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 the end, the eventual occupant of the Iron Throne would come down to either Jon or Dany both technically Targaryens. While this information might put a stop to the connection between Jon and Dany, it could also affect their political affiliation. This means that the Targaryens would've known about the coming White Walker threat Aegon's very reason for conquering Westeros and uniting the country to prepare for the invasion. Aegon Targaryen, Sixth of his Name, Protector of the Realm, all of it.. 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. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Photo illustration by James Kim and Martin Gee for TIME; HBO, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Sam declares that Jon is the heir. in Psychology and a minor in Media Studies. Besides, who would support Jon's claim to the Iron Throne. Will Cersei finally take Jon as a serious threat? Stay tuned. Along with movies and television, she is passionate about competitive figure skating. That is the last name given to the illegitimate children of the North. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Im sorry. Instead, it looks like Jon Snow was saved so he could do what he does . As Samwell and Bran figured out together at the end of last season, Jon Snow is the last living male Targaryen left in Westeros, which means he's the heir to the Iron Throne. So when will Jon find out that he's a Targaryen? His father, we know, is Ned Stark, who returned from Robert's Rebellion with a child from another woman. When his body is moved at the beginning of season six, a large puddle of blood-soaked snow is left behind. Making his claim to the Iron Throne a legitimate and rightful one. If it plays out similarly in Winds of Winter, Jon will finally achieve his . 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. Jon rides a dragon. If it isn't enough that we have to wait almost an entire year for Season 7, it would be seriously uncool to not be given more of the Jon Snow is a Targaryen story until Season 8 of Game of Thrones. In the end, we see Beric and Tormund, who are alive (!) 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. Even if Ned hadnt directly told Howland that Jons father was Rhaegar Targaryen, anyone in the realm could have guessed as much. but if Jon is a trueborn Targaryen than that aspect of the decree is null and void. Wylla has also been speculated to have been the wet nurse present while Lyanna gave birth to Jon Snow on Dorne, which would have made her privy to the information about Jon Snows Targaryen identity. All Rights Reserved. Bran, therefore, may have told Tyrion in order for those close to Jon and Daenerys to be aware of the revelation. 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. "I never met my mother," Jon says. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Still, that sweet sweet moment when poor Jon Snow finally finds out that he's a Targaryen is going to be nothing short of amazing. In House of the Dragon, King Viserys gives his heir Rhaenyra Targaryan a familiar artifact: the Catspaw dagger. 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. In this world of Westeros, lineage dictates ultimate power: who will sit on the Iron Throne. Talk later! And after he tells Jon his true heritage, he adds, "You gave up your crown to save the people. As the white walkers flood into the cave, Summer and The Children of the Forest protect Meera and Hodor as they help Bran. She has also sent Bronn to the north to assassinate her brothers. It is not entirely clear why. When will Jon Snow finally learn his Targaryen truth on "Game of Thrones"? Sam explains what was at stake. Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. Behind him is a wooden beam, that looks like it has two letters distinctly carved into it: R and L. R+L=J. Hence, there was a chance that Jon Snow was Lyannas illegitimate son by Rhaegar Targaryen. Reaction time. Why would anyone take the word of his weirdo little brother or of Sam Tarly, who only read about the union of Rhaegar and Lyanna in an old diary? As for that annulment, Gilly once noted that a High Septon Maynard had issued an annulment for a Prince Ragger an apparent mispronunciation of Rhaegar and remarried him to someone else at the same time in a secret ceremony in Dorne. The Valyran steel weapon came with a story from Viserys, one of Aegon's dream, which turns out to be the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy, along with the Prince that was Promised. 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. Some theorists took aim at the shape the blood seemed to make to explain it: a dragon. Sam says that he and Bran worked it out. The better question as of right now, though, is who honestly knows he's a Targaryen but Bran? Just in case it matters to them. "He hasn't seen him in years. Its because the people who hate Bran had a different ending in their heads and because it wasn't the ending they wanted, they blamed it on Bran. When Game of Thrones starts, Jon believes he is the illegitimate son of Ned Stark and an unidentified woman. Basically, he's more of a Stark kid than he's ever been. It was right there before our eyes. Meanwhile, this episode played out how Game of Thrones premieres typically go, with light action and a number of long-awaited greetings. 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. He. That meant the baby resulting from that union who was named Aegon Targaryen but was raised as Jon Snow is a fully legitimate Targaryen heir . Sam learned about Jon Snow's real parents from Bran Stark. That book tells the story of the Stark family's. The season six finale along with a HBO infographic all but confirmed that Jon was not the illegitimate son of Ned but rather the child of Lyanna and Rhaegar. Both Sam and Bran could reveal the truth to Jon Snow. Had Robert Baratheon known the identity of Jons real father, he would have tried to kill him, just as he tried to kill Daenerys. This would all be very simple if Bran didn't also choose. Game of Thrones biggest secret wasnt kept quiet for too long once Jon Snow discovered he was a Targaryen, with several characters having already been aware of Jon Snow's parents. Sam then shares Jons actual title. In an interview (via Entertainment Weekly), Jon Snow actor Kit Harington teased that Snow's journey after Game of Thrones will see the character going to battle with many of his past traumas, and that could include his Targaryen lineage. Dad was there, but he's not your dad. Jon comes home. "God knows how we're going to make a conclusion out of this massive thriving mess of murders and death and ice zombies and all sorts," Wright said, "but it's going to be pretty spectacular.". Game of Thrones season 8, episode 4 review: An emotional rollercoaster. When Game of Thrones starts, Jon believes he is the illegitimate son of Ned Stark and an unidentified woman. However, Bran had earlier urged Jon Snow to tell the truth about his bloodline and appeared adamant the secret should come to light. Before parting ways with Ned to join the Nights Watch, Jon asked Ned about his mother. In August in 1996, George R.R. From Jon Snow, we know what it's like to be a bastarda child born out of wedlock to a noble father. As Neds illegitimate son, Jon was raised with the surname of Snow. The truth about Jons parents has been one of the most enduring mysteries of Game of Thrones, with the series previously hinting at much of this information. Since Ned would have to explain why he left the tower with a baby in his arms and his sister deceased, its clear Howland at least knew that Jon was never truly the son of Ned Stark. 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. New episodes of the hit series air Sundays at 9 p.m. 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. That sure as hell made for some great jokes in the nearly 20 months between the conclusion of Game of Thrones Season Seven and the premiere of its final season tonight. 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. In Game of Thrones' Season 8 premiere, Jon Snow learned a truth that changes everything: his true lineage. Did they not see him riding on the back of a fucking dragon? To discover what happened when Ned Stark arrived at the Tower of Joy. Ned brought Jon to Winterfell as a baby after fighting in Roberts Rebellion. Bran would also learn about Rickon's death upon his return. In an incredible bit of acting from John Bradley, Sam is stunned, and shocked at the cruelty exhibited by this woman to whom Jon has bent the knee. It's possible, maybe even probable, that Jon will find out in a more dramatic way than Bran casually revealing his heritage via raven. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Game of Thrones DAENERYS TARGARYEN BRAN STARK Funko Movie Pop! He is notthe son of Ned Stark and a mistress, but rather, the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. This moment is somewhat tarnished by the rift of Dany between Jon and his sisters. The revelation that Rhaegar and Lyanna had a secret marriage proves that Jon Snow is the rightful King of Westeros, but Sam didn't get to hear all of the information before cutting off Gilly and leaving Oldtown. On a personal level, Jon will probably have hang-ups about what happened between them: After all, the Starks recently fought a war to dethrone a king made mad by generations of incest. It's a terrible thing.". Rhaegar was Danys older brother, which makes her Jons aunt. That leaves Sam up to bat. He trusted both of them to keep safe and protect themselves. Luckily for Daenerys, Jon Snow has never expressed a desire to rule anything or anybody. Game of Thrones Season 8 premieres. When breaking down the sons of Ned Stark, their name choices all appear significant. Why what Gilly found matters. Freed from his Night's Watch vows, Jon and his half-sister Sansa Stark retake Winterfell from House Bolton, restoring House Stark's dominion over the North. He follows up by saying that Jon gave up his crown to save his people. Warning: This post contains spoilers for the Game of Thrones season 8 premiere. While Sam is busy studying in the Citadel, so is Gilly. Oh, and his name isn't Jon but rather Aegon Targaryen. Shortly afterwards, Sansa is shown thinking to herself on top of the battlements in Winterfell. But we still are pretty clueless as to the father, I think," he said. The name that Jon's true parents chose for him was Aegon Targaryen. As far as everyone else knows, he is a more legitimate heir to the titleas Ned Stark's biological son. And will Bran even make his way back to Winterfell to tell his brother/cousin the truth about his parentage? As the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran is set to play a huge role in Game of Thrones Season 8, but if we want to know what that means we'll just have to wait and see. "My father wouldnt even tell me her name. They willingly ran away together. Sam and Gilly know this crucial information, but they may not know that they know it. "Our prince wanted us here." Actor Isaac Hempstead Wright, who plays Bran, talked to The Hollywood Reporter about that game-changing scene and how he thinks it'll affect the future of theshow. Will Dany fight alongside Jon if he would get the throne over her? Would Daenerys do the same? He promised your mother hed always protect you. Jon having a romantic connection with his own aunt. "When Bran sees his father's reaction and understands that this is a surrogate child his father has brought up, he thinks to himself, 'Well, wait, what surrogate children has my father brought up? He knows that dragons are real. 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. Rhaegar was initially married to Elia Martell. The climactic finale of Game of Thrones ' seventh season saw Bran Stark and Samwell Tarly piece together the details of Jon Snow's birth. We may earn a commission from these links. On the cliffs of Dragonstone, he reaches out to touch one of them on their snout. Oh! Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Gilly had read in High Septon Maynards diary that he had annulled Rhaegars marriage with Elia Martell, and had later secretly married Rhaegar to another woman in Dorne. Game of Thrones: What were Missandeis last words? What is Dracarys? We hear Jon say this intriguing line: "Bran saw the Night King and his army marching toward Eastwatch. Back in season one, before Ned and Jon say what will ultimately be their final farewells, Ned says a couple of really important things to Jon. Game of Thrones season 8 airs on HBO in the US on Sundays 9pm ET and on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK on Mondays at 2am & 9pm BST. Bran told Samwell . But Ned was killed on the orders of Joffrey Baratheon and never saw Jon again. One of those is a "promise" that the next time they meet, Ned will tell Jon about his mother. However, they may not be able to tell him before his sexual tension with Dany becomes impossible to resist, leading to Jon having a romantic connection with his own aunt. Season four presented us with a new character in the show, Oberyn Martell, whose sister, Elia, was married to the late Rhaegar Targaryen. WHAT DID MISSANDEI'S FINAL WORDS MEAN ON GAME OF THRONES? Season 7, Episode 5, "Eastwatch" may or may not be the time, but it certainly feels like we're getting close to that major revelation. WHAT DID JON SNOW SHOUT AT THE DRAGON AT THE BATTLE OF WINTERFELL? Jon is declared King in the North . 'Hey, yeah, by the way, I'm a tree wizard now, and dad's not your father.' And, you know, maybe Jon and Daenerys Targaryen should be told they're nephew and aunt before they get too much closer. How will the Stark children react when they discover that Jon is not really their half brother, but their cousin? The same thing is happening with Young Griff from the books. 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 saying it but, you know, basically saying it. Fans have known the truth since the end of Season 6, but is someone going to tell Jon about all of this? When Sansa quipped back at him with what she believed to be true, that Rhaegartook her aunt Lyanna against her will, Baelish gave the sliest of smirks, insinuating that he knew this not to be true. However, while HBOs Game of Thrones answered the question of Jons parentage, the A Song of Ice and Fire books have yet to do so. 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. That is when Sam points out that Jon has also shown them mercy. Both of this were nice subtleties to show us that Jon was more than Snow and Sand, but a Targaryen. Immediately after these words leave Maester Aemon's mouth, Jon Snow walks though the doorway, a tool of cinematic foreshadowing. Martin revealed that Howland Reed wont be a POV character in the A Song of Ice and Fire books because he knows too much, hinting he does also know the identity of Jons parents in the novels. Jon negotiates with Daenerys Targaryen for an alliance against the White Walkers in the imminent Great War. Lyanna then gave birth to Jon whose real name is Aegon Targaryen before she died. Nevertheless, stranger things have happened in the Game of Thrones universe. Adding that Robert would have murdered Jon if he had known the truth. Youre the true king. When Bran and Samwell meet at the end of Game of Thrones season 7, Bran explains that Jon needs to know the truth about himself, with the new Three-Eyed Raven trusting the soon-to-be Grand Maester with such information. This prompts Tyrion to ask to hear all about Brans backstory, despite Bran telling him its a long story. 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. It remains to be seen how the rest of Westeros might feel about that. Sam tells Jon that Ned Stark had promised his sister that he would protect Jon. This is another big hint for Jon as he unknowingly awaits the reveal ahead. It seems likely Sansa would have suggested Jon to Tyrion, explaining his true bloodline in the process. It would be awkward to add a P.S. He claimed Jon as his son from an affair. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. ", Just one episode later, in episode five of the fifth season, Maester Aemon has some conveniently timed words of "prophecy. Like he did with Ned at the Tower of Joy, Bran watches Rhaegar and Lyannas secret ceremony. How Jon and Daenerys are related. Jon Snow is legitimate. Jon says that he was not a king. Though a Targaryen didn't end up on the Iron Throne due to Dany becoming the Mad Queen and Jon being shipped back to the Wall (and the Throne being melted), Game of Thrones proves that these were the two Targaryens that Aegon spoke of in his House of the Dragon dream, only solidifying the importance of Jon's Targaryen heritage even though it didn't matter as far as Westerosi politics were concerned. Up to this point, the only narrative that we had been presented with was that Rhaegar left Elia, andtook Lyanna against her will. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. Martin finally published A Game of Thrones, the first entry in a fantasy saga that he'd been writing for five years. Now that Bran knows the truth about Jon, how is he going to tell him? Bran knew. Bran only knows about this lineage due to his warging ways, but Howland Reed was actually there and there's no way Lord Eddard Stark could have talked his way out of that one after going into the tower empty-handed and coming out with a baby. His goal? The pair settle on eight people, including themselves, meaning the other six are: This means theres always the possibility that, as well as Sansa and Bran, Tyrion could have been told by Samwell or Arya. .css-o05pt{display:block;font-family:Didot,Didot-fallback,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-shadow:0 0 0 #000,0 0 0.01em transparent;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-o05pt:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-o05pt{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}The 30 Best TV Shows on Prime Video, Tan & Gigi Aren't Your Typical Reality Show Judges, Daisy Jones & The Six: Book vs Show Differences, 35 Classic Photos from the Academy Awards, 46 of the Coolest Set Photos in Movie History. Next: Game of Thrones: Why The Show Cut The Books' Biggest Targaryen Twist. Perhaps the biggest tip was the fact that the Targaryen Kingsguard were even there, at all. 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. As a refresher, Ned and Robert served as wards to Jon Arryn during their teenage years, and Jon Arryn treated Ned as if he was his own son, even though he was not. After the assassination of Jon Snow by the coward Alliser Thorne, Jon's body is left in the snow for some time. Fortunately for Jon, two of his closest allies do know about Jon's true parentage, but will they tell him before he makes a major familial mistake? Jon Snow famously used to know nothing. The Tower of Joy is, of course, located in Dorne. Daenerys took a few steps towards the edge of the destroyed room. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Jon learns the truth. 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. 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. Eventually, he was crowned as the first elected ruler of the Six Kingdoms, styled as Bran the Broken, the First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Six Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm .