Are you surprised?
Despite all the noble claims, I doubt any of us would really go to war without expecting to come out of it with new territory and vassals. That applies to the Order as it does to anyone else.
The small lords were used and discarded. Most have only been drained to the point of exhaustion, and if they still want to remain independent, no one gives a damn.
Still, if people want to waste lives and money on pointless wars, who am I to stop them?
