Lord Eddard Stark, also known as Ned Stark, was the head of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Lord Paramount and the Northern Warden, and later the King's Hand to King Robert I Baratheon. He was Benjen's older brother, Lyanna and Brandon Stark's younger brother. He is the father of Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon of his wife, Catelyn Tully, and Jon Snow's uncle, whom 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 the sons of Cersei 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.