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. In contrast to assassination or murder, execution is usually done in formal manner and in public. Of course, the fact that the killing is performed formally and openly does not necessarily mean that it is a just punishment.

Sometimes the open manner of the execution defeats its purpose and backfires at the authority that performs it: instead of making the convict an example to other people, it may makes it a martyr, prompting those who oppose the authority to take action instead of demoralizing them.

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.
  • 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, beheaded for treason 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, 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.
• Over a hundred Great Masters, crucified under orders of Daenerys Targaryen after conquering Meereen in retribution for the slave children crucified by the Great Masters.
• 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.