The Secret That Changed Everything
For much of Game of Thrones, Jon Snow was believed to be the illegitimate son of Eddard Stark and an unknown woman. That identity shaped his character, values, and outsider status in Winterfell. But by the end of the series, a hidden truth emerged: Jon is not a Snow at all. His real name is Aegon Targaryen, and he is the last male heir in a once-mighty dynasty of dragonlords.
This revelation has deep implications for the Targaryen family tree, the succession to the Iron Throne, and the power dynamics of Westeros.
Jon Snow’s True Parentage
Jon is the son of Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, making him both a Stark by blood and a Targaryen by name. His birth was kept secret to protect him from those who would have killed a Targaryen heir during Robert’s Rebellion.
After Lyanna died in childbirth at the Tower of Joy, she entrusted the infant to her brother, Eddard Stark, who claimed the child as his own illegitimate son. Only a few individuals knew the truth.
Biological Parents:
- Father: Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, eldest son of King Aerys II (the Mad King)
- Mother: Lyanna Stark, sister of Eddard Stark
Legal Name (in secret): Aegon Targaryen
Jon’s Position in the Targaryen Line
To understand where Jon fits, we need to trace the Targaryen family tree from Aerys II.
Aerys II Targaryen (The Mad King)
Married to his sister Rhaella Targaryen
Children:
- Rhaegar Targaryen (Jon’s father)
- Viserys Targaryen
- Daenerys Targaryen
Rhaegar Targaryen’s Children:
- With Elia Martell:
- Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter)
- Aegon Targaryen (son – not to be confused with Jon, both shared the name)
- With Lyanna Stark (second, secret marriage):
- Aegon Targaryen (Jon Snow)
Jon is therefore the legitimate son of Rhaegar and Lyanna, born within wedlock after an annulled first marriage. This makes him:
- The nephew of Daenerys Targaryen
- The grandson of Aerys II
- The last known legitimate male Targaryen heir
Why Jon’s Lineage is important
Jon’s heritage places him above Daenerys in the line of succession by Targaryen standards, which traditionally favoured male heirs. His claim is legally stronger, though politically more fragile, given that he was raised as a Stark and had no known Targaryen backing.
This dual identity presents a unique mix of Northern stoicism and Valyrian blood. It also raises key questions:
- Should he have sat the Iron Throne?
- Did his Stark upbringing make him a better man or a weaker claimant?
- How would Westeros have responded to a revealed Targaryen with Stark values?
The Stark-Targaryen Union: A New Legacy
Jon embodies a rare union between the icy North and the fiery legacy of Old Valyria. Symbolically, his existence merges two of the most storied houses in Westeros. The marriage between Rhaegar and Lyanna, though politically disastrous, produced a son who arguably possessed the best traits of both bloodlines.
This convergence of houses had the potential to mend the realm. Instead, it was hidden, weaponised, and ultimately left unresolved.
In Summary: Jon Snow’s Place in the Targaryen Tree
Here is a simplified breakdown:
Aerys II Targaryen
│
├── Rhaegar Targaryen
│ ├── Rhaenys (with Elia Martell)
│ ├── Aegon (with Elia Martell)
│ └── Jon Snow / Aegon Targaryen (with Lyanna Stark)
├── Viserys Targaryen
└── Daenerys Targaryen
Jon Snow is not a bastard. He is the last legitimate male descendant of House Targaryen and stands at a pivotal point in Westeros’ dynastic history. His story is not just about a hidden prince, it is about the weight of identity, the price of secrets, and the uneasy balance between bloodline and belief.
