
They expanded English common law and, in the case of Henry I, began undoing some of the damage done by William the Conqueror. This is what made Henry I, Henry II and Edward III such great kings.
Another important kingly quality is being mindful of the laws and customs of the land. Many "great" English kings taxed the English people far too much in order to wage wars overseas, neglecting the important domestic business in favor of marshal glory. This is where a king like Richard I falls regrettably short, taxing his people far too much to go off on crusades, not to mention pay his king's ransom after being captured on his return voyage. Being able to win wars without bankrupting one's country is also an important part of being a good king. (I don't think he was the worst, but he was a terrible commander and lost almost all England's continental lands.) This is why kings like Richard I Lionheart and Edward I Longshanks are so renowned, and why King John is often considered one of-if not the-worst kings of England. To some degree, martial prowess and the ability to maintain lands and defend them from enemies makes for a good king. Could an ancient leader of an undead army possibly be that crafty? Well, he got that dragon, didn’t he? I wouldn’t put anything past him. Some fans think the Night King might be about to pull a similar move, and head for King’s Landing while everyone is busy trying to defend Winterfell. Jaime pulled a similar tactic in Season 7 when he attacked Highgarden instead of Casterly Rock. It’s also worth noting that Robb won the Battle of Whispering Wood by fooling the Lannister forces into thinking he was going to attack one location while going after another. Theon was there (and at Pyke), so it’s nice to remember that he and Jaime also go way back.
Then there’s this nice callback to Whispering Wood-a Season 1 battle that took place off screen, due to budgetary restrictions. Truly one of the worst things Jaime ever did, short of pushing a kid from a tower. The first reminds us of the fact that in Season 1, Jaime bonded with Stark family man Jory Cassel over their shared time fighting at Pyke-only to later stab Jory in the streets of King’s Landing. Invoking both the Siege of Pyke and the Battle of the Whispering Wood also serves a larger narrative purpose.