Every time a northern Game of Thrones character has lamented the treatment meted out to its brethren, they have done it through the words "The North Remembers." A phrase of serious reflection, a quote to signify that the North never really did forget what enemies to the South did to the oldest House in Westeros; "The North Remembers" has been used by Lyanna Mormont, Arya Stark and even a lowborn woman serving the Boltons at Winterfell. In Game of Thrones season 8, episode 1, "Winterfell" Daenerys Targaryen arrives in Winterfell with her Unsullied, Dothraki and dragons and the Northerners aren't the slightest bit happy. They view her with suspicion because she is, as Jon Snow puts it - an outsider. "I warned you. Northerners don't much trust outsiders," quips Jon as they walk past disapproving faces.
The North is the largest region of Westeros, and it tells a starkly different story through its geography, worship of the Old Gods, customs and practices. While the regions to its South do exhibit great physical variations, the North stands apart on many accounts. It faces an economic disadvantage due to its cold climate. It is mostly the Northerners, such as former Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, who gave their lives guarding the giant ice Wall that was originally made to guard the realms of men against the White Walkers.
Before the talk of the Walkers, the chief stated purpose of the Wall in the beginning of Game of Thrones was to guard the realm against the Wildlings (the Free Folk). The North is the region where the worship of the Old Gods is still predominant, and it's where the First Men were able to resist the Andal invasion. It is the crown of Westeros but its has seen far too much, and made far too many sacrifices for the realm. Against the backdrop of the great many tragedies that befall the North in Game of Thrones, the phrase, "The North Remembers" carries weight.
Executions And Rebellions
In Game of Thrones season 1, episode 1, "Winter Is Coming," King Robert Baratheon who ousted the Targaryens in a war known as Robert's Rebellion, rides for the seat of power in the North - the castle of Winterfell. His aim is to ask the Lord of the Castle, and Warden of the North, Eddard Stark to be his Hand. Robert's first order of business after arrival is a visit to the crypts where the love of his life, Lyanna Stark is buried. Although he is Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and matrimonially allied with the richest Lannisters, he still pines for the woman who died during the war. Though Game of Thrones says Robert and allies rose in rebellion after the Mad King's heir, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped Lyanna, truth is, they loved each other. Besides, Lyanna's supposed kidnapping, the executions of her father and brother, Rickard and Brandon Stark motivated the Starks to follow Robert into war.
After Robert's war, the Lord of Winterfell, Eddard is unjustly executed by Ser Ilyn Payne at Joffrey Baratheon's orders. The Stark bannermen, led by Ned's eldest son, Robb march South to war. This rebellion snowballs into an independence movement, after Greatjon Umber refuses to declare for Stannis and Renly and bends the knee to Robb instead. Robb Stark is proclaimed King in the North, but his might is crushed at the Red Wedding by combined forces of Freys and Boltons who pretended to side with the Northern army. Robb's entire army, except for the Karstarks whose forces left after he executed Rickard Karstark, is wiped out. The North is brought back into the realm, and Roose Bolton is named the new Warden of the North.
The North Endures
Thereafter, Lord Petyr Baelish brokers Sansa's marriage to Roose Bolton's son, Ramsay. While she is told this marriage will give her an opportunity to avenge her family, Ramsay inflicts unspeakable atrocities on her. During Sansa's time at Winterfell, a lowborn serving woman who works for the Boltons says the words, "The North Remembers" to tell her that House Stark loyalists remember the past. Sansa eventually escapes from Ramsay, and reunites with her half-brother, Jon Snow at Castle Black.
The North witnesses more bloodshed when Jon and his allies wage a war to restore House Stark to its former position as the ruling House in the North. Led by Snow, the Free Folk, with aid from House Hornwood, Mazin, and Mormont, this conflict culminates in the Battle of Bastards, that sees deaths thousands of Northerners. The outcome of the battle is the restoration of House Stark to its former position, and Jon Snow's elevation to the status of King in the North. After Jon retakes his ancestral seat from the Boltons, and ends House Bolton in the battle, the Stark bannermen such as Lord Manderly are chided by Lady Lyanna Mormont for refusing the call. Lyanna silences the congregation with the words:
Your son was butchered at the Red Wedding, Lord Manderly, but you refused the call. You swore your allegiance to House Stark, Lord Glover, but in their hour of greatest need, you refused the call. And you, Lord Cerwyn, your father was skinned alive by Ramsay Bolton, still, you refused the call. But, House Mormont remembers. The North remembers.
At this point in the story, much like Greatjon Umber, the Northerners are tired of taking orders from some king who sits in the flowery South. They are no longer bound to the dragons, and since the realm remains fractured, they seize the opportunity and redeclare their independence. They vow never to bow to anyone else again and Lyanna proclaims Jon Snow as King in the North:
We know no King but the King of the North whose name is Stark. I don't care if he's a bastard. Ned Stark's blood runs through his veins. He's my king–from this day until his last day.
The other bannermen take up the cry, some offer apologies and others vow to fight beside Jon Snow in the wars to come.
The North Remembers
In the beginning of Game of Thrones season 7, episode 1 "Dragonstone," Ned Stark's youngest daughter, Arya too says the words, "The North Remembers" to Walder's ninth wife, Kitty. They watch men of House Frey, and collaborators choke and bleed from poisoned wine and Arya leaves a message with Kitty:
When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Frey.
"The North Remembers" is a slogan used to convey that the North takes everything to the heart. It endures silently, and strikes true and hard. The North is unforgiving, cold and when it strikes back, it retakes what is its. Sansa Stark secures independence for the North in the Game of Thrones finale "The Iron Throne." She recalls the atrocities the North suffered in the recent past and reiterates that her homeland was independent for thousands of years before the Targaryen colonization of Westeros. Bran Stark grants assent, and Sansa is crowned Queen in the North. Under her, the North will not only heal from betrayals of the past but be wary of the South.