Execution

Robb Stark preparing to execute Rickard Karstark.

"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 means 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.

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 pledging fealty 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 Night's 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

• Lord Rickard Stark, burned alive with wildfire by Rossart under orders of Aerys II for alleged treason.
• Brandon Stark, for threatening Rhaegar. 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 Eddard Stark with Ice.
• The wineseller, dragged by Daenerys's horse until his death under the orders of Drogo for trying to kill her.
• Lord Eddard Stark, beheaded for treason by Ilyn Payne with Ice under orders of King Joffrey Baratheon.
• Mirri Maz Duur, burned alive by Daenerys for killing Rhaego and Drogo.
• Lord Beric Dondarrion, hanged and stabbed through the eye by Lannister soldiers for treason. Later resurrected - for the fifth time - by Thoros, however.
• Ser Rodrik Cassel, beheaded by Theon after the capture of Winterfell at the urging of Dagmer, for killing two of their fellow ironborn and pitting in Theon's face.
• Lord Rickard Karstark, beheaded by Robb, under charges of treason.
  • A number of Karstark men, sentenced to hanging by Robb for taking part in their lord's treason: the murder of hostages Willem and Martyn Lannister.
• 163 Great Masters, crucified under orders of Daenerys after conquering Meereen in retribution for crucifying slave children.
• Lord Axell Florent, burned at the stake by Melisandre at Stannis's order for refusing to renounce the Seven.
• Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, burned at the stake under orders of Stannis for attacking the Seven Kingdoms.
• Mossador, executed by Daario Naharis under the orders of Daenerys 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 his brother, flayed alive by Ramsay for tax evasion.
• Olly, Alliser Thorne, Bowen Marsh, and Othell Yarwyck, hanged by Jon for mutiny.
• Ramsay Bolton, fed to his own hounds after his defeat at the Battle of the Bastards for countless atrocities.
• Randyll and Dickon Tarly, burned alive by Drogon, on Daenerys Targaryen's orders for refusing to bend the knee.
• Petyr Baelish, throat cut by Arya, at the behest of Sansa, for multiple crimes: murdering Lysa, 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.
• Missandei, captured as a prisoner of war during the battle at Dragonstone and beheaded by Gregor Clegane under the order of Cersei, for her association with Daenerys Targaryen.
• Varys, burned alive by Drogon on the orders of Daenerys, for conspiring to depose her and put Jon on the Iron Throne.

List of legally questionable executions

Below is a list of executions, which have been arguably performed without any legal authorization:

• King Stannis Baratheon, beheaded near Winterfell by Brienne as a revenge for the murder of Renly.
• Lem and two others, hanged by the Hound and the Brotherhood Without Banners for their unauthorized attack on Septon Ray's community.

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.

"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.

External links

• Capital punishment on Wikipedia