The HBO show Game of Thrones has been a massive hit for over half a decade, it depicts the complexities of massive and powerful houses fighting for influence and domination. It has been a massive hit worldwide, giving audiences smiles and tears as their beloved characters struggle through this quagmire, sometimes resulting in their tragic endings. We have seen and learned from this show what makes a leader great, and how honor plays a vital role in the seven Kingdoms.

Perhaps there’s no other character in the Game of Thrones Universe that embodies the Virtue of Honor as the head of Winterfell, Eddard Stark. Throughout the first season of the show, after arriving at King’s Landing, we see Ned struggling to navigate in a city filled with with backstabbers and schemers whose only endeavor is to gain an advantage through lies and manipulation . He underestimated the capacity and the slyness of his enemies and the adherence to his code of ethics and honor, ultimately lead him to his imprisonment and death. Which sparked the war of the five kings… and well… you know the rest.

Was Ned Stark a fool who failed to play the Game of Thrones, or is he a rigid example of virtue and principles above death? Plenty of people have accused him of being “naive” and that he was too trusting to play the Game of Thrones. He is often told by other characters that his honor is going to lead him to his grave. But I think that we in the western world have have forgotten what true honor is, and how this virtue is the foundation to well adjusted and responsible men.

First I think we need to define honor, as you may know, languages and meanings morph as centuries goes by. Today our definition of honor has a very different meaning than it did a few centuries ago. Today, when we hear honor, we think of an internal set of morals that only you yourself can judge. We have come to think as honor as nothing more than Integrity. And to differentiate the two of them is almost impossible. But this wasn’t the meaning of honor during the pre-industrial revolution era. Honor meant to be respected among your equals and your inferiors. And we are not talking the modern snow-flakey “I am a person, therefore respect me!”. I am talking about the kind of respect you gain through accomplishments, the kind of respect that comes natural when you excel at something and those around are inspired by what you have achieved. Honor was a code of conduct that groups followed and adhered to in order to bring strength, efficiency and respect to said group. It was a way to present the strength and courage of the entire family and/or tribe rather than the individual.

To make things simpler, let’s compare Ned to the head of House Lannister, Tywin. He is a much more brutal man than Ned. He has earned his respect through wealth and intimidation, and he is not afraid to display his power to those beneath him. This is what many call “Vertical Honor” which is earned through subjugation and force, and those who dare to defy Tywin, suffer the consequence with blood and fury. This is the type of respect that is not based on principle, it is based in fear and impotence to act against a much greater and deadlier force.

Ned on the other hand, actually lives through his own code of ethics. He has the means to intimidate everyone around him. But instead he chooses to lead by example with his own set of morals and conduct. He is not a cruel man, but he is just and does what is necessary to punish those who have broken the rule law. He has the capability to rule with fear and military action, and everyone who follows him knows it. But instead he inspires admiration and love with all the minor and major houses in the North. This type of honor is what is known as “Horizontal Honor”. This is when a group of high ranking individuals follow a very strict set of ethical guidelines, and they develop a mutual relationship of respect based on admiration and appraisal.

The types of honor than Tywin Lannister and Ned Stark display are very different. House Lannister solely relies in the strength and brutality of Tywin, the minute he died, we saw how easily house Lannister nearly crumbled and how few supporters they had in their time of need. Now compare this with the death of Eddard. The love and loyalty he had earned through his leadership made the entire North revolt against the Kingdom itself. Almost everyone took up arms and gave their life and resources in order to avenge the death of a man they believed was the most honorable person in Westeros. With that out of the way, we can begin to see why Ned is so willing to give his life in order to maintain the honor of his house and himself.

Ned’s death was the true definition of tragedy. His unwillingness to harm children, his honesty and forwardness, his loyalty and his adherence to justice is what ultimately led to his execution. He held his principles to the end, willing to give his life to preserve the truth; and the saddest part is that he gave it all up because he knew his daughters were at harms way. He was forced to lie and concede the throne to save his children. He may have tainted his name and bent the knee to King Joffrey right before his death, but he will forever be remembered as a man of honor. The North remembers.