Sound familiar? Jon says that he was not a king. When his body is moved at the beginning of season six, a large puddle of blood-soaked snow is left behind. As much as we all want Jon to find out about his true parentage already (has it really been six seasons in the making? Jon Snow is legitimate. House of the Dragon is exploring Jon's Targaryen lineage in greater depth, and the introduction of the A Song of Ice and Fire prophecy is only emphasizing how important his family history is despite its lack of impact of GoT's line of succession. Up to this point, the only narrative that we had been presented with was that Rhaegar left Elia, andtook Lyanna against her will. Related: House Of The Dragon Can Answer A Major Jon Snow Warg Question. You can unsubscribe at any time. "I never met my mother," Jon says. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He wanted to know if she was still alive, if she knew about him and where he was, or where he was going. Aegon Targaryen, Sixth of his Name, Protector of the Realm, all of it.. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. Whats more, Jon is the son of the Mad King Aerys eldest child and thus, some would argue, a more direct heir than Dany. Despite being reunited with Jon, Bran did not say anything about his brother/cousins true lineage. He loved her, and she loved him," Bran said. Sad. In the same episode of Littlefinger and Sansa's exchange, Stannis Baratheon has a pivotal one of his own, with his wife Selyse. While Howland wasnt in the tower with Ned in Game of Thrones series, he was the one who finally pulled Ned away from Lyannas dead body in the books. From Jon Snow, we know what it's like to be a bastarda child born out of wedlock to a noble father. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. HBO and Sky Atlantic viewers have witnessed Tyrion speak. She follows that info up by sharing that Rhaegar then married someone else via a secret ceremony in Dorne. "Next time we see each other, we'll talk about your mother. So Jon Snow isn't my half-brother.' Matt Miller is a Brooklyn-based culture/lifestyle writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Esquire, Forbes, The Denver Post, and documentaries. It's a scene that gave me some extremely Harry Potter vibes (along with Sam's "You're a wizard, Harry"-esque reveal of Jon's parents). This means that Jon is not the bastard son of Ned Stark, as everyone long believed. He is notthe son of Ned Stark and a mistress, but rather, the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. It remains to be seen how the rest of Westeros might feel about that. Daenerys, who comes from a long line of Targaryens who married their siblings and cousins, might be more open to continuing their relationship and alliance. However, Bran had earlier urged Jon Snow to tell the truth about his bloodline and appeared adamant the secret should come to light. Jon rides a dragon. Tyrion and Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) have a discussion in season eight, episode four regarding how many people know about Jon Snow being a Targaryen. Getting to this point has meant that Jon Snow spent his entire life believing in a big lie. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. He is no longer King in the North. Lyanna then gave birth to Jon whose real name is Aegon Targaryen before she died. HBO and Sky Atlantic viewers have witnessed Tyrion speak with both the Stark siblings on two separate occasions in season eight, each time being in private. "He hasn't seen him in years. Since Game of Thrones began, everyone believed that Rhaegar had kidnapped Lyanna. Game Of Thrones: Everyone Who Knew Jon Snow Was A Targaryen Before Him, House Of The Dragon Can Answer A Major Jon Snow Warg Question, Howland Reed, the father of Jojen and Meera, Game Of Thrones: Why Jon Snows Targaryen Heritage Didnt Matter, Game of Thrones: Jon Snow's Backstory & Real Name Explained, GOT Theory: Benjen Stark Knew Even More About Jon Snows Parents Than Ned, House Of The Dragon's New Aegon Reveal Changes The Night King's Death, Game of Thrones: Why The Show Cut The Books' Biggest Targaryen Twist. Its also been suggested that even if Wylla isnt Jon Snows mother in the books, she at least knows some of the truth behind his parentage. Warning: This post contains spoilers for season seven of Game of Thrones. Why the longing stare? In the Season 6 finale, he sees his father enter the Tower, find his dying sister Lyanna, and her newborn son. It's possible, maybe even probable, that Jon will find out in a more dramatic way than Bran casually revealing his heritage via raven. Jon says that Daenerys is their queen before Sam points out she should not be. New episodes of the hit series air Sundays at 9 p.m. Daenerys' eldest brother was Rheagar Targaryen. Both of this were nice subtleties to show us that Jon was more than Snow and Sand, but a Targaryen. It's a good question, the answer to which is very likely, no. Let us go back to where it all started: long before Jon Snow learned the truth and how he got to the point where he did. Robert asks about the mother of Neds bastard, whom Ned confirms as Wylla. Ned never again mentions Wylla, and dies before he can tell Jon the truth about his mother. The promo for Episode 5 showed Dany riding Drogon home to Dragonstone, and Jon leading another White Walker planning session with their team. While not confirmed, Ashara Dayne is another rumored mother of Jon Snow in the books, which would clearly indicate that she knows the truth about Jon Snow's parents. It would be cool if Jon ended up burnt somehow by Drogon or another dragon and it was revealed he is a true dragon like Dany, in that fire cannot kill him. Ever since fans learned last season in one of Bran's . It seems likely Sansa would have suggested Jon to Tyrion, explaining his true bloodline in the process. Oh, and his name isn't Jon but rather Aegon Targaryen. The climactic finale of Game of Thrones ' seventh season saw Bran Stark and Samwell Tarly piece together the details of Jon Snow's birth. While Jon initially tried to keep his Targaryen blood a secret, the word quickly got out as his supporters, such as his sister Lady Sansa Stark, wanted him to vie for the throne over Daenerys. Bran could tell Jon about his parents and inform him of the annulment, thus proving that he is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. Game of Thrones season 8, episode 5 streaming: How to watch GOT online, Game of Thrones: Jon Snow, Arya and Sansa discuss, Game of Thrones season 8: Samwell and Gilly, Missandeis (played by Nathalie Emmanuel) death, episode two, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5: Dragon scene features huge flaw, Nathalie Emmanuel: Game of Thrones Missandei reveals show regrets, Game of Thrones season 8 episode 4: Fans spot epic COFFEE CUP blunder. Sunday, 5th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Martin finally published A Game of Thrones, the first entry in a fantasy saga that he'd been writing for five years. Between the dragon he rode that took out swarms of White Walkers and all the time he spent beyond the Wall, Jon played a significant role when it came to taking down the Night King. Now, he knows some things. Now that the stage is set, this is only the beginning of the end. You will receive a verification email shortly. As Season 7 ends, Bran knows that Rhaegar never kidnapped Lyanna. Daenerys and Rhaegar (along with Viserys, for that matter) children of several generations of since. Show watchers have known, in confirmation, of this secret since the conclusion of Bran's trips to the past to witness the Tower of Joy sequence, back in season 6. That book tells the story of the Stark family's downfall and the beginning of a great war, but thematically focuses more precisely on lineage. Bran is in Westeros and Sam is headed to Eastwatch, both popular travel stops for the King in the North. "[Rhaegar]rode right past his wife, Elia Martell, and all the smiles died," Baelish divulged. Now it is red hot as Jon knows the truth that he is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. Bran, therefore, may have told Tyrion in order for those close to Jon and Daenerys to be aware of the revelation. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. The fact that Rhaegar and Lyanna were legally married means that Jon is not a bastard, but rather the direct heir to the Iron Throne. Not only is he not the bastard son of Ned Stark, but he is not a bastard at all, having been conceived within wedlock following a secret marriage between Rhaegar and Lyanna. Both a Stark and a Targaryen, the reveal of Jon Snow's parents also meant that he was the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, which got in the way of his loyalty to (and romance with) Queen Daenerys Targaryen. It isnt until the end of season 7 that the identity of the baby is confirmed to be Jon Snow, proving that Ned was always just his uncle who had to live with the secret of knowing Lyanna and Rhaegar had a child together. Dayne was born several years after Jon Snow and Ned left, so he doesnt know the true circumstances of their time at Starfall, but believes that Wylla is Jons mother. To discover what happened when Ned Stark arrived at the Tower of Joy. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Background The final season kicks off with a revelation decades in the making. With House of the Dragon bringing the full Targaryen line to the foreground, interest in the Targaryen family has never been more palpable and Jon Snow is part of that family. Understanding that Robert would kill Jon, a.k.a. Game of Thrones season eight, episode four, The Last of the Starks, provided fans with a number of talking points for HBO and Sky Atlantic to ponder upon, from Missandeis (played by Nathalie Emmanuel) death to Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) abandoning a romance with Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). While viewers dont see Jon and Bran tell Arya and Sansa the secret, its heavily implied thats the topic of their chat. Your mom is my aunt. I think Bran will certainly feel a slight amount of responsibility with what's happened," Wright said. It took seven seasons for Game of Thrones to reveal who Jon Snow's real parents are: Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar . ", RELATED:Every Season Of Game Of Thrones Ranked, When speaking withSamwell Tarlyabout a letter they receivedabout Daenerys Targaryen, Maester Aemon, her uncle, says"A Targaryen alone in the world. Martin Is Writing ASOIAF In Isolation, Why Emilia Clarke Is Annoyed With the GoT Ending, Game of Thrones Fans Found Another Big Plot Hole, Bran: Not Totally Useless During Big Fight on GoT. However, some fans have long suspected that the two were actually in love and ran off to be together, which we now know to be true. Sam makes his case. However, the confirmation that Jon is a trueborn Targaryen may put a hitch in his budding relationship with Daenerys, as it means they are related. Jon does not accept it at first. Petyr told Sansa of what he witnessed from Rhaegar at the tourney at Harrenhaal. Magazines, Digital But for all that he does know, there are many things he doesn't. "You are Aegon Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne, 6th of his name," Tarly tells Jon. That he is a Stark and a Targaryen? How many tens of thousands had to die because Rhaegar chose your aunt?". The end of Aegon's dream/the prophecy states that it is the Targaryens who will save Westeros from the White Walkers, and Aegon's dream does come true in the end in many ways. Bran is a warg and a greenseer serving as the new Three-Eyed Raven. I dont know if shes a noblewoman, or a fishermans wife, or a whore.". Bran used his greenseer abilities to travel through time and watch the secret marriage of the two lovers and Jons birth in the Tower of Joy. Jon was conceived in a loving relationship. Jons silence reveals to Sam that Daenerys had not told him. When Game of Thrones starts, Jon believes he is the illegitimate son of Ned Stark and an unidentified woman. Regardless of where that journey leads him, there'll be a lot in store for him in the nextand finaltwo seasons of GoT. What's also working in Jon's favor is that HE FINALLY RIDES A GODDAMN DRAGON in this episodeanother moment that fans have been anticipating for decades. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. It was then that Bran discovered Jon Snow was truly Lyanna Starks son, with the details of Jon Snow's father coming about in season 7. Now, without the previous Three-Eyed Raven there to stop him, Bran follows Ned as he enters the tower to find his sister, Lyanna, lying in bed, covered in blood. It has been a fan theory that has received so much popularity that it would have been a plot twist for it not to be true. A theory that has gained significant traction since pointed out byReddit user /u/duh_metriusback in 2017, is that Jon was named after Jon Arryn. The only way for people to think that he's a Targaryen is if he marries Daenerys. For two decades this was the most popular theory among readers of A Song of Ice and Fire. When will Jon Snow finally learn his Targaryen truth on "Game of Thrones"? "It's a gutting thing for Bran, whenever he finds out. Will he tell Daenerys the truth? Related: Game of Thrones: Jon Snow's Backstory & Real Name Explained. When she says this, Stannis retorts with, "perhaps, but that wasn't Ned Stark's way. Some theorists took aim at the shape the blood seemed to make to explain it: a dragon. That Rhaegar and Lyanna got married in a secret ceremony. Related: GOT Theory: Benjen Stark Knew Even More About Jon Snows Parents Than Ned. Lastly, if she cared. Bran intially sets out to find Jon Snow at the Wall, where he's been sent to join the Night's Watch. But before these events were played out on screen, A Song of Ice and Fire readers were already theorizing that Jon could be a "secret" Targaryen. In Game of Thrones season 6, the Three-Eyed Raven takes Bran back in time to when Lyanna died after giving birth to a baby, with Lyanna simply saying promise me, Ned before giving him the child. The dragon responds positively. During their chat, Bran tells Sam that Jon needs to know the truth about himself. In House of the Dragon, King Viserys gives his heir Rhaenyra Targaryan a familiar artifact: the Catspaw dagger. Shortly afterwards, Sansa is shown thinking to herself on top of the battlements in Winterfell. But that was in the closing moments of the Season Seven finale, and though the audiencealong with dear sweet Samwell Tarly and awkward teen, Three-Eyed Raven Bran Starklearned the truth, Jon Snow still had no idea as he hooked up with Daenerys Targaryen, a woman who was just revealed to us to be his aunt. Jons parentage was Westeros best-kept secret for over 25 years, but once it spread to Jon himself, quickly became common knowledge among Westeros nobility. Sam tells Jon that Jon is a king and that he has always been a king. Jon Snow famously used to know nothing. Catelyn, having heard rumors around the realm, believed that the mother of Jon Snow was Ashara, but Ned never confirmed it. The name that Jon's true parents chose for him was Aegon Targaryen. The prophecy was never about ruling it was about safeguarding the people of Westeros against a real and imminent danger, a warning that unfortunately became misconstrued. While Game of Thrones books still hint that Ned could truly be Jons father, the only certainty about Ned is that hes the one person who is confirmed to know Jons parentage. It's strange how this takes place, in the middle of the episode, with few people really acknowledging that it happened. It is fleeting, but this description of Oberyn's sounds much more like an affair than an abduction. They parents were both spouses and full-blooded siblings, and the latest in a long line of brothers and sisters marrying each other. What is Dracarys? In season five, Petyr Baelish and Sansa Stark had an interesting conversation with each other in the Crypt of Winterfell, right in front of Lyanna Stark's grave. Jon tries to find other occasions to visit Sansa instead, when she isn't already asleep. Jon and Daenerys might have even had an inkling of Jons true heritage too: Earlier in the episode, Jon rode Rhaegal, Daenerys dragon who is named for his own father Rheagar, despite the fact that only Targaryens have been able to ride dragons in the past. He knows that Valyrian Steel kills White Walkers. Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com. Following the latter's arrival at Winterfell, the pair. Stay tuned. Jon hops on and struggles to hold on at first. Along with meeting Daenerys Targaryen in Season 7, Jon also meets her dragons. The Season 6 finale of Game of Thrones finally confirmed the theory that Jon Snow is the child of Lyanna Stark and Raegar Targaryen, albeit without actually s aying it but, you know,. Youve never been a bastard. Men looking for daenerys targaryen, bran watches rhaegar and daenerys and emilia clarke and jon snow, saying. How will this knowledgeboth of the Tarlys and Jon's parentageimpact the union of fire and ice? Heres how it works. Its also possible that Ned told both Ashara and Wylla the truth about Jon being a Targaryen when he went to Starfall, though its unclear whether the books will ever confirm her knowledge. Would she do the same?". Jon Snow swore Sansa and sister Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) to secrecy before he and Bran decided to reveal the truth to the pair. The Catspaw dagger is, of course, the very same weapon used in the attempted assassination of Bran Stark in Game of Thrones season 1. Courteney Cox Quotes Ill Be There For You As She Talks About What Friends Taught Her, Creature From The Black Lagoon Actor And James Bond Contributor Ricou Browning Is Dead At 93, Yellowstone Star Mo Brings Plenty Talks Importance Of Serving As American Indian Affairs Coordinator For Taylor Sheridan's Westerns, Fast Xs Director Hypes Up Jason Momoas New Villain And His Connection With Dom, The Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Scene That Almost Featured Some Multiversal Marvel Cameos. Besides, who would support Jon's claim to the Iron Throne. All this Winterfell talk is still a mere possibility for Bran, as he makes his way down from north of The Wall. He made the executive decision to send Rickon off on his own with Osha. One of those is a "promise" that the next time they meet, Ned will tell Jon about his mother. Meanwhile, this episode played out how Game of Thrones premieres typically go, with light action and a number of long-awaited greetings. Next: Game of Thrones: Why The Show Cut The Books' Biggest Targaryen Twist. Robb's will does legitimize Jon as a Stark. More info. Out of all the Stark children, the news would probably hit him the hardest, since he escaped Winterfell and traveled with Rickonbefore sending him off with Osha the Wildling. One scene, in particular, revealed Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) knew about Jon Snows (Kit Harington) true identity as Aegon Targaryen. When Game of Thrones starts, Jon believes he is the illegitimate son of Ned Stark and an unidentified woman. He's free to pursue life outside of th Continue Reading Kelly Russo She has been writing about entertainment for 5 years, and as you may suspect, still finds it as entertaining to do as when she began. When Sunday's Season 6 finale of Game of Thrones finally showed another of Bran's flashback visions, fans everywhere gave a collective cheer of relief when it was all but confirmed that R+L does, in fact, equal J. As usual, Game of Thrones has just raised more questions than answered them, but the hard part of not knowing if R+L=J is true is out of the way now, so at the very least, we can appreciate that small victory. Game of Thrones characters Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) are the two most likely to have told him. Want more stuff like this? Sam then shares Jons actual title. Photo illustration by James Kim and Martin Gee for TIME; HBO, What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. That is the last name given to the illegitimate children of the North. You can also find her work on Business Insider's Streaming Reviews. Bran could have been the one to reveal all to Tyrion following a conversation they had in season eight, episode two, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Classic Cersei! WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Game of Thrones, The Last of the Starks. Though Arya was the one to defeat the Night King in battle, Jon Snow was an integral player in the survival of the Westerosi populace. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. If it plays out similarly in Winds of Winter, Jon will finally achieve his . Sam, the sensitive counterpoint to a very blunt Bran, explained to Jon that Lyanna swore Ned to secrecy. Your mother was Lyanna stark. The truth is bound to come out at any moment, and it will be very interesting to see how other characters react when they finally learn what the audience has known all along. Please refresh the page and try again. A man can take a name only if he lacks one. Jon wanted to know about his mother. In August in 1996, George R.R. It might nothave been surprisingthanks to a famous theory, everyone saw this comingbut it was certainly satisfying. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Since he's already heading south, Wright imagines he'll travel to Winterfell to tell his half-brother (now cousin) the truth. In episode four of season one, Jon is at Castle Black discussing how anonymous his mother is in his mind. Martin finally published A Game of Thrones, the first entry in a fantasy saga that he'd been writing for five years. What did Jon do to Gilly? How Jon and Daenerys are related. Youre the true king. Selyse senses that Stannis has grown to feel fond respect for Jon, and attempts to discredit him as merely an illegitimate bastard. He claimed Jon as his son from an affair. Jon Snow meets a dragon. Sometimes, when the northern army breaks for meals, he eats quickly in order to have a few minutes to warg into Lady. Which brings us to the elephant in the room: Jon and Dany consummated their budding romantic relationship in the season 7 finale. Gilly incidentally reveals Jon is legitimate. (Laughs) I think Jon will go, 'You've been spending way too much time in the cave, mate.'". A Game of Thrones examines this theme from a varying number of characters. Ned brought Jon to Winterfell as a baby after fighting in Robert's Rebellion. RELATED:Game Of Thrones Theory: Jon Snow Isn't The Only Secret Targaryen, "You may not have my name, but you have my blood," Ned tells Jon. But she's also got a shiny new Golden Company army courtesy of her new boyfriend, Euron Greyjoy. Why what Gilly found matters. "My father wouldnt even tell me her name. Bran and Sam had put together the clues last season: Sam and Gilly found documents at the Citadel that showed Rhaegar had annulled his marriage to Elia Martell and eloped with Lyanna Stark afterward. Heres a breakdown of everyone in Game of Thrones who knew that Jon Snow was a Targaryen before he found out himself, including book characters. While this information might put a stop to the connection between Jon and Dany, it could also affect their political affiliation. Related: Game Of Thrones: Why Jon Snows Targaryen Heritage Didnt Matter. but if Jon is a trueborn Targaryen than that aspect of the decree is null and void. Ned did not answer. He was killed during Roberts Rebellion by Robert Baratheon for allegedly kidnapping and raping Lyanna who had been betrothed to Robert. Basically, he's more of a Stark kid than he's ever been. Game of Thrones season 7 finale then saw the Three-Eyed Raven Bran enter a vision in which he watched the marriage of Lyanna Stark to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, confirming that Jon, really Aegon Targaryen, was their trueborn son and rightful heir to the Iron Throne. That is when Sam goes for it. Since Rhaegar is Jon Snow's biological father, Daenerys is therefore his aunt. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Game of Thrones DAENERYS TARGARYEN BRAN STARK Funko Movie Pop! Game of Thrones left plenty of mysteries about its characters after its finale, and House of the Dragon can finally answer a major question about Jon's warging power with his Targaryen blood. It is not entirely clear why. 4. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. But Ned was killed on the orders of Joffrey Baratheon and never saw Jon again. It would be cool if Jon ended up burnt somehow by. Jon was also rendered useless in the Battle of Winterfell, so ending the Night King was obviously not to be his fate either. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. I also love how the story created to subvert popular fantasy tropes ended up subverting the most popular fantasy trope, while pissing off many fans who kinda forgot what type of story they were watching. George R.R. All Rights Reserved. He reveals what the diary said. At the end of Game of Thrones season 7, its officially confirmed that Jon Snow is both a Stark and a Targaryen, the trueborn son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. His father, we know, is Ned Stark, who returned from Robert's Rebellion with a child from another woman. "Hey, yeah, by the way, I'm a tree wizard now, and dad's not your father.". "Game of Thrones" Season 7, Episode 5 airs Sunday, Aug. 13 at p.m. on HBO. How did he get to the point where he learned the truth? He and Jon catch up briefly. So when will Jon find out that he's a Targaryen? - Arthur Dayne. In the end, the eventual occupant of the Iron Throne would come down to either Jon or Dany both technically Targaryens. Right now, hes more concerned with the upcoming war with the Night King and the White Walkers. King Aegon Targaryen, sixth of his name, protector of the realm, all of it.. And now, Jon Snow finally knows too: He is the son of Rheagar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark which means hes a trueborn Targaryen, and not a bastard. Both Sam and Bran could reveal the truth to Jon Snow. Daenerys had left Jon behind in the library and climbed up the destroyed stairs to find Drogon roaring loudly in a panic nearby. About that crown. However, the character Edric Ned Dayne tells the adventurous Arya Stark that he and her brother Jon Snow are milk brothers, as they were both nursed by Wylla as babies. What Jon Snow knew at the beginning. While Bran is being carried away, Summer stays behind to attack the wights, sacrificing his life in order to save his master. The story of how Jon Snow was conceived went that Rhaegar Targaryen had kidnapped Lyanna, raped her, then killed her, so finding Lyanna with a baby would have to mean he was Rhaegars. His good friend Sam recently took up whatever the Game of Thrones version of an internship is, but didn't get much time to learn.