A Song of Ice and Fire Article: Jon Snow... The Bastard Who Will Be King

Jon Snow... The Bastard Who Will Be King

posted by IloveJonSnow

First of all, I would like to say that I cannot take credit for this theory. Most of this has been formulated from my own opinions from the book series 'A Song of Ice and Fire', other formulated theories on various forums, and the last piece of the puzzle was dropped on my lap by a good friend.

Firstly, the question of who is Jon Snow's mother needs to be answered. For those who are aware of Ned Stark's unquestionable honor, the mere thought of him bringing home a bastard after Robert's rebellion is kind of a big deal. Like a really big deal. The name of his mother is not given, yet throughout the first book Ned is haunted in his dreams about his last encounter with his sister Lyanna while she was on her death bed. The phrase "promise me Ned" comes up several times. What could this promise be exactly? Personally, I think that Lyanna asked Ned to look after her child... that child being no other than Jon. But if that's the case... why the shame? Why the secrecy? The next question that comes to mind is who is Ned's father. Though Robert was destined to marry Lyanna... she was "stolen" by Rhaegar and than presumably raped by him... or at least according to Robert. Numerous testimonies throughout the series from people other than Robert claim that he wasn't actually that bad of a guy... arguably a pretty stand up dude. Now considering Robert's hatred for Targaryens...this is good reason to hide the identity of Jon from the rest of the world. Mostly due to the fact that there is a good chance Robert would kill Jon for simply being Rhaegar's son. So the promise Ned made to Lyanna was to take care of her son and raise him as his own. So to protect the child Ned convinced the world that Jon was his bastard. Furthermore, there are numerous refrences in the the first novel of Ned claiming "he/you[jon] has my blood". That would be true considering Jon is Ned's nephew. So there you have it Jon is a Stark (ice) and a Targaryen (fire) [a song of ice and fire] [It also solves the mystery of who is the third head of the dragon prophecy]. So not only is Jon now a Targaryen... he technically has a claim to Iron Throne... possibly more so than Daenery's. But oh wait... the last book ended with a couple members of the night's watch going Ceasar on his ass... with him being presumably dead. I mean the guy did get stabbed for times (at least). It's a shame that no characters in the book have the power to bring people back from the dead. Oh wait? That's right the Red Priests do, I mean they did for Catelyn Stark (aka stone lady). But how can he become a King if he is in the Night's Watch? I mean it is an organisation that you stuck with for life.

"Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come."

"It shall not end until my death". But what happens if you die and come back to life??? It doesn't specify you have to spend all of your lives on the wall once you take the black... just that it end's once you die. So if Jon dies, comes back... isn't he free from his oaths since he did fulfill them to the letter... by dying and all. So that would leave him free to... I don't know rule the seven Kingdoms wouldn't it?

And that's my theory. Don't know how it's going down but it will. Jon is Targaryen and Stark, he dies(as we all know George is more than happy to kill of our fav characters... and sometimes bring them back from the dead) and comes back to life, get's an army somehow and some support from the other family's and comes riding in at the last moment to save everybody's ass.

Roseanna_ Yes, that has a lot of logic. I don´t like the idea that he NEEDS to die but... Actually I really dont want him to die. I love him so much. He is my favorite in all the books. Not by far, there are a lot of great characters but Jon is awesome. And he still a bastard, but now from the Targaryens. Does this means he should be Jon Blackfire?!? He´s claim isn´t more strong than Danyerys after all.

Mhysa I love your theory. But yeah, his claim to the throne is way weaker. There is almost no one to confirm his true identity, and his blood can be questioned. "One whose blood no man can question. Daenerys Stormborn." Council said that the true heir is one whose blood isn't under suspicion. BUT if Jon proves to be good with dragons, or immune to fire maybe that'd prove he's son of the dragon. Then his claim is stronger.

TomHam Don't forget that Jon is a strong Skinchanger according to Varamyr Sixskins. Melisadre sees Jon as a man, then a wolf, then a man again in her fires. I like your theory, I really hadn't thought about the fact that if he died, and came back, he would have lived up to his vow. But he is still Bastard born, son of Rhaegar Targaryen or Ned Stark, that would be a problem for him to become King (of course a King {Rob Stark, King in the North} legitimized him already, even though no one seems to know about that). Are there any other clues someone has seen?

ShadowFire777 But if you remember Mhysa, Howland Reed is still alive to tell the tale of Jon Snow's truth. He was there with Eddard Stark when they saved Lyanna from the Tower of Joy. So the 2 candidates that can actually tell Jon his truth is Howland Reed or Wylla, his "Whore Mother." So there you have it. Everyone forgot about how Howland Reed was with Eddard stark :)

jokkimokki Are there more then one Women Ned Wark has cheated on catelyn With? if not, quote from one of barristan's chapters in book five: But ashara's daughter had been stillborn, and his fair lady had thrown herself from a tower soon after, mad with grief for the child she had lost, and perhaps for the man who had dishonered her at harrenhall. she died never knowing that ser barristan had loved her. bla.bla.bla. If i had unhorsed rhaegar and crowned ashara queen of love an beauty, might she have looked to me instead of stark? so, if that is the only lady he fucked besides catelyn it is clear that jon is not his bastard.

bunners I have this fantasy that I dream up every so often when I get into a song of ice and fire. I imagine that Jon isn't dead, mortally wounded maybe, but not dead and needs significant time to recover. I imagine that those loyal to Jon or Eddard Stark (in that case) choose to act. With the commotion of the giant, the killing stops, Jon slumps to the ground presumably dead by everyone while those keeping an eye on Jon at the watch for Eddard move into action. They scoop him up and out of sight before anyone notices. Meanwhile at kings landing, howland reed is brought before the king and the queen in chains to answer for crimes against the crown. He is brought up on charges on conspiring to take the crown, treason, and supporter of Eddard Stark. When questioned Howland Reed in front of the royal court ( Eddard's bannermen, who was the only one to survive the tower of joy assault to rescue Lyanna) elaborately he retells the story of the night, when they tried to rescue Lyanna thus revealing Jon's true parentage, and claim to the iron throne. Claiming that Lyanna swore Ned to secrecy, and Eddard in turn swore Howland to secrecy, making a vow from that point on to protect the boy from Roberts wrath. When Eddard was beheaded Howland explained that was when he moved into action. The queen regent is outraged and calls Reed a liar, but Reed responds, laughing manically, that if he is a liar or not doesn't matter, the banners of both house Stark and house Targaryen have been called either way. And other many northerners, and underground traitors who have been bidding their time.The Redd Wedding vengeance is coming because the North remembers. The queen regent demands to know where Jon is now. Reed laughs and says "the only place he'd be welcomed, half way across the narrow sea to Daenarys Targaryen. The Targaryen boy will make a good husband for the girl. See my queen i knew you were coming for me long ago, so i made plans plenty of time in advance, sending word of the true heir from the wall all the way to Dorne. The queen regent demands for Reeds head, and a knight moves forward, but Howland Reed simply continues to laugh hysterically. He stares directly at the queen and says " Winter is coming, and it will burn. The North Remembers, and for all it's cold, it's coming with fire and blood. Winter is coming for all of you." He laughs as the commander of the kings guard chops off his head. And then I have a separate fantasy of Jon and Daenarys. I see Jon and Daenarys riding hard, both war faces on, Jon waves the Stark Banner with him while Daenarys, beside him holds high the Targaryen banner, I imagine this a front shot, slow motion. behind them are thousands of Dothraki horse lords and millions of unsullied, mixed in are ALL the North bannermen along with the remaining Targaryen. over head, in a red sky fly three dragons, breathing fire. This is my fantasy XD it probably won't happen like that but a girl can dream can't she?

sammullangalvin hang on, sorry to be boring, but does it not say in, I haven't got the book with me, but I think it was Book 3 Part 2, that a serving woman at Starfall is Jon's mother? The Lord Edric Dayne of Starfall, while acting as squire to Lord Beric Dondarrion, tells this to Arya Stark while she's a captive of The Forgotten Fellowship?all the theories are very interesting, but if he was Rhaegar's son I'd assume he'd have some hint of Targaryen, maybe the eyes or the hair. I don't know, but the explanation Edric Dayne gave satisfied me quite well

DarylandBeth This is practically true. I mean Jon is more of a stark than Robb, Sansa and the others aside from Arya.