Jon Snow/Theories

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One of the earliest introduced mysteries in A Song of Ice and Fire is the identity of Jon Snow's mother. On several occasions, the topic is brought to the reader's attention in text, although several characters provide different possibilities. Jon himself is unaware of his mother's identity, and does not even know whether she had been highborn or lowborn.[1] Within the books, numerous possibilities have been suggested by characters, and among readers of the series Jon Snow's parentage still remains a topic of discussion.

Although Jon is identified as Lord Eddard Stark's son within the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the fandom has speculated on his paternity as well. As Jon’s appearance is so Stark-like,[2] the likelihood that none of his parents is a Stark appears unlikely. As such, besides Eddard, the fandom has frequently suggested either Eddard’s older brother Brandon or younger sister Lyanna as one of Jon’s parents.

Lastly, Jon's moment of birth can be determined fairly well. According to George R. R. Martin, “[…] Jon was not born "more than 1 year" before Dany... probably closer to eight or nine months or thereabouts.”[3] Daenerys Targaryen, in turn, was born nine months after her mother Rhaella and brother Viserys fled King’s Landing at the end of Robert's Rebellion.[4] Rhaella and Viserys fled at some point during the two-week period[N 1] between the Battle of the Trident and the Sack of King’s Landing.[5] This information indicates that Jon was born towards the end of the rebellion. As the rebellion lasted "close to a year",[6] Jon appears to have been conceived early on during the war.

This page summarizes the possible identities of Jon Snow’s parents, both as suggested in the novels and as most frequently suggested by the fandom.

Ashara Dayne

Ashara Dayne and Eddard Stark

The earliest potential mother of Jon is identified by Catelyn Stark, the wife of Lord Eddard Stark. She recalls having heard, following the conclusion of Robert's Rebellion, tales her maids had learned from her husband's soldiers about Lady Ashara Dayne of Starfall. Although Catelyn eventually confronted Eddard, he refused to confirm Ashara as Jon's mother, and silenced the stories about Ashara at Winterfell.[2] Cersei Lannister, when confronting Eddard about his bastard son, offers several possibilities for Jon's mother, including Ashara.[7]

Lord Edric Dayne, the young Lord of Starfall, tells Arya Stark how his aunt Allyria Dayne has told him that "Lady Ashara and your father fell in love at Harrenhal".[8] According to Harwin, a member of the household guard of Lord Eddard Stark, he heard the same story at Winterfell when he was just a young boy. He states "I doubt there's any truth to it. But if there is, what of it? When Ned met this Dornish lady, his brother Brandon was still alive, and it was him betrothed to Lady Catelyn, so there's no stain on your father's honor. There's nought like a tourney to make the blood run hot, so maybe some words were whispered in a tent of a night, who can say? Words or kisses, maybe more, but where's the harm in that? Spring had come, or so they thought, and neither one of them was pledged".[8] Meera and Jojen Reed tell Bran Stark about the tourney at Harrenhal where Eddard and Ashara met, including how Ashara danced with several men, including Eddard, although it is cited that Eddard was too shy to ask Ashara to dance with him, and only did so after his brother Brandon asked on his behalf.[9]

Besides the tourney in 281 AC, Eddard and Ashara are known to have met again following the conclusion of Robert's Rebellion, two years later, when Eddard went to Starfall after the combat at the tower of joy to return Dawn, the greatsword of Ser Arthur Dayne, who he had slain in combat.[2][10] Some time afterwards, Ashara jumped from the top of the Palestone Sword, one of the towers of Starfall, into the sea.[8] Several reasons are given for Ashara's motivation: a broken heart,[8] because of her stillborn child,[11] because of a stolen child,[7] or due to grief over Arthur's death.[8] Her body was never found.[12]

Ashara's pregnancy prior to her death, her known associations with at least two Starks, and the timing of Jon Snow's appearance in relation to Ashara's death all argue in favor for the possibility of Ashara Dayne as Jon's mother.


Supporting evidence

Frequently used arguments in favor of Eddard and Ashara being Jon's parents include:

  • Eddard and Ashara are not only known to have interacted at Harrenhal, but are said to have been in love.[8]
  • According to Robert I Baratheon, Jon Snow's mother must have been "a rare wench if she could make Lord Eddard Stark forget his honor, even for an hour". Ashara, described as a beautiful woman with haunting purple eyes,[2][11] would be a good candidate for the "rare wench".
  • At the tourney at Harrenhal, Ashara is said to have "looked" at "Stark",[11] although it is unclear what exactly is meant by this.


Counter-evidence

The following counter-arguments regarding Eddard as the father of Ashara's child are most frequently cited:

  • The only known interactions of Eddard and Ashara were the tourney at Harrenhal, which took place in 281 AC, and following the conclusion of Robert's Rebellion in late 283 AC. Barristan Selmy implies that Ashara's childbirth took place not long before her suicide,[11] which would mean her child had been conceived about a year after the tourney. In addition, Jon Snow is known to have been conceived during Robert's Rebellion, and Eddard and Ashara do not seem to have been in each other's vicinity at the time of conception. The possibility that Jon was conceived at Harrenhal and was simply passed off as younger than he truly is appears unlikely, as this would make him more than a year older than Robb Stark, who was born shortly before the war ended.[13] As the infant Jon was believed younger than the infant Robb, it seems impossible for Jon to have been more than a year old, while Robb was still several weeks or months of age.
    • According to George R. R. Martin, Ashara "was not nailed to the floor in Starfall",[14] leaving open the possibility that Ashara met Eddard at an unknown location during the war, around the time of Jon's conception.
  • If Ashara is Jon's mother, Eddard would have no reason to take the child from its mother, nor keep her identity a secret from everyone, including Jon.
  • At Starfall, despite the beliefs that Ashara and Eddard had been in love, Ashara is not believed to be Jon's mother.[8] If Ashara had indeed been Jon's mother, it could be expected at least someone at Starfall would be aware of this.
  • Eddard's honor is frequently cited,[15][7][16][17][18] and when his son Robb sleeps with a girl, he decides to take her to wife the next day despite already being betrothed, to protect her honor while sacrificing his own.[19][20] To this, Tyrion Lannister claims that "it would have been kinder to leave her with a bastard in the belly", but Tywin Lannister states that "Robb Stark is his father's son",[20] implying that Eddard too would have wed a girl had he deflowered her. This would rule out fathering Jon on Ashara before the start of the war, when Eddard was neither betrothed nor married, while his famous honor makes it unlikely, although not impossible, that he would have fathered a bastard on a woman after his marriage to Catelyn, which is what he claims happened.[6]
  • Barristan Selmy recalls that Ashara was "dishonored" at the tourney at Harrenhal, and wonders if she might have "looked at me instead of Stark" had he been able to crown her the queen of love and beauty at the tourney.[11] Whether this "Stark" was the man to dishonor Ashara, or whether Ashara turned to "Stark" for help after she had been dishonored, is unclear.
  • Edric Dayne, born several years after Ashara's death, is nicknamed "Ned", similar to Eddard Stark's nickname. If Eddard had fathered a bastard on Ashara and taken her child away from her, causing her suicide, it would seem unlikely that the Daynes would name their heir after Eddard, after a fashion.

Ashara Dayne and Brandon Stark

Although Eddard Stark has been brought up in association with Ashara Dayne during the novels, readers of A Song of Ice and Fire have suggested Eddard's older brother Brandon Stark as Ashara's lover, and subsequently the potential father of her child, instead, and consider it the second most likely possibility for the identities of Jon's parents[N 2]


Supporting evidence

Frequently used arguments in favor of a relationship between Brandon and Ashara include:

  • Brandon's personality. According to Lady Barbrey Dustin, Brandon's former lover, Brandon was "never shy about taking what he wanted".[21] As Eddard was too shy to even speak with Ashara at the tourney,[9] and Benjen was was still quite young, Brandon is often cited as the most likely brother to have slept with Ashara, if any Stark had indeed done so. In addition, Brandon saw no issue in claiming Berbrey's maidenhead,[21] and although he had been betrothed to Catelyn Tully by the time of the tourney for several years,[N 3] Barbrey claims Brandon "never wanted" the marriage.[21]
    • Barristan Selmy recalls that Ashara had been "dishonored" by a man at Harrenhal, although he does not reveal the man's identity.[11] In addition, Barristan wonders whether Ashara, had he won the tourney and crowned her the queen of love and beauty, might "have looked to me instead of Stark",[11] suggesting Ashara turned to one of the Starks after the final tilts had taken place.[11] By the account as told by Meera Reed, Brandon, Eddard, and Benjen Stark were all present during the tourney.[9] Whether this "Stark" was the man to dishonor Ashara, or whether Ashara turned to "Stark" for help after she had been dishonored, is unclear. But if "Stark" was the person who dishonored Ashara, Brandon's history with Barbrey suggests him as a candidate, while Eddard's honor and Benjen's youth argue against them.


Counter-evidence

The following counter-arguments are most frequently cited:

  • According to George R. R. Martin, "Brandon died before he had sons".[22]
    • While this would rule out Brandon as Jon's father, it would still be possible for Brandon to have been Ashara's lover.
  • As Jon's birth has been established as occurring near the end of Robert's Rebellion, or even in the weeks after the end of the war, Brandon as Jon's father becomes impossible. Brandon died before the war began,[23] and considering that the war lasted more than nine months, any child he would have fathered before his death would have been born months before the war was done. In addition, Brandon spend the last weeks or months of his life in captivity,[24] making it unlikely he impregnated a woman during this time.

Wylla

Wylla and Eddard Stark

The second potential mother of Jon Snow suggested in the text is a woman named Wylla. While traveling from Winterfell to King's Landing, King Robert I Baratheon recalls Eddard Stark bedding a girl during Robert's Rebellion, and asks Eddard for her name, referring to her as "your bastard's mother". Eddard identifies her as Wylla, but states that he "would sooner not speak of her".[6] According to Robert, Wylla was a "common girl",[6] while Sansa Stark heard whispers that Jon's mother "had been common",[25] and Cersei Lannister mentions "some Dornish peasant" as Jon's potential mother.[7] Lord Edric Dayne of Starfall tells Arya Stark that Jon's mother is Wylla, who he identifies as his former wetnurse, who served at Starfall "for years and years", since before Edric's birth.[8]

However, if the baseborn Wylla is Jon's mother, Eddard would have no reason to keep this truth from both his wife and Jon himself. While it is unknown whether Wylla already served at Starfall by the time of Jon's birth, the fact that she was at service at Starfall might be an indication that she herself is Dornish as well, although this cannot be said with certainty. Yet if she is Dornish, it would raise the question of when Eddard could have met her during the war in order to father a bastard on her after his marriage to Catelyn Tully.

The Fisherman's Daughter

Lord Godric Borrell recounts to Davos Seaworth about a fisherman and his daughter who brought Eddard Stark in secret from the Fingers at the beginning of Robert's Rebellion. The fisherman died in a storm in the Bite which almost ended their journey, but his daughter successfully saw Ned to the Three Sisters before the boat went down. If Godric is to be believed, Ned left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly, which she named Jon Snow after Lord Jon Arryn.[26]

Lyanna Stark

Speculation on what promise Eddard Stark gave to Lyanna Stark, by Cris Urdiales ©

Many readers believe that Jon is not the son of Eddard Stark. Instead, he is the son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Eddard's sister, Lyanna Stark. Rhaegar and Lyanna disappeared together to the tower of joy early in Robert's Rebellion. There, it is believed, Rhaegar left a pregnant Lyanna to defend his family's dynasty.

At the end of Robert's Rebellion, about one year later, Eddard and his companions found three knights of the Kingsguard at the tower of joy: Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, Oswell Whent, and Arthur Dayne. The reasons for their presence and the ensuing combat at the tower of joy are unknown, but defending the unborn son of the heir apparent would be a good reason to have been posted. The only known survivors of the fight were Eddard and Howland Reed. Eddard recalls his sister dying "in a bed of blood," where he made her an unknown promise just before she died.

While Robb, Sansa, Bran, and Rickon Stark are said to have Tully features (hair color, eyes), Jon and Arya Stark are said to be closer in appearance (which made Sansa believe Arya was also a bastard like Jon, until Catelyn Stark put Sansa's theory down). Arya is said to resemble Lyanna. While all their direwolves are described having dark fur, Jon's Ghost is white, a color oft associated with Targaryen features.

In A Game of Thrones, Eddard IX, Ned contemplates the significance of King Robert I Baratheon's bastards. Ned's thoughts drift to Jon Snow, a logical segue, but also to his sister Lyanna Stark, the promise he made her, and to Rhaegar, implying some tacit link between the three individuals.[27]

Daenerys Targaryen's visions in the House of the Undying include an image of Rhaegar with his newborn son Aegon, proclaiming that "there must be a third" because "the dragon has three heads". Given that, according to Jon Connington, Rhaegar's wife Elia was believed infertile after two difficult pregnancies, and that Aegon the Conqueror himself had two wives, it is logical for Rhaegar to have attempted to fulfill the prophecy by having a third child with another woman. Another of the visions Daenerys sees is the image of a blue winter rose growing from a chink in a wall of ice, filling the air with sweetness. Lyanna was noted by Ned to be fond of winter roses, and he associates them with her death. Jon, who could be the product of Lyanna, is currently at the Wall.

If Rhaegar secretly married Lyanna, it would ironically mean that Jon is not a bastard despite his life having been defined by his believed bastard status to a great extent, and that he is the heir to the Iron Throne after Aegon VI Targaryen (although this last point is rendered moot so long as he belongs to the Night's Watch).

With Eddard beheaded by King Joffrey I Baratheon, Howland Reed is the only known living person who knows the nature of Lyanna's death and what she made her brother promise. However, Howland had been accompanied by at least one other person:

After that he remembered nothing. They had found him still holding her body, silent with grief. The little crannogman, Howland Reed, had taken her hand from his.[28]

The Game of Thrones episode "The Winds of Winter" presents Jon as the son of Lyanna Stark. The episode reveals the promise she exacted from Ned was indeed to protect her son from Robert Baratheon, before she died in childbed in the tower of joy. It remains to be seen if the books will follow the television series.

Quotes about Jon's mother

Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen by Matt Olson ©

Jon: I don’t even know who my mother was.
Tyrion: Some woman, no doubt. Most of them are.[29]

—Tyrion Lannister to Jon Snow

Arya: Who's Wylla?

Edric: Jon Snow's mother. He never told you?

Arya: Jon never knew his mother. Not even her name.[8]

Whoever Jon's mother had been, Ned must have loved her fiercely, for nothing Catelyn said would persuade him to send the boy away.[2]

—thoughts of Catelyn Stark

References

  1. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 41, Jon V.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  3. So Spake Martin: Chronology (July 11, 1999)
  4. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  5. The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: The End.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 45, Eddard XII.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: The Andals Arrive.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.
  12. So Spake Martin: Soms Questions (August 23, 2000)
  13. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 63, Catelyn X.
  14. So Spake Martin: Chronology (July 11, 1999)
  15. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 42, Tyrion VI.
  16. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
  17. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 17, Jon IV.
  18. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 65, Cersei II.
  19. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
  20. 20.0 20.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 41, The Turncloak.
  22. So Spake Martin: Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona (July 28, 2012)
  23. The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: Robert’s Rebellion.
  24. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 55, Catelyn VII.
  25. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 15, Sansa I.
  26. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  27. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 35, Eddard IX.
  28. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  29. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 5, Jon I.


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