Episode ten of the sixth season of Game of Thrones finally answered a question that readers had been turning over in their minds for decades, the question of Jon Snow’s parentage.
Spoilers for Season Six follow. In Winds of Winter, the most recent episode to air, what fans had long speculated was finally confirmed:Jon Snow’s parents are Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. This would make him a cousin to the other Stark kids and, more importantly, nephew to Queen Daenerys Targaryen first of her name.
The mysteries continue after we learn of Jon’s birth and see Lyanna whispered something inaudible into a young Eddard Stark’s ear. HBO did not provide subtitles for this scene in the flashback, but a reddit post leaking next month’s Empire Magazine seems to provide the answer.
“As we saw in the last episode of season 6, Bran’s psychic time-traveling ‘green sight’ revealed the true nature of Jon’s birth heritage and his real name: Jaehaerys Targaryen. Bran’s now in this precarious situation in which it’s just him and Meera, and he has all of this information that could change the entire story,” said [Bran actor] Isaac Hempstead Wright . And it’s not just about Jon. “He knows all about the White Walkers too.””
Let it be said that Empire Magazine is neither HBO nor George R.R. Martin, but let it also be said that they know too little about Westeros to make the name up. I think there is a pretty good chance it is true. Jaehaerys the first was the longest ruling king of Westeros, he brought peace, stability and prosperity to the realm. He is remembered by all as one of the best kings that ever sat on the iron throne. It is only fitting that Rhaegar who was obsessed with siring the Prince who was Promised would want him to have such an auspicious name, who ever heard of a ‘Jon’ Targaryen anyway?
Though now that I bring that up, this news also implies that Rhaegar married Lyanna, another thing that has not been confirmed anywhere. Otherwise his real name would be Jaehaerys Sand. Sand being the surname for children born out of wedlock in Dorne and the Tower of Joy is, of course, in northern Dorne. We will have to wait to see how this plays out but I for one am ready for the union of the surviving Targaryens and return of their just rule, for the good of the realm.
Game of Thrones Season 7 will premiere on July 16 on HBO. The season finale will air August 27.
