Robert Baratheon replaced Aerys II Targaryen as the king of the Seven Kingdoms, but Ned Stark had the opportunity to seize the Iron Throne years before Game of Thrones — and one has to wonder if he’d have made a better ruler. Although Robert’s Rebellion concluded with Robert usurping the throne, he was too injured after his fight with Rhaegar Targaryen to ride to King’s Landing and defeat the Mad King himself. Ned Stark went in Robert’s place, and he and Robert’s forces overthrew King Aerys II with the help of House Lannister.
In Game of Thrones, Jaime Lannister recalled that Ned could have taken the Iron Throne for himself but didn’t. This raised a major “what if” at the beginning of the series, leaving viewers to wonder what would have happened if Ned had claimed the Iron Throne instead. Of course, Robert Baratheon had a better claim, as he had Targaryen blood, while Ned and Jon Arryn didn’t. But while Robert wasn’t the worst king Westeros ever had, he was also lacking as a leader. Ned might have done a better job, though he had some significant shortcomings Robert didn’t.
Ned Stark Would’ve Had More Interest In Ruling Than Robert Baratheon
He Would Have Been More Responsible As King Of The Seven Kingdoms
Ned didn’t desire the Iron Throne as Robert did, but he probably would have had more interest in his duties as king — and that already suggests he’d have done a better job than his old friend. Game of Thrones highlighted the fact that Robert had given into his vices, preferring to drink and give in to debauchery than actually serve the realm. Although Robert was present enough to demand fear and respect from his subjects, he didn’t have a heavy hand in ruling. He allowed the people working for him to handle much of the day-to-day decision-making.
Robert’s reputation was better as a warrior than a king, though he benefited from the relative peace his subjects experienced under his rule.
Robert’s reputation was better as a warrior than a king, though he benefited from the relative peace his subjects experienced under his rule. But it’s worth noting that many of the benefits that stemmed from Robert’s reign could be attributed to Jon Arryn, who served as Hand of the King and did what Robert wouldn’t. Ned was different from Robert in this way, taking on his responsibilities as Warden of the North firsthand. This was shown in the first scene, when he insisted on beheading a deserter of the Night’s Watch himself. Ned took his duties seriously.
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This would have extended to the kingship had he chosen to pursue it, but Ned didn’t crave power. Arguably, that made him better suited for it. He would have understood the weight of being king and taken it more seriously than his friend. This would have put Westeros in a better position financially, though it may not have suited the people who took advantage of Robert’s disinterest in ruling.
The Crown’s Debts Would Be Lower With King Ned Stark
Ned Didn’t Live As Lavishly As Robert & Was More Cautious
The Crown found itself in serious debt throughout Game of Thrones, and Robert Baratheon didn’t help the situation. In fact, from what Game of Thrones revealed about the Crown’s debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos, Robert actively made it worse. Littlefinger told Ned during Game of Thrones season 1, “The Master of Coin finds the money. The King and the Hand spend it.” Appointing Littlefinger as Master of Coin was already a dubious decision on Robert’s part, as he rarely advised the king to use caution financially. However, Robert didn’t seem to mind spending frivolously.
Ned, on the other hand, would have approached the treasury like he did everything else: with caution and a sense of duty.
Robert enjoyed luxury and vices, and he held numerous feasts and tournaments in King’s Landing while he was on the Iron Throne. Such things weren’t necessary, but Robert wasn’t concerned about the consequences of owing Braavos or the Lannisters. Ned, on the other hand, would have approached the treasury like he did everything else: with caution and a sense of duty. Even when Ned became the Hand of the King, he was immediately concerned about the Crown’s debt. This was a clear indication that he never would have let things get so out of hand.
Ned Stark Wasn’t Good At Politics
This Could Have Shortened His Reign & Stirred Conflicts
Ned Stark would have put more effort into ruling responsibly than Robert Baratheon, but that wouldn’t guarantee him a longer or better reign. There were too many scheming parties when Robert took the Iron Throne, and they all quickly took advantage of the new king. Robert was easygoing enough that characters like Littlefinger, Varys, and Grand Maester Pycelle could get away with their political maneuvering while also serving him. Ned Stark wouldn’t have been so kind to any of these characters, as he wasn’t nearly as good at politics as Robert.
Robert was able to keep people like Littlefinger and Varys happy, but Ned would have wound up with a knife in his back for defying them.
Game of Thrones repeatedly drove home the fact that Ned was a man of honor, and he had no patience for playing games — the very thing the entirety of George R.R. Martin’s entire series was founded on. Ned’s refusal to cater to the interests of untrustworthy politicians would have been his downfall, as that was a necessity for survival in King’s Landing. Robert was able to keep people like Littlefinger and Varys happy, but Ned would have wound up with a knife in his back for defying them. This already happened when he became the Hand of the King.
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Ned probably wouldn’t have fared much better when it came to the Great Houses of Westeros, as many of the lords and ladies came with their own sets of demands. Avoiding conflict with other powerful forces required an easygoing nature and the ability to compromise, both of which Robert had. Ned’s more black-and-white morality would have backfired here, potentially stirring more conflicts than Robert had to deal with.
Ned Stark Would’ve Had One Huge Problem That Robert Didn’t
The Lannisters Would Have Been An Issue If Ned Had Become King
In addition to the fact that Ned couldn’t play the Game of Thrones as well as Robert, he would have faced another obstacle as king: the Lannisters. The Starks and the Lannisters didn’t mesh well from the beginning of the series, and the latter were only interested in allying with Robert because they wanted power. Tywin was able to marry Cersei to Robert and claim more power for House Lannister. He wouldn’t have been able to use Ned to his advantage, especially with Ned already married to Catelyn.
Ned would have wanted to hold the Lannisters accountable for their part in Robert’s Rebellion as well, as that’s what his code of honor would have demanded.
Ned would have wanted to hold the Lannisters accountable for their part in Robert’s Rebellion as well, as that’s what his code of honor would have demanded. He’d probably have tried to punish Jaime Lannister for betraying his oath to the Mad King, which would have enraged Tywin and Cersei. He might have even gone after Tywin for his own betrayal of King Aerys II, which wouldn’t have ended well for him. Needless to say, Ned’s honor in Game of Thrones would have started a war even earlier had he become king of the Seven Kingdoms over Robert.
Game of Thrones
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Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
- Cast
- Emilia Clarke , Peter Dinklage , Sophie Turner , Kit Harington , Lena Headey , Maisie Williams , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Iain Glen , John Bradley , Alfie Allen , Conleth Hill , Liam Cunningham , Gwendoline Christie , Aidan Gillen , Isaac Hempstead-Wright , Rory McCann , Nathalie Emmanuel , Jerome Flynn , Rhys Ifans , Matt Smith , Graham McTavish , Fabien Frankel , Steve Toussaint , Eve Best , Emma D’Arcy , Matthew Needham , Olivia Cooke , Milly Alcock , Emily Carey
