Difference between revisions of "Jon Snow"

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{{Infobox character
 
{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[File:Jon Snow personal arms.png|50px|left]] '''Jon Snow''' [[file:Minigdn.png|50px|right]]
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| Character_name = [[File:House_Stark.svg|50px|left]] '''Jon Snow''' [[file:Night's Watch.svg|50px|right]]
 
| image          = [[File:Jon snow by teiiku.jpg|300px]]   
 
| image          = [[File:Jon snow by teiiku.jpg|300px]]   
 
| image_caption  = Artwork by [http://teiiku.deviantart.com/ Tim TeiIku]©
 
| image_caption  = Artwork by [http://teiiku.deviantart.com/ Tim TeiIku]©
| Alias          = Lord Snow<br>Ned Stark's Bastard<br>The Snow of Winterfell<br>The Crow-Come-Over<br>The 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch<br>The Bastard of Winterfell<br>The Black Bastard of the Wall<br>Lord Crow
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| Alias          = Lord Snow{{ref|AGOT|23}}<br>The Snow of Winterfell{{ref|ASOS|7}}<br>The crow-come-over{{ref|ASOS|15}}<br>The Bastard of Winterfell{{ref|ASOS|15}}<br>Lord Crow{{ref|ADWD|51}}<br>The Black Bastard of the Wall{{ref|ADWD|45}}
 
| Title          = [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]]
 
| Title          = [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]]
 
| Allegiance    = [[House Stark]]<br>[[Night's Watch]]
 
| Allegiance    = [[House Stark]]<br>[[Night's Watch]]
 
| Race          =
 
| Race          =
| Culture        = [[Northmen]]
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| Culture        = [[northmen]]
 
| Spouse        =
 
| Spouse        =
 
| Place_of_Birth =  
 
| Place_of_Birth =  
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| Books          = ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (appears)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (POV)
 
| Books          = ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (appears)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (POV)
 
| Played_by      = [[w: Kit Harington|Kit Harington]]
 
| Played_by      = [[w: Kit Harington|Kit Harington]]
| TV_series      = [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 2|Season 2]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 3|Season 3]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 4|Season 4]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 5|Season 5]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]]
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| TV_series      = [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 2|Season 2]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 3|Season 3]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 4|Season 4]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 5|Season 5]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 7|Season 7]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
<!--[[File:Jon Snow.PNG|350px|thumb|Kit Harington as Jon Snow ([[Game of Thrones|TV series]])]]-->   
 
<!--[[File:Jon Snow.PNG|350px|thumb|Kit Harington as Jon Snow ([[Game of Thrones|TV series]])]]-->   
'''Jon Snow''' is the [[bastardy|bastard son]] of [[Eddard Stark]], by a mother whose identity is a source of speculation.{{Ref|aGoT|Appendix}}{{Ref|aGoT|6}} He was raised by his father alongside his true-born half-siblings, but joins the [[Night's Watch]] when he nears adulthood. He is constantly accompanied by his albino [[direwolf]] [[Ghost]]. At the beginning of ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is fourteen years old.  He is one of the major [[POV Character|POV characters]] in the books. In the television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is portrayed by [[w: Kit Harington|Kit Harington]].
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'''Jon Snow''' is the [[bastardy|bastard son]] of [[Eddard Stark]], Lord of [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|aGoT|Appendix}} He has five half-siblings: [[Robb Stark|Robb]], [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]], [[Arya Stark|Arya]], [[Bran Stark|Bran]], and [[Rickon Stark]]. Unaware of the identity of his mother,{{Ref|aGoT|6}} Jon was raised at Winterfell. At the age of fourteen, he joins the [[Night's Watch]], where he earns the nickname '''Lord Snow'''. Jon is one of the major [[POV characters]] in ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''. In the television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is portrayed by [[w:Kit Harington|Kit Harington]].
  
==Appearance==
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==Appearance and Character==
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Jon Snow|Images of Jon Snow]]''
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Jon Snow|Images of Jon Snow]]''
  
Even at age fourteen, Jon is said to have more Stark-like features than any of his half-brothers.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} Jon has a lean build, with dark brown hair and grey eyes so dark they border on black. He is graceful and quick.{{Ref|aGoT|1}} [[Tyrion Lannister]] notes that Jon has the traditional Stark face in everything but name—long, solemn and guarded—a face that gives nothing away. He remarks to himself that whoever Jon's mother was, she left little of herself in her son's appearance.{{ref|agot|13}} [[Arya Stark]] is said to resemble Jon the most of the Stark children.{{ref|agot|7}} After joining the [[Night's Watch]], he dresses in their official black garb.
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Jon has more Stark-like features than any of his half-brothers.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} He is graceful and quick, and has a lean build.{{Ref|AGOT|1}} Jon has the long face of the Starks,{{Ref|AGOT|13}}{{Ref|acok|6}} with dark,{{Ref|AGOT|1}}{{Ref|ACOK|6}} brown hair{{Ref|AGOT|15}}{{Ref|ASOS|69}} and grey eyes{{Ref|ACOK|6}} so dark they almost seem black.{{Ref|AGOT|1}} Because he looks so much like a Stark, [[Tyrion Lannister]] notes that whoever Jon's mother was, she left little of herself in her son's appearance.{{ref|agot|13}} Out of all the Stark children, [[Arya Stark]] is said to resemble Jon the most, as [[Robb Stark|Robb]], [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]], [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]] take after their [[House Tully|Tully]] mother, [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]].{{ref|agot|7}} During the [[Great Ranging]], Jon temporarily grows a beard.{{Ref|ACOK|68}}{{Ref|ASOS|15}}
  
There is no description of a personal coat of arms in the books, but [[George R. R. Martin]] told the company Valyrian Steel, who made replicas of Jon's sword, to use the reversed Stark colors on the plaque that goes with the sword.<ref>[http://www.valyriansteel.com/2007/06/13/longclaw-plaque/ Longclaw: Plaque>> Valyrian Steel]</ref>
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Jon looks solemn and guarded,{{Ref|AGOT|13}} and is considered sullen and quick to sense a slight.{{Ref|ACOK|11}} Due to having been raised in a castle and trained by a [[master-at-arms]], Jon is seen by some [[smallfolk|lower-born members]] of the [[Night's Watch]] as arrogant at first,{{Ref|AGOT|19}} though this changes when they become more friendly towards one another, as Jon is reminded of his nonetheless privileged background and decides to pass on his knowledge to them. Jon is observant,{{Ref|AGOT|1}}{{Ref|AGOT|6}} a trait he developed on account of being a bastard.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} He is a capable horseback rider and is well practiced in fighting with a sword.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} Jon has resented his bastard status most of the time.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} He desires to be viewed as honorable{{Ref|AGOT|65}} and wants to prove he can be as good and true as his half-brother, Robb.{{ref|ASOS|73}} Jon dreamed he would one day lead men to glory, or even become a conqueror, as a child.{{Ref|ADWD|35}} He feels strongly about not fathering a bastard himself.{{Ref|AGOT|5}}{{Ref|ASOS|15}}
  
==Character==
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While Lord [[Eddard Stark]] openly acknowledged Jon as his son and allowed him to live at [[Winterfell]] with his half-siblings, Jon felt like an outsider nonetheless. While Jon has good relationships with his siblings, especially Robb, with whom he trained since they were children,{{Ref|ASOS|79}} and Arya, whom he sees as somewhat of an outsider as well,{{Ref|AGOT|19}} Eddard's wife Catelyn, who was especially annoyed when Jon bested Robb in training or classes,{{Ref|ASOS|79}} ensured that Jon was never truly one of them.{{Ref|AGOT|19}}{{Ref|AGOT|48}} Jon is not close to [[Theon Greyjoy]], Eddard's ward.{{ref|ACOK|11}} Lord Eddard refuses to speak of Jon's mother and the boy grew up unaware of her identity, something which has wounded and haunted him.{{ref|agot|6}}{{Ref|AGOT|23}}{{Ref|AGOT|43}}{{Ref|AGOT|53}} When Jon dreams of her, he considers her to be beautiful, highborn, and kind.{{ref|AGOT|23}}
Jon was raised as a Stark and [[Northmen|Northerner]] and in many ways took to their values of honor, to which he tries to conform even when faced with complex and morally ambiguous decisions. He idolizes his father, [[Eddard Stark|Lord Eddard]], but is wounded by his refusal to discuss or name his mother. He has a perceptive and observant outlook, and displays bravery, resourcefulness and quick thinking during his time at the [[Wall]], eventually becoming a natural leader and mentor in the [[Night's Watch]].
 
  
While he was close to the Stark children, Jon once stated that, as a bastard, he "grew up quicker" than them, and he is shown to be a great deal more solemn than his siblings; the experience of maturing with an illegitimate status made him bitter and with a desire to prove himself, thus, he chooses a life of hard duty in the Night's Watch to earn his own honor.{{ref|agot|13}} Despite his somber demeanour, however, he is compassionate towards those he views as fellow outcasts and rejects, and is particularly close to his tomboyish half-sister [[Arya Stark|Arya]], who also understands how it feels to be overshadowed. He is noted to be a skilled horse rider, and is a gifted swordsman, being trained with swords "since he could walk".{{ref|asos|79}} Jon is also said to be better than his half-brother [[Robb Stark|Robb]] with a sword.{{Ref|AGot|5}} He keeps faith with the [[old gods]].{{Ref|aGoT|48}}
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As a northerner raised at Winterfell, Jon keeps faith with the [[old gods]].{{Ref|AGOT|48}} He eventually discovers that he is a [[warg]], being able to see through the eyes of his [[direwolf]], [[Ghost]], when he sleeps,{{Ref|ACOK|53}} and experiencing Ghost's feelings and senses while awake.{{Ref|ASOS|79}}
  
In ''[[A Clash of Kings]]'', Jon discovers that, like his brother [[Bran Stark|Bran]], he is a [[warg]] and can therefore take control of [[Ghost]] whenever he opens his "third eye." Also, like many other characters in the series, he occasionally has dreams that seem to be prophetic.
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After joining the [[Night's Watch]], Jon dresses in their official black garb.{{ref|AGOT|19}} While there is no description of Jon's personal [[coat of arms]] in the books, [[George R. R. Martin]] told the company Valyrian Steel, which makes replicas of Jon's sword, to use the reversed Stark colors on the plaque that goes with the sword.<ref>[http://www.valyriansteel.com/2007/06/13/longclaw-plaque/ Longclaw: Plaque>> Valyrian Steel]</ref>
 
 
In ''[[A Storm of Swords]]'', Jon was legitimised by Robb's (at the time the [[King in the North]]) decree, thereby removing his bastard status.{{ref|ASOS|45}}  However the decree was only issued shortly before [[Red Wedding|Robb's murder at the Twins]] and it is unknown whether the decree was ever disseminated; Jon remains unaware of its existence and of his change in status. It is also debatable whether the other opposing houses would accept the decree even if it were to become known.
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
[[File:Jon and Robb Swords.png|400px|thumb|Snow and [[Robb Stark|Stark]] at sword-play]]
 
[[File:Jon and Robb Swords.png|400px|thumb|Snow and [[Robb Stark|Stark]] at sword-play]]
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Jon was born in {{Date|283}}, near the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]].<ref group="N">About a fortnight passed between the [[Battle of the Trident]] and the [[Sack of King's Landing]], during which times Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]] fled to [[Dragonstone]]. [[Daenerys Targaryen]] was born nine months after the flight (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 3|Daenerys I]]). Jon is said to have been ''"closer to eight or nine months or thereabouts"'' before Daenerys ([[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040/ Chronology (July 11, 1999)])</ref> Jon was named by Lord [[Eddard Stark]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1202/ Numerous Question (February 28, 2002)]</ref>The identity of Jon Snow's mother remains a mystery, and several suggestions have been made by those who know the Starks. Jon is unaware of his mother's identity{{Ref|AGOT|5}}{{Ref|AGOT|19}} and Eddard refuses to speak of her.{{Ref|agot|19}} When Eddard returned from the war, he brought the newborn Jon to [[Winterfell]], insisting on raising him with the rest of his family. Jon and his wet nurse had been installed in the castle before the arrival of Eddard's new wife, [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]], and his young son and heir, [[Robb Stark]], from [[Riverrun]], which Catelyn did not take well.{{Ref|AGOT|6}}
  
Jon Snow's parentage remains a mystery (see [[#Parentage|theories below]]). He is believed to have been born towards the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]], within one month, give or take, of the [[Sack of King's Landing]]. Returning from the war, Lord [[Eddard Stark]] brought the new born babe to [[Winterfell]], insisting on raising him with the rest of his family. Jon was named by Lord Eddard.<ref>[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1202/ So Spake Martin] February 28, 2002, Numerous Questions.</ref>
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Lord Eddard Stark was fiercely protective of Jon{{ref|ACOK|45}} and refused to send him away.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} Jon was raised at Winterfell with his half-siblings, where he was tutored by Maester [[Luwin]],{{ref|AGOT|41}} and trained at arms by the [[master-at-arms]], Ser [[Rodrik Cassel]]. Jon has trained at swordplay since he was old enough to walk, together with Robb,{{ref|ASOS|79}} whom he came to view as his "best friend, rival and constant companion",{{ref|agot|19}} and later also with [[Theon Greyjoy]],{{ref|adwd|37}} after the latter came to Winterfell following the conclusion of [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]]. At some point, Jon learned how to swim in the great moat at Winterfell; he is considered a strong swimmer.{{ref|ASOS|41}}
  
Jon has an older half-brother, [[Robb Stark|Robb]], two younger half-sisters, [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] and [[Arya Stark|Arya]], and two younger half-brothers, [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]]. Jon received a noble's education by [[Maester Luwin]] alongside his half-siblings. His presence at Winterfell turned out to be a source of friction between Eddard and his wife, [[Catelyn Tully|Catelyn]], who saw Jon as a constant reminder of her husband's infidelity. She treated him coldly making him feel unwelcome. His appearance, resembling Eddard more closely than any of his true born siblings, strained the relationship between himself and his stepmother further. However, Eddard was always "fiercely protective" of Jon, he treated him the same as his true born children and Jon got on well with his half-siblings, particularly with Robb, whom he viewed as his "best friend, rival and constant companion", and Arya, who "never seemed to fit, no more than he had."{{Ref|acok|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|19}} Despite this, Jon always had issues with his bastardy and at times felt alienated, contributing to his eventual decision to join the [[Night's Watch]], where the circumstances of his birth would be of little importance.
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Jon grew close to his true-born siblings, especially Robb and [[Arya Stark|Arya]]. Due to the fact that they both looked alike, Arya came to believe that she was bastard-born as well and shared with her brother with this fear; Jon reassured his half-sister this was not the case.{{ref|agot|7}} As a young child<ref group="N">Before [[Lord Commander Qorgyle]]'s death in {{Date|288}}</ref> Jon and Robb built a great mountain of snow on top of a gate, hoping to push in on someone passing by. They were discovered by [[Mance Rayder]], a [[ranger]] from the [[Night's Watch]] who had accompanied [[Lord Commander Qorgyle]] to Winterfell. The ranger promised not to tell anyone, and Jon and Robb succeeded in their ploy, being chased around the yard by [[Fat Tom]], their victim.{{Ref|ASOS|7}} Jon and Robb would often play a game of sword-play, in which they would pretend to be great heroes (including [[Florian the Fool]], [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)|Aemon the Dragonknight]], King [[Daeron I Targaryen]], and Ser [[Ryam Redwyne]]). Once, when Jon called out that he was "[[Lord of Winterfell]]", Robb informed him that it was impossible due to his [[bastardy]], which would become a sore memory for Jon.{{Ref|ASOS|79}} Another time, Jon covered himself in flour and hid in one of the empty tombs in the [[crypt of Winterfell]], and jumped out to scare [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]], Arya, and [[Bran Stark|Bran]], who had been brought to the crypts by Robb.{{Ref|AGOT|50}}
  
Growing up as the two eldest boys, Jon developed a friendly rivalry with Robb, whom he differs from in appearance and personality. Once, they were at a continued game of sword-play in which they would shout out the names of great heroes when Jon called out (as he had countless times before), that he was "Lord of [[Winterfell]]", leading Robb to swiftly reply for the first time that he "couldn't ever be Lord of Winterfell" as he was bastard-born. This became a sore memory for Jon, as part of him always wanted to succeed Lord Eddard and resented that it was impossible for him. When he had been a boy at Winterfell, his hero had been the [[Daeron I Targaryen|Young Dragon]], the boy king who had conquered Dorne at the age of fourteen. Despite his bastard birth, or perhaps because of it, Jon had dreamed of leading men to glory just as King Daeron had and bestowing honor on the [[House Stark|house]] he had never really belonged to. He hoped to somewhat fulfill these ambitions when joining the Watch but becomes disillusioned and ashamed of such dreams, resigning himself to his fate upon the Wall.{{Ref|aDwD|35}}{{Ref|aSoS|79}}
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Since he was young, Jon's hero was King Daeron, the Young Dragon, who had [[conquest of Dorne|conquered Dorne]] at the age of fourteen.{{Ref|AGOT|5}}{{Ref|ADWD|35}} Lord Eddard had dreamed about raising new lords and settling them in the abandoned holdfasts in the [[New Gift]], and Jon believes that, had winter come and gone more quickly, he might have been chosen to hold one of the settlements in his father's name.{{Ref|ASOS|41}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Jon HBO.jpg|350px|thumb|Jon Snow as depicted in the HBO series ]]
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[[File:Jon HBO.jpg|350px|thumb|Kit Harington as Jon Snow in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
  
Jon is fourteen years old, he accompanies his father, Robb, Bran and [[Theon Greyjoy]] to an execution of a [[Gared|deserter]] from the [[Night's Watch]]. On their way back to Winterfell, they encounter a litter of [[direwolf]] pups. Lord Eddard states that killing the pups quickly would forestall a painful and slow death, but [[Bran Stark|Bran]] passionately protests. Jon points out that there are five pups, one for each of Eddard's legitimate children; since the direwolf is the sigil of House Stark, they must be meant to have the wolves. Bran immediately realizes, along with everyone else, that the comparison only works out because Jon is not claiming a pup for himself. Each of the other Stark siblings receives one of the young animals as a pet, but Jon discovers an albino pup, outcast from its litter and claims it for his own, eventually naming it "[[Ghost]]".{{Ref|aGoT|1}}
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Jon accompanies his father, Lord [[Eddard Stark]], his brothers [[Robb Stark|Robb]] and [[Bran Stark|Bran]], his father's ward [[Theon Greyjoy]], and others from [[Winterfell]] to the execution of [[Gared]], a deserter from the [[Night's Watch]]. On their way back to [[Winterfell]], Jon and Robb race ahead and find a litter of [[direwolf]] pups. When Eddard states that killing the pups quickly would forestall a painful and slow death, Jon points out that there are five pups one for each of Eddard's legitimate children – and the direwolf is the sigil of [[House Stark]], indicating that they must be meant to have the wolves. The comparison only works out because Jon is not claiming a pup for himself, and Eddard gives in. As they leave, Jon discovers an albino pup, cast away from its litter.{{Ref|AGOT|1}} He claims the pup for his own,{{Ref|AGOT|1}} eventually naming it "[[Ghost]]".{{ref|AGOT|5}}
  
Jon's position both inside and outside the family subtly chafe him over the years until, when he nears adulthood, he joins the [[Night's Watch]], after his uncle [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]] suggested that the Watch could use a man like him. Before he leaves for the Wall, he witnesses the royal family's visit to Winterfell and befriends [[Tyrion Lannister]]. Jon says his last goodbyes, first to the comatose Bran, then to [[Robb Stark|Robb]], and finally to [[Arya Stark|Arya]], to whom he gives a Braavosi-type sword, which they name [[Needle]]. On his journey to the [[Wall]], Tyrion accompanies him, and their friendship is fostered by their shared position as noble outsiders.{{Ref|aGoT|13}}
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Because he is a bastard, Jon is not allowed sit with his siblings and the royal children during the feast welcoming King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and his family to the [[north]]. At the feast he speaks with his uncle, [[Benjen Stark]], the [[First Ranger]] of the Night's Watch. When Benjen suggests that the Night's Watch could use a man as observant as Jon, Jon quickly requests to accompany him to the [[Wall]] when he leaves, as even a bastard can rise to a position of honor there.{{Ref|AGOT|5}} Benjen is hesitant about having Jon join at such a young age, resulting in an argument causing Jon to storm out.{{Ref|AGOT|5}} Outside, he runs into [[Tyrion Lannister]], the youngest brother of Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], who counsels him to "never forget [[bastard|what you are]]" and tells Jon to make it his strength instead.{{Ref|agot|5}}
  
At first Jon remains aloof and distant making no friends; he scorns his fellow recruits who return the feeling, resenting him because of his noble background. He feels particularly alone as his uncle Benjen leaves to lead a ranging. After a fight between Jon and several recruits, a talk with [[Donal Noye]] helps him correct his attitude, and he soon becomes a natural leader, mentor, and friend to most of his fellow trainees, earning him the enmity of the master-at-arms, Ser [[Alliser Thorne]]. Jon also protects [[Samwell Tarly]] from bullying by some other recruits.{{Ref|aGoT|26}}{{Ref|aGoT|41}} {{Ref|aGoT|19}}
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Although hesitant about it at the feast, Benjen eventually approaches [[Luwin]], telling the [[maester]] that Jon had expressed interest in joining the Night's Watch .{{Ref|AGOT|6}} When Lord Eddard decides to accept the position as [[Hand of the King]] at [[King's Landing]], his wife, [[Catelyn Stark]], refuses to allow Jon to remain at Winterfell. As Eddard feels he cannot take Jon south with him, Luwin suggests the Night's Watch for Jon, and Eddard agrees; Catelyn is pleased, because as a member of the Watch Jon will never father children who might contest her grandchildren's inheritance of Winterfell.{{ref|AGOT|6}}
  
When being raised to the black, Jon is angered by his appointment to the stewards, as he expects to be posted to the rangers. Though in time and with the help of Samwell, he realizes that his assignment as [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]] [[Jeor Mormont]]'s personal steward is intended to groom him for command.{{Ref|aGoT|48}} During a [[Others#Wights|wight]] attack on [[Castle Black]], Jon saves Mormont's life and receives serious burns on his hand. Mormont gives him the [[Valyrian steel]] bastard sword, [[Longclaw]], of [[House Mormont]], and has a direwolf head engraved onto the pommel in honor of [[House Stark]].{{Ref|aGoT|60}}
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The decision for him to go to the [[Wall]] leaves Jon angry in the days before he is set to leave.{{Ref|AGOT|8}} The departure day is postponed following Bran's accident, but a fortnight after Bran's fall Jon and Benjen are ready to leave Winterfell. Jon says his last goodbyes, first to the comatose Bran, then to Robb, and finally to [[Arya Stark|Arya]], to whom he gives a small, slender sword which they name [[Needle]].{{Ref|AGOT|10}} On his way to the Wall, Jon quickly becomes disillusioned with the Night's Watch, after meeting [[Yoren]], a so-called [[wandering crow]], and his new recruits.{{Ref|AGOT|13}} During the journey, Jon befriends Tyrion Lannister, who had decided to travel further north to see with Wall for himself.{{Ref|AGOT|13}}  
  
Although Jon has learned to fit in with the Watch, he has difficulty separating from his old life. At the outbreak of the [[War of the Five Kings]], Jon becomes torn between his family and his vows to the Watch. Jon finds himself imprisoned after striking at Ser Alliser, who provokes him by mocking his father after learning of his father's arrest. After his father's execution, Jon tries to desert to join [[Robb Stark|Robb]]'s army, even though the common penalty for deserting the Night's Watch is death. His new friends bring him back, however, and save him from this fate.
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At [[Castle Black]], Jon first remains aloof and distant, making no friends; he scorns his fellow recruits who return the feeling, resenting him due to his attitude. Days after their arrival, Benjen leaves to lead a ranging, and while Jon requests to accompany him, Benjen refuses to allow it, leaving Jon angry. After a fight between Jon and several other recruits, Jon speaks with [[Donal Noye]], the armorer at Castle Black, who points that Jon has been a bully to the other recruits. When a letter arrives from Winterfell informing Jon that Bran, though crippled, has awoken and will live, Jon is ecstatic, and when he returns to the Common Hall, he offers his fellow recruits advice on their swordplay.{{Ref|aGoT|19}} Jon soon becomes a natural leader, mentor, and friend to most of his fellow trainees, earning him the enmity of the master-at-arms, Ser [[Alliser Thorne]]. When [[Samwell Tarly]] arrives at the Wall, Jon reaches out to him, and helps him being accepted by the majority of the recruits.{{Ref|aGoT|26}}{{Ref|aGoT|41}}
  
The next day, Lord Commander Mormont chastises him for running, and after Jon finally decides to honor his bonds and fully commit to the Watch, he accepts his place as Mormont's squire and prepares for the journey north, on the large [[The Great Ranging|Ranging into the Far North]] that Mormont leads.{{Ref|aGoT|70}}
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As new recruits are about to arrive at Castle Black, eight recruits, including Jon, are chosen to take their vows. Sam is not chosen, and Jon realizes that it will only be a matter of time that Sam will be hurt of killed in training without his friends present to protect him. Jon visits Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] and asks if Aemon will persuade [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]] [[Jeor Mormont]] to take Sam from training and allow him to take his vows, pointing out that Sam, due to his ability to write, read, and to math, would make a good personal steward for Aemon.{{Ref|agot|41}} This earns Jon the enmity of [[Chett]], Aemon's steward.{{Ref|asos|prologue}} Aemon promises to consider it.{{Ref|AGOT|41}} Sam finds Jon the next day, informing him that he too is allowed to take his vows, and has been appointed Aemon's personal steward. Jon expects to be raised to the [[ranger]]s, but is angered when Lord Commander Mormont appoints him as his personal steward instead. Sam points out to Jon that Mormont has given him the position in order to groom him for command, which quells his anger. Jon and Sam decide to say their vows in front of the [[weirwood]] trees located north of the Wall. After they have said the words, Ghost returns with the severed hand of [[Jafer Flowers]],{{Ref|aGoT|48}} alerting the men of the corpses of Jafer and [[Othor]]. The two corpses are brought back to Castle Black, where Jon is informed of the death of King Robert and the arrest of his father, Eddard. Jon attempts to attack Alliser after the knight mocks Eddard and Jon, and is placed in isolation as a result. That night, the two deceased brothers they had found north of the Wall rise. When one [[wight]] attempts to attack Lord Commander Mormont, Jon intervenes, saving Jeor's life, though he seriously burns his hand in the process.{{Ref|AGOT|52}} In gratitude, Jon gives Jon [[Longclaw]], the [[Valyrian steel]] bastard sword of [[House Mormont]], on which he has had a direwolf head engraved onto the pommel in honor of House Stark.{{Ref|aGoT|60}}
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Though he is now a sworn brother of the Night's Watch, Jon becomes torn between the Watch and his former family when he learns from Sam that Robb has marched south with an army. Maester Aemon explains to Jon the difficulty of keeping true to the Night's Watch's vows at times, citing among other examples the deaths of most of his relatives at the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]], causing Jon to realize Aemon is a [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]].{{Ref|AGOT|60}} Nonetheless, Jon tries to desert and join Robb's army after Eddard's execution, though the penalty for deserting the Night's Watch is death. His new friends bring him back, however, and save him from this fate.{{Ref|AGOT|70}}
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The next day, Lord Commander Mormont chastises him for running, and Jon agrees to fully commit to the Watch. He accepts his place as Jeor's squire and prepares for the journey [[beyond the Wall]] which Mormont plans to lead.{{Ref|aGoT|70}}
  
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
[[File:M.Luisa Giliberti jon ygritte.jpg|thumb|350px|Jon meets [[Ygritte]] - by M.Luisa Giliberti ©]]
 
[[File:M.Luisa Giliberti jon ygritte.jpg|thumb|350px|Jon meets [[Ygritte]] - by M.Luisa Giliberti ©]]
Jon has started to wear two gloves, one on his right hand because it is burned and one on the left because it felt foolish wearing only one glove.{{Ref|aCoK|6}} He is summoned to Commander Mormont and is told the story of [[Maester Aemon]] (he was [[Great Council|at one point considered a candidate for king]], but instead kept his vows and was passed over for [[Aegon IV Targaryen|his brother]]). Mormont points out the similiarities between Jon and Aemon in having a brother for king; Jon reassures the Lord Commander that, like Maester Aemon, he too will keep his vows.{{Ref|acok|3}}
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The Night's Watch prepares for the [[great ranging]] north to investigate the [[haunted forest]], after the disappearances [[beyond the Wall]] of several rangers, including [[Benjen Stark]]. Jon brings his direwolf, [[Ghost]].
  
Jon is part of the [[The Great Ranging]] north to investigate the goings-on in the [[Haunted Forest]] beyond the [[Wall]] after disappearances of several rangers, including [[Benjen Stark]], and is accompanied by his direwolf, [[Ghost]]. The ranging party passes through several [[wildling]] villages, including [[Whitetree]], but find no hint of any wildling presence. They then stop at [[Craster's Keep]], where they learn that the normally anarchic wildlings are uniting under a single figure, King-beyond-the-Wall [[Mance Rayder]]. After reaching the [[Fist of the First Men]], Ghost leads Jon to a mound where the direwolf digs up an [[old warhorn]] and a cache of [[dragonglass]] wrapped in an old cloak of the Night's Watch, and Jon distributes these items among his sworn brothers. Afterwards he is picked to accompany one of the three scouting parties into the mountains, led by the famous [[Qhorin Halfhand]].{{Ref|aCoK|43}}
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Jon fetches [[Samwell Tarly]] for Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]], who has been waiting for maps of the lands further north. Jeor and Jon discuss his hand, which still troubles him, but is slowly getting better. They discuss Maester Aemon, and Jeor reveals that Aemon had [[Great Council of 233 AC|once been offered the Iron Throne]], but instead had decided to remain a maester, and the throne passed to his younger brother, [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]. Jeor points out the similarities between Jon and Aemon in having a brother for king; Jon reassures the Lord Commander that, like Maester Aemon, he too will keep his vows.{{Ref|acok|3}}
  
In the [[Skirling Pass]], Qhorin's party comes across a group of [[wildling]] sentries, and Jon is one of those assigned to take them out. He kills one of the man, but discovers one of them is a woman. Jon takes the girl [[Ygritte]], prisoner instead. Jon reveals to Ygritte that he is the bastard son of [[Eddard Stark|Ned Stark]], and during the night, Ygritte tells Jon the story of "[[Bael|Bael the Bard]]", a song which insinuates that, through Bael, the Starks too have wildling blood. Later, when Qhorin orders Jon to kill her, he secretly lets her go{{Ref|aCoK|51}}. The group is later discovered and pursued by wildlings led by [[Rattleshirt]].{{Ref|aCoK|53}} Facing certain defeat, Halfhand commands Snow to act as a turncoat to infiltrate the wildlings and learn their plans. Jon and Qhorin are then trapped by the wildlings, and to create proof he has truly turned, they force Jon to fight Halfhand. Jon kills him with the aid of Ghost. Ygritte is part of Rattleshirt's band and believes that Jon has abandoned his former ways; Jon then learns that Mance Rayder is already advancing on the Wall with a hundred thousand wildlings, giants and mammoths.{{Ref|aCoK|69}}
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The ranging party passes through several [[wildling]] villages, including [[Whitetree]], but find no hint of any wildling presence.{{Ref|ACOK|13}} They then stop at [[Craster's Keep]], where they learn that the normally anarchic wildlings are uniting under a single figure, King-beyond-the-Wall [[Mance Rayder]]. Though they are commanded not to speak to Craster's daughters, [[Gilly]], one of Craster's daughters who is pregnant with his child, approaches Jon after encouragement from Sam. She asks to join Jon when they leave Craster's Keep, but Jon refuses her, and later scolds Sam for ever having given her the idea.{{Ref|ACOK|23}} After reaching the [[Fist of the First Men]], Ghost leads Jon to a mound where the direwolf digs up an [[old warhorn]] and a cache of [[dragonglass]] wrapped in an old cloak of the Night's Watch.{{Ref|ACOK|34}} Jon distributes these items among his sworn brothers. After the arrival of [[Qhorin Halfhand]] with the men from the [[Shadow Tower]], Jon is picked by Qhorin to accompany one of the three scouting parties into the mountains.{{Ref|aCoK|43}}
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In the [[Skirling Pass]], Qhorin's party comes across a group of [[wildling]] sentries, and Jon is one of those assigned to take them out. He kills one of the man, but discovers his second target is a woman. Jon decides to take the girl, called [[Ygritte]], prisoner instead. He reveals to her that he is the bastard son of [[Eddard Stark]], and during the night, Ygritte tells Jon the story of "[[Bael|Bael the Bard]]", a song which insinuates that, through Bael, the Starks too have wildling blood. Later, Qhorin orders Jon to kill her, but Jon secretly lets her go instead. Before she leaves, Ygritte informs Jon that Mance Rayder would accept him, if he wanted to join the [[free folk]].{{Ref|aCoK|51}} Jon tells Qhorin about this, who confirms that Mance would be willing, and tells Jon that Mance had been a man of the Night's Watch himself once. That night, when Jon dreams he sees through the eyes of [[Ghost]], and witnesses thousands of wildlings, and [[giant]]s and [[mammoth]]s, before being attacked by an eagle. Jon informs the group, who recognize Jon for a [[warg]]. They later see the eagle, and when they find a wounded Ghost, Qhorin decides they return to the [[Fist of the First Men]].{{Ref|ACOK|53}} With the enemy following them, Qhorin orders [[Dalbridge]] to stay behind to defend the others,{{Ref|ACOK|53}} while [[Ebben]] and [[Stonesnake]] are sent forth to reach the First is great haste, leaving only Qhorin and Jon. Qhorin commands Jon to join the wildlings when they are discovered, and to do whatever they ask. When the wildling band led by [[Rattleshirt]] finds them, Jon yields, and the wildlings require him to kill Qhorin to proof his loyalty to them. With the help of Ghost, Jon kills Qhorin, and the wildlings agree to bring him to Mance Rayder.{{Ref|ACOK|69}}
  
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
[[File:Battle of Castle Black by Giliberti.jpg|350px|thumb|Jon Snow during the [[Battle of Castle Black]] - by Michael Komarck ©]]
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[[File:Battle of Castle Black by Giliberti.jpg|350px|thumb|Jon Snow during the struggle at Castle Black - by Michael Komarck ©]]
 
Jon meets with [[Mance Rayder]] and convinces him that his desertion is sincere. During their conversation, Jon learns Mance's plans to invade the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|ASoS|7}} He falls in love with [[Ygritte]] and briefly breaks his vows of chastity with her. He hesitates between betraying her or leaving the [[Night's Watch]], eventually realizing that he must escape and warn them of the upcoming attack. Jon joins [[Styr]]'s mission to scale the [[Wall]] and take unaware the skeleton crew left manning [[Castle Black]].{{Ref|ASoS|30}} After scaling the wall, he gets the opportunity to escape as the wildlings are attacked by [[Summer (direwolf)|Summer]] in the vicinity of the abandoned [[Queenscrown]] - unaware that it is due to the efforts of his half-brother [[Bran Stark|Bran]], who is hidden in a nearby castle. He manages to escape in the confusion on a horse, but not before taking an arrow in the leg.{{Ref|ASoS|41}}
 
Jon meets with [[Mance Rayder]] and convinces him that his desertion is sincere. During their conversation, Jon learns Mance's plans to invade the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|ASoS|7}} He falls in love with [[Ygritte]] and briefly breaks his vows of chastity with her. He hesitates between betraying her or leaving the [[Night's Watch]], eventually realizing that he must escape and warn them of the upcoming attack. Jon joins [[Styr]]'s mission to scale the [[Wall]] and take unaware the skeleton crew left manning [[Castle Black]].{{Ref|ASoS|30}} After scaling the wall, he gets the opportunity to escape as the wildlings are attacked by [[Summer (direwolf)|Summer]] in the vicinity of the abandoned [[Queenscrown]] - unaware that it is due to the efforts of his half-brother [[Bran Stark|Bran]], who is hidden in a nearby castle. He manages to escape in the confusion on a horse, but not before taking an arrow in the leg.{{Ref|ASoS|41}}
  
Jon reaches Castle Black barely conscious. He is tended to by [[Maester Aemon]] and warns the Night's Watch of the upcoming attack of the wildlings. Maester Aemon and Grenn gently break the news to Jon that his brothers, [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]], have died at the command of [[Theon Greyjoy]].{{Ref|ASoS|48}} After Jon recuperates, he helps [[Donal Noye]] in the [[Battle of Castle Black‎‎|Defence of Castle Black]] against Styr's raiders. All of the raiders are killed, including [[Ygritte]], who dies in a grief-stricken Jon's arms.{{Ref|ASoS|55}} After the fall of Donal, Jon reluctantly takes command of the Wall's defences against Mance's direct assault after prompting from Master Aemon. Using his natural leadership, Jon successfully holds the Wall against overwhelming odds for several days.{{Ref|ASoS|64}} However, upon the arrival of [[Alliser Thorne]] and [[Janos Slynt]] to Castle Black, Jon is arrested for his earlier defection and thrown in an ice cell, where he is threatened with execution for his desertion and murder of [[Qhorin Halfhand]].{{Ref|ASoS|69}} After Aemon vouches for Jon's honour and capability during the wildling attack, Thorne and Slynt realize they cannot have Jon hanged due to his popularity on the Wall and therefore force him to make an assassination attempt on Mance during a parley, hoping he will be killed there instead. During the negotiations, Mance states that he has the [[Horn of Winter]], which he claims will cause the Wall to collapse; he reveals that he only had the wildlings attack the wall not to conquer, but to escape [[the Others]]. The King-Beyond-the-Wall then offers Jon the Horn of Winter if the Night's Watch allows the wildlings to safely pass through to South of the Wall, but states that they will not yield to the lords or their laws. Before Jon can attack Mance or destroy the Horn, [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis Baratheon's]] forces make a surprise appearance and rout the wildlings.{{Ref|ASoS|73}}
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Jon reaches Castle Black barely conscious. He is tended to by [[Maester Aemon]] and warns the Night's Watch of the upcoming attack of the wildlings. Maester Aemon and Grenn gently break the news to Jon that his brothers, [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]], have died at the command of [[Theon Greyjoy]].{{Ref|ASoS|48}} After Jon recuperates, he helps [[Donal Noye]] in the [[attack on Castle Black‎‎|defence of Castle Black]] against Styr's raiders. All of the raiders are killed, including [[Ygritte]], who dies in a grief-stricken Jon's arms.{{Ref|ASoS|55}} Jon reluctantly takes command of the Wall's defences against Mance's [[battle beneath the Wall|direct assault]] following Donal Noye's death, after prompting from Master Aemon. Jon successfully holds the Wall against overwhelming odds for several days.{{Ref|ASoS|64}} However, upon the arrival of Ser [[Alliser Thorne]] and Lord [[Janos Slynt]] at Castle Black, Jon is arrested for his earlier defection and thrown in an ice cell, where he is threatened with execution for his desertion and the murder of [[Qhorin Halfhand]].{{Ref|ASoS|69}} After Aemon vouches for Jon's honour and capability during the wildling attack, Thorne and Slynt realize they cannot have Jon hanged due to his popularity on the Wall and therefore force him to make an assassination attempt on Mance during a parley, hoping he will be killed there instead. During the negotiations, Mance states that he has the [[Horn of Winter]], which he claims will cause the Wall to collapse; he reveals that he only had the wildlings attack the wall not to conquer, but to escape the [[Others]]. The King-Beyond-the-Wall then offers Jon the Horn of Winter if the Night's Watch allows the wildlings to safely pass through to South of the Wall, but states that they will not yield to the lords or their laws. Before Jon can attack Mance or destroy the Horn, [[Stannis Baratheon]]'s forces make a surprise appearance and rout the wildlings.{{Ref|ASoS|73}}
 
[[File:Zippo514 Ygrittes death.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Artwork by zippo 514©|The death of Ygritte by zippo 514 ©]]
 
[[File:Zippo514 Ygrittes death.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Artwork by zippo 514©|The death of Ygritte by zippo 514 ©]]
Jon's service defending the Wall earns him popular support and his release from imprisonment. Jon meets with Stannis, who tells him that if he recognizes Stannis as king, he will legitimize him and make him Lord Jon Stark of Winterfell, as he needs "a son of [[Eddard Stark|Ned Stark]]" in order to gain support of [[the North]]. {{Ref|ASoS|73}} He is overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and grief for his dead siblings, especially since he bitterly admits to himself that becoming Lord of Winterfell was something he always desired, and that he was always envious of Robb for his legitimate birthright. Meanwhile, however, due to the efforts of [[Samwell Tarly]], Jon has been voted as a compromise candidate between rival factions of the Watch for the post of [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]].{{Ref|ASoS|78}} Unaware of this, Jon musings on being legitimized are interrupted by [[Ghost]]'s return from beyond the Wall, to their mutual joy. He is reminded of the day the Starks found the direwolves near Winterfell; Ghost had the red eyes of the [[weirwood]], and he recognizes that Ghost "belongs to the [[old gods]]", as does Winterfell. He realizes that if he bends the knee to Stannis he would have to choose to yield the castle to Stannis' priestess [[Melisandre]], and give her leave to burn the [[heart tree]], a choice which Jon deems to be disrespectful. Thus, he refuses Stannis and becomes the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch in a landslide vote, to his own disbelief.{{Ref|ASoS|79}} His earliest acts as Lord Commander serve to frustrate the plots of [[Melisandre]] by secretly sending Mance's child away from the Wall and impersonating him with another.
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Jon's service defending the Wall earns him popular support and his release from imprisonment. Jon meets with Stannis, who tells him that if he recognizes Stannis as king, he will legitimize him and make him Lord Jon Stark of Winterfell, as he needs "a son of [[Eddard Stark|Ned Stark]]" in order to gain support of the [[North]]. {{Ref|ASoS|73}} He is overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and grief for his dead siblings, especially since he bitterly admits to himself that becoming Lord of Winterfell was something he always desired, and that he was always envious of Robb for his legitimate birthright. Meanwhile, however, due to the efforts of [[Samwell Tarly]], Jon has been voted as a compromise candidate between rival factions of the Watch for the post of [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]].{{Ref|ASoS|78}} Unaware of this, Jon musings on being legitimized are interrupted by [[Ghost]]'s return from beyond the Wall, to their mutual joy. He is reminded of the day the Starks found the direwolves near Winterfell; Ghost had the red eyes of the [[weirwood]], and he recognizes that Ghost "belongs to the [[old gods]]", as does Winterfell. He realizes that if he bends the knee to Stannis he would have to choose to yield the castle to Stannis' priestess [[Melisandre]], and give her leave to burn the [[heart tree]], a choice which Jon deems to be disrespectful. Thus, he refuses Stannis and becomes the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch in a landslide vote, to his own disbelief.{{Ref|ASoS|79}}
  
Separately, Robb Stark in his capacity as [[King in the North]] and over his mother's objections, decides to legitimise Jon and name him as his heir in the belief that Bran and Rickon are both dead, Arya is missing presumed dead, and to prevent Winterfell and the North from falling into Lannister hands following Tyrion Lannister's marriage to Sansa.{{Ref|ASoS|45}} The decree is witnessed by Robb's bannermen prior to their arrival at [[The Twins]] for [[Red Wedding|Edmure Tully's wedding]]; however it is unknown how widely the decree has been disseminated, if at all, and Jon remains ignorant of his legitimisation by Robb.
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Separately, Robb Stark, believing Bran, Rickon, and Arya to be dead, decides to legitimise Jon and name him his heir over his mother [[Catelyn Tully|Catelyn's]] objections, to prevent Winterfell and the North from falling into Lannister hands following [[Tyrion Lannister]]'s marriage to Sansa.{{Ref|ASoS|45}} The decree is witnessed by Robb's bannermen prior to their arrival at [[The Twins]] for [[Red Wedding|Edmure Tully's wedding]]; however it is unknown how widely the decree has been disseminated, if at all, and Jon remains ignorant of his legitimisation by Robb.
  
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
In [[King's Landing]], Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] is outraged to learn of [[Eddard Stark]]'s bastard's appointment to Lord Commander of the Watch. She plots with the [[Small Council]] ways to "remove Lord Snow from command". The council decides to warn the Watch that the crown will stop sending men to the Wall, but [[Qyburn]] suggests that they do send 100 men in the guise of men of the Night's Watch. Cersei picks up on this, delighted with the idea that the men sent will really be assassins ordered to murder Eddard Stark's bastard.{{Ref|affc|17}} However, she is imprisoned by the [[Faith]] before these plans can come to fruition.
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In [[King's Landing]], Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] is outraged to learn of Jon's appointment as [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], as he has given Stannis shelter. The [[small council]] agrees that Jon must be removed from command. Pycelle suggests to inform the Watch that the crown will sent no more men to the Wall until Jon is removed, but [[Qyburn]] suggests that they send a hundred men to the Wall who will be given the secret order to remove Jon. Cersei is delighted with the idea.{{Ref|affc|17}} She plots to send Ser [[Osney Kettleblack]] to carry out the plan,{{Ref|AFFC|17}}{{Ref|AFFC|39}}{{Ref|AFFC|43}} but both Osney and Cersei are imprisoned by the [[Faith]] before these plans can come to fruition.{{Ref|AFFC|43}}
  
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 
Slowly Jon grows into his position as a leader. Jon takes up residence within [[Donal Noye]]'s quarters, following the blacksmith's death in the previous novel.{{Ref|aFfC|5}} Jon is continually harassed, predominantly by [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]]'s men, who have taken up residence within [[Castle Black]] and the [[Nightfort]], which Jon granted to [[Stannis]] as thanks for his aid against the wildling assault. He attempts to maintain the neutrality of the Watch in the ongoing civil war for the [[Iron Throne]], walking a political tightrope as Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] is outraged that [[Eddard Stark]]'s bastard son is now commanding the Wall.
 
Slowly Jon grows into his position as a leader. Jon takes up residence within [[Donal Noye]]'s quarters, following the blacksmith's death in the previous novel.{{Ref|aFfC|5}} Jon is continually harassed, predominantly by [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]]'s men, who have taken up residence within [[Castle Black]] and the [[Nightfort]], which Jon granted to [[Stannis]] as thanks for his aid against the wildling assault. He attempts to maintain the neutrality of the Watch in the ongoing civil war for the [[Iron Throne]], walking a political tightrope as Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] is outraged that [[Eddard Stark]]'s bastard son is now commanding the Wall.
Jon rebukes all demands from Stannis to settle his men within the [[Gift]], claiming that the land and all of the sixteen unoccupied castles along the Wall as belonging to the [[Night's Watch]]. He sends Sam to the Citadel to train as [[Castle Black]]'s next maester.  With him, he sends [[Gilly]], [[Maester Aemon]], and the infant son of [[Mance Rayder]], the last two for fear that [[Melisandre]] might want to use their royal blood for her magic.{{Ref|aFfC|5}}{{Ref|aDwD|7}} He constantly broods upon the last words Maester Aemon gave to him before leaving:
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Jon rebukes all demands from Stannis to settle his men within the [[Gift]], claiming that the land and all of the sixteen unoccupied castles along the Wall as belonging to the [[Night's Watch]]. He sends Sam to the Citadel to train as [[Castle Black]]'s next maester.  With him, he sends [[Gilly]], [[Maester Aemon]], and the infant son of [[Mance Rayder]], the last two for fear that [[Melisandre]] might want to use their royal blood for her magic.{{Ref|aFfC|5}}{{Ref|aDwD|7}} He constantly broods upon the last words Maester Aemon gave to him before leaving, in which the maester explained how his younger brother, a grown man with children of his own when he ascended the Iron Throne, had seemed like a child in some ways. Aemon informs Jon that his advice to Aegon had been ''"Kill the boy and let the man be born."'', and that he has the same advice for Jon.{{Ref|adwd|7}}}}
{{Quote| Allow me to give my lord one last piece of counsel. The same counsel I once gave [[Aegon V Targaryen|my brother]] when we parted for the last time. He was three-and-thirty when the [[Great Council]] chose him to mount the [[Iron Throne]]. A man grown with sons of his own, yet in some ways still a boy. Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. "Kill the boy within you," I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. "It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born." You are half the age that Egg was, and your own burden is a crueler one, I fear. You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born.{{Ref|adwd|7}}}}
 
 
[[File:Lukasz Jaskolski Execution II.jpg|350px|right|thumb|Lord Commander Snow executes [[Janos Slynt]] - by Jaskolski ©]]
 
[[File:Lukasz Jaskolski Execution II.jpg|350px|right|thumb|Lord Commander Snow executes [[Janos Slynt]] - by Jaskolski ©]]
 
When Jon orders [[Janos Slynt]] to garrison one of the abandoned castles along the Wall, Janos refuses. Jon publicly points out that the punishment for refusing a direct command is death, yet gives Janos three chances to follow orders (noting as he does so that it was more chances than Janos gave his father when he betrayed [[Eddard Stark|Ned]] two years prior). After Slynt refuses once more, scoffing at the idea that Jon can command him or the [[Night's Watch]], Jon orders him to be executed for his insubordination. However, he then recalls the laws of the [[First Men]] and his father, and beheads Slynt himself, using [[Longclaw]] to carry out the sentence and exacting small justice for Ned. This increases Stannis' respect for Jon and cements his new position.{{Ref|aDwD|7}}
 
When Jon orders [[Janos Slynt]] to garrison one of the abandoned castles along the Wall, Janos refuses. Jon publicly points out that the punishment for refusing a direct command is death, yet gives Janos three chances to follow orders (noting as he does so that it was more chances than Janos gave his father when he betrayed [[Eddard Stark|Ned]] two years prior). After Slynt refuses once more, scoffing at the idea that Jon can command him or the [[Night's Watch]], Jon orders him to be executed for his insubordination. However, he then recalls the laws of the [[First Men]] and his father, and beheads Slynt himself, using [[Longclaw]] to carry out the sentence and exacting small justice for Ned. This increases Stannis' respect for Jon and cements his new position.{{Ref|aDwD|7}}
Line 97: Line 100:
 
Melisandre tells Jon she sees in her flames a girl on a dying horse making for Castle Black; she is convinced it must be Arya escaped from the Boltons. Melisandre also tells him she sees him surrounded by daggers in the dark, but he pays no mind to this warning. When Jon is awoken by [[Mully]], who tells him that a girl has arrived on a dying horse, Jon's thoughts instantly go to Melisandre's vision; he giddily thinks that Arya may have come to him as prophesied and he and his half-sister will be reunited, but recognizes the girl as [[Alys Karstark]], who states that she is fleeing a forced marriage to her uncle [[Cregan Karstark]]. Alys tells Jon her uncle only desires her because she is heir to [[Karhold]] and pleas Jon for his help.{{Ref|aDwD|44}} He arranges a marriage between her and [[Sigorn]], a wildling, and thus establishes a new house of [[Thenn]]. When [[Cregan Karstark|Cregan]] arrives at Castle Black with reinforcements to claim Alys, Jon has them thrown in an ice cell. {{Ref|aDwD|49}}
 
Melisandre tells Jon she sees in her flames a girl on a dying horse making for Castle Black; she is convinced it must be Arya escaped from the Boltons. Melisandre also tells him she sees him surrounded by daggers in the dark, but he pays no mind to this warning. When Jon is awoken by [[Mully]], who tells him that a girl has arrived on a dying horse, Jon's thoughts instantly go to Melisandre's vision; he giddily thinks that Arya may have come to him as prophesied and he and his half-sister will be reunited, but recognizes the girl as [[Alys Karstark]], who states that she is fleeing a forced marriage to her uncle [[Cregan Karstark]]. Alys tells Jon her uncle only desires her because she is heir to [[Karhold]] and pleas Jon for his help.{{Ref|aDwD|44}} He arranges a marriage between her and [[Sigorn]], a wildling, and thus establishes a new house of [[Thenn]]. When [[Cregan Karstark|Cregan]] arrives at Castle Black with reinforcements to claim Alys, Jon has them thrown in an ice cell. {{Ref|aDwD|49}}
  
Weeks after Stannis has departed for Winterfell and is supposedly rallying his troops to battle, Jon receives a taunting [[Bastard Letter|letter]] purportedly from [[Ramsay Bolton]] entitled 'Bastard,' which claims that [[Stannis]] has been defeated and [[Mance Rayder]] captured. It demands fealty from Jon to [[House Bolton]] if the Night's Watch is to survive and gives a detailed account of Ramsay's actions which Jon views to his disgust repeatedly sully the honor of what was once the ancient seat of [[House Stark]].{{ref|adwd|69}} He responds to Ramsay's letter by relinquishing command of an impending ranging and announcing his intention to ride South against the Boltons. He does not order the Night's Watch to fight with him, but asks both wildlings and black brothers alike to join him of their own volition. Jon's decision (which is in violation of his oaths) causes great discontent within the Watch's upper leadership; in the confusion resulting from [[Wun Wun]]'s killing of Ser [[Patrek of King's Mountain]], he is [[Mutiny at Castle Black|stabbed]] repeatedly by [[Bowen Marsh]] and other black brothers, who attack in tears while muttering "for the Watch". Whether or not Jon survives this attack is currently unknown.
+
Weeks after Stannis has departed for Winterfell and is supposedly rallying his troops to battle, Jon receives a taunting [[Bastard Letter|letter]] purportedly from [[Ramsay Bolton]] entitled 'Bastard,' which claims that [[Stannis]] has been defeated and [[Mance Rayder]] captured. It demands fealty from Jon to [[House Bolton]] if the Night's Watch is to survive and gives a detailed account of Ramsay's actions which Jon views to his disgust repeatedly sully the honor of what was once the ancient seat of [[House Stark]].{{ref|adwd|69}} He responds to Ramsay's letter by relinquishing command of an impending ranging and announcing his intention to ride south against the Boltons. He does not order the Night's Watch to fight with him, but asks both wildlings and black brothers alike to join him of their own volition; Jon's decision causes great discontent within the Watch's upper leadership. In the confusion resulting from [[Wun Wun]]'s killing of Ser [[Patrek of King's Mountain]], Jon is [[Mutiny at Castle Black|stabbed]] repeatedly by [[Bowen Marsh]] and other black brothers, who attack in tears while muttering "for the Watch".{{ref|ADWD|69}}
  
==Quotes by Jon==
+
==Parentage==
 +
:{{main|Jon Snow/Theories}}
  
{{Quote|'''Arya:''' I wish you were coming with us.
+
Jon Snow's parentage remains a topic of discussion among readers of the series, as his mother remains unidentified. On several occasions, the topic is brought to the reader's attention in text, although several characters provide different possibilities. Eddard's wife, [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]], heard from her maids the tales Eddard's soldiers had told about [[Ashara Dayne]], though Eddard refused to confirm this when she confronted him, and silenced the stories about Ashara at Winterfell.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} Years later, [[Sansa Stark]] heard rumors saying that Jon's mother had been a [[smallfolk|common woman]].{{Ref|AGOT|15}} [[Cersei Lannister]] mentions Ashara as Jon's potential mother as well, as well as "some [[Dornish]] peasant".{{Ref|AGOT|45}} Eddard seems to have told King [[Robert I Baratheon]] that Jon's mother was a woman named Wylla, though Robert has never seen her.{{Ref|AGOT|12}} Meanwhile, Lord [[Edric Dayne]] believes his wetnurse, [[Wylla]], to have been Jon's mother.{{Ref|ASOS|43}} According to Lord [[Godric Borrell]], the daughter of the fisherman who brought Eddard from the [[Fingers]] across the [[Bite]] to the [[north]] at the beginning of [[Robert's Rebellion]] gave birth to Eddard's bastard son, and according to Godric, it had been she who gave Jon his name, in honor of [[Jon Arryn]].{{ref|aDwD|9}}
'''Jon:''' Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.{{Ref|aGoT|10}}}}
 
Jon to [[Arya Stark]]
 
  
 +
Fans of the series have speculated about his parentage for many years, with [[Jon Snow/Theories|numerous theories]] having been developped during that time.
  
{{Quote|Tell [[Robb Stark|Robb]] that I'm going to command the [[Night's Watch]] and keep him safe, so he might as well take up needlework with the girls and have [[Mikken]] melt down his sword for horseshoes.{{ref|agot|21}}}}
+
==Quotes by Jon==
Jon to [[Tyrion Lannister]]
+
{{Quote|'''Arya''': I wish you were coming with us.<br>
 +
'''Jon''': Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.{{Ref|aGoT|10}}}} – [[Arya Stark]] and Jon
  
  
{{Quote|... a road of no particular promise, yet the sight of it filled Jon Snow with a vast longing. [[Winterfell]] was down that road, and beyond it [[Riverrun]] and [[King's Landing]] and the [[Eyrie]] and so many other places; [[Casterly Rock]], the [[Isle of Faces]], the [[Red Mountains]] of [[Dorne]], the hundred islands of [[Braavos]] in the sea, the smoking ruins of old [[Valyria]]. All the places that Jon would never see. The world was down that road... and he was here. {{Ref|agot|41}}}}
+
{{Quote|'''Jon''': First lesson: stick them with the pointy end.<br>
 +
'''Arya''': I know which end to use!{{Ref|aGoT|10}}}} – Jon and [[Arya Stark]] regarding [[Needle]]
  
  
{{Quote|[[Tyrion Lannister]] had claimed that most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, but Jon was done with denials. He was who he was; Jon Snow, bastard and oathbreaker, motherless, friendless, and damned. For the rest of his life –however long that might be– he would be condemned to be an outsider, the silent man standing in the shadows who dares not speak his true name.{{ref|agot|30}}}} – Jon, on himself
+
{{Quote|Tell [[Robb Stark|Robb]] that I'm going to command the [[Night's Watch]] and keep him safe, so he might as well take up needlework with the girls and have [[Mikken]] melt down his sword for horseshoes.{{ref|agot|21}}}} – Jon to [[Tyrion Lannister]]
  
  
{{Quote|Jon was not afraid of death, but he did not want to die like that, trussed and bound and beheaded like a common brigand. If he must perish, let it be with a sword in his hand, fighting his father's killers. He was no true [[House Stark|Stark]], had never been one... but he could die like one. Let them say that [[Eddard Stark]] had fathered four sons, not three. {{ref|agot|70}}}} Jon's thoughts after his father's execution
+
{{Quote|[[Tyrion Lannister]] had claimed that most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, but Jon was done with denials. He was who he was; Jon Snow, [[bastard]] and oathbreaker, motherless, friendless, and damned. For the rest of his life –however long that might be– he would be condemned to be an outsider, the silent man standing in the shadows who dares not speak his true name.{{ref|agot|30}}}} - Jon's thoughts
  
  
{{Quote|Forgive me, [[Eddard Stark|Father]]. [[Robb Stark|Robb]], [[Arya Stark|Arya]], [[Bran Stark|Bran]]... forgive me, I cannot help you. [[Jeor Mormont|He]] has the truth of it. [[The Wall|This]] is my place. "I am... yours, my lord. Your man. I swear it. I will not run again." {{ref|agot|70}}}}  
+
{{Quote|Jon was not afraid of death, but he did not want to [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 65|die like that]], trussed and bound and beheaded like a common brigand. If he must perish, let it be with a sword in his hand, fighting his father's killers. He was no true [[House Stark|Stark]], had never been one... but he could die like one. Let them say that [[Eddard Stark]] had fathered four sons, not three.{{ref|agot|70}}}} - Jon's thoughts
Jon to [[Jeor Mormont]]
 
  
  
{{Quote|There's no shame in fear, my [[Eddard Stark|father]] told me, what matters is how we face it.{{ref|acok|6}}}}
+
{{Quote|There's no shame in fear, [[Eddard Stark|my father]] told me, what matters is how we face it.{{ref|acok|6}}}} – Jon to [[Samwell Tarly]]
  
  
{{Quote|Some men want whores on the eve of battle, and some want gods.{{ref|acok|6}}}}
+
{{Quote|The more you give a king, the more he wants. We are walking on a bridge of ice with an abyss on either side. Pleasing one king is difficult enough. Pleasing two is hardly possible.{{Ref|adwd|7}}}} – Jon to [[Samwell Tarly]]
  
  
{{Quote|The more you give a king, the more he wants. We are walking on a bridge of ice with an abyss on either side. Pleasing one king is difficult enough. Pleasing two is hardly possible.{{Ref|adwd|7}}}}
+
{{Quote|Edd, fetch me a block.{{Ref|adwd|7}}}} – Jon to [[Eddison Tollett]] before the execution of [[Janos Slynt]]
– Jon to [[Samwell Tarly|Sam]]
 
  
  
{{Quote|[[Dolorous Edd|Edd]], fetch me a block. {{Ref|adwd|7}}}}
+
{{Quote|'''Cregan''': I see what you are, Snow. Half a wolf and half a [[free folk|wildling]], [[baseborn]] get of a [[Eddard Stark|traitor]] and a whore. You would deliver a [[Alys Karstark|highborn maid]] to the bed of [[Sigorn|some stinking savage]]. Did you sample her yourself first? If you mean to kill me, do it and be damned for a [[kinslayer]]. [[House Stark|Stark]] and [[House Karstark|Karstark]] are one blood.<br>
Before the execution of [[Janos Slynt]]
+
'''Jon''': My name is Snow.<br>
 +
'''Cregan''': '''''Bastard.'''''<br>
 +
'''Jon''': Guilty. Of that at least.{{ref|adwd|49}}}} – [[Cregan Karstark]] and Jon
  
 
==Quotes about Jon==
 
==Quotes about Jon==
{{Quote|Yes. I can see it. You have more of the [[north]] in you than your brothers.{{Ref|aGoT|5}}}} – [[Tyrion Lannister]] to Jon  
+
{{Quote|You have more of the [[north]] in you than your brothers.{{Ref|aGoT|5}}}} – [[Tyrion Lannister]] to Jon  
  
  
{{Quote|Never ask me about Jon...He is [[Stark|my blood]] and that is all you need to know.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}}} – [[Eddard Stark]] to [[Catelyn Tully]]
+
{{Quote|Never ask me about Jon. He is [[House Stark|my blood]] and that is all you need to know.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}}} – [[Eddard Stark]] to [[Catelyn Stark]]
  
  
{{Quote|[[Jon Snow/Theories|Whoever]] Jon's mother had been, Ned must have loved her fiercely, for nothing [[Catelyn Tully|Catelyn]] said would persuade him to send the boy away. It was the one thing she could never forgive him. She had come to love her husband with all her heart, but she had never found it in her to love Jon. She might have overlooked a dozen bastards for Ned's sake, so long as they were out of sight. Jon was never out of sight, and as he grew, he looked more like Ned than any of the trueborn sons she bore him. Somehow that made it worse. {{Ref|aGoT|6}}}}
+
{{Quote|Whoever Jon's mother had been, [[Eddard Stark|Ned]] must have loved her fiercely, for nothing Catelyn said would persuade him to send the boy away. It was the one thing she could never forgive him. She had come to love her husband with all her heart, but she had never found it in her to love Jon. She might have overlooked a dozen [[bastards]] for Ned's sake, so long as they were out of sight. Jon was never out of sight, and as he grew, he looked more like Ned than any of the trueborn sons she bore him. Somehow that made it worse.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}}} – [[Catelyn Stark]]'s thoughts
– [[Catelyn Tully]]
 
  
  
{{Quote|Jon’s more a [[House Stark|Stark]] than some lordlings from the [[Vale]] who have never so much as set eyes on [[Winterfell]]. {{Ref|asos|45}}}}
+
{{Quote|Jon's more a [[House Stark|Stark]] than some lordlings from the [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]] who have never so much as set eyes on [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|asos|45}}}} – [[Robb Stark]] to [[Catelyn Stark]]
– [[Robb Stark]] to [[Catelyn Tully]] on his plans to name Jon heir to the North
 
  
  
{{Quote|No one has seen or heard of [[Arya Stark|Arya]] since they cut [[Eddard Stark|Father]]’s head off. Why do you lie to yourself? Arya’s gone, the same as [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]], and they’ll kill [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] too once the [[Tyrion Lannister|dwarf]] gets a child from her. Jon is the only brother that remains to me. Should I die without issue, I want him to succeed me as [[King in the North]]. {{Ref|asos|45}}}}
+
{{Quote|My lords, when [[Donal Noye]] was slain, it was this young man Jon Snow who took the [[Wall]] and held it, against all the fury of the north. He has proved himself valiant, loyal, and resourceful. Were it not for him, you would have found [[Mance Rayder]] sitting here when you arrived, Lord Slynt. You are doing him a great wrong. Jon Snow was Lord [[Jeor Mormont|Mormont's]] own steward and squire. He was chosen for that duty because the [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]] saw much promise in him. As do I.{{ref|asos|69}}}} – [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] to [[Janos Slynt]]
– [[Robb Stark]]  
 
  
  
{{Quote|Maybe I should go to the [[Wall]] instead of [[Riverrun]]. Jon wouldn’t care who I killed or whether I brushed my hair... Jon looks like me, even though he’s bastard-born. He used to muss my hair and call me ‘little sister.’ Arya missed Jon most of all. Just saying his name made her sad.{{Ref|asos|43}}}} – [[Arya Stark]] to [[Edric Dayne|Ned Dayne]]
+
{{Quote|[[warg|The gift]] was strong in Snow, but the youth was untaught, still fighting his nature when he should have gloried in it.{{Ref|adwd|0}}}} – [[Varamyr]]'s thoughts
  
  
{{Quote|My lords, when [[Donal Noye]] was slain, it was this young man Jon Snow who took the Wall and held it, against all the fury of the north. He has proved himself valiant, loyal, and resourceful. Were it not for him, you would have found [[Mance Rayder]] sitting here when you arrived, [[Janos Slynt|Lord Slynt]]... Jon Snow was Lord [[Jeor Mormont|Mormont]]’s own steward and squire. He was chosen for that duty because the Lord Commander saw much promise in him. As do I.{{ref|asos|69}}}}
+
{{Quote|The only gods he worshipped were honor and duty.{{Ref|adwd|31}}}} – [[Melisandre]]'s thoughts
Maester Aemon
 
  
  
{{Quote|[[warg|The gift]] was strong in Snow, but the youth was untaught, still fighting his nature when he should have gloried in it.{{Ref|adwd|0}}}} – [[Varamyr]]
+
{{Quote|Jon Snow, bastard-born, had always been eclipsed by his [[Robb Stark|trueborn sibling]], the young hero men had called the Young Wolf.{{Ref|adwd|31}}}} – [[Melisandre]]'s thoughts
 
 
 
 
{{Quote|The only gods he worshipped were honor and duty.{{Ref|adwd|31}}}}
 
– [[Melisandre]]
 
 
 
 
 
{{Quote| Jon Snow, bastard-born, had always been eclipsed by his [[Robb Stark|trueborn sibling]], the young hero men had called the Young Wolf.{{Ref|adwd|31}}}}
 
– [[Melisandre]]
 
 
 
 
 
{{Quote|'''Cregan:''' I see what you are, Snow. Half a wolf and half a [[free folk|wildling]], [[baseborn|baseborn get]] of a [[Eddard Stark|traitor]] and a whore. You would deliver a [[Alys Karstark|highborn maid]] to the bed of [[Sigorn|some stinking savage]]. Did you sample her yourself first? If you mean to kill me, do it and be damned for a [[kinslayer]]. [[House Stark|Stark]] and [[House Karstark|Karstark]] are one blood.
 
 
 
'''Jon:''' My name is Snow.
 
 
 
'''Cregan:''' '''''Bastard.'''''
 
 
 
'''Jon:''' Guilty. Of that at least.{{ref|adwd|49}}}}
 
– [[Cregan Karstark]] to Jon
 
  
 
==Family==
 
==Family==
{{Template:Stark tree}}
+
{{Stark tree}}
  
==Parentage==
+
==Notes==
:{{main|Jon Snow/Theories}}
+
{{Notes}}
 
+
==References==
Jon Snow's parentage remains a mystery, as Eddard rarely spoke of the matter. When Catelyn confronted him about the rumor that Jon's mother was [[Ashara Dayne]], Eddard would not answer.{{ref|aGoT|5}} Years later, when queried by Robert, he claimed that a lowborn woman named [[Wylla]] is Snow's mother.{{ref|aGoT|10}} Both possibilities have been mentioned by outside sources. [[Cersei Lannister]] believes his mother to be Lady Dayne{{ref|aGoT|45}}, while [[Edric Dayne]], who was wet-nursed by Wylla, told Arya that he and Jon are milk-brothers.{{ref|aSoS|43}}
+
{{References}}
 
 
According to Lord [[Godric Borrell]], the daughter of the fisherman who tried to take Ned Stark from [[the Vale]] across the [[Bite]] to [[the North]] at the beginning of [[Robert's Rebellion]], gave birth to Eddard Stark's bastard.{{ref|aDwD|9}}
 
 
 
Fans of the series speculate about his parentage, with a large number believing that his true parentage is likely to be [[Lyanna Stark]] and [[Rhaegar Targaryen]].<ref>[http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?showtopic=33416&hl= Discussion of parentage] on [http://asoiaf.westeros.org/ Westeros Forum] </ref>
 
 
 
 
 
In the [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]] finale episode of ''Game of Thrones'', titled "The WInds of Winter", this theory is confirmed to be true in the television series at least, as Bran sees the dying Lyanna giving baby Jon to her brother Eddard and making him swear to protect her child.
 
 
 
==References and Sources==
 
{{References|3}}
 
{{EnWP|House Stark|small=yes}}
 
  
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{{POV Characters}}
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Revision as of 19:17, 23 June 2018


House Stark.svg
Jon Snow
Night's Watch.svg
Jon snow by teiiku.jpg
Artwork by Tim TeiIku©

Aliases
  • Lord Snow[1]
  • The Snow of Winterfell[2]
  • The crow-come-over[3]
  • The Bastard of Winterfell[3]
  • Lord Crow[4]
  • The Black Bastard of the Wall[5]
Title Lord Commander of the Night's Watch
Allegiances
Culture northmen
Born 283 AC[6]
Books

Played by Kit Harington
TV series Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 | Season 6 | Season 7

Jon Snow is the bastard son of Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell.[7] He has five half-siblings: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon Stark. Unaware of the identity of his mother,[8] Jon was raised at Winterfell. At the age of fourteen, he joins the Night's Watch, where he earns the nickname Lord Snow. Jon is one of the major POV characters in A Song of Ice and Fire. In the television adaptation Game of Thrones, Jon is portrayed by Kit Harington.

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Jon Snow

Jon has more Stark-like features than any of his half-brothers.[8] He is graceful and quick, and has a lean build.[9] Jon has the long face of the Starks,[10][11] with dark,[9][11] brown hair[12][13] and grey eyes[11] so dark they almost seem black.[9] Because he looks so much like a Stark, Tyrion Lannister notes that whoever Jon's mother was, she left little of herself in her son's appearance.[10] Out of all the Stark children, Arya Stark is said to resemble Jon the most, as Robb, Sansa, Bran and Rickon take after their Tully mother, Catelyn.[14] During the Great Ranging, Jon temporarily grows a beard.[15][3]

Jon looks solemn and guarded,[10] and is considered sullen and quick to sense a slight.[16] Due to having been raised in a castle and trained by a master-at-arms, Jon is seen by some lower-born members of the Night's Watch as arrogant at first,[17] though this changes when they become more friendly towards one another, as Jon is reminded of his nonetheless privileged background and decides to pass on his knowledge to them. Jon is observant,[9][8] a trait he developed on account of being a bastard.[8] He is a capable horseback rider and is well practiced in fighting with a sword.[8] Jon has resented his bastard status most of the time.[8] He desires to be viewed as honorable[18] and wants to prove he can be as good and true as his half-brother, Robb.[19] Jon dreamed he would one day lead men to glory, or even become a conqueror, as a child.[20] He feels strongly about not fathering a bastard himself.[21][3]

While Lord Eddard Stark openly acknowledged Jon as his son and allowed him to live at Winterfell with his half-siblings, Jon felt like an outsider nonetheless. While Jon has good relationships with his siblings, especially Robb, with whom he trained since they were children,[22] and Arya, whom he sees as somewhat of an outsider as well,[17] Eddard's wife Catelyn, who was especially annoyed when Jon bested Robb in training or classes,[22] ensured that Jon was never truly one of them.[17][23] Jon is not close to Theon Greyjoy, Eddard's ward.[16] Lord Eddard refuses to speak of Jon's mother and the boy grew up unaware of her identity, something which has wounded and haunted him.[8][1][24][25] When Jon dreams of her, he considers her to be beautiful, highborn, and kind.[1]

As a northerner raised at Winterfell, Jon keeps faith with the old gods.[23] He eventually discovers that he is a warg, being able to see through the eyes of his direwolf, Ghost, when he sleeps,[26] and experiencing Ghost's feelings and senses while awake.[22]

After joining the Night's Watch, Jon dresses in their official black garb.[17] While there is no description of Jon's personal coat of arms in the books, George R. R. Martin told the company Valyrian Steel, which makes replicas of Jon's sword, to use the reversed Stark colors on the plaque that goes with the sword.[27]

History

Snow and Stark at sword-play

Jon was born in 283 AC, near the end of Robert's Rebellion.[N 1] Jon was named by Lord Eddard Stark.[28]The identity of Jon Snow's mother remains a mystery, and several suggestions have been made by those who know the Starks. Jon is unaware of his mother's identity[21][17] and Eddard refuses to speak of her.[17] When Eddard returned from the war, he brought the newborn Jon to Winterfell, insisting on raising him with the rest of his family. Jon and his wet nurse had been installed in the castle before the arrival of Eddard's new wife, Catelyn Tully, and his young son and heir, Robb Stark, from Riverrun, which Catelyn did not take well.[8]

Lord Eddard Stark was fiercely protective of Jon[29] and refused to send him away.[8] Jon was raised at Winterfell with his half-siblings, where he was tutored by Maester Luwin,[30] and trained at arms by the master-at-arms, Ser Rodrik Cassel. Jon has trained at swordplay since he was old enough to walk, together with Robb,[22] whom he came to view as his "best friend, rival and constant companion",[17] and later also with Theon Greyjoy,[31] after the latter came to Winterfell following the conclusion of Greyjoy's Rebellion. At some point, Jon learned how to swim in the great moat at Winterfell; he is considered a strong swimmer.[32]

Jon grew close to his true-born siblings, especially Robb and Arya. Due to the fact that they both looked alike, Arya came to believe that she was bastard-born as well and shared with her brother with this fear; Jon reassured his half-sister this was not the case.[14] As a young child[N 2] Jon and Robb built a great mountain of snow on top of a gate, hoping to push in on someone passing by. They were discovered by Mance Rayder, a ranger from the Night's Watch who had accompanied Lord Commander Qorgyle to Winterfell. The ranger promised not to tell anyone, and Jon and Robb succeeded in their ploy, being chased around the yard by Fat Tom, their victim.[2] Jon and Robb would often play a game of sword-play, in which they would pretend to be great heroes (including Florian the Fool, Aemon the Dragonknight, King Daeron I Targaryen, and Ser Ryam Redwyne). Once, when Jon called out that he was "Lord of Winterfell", Robb informed him that it was impossible due to his bastardy, which would become a sore memory for Jon.[22] Another time, Jon covered himself in flour and hid in one of the empty tombs in the crypt of Winterfell, and jumped out to scare Sansa, Arya, and Bran, who had been brought to the crypts by Robb.[33]

Since he was young, Jon's hero was King Daeron, the Young Dragon, who had conquered Dorne at the age of fourteen.[21][20] Lord Eddard had dreamed about raising new lords and settling them in the abandoned holdfasts in the New Gift, and Jon believes that, had winter come and gone more quickly, he might have been chosen to hold one of the settlements in his father's name.[32]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Kit Harington as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones

Jon accompanies his father, Lord Eddard Stark, his brothers Robb and Bran, his father's ward Theon Greyjoy, and others from Winterfell to the execution of Gared, a deserter from the Night's Watch. On their way back to Winterfell, Jon and Robb race ahead and find a litter of direwolf pups. When Eddard states that killing the pups quickly would forestall a painful and slow death, Jon points out that there are five pups – one for each of Eddard's legitimate children – and the direwolf is the sigil of House Stark, indicating that they must be meant to have the wolves. The comparison only works out because Jon is not claiming a pup for himself, and Eddard gives in. As they leave, Jon discovers an albino pup, cast away from its litter.[9] He claims the pup for his own,[9] eventually naming it "Ghost".[21]

Because he is a bastard, Jon is not allowed sit with his siblings and the royal children during the feast welcoming King Robert I Baratheon and his family to the north. At the feast he speaks with his uncle, Benjen Stark, the First Ranger of the Night's Watch. When Benjen suggests that the Night's Watch could use a man as observant as Jon, Jon quickly requests to accompany him to the Wall when he leaves, as even a bastard can rise to a position of honor there.[21] Benjen is hesitant about having Jon join at such a young age, resulting in an argument causing Jon to storm out.[21] Outside, he runs into Tyrion Lannister, the youngest brother of Queen Cersei Lannister, who counsels him to "never forget what you are" and tells Jon to make it his strength instead.[21]

Although hesitant about it at the feast, Benjen eventually approaches Luwin, telling the maester that Jon had expressed interest in joining the Night's Watch .[8] When Lord Eddard decides to accept the position as Hand of the King at King's Landing, his wife, Catelyn Stark, refuses to allow Jon to remain at Winterfell. As Eddard feels he cannot take Jon south with him, Luwin suggests the Night's Watch for Jon, and Eddard agrees; Catelyn is pleased, because as a member of the Watch Jon will never father children who might contest her grandchildren's inheritance of Winterfell.[8]

The decision for him to go to the Wall leaves Jon angry in the days before he is set to leave.[34] The departure day is postponed following Bran's accident, but a fortnight after Bran's fall Jon and Benjen are ready to leave Winterfell. Jon says his last goodbyes, first to the comatose Bran, then to Robb, and finally to Arya, to whom he gives a small, slender sword which they name Needle.[35] On his way to the Wall, Jon quickly becomes disillusioned with the Night's Watch, after meeting Yoren, a so-called wandering crow, and his new recruits.[10] During the journey, Jon befriends Tyrion Lannister, who had decided to travel further north to see with Wall for himself.[10]

At Castle Black, Jon first remains aloof and distant, making no friends; he scorns his fellow recruits who return the feeling, resenting him due to his attitude. Days after their arrival, Benjen leaves to lead a ranging, and while Jon requests to accompany him, Benjen refuses to allow it, leaving Jon angry. After a fight between Jon and several other recruits, Jon speaks with Donal Noye, the armorer at Castle Black, who points that Jon has been a bully to the other recruits. When a letter arrives from Winterfell informing Jon that Bran, though crippled, has awoken and will live, Jon is ecstatic, and when he returns to the Common Hall, he offers his fellow recruits advice on their swordplay.[17] Jon soon becomes a natural leader, mentor, and friend to most of his fellow trainees, earning him the enmity of the master-at-arms, Ser Alliser Thorne. When Samwell Tarly arrives at the Wall, Jon reaches out to him, and helps him being accepted by the majority of the recruits.[36][30]

As new recruits are about to arrive at Castle Black, eight recruits, including Jon, are chosen to take their vows. Sam is not chosen, and Jon realizes that it will only be a matter of time that Sam will be hurt of killed in training without his friends present to protect him. Jon visits Maester Aemon and asks if Aemon will persuade Lord Commander Jeor Mormont to take Sam from training and allow him to take his vows, pointing out that Sam, due to his ability to write, read, and to math, would make a good personal steward for Aemon.[30] This earns Jon the enmity of Chett, Aemon's steward.[37] Aemon promises to consider it.[30] Sam finds Jon the next day, informing him that he too is allowed to take his vows, and has been appointed Aemon's personal steward. Jon expects to be raised to the rangers, but is angered when Lord Commander Mormont appoints him as his personal steward instead. Sam points out to Jon that Mormont has given him the position in order to groom him for command, which quells his anger. Jon and Sam decide to say their vows in front of the weirwood trees located north of the Wall. After they have said the words, Ghost returns with the severed hand of Jafer Flowers,[23] alerting the men of the corpses of Jafer and Othor. The two corpses are brought back to Castle Black, where Jon is informed of the death of King Robert and the arrest of his father, Eddard. Jon attempts to attack Alliser after the knight mocks Eddard and Jon, and is placed in isolation as a result. That night, the two deceased brothers they had found north of the Wall rise. When one wight attempts to attack Lord Commander Mormont, Jon intervenes, saving Jeor's life, though he seriously burns his hand in the process.[38] In gratitude, Jon gives Jon Longclaw, the Valyrian steel bastard sword of House Mormont, on which he has had a direwolf head engraved onto the pommel in honor of House Stark.[39]

Though he is now a sworn brother of the Night's Watch, Jon becomes torn between the Watch and his former family when he learns from Sam that Robb has marched south with an army. Maester Aemon explains to Jon the difficulty of keeping true to the Night's Watch's vows at times, citing among other examples the deaths of most of his relatives at the end of Robert's Rebellion, causing Jon to realize Aemon is a Targaryen.[39] Nonetheless, Jon tries to desert and join Robb's army after Eddard's execution, though the penalty for deserting the Night's Watch is death. His new friends bring him back, however, and save him from this fate.[40]

The next day, Lord Commander Mormont chastises him for running, and Jon agrees to fully commit to the Watch. He accepts his place as Jeor's squire and prepares for the journey beyond the Wall which Mormont plans to lead.[40]

A Clash of Kings

Jon meets Ygritte - by M.Luisa Giliberti ©

The Night's Watch prepares for the great ranging north to investigate the haunted forest, after the disappearances beyond the Wall of several rangers, including Benjen Stark. Jon brings his direwolf, Ghost.

Jon fetches Samwell Tarly for Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, who has been waiting for maps of the lands further north. Jeor and Jon discuss his hand, which still troubles him, but is slowly getting better. They discuss Maester Aemon, and Jeor reveals that Aemon had once been offered the Iron Throne, but instead had decided to remain a maester, and the throne passed to his younger brother, Aegon IV Targaryen. Jeor points out the similarities between Jon and Aemon in having a brother for king; Jon reassures the Lord Commander that, like Maester Aemon, he too will keep his vows.[41]

The ranging party passes through several wildling villages, including Whitetree, but find no hint of any wildling presence.[42] They then stop at Craster's Keep, where they learn that the normally anarchic wildlings are uniting under a single figure, King-beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder. Though they are commanded not to speak to Craster's daughters, Gilly, one of Craster's daughters who is pregnant with his child, approaches Jon after encouragement from Sam. She asks to join Jon when they leave Craster's Keep, but Jon refuses her, and later scolds Sam for ever having given her the idea.[43] After reaching the Fist of the First Men, Ghost leads Jon to a mound where the direwolf digs up an old warhorn and a cache of dragonglass wrapped in an old cloak of the Night's Watch.[44] Jon distributes these items among his sworn brothers. After the arrival of Qhorin Halfhand with the men from the Shadow Tower, Jon is picked by Qhorin to accompany one of the three scouting parties into the mountains.[45]

In the Skirling Pass, Qhorin's party comes across a group of wildling sentries, and Jon is one of those assigned to take them out. He kills one of the man, but discovers his second target is a woman. Jon decides to take the girl, called Ygritte, prisoner instead. He reveals to her that he is the bastard son of Eddard Stark, and during the night, Ygritte tells Jon the story of "Bael the Bard", a song which insinuates that, through Bael, the Starks too have wildling blood. Later, Qhorin orders Jon to kill her, but Jon secretly lets her go instead. Before she leaves, Ygritte informs Jon that Mance Rayder would accept him, if he wanted to join the free folk.[46] Jon tells Qhorin about this, who confirms that Mance would be willing, and tells Jon that Mance had been a man of the Night's Watch himself once. That night, when Jon dreams he sees through the eyes of Ghost, and witnesses thousands of wildlings, and giants and mammoths, before being attacked by an eagle. Jon informs the group, who recognize Jon for a warg. They later see the eagle, and when they find a wounded Ghost, Qhorin decides they return to the Fist of the First Men.[26] With the enemy following them, Qhorin orders Dalbridge to stay behind to defend the others,[26] while Ebben and Stonesnake are sent forth to reach the First is great haste, leaving only Qhorin and Jon. Qhorin commands Jon to join the wildlings when they are discovered, and to do whatever they ask. When the wildling band led by Rattleshirt finds them, Jon yields, and the wildlings require him to kill Qhorin to proof his loyalty to them. With the help of Ghost, Jon kills Qhorin, and the wildlings agree to bring him to Mance Rayder.[47]

A Storm of Swords

Jon Snow during the struggle at Castle Black - by Michael Komarck ©

Jon meets with Mance Rayder and convinces him that his desertion is sincere. During their conversation, Jon learns Mance's plans to invade the Seven Kingdoms.[2] He falls in love with Ygritte and briefly breaks his vows of chastity with her. He hesitates between betraying her or leaving the Night's Watch, eventually realizing that he must escape and warn them of the upcoming attack. Jon joins Styr's mission to scale the Wall and take unaware the skeleton crew left manning Castle Black.[48] After scaling the wall, he gets the opportunity to escape as the wildlings are attacked by Summer in the vicinity of the abandoned Queenscrown - unaware that it is due to the efforts of his half-brother Bran, who is hidden in a nearby castle. He manages to escape in the confusion on a horse, but not before taking an arrow in the leg.[32]

Jon reaches Castle Black barely conscious. He is tended to by Maester Aemon and warns the Night's Watch of the upcoming attack of the wildlings. Maester Aemon and Grenn gently break the news to Jon that his brothers, Bran and Rickon, have died at the command of Theon Greyjoy.[49] After Jon recuperates, he helps Donal Noye in the defence of Castle Black against Styr's raiders. All of the raiders are killed, including Ygritte, who dies in a grief-stricken Jon's arms.[50] Jon reluctantly takes command of the Wall's defences against Mance's direct assault following Donal Noye's death, after prompting from Master Aemon. Jon successfully holds the Wall against overwhelming odds for several days.[51] However, upon the arrival of Ser Alliser Thorne and Lord Janos Slynt at Castle Black, Jon is arrested for his earlier defection and thrown in an ice cell, where he is threatened with execution for his desertion and the murder of Qhorin Halfhand.[13] After Aemon vouches for Jon's honour and capability during the wildling attack, Thorne and Slynt realize they cannot have Jon hanged due to his popularity on the Wall and therefore force him to make an assassination attempt on Mance during a parley, hoping he will be killed there instead. During the negotiations, Mance states that he has the Horn of Winter, which he claims will cause the Wall to collapse; he reveals that he only had the wildlings attack the wall not to conquer, but to escape the Others. The King-Beyond-the-Wall then offers Jon the Horn of Winter if the Night's Watch allows the wildlings to safely pass through to South of the Wall, but states that they will not yield to the lords or their laws. Before Jon can attack Mance or destroy the Horn, Stannis Baratheon's forces make a surprise appearance and rout the wildlings.[19]

The death of Ygritte by zippo 514 ©

Jon's service defending the Wall earns him popular support and his release from imprisonment. Jon meets with Stannis, who tells him that if he recognizes Stannis as king, he will legitimize him and make him Lord Jon Stark of Winterfell, as he needs "a son of Ned Stark" in order to gain support of the North. [19] He is overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and grief for his dead siblings, especially since he bitterly admits to himself that becoming Lord of Winterfell was something he always desired, and that he was always envious of Robb for his legitimate birthright. Meanwhile, however, due to the efforts of Samwell Tarly, Jon has been voted as a compromise candidate between rival factions of the Watch for the post of Lord Commander.[52] Unaware of this, Jon musings on being legitimized are interrupted by Ghost's return from beyond the Wall, to their mutual joy. He is reminded of the day the Starks found the direwolves near Winterfell; Ghost had the red eyes of the weirwood, and he recognizes that Ghost "belongs to the old gods", as does Winterfell. He realizes that if he bends the knee to Stannis he would have to choose to yield the castle to Stannis' priestess Melisandre, and give her leave to burn the heart tree, a choice which Jon deems to be disrespectful. Thus, he refuses Stannis and becomes the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch in a landslide vote, to his own disbelief.[22]

Separately, Robb Stark, believing Bran, Rickon, and Arya to be dead, decides to legitimise Jon and name him his heir over his mother Catelyn's objections, to prevent Winterfell and the North from falling into Lannister hands following Tyrion Lannister's marriage to Sansa.[53] The decree is witnessed by Robb's bannermen prior to their arrival at The Twins for Edmure Tully's wedding; however it is unknown how widely the decree has been disseminated, if at all, and Jon remains ignorant of his legitimisation by Robb.

A Feast for Crows

In King's Landing, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister is outraged to learn of Jon's appointment as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, as he has given Stannis shelter. The small council agrees that Jon must be removed from command. Pycelle suggests to inform the Watch that the crown will sent no more men to the Wall until Jon is removed, but Qyburn suggests that they send a hundred men to the Wall who will be given the secret order to remove Jon. Cersei is delighted with the idea.[54] She plots to send Ser Osney Kettleblack to carry out the plan,[54][55][56] but both Osney and Cersei are imprisoned by the Faith before these plans can come to fruition.[56]

A Dance with Dragons

Slowly Jon grows into his position as a leader. Jon takes up residence within Donal Noye's quarters, following the blacksmith's death in the previous novel.[57] Jon is continually harassed, predominantly by Stannis's men, who have taken up residence within Castle Black and the Nightfort, which Jon granted to Stannis as thanks for his aid against the wildling assault. He attempts to maintain the neutrality of the Watch in the ongoing civil war for the Iron Throne, walking a political tightrope as Queen Regent Cersei Lannister is outraged that Eddard Stark's bastard son is now commanding the Wall. Jon rebukes all demands from Stannis to settle his men within the Gift, claiming that the land and all of the sixteen unoccupied castles along the Wall as belonging to the Night's Watch. He sends Sam to the Citadel to train as Castle Black's next maester. With him, he sends Gilly, Maester Aemon, and the infant son of Mance Rayder, the last two for fear that Melisandre might want to use their royal blood for her magic.[57][58] He constantly broods upon the last words Maester Aemon gave to him before leaving, in which the maester explained how his younger brother, a grown man with children of his own when he ascended the Iron Throne, had seemed like a child in some ways. Aemon informs Jon that his advice to Aegon had been "Kill the boy and let the man be born.", and that he has the same advice for Jon.[58]}}

Lord Commander Snow executes Janos Slynt - by Jaskolski ©

When Jon orders Janos Slynt to garrison one of the abandoned castles along the Wall, Janos refuses. Jon publicly points out that the punishment for refusing a direct command is death, yet gives Janos three chances to follow orders (noting as he does so that it was more chances than Janos gave his father when he betrayed Ned two years prior). After Slynt refuses once more, scoffing at the idea that Jon can command him or the Night's Watch, Jon orders him to be executed for his insubordination. However, he then recalls the laws of the First Men and his father, and beheads Slynt himself, using Longclaw to carry out the sentence and exacting small justice for Ned. This increases Stannis' respect for Jon and cements his new position.[58]

Jon displeases his fellow commanders of the Night's Watch by sending the wildling Val to treat with Tormund Giantsbane. This results in a fragile alliance between the Night's Watch and the wildlings. Jon settles the wildlings on the Gift and gives the warriors the opportunity to guard the Wall by garrisoning unoccupied castles against the Others. As the wildings are moved into the gift, Mance Rayder is given to the flames by Melisandre.[59] It is later revealed, however, that the burned man was in fact Rattleshirt under a glamour created by Melisandre.[60] Mance is sent by Jon to secretly rescue his sister Arya Stark from Ramsay Bolton, being unaware that it is actually Jeyne Poole.

With Stannis about to march on Deepwood Motte, Jon advises him to seek the help of the Northern mountain clans. Following Jon's advice, Stannis is able to secure the allegiance of the clans, greatly augmenting his own strength. Soon after Stannis has taken Deepwood, news arrive of Ramsay Bolton's impending marriage to "Arya Stark". Stannis immediately marches on Winterfell, the chosen site for the marriage, to face the forces of the Boltons.

Depiction of The Stabbing of Jon Snow by Conor Campbell ©

Melisandre tells Jon she sees in her flames a girl on a dying horse making for Castle Black; she is convinced it must be Arya escaped from the Boltons. Melisandre also tells him she sees him surrounded by daggers in the dark, but he pays no mind to this warning. When Jon is awoken by Mully, who tells him that a girl has arrived on a dying horse, Jon's thoughts instantly go to Melisandre's vision; he giddily thinks that Arya may have come to him as prophesied and he and his half-sister will be reunited, but recognizes the girl as Alys Karstark, who states that she is fleeing a forced marriage to her uncle Cregan Karstark. Alys tells Jon her uncle only desires her because she is heir to Karhold and pleas Jon for his help.[61] He arranges a marriage between her and Sigorn, a wildling, and thus establishes a new house of Thenn. When Cregan arrives at Castle Black with reinforcements to claim Alys, Jon has them thrown in an ice cell. [62]

Weeks after Stannis has departed for Winterfell and is supposedly rallying his troops to battle, Jon receives a taunting letter purportedly from Ramsay Bolton entitled 'Bastard,' which claims that Stannis has been defeated and Mance Rayder captured. It demands fealty from Jon to House Bolton if the Night's Watch is to survive and gives a detailed account of Ramsay's actions which Jon views to his disgust repeatedly sully the honor of what was once the ancient seat of House Stark.[63] He responds to Ramsay's letter by relinquishing command of an impending ranging and announcing his intention to ride south against the Boltons. He does not order the Night's Watch to fight with him, but asks both wildlings and black brothers alike to join him of their own volition; Jon's decision causes great discontent within the Watch's upper leadership. In the confusion resulting from Wun Wun's killing of Ser Patrek of King's Mountain, Jon is stabbed repeatedly by Bowen Marsh and other black brothers, who attack in tears while muttering "for the Watch".[63]

Parentage

Jon Snow's parentage remains a topic of discussion among readers of the series, as his mother remains unidentified. On several occasions, the topic is brought to the reader's attention in text, although several characters provide different possibilities. Eddard's wife, Catelyn Tully, heard from her maids the tales Eddard's soldiers had told about Ashara Dayne, though Eddard refused to confirm this when she confronted him, and silenced the stories about Ashara at Winterfell.[8] Years later, Sansa Stark heard rumors saying that Jon's mother had been a common woman.[12] Cersei Lannister mentions Ashara as Jon's potential mother as well, as well as "some Dornish peasant".[64] Eddard seems to have told King Robert I Baratheon that Jon's mother was a woman named Wylla, though Robert has never seen her.[65] Meanwhile, Lord Edric Dayne believes his wetnurse, Wylla, to have been Jon's mother.[66] According to Lord Godric Borrell, the daughter of the fisherman who brought Eddard from the Fingers across the Bite to the north at the beginning of Robert's Rebellion gave birth to Eddard's bastard son, and according to Godric, it had been she who gave Jon his name, in honor of Jon Arryn.[67]

Fans of the series have speculated about his parentage for many years, with numerous theories having been developped during that time.

Quotes by Jon

Arya: I wish you were coming with us.
Jon: Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.[35]

Arya Stark and Jon


Jon: First lesson: stick them with the pointy end.
Arya: I know which end to use![35]

– Jon and Arya Stark regarding Needle


Tell Robb that I'm going to command the Night's Watch and keep him safe, so he might as well take up needlework with the girls and have Mikken melt down his sword for horseshoes.[68]

– Jon to Tyrion Lannister


Tyrion Lannister had claimed that most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, but Jon was done with denials. He was who he was; Jon Snow, bastard and oathbreaker, motherless, friendless, and damned. For the rest of his life –however long that might be– he would be condemned to be an outsider, the silent man standing in the shadows who dares not speak his true name.[69]

- Jon's thoughts


Jon was not afraid of death, but he did not want to die like that, trussed and bound and beheaded like a common brigand. If he must perish, let it be with a sword in his hand, fighting his father's killers. He was no true Stark, had never been one... but he could die like one. Let them say that Eddard Stark had fathered four sons, not three.[40]

- Jon's thoughts


There's no shame in fear, my father told me, what matters is how we face it.[11]

– Jon to Samwell Tarly


The more you give a king, the more he wants. We are walking on a bridge of ice with an abyss on either side. Pleasing one king is difficult enough. Pleasing two is hardly possible.[58]

– Jon to Samwell Tarly


Edd, fetch me a block.[58]

– Jon to Eddison Tollett before the execution of Janos Slynt


Cregan: I see what you are, Snow. Half a wolf and half a wildling, baseborn get of a traitor and a whore. You would deliver a highborn maid to the bed of some stinking savage. Did you sample her yourself first? If you mean to kill me, do it and be damned for a kinslayer. Stark and Karstark are one blood.

Jon: My name is Snow.
Cregan: Bastard.

Jon: Guilty. Of that at least.[62]

Cregan Karstark and Jon

Quotes about Jon

You have more of the north in you than your brothers.[21]

Tyrion Lannister to Jon


Never ask me about Jon. He is my blood and that is all you need to know.[8]

Eddard Stark to Catelyn Stark


Whoever Jon's mother had been, Ned must have loved her fiercely, for nothing Catelyn said would persuade him to send the boy away. It was the one thing she could never forgive him. She had come to love her husband with all her heart, but she had never found it in her to love Jon. She might have overlooked a dozen bastards for Ned's sake, so long as they were out of sight. Jon was never out of sight, and as he grew, he looked more like Ned than any of the trueborn sons she bore him. Somehow that made it worse.[8]

Catelyn Stark's thoughts


Jon's more a Stark than some lordlings from the Vale who have never so much as set eyes on Winterfell.[53]

Robb Stark to Catelyn Stark


My lords, when Donal Noye was slain, it was this young man Jon Snow who took the Wall and held it, against all the fury of the north. He has proved himself valiant, loyal, and resourceful. Were it not for him, you would have found Mance Rayder sitting here when you arrived, Lord Slynt. You are doing him a great wrong. Jon Snow was Lord Mormont's own steward and squire. He was chosen for that duty because the Lord Commander saw much promise in him. As do I.[13]

Aemon to Janos Slynt


The gift was strong in Snow, but the youth was untaught, still fighting his nature when he should have gloried in it.[70]

Varamyr's thoughts


The only gods he worshipped were honor and duty.[60]

Melisandre's thoughts


Jon Snow, bastard-born, had always been eclipsed by his trueborn sibling, the young hero men had called the Young Wolf.[60]

Melisandre's thoughts

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beron
 
Lorra
Royce
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Donnor
 
Lyanne
Glover
 
 
Willam
 
Melantha
Blackwood
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Artos
 
Lysara
Karstark
 
Berena
 
Alysanne
 
Errold
 
Rodrik
 
Arya
Flint
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandon
 
Edwyle
 
Marna
Locke
 
Jocelyn
 
Benedict
Royce
 
Brandon
 
Benjen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harrold
Rogers
 
Branda
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issue
 
 
 
Issue
 
Issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rickard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lyarra
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandon
 
Catelyn
Tully
 
Eddard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
woman
 
Lyanna
 
Benjen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeyne
Westerling
 
Robb
 
Sansa
 
Tyrion
Lannister
 
Arya
 
Brandon
 
Rickon
 
Jon
Snow
 
 
 


Notes

  1. About a fortnight passed between the Battle of the Trident and the Sack of King's Landing, during which times Queen Rhaella Targaryen fled to Dragonstone. Daenerys Targaryen was born nine months after the flight (A Game of Thrones, Daenerys I). Jon is said to have been "closer to eight or nine months or thereabouts" before Daenerys (So Spake Martin: Chronology (July 11, 1999))
  2. Before Lord Commander Qorgyle's death in 288 AC

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 23, Daenerys III.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 15, Jon II.
  4. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 51, Theon I.
  5. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 45, The Blind Girl.
  6. See the Jon Snow calculation.
  7. A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 1, Bran I.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 13, Tyrion II.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 6, Jon I.
  12. 12.0 12.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 15, Sansa I.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 69, Jon IX.
  14. 14.0 14.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 7, Arya I.
  15. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 68, Jon VIII.
  16. 16.0 16.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 11, Theon I.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
  18. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
  20. 20.0 20.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 35, Jon VII.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 5, Jon I.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 48, Jon VI.
  24. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
  25. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 53, Bran VI.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 53, Jon VII.
  27. Longclaw: Plaque>> Valyrian Steel
  28. So Spake Martin: Numerous Question (February 28, 2002)
  29. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 41, Jon V.
  31. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 41, Jon V.
  33. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 50, Arya IV.
  34. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 8, Bran II.
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 10, Jon II.
  36. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.
  37. A Storm of Swords, Prologue.
  38. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 52, Jon VII.
  39. 39.0 39.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon VIII.
  40. 40.0 40.1 40.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.
  41. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 3, Tyrion I.
  42. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 13, Jon II.
  43. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 23, Jon III.
  44. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 34, Jon IV.
  45. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 43, Jon V.
  46. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 51, Jon VI.
  47. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 69, Bran VII.
  48. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 30, Jon IV.
  49. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 48, Jon VI.
  50. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 55, Jon VII.
  51. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 64, Jon VIII.
  52. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 78, Samwell V.
  53. 53.0 53.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
  54. 54.0 54.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
  55. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
  56. 56.0 56.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
  57. 57.0 57.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
  58. 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 58.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 7, Jon II.
  59. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 10, Jon III.
  60. 60.0 60.1 60.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 31, Melisandre I.
  61. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 44, Jon IX.
  62. 62.0 62.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 49, Jon X.
  63. 63.0 63.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 69, Jon XIII.
  64. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 45, Eddard XII.
  65. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
  66. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
  67. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  68. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 21, Tyrion III.
  69. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  70. A Dance with Dragons, Prologue.