Execution

"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm, I, Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, sentence you to die."

- Ned Stark sentences Will to death for deserting the Night's Watch.

Execution is the punishment of a crime through death. It is often performed in public as a mean of enforcing authority or demoralizing political dissent, particularly in times of political instability.

Noblemen are often executed by beheading - which is considered to be more quick and humane than a comparatively slow death by hanging, which is normally meted out to lowborn criminals (and thus it is considered more humiliating for a nobleman to be hanged), or crucifixion.

As pointed out in the novels, the correct grammar is to say that a person was "hanged" by a noose, not "hung". Only paintings and tapestries get "hung".

Execution customs

 * The North: Sentences are usually carried out by the lords themselves, holding to the tenet of the First Men that "he who passes the sentence should swing the sword" (perhaps the purpose of this rule is that the lords should not be too hasty in issuing death sentences). In cases where the death sentence applies to a large group of people, hanging or other methods may be carried out by the lord's retainers.
 * Historically, members of House Bolton executed their victims through torture, mutilation and flaying. They seemingly gave up the practice after bending the knee to House Stark but supposedly continued it in secret until the rise of Ramsay Bolton.
 * The "South": Sentences are usually carried out by headsmen or torturers. In the case of the King's Landing itself, sentences are carried out by the King's Justice, a royal executioner.
 * In the Eyrie, executions are not carried out by headsmen, instead the Moon Door is used to drop criminals below the arch of the mountain atop of which the castle was built.
 * In the Iron Islands, criminals who have attempted to kill a major lord can be punished by being tied down on the beach at low tide, then leaving them there to slowly drown, watching for hours as death creeps closer to them one inch at a time.

Crimes punished through execution
Even though there are no laws that actually limit execution, there are a number of crimes that are stated to result in execution:
 * Desertion
 * Treason
 * Murder
 * Regicide

Execution may be avoided if the culprit chooses to join the Night's Watch. In the case of members of the Watch, the punishment for these crimes is death, particularly in cases of desertion.


 * George R.R. Martin has stated that if a woman commits a crime punishable by death, because women cannot join the Night's Watch, the woman is usually given the choice to join the monastic order of the Silent Sisters instead.

List of executions

 * Queen {Rhaenyra Targaryen}, fed to the dragon Sunfyre by her half-brother, King Aegon II Targaryen.
 * Lord {Rickard Stark}, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Lord Paramount of the North, for treason. Burned alive with wildfire by Wisdom {Rossart} under orders of Aerys II.
 * {Brandon Stark}, for threatening the life of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Strapped to a choking device and strangled himself to death trying to reach a sword to release his father Rickard as he was burned alive.
 * {Will}, for deserting his post at the Night's Watch. Beheaded by Lord Eddard Stark with Ice.
 * Lord {Eddard Stark}, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, Lord Paramount of the North, and Hand of the King, beheaded for treason by Ser Ilyn Payne with his own sword Ice under orders of King {Joffrey Baratheon}.
 * Lord Beric Dondarrion, hanged and stabbed through the eye by Lannister soldiers for treason. Later resurrected - for the fifth time - by Thoros of Myr, however.
 * Ser {Rodrik Cassel}, beheaded by Prince Theon Greyjoy after the Fall of Winterfell at the urging of {Dagmer Cleftjaw} for killing two of their fellow Ironborn and openly spitting in Theon's face in plain view of all the people gathered.
 * {Xaro Xhoan Daxos} and {Doreah}, locked inside a vault and left to die by Daenerys Targaryen for stealing her dragons.
 * Lord {Rickard Karstark}, Lord of Karhold, beheaded by Robb Stark, King in the North, under charges of treason.
 * A number of Karstark men, sentenced to hanging by Robb Stark for taking part in their lord's treason: the murder of hostages {Willem} and {Martyn Lannister}.
 * 163 Great Masters, crucified under orders of Daenerys Targaryen after conquering Meereen in retribution for the slave children crucified by the Great Masters.
 * {Arthur Glenmore}, flayed and disemboweled by Ramsay Snow as punishment for Rodrik Forrester calling in the help of House Glenmore.
 * Duncan Tuttle or Royland Degore, executed by Rodrik Forrester for betraying House Forrester and sending information to House Whitehill (player-determined).
 * Ludd Whitehill or Gryff Whitehill, beheaded by Rodrik Forrester for declaring war against House Forrester during the Battle of Ironrath (player-determined).
 * Lord {Andros}, beheaded on the orders of Cersei Lannister.
 * Mira Forrester or Tom, beheaded for the murder of {Damien}.
 * {Mance Rayder}, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, burned alive under orders of King Stannis Baratheon and mercy-killed by Jon Snow.
 * {Mossador}, executed by Daario Naharis under the orders of Queen Daenerys Targaryen for killing a captive Son of the Harpy before his trial.
 * Lord {Janos Slynt}, beheaded by Lord Commander Jon Snow for insubordination.
 * Lord {Medger Cerwyn}, his wife and brother, flayed alive by Ramsay Bolton for refusing to pay taxes.
 * King {Stannis Baratheon}, executed by Brienne of Tarth for the murder of King {Renly Baratheon}.
 * {Olly}, {Alliser Thorne}, {Bowen Marsh}, and {Othell Yarwyck}, hanged by a resurrected Jon Snow for fatally stabbing him.
 * {Lem Lemoncloak}, hanged by Sandor Clegane and the Brotherhood Without Banners for their unauthorized attack on Septon Ray's community.
 * Two other members are hanged for aiding Lem as well.
 * {Ramsay Bolton}, fed to his own hounds after his defeat at the Battle of the Bastards for countless atrocities.
 * {Randyll Tarly}, burnt alive by Drogon, on Daenerys Targaryen's orders for refusing to bend the knee.
 * {Dickon Tarly}, burnt alive by Drogon, on Daenerys Targaryen's orders for refusing to bend the knee.
 * {Petyr Baelish}, throat cut by Arya Stark, at the behest of her sister Sansa Stark, for multiple crimes: murdering their aunt Lysa Arryn, orchestrating the Assassination of Jon Arryn, aiding the Massacre in the Red Keep, and overall igniting the War of the Five Kings through lies and deceit.

Quotes
"Ser Ilyn, bring me his head!"

- King Joffrey Baratheon sentences Ned Stark to death for treason. "Rickard Karstark, Lord of Karhold, here in sight of Gods and men, I sentence you to die."

- Robb Stark sentences Rickard Karstark to death for treason.

"As Lord of Ironrath, Defender of the Ironwood Groves, I sentence you to death."

- Lord Rodrik Forrester prepares to execute Gryff Whitehill.

"Your words will disappear. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear."

- Sansa Stark to Ramsay Bolton before he is executed by being fed to his own hounds. "Lord Randyll Tarly, Dickon Tarly. I Daenerys of House Targaryen, First of My Name, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons, sentence you to die."

- Daenerys Targaryen sentences Randyll Tarly and Dickon Tarly burnt to death by Drogon for refusing to bend their knees.

"When you brought me back to Winterfell, you told me there's no justice in the world unless we make it. Thank you for all the many lessons, Lord Baelish. I will never forget them."

- Sansa Stark to Petyr Baelish, just before his execution.