Lord Eddard Stark, also known as Ned Stark, was the head of House Stark, the Lord of Winterfell, Lord Paramount and the Guardian of the North, and later the Hand of the King to King Robert I Baratheon. He was the older brother of Benjen, Lyanna, and the younger brother of Brandon Stark. He is the father of Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon of his wife, Catelyn Tully, and uncle of Jon Snow, who he raised as his bastard son. He was a dedicated husband and father, a loyal friend, and an honorable lord.
The execution of Eddard and the revelation of the illegitimacy of Cersei's children was the spark of the War of the Five Kings between Joffrey Baratheon, Robb, Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon and Balon Greyjoy, being posthumously responsible for the participation of four kings in this war.