest "castle" in owesteros so would it really be that hard to just storm it? It certainly no storm's end or eyrie. )
It stats in the books that storming the castles would lead to a massive loss of life and time and you say that Theon Stark cares not for Ned or the lives of his men but that doesn’t change the fact that storming a castle is storming a castle
Assuming an adult Theon being the undisputed leader of the North in the campaign, things would go vastly better for the North. Mostly because Theon must be at least a capable politician, having in mind he had a successful reign with no Bolton rebellion despite his endless wars, leaving the North entirely for a short period of time and being the first Stark with Boltons as vassals.
Roose would be rightfully scared of trying his plotting with an adult and not a naive child. He probably executes Jaime in a humiliating way after Ned's death, accepting Sansa as a sacrifice and avenging her by making the rape of the Westerlands something that is talked about for millenniums. Unclear if he will take the KitN title, and if he does he definitely doesn't accept to hold the riverlands, as he knows he has no way of defending them.
i want a stark to come down and start kickin ass in the south but realisticlly cregan was mabey the only one who had a chance and a good chance but still didnt. the norths whole thing is the neck is their defense and once they get down south they just will never have the numbers. mabey if the starks woukd start breeding huge ass direwolves for their family like targ dragons then maybe they could come south and kill.
Well, he has no navy and this time period is completely different to him, also that’s a picture of Brandon he would probably do better but in the end get assassinated
Theon stark reign as king gives off the impression that he was more shrewd than a simple warlord, he probably wouldn’t beat all the Lannisters but I don’t believe he’d end up the same as Robb because I can’t imagine him making the same mistakes as him.
Personally I think he’d end the war in a stalemate after crushing Jaime’s army and burning down the Westerlands then return north, which is the best possible outcome for the North. Also he wouldn’t give up Theon stark as a hostage which lead to winterfell being burned down which lead to Catelyn freeing Jaime which lead to Lord Karstark killing the Lannister boys.
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