How Littlefinger Bankrupted the Realm So He Could Be King

Did you know in the books Littlefinger has a plan to become King? This short uses evidence from A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons and The Winds of Winter.

A Game of Thrones theory explained, prepare for The Winds of Winter release date with a theory video of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series and something to think about while waiting for HBO's House of the Dragon Season 2.

[kathiresandk]

When Tyrion was made Master of Coin, he started going through the realms finances. He figures out that Littlefingers kept his bookkeeping intentionally extremely complex and most of the staff working under him were handpicked by Littlefinger. Littlefinger was slowly bankrupting the realm and enriching himself. Tyrion was so close to figuring out his schemes. One of the many reasons Littlefinger framed Tyrion for Joffreys murder.

[aegorbittersteel]

Littlefinger apparently learned about financial warfare from his great grandpa's homeland Braavos. 😂

[SpiralSine]

“…he moved his own men into place. The Keepers of the Keys were his, all four. The King's Counter and the King's Scales were men he'd named. The officers in charge of all three mints. Harbormasters, tax farmers, customs sergeants, wool factors, toll collectors, pursers, wine factors; nine of every ten belonged to Littlefinger.”

Can you imagine the insane amount of power one man would have if he personally controlled _ninety percent_ of the Westerosi equivalent of the IRS?

[scottwerner]

Not to mention that this off the back of the long summer. This would have been the most prosperous decade in westerosi history

[shannondavis]

Not only Bankrupting The Crown, but enriching himself. Through wealth, business, shops, brothers, ships, schemes and any other way he could siphon off more gold without being caught.

[dannyv]

Correction Tyrion knew or was very close to figuring out what little finger was doing

[Peterminator-njod]

Imagine how Stannis felt for 15 years that Robert ruled with that excuse of a small council

[onyedikachukwumiracle]

Littlefinger was one of the most manipulative and powerful people in GOT

[FathersUnited-fu]

Remember when we all thought the show was about Varys vs. Littlefinger for control of the throne? *sigh* the good old days.

[artietimmy]

Gotta hand it out to this dude for being the smartest and most cunning character in GOT. All the wars and deaths literally began because of him.. while everyone else is fighting and hating on each other. He becomes filthy rich! A true hustler fr

[ethann]

The royal wedding between cersi and Robert probably cost a million alone

[SebAnders]

I'd say 5 million dragons was just brothel expenses...

The king was partying HARD.

[ivanbluecool]

Robert's group: cersie who only thinks Lannister. Brother renly who plans to displace the Lannisters while being buddy buddy with little finger. Varys who was pro Targareans from the start. Jon arryn and everything he did in the background using robert as a figurehead. Little finger who made fake jokes to take in all the money.

Reader reaction: clearly the king is to blame.

[Keptaro]

Littlefinger's ancestors must've been the founding members of the Iron Bank

[KungFuHustling]

He got so much experience from being the mayor of Baltimore for years. He’s pretty much a political savant

[MrKguy]

It's heavily implied that he uses the Crown's gold to finance his own commercial endeavours, like engaging in commerce and buying businesses like brothels. When the Crown requires gold he acquires it through debt in the Crown's name. He provides the Crown with gold in this way, skims off the top for himself, invests it in a private venture, then pays back the difference using the income he generates for himself. He keeps more and more for himself, and forces the Crown to take on more and more debt. It's why the book describes the Crown as having 10 times the revenue, despite still being millions in debt. If he wasn't gaming the system, an increase in the Crown's revenue would mean the Crown should be reducing it's overall debt instead.

[sammcdermott]

The tourney had 100, 000 as prizes to the winners, I bet overall it was a lot more expensive, especially with the book description, in the show they obviously couldn’t portray everything shown in AGOT

[intoxicatedandslighlyfaded]

Little finger was the best character on that show. His speech to Roz is one of the best written scenes I've ever seen in anything.

[ivanbluecool]

Robert is the definition of an easy scapegoat for people. They all blame robert for anything they can even after his death. His only crime was being a chad destroying rhegar and being caught in something he didn't want

But he did keep the realm in peace and took down the iron islands showing his rule was strong. Just all the schemers around him made him want to die.

Same with how his "kids" don't like him when his true children do. He really doesn't get the respect he deserves as people think rhegar was some good guy when he lead to his own downfall and his family being ruined like the mad king

[cteal]

To be the cause, and the solution to a problem is a powerful yet dangerous position to be in.