The Game of Thrones is over. The White Walkers have been defeated, the North has gained its independence and a Stark has been elected to rule the remaining kingdoms. The TV series has come to an end and the conclusion being divisive, to say the least, and the events of the final season do have major implications for Westeros and beyond. Just because war is over the peace hasn’t been won.
Succession crises across Westeros
The various conflicts during Game of Thrones had a devasting effect on the ruling houses of Westeros. During the show all of House Tyrell was eliminated leading to Bronn taking over Highgarden and Stormlands ends up being ruled by a Bastard. This could lead to a lot of discontent in these regions, especially in Highgarden where a sellsword upstart is now a high lord. Minor lords with claims could end up rising up against these newcomers. In the books, the families of the High Lords were a lot bigger and a family member like a cousin would most likely challenge for the title. Even minor houses have become extinct during the wars like House Mormont of Bear Island, meaning that there a lot of power voids to fill.
Qyburn’s Necromancy
Fans of both the novels and the show know Qyburn as the man that was so unethical that he lost his status as Maester. His questionable acts involved human experiment and necromancy with one of his most famous actions being the resurrection of Gregor Clegane – turning him into a zombie. However, Gregor turned on his master in the final season, just like the White Walkers turned on their creators, The Children of Forest. Qyburn proves that people can be brought back from the dead and if anyone else succeeds it could spell another zombie threat to the world.
The Drained Dothraki Sea
One of Daenerys Targaryen’s greatest achievement was uniting the Dothraki khals and turning them into an almighty force. Yet by the end of the season most of the Dothraki were killed and this will have big implications for the continent of Essos.
After the Doom of Valyria there was a power vacuum in the Western half of Essos which the Dothraki Horse Lord filled. The Dothraki were a nomadic people who raided, invaded and enslaved their neighbours, becoming some of the most famous warriors in the world. They have taken over the large plains named the Dothraki Sea. The Dothraki were so feared that some many cities pay tributes to spare them from their wroth.
With the Dothraki gone there would be a new power vacuum in Essos with a large territory is up for grabs. Smaller kingdoms and city-states can colonise the plains and go to war over it. The Ibbenese could reclaim their lost empire or the Jogos Nhai, a people similar to the Dothraki may cross the Bone Mountains and replace the Dokthraki.
The Failure of the Electoral College
Tyrion Lannister’s solution for the succession of the Throne of the Six Kingdom was an electoral college where the Lords choice their ruler. On the surface, it would seem that Westeros is taking its first steps towards democracy. The problem is real elective monarchs have failed.
The most famous Electoral College from the medieval period was the Holy Roman Empire. At its peak the Holy Roman Empire covered what is now Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Northern Italy. But the Habsburgs dynasty ended up dominating the Holy Roman Empire and the system fell apart during the 30 Years War. The Poland-Lithuanian was also an elected monarchy and was a powerful state in the early modern period, but they fell apart with the territory ending up being gobbled up by Prussia, Russia, and Austria.
If the Elective College does last Westeros politics could still end up being just as dangerous and corrupt. Lords could bribe and force their way to the throne and politics could be just as bloody as the old system.
The Break-up of the Six Kingdoms
One of the biggest events at the end of Game of Thrones is the North gaining their independence and after all her suffering Sansa has become Queen of the North. And the loss of the North could start a domino effect. The Former Seven Kingdoms has already lost half its landmass and other kingdoms would question why can’t they be independent?
Dorne is one of the culturally unique territories in Westeros – their ancestry stem from the Rhoynar people which makes them genetically different from the rest of the continent. They were the only kingdom to hold back Aegon’s conquest and they only joined the Seven Kingdoms through a marriage alliance. The small folk was able to resist and fight off Aegon’s forces using guerrilla tactics.
Other kingdoms can also break away. The Iron Island has the most famous territory to rebel against the Seven Kingdoms – Lord Balon rebelled twice, first against King Robert and secondly invading the North. Yara and Theron Greyjoy were promised independence if they supported Daenerys Targaryen.
