Rank 8: The Iron Islands
- House: Greyjoy
- Capital: Pyke
Similar to the Crownlands, the greatest strength of the Iron Islands lies in their fleet. As an island people, the Ironborn are particularly fond of sailing. Their rough and warlike nature only adds to this. Treasures are not gained with gold, but with the “Iron Price,” meaning through combat. This makes them fearless warriors who enjoy raiding and conquering.
As an island group, the Iron Islands also provide good natural defense. Anyone wishing to attack them first needs a large fleet themselves.
However, the location also has its disadvantages. Firstly, space is very limited. The population is correspondingly low, leading to a rather small army of only about 20,000 men. They have no cavalry, which is a significant disadvantage for wars on the mainland. Additionally, the wild nature of the Ironborn can become a problem in larger conflicts, as they lack the discipline and strategy of trained soldiers.
True to House Greyjoy’s motto, “We do not sow,” the resources on site are also very limited. The land is not well suited for agriculture, and trade is not very pronounced. This makes them very dependent on neighboring regions that they can plunder.
