The Most Powerful Game of Thrones City Is Not What You Think It Is
Game of Thrones fans have taken to Reddit to decide once and for all, which city in Essos should hold the title of most powerful.
Essos is too often overlooked in fan discussions and similar, with much of the focus tending to be on Westeros. Not this time. Now the fans have taken their detailed knowledge of the cities in Essos and launched into a likely debate until one emerges as the strongest. And you will be surprised by the result.
Several cities got a mention, such as Qarth, Asshai, Vaes Dorthrak, and Volantis, but did not take the crown for the most powerful. Valyria was also a consideration noting that it took an act of the gods to destroy it, but given it is no longer populated, it has been ruled out of the standings.
Qarth's claim to be the greatest city that ever was or ever will be is taken with a huge grain of salt by the fans, especially since they do not seem to have much of a military force to rely upon. It is only their isolation that grants them power. Asshai was suggested but considered too sparsely populated to pose any kind of genuine threat.
Vaes Dorthrak certainly has a formidable fighting force, but they are not a unified one and lack political structure. They would need to become incredibly organised to compete in the power scale of Essos. Volantis emerged as a strong contender, with his impressive military force, strong economy, and strategic location. But there were two cities deemed more powerful. Yi Ti and Braavos.
But of these two, which is the most powerful?
Let's consider what we know about them. We know that Yi Ti is absolutely massive, dwarfing Braavos in size. Likewise, it has an enormous fighting force, whereas Braavos does not. But in the areas in which Yi Ti lacks, Braavos shines. The economy is rough in Yi Ti and the city may be gigantic, but it is by no means unified. It is largely split into three factions, all of which seem to disagree on many aspects, including trade. While there is one Emperor that oversees all of Yi Ti, he is well-established as a mere figurehead who has no real say over how the city is run.
Braavos has a bustling economy and is the home of the Iron Bank, which controls all the money in Westeros and the Free Cities. And while it does not have much in the way of an overt military force, it does contain the headquarters (for want of a better term), of the much-feared Faceless Men.
The very definition of silent assassins, this group are able to end the life of anyone they choose through patience, stealth, and skill. Braavos does not require a showy army to seize power if it wishes, since it is home to the most lethal group of killers.
Fans have weighed all these facts carefully and a clear winner stands victorious. Braavos. However, they do acknowledge that should Yi Ti ever become truly unified, it would quickly seize the claim of the most powerful city in Essos due to its size and impressive military force.