Order was destroyed, and the powerful families fled, leaving behind nothing but refugees, land, houses, mines, and shops as ownerless properties.
All the good things became ownerless.
At that time, taking them into hand and distributing them was justifiable.
Even if those powerful families came back, they couldn't claim that these things should be rightfully returned to them.
After all, they had abandoned this land; it was no longer theirs. Others struggled desperately to regain it. Merely wishing to take it back, no matter the excuses, lacked any justification.
"In the early stages of power formation, having a territory free from anyone's influence, where I could award titles and support my troops at will, was my foundation."