Game of Thrones’ The Iron Bank Was Stronger Than Any Kingdom, Fight Us

Summary:

• The Iron Bank could not be taken by force: it was protected by Braavos, the powerful Free city, and could afford to hire every mercenary army in the world.
• The Iron Bank was closely associated with the Faceless Men, the world’s best assassins, and allied with most major players through deals and debts.
• No force in the known world could survive a direct confrontation with the Iron Bank, except for the White Walkers who resided in Westeros, not Essos.

Game of Thrones mostly follows nobles from the Great Houses of Westeros, making them look like the most powerful forces in the world. That was not true: even the richest and most powerful House Lannister were threatened by the Iron Bank of Braavos. This millenia-old financial institution inspired great fear in lords and Kings.

“Anyway, it's not my father I'm worried about, it's the Iron Bank of Braavos. We owe them tens of millions. If we fail to repay these loans, the Bank will fund our enemies. One way or another, they always get their gold back,” Tyrion Lannister once said.

But why would the old nobility bow before a bank, of all things? Couldn’t they just overtake the financiers if needed, write off their debts, and be done with it?

The Iron Bank Was Located in Braavos

On the surface level, the Iron Bank’s center of operations is a problem in itself. Braavos is the most powerful of the Free Cities and an economic powerhouse that would not stand for anyone’s attacks on its institutions. No one in their right mind, lord or King alike, would dare to mess with Braavos, especially because of a debt.

Its native land protected the Iron Bank from any front assault well enough, but Braavos was not unconquerable, of course. If someone really wanted to take the city down, they could have tried — but that’s when the Iron Bank itself comes into play.

The Iron Bank Held Unfathomable Riches

If push came to shove, the Iron Bank could have defended itself against any army in the world. The Bank’s riches were enough to buy all the mercenary companies and smaller lords in the known world several times over if needed, and since the financiers were known to keep their promises, they would’ve been aided by many.

It doesn’t matter how large a King’s army is if in a matter of weeks, their enemy can summon borderline every mercenary in the world under its banner. The Iron Bank didn’t need a regular army as its money could buy anyone, anything, and anywhere.

The Iron Bank Was Buddies with the Faceless Men

Most likely, this theoretical confrontation would have never even developed to the point of an open confrontation or a war. The Iron Bank shared its hometown with the House of Black and White where the Faceless Men resided, and the assassins and the financiers were closely associated with each other. This alliance was unbeatable.

The Faceless Men had steep prices, but they were the best assassins in the world. The Iron Bank had all the riches imaginable, and they could fund any assignment. Anyone who dared to go against the Bank would soon find themselves cut down.

The Iron Bank Was Allied with Everyone

For better or worse, the Iron Bank of Braavos was an essential pillar of the world’s economy. Every other lord was indebted to the Bank; every other merchant made deals with it. The Iron Bank’s existence was instrumental to the politics and economy of all kingdoms and lordships, and if it fell, it would’ve been an unspeakable disaster.

For this reason alone, trying to go against the Iron Bank would have been suicidal. Almost every power-that-be in the world is either indebted to the Bank or does business with it, so every power is its ally. It’s like trying to fight the whole world.