@FStubbs
Maybe it's because we've only seen snippets, but she doesn't seem that clever. Wouldn't surprise me if someone else is leading it for her. Although I have to say it would be a welcome change if she DOES have a brain.
@Eiry : I think he was just feared or spoken ill of by people that are not in his fiefdom. Pretty sure the people of the north didn't fear him but respected him (which was why so many people before meeting her was oppose to their Grand Duke marrying this supposedly materialistic, cruel woman).