7 Worst Rulers In Game Of Thrones, Ranked

The complex world of Game of Thrones has seen its fair share of cunning tyrants. There was never any shortage of cruelty from those in power as they ruled with an iron fist and kept their subjects in line. With House of the Dragon giving fans hope after the disastrous last season, it’s clear that the series continues to capture a strong and growing fan base. The showrunners seemed to have captured the spark of the original series.

While fans of the two shows have their favorite monarch(s), objectively, there are a couple of unwritten rules for a successful dictator. It’s clear that to be the king (or Queen) of Westeros, one needs a level head (sorry, Ned) and a cold heart. Otherwise, their reign will be short and ultimately lead to a bitter end. It’s always interesting to look back at Game of Thrones and reconsider who truly ranks as the worst of the worst. Plenty of candidates are eligible, ranging from the vile bunch who did their people dirty to the incompetent ones with insufficient foresight.

7. Robb Stark

Followed His Heart, And The Majority Of House Stark Paid The Price

• First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

With noble intentions and a righteous cause behind him, Robb Stark was primed to be a strong King of the North. Unfortunately, his actions were (mostly) guided by emotions rather than logic. His refusal to the arranged marriage to one of Lord Frey’s daughters was one of his major fumbles. He lost the support of House Frey after his marriage to Talisa, which also culminated in the infamous Red Wedding massacre.

Robb was also unwise to let anger cloud his judgment when he executed Rickard Karstark. The bulk of Robb Stark’s northern forces were loyal to Rickard’s banner, and the latter’s murder significantly thinned his numbers. Naturally, the opportunistic leaders changed loyalties with Rob’s lost support and dwindling numbers due to warfare with the Lannisters. Roose Bolton’s cold-hearted and calculating mindset and Theo Greyjoy’s recklessness chipped away at Robb Stark’s power. As a character, Robb Stark was easy to root for, but he was undeniably one of the worst rulers in Game of Thrones.

6. Robert Baratheon

The Personification Of A Brat, Enjoying The Perks Of The Throne Without Any Of The Responsibility

• First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

If there is one Game of Thrones character who could be labeled as a man-child, it’s Robert Baratheon. He brazenly criticized and disregarded the duties of the crown. With an attitude that reeks of a good-for-nothing slacker, Robert was the epitome of a self-indulgent man living off the glory days. Surprisingly, his reign was a relatively peaceful one — a remarkable achievement since it followed the ousted mass-murdering Mad King. However, it was all downhill after that.

Robert Baratheon’s battlefield expertise didn’t exactly translate well to the issues of governance and statesmanship. His lax attitude and lavish spending habits put the kingdom under an insurmountable debt and allowed conspirators to hatch their schemes. Let’s not forget that he led an openly promiscuous lifestyle, where he frequently visited brothels despite having a wife. Also, he dumped everything on Ned Stark’s shoulders, ultimately dooming him and setting the show’s events in motion.

5. Ramsay Bolton

Sadistic, Conniving, And Extremely Cruel, His Hyperfixation Was His Downfall

• First Appearance: Season 3, Episode 2

While not technically a ruler in the traditional sense, Ramsay Bolton still held a position of power. As Lord of Winterfell and the Warden of the North, Ramsay impressively consolidated his hold over the territory. Viewers despised him for his atrocities and how much of a torturous maniac he was. But in all the hate, many fans underestimated his craftiness. He lied to secure alliances, used the worst form of torture to extract information, and casually went back on his word. Ramsay even killed his own men for amusement. Not exactly the traits of a leader people want to follow.

He took it a step further by murdering his own family in cold blood just so he could inherit his father’s title. Even during his comeuppance, Ramsay Bolton was so high of himself that he couldn’t fathom a situation where he’d lose. His shortsightedness and ignorance of the consequences were the reasons for his demise in Game of Thrones.

4. Euron Greyjoy

A True Tactician And Charismatic Manipulator Whose Only Flaw Was His Overambition

• First Appearance: Season 6, Episode 2

If ambition had a poster child in the context of Game of Thrones, then Euron Grejoy was it. No other character was as motivated to take the throne as he was. He was a skilled fighter with an irresistible swagger and the mentality of a wise ruler. He blatantly admitted to kin-slaying and torture, and even used it to cement himself as the unchallenged ruler of the Ironborn. He also had a knack for naval warfare and was skilled at using the environment during combat. By far, the sharpest tool in his arsenal was his opportunistic mindset. Fans see glimpses of this when he approaches Cersei Lannister and convinces her of his matrimonial proposal. The confidence with which he carried himself was unmatched. He often literally referred to himself as a God.

Euron Greyjoy also expertly sabotaged and tactically dismantled Daenerys Targaryen’s forces. Arguably, his biggest win was the final blow to Rhaegal, one of Dany’s dragons. For all his greatness, though, Euron Greyjoy definitely fell victim to his ambitions. He was slain in a duel with Jamie Lannister and wasn’t able to ascend to the throne like he desired.

3. Joffrey Baratheon

An Entitled, Despicably Heinous, And Highly Inexperienced King

• First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

No other ruler or character from Game of Thrones has gotten as much hate as Joffrey Baratheon. He had no redemption arc, and there wasn’t even a hint of progression in his character. If anything, he just got worse and worse, which culminated in him getting drunk on power after his succession to the throne. The only thing Joffrey Lannister managed to do of his own volition was strain the standing of the entire House Lannister in one fell swoop.

He went against Sansa Stark’s plea of mercy and his mother’s counsel to spare Ned Stark. This single decision was the trigger and catalyst that really kicked off the Northern rebellion. Otherwise, he was a puppet ruler. Joffrey was loud, and cocky and had never failed to remind anyone he encountered of his title as king. Yet, when the time came to display his bravery and lead the charge like a true leader (at the Battle of Blackwater), he bailed. Ironically, he thought of himself as a warrior, despite not having any swordsmanship naturally or receiving any official training.

2. Cersei Lannister

The Shrewd Woman Who Took The Throne And Overcame Everything Only To Lose It All

• First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Few characters in Game of Thrones are as iconically renowned as Cersei Lannister. Her reign can only be described as a disaster and a ticking time bomb. She was the wild card in the story, as most of her enemies met their demise by underestimating her petty nature and vindictiveness. Cersei displayed shrewdness to persuade people to her side, but the stick was never far behind the carrot. The show’s recurring theme with her was that despite putting people through hell, her schemes often backfired. She lost all her children this way and became unhinged as a result.

Her most significant moment was achieving her vengeance on those who wronged her, particularly the denizens of the Sept of Baelor, and House Tyrell’s Olenna and Margaery. Cersei’s ascension to the throne as Queen Regent was a defining moment. She suffered personal losses throughout the show, but as a ruler, she had no support from the powerful houses of Westeros. Ultimately, this only ended in her debt to the Iron Bank having multiplied tenfold.

1. Daenerys Targaryen

A Literal Fall From Grace Into Villainy Thanks To The Trauma Triggering The Madness

• First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Settle down, there’s a perfectly valid explanation for why Daenerys Targaryen is the worst ruler in Game of Thrones. She had the best character growth and progression out of all characters until that final season. Initially, she was just a political bargaining tool to be used by her brother. After his death, she slowly overcame her own fate using the Dothraki and amassed some of the greatest armies ever — the Unsullied, the Iron Fleet, and even her own Dragons. As she gained more power, other houses looking to take down House Lannister joined her cause and simply added to her already growing forces and influence.

It was the perfect setup for Daenerys Targaryen to take the Iron Throne and become the just ruler everyone was expecting her to be. However, the pain and pent-up rage of losing her two dragons and all her past trauma triggered her ancestral madness, and she went berserk. Dany was uncharacteristically cruel to have Drogo spew dragon fire down on everyone in King’s Landing, despite the enemy forces surrendering. Tragically, she didn’t even get to enjoy a single day of her reign, as she was stabbed to death by Jon Snow in the aftermath of her conquest.