Difference between revisions of "Eddard Stark"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
(Aramayo)
(67 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
:''"Eddard" and "Ned" redirect here. For other characters called "Eddard" or "Ned", please see [[Eddard (disambiguation)]] and [[Ned (disambiguation)]].[[Image:Disambig.png]]''
+
{{Hatnote|"Eddard" and "Ned" redirect here. For other uses, see [[Eddard Karstark]] and [[Ned (disambiguation)]].}}
{{Infobox_character
+
{{Infobox character 
| Character_name = [[File:House_Stark.PNG|50px|left]] Eddard Stark [[File:House_Stark.PNG|50px|right]]
+
| name          = Eddard Stark
| image          = [[File:Eddard by AniaEm.jpg|300px]]
+
| arms          = House Stark.svg
| image_caption  = Eddard Stark by AniaEm ©
+
| arms2          =
| Alias          = Ned<br>The Ned<br>The Quiet Wolf
+
| image         = [[File:Eddard Amoka.jpg|300px]]
| Title          = Lord of [[Winterfell]]<br>[[Warden of the North]]<br>[[Hand of the King]]<br>[[Seven Kingdoms|Protector of the Realm]]<br>[[Regent]]
+
| image_caption  = Eddard Stark by [http://en.amokanet.ru/gallery/martin/martin.html Amok] ©
 +
| Alias          = Ned{{Ref|AGOT|2}}<br>The quiet wolf{{Ref|ASOS|24}}<ref name="Citadel">[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_were_the_different_people_in_Meeras_story/ "The Citadel: FAQ, entry 6.2.6- Who were the different people in Meera's story?" (2007]</ref><br>The Ned{{Ref|ADWD|62}}
 +
| Title          = [[Lord of Winterfell]]<br>[[Warden of the North]]<br>[[Hand of the King]]<br>[[Protector of the Realm]]<br>[[Regent|Lord Regent]]
 
| Allegiance    = [[House Stark]]
 
| Allegiance    = [[House Stark]]
| Race          =
+
| Predecessor    = [[Rickard Stark]] <small>(Lord of Winterfell)</small><br>[[Jon Arryn]] <small>(Hand of the King)</small><br>[[Robert I Baratheon]] <small>(Protector of the Realm)</small>
 +
| Successor      = [[Robb Stark]] <small>(Lord of Winterfell)</small><br>[[Roose Bolton]] <small>(Warden of the North)</small><br>[[Tywin Lannister]] <small>(Hand of the King)</small><br>[[Cersei Lannister]] <small>(Protector of the Realm)</small>
 +
| Race          =  
 
| Culture        = [[Northmen]]
 
| Culture        = [[Northmen]]
 +
| Date_of_Birth  = {{Date|263}}<ref name=Calculation>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued)#Eddard Stark|Eddard Stark]] calculation.''</ref>
 +
| Place_of_Birth = [[Winterfell]]{{Ref|AWOIAF| Eddard Stark}}
 +
| Date_of_Death  = {{Date|299}} <small>(aged 36)</small><ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Events#Main Series|Main Series calculations, 298AC to 299AC]].''</ref>
 +
| Place_of_Death = [[Great Sept of Baelor]], [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|AGOT|65}}
 +
| Father        = Lord [[Rickard Stark]]
 +
| Mother        = Lady [[Lyarra Stark]]
 
| Spouse        = Lady [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]]
 
| Spouse        = Lady [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]]
| Place_of_Birth = [[Winterfell]]{{Ref|AWOIAF| Eddard Stark}}
+
| Lover          = [[Wylla]] <small>(supposedly)</small><br>[[Ashara Dayne]] <small>(rumored)</small><br>Fisherman's daughter <small>(rumored)</small>
| Date_of_Birth  = {{Date|263}}<ref name=Calculation>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued)#Eddard Stark|Eddard Stark]] calculation.''</ref>
+
| Issue          = [[Robb Stark]]<br>[[Jon Snow]]<br>[[Sansa Stark]]<br>[[Arya Stark]]<br>[[Bran Stark]]<br>[[Rickon Stark]]
| Place_of_Death = [[Great Sept of Baelor]] in [[King's Landing]]{{ref|AGOT|65}}
+
| coat-of-arms  =
| Date_of_Death  = {{Date|299}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Events#Main Series|Main Series calculations, 298AC to 299AC]].''</ref>
+
| Books          = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' <small>(mentioned)</small><br>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' <small>(POV)</small><br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' <small>(mentioned)</small><br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' <small>(mentioned)</small><br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' <small>(mentioned)</small><br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' <small>(mentioned)</small><br>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'' <small>(mentioned)</small>
| Books          = ''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (mentioned)
+
| Played_by      = [[w:Sean Bean|Sean Bean]]<br>Sebastian Croft <small>(child)</small><br>Robert Aramayo <small>(young)</small>
| coat-of-arms  =
+
| TV_series      = ''[[Game of Thrones]]'': [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|1]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|6]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 7|7]]
| Played_by      = [[w:Sean Bean|Sean Bean]] ~ [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|Season 1]]<br>Sebastian Croft ~ [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]] (Younger Eddard)<br>Robert Aramayo ~ [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]] (Young Eddard)
 
| TV_series      = [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]]
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
'''Eddard Stark''', also called '''"Ned"''', is the head of [[House Stark]], Lord of [[Winterfell]], and [[Warden of the North]]. He is a close friend to King [[Robert I Baratheon]], with whom he was raised. Eddard is one of the major [[POV character]]s in ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''.
  
'''Eddard Stark''', also called '''"Ned"''', is the head of [[House Stark]], Lord of [[Winterfell]], and [[Warden of the North]]. He is a close friend to King [[Robert I Baratheon]], with whom he was raised. Eddard is one of the major [[POV character]]s in the books. In the television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', he is played by [[w:Sean Bean|Sean Bean]] in [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|Season 1]] and by Sebastian Croft and Robert Aramayo during flashbacks in [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]].<ref name=IMDB />
+
In the television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Eddard is played by [[w:Sean Bean|Sean Bean]], Sebastian Croft (Eddard as a child), and Robert Aramayo (Eddard as a young man).<ref name=IMDB />
  
 
==Appearance and Character==
 
==Appearance and Character==
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Eddard Stark|Images of Eddard Stark]]''
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Eddard Stark|Images of Eddard Stark]]''
Eddard is in his mid-thirties. He has a long face, dark hair and grey eyes. His closely-trimmed beard is beginning to grey, making him look older than his years.{{Ref|aGoT|1}} His dark grey eyes reflect his moods, turning soft as fog or hard as stone.{{Ref|aCoK|39}} Among his enemies, Eddard has the reputation of having cold eyes. They are thought to reflect his frozen heart.{{Ref|aCoK|27}} Eddard is neither as large nor as handsome as his older brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] was, according to [[Catelyn Stark]]; however, she also states that he has a "good sweet heart beneath his solemn face".{{Ref|aSoS|45}} He keeps faith with the [[old gods]].{{ref|AGOT|2}} He is fiercely protective of his wife and children, whom he loves deeply.
 
  
Eddard is known for his unwavering sense of honor and justice and his family finds him kind, although some consider his reserved personality a sign of coldness and disdain.
+
Eddard has a long face{{Ref|AGOT|6}} and long brown hair.{{Ref|AGOT|1}} His closely-trimmed beard is beginning to grey, making him look older than his thirty-five years.{{Ref|AGOT|1}} His dark grey eyes{{Ref|AGOT|1}} reflect his moods, turning soft as fog or hard as stone.{{Ref|ACOK|39}} Eddard is shorter and less handsome than his older brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] had been, according to [[Catelyn Stark]]; however, she also states that Ned has a "good sweet heart beneath his solemn face".{{Ref|ASOS|45}} He keeps faith with the [[old gods]].{{Ref|AGOT|2}} He is fiercely protective of his wife and children, whom he loves deeply.
 +
 
 +
Eddard is known for his unwavering sense of honor{{Ref|AGOT|12}}{{Ref|AGOT|58}} and [[Laws and justice of the Seven Kingdoms|justice]] and his family finds him kind, although some consider his reserved personality a sign of coldness and disdain.{{Ref|AGOT|33}} Among his enemies, Eddard has the reputation of having cold, judgmental eyes{{Ref|ASOS|44}} thought to reflect his frozen heart.{{Ref|ACOK|27}}
 +
 
 +
While riding his [[Horse|great warhorse]] in the [[north]], Ned wears furs and leathers.{{Ref|AGOT|1}} Ned also wears silk{{Ref|AGOT|25}} and linen{{Ref|AGOT|47}} tunics and a belt of heavy silver links.{{Ref|AGOT|47}} His surcoat is fine white velvet with a [[direwolf]] badge over the heart.{{Ref|ACOK|39}} Ned's cloaks are grey with white,{{Ref|AGOT|27}} as well as black wool.{{Ref|AGOT|43}}
 +
 
 +
Lord Stark wields sword{{Ref|AGOT|35}} and dagger,{{Ref|AGOT|20}} although he uses [[Ice]], a [[Valyrian steel]] [[greatsword]], for ceremonial purposes.{{Ref|AGOT|1}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Youth===
 
===Youth===
Eddard Stark was born the second son of Lord [[Rickard Stark]] and Lady [[Lyarra Stark]]. He had one older brother, [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], and two younger siblings, [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]] and [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| Appendix: Stark Lineage}}{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}}
+
Eddard was born at [[Winterfell]]{{Ref|AWOIAF| Eddard Stark}} as the second son of Lord [[Rickard Stark]] and Lady [[Lyarra Stark]]. He had one older brother, [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], and two younger siblings, [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]] and [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| Appendix: Stark Lineage}}{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}}
  
Eddard was fostered by Lord [[Jon Arryn]] at the [[Eyrie]] from the age of eight, alongside [[Robert Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|aGoT|6}} Eddard befriended Robert and came to consider Lord Arryn a second father.{{ref|AGOT|2}} When he reached the age of sixteen, Eddard was a man grown, and divided his time between [[Winterfell]] and the [[Eyrie]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Some_Questions Some Questions (March 16, 2000)]</ref> During one of his visits to Winterfell, Eddard carried a wedding proposal from Robert to his father, Lord Rickard, who agreed to betroth his daughter Lyanna to Eddard's friend.{{ref|awoiaf| Eddard Stark}}{{Ref|AGOT|35}} When Lyanna later expressed that her believe that Robert would never keep to one bed, having heard about Robert's [[Mya Stone|bastard daughter in the Vale]], Eddard recalled having seen the child, and is unable to deny her existence.{{Ref|AGOT|35}}
+
Eddard was [[fostering|fostered]] by Lord [[Jon Arryn]] at the [[Eyrie]] from the age of eight.{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|aGoT|6}} There, Eddard befriended his fellow ward, [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]], while Lord Jon became like a second father to him.{{Ref|AGOT|2}} When he reached the age of sixteen, Eddard was a man grown, and divided his time between Winterfell and the Eyrie.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Some_Questions Some Questions (March 16, 2000)]</ref> During one of his visits to Winterfell, Eddard carried a wedding proposal from Robert to his father, Lord Rickard, who agreed to betroth his daughter Lyanna to Eddard's friend.{{Ref|awoiaf| Eddard Stark}}{{Ref|AGOT|35}} When Lyanna later expressed that her belief that Robert would never keep to one bed, having heard about [[Mya Stone]], Robert's bastard daughter in the [[Vale of Arryn]], Eddard recalled having seen the child, and was unable to deny her existence.{{Ref|AGOT|35}} Lord [[Rodrik Ryswell]] hoped to wed his daughter [[Barbrey Dustin|Barbrey]] to Brandon or Eddard.{{ref|ADWD|41}}
  
In {{Date|281}}, at the age of eighteen, Eddard came down from the Eyrie to go to the [[tourney at Harrenhal]],{{Ref|aGoT|58}} where, amongst others, Eddard's foster brother [[Robert Baratheon]], his foster father Jon Arryn, and his three siblings, [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]] and [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]] were also present.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} It was during this tourney that Eddard would meet [[Howland Reed]], one of his father's bannermen. Howland and Eddard would remain friends for the rest of their lives. During the opening feast, Eddard saw [[Ashara Dayne]], a lady-in-waiting to Princess [[Elia Martell]]. He would dance with her later that night, but only after his older brother Brandon had spoken to her on his behalf, since he himself was too shy.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} Eddard was present during the final jousts, where Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] passed over his own wife, Elia, to crown Lyanna the [[queen of love and beauty]]. Eddard would remember this moment as "the moment when all smiles died" years later.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
+
===Tourney at Harrenhal===
 +
[[File:Rhaeg lyanna-winterfelll.jpg|thumb|[[Rhaegar Targaryen]], Eddard, and [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]], by M. Luisa Giliberti ©]]
 +
In {{Date|281}}, at the age of eighteen, Eddard came down from the Eyrie to attend the [[tourney at Harrenhal]].{{Ref|aGoT|58}} Also present were Eddard's foster brother Robert, his foster father Jon, and his three siblings, Brandon, Lyanna, and [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]].{{Ref|aSoS|24}} It was during this tourney that Eddard met [[Howland Reed]], one of his father's bannermen. Howland and Eddard remained friends for the rest of their lives. During the opening feast, Eddard saw [[Ashara Dayne]], a lady-in-waiting to Princess [[Elia Martell]]. He danced with her later that night, but only after his older brother Brandon had spoken to her on his behalf, since he himself was too shy.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} Eddard was present during the final jousts, where Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] passed over his own wife, Elia, to crown Lyanna the [[queen of love and beauty]]. Eddard would remember this moment as "the moment when all smiles died" years later.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
  
The following year, Eddard's sister Lyanna was allegedly abducted by Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]].{{Ref|AGOT|66}} Eddard's brother Brandon rode to [[King's Landing]] in anger, but when he threatened the crown prince, he was arrested. Lord Rickard Stark was summoned to King's Landing, and when he demanded a [[trial by combat]], both he and Brandon were executed at the command of King [[Aerys II Targaryen]].{{Ref|ACOK|55}} Aerys's next step was to demand that Jon Arryn send him the heads of his wards, Eddard and Robert. Jon refused and instead [[Robert's Rebellion|rose his banners]].{{Ref|aGoT|2}}
+
The following year, Eddard's sister Lyanna was abducted by Prince Rhaegar.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} Brandon rode to [[King's Landing]] in anger, but he was arrested when he threatened the crown prince. Lord Rickard Stark was summoned to King's Landing to answer for the crimes of his son, and rode to the capital with two hundred men. When he demanded a [[trial by combat]], both he and Brandon were executed at the command of King [[Aerys II Targaryen]].{{Ref|ACOK|55}} Aerys's next step was to demand that Jon Arryn send him the heads of his former wards, Eddard and Robert. Jon refused and instead called his banners.{{Ref|aGoT|2}}
  
 
===Robert's Rebellion===
 
===Robert's Rebellion===
With his father and brother dead, Eddard was now the Lord of [[Winterfell]]. He wanted to raise his banners to join the rebellion, but getting from the [[Vale of Arryn]] to the [[north]] was complicated by the fact that [[Gulltown]], the Vale's chief port, had stayed loyal to the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|AFFC|23}}{{ref|ADWD|9}} Eddard had to cross the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]] and hire a fisherman to bring him to [[White Harbor]] with a boat. They were caught by a storm on the [[Bite]] and the fisherman drowned. However, his daughter managed to bring Eddard to the [[Three Sisters]]. When he arrived at [[Sisterton]], [[House Borrell]]'s maester urged [[House Borrell|Lord Borrell]] to deliver Eddard's head to King [[Aerys II Targaryen]], but Lord Borrell, knowing that Jon Arryn and [[Robert Baratheon]] had [[taking of Gulltown|taken Gulltown]] in the meantime, was unsure who would prevail in the conflict. Thus he let Ned leave for White Harbor, telling him to remain silent about his stay in Sisterton in case the rebellion failed.{{Ref|aDwD|9}}
+
[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek Robert and Ned.jpg|thumb|[[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] and Eddard, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
[[File:Eddard Jaime Aerys Iron Throne Room.jpg|thumb|400px|left|Eddard, [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]], and [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]] in the [[Iron Throne]] room - by Amok ©]]
+
With his father and brother dead, Eddard was now the [[Lord of Winterfell]]. He wanted to raise his banners to join [[Robert's Rebellion]], but getting from the [[Vale of Arryn]] to the [[north]] was complicated by the loyalty to the [[Iron Throne]] of [[Gulltown]], the Vale's chief port.{{Ref|AFFC|23}}{{Ref|ADWD|9}} Eddard crossed the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]] and hired a fisherman to bring him to [[White Harbor]] with a boat. They were caught by a storm on the [[Bite]] and the fisherman drowned. However, his daughter brought Eddard to the [[Three Sisters]]. When he arrived at [[Sisterton]], [[House Borrell]]'s maester urged [[Lord Borrell (father of Godric)|Lord Borrell]] to deliver Eddard's head to King [[Aerys II Targaryen]], but Lord Borrell, knowing that Jon Arryn and Robert Baratheon had [[taking of Gulltown|taken Gulltown]] in the meantime, was unsure who would prevail in the conflict. Thus he let Ned leave for White Harbor, telling him to remain silent about his stay in Sisterton in case the rebellion failed.{{Ref|aDwD|9}}
  
Eddard called his banners, and marched south to join Robert and Jon, arriving in time to turn the tide at the [[Battle of the Bells]].{{Ref|ASOS|29}} Afterward, he went to [[Riverrun]] to marry [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]], who had been betrothed to his brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] before his death.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} [[Jon Arryn]] married Catelyn's sister [[Lysa Arryn|Lysa]] in the same ceremony. The double wedding bound [[House Tully]] to the rebels' cause.{{Ref|aGoT|2}}
+
Eddard called his banners, and marched south to join Robert, arriving with Lord [[Hoster Tully]] in time to turn the tide at the [[Battle of the Bells]].{{Ref|ASOS|29}} Afterward, he went to [[Riverrun]] to marry Hoster's elder daughter, [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]], who had been betrothed to his brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] before his death.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} Jon Arryn married Hoster's younger daughter, [[Lysa Arryn|Lysa]], in the same ceremony. The double wedding bound [[House Tully]] to the rebels' cause.{{Ref|aGoT|2}}
  
The rebels won their decisive victory in the [[Battle of the Trident]], in which Robert killed Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] in single combat. Because Robert had been wounded by Rhaegar, it fell on Eddard to pursue the remnants of Aerys' armies to [[King's Landing]]. When he arrived there, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s force had already [[Sack of King's Landing|sacked the city]]. Eddard had developed contempt for [[House Lannister]] during the rebellion, as Lord Tywin had remained neutral in an apparent attempt to join the winning side in the end. Eddard's contempt increased when he learned that Lord Tywin had conquered the city by treachery and that his men had brutally killed Rhaegar's wife, [[Elia Martell]], and children, [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]] and [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]]. In addition, Lannister flags were flying over the [[Red Keep]] when Eddard arrived and, as he rode into the throne room to claim the crown for Robert, he found King Aerys's body at the steps leading to the [[Iron Throne]], on which the king's killer, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], was sitting. Eddard felt that the way in which the conquest of King's Landing had been conducted dishonored Robert's cause. He was disappointed that Robert, upon arriving in the city, did not share his moral outrage and in particular defended the murder of Rhaegar's children. He also ignored Eddard's counsel that Jaime should be made to join the [[Night's Watch]] for breaking his oath as a knight of the [[Kingsguard]] by not protect the king. Their disagreements about these issues created a temporary rift between Eddard and Robert that not even Jon Arryn was able to breach.{{Ref|aGoT|2}}{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aSoS|36}}
+
The rebels won their decisive victory in the [[Battle of the Trident]], in which Robert killed Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] in single combat at the [[ruby ford]]. Because Robert had been wounded by Rhaegar, it fell on Eddard to pursue the remnants of Aerys's armies to [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|AGOT|12}}
  
[[File:Ned Lyanna Death Promise.jpg|thumb|400px|Eddard makes a promise to Lyanna before her death - by Amok ©]]
+
[[File:Eddard Jaime Aerys Iron Throne Room.jpg|thumb|Eddard, [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]], and [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]] in the [[Iron Throne]] room - by Amok ©]]
  
Eddard left Robert in King's Landing and went to [[Storm's End]], where he lifted the [[Siege of Storm's End|siege of the castle]]. [[Mace Tyrell]] and his armies yielded to Eddard without a fight. Afterwards, Eddard travelled to the mountains of [[Dorne]] to liberate his sister [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]], who apparently was held at the [[Tower of Joy]]. When Eddard arrived along with six companions, he found the tower guarded by three members of the Kingsguard, including Ser [[Arthur Dayne]]. The resulting [[Showdown at the Tower of Joy|skirmish]] saw the deaths of all but Eddard and one companion, [[Howland Reed]]. Unfortunately, when Eddard found Lyanna, she was already dying.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} Before her death, she made Eddard promise her something;{{Ref|AGOT|4}} what he promised her has not yet been revealed. The experience haunts Eddard and he recalls her ''"promise me"'' on multiple occasions.{{Ref|AGOT|12}}{{Ref|AGOT|47}}{{Ref|AGOT|58}} However, the shared grief over Lyanna led to his reconciliation with his friend, now King Robert I.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
+
When Eddard arrived at the capital, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s force had already sacked the city. Eddard had developed contempt for [[House Lannister]] during the rebellion, as Tywin had remained neutral in an apparent attempt to join the winning side in the end. Eddard's contempt increased when he learned that Tywin had conquered the city by treachery and that his men had brutally killed Rhaegar's wife, [[Elia Martell]], and children, [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]] and [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]]. In addition, Lannister flags were flying over the [[Red Keep]] when Eddard arrived and, as he rode into the throne room to claim the crown for Robert, he found King Aerys's body at the steps leading to the [[Iron Throne]], on which the king's killer, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], was sitting.{{Ref|AGOT|12}}
 +
 
 +
Eddard felt the [[Sack of King's Landing]] dishonored Robert's cause. He was disappointed that Robert, upon arriving in the city, did not share his moral outrage and in particular defended the murder of Rhaegar's children. He also ignored Eddard's counsel that Jaime should be made to join the [[Night's Watch]] for breaking his oath as a knight of the [[Kingsguard]] by not protecting the king. Their disagreements created a rift between Eddard and Robert that not even Jon Arryn was able to breach.{{Ref|aGoT|2}}{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aSoS|36}}
 +
 
 +
Eddard left Robert in King's Landing and went to [[Storm's End]], where he lifted the [[Siege of Storm's End|siege of the castle]]. Lord [[Mace Tyrell]] and his armies yielded to Eddard without a fight.{{Ref|ASOS|19}} Afterwards, Eddard traveled to the [[Red Mountains]] of [[Dorne]] to liberate his sister [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]], who apparently was held at the [[tower of joy]]. When Eddard arrived along with six companions, he found the tower guarded by three members of the Kingsguard, [[Arthur Dayne]], [[Oswell Whent]], and Lord Commander [[Gerold Hightower]]. The resulting [[combat at the tower of joy|skirmish]] saw the deaths of all but Eddard and one companion, [[Howland Reed]].{{Ref|AGOT|39}} Eddard is said to have killed Arthur, the [[Sword of the Morning]], in single combat.{{Ref|TWOIAF| Dorne: The Andals Arrive}}
 +
 
 +
[[File:Ned Lyanna Death Promise.jpg|thumb|Eddard makes a promise to [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]] before her death - by Amok ©]]
 +
 
 +
Unfortunately, when Eddard found Lyanna, she was already dying.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} Before her death, she made Eddard promise her something;{{Ref|AGOT|4}} what he promised her has not yet been revealed. The experience haunts Eddard and he recalls her ''"promise me"'' on multiple occasions.{{Ref|AGOT|12}}{{Ref|AGOT|47}}{{Ref|AGOT|58}} However, the shared grief over Lyanna led to his reconciliation with his friend, now King Robert I.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
 +
 
 +
When Eddard returned home to [[Winterfell]], he brought with him his bastard son, [[Jon Snow]]. This strained the relationship with his wife [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]], who had given birth to their son [[Robb Stark|Robb]] at [[Riverrun]] during the war. Eddard refused to speak to her about Jon's mother. However, stories concerning her identity circulated nonetheless. When Catelyn heard rumors that the boy's mother was the [[Dorne|Dornish]] noblewoman [[Ashara Dayne]], she confronted Eddard about it, but he told her in a brusque manner that the child was his blood and that was all she needed to know. He subsequently silenced the rumors about Ashara.{{Ref|aGoT|6}} [[Sansa Stark]] recalls hearing whispers that Jon's mother was common born.{{ref|agot|15}} Lord [[Edric Dayne]] believes that, rather than his aunt Ashara, Jon Snow's mother was a woman called [[Wylla]], who worked for [[House Dayne]] and at one point served as Edric's wet-nurse.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} When asked about the mother of his bastard son by King [[Robert I Baratheon]], Eddard also mentions the name Wylla.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} However, Lord [[Godric Borrell]] claims that the daughter of the fisherman who sneaked Eddard away from the Fingers gave birth to Jon Snow.{{Ref|aDwD|9}}
 +
 
 +
Eddard buried the bones of his deceased kin in the [[crypt of Winterfell]]. Breaking the tradition of only Stark kings and lords having statues, Ned had them carved for Brandon and Lyanna next to that of Lord Rickard.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} [[Barbrey Dustin]], now Lady of [[Barrowton]], resented that Eddard returned the horse but not the bones of her husband, Lord [[Willam Dustin|Willam]], who had died fighting alongside Ned in Dorne.{{Ref|ADWD|41}} Ned's younger brother, [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]], joined the [[Night's Watch]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Benjen Stark}}
  
 
===Lord of Winterfell===
 
===Lord of Winterfell===
Eddard returned home to [[Winterfell]], bringing with him a bastard son, [[Jon Snow]]. This strained the relationship with his wife [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]], who had given birth to their son [[Robb Stark|Robb]] during the war. Eddard refused to speak to her about the origins of Jon. However, stories concerning her identity circulated nonetheless. When Lady Catelyn heard rumors that the boy's mother was the [[Dorne|Dornish]] noblewoman [[Ashara Dayne]], she confronted Eddard about it, but he told her in a brusque manner that the child was his blood and that was all she needed to know. He subsequently silenced the rumors about Ashara.{{Ref|aGoT|6}} [[Sansa Stark]] recalls hearing whispers that Jon's mother was common born.{{ref|agot|15}} Lord [[Edric Dayne]] believes that, rather than his aunt Ashara, Jon Snow's mother was a woman called [[Wylla]], who worked for [[House Dayne]] and at one point served as Edric's wet-nurse.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} When asked about the mother of his bastard son by King [[Robert Baratheon]], Eddard also mentions the name Wylla.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} However, Lord [[Godric Borrell]] claims that the daughter of the fisherman who sneaked Eddard away from the Fingers gave birth to Jon Snow.{{Ref|aDwD|9}}
+
As a second son, Eddard had never expected to become the [[Lord of Winterfell]], and as such did not always feel equal to the task, determined it had all been meant for his elder brother Brandon.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} Lord Stark has taken little interest in affairs south of the [[Neck]].{{Ref|AGOT|12}}
  
After [[Robert's Rebellion]], Eddard spent the next fifteen years as Lord of Winterfell, a task he had never expected and did not always feel equal to.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} He rarely left the North and did not involve himself in the complex intrigues of the southern courts. Although his bannermen were loyal, Eddard dealt with the problems that did arise swiftly. When Lord [[Jorah Mormont]] tried to sell poachers he had caught on his lands into [[slavery]], Eddard travelled to [[Bear Island]] to bring him to justice for his crime, but, upon arrival, found that Mormont and [[Lynesse Hightower|his wife]] had fled into exile.{{ref|agot|12}} In {{Date|289}}, Eddard travelled south to fight alongside Robert once more, this time in the [[Greyjoy Rebellion]]. After the decisive [[Siege of Pyke]] and [[Balon Greyjoy]]'s surrender, Eddard took Lord Balon's only surviving son [[Theon Greyjoy|Theon]] as a ward and hostage.{{ref|AGOT|4}} While he would try to be like a father to Theon from time to time,{{ref|acok|11}} Theon still thought Eddard to be cold.{{Ref|ACOK|11}}
+
In {{Date|289}}, Eddard traveled south to help Robert suppress [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]]. After the decisive [[siege of Pyke]] and Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]]'s surrender, Eddard took Balon's only surviving son, [[Theon Greyjoy|Theon]], to Winterfell as a ward and hostage.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} While Eddard tried to be like a father to Theon from time to time,{{Ref|aCoK|11}} the boy still found Lord Stark to be cold.{{Ref|ACOK|11}}
  
During his marriage to Catelyn, he had five children with her: [[Robb Stark|Robb]], [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]], [[Arya Stark|Arya]], [[Bran Stark|Bran]], and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]].{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}}
+
When Lord [[Jorah Mormont]] tried to sell poachers he had caught on his lands into [[slavery]] in {{date|293}}, Eddard traveled to [[Bear Island]] to bring him to justice for his crime. Upon arrival, Ned found that Jorah and [[Lynesse Hightower]] had fled into exile, however.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
 +
 
 +
During his marriage to Catelyn, Eddard had five children with her: [[Robb Stark|Robb]], [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]], [[Arya Stark|Arya]], [[Bran Stark|Bran]], and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]].{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}} Eddard has taught Robb and [[Jon Snow]], his bastard son, about command in battle.{{Ref|ASOS|55}}
 +
 
 +
Arya has visited [[White Harbor]] twice with her father,{{Ref|AFFC|22}} and Theon Greyjoy accompanied Lord Stark during a visit to Ser [[Helman Tallhart]] at [[Torrhen's Square]]{{Ref|ACOK|37}} and several visits to the [[House Glover|Glovers]] at [[Deepwood Motte]].{{Ref|ACOK|24}} The [[northern mountain clans|hill clans]] have always treated Lord Stark generously when he visited the [[northern mountains]],{{Ref|ADWD|17}} calling him "the Ned".{{Ref|ADWD|42}} Eddard hosted Lord [[Rickard Karstark]] and his daughter, [[Alys Karstark|Alys]], when the girl was six.{{Ref|ADWD|44}} [[Mance Rayder]] was part of [[Lord Commander Qorgyle]]'s expedition to Winterfell to see Lord Stark.{{Ref|ASOS|7}} Eddard is wary of [[Roose Bolton]], Lord of the [[Dreadfort]].{{Ref|ADWD|35}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
Lord Eddard executes [[Gared|a deserter]] of the [[Night's Watch]] who claims to have been attacked by [[Others]]. On the return to [[Winterfell]], the party discovers a [[direwolf]] dead on the roadside, her throat pierced by a stag she had slain. Swayed by his bastard son [[Jon Snow]], Eddard decides not to slay her newborn pups, and instead allow his children to raise them.{{Ref|AGOT|1}} That same day, a raven arrives bearing word of the death of [[Jon Arryn]], who fostered Eddard as well as [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]], and who had long served Robert as [[Hand of the King|the King's Hand]].{{Ref|aGoT|2}} Soon Robert arrives with half the court, and Eddard grudgingly accepts his offer to replace Lord Arryn as Hand, as well as a betrothal of Prince [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey]] to his daughter [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]].{{Ref|AGOT|4}}{{Ref|aGoT|6}} Another message arrives, this one from [[Lysa Arryn]], Jon's widow and Eddard's wife [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn's]] sister, sent to Winterfell in secret. Lysa warns the Starks that the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] were involved in her husband's death.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} When Eddard's son Bran falls and slips into a coma, Eddard and the royal court remain at Winterfell for almost another fortnight,{{Ref|AGOT|10}} though they eventually decide to leave. During the journey south, Eddard's youngest daughter [[Arya Stark|Arya]] is involved in an incident in which crown prince [[Joffrey Baratheon]] is injured by Arya's direwolf, [[Nymeria]].{{Ref|AGOT|15}} When Nymeria cannot be found, Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] demands the death of [[Sansa Stark]]'s [[Lady (direwolf)|direwolf]], and Eddard executes the wolf himself. In order to prevent Queen Cersei from acquiring the pelt, he has her body sent north to be burried at [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|AGOT|16}}
+
[[File:Ned & Ice.jpg|thumb|350px|Eddard with Ice in the [[godswood of Winterfell]] - by Michael Komarck ©]]
[[File:Ned & Ice.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Eddard with Ice at the Godswood - by Michael Komarck ©]]
+
Lord Eddard executes [[Gared]], a deserter of the [[Night's Watch]] who claims to have been attacked by [[Others]]. On the return to [[Winterfell]], the party discovers a [[direwolf]] dead on the roadside, her throat pierced by a stag she had slain. Swayed by his bastard son, [[Jon Snow]], Eddard decides not to slay her newborn pups, and instead allow his children to raise them.{{Ref|AGOT|1}}
  
Upon arriving at [[King's Landing]], Eddard is summoned to a [[small council]] meeting. Afterwards, Lord [[Petyr Baelish]] takes Eddard to one of his brothels, where he has been hiding Eddard's wife, Catelyn. Catelyn reveals to Eddard how a man tried to kill their son [[Bran Stark|Bran]] with a [[Valyrian steel]] dagger. Baelish reveals that the dagger used to be his, but was won in a bet by [[Tyrion Lannister]]. Baelish promises to aid Eddard.{{Ref|AGOT|20}}  
+
That same day, a raven arrives bearing word of the death of Lord [[Jon Arryn]], who fostered Eddard as well as [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]], and who had long served Robert as [[Hand of the King]].{{Ref|aGoT|2}} Soon Robert arrives with half the court, and Eddard grudgingly accepts his offer to replace Lord Arryn as Hand, as well as a betrothal of Prince [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey]] to his daughter [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]].{{Ref|AGOT|4}}{{Ref|aGoT|6}} Another message arrives, this one from [[Lysa Arryn]], Jon's widow and the sister of Eddard's wife [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]], sent to Winterfell in secret. Lysa warns the Starks that the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] were involved in her husband's death.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} When Eddard's son Bran falls and slips into a coma, Eddard and the royal court remain at Winterfell for almost another fortnight,{{Ref|AGOT|10}} though they eventually decide to leave.
  
Now in [[King's Landing]], Eddard is shocked to learn that the crown is heavily indebted due to Robert's extravagance, and Arryn and the [[small council]] had been unable to restrain him. Robert decrees [[Hand's tourney|a great tournament]] is to be held in honor of Eddard's appointment as Hand of the King, despite Eddard's protests of the cost.{{Ref|aGoT|20}} The tournament, featuring a joust, melee, and archery contest, attracts knights and freeriders from all over the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|aGoT|20}}{{ref|agot|22}}{{Ref|AGOT|27}}
+
During the journey south, Eddard and Robert are at odds whether or not to be concerned about the wedding of the exiled Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen]] to Khal [[Drogo]] of the [[Dothraki]].{{Ref|AGOT|12}} Eddard's youngest daughter [[Arya Stark|Arya]] is involved in an incident in which crown prince [[Joffrey Baratheon]] is injured by Arya's direwolf, [[Nymeria]].{{Ref|AGOT|15}} When Nymeria cannot be found, Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] demands the death of Sansa's direwolf, [[Lady (direwolf)|Lady]], and Eddard executes the wolf himself at [[Darry]]. In order to prevent Queen Cersei from acquiring the pelt, he has her body sent north to be buried at Winterfell.{{Ref|AGOT|16}}
  
Eddard discovers that his daughter Arya is in the possession of a [[Needle|sword]], but decides to have her trained in how to use it, instead of taking her sword away. He hires [[Syrio Forel]], a former [[First Sword of Braavos]].{{Ref|AGOT|22}} While Ned later wonders whether Syrio is a proper teacher for Arya, he allows the lessons to continue,{{Ref|AGOT|30}} and is eventually even willing to ask Syrio to continue his work at Winterfell.{{Ref|AGOT|44}}
+
Upon arriving at [[King's Landing]], Eddard is summoned to a [[small council]] meeting. Afterwards, Lord [[Petyr Baelish]] takes Eddard to one of his brothels, where he has been hiding Eddard's wife, Catelyn. She reveals how a [[catspaw]] tried to kill their son [[Bran Stark|Bran]] with a [[Valyrian steel dagger]]. Petyr, known as Littlefinger, claims that the dagger used to be his, but was won in a bet by [[Tyrion Lannister]]. Littlefinger promises to aid Eddard.{{Ref|AGOT|20}} After receiving Maester [[Luwin]]'s message that Bran is awake, Lord Stark and his daughters stay overnight in the godswood of the Red Keep.{{Ref|AGOT|25}}  
  
Eddard begins making Jon Arryn's activities before his death, and discovers that Jon spent a great deal of time with [[Stannis Baratheon]] and had been visiting several of Robert's bastard children in the city.{{Ref|aGoT|27}}{{ref|agot|35}} An issue presents itself when Lord [[Varys]] brings new to the small council, however. During their journey from Winterfell to King's Landing, Eddard and Robert had already been at odds about whether or not to be concerned about the wedding of [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]] to [[Dothraki]] khal Drogo.{{Ref|AGOT|12}} When news reaches King's Landing that Daenerys is pregnant, Robert holds a council meeting demanding she be put to death. Eddard and Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] are the only ones to speak out against the move, but Robert, driven by his hatred of the Targaryens, insists on the assassination. Eddard, unwilling to cooperate, resigns his post in protest.{{Ref|aGoT|33}} Before his planned departure from King's Landing to return to Winterfell, Eddard visits another of Robert's bastard children, a girl named [[Barra]], found by [[Petyr Baelish]]. Returning from this meeting he is ambushed by [[Jaime Lannister]], who wants revenge for his brother Tyrion, who had been seized by Eddard's wife Catelyn's,{{Ref|aGoT|35}} a fact Eddard had learned the day before from [[Yoren]].{{Ref|AGOT|32}}{{Ref|AGOT|33}} Eddard's leg is badly injured in the melee. While recovering, Robert visits his friend, pardoning him and returning him to office as Hand of the King.{{Ref|aGoT|39}}
+
[[File:B60f4c34cb78842db2ee648d90676a7a-d8ij096.jpg|thumb|Eddard in the [[Red Keep]], by Jake Murray © Fantasy Flight Games]]
  
Eddard sits on the [[Iron Throne]] and hears petitions while Robert is out on a hunt. Three [[Riverlands|river lords]] bring the news that several villages near the border of the [[westerlands]] have been ravaged by [[Gregor Clegane]]. Eddard sends Lord [[Beric Dondarrion]], [[Thoros of Myr]] and a number of knights, and members of his own household guard to bring Clegane to justice.{{Ref|aGoT|43}}
+
Eddard is shocked to learn that the crown is heavily indebted due to Robert's extravagance, and Jon Arryn and the small council had been unable to restrain him. Robert decrees a great tournament is to be held in honor of Eddard's appointment as Hand of the King, despite Eddard's protests of the cost.{{Ref|aGoT|20}} The [[Hand's tourney]], featuring a joust, melee, and archery contest, attracts knights and freeriders from all over the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|aGoT|20}}{{Ref|aGoT|22}}{{Ref|AGOT|27}} Ned and Ser [[Barristan Selmy]], [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]], convince Robert not to participate in the melee.{{Ref|ADWD|30}}
  
[[File:Ned's execution.jpg|thumb|350px|Eddard's execution (''[[Game of Thrones]]'')]]
+
Eddard discovers that his daughter Arya is in the possession of a sword, [[Needle]], but decides to have her trained in how to use it, instead of taking her sword away. He hires [[Syrio Forel]], a former [[First Sword of Braavos]].{{Ref|AGOT|22}} While Ned later wonders whether Syrio is a proper teacher for Arya, he allows the lessons to continue,{{Ref|AGOT|30}} and is eventually willing to ask Syrio to continue his work at Winterfell.{{Ref|AGOT|44}}
While investigating Jon Arryn's interest in Robert's bastard children, Eddard discovers to his horror that Robert's three legitimate children are the product of incest between Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] and her brother Jaime.{{ref|aGoT|44}} Eddard decides to confront Cersei with this knowledge, giving her a chance to flee with her children while she still can.{{ref|aGoT|45}} However, Cersei uses the warning time to orchestrate Robert's assassination and buy off the [[City Watch of King's Landing]]. As Robert lays on his deathbed, Eddard rebuffs both Robert's younger brother [[Renly Baratheon]]'s suggestion that they seize control of the royal children, and [[Petyr Baelish]]'s urgings to rule as Regent while Cersei and Jaime's thirteen-year-old son [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]] accede to the Iron Throne, instead planning to deliver it to the elder of Robert's brothers, [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]].{{ref|aGoT|47}} Baelish promises Eddard the support of the City Watch, promptly betraying him as soon as Robert dies. Cersei has Eddard imprisoned for treason, with the City Watch supporting her thanks to Baelish's treachery.{{ref|aGoT|49}}
 
  
[[Varys]] visits Eddard Stark in the dungeons, informing him that if he confesses to treason his life will be spared and he will be given the opportunity to join the [[Night's Watch]]. Eddard initially refuses but agrees to swallow his honor to save the life of his daughter Sansa, who is in Lannister custody.{{ref|aGoT|58}} He is taken to the steps of the [[Great Sept of Baelor]] where, unbeknownst to him, [[Yoren]], his daughter [[Arya Stark]], and the disguised Ser Barristan Selmy are amongst the crowd.{{ref|agot|65}}{{Ref|ADWD|11}} Eddard makes a false public confession but the plan goes awry when King Joffrey declares that Eddard must be executed, to the evident shock of Cersei, Varys, and the [[High Septon]]. [[Ilyn Payne]] beheads Eddard Stark with his own greatsword, [[Ice]].{{ref|aGoT|65}} Joffrey has Eddard's head placed on a spike and forces his daughter Sansa to view it.{{ref|aGoT|67}}
+
Eddard investigates Jon Arryn's activities before his death, and he discovers that Jon spent a great deal of time with Lord [[Stannis Baratheon]] and had been visiting several of Robert's bastard children in the city.{{Ref|aGoT|27}}{{Ref|aGoT|35}} Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] provides the Hand with ''[[The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms]]'', which Jon had been reading.{{Ref|AGOT|27}}
  
===''A Clash of Kings''===
+
When news reaches King's Landing that Daenerys is pregnant, Robert holds a council meeting demanding she be put to death. Eddard and Barristan are the only ones to speak out against the move, but Robert, driven by his hatred of the Targaryens, insists on the assassination. Eddard, unwilling to cooperate, resigns his office in protest.{{Ref|aGoT|33}}
[[Tyrion Lannister]] orders Lord Eddard's head, along with all the other heads to be removed from the spikes.{{ref|acok|3}} He then sends Eddard's bones to [[Riverrun]].{{ref|ACOK|25}}{{ref|acok|39}} [[Catelyn Stark]] tasks [[Hallis Mollen]] to take the bones north so Eddard can be buried in the [[crypt of Winterfell]] beside his [[Rickard Stark|father]], [[Brandon Stark|brother]] and [[Lyanna Stark|sister]].{{ref|asos|45}} The [[ironborn]] [[Fall of Moat Cailin|take Moat Cailin]] soon after and it is unknown if Eddard's bones made it past the Moat before its fall to [[House Greyjoy]].{{ref|acok|46}}{{ref|acok|50}}{{Ref|asos|45}}
 
  
Eddard Stark's execution at the [[Great Sept of Baelor]] has caused a serious deterioration in relations between the crown and the [[Faith of the Seven]], as the High Septon claims that Stark's beheading there profaned the Sept with blood.{{Ref|ACOK|3}}
+
Before his planned departure from King's Landing to return to Winterfell, Eddard visits another of Robert's bastard children, a girl named [[Barra]], found by Lord Baelish. Returning from this meeting he is ambushed by Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], who wants revenge for the seizure of his brother Tyrion by Catelyn at the [[crossroads inn]],{{Ref|aGoT|35}} a fact Eddard had learned the day before from [[Yoren]], a [[wandering crow]].{{Ref|AGOT|32}}{{Ref|AGOT|33}} Eight men{{Ref|AGOT|39}} die from the ensuing melee, including [[Jory Cassel]], [[Heward]], [[Wyl (guard)|Wyl]], and [[Tregar]], and Ned's leg is broken when his horse falls upon him.{{Ref|AGOT|35}} Pycelle treats Ned, who has a fever dream of the [[combat at the tower of joy|tower of joy]]. While recovering, Robert visits his friend, pardoning him and returning him to office as Hand of the King.{{Ref|aGoT|39}}
  
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
+
Eddard sits on the [[Iron Throne]] and hears petitions while Robert is out on a hunt. Ser [[Raymun Darry]], Ser [[Marq Piper]], and Ser [[Karyl Vance]] bring the news that several villages near the border of the [[westerlands]] have been ravaged by Ser [[Gregor Clegane]]. Eddard sends Lord [[Beric Dondarrion]], [[Thoros of Myr]], and a number of knights, and members of his [[House Stark guards|own household guard]] to bring the Mountain to justice for his crimes against the [[riverlands]].{{Ref|aGoT|43}}
[[Bran Stark]], while training to become a [[greenseer]], sees a vision of his father in the past through the eyes of the [[heart tree]] of Winterfell's [[godswood]]. Through the tree, Bran hears his father's prayers that his wife will forgive him and that [[Jon Snow|Jon]] and [[Robb Stark|Robb]] will grow together as brothers.{{Ref|aDwD|34}}
 
  
Lady [[Barbrey Dustin]], who once aspired to marry Brandon before he was betrothed to Catelyn, mentions to [[Theon Greyjoy]] that she blames Eddard for the death of her husband, Lord [[Willam Dustin]]. She tells Theon that if she ever discovers the location of Eddard's bones, she will never allow them to be buried in the [[crypts of Winterfell]] along with his ancestors, in revenge for Eddard's failure to return her husband's bones to her.{{Ref|aDwD|41}} Many other northern houses remember Eddard Stark fondly, and are willing to march to war against [[House Bolton]] to rescue Eddard's [[Jeyne Poole#A Dance with Dragons|daughter]].{{Ref|adwd|42}}{{Ref|ADWD|62}}
+
While investigating Jon Arryn's interest in Robert's bastard children, Eddard discovers to his horror that Robert's three legitimate children are the product of incest between Queen Cersei and her brother, Jaime.{{ref|aGoT|44}} Eddard decides to confront Cersei, giving her a chance to flee with her children while she still can.{{ref|aGoT|45}} However, Cersei has orchestrated Robert's assassination. As Robert lays on his deathbed, Eddard rebuffs both the suggestion of Robert's youngest brother, Lord [[Renly Baratheon]], that they seize control of the royal children, and Petyr Baelish's urgings to rule as [[regent]] while Cersei and Jaime's thirteen-year-old son, Prince Joffrey, accedes to the Iron Throne, instead planning to deliver it to the elder of Robert's younger brothers, Lord [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]].{{Ref|aGoT|47}} Littlefinger promises Eddard the support of the [[City Watch of King's Landing]]. [[Vayon Poole]] arranges for Sansa and Arya to return north on the ''[[Wind Witch]]'',{{Ref|AGOT|45}} and Ned orders [[Tomard]] to deliver a letter to Stannis at [[Dragonstone]].{{Ref|AGOT|47}}
  
==Quotes by Eddard==
+
[[File:Ned Stark's execution.jpg|thumb|Eddard's execution by [[Ilyn Payne]], by Magali Villeneuve © Penguin Random House]]
{{Quote|'''Bran:''' Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?<br>
 
'''Eddard:''' That is the only time a man can be brave.{{Ref|aGoT|1}}}}
 
[[Bran Stark]] and Eddard
 
  
 +
Not wanting to have her betrothal to Joffrey broken, Sansa informs Queen Cersei of her father's plan to leave King's Landing.{{Ref|ASOS|51}} When Ned confronts Cersei in the throne room, he is betrayed by Littlefinger. [[House Lannister guards|Red cloaks]] and [[Janos Slynt]]'s gold cloaks kill Eddard's remaining men, and Littlefinger takes the Valyrian dagger from Lord Stark.{{Ref|AGOT|49}} Syrio allows Arya to escape Ser [[Meryn Trant]],{{Ref|AGOT|50}} but Sansa is captured by the Lannisters.{{Ref|AGOT|51}}
  
{{Quote|The blood of the [[First Men]] still flows in the veins of the Starks, and we hold to the belief that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.{{Ref|aGoT|1}}}}
+
In response to his father's imprisonment for treason by Cersei, [[Robb Stark]] calls the northern banners to Winterfell and marches south.{{Ref|AGOT|53}} For his part in Ned's downfall, Janos Slynt is named [[Lord of Harrenhal]] by King Joffrey.{{Ref|AGOT|57}}
– Eddard to [[Bran Stark]]
 
  
 +
Varys visits Eddard Stark in the dungeons, informing him that if he confesses to treason his life will be spared and he will be given the opportunity to join the [[Night's Watch]]. Eddard initially refuses but agrees to swallow his honor to save the life of his daughter Sansa, who is in Lannister custody.{{Ref|aGoT|58}} He is taken to the steps of the [[Great Sept of Baelor]] where, unbeknownst to him, Yoren, his daughter Arya, and the disguised Barristan are amongst the crowd.{{Ref|aGoT|65}}{{Ref|ADWD|11}} Eddard makes a false public confession but the plan goes awry when King Joffrey declares that Eddard must be executed, to the evident shock of Cersei, Varys, and the [[High Septon (fat one)|High Septon]]. Ser [[Ilyn Payne]] beheads Eddard with his own greatsword, [[Ice]].{{Ref|aGoT|65}} Joffrey has Eddard's head placed on a spike and forces Sansa to view it.{{Ref|aGoT|67}}
  
{{Quote|A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.{{Ref|aGoT|1}}}}
+
Bran and [[Rickon Stark]] dream of their father's death before a raven arrives at Winterfell.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} After the [[Battle of the Camps]], Robb is proclaimed [[King in the North]] by northmen and rivermen at [[Riverrun]].{{Ref|AGOT|71}}
– Eddard to [[Bran Stark]]
 
  
 +
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 +
[[File:Daarken Make an Example.JPG|thumb|Eddard's impaled head at the Red Keep, illustrated by Daarken © Fantasy Flight Games]]
 +
A stonemason creates a granite statue in Ned's image within the [[crypt of Winterfell]].{{Ref|ACOK|4}}
  
{{Quote|The winters are hard, but [[House Stark|the Starks]] will endure. We always have.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}}} - Eddard to [[Robert I Baratheon]]
+
[[Tyrion Lannister]] orders the heads of Eddard and other victims to be removed from the spikes of the [[Red Keep]].{{Ref|aCoK|3}} He then sends Eddard's bones to [[Riverrun]].{{Ref|ACOK|25}}{{Ref|acok|39}} [[Catelyn Stark]] tasks [[Hallis Mollen]] to take the bones north so Eddard can be buried in the [[crypt of Winterfell]] beside his [[Rickard Stark|father]], [[Brandon Stark|brother]] and [[Lyanna Stark|sister]].{{Ref|aSoS|45}} The [[ironborn]] [[Fall of Moat Cailin|take Moat Cailin]] soon after, however, and it is unknown if Eddard's bones made it past the Moat before its fall to [[House Greyjoy]].{{Ref|aCoK|46}}{{Ref|aCoK|50}}{{Ref|aSoS|45}}
  
 +
Eddard's execution at the [[Great Sept of Baelor]] has caused a serious deterioration in relations between the crown and the [[Faith of the Seven]], as the High Septon claims that Stark's beheading there profaned the sept with blood.{{Ref|ACOK|3}}
  
{{Quote|'''Ned:''' We are not the boys we were.<br>
+
===''A Storm of Swords''===
'''Robert:''' You were never the boy you were.{{Ref|agot|12}}}}
+
[[Sansa Stark]] would like to name a son Eddard if she were to wed [[Willas Tyrell]], but Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] instead arranges for her to wed his son, [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]].{{Ref|ASOS|28}} [[Jeyne Westerling]], Robb's queen, would like to name her children Eddard and Brandon if they have twins.{{Ref|ASOS|20}} Robb is slain in the [[Red Wedding]], however.{{Ref|ASOS|51}}
[[Robert I Baratheon]] and Eddard
 
  
 +
After the [[battle beneath the Wall]], [[Stannis Baratheon]] offers to name [[Jon Snow]] as [[Lord of Winterfell]], so that a son of Eddard can help Stannis win the [[north]].{{Ref|ASOS|73}} Jon refuses the offer, however, and is instead chosen [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]].{{Ref|ASOS|79}}
  
{{Quote|Know the men who follow you and let them know you. Don't ask your men to die for a stranger.{{ref|AGOT|22}}}}
+
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
– Eddard to [[Robb Stark]]
+
Recalling that [[Janos Slynt]] had helped kill his father, Jon beheads Janos at [[Castle Black]] for insubordination.{{Ref|ADWD|7}}
  
 +
In [[White Harbor]], [[Wylla Manderly]] recalls Eddard's death when declaring her support for [[Stannis Baratheon]] instead of [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen I Baratheon]].{{Ref|ADWD|19}}
  
{{Quote|'''Arthur:''' And now it begins.<br>
+
[[Bran Stark]], while training to become a [[greenseer]], sees a vision of his father in the past through the eyes of the [[heart tree]] in the [[godswood of Winterfell]]. Through the [[weirwood]], Bran hears his father's prayers that his wife will forgive him and that [[Jon Snow|Jon]] and [[Robb Stark|Robb]] will grow together as brothers.{{Ref|aDwD|34}}
'''Eddard:''' No. Now it ends.{{ref|aGoT|39}}}}
 
– [[Arthur Dayne]] and Eddard
 
  
 +
[[Theon Greyjoy]] leads Lady [[Barbrey Dustin]] into the [[crypts of Winterfell]], where they see Eddard's statue. Barbrey blames Eddard for the death of her husband, Lord [[Willam Dustin]]. She tells Theon that if she ever discovers the location of Eddard's bones, she will never allow them to be buried in the crypts along with his ancestors, in revenge for Eddard's failure to return her husband's bones to her.{{Ref|aDwD|41}} Many other northern houses remember Eddard fondly, however, and are willing to march to war against [[House Bolton]] to rescue the Bolton-controlled "[[Arya Stark]]" (actually [[Jeyne Poole]], the daughter of "The Ned".{{Ref|aDwD|42}}{{Ref|ADWD|62}}
  
{{Quote|"If it came to that, the life of some child I did not know, against [[Robb Stark|Robb]] and [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] and [[Arya Stark|Arya]] and [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]], what would I do? Even more so, what would [[Catelyn Tully|Catelyn]] do, if it were [[Jon Snow|Jon]]’s life, against the children of her body?" He did not know. He prayed he never would.{{ref|aGoT|45}}}}
+
During the [[walk of atonement]] by [[Cersei Lannister]] through [[King's Landing]], the face of one of the [[smallfolk]] reminds her of Eddard.{{Ref|ADWD|65}}
– Eddard's thoughts
+
 
 +
==Quotes by Eddard==
 +
[[File:Sean Bean as Eddard Stark.png|thumb|Sean Bean as Eddard in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
 +
{{Quote|'''Bran''': Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?<br>'''Eddard''': That is the only time a man can be brave.{{Ref|aGoT|1}}|[[Bran Stark]] and Eddard}}
  
 +
{{Quote|The blood of the [[First Men]] still flows in the veins of the Starks, and we hold to the belief that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.{{Ref|aGoT|1}}|Eddard to [[Bran Stark]]}}
  
{{Quote|'''Cersei:''' You should have taken the realm for yourself. It was there for the taking. [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]] told me how you found him on the [[Iron Throne]] [[Sack of King's Landing|the day King’s Landing fell]], and made him yield it up. That was your moment. All you needed to do was climb those steps, and sit. Such a sad mistake.<br>
+
{{Quote|A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.{{Ref|aGoT|1}}|Eddard to [[Bran Stark]]}}
'''Eddard:''' I have made more mistakes than you can possibly imagine, but that was not one of them.{{ref|aGoT|45}}}}
 
[[Cersei Lannister]] and Eddard
 
  
 +
{{Quote|'''Eddard''': We are not the boys we were.<br>'''Robert''': You were never the boy you were.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}|[[Robert I Baratheon]] and Eddard}}
  
{{quote|In this world only winter is certain. We may lose our heads, it's true ... but what if we prevail?{{ref|ADWD|9}}}}
+
{{Quote|When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.{{Ref|aGoT|22}}|Eddard to [[Arya Stark]]}}
- Eddard to the [[House Borrell|Borrells]]
 
  
==Quotes about Eddard==
+
{{Quote|Know the men who follow you and let them know you. Don't ask your men to die for a stranger.{{Ref|AGOT|22}}|Eddard to [[Robb Stark]]}}
{{Quote|You are too hard on yourself, Ned. You always were. Damn it, no woman wants [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor the Blessed]] in her bed.{{Ref|agot|12}}}}
 
[[Robert I Baratheon]] to Eddard
 
  
 +
{{Quote|Some secrets are safer kept hidden. Some secrets are too dangerous to share, even with those you love and trust.{{Ref|AGOT|33}}|Eddard's thoughts}}
  
{{Quote|Damn you, Ned Stark. You and Jon Arryn, I loved you both. What have you done to me? You were the one should have been king, you or [[Jon Arryn|Jon]].{{Ref|agot|30}}}}
+
{{Quote|Black and white and grey, all the shades of truth.{{Ref|AGOT|43}}|Eddard's thoughts}}
– [[Robert I Baratheon]] to Eddard
 
  
 +
{{Quote|"If it came to that, the life of some child I did not know, against [[Robb Stark|Robb]] and [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] and [[Arya Stark|Arya]] and [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]], what would I do? Even more so, what would [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]] do, if it were [[Jon Snow|Jon]]'s life, against the children of her body?" He did not know. He prayed he never would.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}|Eddard's thoughts}}
  
{{Quote|You never could lie for love nor honor, Ned Stark.{{Ref|agot|30}}}}
+
{{Quote|'''Cersei''': You should have taken [[Seven Kingdoms|the realm]] for yourself. It was there for the taking. [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]] told me how you found him on the [[Iron Throne]] the day [[Sack of King's Landing|King's Landing fell]], and made him yield it up. That was your moment. All you needed to do was climb those steps, and sit. Such a sad mistake.<br>'''Eddard''': I have made more mistakes than you can possibly imagine, but that was not one of them.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}|[[Cersei Lannister]] and Eddard}}
[[Robert I Baratheon]] to Eddard
 
  
 +
{{Quote|In this world only winter is certain. We may lose our heads, it's true ... but what if we prevail?{{Ref|ADWD|9}}|Eddard to the [[House Borrell|Borrells]]}}
  
{{Quote|No, my lord, when the swords come out in earnest, you will be the only true friend Robert Baratheon will have.{{ref|agot|30}}}}
+
==Quotes about Eddard==
[[Varys]] to Eddard
+
[[File:Collage lb image page7 5 1.jpg|thumb|Eddard, by Mark Evans © Fantasy Flight Games]]
 +
{{Quote|You are too hard on yourself, Ned. You always were. Damn it, no woman wants [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor the Blessed]] in her bed.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}|[[Robert I Baratheon]] to Eddard}}
  
 +
{{Quote|Damn you, Ned Stark. You and [[Jon Arryn]], I loved you both. What have you done to me? You were the one should have been king, you or Jon.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}|[[Robert I Baratheon]] to Eddard}}
  
{{Quote|You wear your honor like a suit of armor, Stark. You think it keeps you safe, but all it does is weigh you down and make it hard for you to move.{{ref|agot|47}}}} – [[Petyr Baelish]] to Eddard
+
{{Quote|You never could lie for love nor honor, Ned Stark.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}|[[Robert I Baratheon]] to Eddard}}
  
 +
{{Quote|No, my lord, when the swords come out in earnest, you will be the only true friend [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] will have.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}|[[Varys]] to Eddard}}
  
{{Quote|You are an honest and honourable man, Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life... When I see what honesty and honor have won you, I understand why.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}}} – [[Varys]] to Eddard
+
{{Quote|You wear your honor like a suit of armor, Stark. You think it keeps you safe, but all it does is weigh you down and make it hard for you to move.{{Ref|aGoT|47}}|[[Petyr Baelish]] to Eddard}}
  
 +
{{Quote|You are an honest and honorable man, Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life ... When I see what honesty and honor have won you, I understand why.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}|[[Varys]] to Eddard}}
  
{{Quote|As for your Ned, he should have kissed the hand that killed [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]], but he preferred to scorn the arse he found sitting on [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert's]] [[Iron Throne|throne]].{{Ref|aCOK|55}}}} – [[Jaime Lannister]] to [[Catelyn Tully]]
+
{{Quote|Ned Stark a traitor? Not bloody likely. The [[Long Summer]] will come again before that one would besmirch his precious honor.{{Ref|ACOK|27}}|[[Jorah Mormont]] to [[Quhuru Mo]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|As for your Ned, he should have kissed the hand that killed [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]], but he preferred to scorn the arse he found sitting on [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert's]] [[Iron Throne|throne]].{{Ref|ACOK|55}}|[[Jaime Lannister]] to [[Catelyn Stark]]}}
  
{{Quote|I knew Ned Stark as well. Your father was no friend of mine, but only a fool would doubt his honor or his honesty.{{Ref|aSOS|76}}}} – [[Stannis Baratheon]] to [[Jon Snow]]
+
{{Quote|I knew Ned Stark as well. Your father was no friend of mine, but only a fool would doubt his honor or his honesty.{{Ref|aSOS|76}}|[[Stannis Baratheon]] to [[Jon Snow]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|A long time ago, she remembered her father saying that when the cold wind blows the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. He had it all backwards. Arya, the lone wolf, still lived, but the wolves of the pack had been taken and slain and skinned.{{Ref|aFfC|6}}|thoughts of [[Arya Stark]]}}
  
{{Quote|A long time ago, she remembered her father saying that when the cold wind blows the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. He had it all backwards. Arya, the lone wolf, still lived, but the wolves of the pack had been taken and slain and skinned.{{Ref|aFfC|6}}}} – thoughts of [[Arya Stark]]
+
{{Quote|Your father was a stubborn man as well. Honor, he called it. Well, honor has its costs, as Lord Eddard learned to his sorrow.{{Ref|ADWD|17}}|[[Stannis Baratheon]] to [[Jon Snow]]}}
  
 
==Family==
 
==Family==
 
{{Stark tree}}
 
{{Stark tree}}
  
==References and Notes==
+
===Patrilineal descent===
{{References|3|refs=
+
#Lord [[Benjen Stark (lord)|Benjen Stark]], Lord of Winterfell
 +
#Lord [[Rickon Stark (son of Benjen)|Rickon Stark]], Lord of Winterfell
 +
#Lord [[Cregan Stark]], Lord of Winterfell
 +
#Lord [[Brandon Stark (son of Cregan)|Brandon Stark]], Lord of Winterfell
 +
#Lord [[Beron Stark]], Lord of Winterfell
 +
#Lord [[Willam Stark]], Lord of Winterfell
 +
#Lord [[Edwyle Stark]], Lord of Winterfell
 +
#Lord [[Rickard Stark]], Lord of Winterfell
 +
 
 +
==Behind the Scenes==
 +
According to [[George R. R. Martin]], Eddard has similarities with [[w:William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings|Lord Hastings]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1436 Boskone (Boston, MA; February 17-19)], February 17, 2006</ref>
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
{{References|2|refs=
 
   <ref name=IMDB>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/fullcredits#cast Cast of Game of Thrones on IMDB]</ref>
 
   <ref name=IMDB>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/fullcredits#cast Cast of Game of Thrones on IMDB]</ref>
 
}}
 
}}
{{EnWP|House Stark|small=yes}}
 
  
 
{{POV Characters}}
 
{{POV Characters}}
 
{{Hands of the King}}
 
{{Hands of the King}}
{{Small council}}
+
{{Lords of Winterfell}}
 +
{{Robert I small council}}
 +
{{Joffrey I small council}}
  
 
<!-- Categories -->
 
<!-- Categories -->
 
[[Category:House Stark]]
 
[[Category:House Stark]]
 
 
[[Category:Casualties of the War of the Five Kings|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Casualties of the War of the Five Kings|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Characters from the North|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Characters from the North|Stark, Eddard]]
 +
[[Category:Characters killed by Ilyn Payne|Stark, Eddard]]
 +
[[Category:Characters killed by Joffrey Baratheon|Stark, Eddard]]
 +
[[Category:Deaths by beheading|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Executions for treason|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Executions for treason|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Hands of the King|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Hands of the King|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Hostages of House Lannister in the War of the Five Kings|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Hostages of House Lannister in the War of the Five Kings|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:House Arryn wards|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:House Arryn wards|Stark, Eddard]]
[[Category:Members of Robert Baratheon's court|Stark, Eddard]]
+
[[Category:Lords of Winterfell]]
 +
[[Category:Members of Robert I Baratheon's court|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Nobles|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Nobles|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:POV characters|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:POV characters|Stark, Eddard]]
Line 189: Line 243:
 
[[Category:Rebels of Robert's Rebellion|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Rebels of Robert's Rebellion|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Regents|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Regents|Stark, Eddard]]
 +
[[Category:Statues|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Veterans of Greyjoy's Rebellion|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Veterans of Greyjoy's Rebellion|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Veterans of Robert's Rebellion|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Veterans of Robert's Rebellion|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Wardens|Stark, Eddard]]
 
[[Category:Wardens|Stark, Eddard]]
 +
[[Category:Wielders of Ice|Stark, Eddard]]
  
 
<!-- language interwikis -->
 
<!-- language interwikis -->
[[tr:Eddard Stark]]
 
 
[[es:Eddard Stark]]
 
[[es:Eddard Stark]]
 
[[fa:ادارد استارک]]
 
[[fa:ادارد استارک]]
 
[[fr:Eddard Stark]]
 
[[fr:Eddard Stark]]
 +
[[nl:Eddard Stark]]
 +
[[pt:Eddard Stark]]
 
[[ru:Эддард Старк]]
 
[[ru:Эддард Старк]]
 +
[[tr:Eddard Stark]]
 
[[zh:&#33406;&#24503;&#183;&#21490;&#22612;&#20811;]]
 
[[zh:&#33406;&#24503;&#183;&#21490;&#22612;&#20811;]]

Revision as of 16:30, 9 September 2022

Lua error in Module:Coa/core at line 34: "House Stark.svg" is not a valid COA.
Eddard Amoka.jpg
Eddard Stark by Amok ©

Aliases
Titles
Allegiance House Stark
Predecessors
Successors
Culture Northmen
Born 263 AC[5]
Winterfell[6]
Died 299 AC (aged 36)[7]
Great Sept of Baelor, King's Landing[8]
Father Lord Rickard Stark
Mother Lady Lyarra Stark
Spouse Lady Catelyn Tully
Lovers
Issue
Books

Played by Sean Bean
Sebastian Croft (child)
Robert Aramayo (young)
TV series Game of Thrones: 1 | 6 | 7

Eddard Stark, also called "Ned", is the head of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North. He is a close friend to King Robert I Baratheon, with whom he was raised. Eddard is one of the major POV characters in A Song of Ice and Fire.

In the television adaptation Game of Thrones, Eddard is played by Sean Bean, Sebastian Croft (Eddard as a child), and Robert Aramayo (Eddard as a young man).[9]

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Eddard Stark

Eddard has a long face[10] and long brown hair.[11] His closely-trimmed beard is beginning to grey, making him look older than his thirty-five years.[11] His dark grey eyes[11] reflect his moods, turning soft as fog or hard as stone.[12] Eddard is shorter and less handsome than his older brother Brandon had been, according to Catelyn Stark; however, she also states that Ned has a "good sweet heart beneath his solemn face".[13] He keeps faith with the old gods.[1] He is fiercely protective of his wife and children, whom he loves deeply.

Eddard is known for his unwavering sense of honor[14][15] and justice and his family finds him kind, although some consider his reserved personality a sign of coldness and disdain.[16] Among his enemies, Eddard has the reputation of having cold, judgmental eyes[17] thought to reflect his frozen heart.[18]

While riding his great warhorse in the north, Ned wears furs and leathers.[11] Ned also wears silk[19] and linen[20] tunics and a belt of heavy silver links.[20] His surcoat is fine white velvet with a direwolf badge over the heart.[12] Ned's cloaks are grey with white,[21] as well as black wool.[22]

Lord Stark wields sword[23] and dagger,[24] although he uses Ice, a Valyrian steel greatsword, for ceremonial purposes.[11]

History

Youth

Eddard was born at Winterfell[6] as the second son of Lord Rickard Stark and Lady Lyarra Stark. He had one older brother, Brandon, and two younger siblings, Lyanna and Benjen.[25][26]

Eddard was fostered by Lord Jon Arryn at the Eyrie from the age of eight.[1][10] There, Eddard befriended his fellow ward, Robert Baratheon, while Lord Jon became like a second father to him.[1] When he reached the age of sixteen, Eddard was a man grown, and divided his time between Winterfell and the Eyrie.[27] During one of his visits to Winterfell, Eddard carried a wedding proposal from Robert to his father, Lord Rickard, who agreed to betroth his daughter Lyanna to Eddard's friend.[6][23] When Lyanna later expressed that her belief that Robert would never keep to one bed, having heard about Mya Stone, Robert's bastard daughter in the Vale of Arryn, Eddard recalled having seen the child, and was unable to deny her existence.[23] Lord Rodrik Ryswell hoped to wed his daughter Barbrey to Brandon or Eddard.[28]

Tourney at Harrenhal

Rhaegar Targaryen, Eddard, and Lyanna, by M. Luisa Giliberti ©

In 281 AC, at the age of eighteen, Eddard came down from the Eyrie to attend the tourney at Harrenhal.[15] Also present were Eddard's foster brother Robert, his foster father Jon, and his three siblings, Brandon, Lyanna, and Benjen.[2] It was during this tourney that Eddard met Howland Reed, one of his father's bannermen. Howland and Eddard remained friends for the rest of their lives. During the opening feast, Eddard saw Ashara Dayne, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Elia Martell. He danced with her later that night, but only after his older brother Brandon had spoken to her on his behalf, since he himself was too shy.[2] Eddard was present during the final jousts, where Prince Rhaegar Targaryen passed over his own wife, Elia, to crown Lyanna the queen of love and beauty. Eddard would remember this moment as "the moment when all smiles died" years later.[15]

The following year, Eddard's sister Lyanna was abducted by Prince Rhaegar.[29] Brandon rode to King's Landing in anger, but he was arrested when he threatened the crown prince. Lord Rickard Stark was summoned to King's Landing to answer for the crimes of his son, and rode to the capital with two hundred men. When he demanded a trial by combat, both he and Brandon were executed at the command of King Aerys II Targaryen.[30] Aerys's next step was to demand that Jon Arryn send him the heads of his former wards, Eddard and Robert. Jon refused and instead called his banners.[1]

Robert's Rebellion

Robert Baratheon and Eddard, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

With his father and brother dead, Eddard was now the Lord of Winterfell. He wanted to raise his banners to join Robert's Rebellion, but getting from the Vale of Arryn to the north was complicated by the loyalty to the Iron Throne of Gulltown, the Vale's chief port.[31][32] Eddard crossed the Mountains of the Moon to the Fingers and hired a fisherman to bring him to White Harbor with a boat. They were caught by a storm on the Bite and the fisherman drowned. However, his daughter brought Eddard to the Three Sisters. When he arrived at Sisterton, House Borrell's maester urged Lord Borrell to deliver Eddard's head to King Aerys II Targaryen, but Lord Borrell, knowing that Jon Arryn and Robert Baratheon had taken Gulltown in the meantime, was unsure who would prevail in the conflict. Thus he let Ned leave for White Harbor, telling him to remain silent about his stay in Sisterton in case the rebellion failed.[32]

Eddard called his banners, and marched south to join Robert, arriving with Lord Hoster Tully in time to turn the tide at the Battle of the Bells.[33] Afterward, he went to Riverrun to marry Hoster's elder daughter, Catelyn, who had been betrothed to his brother Brandon before his death.[10] Jon Arryn married Hoster's younger daughter, Lysa, in the same ceremony. The double wedding bound House Tully to the rebels' cause.[1]

The rebels won their decisive victory in the Battle of the Trident, in which Robert killed Prince Rhaegar Targaryen in single combat at the ruby ford. Because Robert had been wounded by Rhaegar, it fell on Eddard to pursue the remnants of Aerys's armies to King's Landing.[14]

Eddard, Jaime, and Aerys in the Iron Throne room - by Amok ©

When Eddard arrived at the capital, Lord Tywin Lannister's force had already sacked the city. Eddard had developed contempt for House Lannister during the rebellion, as Tywin had remained neutral in an apparent attempt to join the winning side in the end. Eddard's contempt increased when he learned that Tywin had conquered the city by treachery and that his men had brutally killed Rhaegar's wife, Elia Martell, and children, Rhaenys and Aegon. In addition, Lannister flags were flying over the Red Keep when Eddard arrived and, as he rode into the throne room to claim the crown for Robert, he found King Aerys's body at the steps leading to the Iron Throne, on which the king's killer, Ser Jaime Lannister, was sitting.[14]

Eddard felt the Sack of King's Landing dishonored Robert's cause. He was disappointed that Robert, upon arriving in the city, did not share his moral outrage and in particular defended the murder of Rhaegar's children. He also ignored Eddard's counsel that Jaime should be made to join the Night's Watch for breaking his oath as a knight of the Kingsguard by not protecting the king. Their disagreements created a rift between Eddard and Robert that not even Jon Arryn was able to breach.[1][14][34]

Eddard left Robert in King's Landing and went to Storm's End, where he lifted the siege of the castle. Lord Mace Tyrell and his armies yielded to Eddard without a fight.[35] Afterwards, Eddard traveled to the Red Mountains of Dorne to liberate his sister Lyanna, who apparently was held at the tower of joy. When Eddard arrived along with six companions, he found the tower guarded by three members of the Kingsguard, Arthur Dayne, Oswell Whent, and Lord Commander Gerold Hightower. The resulting skirmish saw the deaths of all but Eddard and one companion, Howland Reed.[36] Eddard is said to have killed Arthur, the Sword of the Morning, in single combat.[37]

Eddard makes a promise to Lyanna before her death - by Amok ©

Unfortunately, when Eddard found Lyanna, she was already dying.[38] Before her death, she made Eddard promise her something;[38] what he promised her has not yet been revealed. The experience haunts Eddard and he recalls her "promise me" on multiple occasions.[14][20][15] However, the shared grief over Lyanna led to his reconciliation with his friend, now King Robert I.[14]

When Eddard returned home to Winterfell, he brought with him his bastard son, Jon Snow. This strained the relationship with his wife Catelyn, who had given birth to their son Robb at Riverrun during the war. Eddard refused to speak to her about Jon's mother. However, stories concerning her identity circulated nonetheless. When Catelyn heard rumors that the boy's mother was the Dornish noblewoman Ashara Dayne, she confronted Eddard about it, but he told her in a brusque manner that the child was his blood and that was all she needed to know. He subsequently silenced the rumors about Ashara.[10] Sansa Stark recalls hearing whispers that Jon's mother was common born.[39] Lord Edric Dayne believes that, rather than his aunt Ashara, Jon Snow's mother was a woman called Wylla, who worked for House Dayne and at one point served as Edric's wet-nurse.[40] When asked about the mother of his bastard son by King Robert I Baratheon, Eddard also mentions the name Wylla.[14] However, Lord Godric Borrell claims that the daughter of the fisherman who sneaked Eddard away from the Fingers gave birth to Jon Snow.[32]

Eddard buried the bones of his deceased kin in the crypt of Winterfell. Breaking the tradition of only Stark kings and lords having statues, Ned had them carved for Brandon and Lyanna next to that of Lord Rickard.[29] Barbrey Dustin, now Lady of Barrowton, resented that Eddard returned the horse but not the bones of her husband, Lord Willam, who had died fighting alongside Ned in Dorne.[28] Ned's younger brother, Benjen, joined the Night's Watch.[41]

Lord of Winterfell

As a second son, Eddard had never expected to become the Lord of Winterfell, and as such did not always feel equal to the task, determined it had all been meant for his elder brother Brandon.[10] Lord Stark has taken little interest in affairs south of the Neck.[14]

In 289 AC, Eddard traveled south to help Robert suppress Greyjoy's Rebellion. After the decisive siege of Pyke and Lord Balon Greyjoy's surrender, Eddard took Balon's only surviving son, Theon, to Winterfell as a ward and hostage.[38] While Eddard tried to be like a father to Theon from time to time,[42] the boy still found Lord Stark to be cold.[42]

When Lord Jorah Mormont tried to sell poachers he had caught on his lands into slavery in 293 AC, Eddard traveled to Bear Island to bring him to justice for his crime. Upon arrival, Ned found that Jorah and Lynesse Hightower had fled into exile, however.[14]

During his marriage to Catelyn, Eddard had five children with her: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon.[26] Eddard has taught Robb and Jon Snow, his bastard son, about command in battle.[43]

Arya has visited White Harbor twice with her father,[44] and Theon Greyjoy accompanied Lord Stark during a visit to Ser Helman Tallhart at Torrhen's Square[45] and several visits to the Glovers at Deepwood Motte.[46] The hill clans have always treated Lord Stark generously when he visited the northern mountains,[47] calling him "the Ned".[48] Eddard hosted Lord Rickard Karstark and his daughter, Alys, when the girl was six.[49] Mance Rayder was part of Lord Commander Qorgyle's expedition to Winterfell to see Lord Stark.[50] Eddard is wary of Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort.[51]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Eddard with Ice in the godswood of Winterfell - by Michael Komarck ©

Lord Eddard executes Gared, a deserter of the Night's Watch who claims to have been attacked by Others. On the return to Winterfell, the party discovers a direwolf dead on the roadside, her throat pierced by a stag she had slain. Swayed by his bastard son, Jon Snow, Eddard decides not to slay her newborn pups, and instead allow his children to raise them.[11]

That same day, a raven arrives bearing word of the death of Lord Jon Arryn, who fostered Eddard as well as Robert Baratheon, and who had long served Robert as Hand of the King.[1] Soon Robert arrives with half the court, and Eddard grudgingly accepts his offer to replace Lord Arryn as Hand, as well as a betrothal of Prince Joffrey to his daughter Sansa.[38][10] Another message arrives, this one from Lysa Arryn, Jon's widow and the sister of Eddard's wife Catelyn, sent to Winterfell in secret. Lysa warns the Starks that the Lannisters were involved in her husband's death.[10] When Eddard's son Bran falls and slips into a coma, Eddard and the royal court remain at Winterfell for almost another fortnight,[52] though they eventually decide to leave.

During the journey south, Eddard and Robert are at odds whether or not to be concerned about the wedding of the exiled Princess Daenerys Targaryen to Khal Drogo of the Dothraki.[14] Eddard's youngest daughter Arya is involved in an incident in which crown prince Joffrey Baratheon is injured by Arya's direwolf, Nymeria.[39] When Nymeria cannot be found, Queen Cersei Lannister demands the death of Sansa's direwolf, Lady, and Eddard executes the wolf himself at Darry. In order to prevent Queen Cersei from acquiring the pelt, he has her body sent north to be buried at Winterfell.[53]

Upon arriving at King's Landing, Eddard is summoned to a small council meeting. Afterwards, Lord Petyr Baelish takes Eddard to one of his brothels, where he has been hiding Eddard's wife, Catelyn. She reveals how a catspaw tried to kill their son Bran with a Valyrian steel dagger. Petyr, known as Littlefinger, claims that the dagger used to be his, but was won in a bet by Tyrion Lannister. Littlefinger promises to aid Eddard.[24] After receiving Maester Luwin's message that Bran is awake, Lord Stark and his daughters stay overnight in the godswood of the Red Keep.[19]

Eddard in the Red Keep, by Jake Murray © Fantasy Flight Games

Eddard is shocked to learn that the crown is heavily indebted due to Robert's extravagance, and Jon Arryn and the small council had been unable to restrain him. Robert decrees a great tournament is to be held in honor of Eddard's appointment as Hand of the King, despite Eddard's protests of the cost.[24] The Hand's tourney, featuring a joust, melee, and archery contest, attracts knights and freeriders from all over the Seven Kingdoms.[24][54][21] Ned and Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, convince Robert not to participate in the melee.[55]

Eddard discovers that his daughter Arya is in the possession of a sword, Needle, but decides to have her trained in how to use it, instead of taking her sword away. He hires Syrio Forel, a former First Sword of Braavos.[54] While Ned later wonders whether Syrio is a proper teacher for Arya, he allows the lessons to continue,[56] and is eventually willing to ask Syrio to continue his work at Winterfell.[57]

Eddard investigates Jon Arryn's activities before his death, and he discovers that Jon spent a great deal of time with Lord Stannis Baratheon and had been visiting several of Robert's bastard children in the city.[21][23] Grand Maester Pycelle provides the Hand with The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms, which Jon had been reading.[21]

When news reaches King's Landing that Daenerys is pregnant, Robert holds a council meeting demanding she be put to death. Eddard and Barristan are the only ones to speak out against the move, but Robert, driven by his hatred of the Targaryens, insists on the assassination. Eddard, unwilling to cooperate, resigns his office in protest.[16]

Before his planned departure from King's Landing to return to Winterfell, Eddard visits another of Robert's bastard children, a girl named Barra, found by Lord Baelish. Returning from this meeting he is ambushed by Ser Jaime Lannister, who wants revenge for the seizure of his brother Tyrion by Catelyn at the crossroads inn,[23] a fact Eddard had learned the day before from Yoren, a wandering crow.[58][16] Eight men[36] die from the ensuing melee, including Jory Cassel, Heward, Wyl, and Tregar, and Ned's leg is broken when his horse falls upon him.[23] Pycelle treats Ned, who has a fever dream of the tower of joy. While recovering, Robert visits his friend, pardoning him and returning him to office as Hand of the King.[36]

Eddard sits on the Iron Throne and hears petitions while Robert is out on a hunt. Ser Raymun Darry, Ser Marq Piper, and Ser Karyl Vance bring the news that several villages near the border of the westerlands have been ravaged by Ser Gregor Clegane. Eddard sends Lord Beric Dondarrion, Thoros of Myr, and a number of knights, and members of his own household guard to bring the Mountain to justice for his crimes against the riverlands.[22]

While investigating Jon Arryn's interest in Robert's bastard children, Eddard discovers to his horror that Robert's three legitimate children are the product of incest between Queen Cersei and her brother, Jaime.[57] Eddard decides to confront Cersei, giving her a chance to flee with her children while she still can.[59] However, Cersei has orchestrated Robert's assassination. As Robert lays on his deathbed, Eddard rebuffs both the suggestion of Robert's youngest brother, Lord Renly Baratheon, that they seize control of the royal children, and Petyr Baelish's urgings to rule as regent while Cersei and Jaime's thirteen-year-old son, Prince Joffrey, accedes to the Iron Throne, instead planning to deliver it to the elder of Robert's younger brothers, Lord Stannis.[20] Littlefinger promises Eddard the support of the City Watch of King's Landing. Vayon Poole arranges for Sansa and Arya to return north on the Wind Witch,[59] and Ned orders Tomard to deliver a letter to Stannis at Dragonstone.[20]

Eddard's execution by Ilyn Payne, by Magali Villeneuve © Penguin Random House

Not wanting to have her betrothal to Joffrey broken, Sansa informs Queen Cersei of her father's plan to leave King's Landing.[60] When Ned confronts Cersei in the throne room, he is betrayed by Littlefinger. Red cloaks and Janos Slynt's gold cloaks kill Eddard's remaining men, and Littlefinger takes the Valyrian dagger from Lord Stark.[61] Syrio allows Arya to escape Ser Meryn Trant,[62] but Sansa is captured by the Lannisters.[63]

In response to his father's imprisonment for treason by Cersei, Robb Stark calls the northern banners to Winterfell and marches south.[64] For his part in Ned's downfall, Janos Slynt is named Lord of Harrenhal by King Joffrey.[65]

Varys visits Eddard Stark in the dungeons, informing him that if he confesses to treason his life will be spared and he will be given the opportunity to join the Night's Watch. Eddard initially refuses but agrees to swallow his honor to save the life of his daughter Sansa, who is in Lannister custody.[15] He is taken to the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor where, unbeknownst to him, Yoren, his daughter Arya, and the disguised Barristan are amongst the crowd.[8][66] Eddard makes a false public confession but the plan goes awry when King Joffrey declares that Eddard must be executed, to the evident shock of Cersei, Varys, and the High Septon. Ser Ilyn Payne beheads Eddard with his own greatsword, Ice.[8] Joffrey has Eddard's head placed on a spike and forces Sansa to view it.[67]

Bran and Rickon Stark dream of their father's death before a raven arrives at Winterfell.[29] After the Battle of the Camps, Robb is proclaimed King in the North by northmen and rivermen at Riverrun.[68]

A Clash of Kings

Eddard's impaled head at the Red Keep, illustrated by Daarken © Fantasy Flight Games

A stonemason creates a granite statue in Ned's image within the crypt of Winterfell.[69]

Tyrion Lannister orders the heads of Eddard and other victims to be removed from the spikes of the Red Keep.[70] He then sends Eddard's bones to Riverrun.[71][12] Catelyn Stark tasks Hallis Mollen to take the bones north so Eddard can be buried in the crypt of Winterfell beside his father, brother and sister.[13] The ironborn take Moat Cailin soon after, however, and it is unknown if Eddard's bones made it past the Moat before its fall to House Greyjoy.[72][73][13]

Eddard's execution at the Great Sept of Baelor has caused a serious deterioration in relations between the crown and the Faith of the Seven, as the High Septon claims that Stark's beheading there profaned the sept with blood.[70]

A Storm of Swords

Sansa Stark would like to name a son Eddard if she were to wed Willas Tyrell, but Lord Tywin Lannister instead arranges for her to wed his son, Tyrion.[74] Jeyne Westerling, Robb's queen, would like to name her children Eddard and Brandon if they have twins.[75] Robb is slain in the Red Wedding, however.[60]

After the battle beneath the Wall, Stannis Baratheon offers to name Jon Snow as Lord of Winterfell, so that a son of Eddard can help Stannis win the north.[76] Jon refuses the offer, however, and is instead chosen Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.[77]

A Dance with Dragons

Recalling that Janos Slynt had helped kill his father, Jon beheads Janos at Castle Black for insubordination.[78]

In White Harbor, Wylla Manderly recalls Eddard's death when declaring her support for Stannis Baratheon instead of Tommen I Baratheon.[79]

Bran Stark, while training to become a greenseer, sees a vision of his father in the past through the eyes of the heart tree in the godswood of Winterfell. Through the weirwood, Bran hears his father's prayers that his wife will forgive him and that Jon and Robb will grow together as brothers.[80]

Theon Greyjoy leads Lady Barbrey Dustin into the crypts of Winterfell, where they see Eddard's statue. Barbrey blames Eddard for the death of her husband, Lord Willam Dustin. She tells Theon that if she ever discovers the location of Eddard's bones, she will never allow them to be buried in the crypts along with his ancestors, in revenge for Eddard's failure to return her husband's bones to her.[28] Many other northern houses remember Eddard fondly, however, and are willing to march to war against House Bolton to rescue the Bolton-controlled "Arya Stark" (actually Jeyne Poole, the daughter of "The Ned".[48][4]

During the walk of atonement by Cersei Lannister through King's Landing, the face of one of the smallfolk reminds her of Eddard.[81]

Quotes by Eddard

Sean Bean as Eddard in Game of Thrones

Bran: Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?
Eddard: That is the only time a man can be brave.[11]

Bran Stark and Eddard

The blood of the First Men still flows in the veins of the Starks, and we hold to the belief that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.[11]

—Eddard to Bran Stark

A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.[11]

—Eddard to Bran Stark

Eddard: We are not the boys we were.
Robert: You were never the boy you were.[14]

Robert I Baratheon and Eddard

When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.[54]

—Eddard to Arya Stark

Know the men who follow you and let them know you. Don't ask your men to die for a stranger.[54]

—Eddard to Robb Stark

Some secrets are safer kept hidden. Some secrets are too dangerous to share, even with those you love and trust.[16]

—Eddard's thoughts

Black and white and grey, all the shades of truth.[22]

—Eddard's thoughts

"If it came to that, the life of some child I did not know, against Robb and Sansa and Arya and Bran and Rickon, what would I do? Even more so, what would Catelyn do, if it were Jon's life, against the children of her body?" He did not know. He prayed he never would.[59]

—Eddard's thoughts

Cersei: You should have taken the realm for yourself. It was there for the taking. Jaime told me how you found him on the Iron Throne the day King's Landing fell, and made him yield it up. That was your moment. All you needed to do was climb those steps, and sit. Such a sad mistake.
Eddard: I have made more mistakes than you can possibly imagine, but that was not one of them.[59]

Cersei Lannister and Eddard

In this world only winter is certain. We may lose our heads, it's true ... but what if we prevail?[32]

—Eddard to the Borrells

Quotes about Eddard

Eddard, by Mark Evans © Fantasy Flight Games

You are too hard on yourself, Ned. You always were. Damn it, no woman wants Baelor the Blessed in her bed.[14]

Robert I Baratheon to Eddard

Damn you, Ned Stark. You and Jon Arryn, I loved you both. What have you done to me? You were the one should have been king, you or Jon.[56]

Robert I Baratheon to Eddard

You never could lie for love nor honor, Ned Stark.[56]

Robert I Baratheon to Eddard

No, my lord, when the swords come out in earnest, you will be the only true friend Robert Baratheon will have.[56]

Varys to Eddard

You wear your honor like a suit of armor, Stark. You think it keeps you safe, but all it does is weigh you down and make it hard for you to move.[20]

Petyr Baelish to Eddard

You are an honest and honorable man, Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life ... When I see what honesty and honor have won you, I understand why.[15]

Varys to Eddard

Ned Stark a traitor? Not bloody likely. The Long Summer will come again before that one would besmirch his precious honor.[18]

As for your Ned, he should have kissed the hand that killed Aerys, but he preferred to scorn the arse he found sitting on Robert's throne.[30]

I knew Ned Stark as well. Your father was no friend of mine, but only a fool would doubt his honor or his honesty.[82]

A long time ago, she remembered her father saying that when the cold wind blows the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. He had it all backwards. Arya, the lone wolf, still lived, but the wolves of the pack had been taken and slain and skinned.[83]

—thoughts of Arya Stark

Your father was a stubborn man as well. Honor, he called it. Well, honor has its costs, as Lord Eddard learned to his sorrow.[47]

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beron
 
Lorra
Royce
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Donnor
 
Lyanne
Glover
 
 
Willam
 
Melantha
Blackwood
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Artos
 
Lysara
Karstark
 
Berena
 
Alysanne
 
Errold
 
Rodrik
 
Arya
Flint
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandon
 
Edwyle
 
Marna
Locke
 
Jocelyn
 
Benedict
Royce
 
Brandon
 
Benjen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harrold
Rogers
 
Branda
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issue
 
 
 
Issue
 
Issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rickard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lyarra
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandon
 
Catelyn
Tully
 
Eddard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
woman
 
Lyanna
 
Benjen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeyne
Westerling
 
Robb
 
Sansa
 
Tyrion
Lannister
 
Arya
 
Brandon
 
Rickon
 
Jon
Snow
 
 
 


Patrilineal descent

  1. Lord Benjen Stark, Lord of Winterfell
  2. Lord Rickon Stark, Lord of Winterfell
  3. Lord Cregan Stark, Lord of Winterfell
  4. Lord Brandon Stark, Lord of Winterfell
  5. Lord Beron Stark, Lord of Winterfell
  6. Lord Willam Stark, Lord of Winterfell
  7. Lord Edwyle Stark, Lord of Winterfell
  8. Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell

Behind the Scenes

According to George R. R. Martin, Eddard has similarities with Lord Hastings.[84]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
  3. "The Citadel: FAQ, entry 6.2.6- Who were the different people in Meera's story?" (2007
  4. 4.0 4.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 62, The Sacrifice.
  5. See the Eddard Stark calculation.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Eddard Stark.
  7. See the Main Series calculations, 298AC to 299AC.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
  9. Cast of Game of Thrones on IMDB
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 1, Bran I.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
  14. 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 33, Eddard VIII.
  17. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 44, Jaime VI.
  18. 18.0 18.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 27, Daenerys II.
  19. 19.0 19.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 25, Eddard V.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 47, Eddard XIII.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 35, Eddard IX.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
  25. The World of Ice & Fire, Appendix: Stark Lineage.
  26. 26.0 26.1 A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  27. So Spake Martin: Some Questions (March 16, 2000)
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 41, The Turncloak.
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
  30. 30.0 30.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 55, Catelyn VII.
  31. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 23, Alayne I.
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  33. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 29, Arya V.
  34. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  35. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 39, Eddard X.
  37. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: The Andals Arrive.
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  39. 39.0 39.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 15, Sansa I.
  40. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
  41. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Benjen Stark.
  42. 42.0 42.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 11, Theon I.
  43. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 55, Jon VII.
  44. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  45. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 37, Theon III.
  46. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
  47. 47.0 47.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 17, Jon IV.
  48. 48.0 48.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 42, The King's Prize.
  49. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 44, Jon IX.
  50. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
  51. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 35, Jon VII.
  52. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 10, Jon II.
  53. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 16, Eddard III.
  54. 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  55. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 30, Daenerys V.
  56. 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  57. 57.0 57.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 44, Sansa III.
  58. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 32, Arya III.
  59. 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 45, Eddard XII.
  60. 60.0 60.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
  61. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 49, Eddard XIV.
  62. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 50, Arya IV.
  63. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 51, Sansa IV.
  64. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 53, Bran VI.
  65. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
  66. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
  67. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 67, Sansa VI.
  68. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  69. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 4, Bran I.
  70. 70.0 70.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 3, Tyrion I.
  71. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
  72. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 46, Bran VI.
  73. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 50, Theon IV.
  74. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 28, Sansa III.
  75. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 20, Catelyn III.
  76. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
  77. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
  78. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 7, Jon II.
  79. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 19, Davos III.
  80. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 34, Bran III.
  81. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 65, Cersei II.
  82. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 76, Jon XI.
  83. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 6, Arya I.
  84. So Spake Martin: Boskone (Boston, MA; February 17-19), February 17, 2006