Free folk don't follow names, or little cloth animals sewn on a tunic," the King-Beyond-the-Wall had told him. "They won't dance for coins, they don't care how your style yourself or what that chain of office means or who your grandsire was. They follow strength. They follow the man.
George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons
275, honor, jon-snow, mance-rayder, night-s-watch, strength, the-wall, wildlings