Maester's Summary
After the death of Aegon and Duncan Targaryen, peace returned in some form to Westeros. Through one small lie, King Baelon managed to develop some sort of relationship with his wife Rhaelle, and though it might not have been the stuff of songs, it formed into a good working relationship, one that put to rest the thoughts of any lurking Targaryen loyalists that they might win the Queen's favour and remove her husband from the throne. Together, King and Queen had three more children, Prince Aegor named after the man Baelon considered his true father, Princess Rhae named after the Queen's mother and finally Prince Aelyx. King Baelon reigned for thirty years, and in that time brought peace and prosperity to the realm, ensuring trade with the free cities reached an all time high, and trade within the kingdoms continued and grew. His heir, Prince Viserys grew into a strapping young man, charming and smart, and someone who charmed all who met him, a bright future for the Blackfyre dynasty, he wed Sansa Stark the daughter of Lord Brandon Stark and with her had had three children by the time King Baelon had died. Prince Jaehaerys joined the Kingsguard and served honourably and with much distinction, Prince Aegor joined the small council of his father and served with much dignity. Princess Alysanne was wed to Lord Tyland Lannister and Prince Aelyx wed Lady Marian Rowan and established a princedom within Goldengrove.
As for the Targaryens across the narrow sea, Prince Jaehaerys deciding that there was nothing left for them in Westeros, decided that he would rather become King in Pentos, and so had the magisters of the city slaughtered in what became known as the night of the thousand deaths. Once that was done, he and his followers established a royal court within Pentos, and soon began establishing trade with all the free cities of note. King Jaehaerys ruled for some twenty years before he succumbed to his frail health. His son Prince Aerys ascended the throne shortly after him and ensured that his father's legacy continued.
House Stark, the Great House that had provided the King with his shelter during the early days of his invasion, finally saw peace. Brandon Stark the winner of the war of the wolves reigned as Lord of Winterfell until he was sixty years old whereby he died from a chill. His children, Arthur, Sansa, Benjen, Rickon and finally Alysanne continued on his legacy and ensured peace and prosperity for the north as a whole. Arthur, his heir was a grim and solemn man but a man who knew his honour and duty, and inspired respect and admiration amongst his vassals, he wed Serena Stark his cousin when he turned sixteen. His sister Sansa wed Prince Viserys, a marriage that ensured that the north always had a voice at court.
House Arryn, led by Jasper Arryn had an increased presence at court, especially once Jasper was named hand of the king. They benefitted from trade contracts and the best deals with the merchant princes of the free cities. Jasper, had three children, Jon his heir became a squire to King Baelon, Alys was wed to a powerful Arryn bannerman Elys Waynwood, his youngest son and child Ronnel became a famous knight and in his sixteenth year was raised to the Kingsguard, bringing further glory to the Arryn family.
House Tully, the house that was often scorned by the other great houses, grew in prestige and prosperity during the reign of King Baelon. Lord Lyonel Tully, a shrewd and smart man made many matches to other great houses to secure his boundaries and ensure that Tully blood would sit on the thrones of many other kingdoms in years to come. And when the Ironborn began causing trouble towards the end of King Baelon's reign it was Lord Lyonel and House Tully who smashed Quellon Greyjoy on the shores of Seagard, and sent the Kraken packing.
House Lannister saw its own fair share of trouble. When lord Gerold died in 243 A.L., the Reynes and Tarbecks began growing in dissent, but Lord Tyland's smooth political skill managed to smooth things over before they began to boil. The Ironborn though became a frequent problem for the Ironborn, raiding and taking as they pleased, but when Lord Tyland called his banners and prepared for war, Quellon Greyjoy halted his raiding and retreated back to Pyke. It was a Lannister- Tully host that smashed Quellon and his men at Seagard and it was Tyland Lannister who took home the honour of killing Quellon Greyjoy himself.
The Tyrells, were tasked with guarding the southern borders of the kingdom against possible Dornish incursions. Lord Matthis Tyrell spent much of his time between Highgarden and the border castles set up along the Boneway and the Dornish border. Conflict happened once, in 255 A.L. and it was a short and bloody thing ending with Matthis' head on a spike and the potential for full blown war had King Baelon not stepped in and decided things would end with a marriage and a consolidation, and that was what happened between Houses Tyrell and Martell.
Finally, House Martell independent following King Baelon's crowning, dealt mainly with the Free cities and saw trade and commerce boom. Princess Arianne ruled well and long, and when her daughter Princess Elia took over Dorne was secure and stable. However, there was a long uncertainty over whether or not they should rejoin Westeros, what with the Targaryens having lost interest in the Iron Thorne, eventually a detente was reached and things cooled down enough for talks to begin.