Eddard Stark and Richard III: Loyalty and Legacy Across Centuries

Mihaela Raileanu
6 min readJun 27, 2024
hbowatch.com

The intricate tapestry of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series and its television adaptation, “Game of Thrones,” is woven with threads of historical inspiration. The parallels between the characters and historical figures are particularly fascinating. A compelling comparison arises between Eddard Stark and Richard III, two figures separated by centuries but sharing striking similarities and notable differences. This exploration delves into the potential connections between these two characters, examining how history and fiction intertwine.

If we assume that Robert Baratheon is Edward IV, i.e., the older York brother, Eddard Stark can only be Edward’s younger brother, Richard III. Is this an exaggerated parallel? At the outset, yes, it’s a slightly exaggerated comparison. There are a few differences between the two that we should bear in mind. Indeed, George R.R. Martin, when he was looking for inspiration, didn’t just have Richard III in mind when he created Eddard Stark. We should also bring the historical character Richard III closer to Tyrion Lannister, a subject to which I will return.

So, Richard III is the famous King of England mocked by William Shakespeare (subject of a Tudor dynasty queen, Elizabeth I, the daughter of no less famous father, Henry VIII). In the Shakespearean play that bears his name, King Richard is portrayed as hunchbacked, a criminal, a murderer of his nephews, and nearly married to his niece. The image is, wherever we look at it, disgusting. Yet the image of Richard, as Shakespeare presented it, is still contested today, especially after the discovery of the remains of the former King of England. Of course, Richard III could have been a better king. Of course, he had skeletons in his closet, one of which belonged to Lord Hastings. However, research by scholars and historians proves that Richard III had no physical deformity, nor was he repulsive to look at. However, he did suffer from a spinal condition, nothing that severely distorted the royal image. As for his actions, the story is longer than a blog post can allow, but I’ll return to the topic because it’s worth covering. Suffice it to say now that Richard is considered by many, including historians, to be innocent of the deaths that are being thrown his way. On the contrary, Richard is said to have been loyal and a good king, and above all, he was very popular in the North, similar to Eddard Stark.

Ned Stark’s defining trait is loyalty. Despite his misgivings, Ned accepts the position of Hand of King Robert Baratheon. That same devotion makes him tell the King that the heir to the throne also lacks legitimacy. Only here does Ned Stark make a mistake that will prove fatal for him and many others. He tells Cersei of his intentions, hoping she will take her children and flee the kingdom, away from Robert’s predictably devastating wrath. Later, when Tywin Lannister asks Arya, unaware of her true identity, what killed her father, Arya replies, “Loyalty.” That is an excellent, fair answer, but it’s more than that.

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Richard III’s motto was ‘Loyalty binds me to lie.’ When Richard’s brother, George Duke of Clarence (the one who had been accused of high treason and died drowned in a cask of wine), rose against their brother, King Edward IV, Richard made a common front with his elder brother Edward against George. This decision of Richard’s was probably not easy to make, given that his cousin Warwick (the famous ‘Kingmaker’) was at the forefront of the plot to overthrow Edward from power. To give you the whole picture, Warwick had been like a father to young Richard, who had lived in Warwick’s house in Middleham for some years. Richard met his future wife, Anne, Warwick’s youngest daughter, in childhood and adolescence.

Here’s another common thread between the two: like Ned, Richard III was also known for his excellent governance of the northern kingdom. Edward IV had left his younger brother Richard in charge of the administration of the North, including defending the Scottish border. Despite his brother’s attention as King, Richard preferred avoiding court. You probably remember the first episode of “Game of Thrones” when Robert greets Ned after nine years of absence and asks him what he’s been up to all this time. Stark replied, “Guarding the North for you, Your Grace. Winterfell is yours”.

However, there are differences between Eddard Stark and Richard III. Richard was charismatic, charming, articulate, and made friends quickly. Richard built up a whole network of supporters in the North, who would remain on his side after he took the throne. In the North, Richard was known for his loyalty and generosity to his followers. He was a good lord, sharing his wealth, power, and success with those less favored by fate, and this was well seen in those times. The chronicles mention that Richard was considered by his contemporaries to be a charismatic leader and as persuasive a speaker as his brothers.

There is another parallel to be drawn between Ned and Richard. Both ‘benefited’ from a succession crisis during their lifetimes. In Ned’s case, it was the one following the accident where King Robert lost his life. In Richard’s case, it was the crisis of 1483. After the death of Edward IV, Richard III found himself in a dangerous position. He was threatened by the Woodvilles, who he, in turn, blamed for the death of his brother, the King. He even believed they had the best opportunity to kill the King.

On his deathbed, Edward IV added a codicil to his will, making Richard regent until his son, Edward V, was old enough to reign. That document was never found, which may mean it was destroyed soon after Edward’s death. Richard was not present at the death of his brother, the King, nor did he find out until a few days later, when he received the news in a letter sent by the late King Edward’s best friend, Lord Hastings. It is possible that the document was destroyed by someone in the Woodville family, who opposed the idea of seeing Richard regent. This historical fact may have been the basis for the scene in which Cersei (Elizabeth Woodville incarnate) tears up Robert Baratheon’s will, which stipulated, among other things, that Eddard Stark be named regent.

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During the crisis following the King’s death, Richard may have discovered that Edward had signed a marriage contract with another woman before his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. If such a document did exist, it would mean that Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was null and void, and the children of that marriage were bastards. Richard’s claim to the throne may have resulted from this since if Edward’s sons were bastards, the throne would go to the late King’s only surviving brother, him, as George had been accused of treason and killed. By 1483, the fight for the throne was going on, as we saw in “Game of Thrones” after Eddard Stark wrote to Stannis that Robert was not the father of his children.

There is an aspect in which Martin distances himself from the events in Richard’s life. Unlike Ned’s relationship with Robert, Richard never fought in Edward’s first battle for the throne. Richard was ten years younger than Edward, so he was only a little boy when Edward overthrew King Lancaster and his family from power. Also, Ned seems to lack impulsiveness, cruelty, and decision-making ability. Although Richard III cannot be accused of cruelty (at least there is no evidence), he was temperamental and easily made decisions.

Richard and Ned were conscientious soldiers. But Richard could be cold-hearted when he had to do his duty. He may well have been responsible for killing or ordering the murder of the mad King Henry VI after his brother Edward took the throne of England. He also had no headache about using widows’ wealth, including his mother-in-law’s. These cold calculations did not apply to Eddard Stark.

Conclusion:

The comparison between Eddard Stark and Richard III illuminates how George R.R. Martin blends historical elements with his fictional world. While there are significant differences between the two figures, their shared traits of loyalty and governance in the North create a compelling parallel. By examining these historical inspirations, we gain a deeper understanding of the characters in “Game of Thrones” and appreciate the intricate layers of storytelling that draw from real-world history. This exploration highlights the enduring influence of the past on contemporary narratives, enriching our experience of both history and fiction.

Reading recommendations:

John Ashdown-Hill, Eleanor the Secret Queen.

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Mihaela Raileanu
Mihaela Raileanu

Written by Mihaela Raileanu

Researcher, writer, explorer of ideas. I write about films (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) and how we can create a better world. Join for fresh insights!

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