Imagine in Game of Thrones, if Ned Stark (Sean Bean), the noble and honorable Warden of the North, didn’t lose his head at King’s Landing. What if he were allowed to rule the Seven Kingdoms instead? In a world full of lies, betrayal, and greed, Ned Stark stood out as a man of honor. He was well-known for his strong moral code, devotion to family, and keen sense of justice. However, how would Westeros appear if Ned Stark remained on the Iron Throne? Would it be a peaceful kingdom?
The man had true nobility and honor, even though he was a Lord and Warden of the biggest kingdom in the series. Remember, what Robb Stark (Richard Madden) told Lady Talisa (Oona Chaplin) about his father, Ned, he used to say, “Being a Lord means that you have thousands of children under your protection and you have to protect them all“. This shows how much concerned he was for the welfare of his people. But the poor man lost his head in the first season.
Still, what would have happened if he had been given a chance to rule as the King of the Seven Kingdoms?
First, we’ll have a quick look at Lord Eddard’s leadership style.
Ned Stark’s Values and Leadership Style
His leadership was defined by honor, justice, and loyalty. As head of House Stark and Warden of the North, he ruled his land with a fair but firm hand. His moral principles were obvious: he firmly believed in doing the right thing at any cost. This notion of honor has two sides to it. It won him popularity as a leader in the North but also showed him the ruthless politics of King’s Landing, where dishonesty usually won over honesty.
In my opinion, Ned would take an alternative approach to many previous rulers who relied on violence and fear to keep everything under control. Instead of using fear to gain allegiance, he would strive to gain respect. But could such a plan really succeed in a country as big and broken as Westeros? Well, it could be possible, because the same happened during the reign of Rhaegar Targaryen (Wilf Scolding), but we didn’t really get to see all of this.
Well, let’s find out what would have happened if Lord Eddard Stark had become the protector of the realm.
No Sacrifices would be made on Dragonstone
As we can see at the beginning of season 2, sacrifices were made on Dragonstone in the presence of Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) by Lady Melisandre (Carice Van Houten). Those weren’t ordinary sacrifices, they were made to honor the Lord of Light and get his blessings so he could make Stannis King. The people burned were tokens of thanksgiving and were considered infidels because they didn’t believe in fiery gods.
If Ned were the King, Stannis would never have burned anyone alive to worship his lord and get his favors. He was doing this stupidity for two reasons: first, obviously, to become King, and second, because Lady Melisandre had asked him to do so. As Robert’s (Mark Addy) successor, he believed he was the rightful King after his death. But if Eddard were King, of course, the throne would pass to Rob Stark, ultimately saving so many lives, and maybe Stannis would have found some other way to worship his god.
Starks and Lannisters would be friends
It may sound weird, but, to be honest, it could be true during the reign of Lord Eddard. Even though the Lannisters were very hateful and clever people, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) had a certain belief that we should make formal alliances to keep our position strong. And as a matter of fact, Lannisters were widely feared while Tywin was alive, and they were never all the same after his death, but still somehow managed to sustain their position due to their father’s legacy.
Despite their hate and debt policies, they would have never harmed any Stark family member if lord Eddard were the King. He was a man of mercy and understanding, he might have never liked any Lannister family member, but he would have given them a chance of proper alliance. In fact, it was his mercy on Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) that led him to the executioner’s block.
All Wildlings could be saved
We all know how much wildlings were hated throughout Westeros, they were born on the wrong side of the wall, but still, that doesn’t make them monsters. All the kings who claimed to be protectors of the realm never considered wildlings as a part of the realm. No one believed in other mysteries that lie beyond the Wall, but everyone believed in disturbing reports about the people who lived on the northern side of the Wall, which is why they were called “The Wildlings“.
Still, they were humans, and not all the fingers are equally shaped. If Eddard Stark were given the chance to sit on The Iron Throne, he would definitely have negotiated with Mance Rayder (Claran Hinds), the chosen leader of wild people, and he would have considered them citizens of the realm.
And, I seriously encourage on this, because that was the main reason Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) took an initiative to save all the wildlings when he became Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. Just think about how many hundreds of thousands would have been saved from turning into White Walkers.
Khaleesi would be the queen of the Seven Kingdoms
Another weird but sensible fact, Khaleesi, aka Queen Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), was the last survivor of the Targaryen dynasty and was the daughter of Aerys II Targaryen (David Rintoul). Her father was defeated by Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark during the War of Five Kings. She had a true claim to the Iron Throne, but still, she couldn’t achieve it, as there was no official supporter left to support her claim.
But, as we know, Eddard Stark was a man of justice and fair rules. If he were chosen as a King, he would definitely support Khaleesi’s claim and would have passed the throne to her when she came of age. In season 2, Rob Stark, who was the eldest son of Eddard, also mentioned that he wasn’t interested in the Iron Throne, so categorically he would refuse the crown, and it could pass to her.
But that is my personal feedback, do let us know your thoughts on this fact.
Walder Frey would never have betrayed
One of the most cunning and despised characters of the Game of Thrones Universe. Walder Frey (David Bradley) was pledged to the Starks of Winterfell, as he was the lord of the Crossing that connects Westeros and the North. In season 1, when Rob Stark marched on King’s Landing for the freedom of his father and sisters, he needed the bridge of the Crossing to march his army south.
That’s where Frey came in, and he made a pact with Starks that after the War, one of her daughters would become queen, but as King Rob fell in love, he had to break that oath, which made Frey very furious, and he betrayed Rob by slaughtering the whole family at the Red Wedding.
Well, what I think is that in Ned’s kingdom, this nonsense would have been avoided, and Frey could keep his alliance with Starks for good till the end of time. Both families have been in a pact for centuries, but then everything collapsed because of a single misunderstanding, and at the same time, another interesting fact is that this was the biggest turning point of the series.
A peaceful Westeros | Less violence
Lord Stark’s ability to reduce warfare within the Seven Kingdoms may have been one of his greatest achievements as king. Power conflicts, rebellions, and civil wars sometimes split apart Westeros. The kingdom was in ruins as a result of these wars, which included the War of the Five Kings and Robert’s Rebellion. Instead of turning the noble families against one another, his commitment to justice and peace could have brought them together.
Imagine a world in which he resolved conflicts with diplomacy instead of violence. He was able to create alliances that would stabilize the realm thanks to his connections to houses like the Tullys, Baratheons, and Arryns. His reputation for justice may encourage wealthy families to unite around him rather than compete for dominance. Even long-standing rivals might consider peace negotiations rather than fighting each other under Ned’s leadership.
Conclusion
Ned Stark’s leadership of the Seven Kingdoms could have been a beacon of light in a world where authority frequently feeds corruption. It’s possible that his constant commitment to justice, equity, and peace brought Westeros to a prosperous golden era. Ultimately, his rule would have reshaped the Seven Kingdoms, for better or worse, leaving a legacy that lasted for centuries.
As for his legacy as king, it would be one of justice, fairness, and loyalty. He would go down in history as a guy who always stood by his ethical principles, no matter the cost. His reign would have had a lasting impact on Westeros, demonstrating that morality and respect could coexist in a harsh place like the Seven Kingdoms.
