Execution

Execution is the punishment of a crime through death.

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". 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.
 * Members of House Bolton execute their victims through torture, mutilation and flaying.
 * 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.

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
 * Regicide

Execution may be avoided is 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.

List of executions

 * Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, fed to the dragon Sunfyre by her 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 Mad King 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 released 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, for treason. Beheaded by Ser Ilyn Payne with Ice under orders of King Joffrey Baratheon.
 * Ser Rodrik Cassel. Beheaded by Prince Theon Greyjoy after the Fall of Winterfell at the urging of Dagmer Cleftjaw
 * Lord Rickard Karstark, Lord of Karhold, for treason. Beheaded by Robb Stark, King in the North
 * A number of Karstark men, sentenced to hanging by Robb Stark for taking part in their lord's treason: the murder of Willem and Martyn Lannister
 * Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, burned alive under orders of King Stannis Baratheon and mercy-killed by Jon Snow.
 * 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.