When did the Night's Watch decline so much?

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[@AndrewK23777]

Well put IDG - those Wilding incursions , famine and diseases often forgotten in terms of how much they took their toll on the NW's numbers. The issue with refortification is the NW had long lost its purpose and prestige. The further removed we are from the Long Night ; those events turn to myth and legend and the original true purpose is forgotten and / or no longer widely believed. A magical barrier keeping the Others / their army out became a large physical barrier to cut off the Free folk and keep them out. That original more important purpose lost , coupled with regions literally sending their worst for so long (mostly criminals) ; just simply hard to make a case to properly refortify in that situation. Keeping the Free folk out doesn't bring the same urgency or impetus that a believed magical existential threat would.

[@andrewropp6998]

Very well said.

[@AndrewK23777]

@@andrewropp6998 thank you

[@tuamaaloseumaala2676]

Jon Snow...is the Prince that was promised!! Of Stark & Targaryen blood...🤯

[@Ruzzo14]

10,000 men is a very high number. To me it seems unlikely that they were all from the North. Did there used to be a greater tradition of Southern families joining the watch?

[@ThommyofThenn]

It seems the Watch used to have more "clout" and also more Old God worship in the south. As they became more FotS, they probably stopped caring about Northern things

[@Vidar93]

To explain briefly yes. It used to be a very well respected organization that noble families would often send second sons who don't have an inheritance to. Beyond that it was an organization where titles didn't hold much weight so an average citizen could join and serve a greater purpose. I honestly believe that the reason it has declined to its current state is due to the series of raids and the bad winter the experienced but not because it devastated their numbers. But rather because after this they were so desperate for recruits they started taking criminals and thugs and filled their ranks with the dungeons of the continent. This helped initially but tarnished the reputation so it became viewed much less of a noble group to join and more of a punishment which led to less and less houses willingly sending members to join.

[@Ruzzo14]

Another question that comes to mind is a question of timing. After 8000 years, the Watch is at a peak of 10,000 men. Yet just a few centuries later it's at its lowest point. Not just in terms of depopulation due to war/famine, but prestige and cultural cache as well. That's a huge drop in a small amount of time. Were the cultural/power shifts in Westeros post Dance really that drastic? Or is this another situation where time just works kind of funny in George RR Martin's world?

[@carlrood4457]

I suppose the most likely answer is that's when the Targaryens stopped handing down the story or Aegon's vision from one king to the next. While it was apparently rediscovered by some, it didn't make it to the point where a king had it and began passing it to his heirs. The dagger's fate at the end of the war may be they key. We know it ends up with Robert Baratheon, but not how. It may have been just another treasure kept somewhere in the Red Keep or it may have had a journey to return there. Without the dragons, noble houses probably put a lot more effort into favor currying in King's Landing and with other houses because Targaryen power would require alliances going forward. Sending third and fourth sons to the Wall might have been less desirable than strategic marriages or sending one or two to the Citadel. A Maester can have considerable power, whereas a Knight's Watchman wouldn't.

[@anonymous-hz2un]

The fiery Targaryens had melt the ice in the North.

[@stephaniefrederick1180]

🌝