Bran Stark being named King of the Six Kingdoms at the end of Game of Thrones was one of the most controversial and debated plot points of the entire series. As the Three-Eyed Raven with greensight abilities, Bran did not seem like the most obvious choice to rule over Westeros. However, there were some strategic reasons that Bran was selected and crowned at the Dragonpit council meeting in King’s Landing.
Bran Had No Ambitions for Power
Unlike many of the other potential candidates for the throne, Bran had no personal ambitions to become King. He did not initiate any schemes, conspiracies, or battles to claim the crown. This made him an impartial and neutral choice that the lords and ladies of Westeros could agree upon without reservations. Bran took no action to influence or lobby for support from the noble houses or foreign powers. His passive demeanor ensured he had no enemies or rivals with reasons to oppose his rule.
Bran Possessed Wisdom and Foresight
As the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran had immense wisdom and knowledge beyond any normal man in Westeros. He had visions of past, present, and future events. He understood the true nature of threats facing the realm such as the White Walkers and what it took to defeat them. Bran could call upon thousands of years of history to help guide his decisions as King. With such unmatched experience and intelligence, Bran was an ideal choice to lead Westeros into a new era of peace and prosperity.
Bran Could Not Father Children
Bran’s paralysis meant he could not conceive children of his own with an heir. This resolved the issue of succession struggles between rival branches of House Targaryen that had caused so much death and destruction through civil war. There would be no possibility of Bran’s offspring fighting over his inheritance. The King would instead be chosen by a council of lords and ladies, allowing for a more democratic process. This also meant the Kingdom would not be plunged back into war and chaos when Bran died. A stable line of succession could be ensured.
Bran Remained Dedicated to Serving the Realm
During the Battle of Winterfell, Bran made clear his primary purpose was to defend the living and the realm against the forces of death. As the Three-Eyed Raven, it was his duty to maintain the memories of mankind and serve as its protector from extinction. Bran took this responsibility seriously and did not require power or privilege for personal motivations. His rule would be driven solely by his commitment to the greater good of the people of Westeros.
Bran Already Had the Respect of the Nobles
Many of the surviving noble lords and ladies of Westeros, especially those in the North, already knew Bran personally and witnessed his wisdom and special abilities. As the rightful heir to Winterfell, Bran had the respect and allegiance of House Stark’s subjects. News of his mystical role as the Three-Eyed Raven had spread, further elevating his reputation. This existing admiration made Bran more easily accepted as King than a Southern ruler the Northerners did not know or trust.
Bran Posesed Limited Military Might
Unlike many previous rulers of the Seven Kingdoms who relied on dragons or large armies to enforce their will, Bran himself posed no military threat. His reign would depend solely on the voluntary cooperation and support of the major houses and regions. This decentralization of coercive power meant Bran would need to govern with diplomacy and compromise. He could not autocratically impose his decrees through physical force or intimidation.
Bran Lacked Human Desires for Vice or Violence
As the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran displayed an eerie calmness and lack of human appetites. He admitted he could not be Lord of Winterfell because he no longer yearned for power or riches. Such freedom from baser temptations meant Bran would be exceedingly difficult to bribe or corrupt as King. His detached neutrality and indifference toward worldly pleasures made him ideally suited to selflessly serving the greater good.
Bran Knew the True Importance of Stories
Tyrion persuaded the council that stories have true power to shape society. As the realm’s “memory,” Bran knew all the most important stories that defined Westerosi culture and history. He appreciated firsthand how myths and legends influenced behavior and attitudes. Bran could weaponize such narratives as king to encourage values of justice, wisdom, and mercy throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
Bran Was Marked for Greatness
As the rightful heir to Winterfell who survived an assassination attempt and the King Beyond the Wall’s tutelage, Bran was marked by destiny for a special fate. His incredible journey north of the Wall and developing greensight powers showed he was touched by magical forces. Such a “chosen one” narrative made Bran’s ascension seem almost fated by the old gods and the Lord of Light. It provided divine legitimacy.
Bran’s Rule Provided Political Stability
The intent behind Bran’s selection was to stabilize the kingdoms after years of war. His neutrality, foresight, wisdom, and lack of heirs made him an ideal compromise to provide constancy. In contrast, alliances behind other candidates like Sansa or Jon Snow could have fallen apart. Outsider rulers like Tyrion or Davos may not have respected Westerosi traditions. Bran brought the greatest promise of steady, peaceful rule.
Bran Could Stop Future Threats
Bran’s greensight granted him unique abilities to anticipate and prepare for future dangers such as the return of the White Walkers or other magical threats. He would have time to build alliances, strengthen defenses, and share critical knowledge to meet any impending attacks. No normal king would be able to use such foresight to protect the realm from unseen enemies.
Bran Was True Neutral
Unlike previous kings and queens whose biases and prejudices heavily influenced their reigns, Bran showed no signs of favoritism or discrimination. He displayed no indications he might marginalize, persecute, or scapegoat any particular group. Bran judged people by their actions and character, not by appearances or identity. He valued reason over emotion or personal passion.
Bran Valued Institutional Checks on Power
During the council meeting that selected him as king, Bran readily agreed to granting independence to the Iron Islands and allowing the North to remain a separate kingdom. He also supported the idea of choosing his successor by the same council process. These decisions indicated Bran had no egotistical need for absolute authority and valued institutions that distribute power and check unilateral rule.
Bran Demonstrated Non-Traditional Thinking
When Tyrion proposed selecting Bran as king, the other lords and ladies seemed perplexed by the unconventional suggestion. However, Bran’s unique perspective and insights allowed him to appreciate the wisdom behind it. The freshness and flexibility of Bran’s approach marked him as someone who could adapt, innovate, and reimagine what a good king looks like.
Bran Accepted His Destiny
Despite seeming initially uncertain about becoming king, Bran accepted his fate and the reasoning behind it. He did not stubbornly resist or let ego overcome duty. Bran’s willingness to embrace a role thrust upon him showed humility, maturity, and patience. These traits suggested he would rule for the benefit of his subjects rather than himself.
Bran Bore No Grudges
Bran held no resentment toward those who had wronged House Stark in the past. He displayed no hatred for Jamie Lannister for crippling him or against Theon Greyjoy for betraying Robb. Bran’s capacity to forgive past grievances and work peacefully with former enemies demonstrated he could help unify the fractured kingdoms.
Bran Was Young But Battle-Tested
At his coronation, Bran was still a teenager. However, he had already endured more hardship and trauma than most men in full adulthood. His relative youth meant a long reign ahead, while his battle scars offered the wisdom and maturity of someone older. This blended the strengths of both youth and experience.
Bran Was Capable of Children If Needed
Though unable to father children naturally, Bran could potentially still sire heirs through magical means if absolutely necessary. As the Three-Eyed Raven, he had access to arcane powers that might allow for producing an offspring to continue his line. This last resort option meant Bran’s rule did not have to be Westeros’ final monarchy if future chaos ensued.
Bran Represented Mystical Old Gods
As a Greenseer, Bran symbolically embodied the nature religions of the Children of the Forest and First Men. This link to ancient mythic forces provided spiritual ties to lands beyond the North. Bran’s magical gifts made him a bridge between the realm’s pagan past and Andal present.
Bran Understood Commoners’ Lives
Bran’s travels north of the Wall exposed him to the lives of the Free Folk and strengthened bonds between common people and nobility. He never expressed disdain for the lower classes or other cultures. Bran’s firsthand experiences gave him greater empathy and identification with the daily struggles of the peasants and slaves he would rule.
Bran Was Detached from Petty Politics
As the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran demonstrated little interest in political power plays, scheming, flattery, or court intrigue. He could see through superficial appearances and deception to discern the truth in men’s hearts. These abilities meant Bran would be difficult to manipulate or control through courtiers, counselors, or bureaucrats.
Bran values rebuilding over retribution
Bran showed no interest in punishing his family’s enemies like Cersei or Tyrion. He seemed focused on restoring order and prosperity rather than vengeance. As king, Bran would direct resources toward reconstruction, reform, and renewal rather than continuing the cycles of retaliation and bloodshed.
Bran Could Warg into Dragons
As a powerful Warg, Bran had the rare ability to enter the minds of animals and control their actions. He was one of the few living people in Westeros capable of safely interacting with and riding dragons. As King, Bran could strategically deploy these weapons of mass destruction against threats when needed.
Bran Had Support from Key Powers
Bran’s rule was endorsed and enabled by King’s Landing, the Iron Islands, the North, the Vale of Arryn, and the independent Stormlands. With the collective backing of so many influential regions and houses, any challengers would struggle to overthrow his regime. These alignments provided political stability.
Conclusion
In the end, Bran possessed a mix of qualities that made him a uniquely fitted candidate to lead Westeros into a new era. His neutrality, wisdom, foresight, and political support allowed Bran to emerge as a compromise ruler instead of falling back into civil war. By thinking outside the box, the lords of the realm found an unconventional leader who could help stabilize a broken system. While Bran’s ascension to the throne remains hotly debated, he offered real advantages that may have made him the ideal candidate for such turbulent times in Westeros.
