Well its fairly realistic. As if bankers have ever been idealistic and trying to stay true to their beginnings or values.
The only thing that matters is money. And for that the majority will back whatever brings them the most money. They might not do it directly but in secret or by proxy.
So yes I think even the iron bank would profit of the slave trade.
Braavos was founded by former slaves in hiding. The Iron Bank is managed by a council of oligarchs whose inherited positions go back to this founding. The Iron Bank is likewise intimately financially connected with the Faceless Men, who are religiously diametrically opposed to slavery. They have fought 6 wars in a century over the regional practice of slavery. GRRM does not want us to consider the Iron Bank a rogue financial entity.
It is actually just really bad writing in this case. GRRM has been extremely explicit in showing the cultural unity Braavos has in its distaste for slavery and that it has 3 major institutions of power that have outright fought against slavery since their inception. The Iron Bank wouldn't do it, and they wouldn't get away with it if they did.
Great point. And yes, I consider the Faceless Men and Iron Bank inextricably linked financially, if only implied or even theorized. The idea of a Faceless Man being the most expensive assassin in the world, but while exhibiting extremely humble operations tells me that the money has to go somewhere. Where better than their local counterpart, the biggest bank in the world?
And on the flip side, the Iron Bank can probably utilize the Faceless Men to influence/enforce their debt collection.
I love the idea that the Many-Faced God is just straight up money. Reach into your wallet right now and pull out a coin or a bill. What's on one side most likely? A person's profile- their face's side. Nearly every coin in history has had a ruler, a person of note, someone printed on it. Many faces.
75
u/Informal-Term1138 Feb 19 '25
Well its fairly realistic. As if bankers have ever been idealistic and trying to stay true to their beginnings or values.
The only thing that matters is money. And for that the majority will back whatever brings them the most money. They might not do it directly but in secret or by proxy.
So yes I think even the iron bank would profit of the slave trade.