One issue that plagues all studies of the ancient records is how differently the varied cultures reckon days and seasons and years.
Archmaester Walgram’s great work, The Reckoning of Time, delves deeply into this problem, but there is little consensus on what the dates we have actually mean in our own reckoning.
^ Ah, would love to read that book — see how the metaphysical concept of “time” is dealt with by the primitive and civilized societies of Planetos’ history.
Yandel raises a great point, however — time, even for a sentient species, varies vastly in how it is perceived. Without a universal system of a calendar in place that was implemented by all periods of history, it is difficult to rely on past cultural artifacts and writings to say exactly when this event or that event happened — at least until the infamous Fire and Blood ever gets published, if it does 😉
Planetos does not have the technology nor mental man-power we have to piece the planet’s history together in a fairly objective and linear manner.
I do love the title — “Reckoning” with time — oh yes, a great way to put the struggle with perceived time — a lifelong reckoning 🙂
Free Cities Trading With Westeros
For centuries, trading galleys have sailed up and down the narrow sea, deliveringfine tapestries, polished lenses, delicate lace, exotic fruits, strange spices, and myriad other goods, in return for gold and wool and other such products.
In Oldtown, King’s Landing, Lannisport, and every port from Eastwatch to the Planky Town, sailors, bankers, and merchants from the Free Cities can be found, buying and selling and telling their tales.
^ Lots of trade between Essos and Westeros for thousands of years — Essos provides the more cultured and tailored goods, Westeros the raw materials.
Seems like an even trade of sorts. Westeros also has more land to grow varied crops, despite some exotic fruits coming from eastern lands.
(Gulltown Harbor)
What Sets Apart The Nine Free Cities From Other Places
We speak of Nine Free Cities, though across the width of Essos one may find many other Valyrian towns, settlements, and outposts, some larger and more populous than Gulltown, White Harbor, or even Lannisport.
^ Yeah, we saw in earlier sections how the Valyrians had colonies and outposts along the Rhoyne, further north into the denser forests, and along the western coast of Essos.
These were all sizable and prosperous, with some having their names lost forever to history.
The distinction that sets the Nine apart is not their size but their origins.
At their height before the Doom, other cities, such as Mantarys, Volon Therys, Oros, Tyria, Draconys, Elyria, Mhysa Faer, Rhyos, and Aquos Dhaen were grand and glorious and rich, yet for all their pride and power, none ever ruled itself.
They were governed by men and women sent out from Valyria to govern in the name of the Freehold.
^ Yeah, even more cities to explore than just the vaunted Nine Free ones.
Mantarys especially looks splendid, a little demon-city after the Doom struck.
Such was never true of Volantis and the rest of the Nine.
Though born of Valyria, each was independent of its mother from birth.
All but Braavos were dutiful daughters, neither making war upon Valyria nor defying the dragon lords in any matter of significance; they remained willing allies and trading partners of their mother and looked to the Lands of the Long Summer for leadership in times of crisis.
^ Obviously Braavos was founded by slaves and allowed in every religions and spiritual sect possible, having no part in trading with or playing politics with Valyria.
- I’m pretty sure the Nine Free Cities (well, eight, for this matter) did pay taxes of a sort, even if this was done via random “tributes” whenever the dragonlords felt like collecting some form of tax.
- Prety difficult for the Free Cities to even entertain defying Valyria — 1) Valyria had hundreds of dragons, and 2) because of Valyria the Nine Cities had a huge market for their goods and services, from fanciful rugs to bed slaves. The Valyrians propped up their economies by buying all their goods and services, instead of giving handouts.
- They might have styled themselves “independent” cities, but it’s not like they would have gotten away with stopping all trade with Valyria, or refusing to lend a hand in a military conflict when called upon.
- However, for all of its faults, Valyria and the dragonlords always did provide their daughter cities with military and financial support when needed, exhibited most potently by how they handled the Rhoynish forces heading towards Volantis with an army of 250K, which they flamed to ashes.
Governance
(A dragonlord inspecting)
In lesser matters, however, the Nine Free Cities went their own ways, under the rule of their own priests and princes and archons and triarchs.
^ Yup —- no micromanaging from Valyria — just like when Aegon conquered Westeros.
To make a vast empire love and respect you and remain loyal, it’s best to allow them to govern themselves and feel like they are independent, even if your shadow is always looming in the background.
Allowing them complete legal and religious freedom is a small price to pay for colonizing far away from the empire’s seat of power to expand overall markets.
The dragonlords put aside Ego and the need to control every last detail, and it paid them dividends for close to 6,000 years.
England and King George should have taken some notes on how to best colonize 😉
Daniel's Backup of 20 years of ASOIAF Historical Analysis 