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Daeron Targaryen

2026-07-21T04:02:44Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

'''Daeron Targaryen''' is the name of several members of [[House Targaryen]]. These include:

*Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron Targaryen]], also known as ''Daeron the Daring'', thirdborn son of King Viserys I Targaryen and his second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower.
*King [[Daeron I Targaryen]], also known as the ''Young Dragon'', the eighth King to sit upon the Iron Throne. Son of King Aegon III Targaryen and Queen Daenaera Velaryon.
*King [[Daeron II Targaryen]], also known as ''Daeron the Good'', the twelfth King to sit upon the Iron Throne.
*Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron Targaryen]], also known as ''Daeron the Drunken'', firstborn son of King Maekar I Targaryen.
*Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Aegon V)|Daeron Targaryen]], youngest son of King Aegon V Targaryen and Queen Betha Blackwood.
*Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Aerys II)|Daeron Targaryen]], son of King Aerys II Targaryen and Queen Rhaella Targaryen, who lived for only about half a year.

==See also==
*[[Daeron]] (disambiguation)

[[Category:Disambiguation pages]]
[[Category:house Targaryen|*]]

[[es:Daeron Targaryen (desambiguación)]]
[[fr:Daeron Targaryen (homonymie)]]
[[it:Daeron Targaryen]]
[[ru:Дейрон Таргариен (значения)]]
[[zh:戴伦·坦格利安(消歧义)]]

Differences between Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon

2026-06-28T17:43:49Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Differences between ''Fire & Blood'' and ''House of the Dragon''}}
This article is about the differences between the novel ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' and the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]''.

Author [[George R. R. Martin]] has written ''Fire & Blood'' as an in-world history book by Archmaester [[Gyldayn]]. Gyldayn writes long after the events he describes happened and uses different sources—Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], Grand Maester [[Munkun]], and the court fool [[Mushroom]]—that are often contrary. [[w:Ryan Condal|Ryan Condal]] and his team of writers are therefore working with biased sources from the start when adapting this story. Condal explained in interviews that the show will either favor one of those sources over the others, portray a mix of them, or disregard them completely and create a new interpretation of events.

==Timeline==
''House of the Dragon'' was primarly filmed at the [[w:Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden|Leavesden Studios]] in England. Under UK filming law, a fictional character can not be portrayed having sex under the age of 16 no matter the age of the actor. This has for consequence that the younger characters have to be age-up and thus move around somewhat the timeline from the source material (it is for this same reason that [[Daenerys Targaryen]] was age-up three years from 13 to 16 years old at the start of ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', an adaptation of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''). Rhaenyra and Alicent are 14 years old in the first episode of ''House of the Dragon'',<ref name=ages>Business Insider: [https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/house-of-the-dragon-stars-say-rhaenyra-and-alicent-are-a-little-bit-in-love-its-100-something-we-were-conscious-of/articleshow/93717987.cms Rhaenyra and Alicent]</ref> but Rhaenyra is 8 years old when her mother died in ''Fire & Blood''.

The first episode starts with a prologue scene depicting the [[Great Council of 101 AC]]. A voice over from the actress playing the older Rhaenyra ([[w:Emma D'Arcy|Emma D'Arcy]]) confirms the same date is used in the show. The show proper starts in {{Date|112}},<ref>Twitter: [https://twitter.com/oochotd/status/1578416059622649857/photo/2 The making of House of the Dragon book]</ref> the ninth year of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]'s reign.{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E01}}

{| class="wikitable" width=100% style="text-align: center"
!colspan="12"|Characters ages in Season 1
|-
|rowspan="1"|'''Episodes'''
|'''1''' {{Date|112}}
|'''2''' {{Date|112}}
|'''3''' {{Date|115}}
|'''4''' {{Date|116}}
|'''5''' {{Date|116}}
|'''6''' {{Date|126}}
|'''7''' {{Date|126}}
|'''8''' {{Date|132}}
|'''9''' {{Date|132}}
|'''10''' {{Date|132}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
|14<ref name=ages/>
|15{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E02}}
|17{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}
|19
|19
|29
|29
|35
|/
|35
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Alicent Hightower]]
|14<ref name=ages/>
|15
|17
|19
|19
|29
|29
|35
|35
|/
|-
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Laenor Velaryon]]
|14<ref name=Script>Deadline: [https://deadline.com/2023/06/read-house-of-the-dragon-pilot-script-heirs-of-the-dragon-ryan-condal-1235423431/ HOTD Pilot Script (June 23, 2023)]</ref>
|/
|17
|/
|19
|29
|29
|/
|/
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Laena Velaryon]]
|12<ref name=Script/>
|12{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E02}}
|/
|/
|16
|26†
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Daemon Targaryen]]
|31<ref>Indepedant: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/emma-darcy-house-of-the-dragon-interview-b2173714.html Emma D'Arcy: "I really like playing women and I'm really good at it" (9/24/2022)]</ref>
|31
|34
|35
|35
|45
|45
|51
|/
|51
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Aegon II Targaryen]]
| 
| 
|2{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}
|3{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E04}}
|/
|13
|13
|19
|19
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Helaena Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
|1{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E04}}
|1
|11
|11
|17
|17
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|8{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E06}}
|8
|14
|/
|14
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Joffrey Velaryon]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|0{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E06}}
|/
|6
|/
|6
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Aegon III Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|4<ref>https://www.starnow.com/jakeandroryheard</ref>
|/
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Lyman Beesbury]]
|56
|56
|59
|60
|60
|70
|/
|76
|76†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E09}}
| 
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Lucerys Velaryon]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|8
|8
|14
|/
|14†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E10}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Visenya Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|0†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E10}}
|}

==Season 1==
===Episode 1: The Heirs of the Dragon===
'''Appearances'''
* Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] was first introduced in the ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' novella published in 2013 where she was described as having the typical silver Targaryen hair. It was retconned in ''Fire & Blood'' published in 2018, to give her the black hair from her [[House Baratheon|Baratheon]] [[Jocelyn Baratheon|mother]]. The show decided to depict Rhaenys with silver Targaryen hair to not confuse the more casual viewers.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}
* [[Mysaria]] has a typical [[Lys]]ene appearance, with skin as pale as milk but she is portrayed by a Japanese actress and has an East Asian appearance.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
* All described members of [[House Velaryon]] have fair skin but they are portrayed by blacks actors in the show.{{Ref|AFFC|12}}

'''Others'''
* King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] is not present at the [[Great Council of 101 AC]] as he did not want to influence the election. In the show, he is present. Also the final election is between Viserys and Rhaenys' son, [[Laenor Velaryon]], in the books rather than Rhaenys herself.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] is not Viserys' [[master of ships]] as he has resigned that office in {{Date|92}} after his wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, was passed over in the succession of the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Depending on the timeline (see section above), Grand Maester [[Mellos]] on the TV show could be an amalgamation of two Grand Maesters from the books, [[Runciter]] and Mellos himself.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The office of "Commander of the City Watch" is not automatically given a seat on the [[small council]] in the books, though some commanders have been known to have one during their tenure such as Lord [[Qarl Corbray]] and Lord [[Janos Slynt]].{{Ref|AGOT|57}}{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}} In the show, [[Otto Hightower]] notes that Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] has a seat at the small council as Commander of the City Watch.
* [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] is nine years younger than [[Alicent Hightower]] rather than being the same age.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* [[Laenor Velaryon]] is two years older than his sister [[Laena Velaryon]] rather than being two years younger.<ref name=Script/> He is also the same age as Rhaenyra and Alicent instead of being three years older and six years younger respectively.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The mother of Alicent Hightower is never mentioned in the books. On the show, she is recently deceased,{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E01}} and was a pious woman following the [[Faith of the Seven]] which was passed on to Alicent.<ref>[https://youtu.be/zU7VA6nEuIs Official HOTD Podcast Episode 2 "The Rogue Prince"]</ref>
* Ser [[Gwayne Hightower]] is simply described in the books as Alicent's "youngest brother" (though it is not specified if he is older or younger than she is) thus he is Otto's youngest son.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, he is Otto's "eldest son".
* The coat of arms of [[House Velaryon]] depicts a [[w:Seahorse|real seahorse]] rather than an [[w:Hippocampus (mythology)|heraldic one]].<ref>[https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/140886-heraldry-and-correct-blazons-in-the-wiki/page/2/&tab=comments#comment-7647553 Velaryon seahorse]</ref> The idea of depicting the mythological seahorse (half-horse half-fish creature) on the show came from [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0165534/ Jim Clay] (Lead Production Designer) and it was designed by [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5223569/ Alicia Martin] (Lead Graphics Designer). [[w:Ryan Condal|Ryan Condal]] knew of the book accurate Velaryon sigil and weighed in the two versions before choosing Clay and Martin's version.<ref name="Ryan">Westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Features/Entry/Interview_with_Ryan_Condal Interview with Ryan Condal (September 28, 2022)]</ref>
* The [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] sigil depicts a two legged{{Fact}} and three headed red dragon on a black field in the books.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} The show changed that to a four legged dragon. The reason for that change will be explained in the show later on. However, the two legged version can be seen on some of the props in the show alongside the four legged version. This is due the art departments not all starting production at the same time, and the artists who made the earliest props in production were not all aware of that change and went with the book accurate design.<ref name="Ryan"/>
* The tourney grounds in [[King's Landing]] are located outside the city's walls near the [[King's Gate]] in the books.{{Ref|TLOIAF|King's Landing}} They are located within the city in the show.
* Relatively little is known of [[House Cole]], other than that they have served as stewards to [[House Dondarrion]] of [[Blackhaven]] in the [[Dornish Marches]] in the [[Stormlands]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, Ser [[Criston Cole]] is described as being of partial [[Dorne|Dornish]] descent, and having common origins.<ref>[https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/character-guide#criston-cole Official Guide: Criston Cole]</ref>
* [[Lord Hightower]]'s given name is unknown in the books. He is given the name "Hobert" in the show.
* There is no "Heir's Tournament" for Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Baelon Targaryen]]'s birth in the books. However, this tourney is heavily influenced by another tourney described in the books, the [[tourney for King Viserys I's accession]] at [[Maidenpool]] in {{Date|104}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* There is no description of the death of Queen [[Aemma Arryn]] in childbirth in the books. The way her death is portrayed in the show is very similar to the description of the death of Queen [[Alyssa Velaryon]] (Aemma's great-grandmother), however.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
* The [[heart tree]] of the [[Red Keep]]'s [[godswood]] is an oak in the books rather than a [[weirwood]] tree.{{Ref|AGOT|25}}
* [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] is never described as having [[Dragon dreams|prophetic dreams]] in the published books, nor that it has played a role in his decision to [[Aegon's Conquest|conquer Westeros]]. In interviews, Ryan Condal revealed that this idea came directly from George R. R. Martin.<ref>Gizmodo: [https://gizmodo.com/game-of-thrones-house-of-the-dragon-hbo-max-1849441608 Big Game of Thrones Secret]</ref> However, the way Martin intends to introduce this notion in the books and its effect on the story remain a mystery.
* The show created a [[:File:Daemon Targaryen HOTD.svg|personal arms]] for Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] by mixing the gold of the City Watch and the traditional [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] sigil. No arms are described for him in the books.

===Episode 2: The Rogue Prince===
* [[Laena Velaryon]] is 12 years old in both book and show when she is proposed as a new wife for King Viserys I Targaryen. As the proposition did not lead to anything, she didn't need to be age-up for the show. This means that show-Laena was born in a later year than book-Laena. In the books Laena is older than Rhaenyra but younger than Alicent, but in the show she is younger than both of them.
* [[Corlys Velaryon]] refers to Houses [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and [[House Velaryon|Velaryon]] as the "two great surviving Valyrian Houses". In the books, [[House Celtigar]] is another Westerosi noble house with Valyrian ancestry.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} In an interview, Ryan Condal explained that Corlys was slighting the minor House Celtigar in that scene to promote the interest of his own House. Ryan and his fellow writers are aware of the Celtigars' Valyrian descent (they even had a running joke in the writer's room that Lord Celtigar would always be in the background insisting that he also had Valyrian blood) and he disclosed that members of that House will be appearing in the show later on.<ref name="Ryan"/>
* Scenes from this episode imply Houses Targaryen and Velaryon have not intermarried recently. In the books, the mothers of kings [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] and [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys the Conciliator]] are noblewomen from House Velaryon.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}
* Corlys states that Rhaenyra is the first female heir to the Iron Throne. In the books, King [[Maegor I Targaryen]] named his five-year-old great-niece and stepdaughter, Princess [[Aerea Targaryen]], as his heir in {{Date|47}}. It is unknown if Maegor bestowed the title of [[Princess of Dragonstone]] on her or not, however. When King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] took the throne the following year, he recognized Aerea as his heir until he can have children of his own but did not grant her the title of Princess of Dragonstone.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}{{Ref|FAB|Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I}}
* In the books, Prince Daemon quits his post as [[Commander of the City Watch]] and goes to Dragonstone with [[Mysaria]] after Viserys names Rhaenyra as his heir in response to the "Heir for A Day" incident. There Daemon impregnates his paramour and gives her a [[dragon egg]] for their unborn child. Hearing of this, Viserys demands Daemon to return the egg, to send Mysaria back to [[Lys]] (her city of origin), and to return to his wife, Lady [[Rhea Royce]] of [[Runestone]]. Mysaria miscarries at sea during a storm as she is returning to Lys.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} The show somewhat changed these events as Daemon is ordered by Viserys to go back to Runestone in the first place but defies this order by staying at Dragonstone with some of his gold cloaks. Mysaria's pregnancy is a lie concocted by Daemon to get his brother's attention and Ser Otto Hightower volunteers to go retrieve the egg from Daemon. In the end, Rhaenyra succeeds to retrieve the egg in place of Ser Otto and Daemon is not punish for his actions once again.

===Episode 3: Second of His Name===
* The main setting of this episode, the great hunt for Aegon's second [[nameday]], was completly invented for the show. In the books King Viserys does not have a taste for hunting.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* With the three-year-timeskip between episode 2 and 3, Rhaenyra is now of age but still resides at the Red Keep in King's Landing. In the books, Rhaenyra took possession of Dragonstone as her own seat when she came of age in {{Date|113}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* In the book, [[Vaemond Velaryon]] is the eldest nephew of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] whereas in the show he is his younger brother.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* In the book, [[Laenor Velaryon]] is not a martial man and is given his knighthood rather than earning it. He does not participate in the [[war for the Stepstones]] and he loves to ride his dragon, Seasmoke, which is his "pride and passion". In the show, Laenor is already a knight when he participate in the war. He speaks in the war council and enjoys ridding Seasmoke.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The conflict in the Stepstones against the Crabfeeder takes two years and is financially supported by King Viserys in the books whereas it takes three years in the show and has no direct involvement from the Crown.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The idea of betrothing Rhaenyra and Aegon is brought by Otto Hightower in the show but by Alicent in the books. Their ages when the idea is brought up are slightly different, Rhaenyra and Aegon are 17 and 2 in the show but 16 and 6 in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Rhaenyra and Alicent did not share any particular bond prior to Alicent marrying Viserys in the books as Alicent is nine years older than she is. When Alicent and Viserys were 18 and 29 years old respectively when they marry. The relationship between Rhaenyra and her new step mother was amicable during the first few years of the marriage and only soured after the birth of Alicent's first two sons. In the show, Rhaenyra and Alicent are best friend prior to the marriage and their friendship is broken by it.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* During his courtship of Princess Rhaenyra, Lord [[Jason Lannister]] proposes to build a dragonpit to house dragons at [[Casterly Rock]]. While this did not happen in ''Fire & Blood'', the idea of Lannisters seeking a dragon of their own to match the power of [[House Targaryen]] is developed in the books; Lord [[Lyman Lannister]] hosted Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]] for a time before Rhaena realized he wanted her to marry one of his sons and wanted a dragon for House Lannister.{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}
* In the books, Viserys proposed Prince [[Qoren Martell]] of [[Dorne]] as a potential match for Rhaenyra, this role seems to have been given to Lord Jason Lannister in the show. In both case, the idea was declined.

===Episode 4: King of the Narrow Sea===
* Viserys mentions that his father, Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon Targaryen]], was [[Hand of the King]] for five days. In the books, the precise amount of time Baelon served at this office is unknown but it is more than a few days as he was named in {{Date|100}} and died the following year.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Rhaenyra is touring the realm to find a spouse among her suitors. She visits [[Storm's End]] in this episode and is presented with suitors from the [[Stormlands]] and the [[riverlands]] there. In the books, she is known to have travelled in the [[Westerlands]], the [[Reach]], and the riverlands.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* During her visit at Storm's End, a duel is fought between Willem Blackwood and Jerrel Bracken with Willem killing Jerrel. In the books, [[Samwell Blackwood]] and Ser [[Amos Bracken]] also have a duel for the princess's favor but it is Bracken that wins and nobody dies.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Daemon returns from the Stepstones on [[Caraxes]] and gives up his crown to Viserys in the throne room. In the books, Daemon arrives at King's Landing during a great tourney celebrating the fifth anniversary of King Viserys I and Queen Alicent's marriage. He lands on the tourney grounds, and gives up his crown to Viserys. In both versions, Viserys and Daemon are reconciled for a short time before Daemon is exiled again after rumors between him and Rhaenyra having sexual encounter spreads.
* In the show, [[Mysaria]] is nicknamed the "White Worm" because she often dresses in white and deals secrets. In the books, her sobriquet comes from her pale complexion.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
* Viserys mentions in this episode that his brother Daemon was always their mother's favorite. In the books, Princess [[Alyssa Targaryen]] is not known to have a favorite child and she died when her children were still young (Viserys was 7 and Daemon was 3).{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 5: We Light the Way===
*By the time of her death, Lady [[Rhea Royce]] was the ruling [[Lady of Runestone]] in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} not simply the heir of her House. Daemon was in the [[Stepstones]] when she died and flew to Runestone when he learn about her demise.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*Lord [[Jason Lannister]] is introduced in the throne room as the "Lord Paramount of the West" and "Master of Casterly Rock". This might be a mistake as these titles do not exist in the books. The equivalent titles that should have been said are "[[Warden of the West]]" and "[[Lord of Casterly Rock]]".
*Ser [[Criston Cole]] kills Ser [[Joffrey Lonmouth]] in a [[tourney]] in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} rather than the rehearsal feast of Rhaenyra and Laenor's [[wedding]].

===Episode 6: The Princess and the Queen===
*Ser [[Harwin Strong]] is a captain in the City Watch in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} not the Commander.
*[[Baela Targaryen]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]] are twins in the books with Baela being the older of the two.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, Baela remains older than Rhaena but the two are not twins.
*[[Laena Velaryon]] tells her daughter she became a [[dragonrider]] at the age of 15. In the books she was 12.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Her death in this episode was also changed slighty from the book material. In the book she did gave birth to a son who survived only an hour and got a childbed fever afterwards and her health deteriorated. Three days after the delivery, the delirious Laena left her bed to fly on Vhagar one last time but collapsed and died on her way. In the show, Laena was not able to deliver the child and rather than die in the child birthing bed choose to die on her accord by fire from Vhagar.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*The show makes it clear that the great fire at [[Harrenhal]] that killed both Lord [[Lyonel Strong]] and his son, Ser [[Harwin Strong]], was a ploy by Lyonel's youngest son, [[Larys Strong]]. In the books, the fire was blamed on the curse of Harrenhal, although several non-mystical suspects have been brought up by the historians, such as Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], and Larys Strong.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* [[Helaena Targaryen]] is rather plump in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} The actresses portraying her in the show is relatively slender.

===Episode 7: Driftmark===
*[[Aemond Targaryen]] loses his right eye rather than his left one.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]] is indeed killed by Ser [[Qarl Correy]] and there is no plan to fake his death in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 8: The Lord of the Tides===
*The question about the inheritance of Driftmark is presented a bit differently in the books:{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] is older in the books by that point, he falls gravely ill with a sudden fever rather than suffering a wound in the [[Stepstones]].
**Ser [[Vaemond Velaryon]] (Corlys' oldest nephew in the books) starts to proclaim he should be named Corlys' heir rather than [[Lucerys Velaryon]]. Hearing of this, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] dispatches her husband, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], to Driftmark to kill Ser Vaemond. Daemon brings back his corpse on [[Dragonstone]] and Rhaenyra feeds it to her [[dragon]], [[Syrax]].
**The five other nephews of Lord Corlys, accompagnied by Vaemond's wife and his two sons, [[Daemion Velaryon|Daemion]] and [[Daeron Velaryon]], go to [[King's Landing]] to plead their case in front of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]. When the cousins repeat the rumors of Rhaenyra's children being [[bastard]]s, Viserys has their [[Tongue mutilation|tongue removed]]. The five cousins are thereafter remember as the "[[Silent five]]".
**In both books and show, Lucerys is officially named as the heir of Driftmark.
*The double betrothals of Corlys' grandchildren occur a lot earlier in the books, when Laena Velaryon is still alive and Daemon has not yet married Rhaenyra. At the time, Jacaerys is four, Lucerys is three and the twins Baela and Rhaena are two.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*The events featured in this episode are presented as the final days of King Viserys I Targaryen. However, in the books they occur at different times thoughout the final years of his life. In the books, King Viserys dies on the third day of third moon of {{Date|129}},{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} whereas as the timeline of the show places Viserys' death in {{Date|132}}.
**The Velaryon succession crisis and Ser Vaemond's death occur in {{Date|126}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**The family dinner occurs in the first day of {{Date|127}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**Viserys' health began to seriously worsen in the year {{Date|127}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 9: The Green Council===
*Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]] is the [[Sworn shield|sworn protector]] of Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] on the show, but he was Rhaenyra's after the death of Ser [[Harwin Strong]] in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} During the course of the episode, Ser Erryk is shown to be more and more apprehensive of Aegon's behavior and does not deem him worthy of being king. He chooses to free Princess Rhaenys and to leave King's Landing to join Rhaenyra. Thus by the end of the episode the Cargyll twins have chosen the same side as their books counter part: Arryk remains in King's Landing and supports Aegon and Erryk leaves for Dragonstone and supports Rhaenyra.
*The plots surronding [[Larys Strong]], [[Mysaria]], and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] presented in this episode were completly invented for the show as by that point in the books Larys is on the [[small council]] as [[master of whisperers]] and takes part in the coup by the [[greens]],{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Mysaria is known to be in King's Landing in this period but ''Fire & Blood'' does not elaborate on her activities, and Rhaenys is on [[Driftmark]] when King Viserys dies and does not interfere in Aegon's coronation.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*In the books, Ser [[Criston Cole]] is the [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]] when King Viserys dies, having succeeded Ser [[Harrold Westerling]] seventeen years prior. As such he has a place on the [[green council]] where he plays a more active and important role in convincing Prince Aegon to accept becoming king. Just like in the show, he is the one who places the Conqueror's crown on Aegon's head during the coronation, thus earning him the moniker of the "Kingmaker". Queen Alicent is the one to crown her daughter, Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*Prince Aegon is reluctant to become king in this episode up until he is cheered on by the crowd assembled for his coronation at the Dragonpit. In the books, Aegon is also reluctant at first but once he is convinced by Ser Criston to take the crown, he grows tired of the secrecy of the green council and demands to be crowned. Aegon's coronation takes place on the tenth day of the third moon of {{Date|129}}, seven days after Viserys' death. Some of the citizens of the capital are surprised by Aegon's coronation and call for the Princess Rhaenyra instead but the coronation goes on without problem. Aegon mounts his [[dragon]], [[Sunfyre]], and flies thrice over the city before landing at the [[Red Keep]] and sitting on the [[Iron Throne]] for the first time.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

===Episode 10: The Black Queen===
*Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]] arrives alone on Dragonstone with the stolen [[crown]] of kings [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]] and [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and Ser [[Steffon Darklyn]] is already on Dragonstone. In the books, Ser Steffon flees the capital with his squire, two stewards, four guardsmen, and the crown. Rhaenyra later makes him her first Lord Commander of her [[Queensguard]] wheere as Ser Erryk is already on Dragonstone.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*Princess Rhaenyra is a few months pregnant when she hears about her father's death. In the books, she is eight months pregnant. In both cases she gives birth to a malformed [[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|stillborn daughter]]. The daughter is named Visenya in the books and her name is not mentioned in the show.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*In the books, Grand Mester [[Orwyle]] brings the [[greens]]'s terms to Dragonstone and Rhaenyra strips him of his maester's chain.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} While Orwyle is present during that scene in the show too, it is Ser [[Otto Hightower]] who brings the terms and he is stripped of his [[Hand of the King]] pin by Rhaenyra.
*Ser Erryk Cargyll mentions a "three headed green dragon banner". In the books, the greens uses King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]'s personal arms as their symbol, a golden three headed dragon on black. The gold coloring coming from Aegon's dragon, [[Sunfyre|Sunfyre the Golden]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{HOTD}}

[[Category:House of the Dragon]]

[[fr:Différences entre House of the Dragon (saison 1) et les romans]]
[[pt:Diferenças entre Fogo & Sangue e House of the Dragon]]

Differences between Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon

2026-06-28T17:42:16Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Differences between ''Fire & Blood'' and ''House of the Dragon''}}
This article is about the differences between the novel ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' and the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]''.

Author [[George R. R. Martin]] has written ''Fire & Blood'' as an in-world history book by Archmaester [[Gyldayn]]. Gyldayn writes long after the events he describes happened and uses different sources—Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], Grand Maester [[Munkun]], and the court fool [[Mushroom]]—that are often contrary. [[w:Ryan Condal|Ryan Condal]] and his team of writers are therefore working with biased sources from the start when adapting this story. Condal explained in interviews that the show will either favor one of those sources over the others, portray a mix of them, or disregard them completely and create a new interpretation of events.

==Timeline==
''House of the Dragon'' was primarly filmed at the [[w:Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden|Leavesden Studios]] in England. Under UK filming law, a fictional character can not be portrayed having sex under the age of 16 no matter the age of the actor. This has for consequence that the younger characters have to be age-up and thus move around somewhat the timeline from the source material (it is for this same reason that [[Daenerys Targaryen]] was age-up three years from 13 to 16 years old at the start of ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', an adaptation of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''). Rhaenyra and Alicent are 14 years old in the first episode of ''House of the Dragon'',<ref name=ages>Business Insider: [https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/house-of-the-dragon-stars-say-rhaenyra-and-alicent-are-a-little-bit-in-love-its-100-something-we-were-conscious-of/articleshow/93717987.cms Rhaenyra and Alicent]</ref> but Rhaenyra is 8 years old when her mother died in ''Fire & Blood''.

The first episode starts with a prologue scene depicting the [[Great Council of 101 AC]]. A voice over from the actress playing the older Rhaenyra ([[w:Emma D'Arcy|Emma D'Arcy]]) confirms the same date is used in the show. The show proper starts in {{Date|112}},<ref>Twitter: [https://twitter.com/oochotd/status/1578416059622649857/photo/2 The making of House of the Dragon book]</ref> the ninth year of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]'s reign.{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E01}}

{| class="wikitable" width=100% style="text-align: center"
!colspan="12"|Characters ages in Season 1
|-
|rowspan="1"|'''Episodes'''
|'''1''' {{Date|112}}
|'''2''' {{Date|112}}
|'''3''' {{Date|115}}
|'''4''' {{Date|116}}
|'''5''' {{Date|116}}
|'''6''' {{Date|126}}
|'''7''' {{Date|126}}
|'''8''' {{Date|132}}
|'''9''' {{Date|132}}
|'''10''' {{Date|132}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
|14<ref name=ages/>
|15{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E02}}
|17{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}
|19
|19
|29
|29
|35
|/
|35
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Alicent Hightower]]
|14<ref name=ages/>
|15
|17
|19
|19
|29
|29
|35
|35
|/
|-
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Laenor Velaryon]]
|14<ref name=Script>Deadline: [https://deadline.com/2023/06/read-house-of-the-dragon-pilot-script-heirs-of-the-dragon-ryan-condal-1235423431/ HOTD Pilot Script (June 23, 2023)]</ref>
|/
|17
|/
|19
|29
|29
|/
|/
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Laena Velaryon]]
|12<ref name=Script/>
|12{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E02}}
|/
|/
|16
|26†
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Daemon Targaryen]]
|31<ref>Indepedant: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/emma-darcy-house-of-the-dragon-interview-b2173714.html Emma D'Arcy: "I really like playing women and I'm really good at it" (9/24/2022)]</ref>
|31
|34
|35
|35
|45
|45
|51
|/
|51
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Aegon II Targaryen]]
| 
| 
|2{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}
|3{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E04}}
|/
|13
|13
|19
|19
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Helaena Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
|1{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E04}}
|1
|11
|11
|17
|17
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|8{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E06}}
|8
|14
|/
|14
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Joffrey Velaryon]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|0{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E06}}
|/
|6
|/
|6
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Aegon III Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|4<ref>https://www.starnow.com/jakeandroryheard</ref>
|/
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Lyman Beesbury]]
|56
|56
|59
|60
|60
|70
|/
|76
|76†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E09}}
| 
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Lucerys Velaryon]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|8
|8
|14
|/
|14†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E10}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Visenya Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|0†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E10}}
|}

==Season 1==
===Episode 1: The Heirs of the Dragon===
'''Appearances'''
* Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] was first introduced in the ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' novella published in 2013 where she was described as having the typical silver Targaryen hair. It was retconned in ''Fire & Blood'' published in 2018, to give her the black hair from her [[House Baratheon|Baratheon]] [[Jocelyn Baratheon|mother]]. The show decided to depict Rhaenys with silver Targaryen hair to not confuse the more casual viewers.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}
* [[Mysaria]] has a typical [[Lys]]ene appearance, with skin as pale as milk but she is portrayed by a Japanese actress and has an East Asian appearance.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
* All described members of [[House Velaryon]] have fair skin but they are portrayed by blacks actors in the show.{{Ref|AFFC|12}}

'''Others'''
* King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] is not present at the [[Great Council of 101 AC]] as he did not want to influence the election. In the show, he is present. Also the final election is between Viserys and Rhaenys' son, [[Laenor Velaryon]], in the books rather than Rhaenys herself.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] is not Viserys' [[master of ships]] as he has resigned that office in {{Date|92}} after his wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, was passed over in the succession of the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Depending on the timeline (see section above), Grand Maester [[Mellos]] on the TV show could be an amalgamation of two Grand Maesters from the books, [[Runciter]] and Mellos himself.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The office of "Commander of the City Watch" is not automatically given a seat on the [[small council]] in the books, though some commanders have been known to have one during their tenure such as Lord [[Qarl Corbray]] and Lord [[Janos Slynt]].{{Ref|AGOT|57}}{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}} In the show, [[Otto Hightower]] notes that Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] has a seat at the small council as Commander of the City Watch.
* [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] is nine years younger than [[Alicent Hightower]] rather than being the same age.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* [[Laenor Velaryon]] is two years older than his sister [[Laena Velaryon]] rather than being two years younger.<ref name=Script/> He is also the same age as Rhaenyra and Alicent instead of being three years older and six years younger respectively.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The mother of Alicent Hightower is never mentioned in the books. On the show, she is recently deceased,{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E01}} and was a pious woman following the [[Faith of the Seven]] which was passed on to Alicent.<ref>[https://youtu.be/zU7VA6nEuIs Official HOTD Podcast Episode 2 "The Rogue Prince"]</ref>
* Ser [[Gwayne Hightower]] is simply described in the books as Alicent's "youngest brother" (though it is not specified if he is older or younger than she is) thus he is Otto's youngest son.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, he is Otto's "eldest son".
* The coat of arms of [[House Velaryon]] depicts a [[w:Seahorse|real seahorse]] rather than an [[w:Hippocampus (mythology)|heraldic one]].<ref>[https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/140886-heraldry-and-correct-blazons-in-the-wiki/page/2/&tab=comments#comment-7647553 Velaryon seahorse]</ref> The idea of depicting the mythological seahorse (half-horse half-fish creature) on the show came from [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0165534/ Jim Clay] (Lead Production Designer) and it was designed by [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5223569/ Alicia Martin] (Lead Graphics Designer). [[w:Ryan Condal|Ryan Condal]] knew of the book accurate Velaryon sigil and weighed in the two versions before choosing Clay and Martin's version.<ref name="Ryan">Westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Features/Entry/Interview_with_Ryan_Condal Interview with Ryan Condal (September 28, 2022)]</ref>
* The [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] sigil depicts a two legged{{Fact}} and three headed red dragon on a black field in the books.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} The show changed that to a four legged dragon. The reason for that change will be explained in the show later on. However, the two legged version can be seen on some of the props in the show alongside the four legged version. This is due the art departments not all starting production at the same time, and the artists who made the earliest props in production were not all aware of that change and went with the book accurate design.<ref name="Ryan"/>
* The tourney grounds in [[King's Landing]] are located outside the city's walls near the [[King's Gate]] in the books.{{Ref|TLOIAF|King's Landing}} They are located within the city in the show.
* Relatively little is known of [[House Cole]], other than that they have served as stewards to [[House Dondarrion]] of [[Blackhaven]] in the [[Dornish Marches]] in the [[Stormlands]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, Ser [[Criston Cole]] is described as being of partial [[Dorne|Dornish]] descent, and having common origins.<ref>[https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/character-guide#criston-cole Official Guide: Criston Cole]</ref>
* [[Lord Hightower]]'s given name is unknown in the books. He is given the name "Hobert" in the show.
* There is no "Heir's Tournament" for Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Baelon Targaryen]]'s birth in the books. However, this tourney is heavily influenced by another tourney described in the books, the [[tourney for King Viserys I's accession]] at [[Maidenpool]] in {{Date|104}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* There is no description of the death of Queen [[Aemma Arryn]] in childbirth in the books. The way her death is portrayed in the show is very similar to the description of the death of Queen [[Alyssa Velaryon]] (Aemma's great-grandmother), however.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
* The [[heart tree]] of the [[Red Keep]]'s [[godswood]] is an oak in the books rather than a [[weirwood]] tree.{{Ref|AGOT|25}}
* [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] is never described as having [[Dragon dreams|prophetic dreams]] in the published books, nor that it has played a role in his decision to [[Aegon's Conquest|conquer Westeros]]. In interviews, Ryan Condal revealed that this idea came directly from George R. R. Martin.<ref>Gizmodo: [https://gizmodo.com/game-of-thrones-house-of-the-dragon-hbo-max-1849441608 Big Game of Thrones Secret]</ref> However, the way Martin intends to introduce this notion in the books and its effect on the story remain a mystery.
* The show created a [[:File:Daemon Targaryen HOTD.svg|personal arms]] for Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] by mixing the gold of the City Watch and the traditional [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] sigil. No arms are described for him in the books.

===Episode 2: The Rogue Prince===
* [[Laena Velaryon]] is 12 years old in both book and show when she is proposed as a new wife for King Viserys I Targaryen. As the proposition did not lead to anything, she didn't need to be age-up for the show. This means that show-Laena was born in a later year than book-Laena. In the books Laena is older than Rhaenyra but younger than Alicent, but in the show she is younger than both of them.
* [[Corlys Velaryon]] refers to Houses [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and [[House Velaryon|Velaryon]] as the "two great surviving Valyrian Houses". In the books, [[House Celtigar]] is another Westerosi noble house with Valyrian ancestry.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} In an interview, Ryan Condal explained that Corlys was slighting the minor House Celtigar in that scene to promote the interest of his own House. Ryan and his fellow writers are aware of the Celtigars' Valyrian descent (they even had a running joke in the writer's room that Lord Celtigar would always be in the background insisting that he also had Valyrian blood) and he disclosed that members of that House will be appearing in the show later on.<ref name="Ryan"/>
* Scenes from this episode imply Houses Targaryen and Velaryon have not intermarried recently. In the books, the mothers of kings [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] and [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys the Conciliator]] are noblewomen from House Velaryon.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}
* Corlys states that Rhaenyra is the first female heir to the Iron Throne. In the books, King [[Maegor I Targaryen]] named his five-year-old great-niece and stepdaughter, Princess [[Aerea Targaryen]], as his heir in {{Date|47}}. It is unknown if Maegor bestowed the title of [[Princess of Dragonstone]] on her or not, however. When King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] took the throne the following year, he recognized Aerea as his heir until he can have children of his own but did not grant her the title of Princess of Dragonstone.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}{{Ref|FAB|Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I}}
* In the books, Prince Daemon quits his post as [[Commander of the City Watch]] and goes to Dragonstone with [[Mysaria]] after Viserys names Rhaenyra as his heir in response to the "Heir for A Day" incident. There Daemon impregnates his paramour and gives her a [[dragon egg]] for their unborn child. Hearing of this, Viserys demands Daemon to return the egg, to send Mysaria back to [[Lys]] (her city of origin), and to return to his wife, Lady [[Rhea Royce]] of [[Runestone]]. Mysaria miscarries at sea during a storm as she is returning to Lys.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} The show somewhat changed these events as Daemon is ordered by Viserys to go back to Runestone in the first place but defies this order by staying at Dragonstone with some of his gold cloaks. Mysaria's pregnancy is a lie concocted by Daemon to get his brother's attention and Ser Otto Hightower volunteers to go retrieve the egg from Daemon. In the end, Rhaenyra succeeds to retrieve the egg in place of Ser Otto and Daemon is not punish for his actions once again.

===Episode 3: Second of His Name===
* The main setting of this episode, the great hunt for Aegon's second [[nameday]], was completly invented for the show. In the books King Viserys does not have a taste for hunting.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* With the three-year-timeskip between episode 2 and 3, Rhaenyra is now of age but still resides at the Red Keep in King's Landing. In the books, Rhaenyra took possession of Dragonstone as her own seat when she came of age in {{Date|113}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* In the book, [[Vaemond Velaryon]] is the eldest nephew of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] whereas in the show he is his younger brother.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* In the book, [[Laenor Velaryon]] is not a martial man and is given his knighthood rather than earning it. He does not participate in the [[war for the Stepstones]] and he loves to ride his dragon, Seasmoke, which is his "pride and passion". In the show, Laenor is already a knight when he participate in the war. He speaks in the war council and enjoys ridding Seasmoke.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The conflict in the Stepstones against the Crabfeeder takes two years and is financially supported by King Viserys in the books whereas it takes three years in the show and has no direct involvement from the Crown.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The idea of betrothing Rhaenyra and Aegon is brought by Otto Hightower in the show but by Alicent in the books. Their ages when the idea is brought up are slightly different, Rhaenyra and Aegon are 17 and 2 in the show but 16 and 6 in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Rhaenyra and Alicent did not share any particular bond prior to Alicent marrying Viserys in the books as Alicent is nine years older than she is. When Alicent and Viserys were 18 and 29 years old respectively when they marry. The relationship between Rhaenyra and her new step mother was amicable during the first few years of the marriage and only soured after the birth of Alicent's first two sons. In the show, Rhaenyra and Alicent are best friend prior to the marriage and their friendship is broken by it.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* During his courtship of Princess Rhaenyra, Lord [[Jason Lannister]] proposes to build a dragonpit to house dragons at [[Casterly Rock]]. While this did not happen in ''Fire & Blood'', the idea of Lannisters seeking a dragon of their own to match the power of [[House Targaryen]] is developed in the books; Lord [[Lyman Lannister]] hosted Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]] for a time before Rhaena realized he wanted her to marry one of his sons and wanted a dragon for House Lannister.{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}
* In the books, Viserys proposed Prince [[Qoren Martell]] of [[Dorne]] as a potential match for Rhaenyra, this role seems to have been given to Lord Jason Lannister in the show. In both case, the idea was declined.

===Episode 4: King of the Narrow Sea===
* Viserys mentions that his father, Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon Targaryen]], was [[Hand of the King]] for five days. In the books, the precise amount of time Baelon served at this office is unknown but it is more than a few days as he was named in {{Date|100}} and died the following year.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Rhaenyra is touring the realm to find a spouse among her suitors. She visits [[Storm's End]] in this episode and is presented with suitors from the [[Stormlands]] and the [[riverlands]] there. In the books, she is known to have travelled in the [[Westerlands]], the [[Reach]], and the riverlands.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* During her visit at Storm's End, a duel is fought between Willem Blackwood and Jerrel Bracken with Willem killing Jerrel. In the books, [[Samwell Blackwood]] and Ser [[Amos Bracken]] also have a duel for the princess's favor but it is Bracken that wins and nobody dies.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Daemon returns from the Stepstones on [[Caraxes]] and gives up his crown to Viserys in the throne room. In the books, Daemon arrives at King's Landing during a great tourney celebrating the fifth anniversary of King Viserys I and Queen Alicent's marriage. He lands on the tourney grounds, and gives up his crown to Viserys. In both versions, Viserys and Daemon are reconciled for a short time before Daemon is exiled again after rumors between him and Rhaenyra having sexual encounter spreads.
* In the show, [[Mysaria]] is nicknamed the "White Worm" because she often dresses in white and deals secrets. In the books, her sobriquet comes from her pale complexion.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
* Viserys mentions in this episode that his brother Daemon was always their mother's favorite. In the books, Princess [[Alyssa Targaryen]] is not known to have a favorite child and she died when her children were still young (Viserys was 7 and Daemon was 3).{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 5: We Light the Way===
*By the time of her death, Lady [[Rhea Royce]] was the ruling [[Lady of Runestone]] in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} not simply the heir of her House. Daemon was in the [[Stepstones]] when she died and flew to Runestone when he learn about her demise.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*Lord [[Jason Lannister]] is introduced in the throne room as the "Lord Paramount of the West" and "Master of Casterly Rock". This might be a mistake as these titles do not exist in the books. The equivalent titles that should have been said are "[[Warden of the West]]" and "[[Lord of Casterly Rock]]".
*Ser [[Criston Cole]] kills Ser [[Joffrey Lonmouth]] in a [[tourney]] in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} rather than the rehearsal feast of Rhaenyra and Laenor's [[wedding]].

===Episode 6: The Princess and the Queen===
*Ser [[Harwin Strong]] is a captain in the City Watch in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} not the Commander.
*[[Baela Targaryen]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]] are twins in the books with Baela being the older of the two.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, Baela remains older than Rhaena but the two are not twins.
*[[Laena Velaryon]] tells her daughter she became a [[dragonrider]] at the age of 15. In the books she was 12.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Her death in this episode was also changed slighty from the book material. In the book she did gave birth to a son who survived only an hour and got a childbed fever afterwards and her health deteriorated. Three days after the delivery, the delirious Laena left her bed to fly on Vhagar one last time but collapsed and died on her way. In the show, Laena was not able to deliver the child and rather than die in the child birthing bed choose to die on her accord by fire from Vhagar.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*The show makes it clear that the great fire at [[Harrenhal]] that killed both Lord [[Lyonel Strong]] and his son, Ser [[Harwin Strong]], was a ploy by Lyonel's youngest son, [[Larys Strong]]. In the books, the fire was blamed on the curse of Harrenhal, although several non-mystical suspects have been brought up by the historians, such as Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], and Larys Strong.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* [[Helaena Targaryen]] is rather plump in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} The actresses portraying her in the show is relatively slender.

===Episode 7: Driftmark===
*[[Aemond Targaryen]] loses his right eye rather than his left one.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]] is indeed killed by Ser [[Qarl Correy]] and there is no plan to fake his death in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 8: The Lord of the Tides===
*The question about the inheritance of Driftmark is presented a bit differently in the books:{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] is older in the books by that point, he falls gravely ill with a sudden fever rather than suffering a wound in the [[Stepstones]].
**Ser [[Vaemond Velaryon]] (Corlys' oldest nephew in the books) starts to proclaim he should be named Corlys' heir rather than [[Lucerys Velaryon]]. Hearing of this, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] dispatches her husband, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], to Driftmark to kill Ser Vaemond. Daemon brings back his corpse on [[Dragonstone]] and Rhaenyra feeds it to her [[dragon]], [[Syrax]].
**The five other nephews of Lord Corlys, accompagnied by Vaemond's wife and his two sons, [[Daemion Velaryon|Daemion]] and [[Daeron Velaryon]], go to [[King's Landing]] to plead their case in front of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]. When the cousins repeat the rumors of Rhaenyra's children being [[bastard]]s, Viserys has their [[Tongue mutilation|tongue removed]]. The five cousins are thereafter remember as the "[[Silent five]]".
**In both books and show, Lucerys is officially named as the heir of Driftmark.
*The double betrothals of Corlys' grandchildren occur a lot earlier in the books, when Laena Velaryon is still alive and Daemon has not yet married Rhaenyra. At the time, Jacaerys is four, Lucerys is three and the twins Baela and Rhaena are two.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*The events featured in this episode are presented as the final days of King Viserys I Targaryen. However, in the books they occur at different times thoughout the final years of his life. In the books, King Viserys dies on the third day of third moon of {{Date|129}},{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} whereas as the timeline of the show places Viserys' death in {{Date|132}}.
**The Velaryon succession crisis and Ser Vaemond's death occur in {{Date|126}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**The family dinner occurs in the first day of {{Date|127}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**Viserys' health began to seriously worsen in the year {{Date|127}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 9: The Green Council===
*Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]] is the [[Sworn shield|sworn protector]] of Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] on the show, but he was Rhaenyra's after the death of Ser [[Harwin Strong]] in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} During the course of the episode, Ser Erryk is shown to be more and more apprehensive of Aegon's behavior and does not deem him worthy of being king. He chooses to free Princess Rhaenys and to leave King's Landing to join Rhaenyra. Thus by the end of the episode the Cargyll twins have chosen the same side as their books counter part: Arryk remains in King's Landing and supports Aegon and Erryk leaves for Dragonstone and supports Rhaenyra.
*The plots surronding [[Larys Strong]], [[Mysaria]], and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] presented in this episode were completly invented for the show as by that point in the books Larys is on the [[small council]] as [[master of whisperers]] and takes part in the coup by the [[greens]],{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Mysaria is known to be in King's Landing in this period but ''Fire & Blood'' does not elaborate on her activities, and Rhaenys is on [[Driftmark]] when King Viserys dies and does not interfere in Aegon's coronation.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*In the books, Ser [[Criston Cole]] is the [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]] when King Viserys dies, having succeeded Ser [[Harrold Westerling]] seventeen years prior. As such he has a place on the [[green council]] where he plays a more active and important role in convincing Prince Aegon to accept becoming king. Just like in the show, he is the one who places the Conqueror's crown on Aegon's head during the coronation, thus earning him the moniker of the "Kingmaker". Queen Alicent is the one to crown her daughter, Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*Prince Aegon is reluctant to become king in this episode up until he is cheered on by the crowd assembled for his coronation at the Dragonpit. In the books, Aegon is also reluctant at first but once he is convinced by Ser Criston to take the crown, he grows tired of the secrecy of the green council and demands to be crowned. Aegon's coronation takes place on the tenth day of the third moon of {{Date|129}}, seven days after Viserys' death. Some of the citizens of the capital are surprised by Aegon's coronation and call for the Princess Rhaenyra instead but the coronation goes on without problem. Aegon mounts his [[dragon]], [[Sunfyre]], and flies thrice over the city before landing at the [[Red Keep]] and sitting on the [[Iron Throne]] for the first time.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

===Episode 10: The Black Queen===
*Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]] arrives alone on Dragonstone with the stolen [[crown]] of kings [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]] and [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and Ser [[Steffon Darklyn]] is already on Dragonstone. In the books, Ser Steffon flees the capital with his squire, two stewards, four guardsmen, and the crown. Rhaenyra later makes him her first Lord Commander of her [[Queensguard]] wheere as Ser Erryk is already on Dragonstone.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*Princess Rhaenyra is a few months pregnant when she hears about her father's death. In the books, she is eight months pregnant. In both cases she gives birth to a malformed [[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|stillborn daughter]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*In the books, Grand Mester [[Orwyle]] brings the [[greens]]'s terms to Dragonstone and Rhaenyra strips him of his maester's chain.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} While Orwyle is present during that scene in the show too, it is Ser [[Otto Hightower]] who brings the terms and he is stripped of his [[Hand of the King]] pin by Rhaenyra.
*Ser Erryk Cargyll mentions a "three headed green dragon banner". In the books, the greens uses King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]'s personal arms as their symbol, a golden three headed dragon on black. The gold coloring coming from Aegon's dragon, [[Sunfyre|Sunfyre the Golden]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{HOTD}}

[[Category:House of the Dragon]]

[[fr:Différences entre House of the Dragon (saison 1) et les romans]]
[[pt:Diferenças entre Fogo & Sangue e House of the Dragon]]

Differences between Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon

2026-06-28T17:40:47Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Differences between ''Fire & Blood'' and ''House of the Dragon''}}
This article is about the differences between the novel ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' and the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]''.

Author [[George R. R. Martin]] has written ''Fire & Blood'' as an in-world history book by Archmaester [[Gyldayn]]. Gyldayn writes long after the events he describes happened and uses different sources—Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], Grand Maester [[Munkun]], and the court fool [[Mushroom]]—that are often contrary. [[w:Ryan Condal|Ryan Condal]] and his team of writers are therefore working with biased sources from the start when adapting this story. Condal explained in interviews that the show will either favor one of those sources over the others, portray a mix of them, or disregard them completely and create a new interpretation of events.

==Timeline==
''House of the Dragon'' was primarly filmed at the [[w:Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden|Leavesden Studios]] in England. Under UK filming law, a fictional character can not be portrayed having sex under the age of 16 no matter the age of the actor. This has for consequence that the younger characters have to be age-up and thus move around somewhat the timeline from the source material (it is for this same reason that [[Daenerys Targaryen]] was age-up three years from 13 to 16 years old at the start of ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', an adaptation of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''). Rhaenyra and Alicent are 14 years old in the first episode of ''House of the Dragon'',<ref name=ages>Business Insider: [https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/house-of-the-dragon-stars-say-rhaenyra-and-alicent-are-a-little-bit-in-love-its-100-something-we-were-conscious-of/articleshow/93717987.cms Rhaenyra and Alicent]</ref> but Rhaenyra is 8 years old when her mother died in ''Fire & Blood''.

The first episode starts with a prologue scene depicting the [[Great Council of 101 AC]]. A voice over from the actress playing the older Rhaenyra ([[w:Emma D'Arcy|Emma D'Arcy]]) confirms the same date is used in the show. The show proper starts in {{Date|112}},<ref>Twitter: [https://twitter.com/oochotd/status/1578416059622649857/photo/2 The making of House of the Dragon book]</ref> the ninth year of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]'s reign.{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E01}}

{| class="wikitable" width=100% style="text-align: center"
!colspan="12"|Characters ages in Season 1
|-
|rowspan="1"|'''Episodes'''
|'''1''' {{Date|112}}
|'''2''' {{Date|112}}
|'''3''' {{Date|115}}
|'''4''' {{Date|116}}
|'''5''' {{Date|116}}
|'''6''' {{Date|126}}
|'''7''' {{Date|126}}
|'''8''' {{Date|132}}
|'''9''' {{Date|132}}
|'''10''' {{Date|132}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
|14<ref name=ages/>
|15{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E02}}
|17{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}
|19
|19
|29
|29
|35
|/
|35
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Alicent Hightower]]
|14<ref name=ages/>
|15
|17
|19
|19
|29
|29
|35
|35
|/
|-
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Laenor Velaryon]]
|14<ref name=Script>Deadline: [https://deadline.com/2023/06/read-house-of-the-dragon-pilot-script-heirs-of-the-dragon-ryan-condal-1235423431/ HOTD Pilot Script (June 23, 2023)]</ref>
|/
|17
|/
|19
|29
|29
|/
|/
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Laena Velaryon]]
|12<ref name=Script/>
|12{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E02}}
|/
|/
|16
|26†
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Daemon Targaryen]]
|31<ref>Indepedant: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/emma-darcy-house-of-the-dragon-interview-b2173714.html Emma D'Arcy: "I really like playing women and I'm really good at it" (9/24/2022)]</ref>
|31
|34
|35
|35
|45
|45
|51
|/
|51
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Aegon II Targaryen]]
| 
| 
|2{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}
|3{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E04}}
|/
|13
|13
|19
|19
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Helaena Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
|1{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E03}}{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E04}}
|1
|11
|11
|17
|17
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|8{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E06}}
|8
|14
|/
|14
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Joffrey Velaryon]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|0{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E06}}
|/
|6
|/
|6
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Aegon III Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|4<ref>https://www.starnow.com/jakeandroryheard</ref>
|/
|/
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Lyman Beesbury]]
|56
|56
|59
|60
|60
|70
|/
|76
|76†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E09}}
| 
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Lucerys Velaryon]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|8
|8
|14
|/
|14†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E10}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Visenya Targaryen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|0†{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E10}}
|}

==Season 1==
===Episode 1: The Heirs of the Dragon===
'''Appearances'''
* Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] was first introduced in the ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' novella published in 2013 where she was described as having the typical silver Targaryen hair. It was retconned in ''Fire & Blood'' published in 2018, to give her the black hair from her [[House Baratheon|Baratheon]] [[Jocelyn Baratheon|mother]]. The show decided to depict Rhaenys with silver Targaryen hair to not confuse the more casual viewers.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}
* [[Mysaria]] has a typical [[Lys]]ene appearance, with skin as pale as milk but she is portrayed by a Japanese actress and has an East Asian appearance.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
* All described members of [[House Velaryon]] have fair skin but they are portrayed by blacks actors in the show.{{Ref|AFFC|12}}

'''Others'''
* King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] is not present at the [[Great Council of 101 AC]] as he did not want to influence the election. In the show, he is present. Also the final election is between Viserys and Rhaenys' son, [[Laenor Velaryon]], in the books rather than Rhaenys herself.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] is not Viserys' [[master of ships]] as he has resigned that office in {{Date|92}} after his wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, was passed over in the succession of the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Depending on the timeline (see section above), Grand Maester [[Mellos]] on the TV show could be an amalgamation of two Grand Maesters from the books, [[Runciter]] and Mellos himself.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The office of "Commander of the City Watch" is not automatically given a seat on the [[small council]] in the books, though some commanders have been known to have one during their tenure such as Lord [[Qarl Corbray]] and Lord [[Janos Slynt]].{{Ref|AGOT|57}}{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}} In the show, [[Otto Hightower]] notes that Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] has a seat at the small council as Commander of the City Watch.
* [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] is nine years younger than [[Alicent Hightower]] rather than being the same age.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* [[Laenor Velaryon]] is two years older than his sister [[Laena Velaryon]] rather than being two years younger.<ref name=Script/> He is also the same age as Rhaenyra and Alicent instead of being three years older and six years younger respectively.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The mother of Alicent Hightower is never mentioned in the books. On the show, she is recently deceased,{{Ref|HBOHOTD|S01E01}} and was a pious woman following the [[Faith of the Seven]] which was passed on to Alicent.<ref>[https://youtu.be/zU7VA6nEuIs Official HOTD Podcast Episode 2 "The Rogue Prince"]</ref>
* Ser [[Gwayne Hightower]] is simply described in the books as Alicent's "youngest brother" (though it is not specified if he is older or younger than she is) thus he is Otto's youngest son.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, he is Otto's "eldest son".
* The coat of arms of [[House Velaryon]] depicts a [[w:Seahorse|real seahorse]] rather than an [[w:Hippocampus (mythology)|heraldic one]].<ref>[https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/140886-heraldry-and-correct-blazons-in-the-wiki/page/2/&tab=comments#comment-7647553 Velaryon seahorse]</ref> The idea of depicting the mythological seahorse (half-horse half-fish creature) on the show came from [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0165534/ Jim Clay] (Lead Production Designer) and it was designed by [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5223569/ Alicia Martin] (Lead Graphics Designer). [[w:Ryan Condal|Ryan Condal]] knew of the book accurate Velaryon sigil and weighed in the two versions before choosing Clay and Martin's version.<ref name="Ryan">Westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Features/Entry/Interview_with_Ryan_Condal Interview with Ryan Condal (September 28, 2022)]</ref>
* The [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] sigil depicts a two legged{{Fact}} and three headed red dragon on a black field in the books.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} The show changed that to a four legged dragon. The reason for that change will be explained in the show later on. However, the two legged version can be seen on some of the props in the show alongside the four legged version. This is due the art departments not all starting production at the same time, and the artists who made the earliest props in production were not all aware of that change and went with the book accurate design.<ref name="Ryan"/>
* The tourney grounds in [[King's Landing]] are located outside the city's walls near the [[King's Gate]] in the books.{{Ref|TLOIAF|King's Landing}} They are located within the city in the show.
* Relatively little is known of [[House Cole]], other than that they have served as stewards to [[House Dondarrion]] of [[Blackhaven]] in the [[Dornish Marches]] in the [[Stormlands]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, Ser [[Criston Cole]] is described as being of partial [[Dorne|Dornish]] descent, and having common origins.<ref>[https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/character-guide#criston-cole Official Guide: Criston Cole]</ref>
* [[Lord Hightower]]'s given name is unknown in the books. He is given the name "Hobert" in the show.
* There is no "Heir's Tournament" for Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Baelon Targaryen]]'s birth in the books. However, this tourney is heavily influenced by another tourney described in the books, the [[tourney for King Viserys I's accession]] at [[Maidenpool]] in {{Date|104}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* There is no description of the death of Queen [[Aemma Arryn]] in childbirth in the books. The way her death is portrayed in the show is very similar to the description of the death of Queen [[Alyssa Velaryon]] (Aemma's great-grandmother), however.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
* The [[heart tree]] of the [[Red Keep]]'s [[godswood]] is an oak in the books rather than a [[weirwood]] tree.{{Ref|AGOT|25}}
* [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] is never described as having [[Dragon dreams|prophetic dreams]] in the published books, nor that it has played a role in his decision to [[Aegon's Conquest|conquer Westeros]]. In interviews, Ryan Condal revealed that this idea came directly from George R. R. Martin.<ref>Gizmodo: [https://gizmodo.com/game-of-thrones-house-of-the-dragon-hbo-max-1849441608 Big Game of Thrones Secret]</ref> However, the way Martin intends to introduce this notion in the books and its effect on the story remain a mystery.
* The show created a [[:File:Daemon Targaryen HOTD.svg|personal arms]] for Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] by mixing the gold of the City Watch and the traditional [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] sigil. No arms are described for him in the books.

===Episode 2: The Rogue Prince===
* [[Laena Velaryon]] is 12 years old in both book and show when she is proposed as a new wife for King Viserys I Targaryen. As the proposition did not lead to anything, she didn't need to be age-up for the show. This means that show-Laena was born in a later year than book-Laena. In the books Laena is older than Rhaenyra but younger than Alicent, but in the show she is younger than both of them.
* [[Corlys Velaryon]] refers to Houses [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and [[House Velaryon|Velaryon]] as the "two great surviving Valyrian Houses". In the books, [[House Celtigar]] is another Westerosi noble house with Valyrian ancestry.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} In an interview, Ryan Condal explained that Corlys was slighting the minor House Celtigar in that scene to promote the interest of his own House. Ryan and his fellow writers are aware of the Celtigars' Valyrian descent (they even had a running joke in the writer's room that Lord Celtigar would always be in the background insisting that he also had Valyrian blood) and he disclosed that members of that House will be appearing in the show later on.<ref name="Ryan"/>
* Scenes from this episode imply Houses Targaryen and Velaryon have not intermarried recently. In the books, the mothers of kings [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] and [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys the Conciliator]] are noblewomen from House Velaryon.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}
* Corlys states that Rhaenyra is the first female heir to the Iron Throne. In the books, King [[Maegor I Targaryen]] named his five-year-old great-niece and stepdaughter, Princess [[Aerea Targaryen]], as his heir in {{Date|47}}. It is unknown if Maegor bestowed the title of [[Princess of Dragonstone]] on her or not, however. When King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] took the throne the following year, he recognized Aerea as his heir until he can have children of his own but did not grant her the title of Princess of Dragonstone.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}{{Ref|FAB|Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I}}
* In the books, Prince Daemon quits his post as [[Commander of the City Watch]] and goes to Dragonstone with [[Mysaria]] after Viserys names Rhaenyra as his heir in response to the "Heir for A Day" incident. There Daemon impregnates his paramour and gives her a [[dragon egg]] for their unborn child. Hearing of this, Viserys demands Daemon to return the egg, to send Mysaria back to [[Lys]] (her city of origin), and to return to his wife, Lady [[Rhea Royce]] of [[Runestone]]. Mysaria miscarries at sea during a storm as she is returning to Lys.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} The show somewhat changed these events as Daemon is ordered by Viserys to go back to Runestone in the first place but defies this order by staying at Dragonstone with some of his gold cloaks. Mysaria's pregnancy is a lie concocted by Daemon to get his brother's attention and Ser Otto Hightower volunteers to go retrieve the egg from Daemon. In the end, Rhaenyra succeeds to retrieve the egg in place of Ser Otto and Daemon is not punish for his actions once again.

===Episode 3: Second of His Name===
* The main setting of this episode, the great hunt for Aegon's second [[nameday]], was completly invented for the show. In the books King Viserys does not have a taste for hunting.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* With the three-year-timeskip between episode 2 and 3, Rhaenyra is now of age but still resides at the Red Keep in King's Landing. In the books, Rhaenyra took possession of Dragonstone as her own seat when she came of age in {{Date|113}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* In the book, [[Vaemond Velaryon]] is the eldest nephew of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] whereas in the show he is his younger brother.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* In the book, [[Laenor Velaryon]] is not a martial man and is given his knighthood rather than earning it. He does not participate in the [[war for the Stepstones]] and he loves to ride his dragon, Seasmoke, which is his "pride and passion". In the show, Laenor is already a knight when he participate in the war. He speaks in the war council and enjoys ridding Seasmoke.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The conflict in the Stepstones against the Crabfeeder takes two years and is financially supported by King Viserys in the books whereas it takes three years in the show and has no direct involvement from the Crown.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The idea of betrothing Rhaenyra and Aegon is brought by Otto Hightower in the show but by Alicent in the books. Their ages when the idea is brought up are slightly different, Rhaenyra and Aegon are 17 and 2 in the show but 16 and 6 in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Rhaenyra and Alicent did not share any particular bond prior to Alicent marrying Viserys in the books as Alicent is nine years older than she is. When Alicent and Viserys were 18 and 29 years old respectively when they marry. The relationship between Rhaenyra and her new step mother was amicable during the first few years of the marriage and only soured after the birth of Alicent's first two sons. In the show, Rhaenyra and Alicent are best friend prior to the marriage and their friendship is broken by it.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* During his courtship of Princess Rhaenyra, Lord [[Jason Lannister]] proposes to build a dragonpit to house dragons at [[Casterly Rock]]. While this did not happen in ''Fire & Blood'', the idea of Lannisters seeking a dragon of their own to match the power of [[House Targaryen]] is developed in the books; Lord [[Lyman Lannister]] hosted Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]] for a time before Rhaena realized he wanted her to marry one of his sons and wanted a dragon for House Lannister.{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}
* In the books, Viserys proposed Prince [[Qoren Martell]] of [[Dorne]] as a potential match for Rhaenyra, this role seems to have been given to Lord Jason Lannister in the show. In both case, the idea was declined.

===Episode 4: King of the Narrow Sea===
* Viserys mentions that his father, Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon Targaryen]], was [[Hand of the King]] for five days. In the books, the precise amount of time Baelon served at this office is unknown but it is more than a few days as he was named in {{Date|100}} and died the following year.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Rhaenyra is touring the realm to find a spouse among her suitors. She visits [[Storm's End]] in this episode and is presented with suitors from the [[Stormlands]] and the [[riverlands]] there. In the books, she is known to have travelled in the [[Westerlands]], the [[Reach]], and the riverlands.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* During her visit at Storm's End, a duel is fought between Willem Blackwood and Jerrel Bracken with Willem killing Jerrel. In the books, [[Samwell Blackwood]] and Ser [[Amos Bracken]] also have a duel for the princess's favor but it is Bracken that wins and nobody dies.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Daemon returns from the Stepstones on [[Caraxes]] and gives up his crown to Viserys in the throne room. In the books, Daemon arrives at King's Landing during a great tourney celebrating the fifth anniversary of King Viserys I and Queen Alicent's marriage. He lands on the tourney grounds, and gives up his crown to Viserys. In both versions, Viserys and Daemon are reconciled for a short time before Daemon is exiled again after rumors between him and Rhaenyra having sexual encounter spreads.
* In the show, [[Mysaria]] is nicknamed the "White Worm" because she often dresses in white and deals secrets. In the books, her sobriquet comes from her pale complexion.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
* Viserys mentions in this episode that his brother Daemon was always their mother's favorite. In the books, Princess [[Alyssa Targaryen]] is not known to have a favorite child and she died when her children were still young (Viserys was 7 and Daemon was 3).{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 5: We Light the Way===
*By the time of her death, Lady [[Rhea Royce]] was the ruling [[Lady of Runestone]] in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} not simply the heir of her House. Daemon was in the [[Stepstones]] when she died and flew to Runestone when he learn about her demise.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*Lord [[Jason Lannister]] is introduced in the throne room as the "Lord Paramount of the West" and "Master of Casterly Rock". This might be a mistake as these titles do not exist in the books. The equivalent titles that should have been said are "[[Warden of the West]]" and "[[Lord of Casterly Rock]]".
*Ser [[Criston Cole]] kills Ser [[Joffrey Lonmouth]] in a [[tourney]] in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} rather than the rehearsal feast of Rhaenyra and Laenor's [[wedding]].

===Episode 6: The Princess and the Queen===
*Ser [[Harwin Strong]] is a captain in the City Watch in the books,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} not the Commander.
*[[Baela Targaryen]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]] are twins in the books with Baela being the older of the two.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} In the show, Baela remains older than Rhaena but the two are not twins.
*[[Laena Velaryon]] tells her daughter she became a [[dragonrider]] at the age of 15. In the books she was 12.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Her death in this episode was also changed slighty from the book material. In the book she did gave birth to a son who survived only an hour and got a childbed fever afterwards and her health deteriorated. Three days after the delivery, the delirious Laena left her bed to fly on Vhagar one last time but collapsed and died on her way. In the show, Laena was not able to deliver the child and rather than die in the child birthing bed choose to die on her accord by fire from Vhagar.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*The show makes it clear that the great fire at [[Harrenhal]] that killed both Lord [[Lyonel Strong]] and his son, Ser [[Harwin Strong]], was a ploy by Lyonel's youngest son, [[Larys Strong]]. In the books, the fire was blamed on the curse of Harrenhal, although several non-mystical suspects have been brought up by the historians, such as Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], and Larys Strong.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* [[Helaena Targaryen]] is rather plump in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} The actresses portraying her in the show is relatively slender.

===Episode 7: Driftmark===
*[[Aemond Targaryen]] loses his right eye rather than his left one.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]] is indeed killed by Ser [[Qarl Correy]] and there is no plan to fake his death in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 8: The Lord of the Tides===
*The question about the inheritance of Driftmark is presented a bit differently in the books:{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] is older in the books by that point, he falls gravely ill with a sudden fever rather than suffering a wound in the [[Stepstones]].
**Ser [[Vaemond Velaryon]] (Corlys' oldest nephew in the books) starts to proclaim he should be named Corlys' heir rather than [[Lucerys Velaryon]]. Hearing of this, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] dispatches her husband, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], to Driftmark to kill Ser Vaemond. Daemon brings back his corpse on [[Dragonstone]] and Rhaenyra feeds it to her [[dragon]], [[Syrax]].
**The five other nephews of Lord Corlys, accompagnied by Vaemond's wife and his two sons, [[Daemion Velaryon|Daemion]] and [[Daeron Velaryon]], go to [[King's Landing]] to plead their case in front of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]. When the cousins repeat the rumors of Rhaenyra's children being [[bastard]]s, Viserys has their [[Tongue mutilation|tongue removed]]. The five cousins are thereafter remember as the "[[Silent five]]".
**In both books and show, Lucerys is officially named as the heir of Driftmark.
*The double betrothals of Corlys' grandchildren occurs a lot earlier in the books when Laena Velaryon is still alive and Daemon has not yet married Rhaenyra. At the time Jacaerys is four, Lucerys is three and the twins Baela and Rhaena are two.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
*The events featured in this episode are presented as the final days of King Viserys I Targaryen. However, in the books they occur at different times thoughout the final years of his life. In the books, King Viserys dies on the third day of third moon of {{Date|129}},{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} whereas as the timeline of the show places Viserys' death in {{Date|132}}.
**The Velaryon succession crisis and Ser Vaemond's death occur in {{Date|126}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**The family dinner occurs in the first day of {{Date|127}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
**Viserys' health began to seriously worsen in the year {{Date|127}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Episode 9: The Green Council===
*Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]] is the [[Sworn shield|sworn protector]] of Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] on the show, but he was Rhaenyra's after the death of Ser [[Harwin Strong]] in the books.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} During the course of the episode, Ser Erryk is shown to be more and more apprehensive of Aegon's behavior and does not deem him worthy of being king. He chooses to free Princess Rhaenys and to leave King's Landing to join Rhaenyra. Thus by the end of the episode the Cargyll twins have chosen the same side as their books counter part: Arryk remains in King's Landing and supports Aegon and Erryk leaves for Dragonstone and supports Rhaenyra.
*The plots surronding [[Larys Strong]], [[Mysaria]], and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] presented in this episode were completly invented for the show as by that point in the books Larys is on the [[small council]] as [[master of whisperers]] and takes part in the coup by the [[greens]],{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Mysaria is known to be in King's Landing in this period but ''Fire & Blood'' does not elaborate on her activities, and Rhaenys is on [[Driftmark]] when King Viserys dies and does not interfere in Aegon's coronation.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*In the books, Ser [[Criston Cole]] is the [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]] when King Viserys dies, having succeeded Ser [[Harrold Westerling]] seventeen years prior. As such he has a place on the [[green council]] where he plays a more active and important role in convincing Prince Aegon to accept becoming king. Just like in the show, he is the one who places the Conqueror's crown on Aegon's head during the coronation, thus earning him the moniker of the "Kingmaker". Queen Alicent is the one to crown her daughter, Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*Prince Aegon is reluctant to become king in this episode up until he is cheered on by the crowd assembled for his coronation at the Dragonpit. In the books, Aegon is also reluctant at first but once he is convinced by Ser Criston to take the crown, he grows tired of the secrecy of the green council and demands to be crowned. Aegon's coronation takes place on the tenth day of the third moon of {{Date|129}}, seven days after Viserys' death. Some of the citizens of the capital are surprised by Aegon's coronation and call for the Princess Rhaenyra instead but the coronation goes on without problem. Aegon mounts his [[dragon]], [[Sunfyre]], and flies thrice over the city before landing at the [[Red Keep]] and sitting on the [[Iron Throne]] for the first time.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

===Episode 10: The Black Queen===
*Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]] arrives alone on Dragonstone with the stolen [[crown]] of kings [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]] and [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and Ser [[Steffon Darklyn]] is already on Dragonstone. In the books, Ser Steffon flees the capital with his squire, two stewards, four guardsmen, and the crown. Rhaenyra later makes him her first Lord Commander of her [[Queensguard]] wheere as Ser Erryk is already on Dragonstone.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*Princess Rhaenyra is a few months pregnant when she hears about her father's death. In the books, she is eight months pregnant. In both cases she gives birth to a malformed [[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|stillborn daughter]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
*In the books, Grand Mester [[Orwyle]] brings the [[greens]]'s terms to Dragonstone and Rhaenyra strips him of his maester's chain.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} While Orwyle is present during that scene in the show too, it is Ser [[Otto Hightower]] who brings the terms and he is stripped of his [[Hand of the King]] pin by Rhaenyra.
*Ser Erryk Cargyll mentions a "three headed green dragon banner". In the books, the greens uses King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]'s personal arms as their symbol, a golden three headed dragon on black. The gold coloring coming from Aegon's dragon, [[Sunfyre|Sunfyre the Golden]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{HOTD}}

[[Category:House of the Dragon]]

[[fr:Différences entre House of the Dragon (saison 1) et les romans]]
[[pt:Diferenças entre Fogo & Sangue e House of the Dragon]]

Golden Wedding

2024-11-16T06:13:37Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

[[File:Jaehaerys and Alysanne arrive at the Golden Wedding by Jaydeewis.jpg|thumb|450px|King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]] and Princess [[Alysanne Targaryen]], on their dragons [[Vermithor]] and [[Silverwing]], arrive at the Golden Wedding. Art by Jaydeewis ©]]
The '''Golden Wedding''' was the elaborate wedding on the seventh day of the seventh moon in {{Date|49}} of Dowager Queen [[Alyssa Velaryon]], the mother and [[regent]] of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], and [[Rogar Baratheon]], [[Lord of Storm's End]] and [[Hand of the King]].{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}}

==History==
[[Alyssa Velaryon]], the queen consort of King [[Aenys I Targaryen]], was widowed after the death of her husband in {{Date|42}}. Their son, [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], became king in {{Date|48}}. Meanwhile, Lord [[Rogar Baratheon]] of [[Storm's End]] had been a widower since the death of his young wife. Jaehaerys was privately opposed to Rogar marrying his mother without asking for royal permission. The king did not publicly object to the marriage, however, as Jaehaerys had not opposed the recent marriage of his sister, the widowed Queen [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena]], to [[Androw Farman]].{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}}

Lords and knights from throughout the [[Seven Kingdoms]], as well as envoys from [[Dorne]] and the [[Free Cities]], came to [[King's Landing]] for the lavish wedding. Many nobles used the wedding as an opportunity to meet the new king, who sat the [[Iron Throne]] after King [[Maegor I Targaryen]]. Rogar entertained guests with drinking, feasting, gambling, hawking, and hunting. According to an unconfirmed tale spread by [[smallfolk]], Rogar and his kin celebrated with seven maidens and twoscore other women from [[Lys]]ene [[pleasure houses]]s. Princess [[Alysanne Targaryen]] hosted with grace the noblewomen who came for the wedding.{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}}

The ceremony occurred on the seventh day of the seventh month of {{date|49}}, and at least forty thousand smallfolk are said to have gathered in the partially-constructed [[Dragonpit]] at the [[Hill of Rhaenys]]. Rogar wore gold and an antlered halfhelm, while Alyssa wore a [[gemstone]]-covered greatcloak. Jaehaerys and Alysanne impressed the crowd by arriving on their dragons, [[Vermithor]] and [[Silverwing]]. After the [[High Lickspittle|High Septon]] performed the marriage rites inside the Dragonpit, the wedding party proceeded to the [[Red Keep]]. The most prestigious attendees feasted in the throne room, while lesser nobles gathered in yards and small halls.{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}}

The wedding was followed by seven days of feasting and [[tourney]]s, including the famous [[War for the White Cloaks]]. A mock sea battle was also staged in [[Blackwater Bay]]. The Golden Wedding delighted the realm, for Jaehaerys was seen as a promising young ruler and Rogar as a generous Hand. The smallfolk and merchants of King's Landing also profited greatly from the visitors.{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}} Rogar's indulgent behavior before the wedding was remembered by the cautious Jaehaerys, however, and the two had a falling out after the king chose to marry Alysanne.{{Ref|FAB|A Surfeit of Rulers}}

==Attendees==
{{Columns|2|
====Royal House====
* {{coa|Targaryen|s}} Princess [[Alysanne Targaryen]]
* {{coa|Targaryen|s}} King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]
* {{coa|Velaryon|s}} Queen Regent [[Alyssa Velaryon]]
* {{coa|Kingsguard|s}} Lord Commander [[Gyles Morrigen]]

====From the Stormlands====
* {{coa|Baratheon|s}} Lord [[Rogar Baratheon]]
* {{coa|Caron|s}} Lord [[Morton Caron]]
* {{coa|Connington|s}} Lord [[Kyle Connington]]
* {{coa|Mertyns|s}} Lord [[Jon Mertyns]]
* {{coa|Dondarrion|s}} Lord [[House Dondarrion|Dondarrion]] (possibly [[Harmon Dondarrion|Harmon]])
* {{coa|Selmy|s}} Lord [[House Selmy|Selmy]]

====From the Vale of Arryn====
* {{coa|Arryn|s}} Lord [[House Arryn|Arryn]] (possibly [[Darnold Arryn|Darnold]])
* {{coa|Corbray|s}} Lord [[Qarl Corbray]]
* {{coa|Royce|s}} Lord [[House Royce|Royce]] (possibly [[Allard Royce|Allard]])
* {{coa|Hunter|s}} Lord [[Alec Hunter]]

====From the Riverlands====
* {{coa|Darry|s}} Lord [[House Darry|Darry]] (possibly [[Darnold Darry|Darnold]])
* {{coa|Mallister|s}} Lord [[House Mallister|Mallister]]
* {{coa|Vance of Wayfarer's Rest|s}} Lord [[House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest|Vance]]

====From the Reach====
* {{coa|Hightower|s}} Lord [[Donnel Hightower]]
** A hundred [[knight]]s from [[Oldtown]]
* {{coa|High Septon|s}} [[High Lickspittle|High Septon]]
* {{coa|Most Devout|s}} Seventy-seven of the [[Most Devout]]
* {{coa|Oakheart|s}} Lord [[Torgen Oakheart]]
* {{coa|Rowan|s}} Lord [[Rickard Rowan]]
* {{coa|Tarly|s}} Lord [[House Tarly|Tarly]] (possibly [[Samwell Tarly (lord)|Samwell]])

====From the Westerlands====
* {{coa|Lannister|s}} Lord [[Lyman Lannister]]
** Three hundred knights from [[Casterly Rock]]

====From the North====
* {{coa|Stark|s}} Lord [[Brandon Stark (father of Walton)|Brandon Stark]]
** {{coa|Stark|s}} [[Walton Stark (son of Brandon)|Walton Stark]]
** {{coa|Stark|s}} [[Alaric Stark]]
* A dozen northern [[bannermen]]
* {{coa|Night's Watch|s}} Thirty sworn brothers of the [[Night's Watch]]

====Foreigners====
* {{coa|Martell|s}} Sister of the [[Prince of Dorne]]
* {{coa|Braavos|s}} Son of the [[Sealord of Braavos]]
* {{coa|Tyrosh|s}} [[Archon of Tyrosh#Jaehaerys I|Archon of Tyrosh]] and his [[Archon's daughter (Jaehaerys I)|daughter]]
* {{coa|Pentos|s}} Twenty-two [[magisters]] of [[Pentos]]
}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|Never has there been such a glory in all the annals of [[Westeros]].{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}}|writings of [[Benifer]]}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{Weddings}}

[[Category:House Baratheon]]
[[Category:House Velaryon]]
[[Category:House Targaryen]]
[[Category:King's Landing]]
[[Category:Weddings]]

[[fr:Épousailles d'or]]

Battle of the Gullet

2024-08-14T05:37:43Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Battlebox
| image =
| caption =
| battle_name = Battle of the Gullet
| conflict = [[Dance of the Dragons]]
| date = 5th day of the 1st moon of {{Date|130}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
| place = [[Gullet]]
| result = Sack of [[Driftmark]] [[Triarchy]]'s involvement with the war ends
| colour_scheme =
| combatant1 = [[File:House Targaryen (Rhaenyra).svg|30px]] '''[[House Targaryen]]/[[Blacks]]'''
*[[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] [[House Velaryon]]
| combatant2 = [[File:House Targaryen (Aegon II).svg|30px]] '''[[House Targaryen]]/[[Greens]]'''
*[[Triarchy]]
| commander1 = [[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]† [[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]
| commander2 = Admiral [[Sharako Lohar]]
| strength1 = [[House Velaryon]] fleet Jacaerys Velaryon (on [[Vermax]]†) [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] (on [[Stormcloud]]†) [[Ulf White]] (on [[Silverwing]]) [[Nettles]] (on [[Sheepstealer]]) [[Addam Velaryon]] (on [[Seasmoke]]) [[Hugh Hammer]] (on [[Vermithor]])
| strength2 = 90 warships
| casualties1 = [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]† [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] (POW) [[Vermax]]† [[Stormcloud]]† 33% of the [[Velaryon fleet]] lost
| casualties2 = 62 warships lost
}}

The '''Battle of the Gullet''',{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} also called the '''Battle in the Gullet''',{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} was a battle that took place in the [[Gullet]] in {{Date|130}}<ref group="N">''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' includes the Battle of the Gullet among the Battles of 129, but George R. R. Martin [https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/152215-fire-and-blood-excerpt/&page=24&tab=comments#comment-8264969 settled for early 130] in ''[[Fire & Blood]]''.</ref> during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. It remains among the bloodiest sea battles in all of history.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Prelude==
[[House Velaryon]] blockaded the [[Gullet]] and controlled access to [[Blackwater Bay]] at the start of the civil war. After the [[assault on Harrenhal]] by Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and further blows to the [[greens]], Ser [[Otto Hightower]], the [[Hand of the King]] to [[Aegon II Targaryen]], hatched a plan to break the [[Velaryon fleet]]'s blockade. Otto reached out across the [[narrow sea]] to enemies of Prince Daemon, the [[Triarchy]], hoping to persuade them to move against the Sea Snake, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]. Otto's plan took time and Aegon II eventually ran out of patience with his grandfather's prevarications, replacing him as Hand with Ser [[Criston Cole]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

The schemes of Otto eventually bore fruit, as the [[High Council of the Triarchy]] accepted his offer of alliance in [[Tyrosh]]. Ninety warships, commanded by Admiral [[Sharako Lohar]] of [[Lys]], swept from the [[Stepstones]] under the banners of the Three Daughters, bending their oars for the Gullet.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Meanwhile on [[Dragonstone]], it was decided by Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] that his half-brothers, Princes [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]], would be [[Fosterage|fostered]] with the [[Prince of Pentos]] until their mother, Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], had secured the [[Iron Throne]]. The princes departed on a [[Pentos]]hi cog, the ''[[Gay Abandon]]'', towards the end of {{Date|129}}. The Sea Snake sent seven of his warships with them as escort.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

''Gay Abandon'' encountered the Triarchy's fleet, which had sailed up to the Gullet. The ''Gay Abandon'' was taken captive and her escorts sunk or captured. Possessed only of a [[dragon egg]], Viserys had no way of escaping from the cog and was made captive by a [[Tyrosh]]i captain. Aegon escaped the ''Gay Abandon'' on his young [[dragon]], [[Stormcloud]]. Sailors attempted to bring them down and Stormcloud was wounded by arrows and scorpion bolts. Nevertheless, they flew to Dragonstone, where Aegon delivered the news of the threat from the east. Stormcloud died at Dragonstone from his wounds.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Battle==
[[File:Aegon and Viserys at the Battle of the Gullet by Jota Saraiva.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] at the Battle of the Gullet, by Jota Saraiva]]
Battle began on the fifth day of the new year, {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} [[Sharako Lohar]] divided the [[Triarchy]]'s ships into two squadrons entering the [[Gullet]] to the north and south of [[Dragonstone]]. They attacked at sunrise, surprising [[House Velaryon]]'s fleet.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Flying on [[Vermax]] to meet the fleet of the Triarchy, Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] swept down upon a line of [[Lys]]ene galleys. The sailors had experience fighting Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and his dragon, [[Caraxes]], during the [[war for the Stepstones]], so their captains directed their spears and arrows against Jacaerys. One ship caught on fire and then another, however. When Jacaerys was joined by [[Ulf the White]] on [[Silverwing]], [[Nettles]] on [[Sheepstealer]], [[Addam Velaryon]] on [[Seasmoke]], and [[Hugh Hammer]] on [[Vermithor]], the line of warships from the [[Free Cities]] shattered as one galley after another turned away.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Vermax flew too low, however, and crashed down into the sea, possibly wounded from a crossbow bolt to the eye or pulled down by a grapnel. Survivors said he struggled in the rigging of a burning galley and sank with it. Jacaerys leapt free, but was then killed by [[Myr]]ish crossbowmen.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

North and south of Dragonstone, the battle continued into nighttime. The southern squadron bypassed Dragonstone, believing that it was too strong to assault, and instead attacked [[Driftmark]], setting afire the harbor of [[Spicetown]] with fire ships. The town was sacked, with its inhabitants butchered and left as carrion. [[High Tide]] and the treasures of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] were burned by Myrish and [[Tyrosh]]i soldiers, with the Sea Snake's servants cut down as they fled.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Aftermath==
[[File:Addam and Corlys Velaryon by Riotarttherite.png|thumb|300px|right|Addam and Corlys Velaryon in the aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet, by [https://riotarttherite.tumblr.com/ Riotarttherite]]]
Thousands died from the battle, and [[Spicetown]] was never rebuilt. The Velaryon fleet lost almost a third of its strength. Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] and his dragon [[Vermax]] were killed, and Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] was taken captive,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} but presumed dead by both sides. Prince Aegon the Younger never forgave himself for abandoning his little brother.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

[[The Testimony of Mushroom|According]] to [[Mushroom]], [[Hugh Hammer|Hugh the Hammer]] and [[Ulf the White]] celebrated their participation. [[Nettles]] and [[Addam Velaryon]] were heavily affected, with the latter seeking out the Sea Snake, though what they spoke to each other remains unknown.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Many people on Dragonstone came to resent Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] for kin they had lost during the battle.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

Only twenty-eight of the ninety ships commanded by [[Sharako Lohar]] returned home, and only three of those were not crewed by [[Lys]]eni.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} The Gullet was considered a disaster by the Triarchy.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} The Myrish and Tyroshi widows accused Sharako of sending their fleets to destruction while holding back his own Lysene ships, thus beginning a quarrel that would eventually lead to the [[Daughters' War]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} A disgraced Sharako discretely sold the captive Viserys to Magister [[Bambarro Bazanne]] of Lys.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}

Ultimately the battle was very costly for both sides, and could be considered both a tactical victory for the greens and a strategic win for the blacks. Whereas the death of Prince Jacaerys deprived the blacks of one of their own commanders and Queen Rhaenyra of her eldest heir, the greens had failed in their main goal: to break the hold of the Velaryon fleet on the east coasts of Westeros. Moreover, the greens' allies in the southern Free Cities took such heavy losses that they played no further part in the war.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|If this be victory, I pray I never win another.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}|[[Corlys Velaryon]]}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{Dance of the Dragons}}

[[Category:Battles|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:Dance of the Dragons|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:Crownlands|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:House Targaryen battles|Gullet]]
[[Category:House Velaryon battles|Gullet]]
[[Category:Lys]]
[[Category:Myr]]
[[Category:Tyrosh]]

[[es:Batalla del Gaznate]]
[[fr:Bataille du Gosier]]
[[ru:Битва при Глотке]]

Battle of the Gullet

2024-08-14T05:36:59Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Battlebox
| image =
| caption =
| battle_name = Battle of the Gullet
| conflict = [[Dance of the Dragons]]
| date = 5th day of the 1st moon of {{Date|130}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
| place = [[Gullet]]
| result = Sack of [[Driftmark]] [[Triarchy]]'s involvement with the war ends
| colour_scheme =
| combatant1 = [[File:House Targaryen (Rhaenyra).svg|30px]] '''[[House Targaryen]]/[[Blacks]]'''
*[[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] [[House Velaryon]]
| combatant2 = [[File:House Targaryen (Aegon II).svg|30px]] '''[[House Targaryen]]/[[Greens]]'''
*[[Triarchy]]
| commander1 = [[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]† [[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]
| commander2 = Admiral [[Sharako Lohar]]
| strength1 = [[House Velaryon]] fleet Jacaerys Velaryon (on [[Vermax]]†) [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] (on [[Stormcloud]]†) [[Ulf White]] (on [[Silverwing]]) [[Nettles]] (on [[Sheepstealer]]) [[Addam Velaryon]] (on [[Seasmoke]]) [[Hugh Hammer]] (on [[Vermithor]])
| strength2 = 90 warships
| casualties1 = [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]† [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] (POW) [[Vermax]]† [[Stormcloud]]† 33% of the [[Velaryon fleet]] lost
| casualties2 = 62 warships lost
}}

The '''Battle of the Gullet''',{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} also called the '''Battle in the Gullet''',{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} was a battle that took place in the [[Gullet]] in {{Date|130}}<ref group="N">''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' includes the Battle of the Gullet among the Battles of 129, but George R. R. Martin [https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/152215-fire-and-blood-excerpt/&page=24&tab=comments#comment-8264969 settled for early 130] in ''[[Fire & Blood]]''.</ref> during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. It remains among the bloodiest sea battles in all of history.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Prelude==
[[House Velaryon]] blockaded the [[Gullet]] and controlled access to [[Blackwater Bay]] at the start of the civil war. After the [[assault on Harrenhal]] by Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and further blows to the [[greens]], Ser [[Otto Hightower]], the [[Hand of the King]] to [[Aegon II Targaryen]], hatched a plan to break the [[Velaryon fleet]]'s blockade. Otto reached out across the [[narrow sea]] to enemies of Prince Daemon, the [[Triarchy]], hoping to persuade them to move against the Sea Snake, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]. Otto's plan took time and Aegon II eventually ran out of patience with his grandfather's prevarications, replacing him as Hand with Ser [[Criston Cole]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

The schemes of Otto eventually bore fruit, as the [[High Council of the Triarchy]] accepted his offer of alliance in [[Tyrosh]]. Ninety warships, commanded by Admiral [[Sharako Lohar]] of [[Lys]], swept from the [[Stepstones]] under the banners of the Three Daughters, bending their oars for the Gullet.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Meanwhile on [[Dragonstone]], it was decided by Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] that his half-brothers, Princes [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]], would be [[Fosterage|fostered]] with the [[Prince of Pentos]] until their mother, Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], had secured the [[Iron Throne]]. The princes departed on a [[Pentos]]hi cog, the ''[[Gay Abandon]]'', towards the end of {{Date|129}}. The Sea Snake sent seven of his warships with them as escort.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

''Gay Abandon'' encountered the Triarchy's fleet, which had sailed up to the Gullet. The ''Gay Abandon'' was taken captive and her escorts sunk or captured. Possessed only of a [[dragon egg]], Viserys had no way of escaping from the cog and was made captive by a [[Tyrosh]]i captain. Aegon escaped the ''Gay Abandon'' on his young [[dragon]], [[Stormcloud]]. Sailors attempted to bring them down and Stormcloud was wounded by arrows and scorpion bolts. Nevertheless, they flew to Dragonstone, where Aegon delivered the news of the threat from the east. Stormcloud died at Dragonstone from his wounds.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Battle==
[[File:Aegon and Viserys at the Battle of the Gullet by Jota Saraiva.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] at the Battle of the Gullet, by Jota Saraiva]]
Battle began on the fifth day of the new year, {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} [[Sharako Lohar]] divided the [[Triarchy]]'s ships into two squadrons entering the [[Gullet]] to the north and south of [[Dragonstone]]. They attacked at sunrise, surprising [[House Velaryon]]'s fleet.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Flying on [[Vermax]] to meet the fleet of the Triarchy, Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] swept down upon a line of [[Lys]]ene galleys. The sailors had experience fighting Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and his dragon, [[Caraxes]], during the [[war for the Stepstones]], so their captains directed their spears and arrows against Jacaerys. One ship caught on fire and then another, however. When Jacaerys was joined by [[Ulf the White]] on [[Silverwing]], [[Nettles]] on [[Sheepstealer]], [[Addam Velaryon]] on [[Seasmoke]], and [[Hugh Hammer]] on [[Vermithor]], the line of warships from the [[Free Cities]] shattered as one galley after another turned away.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Vermax flew too low, however, and crashed down into the sea, possibly wounded from a crossbow bolt to the eye or pulled down by a grapnel. Survivors said he struggled in the rigging of a burning galley and sank with it. Jacaerys leapt free, but was then killed by [[Myr]]ish crossbowmen.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

North and south of Dragonstone, the battle continued into nighttime. The southern squadron bypassed Dragonstone, believing that it was to strong to assault, and instead attacked [[Driftmark]], setting afire the harbor of [[Spicetown]] with fire ships. The town was sacked, with its inhabitants butchered and left as carrion. [[High Tide]] and the treasures of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] were burned by Myrish and [[Tyrosh]]i soldiers, with the Sea Snake's servants cut down as they fled.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Aftermath==
[[File:Addam and Corlys Velaryon by Riotarttherite.png|thumb|300px|right|Addam and Corlys Velaryon in the aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet, by [https://riotarttherite.tumblr.com/ Riotarttherite]]]
Thousands died from the battle, and [[Spicetown]] was never rebuilt. The Velaryon fleet lost almost a third of its strength. Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] and his dragon [[Vermax]] were killed, and Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] was taken captive,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} but presumed dead by both sides. Prince Aegon the Younger never forgave himself for abandoning his little brother.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

[[The Testimony of Mushroom|According]] to [[Mushroom]], [[Hugh Hammer|Hugh the Hammer]] and [[Ulf the White]] celebrated their participation. [[Nettles]] and [[Addam Velaryon]] were heavily affected, with the latter seeking out the Sea Snake, though what they spoke to each other remains unknown.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Many people on Dragonstone came to resent Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] for kin they had lost during the battle.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

Only twenty-eight of the ninety ships commanded by [[Sharako Lohar]] returned home, and only three of those were not crewed by [[Lys]]eni.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} The Gullet was considered a disaster by the Triarchy.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} The Myrish and Tyroshi widows accused Sharako of sending their fleets to destruction while holding back his own Lysene ships, thus beginning a quarrel that would eventually lead to the [[Daughters' War]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} A disgraced Sharako discretely sold the captive Viserys to Magister [[Bambarro Bazanne]] of Lys.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}

Ultimately the battle was very costly for both sides, and could be considered both a tactical victory for the greens and a strategic win for the blacks. Whereas the death of Prince Jacaerys deprived the blacks of one of their own commanders and Queen Rhaenyra of her eldest heir, the greens had failed in their main goal: to break the hold of the Velaryon fleet on the east coasts of Westeros. Moreover, the greens' allies in the southern Free Cities took such heavy losses that they played no further part in the war.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|If this be victory, I pray I never win another.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}|[[Corlys Velaryon]]}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{Dance of the Dragons}}

[[Category:Battles|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:Dance of the Dragons|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:Crownlands|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:House Targaryen battles|Gullet]]
[[Category:House Velaryon battles|Gullet]]
[[Category:Lys]]
[[Category:Myr]]
[[Category:Tyrosh]]

[[es:Batalla del Gaznate]]
[[fr:Bataille du Gosier]]
[[ru:Битва при Глотке]]

Battle of the Gullet

2024-08-14T05:35:48Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Battlebox
| image =
| caption =
| battle_name = Battle of the Gullet
| conflict = [[Dance of the Dragons]]
| date = 5th day of the 1st moon of {{Date|130}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
| place = [[Gullet]]
| result = Sack of [[Driftmark]] [[Triarchy]]'s involvement with the war ends
| colour_scheme =
| combatant1 = [[File:House Targaryen (Rhaenyra).svg|30px]] '''[[House Targaryen]]/[[Blacks]]'''
*[[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] [[House Velaryon]]
| combatant2 = [[File:House Targaryen (Aegon II).svg|30px]] '''[[House Targaryen]]/[[Greens]]'''
*[[Triarchy]]
| commander1 = [[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]† [[File:House Velaryon.svg|20px]] Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]
| commander2 = Admiral [[Sharako Lohar]]
| strength1 = [[House Velaryon]] fleet Jacaerys Velaryon (on [[Vermax]]†) [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] (on [[Stormcloud]]†) [[Ulf White]] (on [[Silverwing]]) [[Nettles]] (on [[Sheepstealer]]) [[Addam Velaryon]] (on [[Seasmoke]]) [[Hugh Hammer]] (on [[Vermithor]])
| strength2 = 90 warships
| casualties1 = [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]† [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] (POW) [[Vermax]]† [[Stormcloud]]† 33% of the [[Velaryon fleet]] lost
| casualties2 = 62 warships lost
}}

The '''Battle of the Gullet''',{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} also called the '''Battle in the Gullet''',{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} was a battle that took place in the [[Gullet]] in {{Date|130}}<ref group="N">''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' includes the Battle of the Gullet among the Battles of 129, but George R. R. Martin [https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/152215-fire-and-blood-excerpt/&page=24&tab=comments#comment-8264969 settled for early 130] in ''[[Fire & Blood]]''.</ref> during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. It remains among the bloodiest sea battles in all of history.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Prelude==
[[House Velaryon]] blockaded the [[Gullet]] and controlled access to [[Blackwater Bay]] at the start of the civil war. After the [[assault on Harrenhal]] by Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and further blows to the [[greens]], Ser [[Otto Hightower]], the [[Hand of the King]] to [[Aegon II Targaryen]], hatched a plan to break the [[Velaryon fleet]]'s blockade. Otto reached out across the [[narrow sea]] to enemies of Prince Daemon, the [[Triarchy]], hoping to persuade them to move against the Sea Snake, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]. Otto's plan took time and Aegon II eventually ran out of patience with his grandfather's prevarications, replacing him as Hand with Ser [[Criston Cole]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

The schemes of Otto eventually bore fruit, as the [[High Council of the Triarchy]] accepted his offer of alliance in [[Tyrosh]]. Ninety warships, commanded by Admiral [[Sharako Lohar]] of [[Lys]], swept from the [[Stepstones]] under the banners of the Three Daughters, bending their oars for the Gullet.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Meanwhile on [[Dragonstone]], it was decided by Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] that his half-brothers, Princes [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]], would be [[Fosterage|fostered]] with the [[Prince of Pentos]] until their mother, Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], had secured the [[Iron Throne]]. The princes departed on a [[Pentos]]hi cog, the ''[[Gay Abandon]]'', towards the end of {{Date|129}}. The Sea Snake sent seven of his warships with them as escort.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

''Gay Abandon'' encountered the Triarchy's fleet, which had sailed up to the Gullet. The ''Gay Abandon'' was taken captive and her escorts sunk or captured. Possessed only of a [[dragon egg]], Viserys had no way of escaping from the cog and was made captive by a [[Tyrosh]]i captain. Aegon escaped the ''Gay Abandon'' on his young [[dragon]], [[Stormcloud]]. Sailors attempted to bring them down and Stormcloud was wounded by arrows and scorpion bolts. Nevertheless, they flew to Dragonstone, where Aegon delivered the news of the threat from the east. Stormcloud died at Dragonstone from his wounds.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Battle==
[[File:Aegon and Viserys at the Battle of the Gullet by Jota Saraiva.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] at the Battle of the Gullet, by Jota Saraiva]]
Battle began on the fifth day of the new year, {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} [[Sharako Lohar]] divided the [[Triarchy]]'s ships into two squadrons entering the [[Gullet]] to the north and south of [[Dragonstone]]. They attacked at sunrise, surprising [[House Velaryon]]'s fleet.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Flying on [[Vermax]] to meet the fleet of the Triarchy, Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] swept down upon a line of [[Lys]]ene galleys. The sailors had experience fighting Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and his dragon, [[Caraxes]], during the [[war for the Stepstones]], so their captains directed their spears and arrows against Jacaerys. One ship caught on fire and then another, however. When Jacaerys was joined by [[Ulf the White]] on [[Silverwing]], [[Nettles]] on [[Sheepstealer]], [[Addam Velaryon]] on [[Seasmoke]], and [[Hugh Hammer]] on [[Vermithor]], the line of warships from the [[Free Cities]] shattered as one galley after another turned away.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Vermax flew too low, however, and crashed down into the sea, possibly wounded from a crossbow bolt to the eye or pulled down by a grapnel. Survivors said he struggled in the rigging of a burning galley and sank with it. Jacaerys leapt free, but was then killed by [[Myr]]ish crossbowmen.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

North and south of Dragonstone the battle continued into nighttime. The southern squadron bypassed Dragonstone, believing that it was too strong to assault, and instead attacked [[Driftmark]], setting afire the harbor of [[Spicetown]] with fire ships. The town was sacked, with its inhabitants butchered and left as carrion. [[High Tide]] and the treasures of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] were burned by Myrish and [[Tyrosh]]i soldiers, with the Sea Snake's servants cut down as they fled.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==Aftermath==
[[File:Addam and Corlys Velaryon by Riotarttherite.png|thumb|300px|right|Addam and Corlys Velaryon in the aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet, by [https://riotarttherite.tumblr.com/ Riotarttherite]]]
Thousands died from the battle, and [[Spicetown]] was never rebuilt. The Velaryon fleet lost almost a third of its strength. Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] and his dragon [[Vermax]] were killed, and Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] was taken captive,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} but presumed dead by both sides. Prince Aegon the Younger never forgave himself for abandoning his little brother.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

[[The Testimony of Mushroom|According]] to [[Mushroom]], [[Hugh Hammer|Hugh the Hammer]] and [[Ulf the White]] celebrated their participation. [[Nettles]] and [[Addam Velaryon]] were heavily affected, with the latter seeking out the Sea Snake, though what they spoke to each other remains unknown.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Many people on Dragonstone came to resent Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] for kin they had lost during the battle.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

Only twenty-eight of the ninety ships commanded by [[Sharako Lohar]] returned home, and only three of those were not crewed by [[Lys]]eni.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} The Gullet was considered a disaster by the Triarchy.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} The Myrish and Tyroshi widows accused Sharako of sending their fleets to destruction while holding back his own Lysene ships, thus beginning a quarrel that would eventually lead to the [[Daughters' War]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} A disgraced Sharako discretely sold the captive Viserys to Magister [[Bambarro Bazanne]] of Lys.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}

Ultimately the battle was very costly for both sides, and could be considered both a tactical victory for the greens and a strategic win for the blacks. Whereas the death of Prince Jacaerys deprived the blacks of one of their own commanders and Queen Rhaenyra of her eldest heir, the greens had failed in their main goal: to break the hold of the Velaryon fleet on the east coasts of Westeros. Moreover, the greens' allies in the southern Free Cities took such heavy losses that they played no further part in the war.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|If this be victory, I pray I never win another.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}|[[Corlys Velaryon]]}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{Dance of the Dragons}}

[[Category:Battles|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:Dance of the Dragons|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:Crownlands|Gullet, Battle of the]]
[[Category:House Targaryen battles|Gullet]]
[[Category:House Velaryon battles|Gullet]]
[[Category:Lys]]
[[Category:Myr]]
[[Category:Tyrosh]]

[[es:Batalla del Gaznate]]
[[fr:Bataille du Gosier]]
[[ru:Битва при Глотке]]

Tyland Lannister

2024-08-09T03:45:07Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| title = Ser
| nickname =
| firstname = Tyland
| particle =
| lastname = Lannister
| epithet = the Hooded Hand
| arms = Lannister
| arms2 =
| image = Tyland Lannister.jpeg
| image_caption = Tyland Lannister, by Enife ©
| Alias = The Hooded Hand
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]] [[Master of ships]] [[Lord admiral]] [[Master of coin]] [[Hand of the King]]
| Allegiance = [[House Lannister]] [[Greens]] [[House Targaryen]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Westermen]]
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|89|97}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued3)#Tyland Lannister|Tyland Lannister]] calculation''</ref>
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|133}}
| Place_of_Death = the [[Tower of the Hand]], [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}
| Date_of_Burial =
| Place_of_Burial =
| Father =
| Mother =
| Spouse =
| Lover =
| Issue =
| coat-of-arms =
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire and Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| Played_by = [[w:Jefferson Hall (actor)|Jefferson Hall]]
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[House of the Dragon - Season 2|2]]
}}

'''Tyland Lannister''', later called '''the Hooded Hand''', was a [[knight]] from [[House Lannister]]. He served on the [[small council]] at [[King's Landing]], as [[master of ships]] for [[Viserys I Targaryen]], as [[master of coin]] for [[Aegon II Targaryen]], and as [[Hand of the King]] for [[Aegon III Targaryen]]. He was the younger twin brother of [[Jason Lannister]], the [[Lord of Casterly Rock]].

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Tyland is portrayed by [[w:Jefferson Hall (actor)|Jefferson Hall]].<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref>

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Tyland Lannister|l1=Images of Tyland Lannister}}
[[File:Tyland Lannister by mylestoyne.png|thumb|right|350px|Tyland Lannister, after being [[torture]]d. By mylestoyne ©]]

Tyland was tall, golden-haired, and dashing, like his twin brother Lord [[Jason Lannister|Jason]]. However, after being [[torture]]d, he was left blind, maimed (his fingernails and toenails cut off, as well as his ears), and [[eunuch|gelded]]. His disfigurement was known to cause new ladies at court to faint at the sight of him. In response, Tyland began to wear a silken hood over his head on formal occasions.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

Tyland was a cunning man, and his wits remained sharp even after his torture. A tireless royal servant and able in his high offices, Tyland demonstrated a dogged loyalty to King [[Aegon III Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} Tyland always spoke to Aegon III gently and treated him with deference, preferring to guide the young king rather than command him.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}

==History==
===Early life===
The younger twin brother of [[Jason Lannister]], Tyland was a second son denied the glory of a lordship, leaving him to find his own place in the world.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} When Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] visited the [[westerlands]] in {{Date|112}}, Tyland and Jason vied for the hand of the princess during a feast at [[Casterly Rock]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Both the twins showered her with gifts without success.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}

Eventually, Tyland was appointed [[master of ships]] and [[lord admiral]] by King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], sitting as one of the youngest members of the [[small council]] alongside Lord [[Larys Strong]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}

===The Dance of the Dragons===
On the night of the death of King Viserys I, Tyland gathered with the other members of the small council in Dowager Queen [[Alicent Hightower]]'s chambers. There, they discussed the succession until dawn. During the meeting, Tyland pointed out that many of the [[lord]]s who had sworn to defend the succession of Princess Rhaenyra back in {{Date|105}} were long dead. He remarked that it had been twenty-four years, and that he himself swore no such oath, as he had been a child at the time. Ultimately, the small council sided in favour of [[Aegon II Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

At the start of the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Ser Tyland was named [[master of coin]] by Queen Alicent, replacing Lord [[Lyman Beesbury]], who had been murdered for his support of Princess Rhaenyra. Upon his appointment, Tyland acted at once to seize the royal treasury. The crown's [[gold]] was divided into four parts. One part was entrusted to the care of the [[Iron Bank of Braavos]] for safekeeping, another sent to [[Casterly Rock]], and a third to [[Oldtown]]. The remaining wealth was used by the [[greens]] for bribes and gifts, and hiring [[sellsword]]s.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

When Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] was the [[Regent|Prince Regent]] and [[Protector of the Realm]], Tyland favored Aemond's suggestion of bringing battle to Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and chastising the rebellious river lords.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} On behalf of his twin's favored position at court, Lord Jason had sided with the greens and led the a large host from the westerlands in support of Aegon II, but died at the [[Battle at the Red Fork]] in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}} When Rhaenyra [[Fall of King's Landing|took King's Landing]] in {{Date|130}}, Tyland was among the members of the court who emerged from [[Maegor's Holdfast]]. Tyland was taken and given to Rhaenyra's [[torture]]rs, in the hopes that some of the Crown's treasury could be recovered.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}} Tyland refused to tell where the gold had been sent to, despite being blinded, [[eunuch|gelded]], and mutilated by the torturers.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

Bankrupt and unable to locate the crown's gold, Rhaenyra fled the capital. Ser Tyland was released by the [[gutter knights]] of Ser [[Perkin the Flea]], who had seized the [[Red Keep]] to install his [[squire]], [[Trystane Truefyre]], as king on the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} After the city was taken back by the greens, Tyland was re-installed as master of coin. As the armies of the enemy were preparing to march on King's Landing, he suggested sailing to [[Lys]] or [[Tyrosh]] to hire sellsword companies to fight for Aegon II, but [[Corlys Velaryon]] insisted that Tyland could never return with the sellswords in time. When King Aegon II suggested sending Rhaenyra's son, Prince [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]], to the [[Wall]], or gelding him to ensure Rhaenyra's line would end with her only remaining son, Tyland argued for a harsher course. He suggested Aegon's execution, insisting that Aegon would always be a threat to the king, as long as he lived.{{Ref|FAB|The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}

Tyland, alongside Ser [[Marston Waters]] and Ser [[Julian Wormwood]], was later dispatched across the [[narrow sea]] to find sellswords in [[Pentos]], [[Tyrosh]], and [[Myr]].{{Ref|FAB|The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}

===Hand of the King===
While Tyland was away in Myr, Aegon II was murdered, and was succeeded by the young Aegon III, Rhaenyra's son. Tyland's late brother's widow, Lady [[Johanna Lannister]], arranged to return Casterly Rock's portion of the crown's gold in exchange for a royal pardon for Tyland.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} Tyland returned to [[King's Landing]] from [[Myr]] shortly afterwards, and was made [[Hand of the King]] for Aegon III at the start of his [[Regency of Aegon III|regency]]. Tyland began wearing a silken hood over his head on formal occasions, as ladies new to court were known to faint when seeing his severely disfigured face. His hood, however, gave cause to whispers among the [[smallfolk]], who considered him a malign masked [[sorcerer]], and began calling him "the hooded hand".{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

Despite having previously served King Aegon II and having argued for the death of Aegon III before his coronation, Tyland served the new king loyally. He insisted that he could no longer recall who had sided with the [[blacks]] and who had sided with the [[greens]]. Tyland set out to restore trade to the [[Seven Kingdoms]], which had collapsed during the war. He abolished the taxes that had been enacted by Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] and her master of coin, Lord [[Bartimos Celtigar]]. He gave out loans for rebuilding the holdings which had been destroyed during the war. He ordered the construction of three huge fortified granaries throughout the kingdom, and had them filled with grain. He further ordered the repair and restoration of the [[Dragonpit]], strengthened the city gates, and announced the funding for the construction of fifty new [[ship|war galleys]],{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} although only ten were eventually commissioned.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}

When war erupted once more in the [[Stepstones]], Tyland refused the offers made by envoys from [[Pentos]], [[Braavos]], and [[Lorath]] to form an alliance against [[Racallio Ryndoon]], insisting to the regents of Aegon III that it was wiser to keep out of the wars of the [[Free Cities]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} When the former [[Grand Maester]] [[Orwyle]] was discovered and arrested in early {{Date|132}}, the [[small council]] declared him an oathbreaker and sentenced him to death. However, Tyland insisted that, as the office of [[King's Justice]] had not yet been filled, the execution should be put on hold since he himself was not able to perform the execution. Tyland had Orwyle confined to a large, airy, comfortable tower cell and provided him with ink and parchment so he could continue to write his confessions. Tyland was in no hurry to fill the vacancy of the King's Justice, and Orwyle remained comfortably imprisoned for two years. [[Mushroom]] and [[Septon]] [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]] both believed that the old friendship between Tyland and Orwyle, and the recollection of all they had endured, influenced Tyland's decisions regarding Orwyle.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

In {{Date|132}}, following the sudden death of Lord Corlys Velaryon, the [[Regency of Aegon III|council of regents]] began to discuss the matter of Aegon's heir. His half-sisters, [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]], were considered to be the only two claimants the realm would likely accept as the childless king's heirs. Despite the fact that Baela was the elder twin, the council considered Rhaena more suitable, as she was the less willful and more tractable of the two. Furthermore, Rhaena had her dragon, [[Morning]], unlike Baela, whose [[Moondancer]] had died during the [[fall of Dragonstone]]. When [[Myles Mooton]] noted that Rhaena only had a hatchling, Lord [[Roland Westerling]] further pointed out that Baela had taken down King Aegon II, and that there were many who would be angered should she be crowned. [[Grand Maester]] [[Munkun]] attempted to end the debate, insisting that both Baela and Rhaena were female and thus disqualified altogether, as that the [[Dance of the Dragons]] had shown that they had to favor the male claimant per the ruling of the [[Great Council of 101 AC]]. However, Tyland pointed out that all the male claimants had been killed. The council eventually agreed that Baela should be wed to [[Thaddeus Rowan]], [[Lord of Goldengrove]]. However, when Baela was informed of the match, she strongly disagreed, as Rowan was forty years her senior and very overweight. Possibly with intent to be provocative, she claimed to Ser Tyland that she had bedded two of Rowan's sons. The Hand subsequently had Baela confined to her rooms until the next meeting of the regents. Baela escaped her confinement and fled to [[Driftmark]], to marry her cousin Lord [[Alyn Velaryon]]. When some of the regents urged Tyland to appeal to the [[High Septon]] to annul the marriage, Tyland instead spread the word that the [[marriage]] had been arranged by the royal court, to prevent people from learning about Baela's defiance of the council. When discussions began on a husband for Baela's sister, Rhaena, Tyland insisted on including Rhaena in the discussions.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

Late in {{Date|132}}, a number of [[broken men]] and predatory outlaws began to gather at [[Harrenhal]] under the rule of a sorcerous "witch queen". When tales reached King's Landing, Ser Tyland tasked Ser [[Regis Groves]] of the [[Kingsguard]] to reclaim the castle. Ser Regis took fifty men, and was met at [[Darry|Castle Darry]] by Ser [[Damon Darry]], leading another fifty men. However, when Ser Regis arrived at Harrenhal, he found the gates closed and hundreds of armed men on the battlements. The alleged witch queen was revealed to be [[Alys Rivers]], who claimed to be the widow of Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]]. She presented a young boy as their trueborn son, who she said was the rightful king instead of [[Aegon III Targaryen]]. Regis abruptly died after insulting Alys; some claim she used [[magic]] to burst his skull, while others state he was killed by crossbowmen or slingers. Alys's rabble then rode from Harrenhal and overwhelmed Regis and Damon's men. Damon led thirty-two survivors back to Castle Darry, where a survivor of the fight was sent by Alys, insisting he had seen a [[dragon]] at Harrenhal. When his story was laughed at, the messenger choked to death in moments, just as Alys had predicted he would if anyone laughed at him, with some saying they had seen the imprints of a woman's fingers on his throat.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

[[File:The death of Tyland Lannister by Doug Wheatley.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Tyland Lannister dies from [[Winter Fever]], attended by King [[Aegon III Targaryen]] and [[Septon]] [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]]. By Douglas Wheatley, from ''[[Fire & Blood]]''.]]
Back in King's Landing, Tyland was troubled by the death of a Kingsguard knight. Lord [[Unwin Peake]] disbelieved Damon's claims of dragons and magic, however, and the other regents agreed with Unwin's conclusion that outlaws were to blame. As the year ended, Aegon's regents concluded they would need to gather a larger force to recapture Harrenhal. But before Ser Tyland could organize an assault, the [[Winter Fever]] arrived in King's Landing. On the third day of {{Date|133}}, Grand Maester Munkun examined dockside [[whore]]s and sailors struck with fever, and sent an urgent message to the Hand regarding the epidemic. Tyland acted immediately to curb the spread of the disease, ordering the [[gold cloaks]] to close the city gates and keep anyone from entering or leaving the city. He also had the gates of the [[Red Keep]] closed, to keep the disease from the king and court, though this was unfortunately not effective.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

Tyland continued working throughout King's Landing's fight with the Winter Fever, suffering no more than exhaustion. However, when the worst had past and there were almost no new cases, Tyland himself fell ill. He died after only two days, in the presence of Septon Eustace and King Aegon III, who held his hand as Tyland took his last breath.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

===Legacy===
Tyland is not remembered fondly, partly due to his physical appearance after being tortured, and partly due to his actions during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. Some [[blacks]] hated him for having urged King [[Aegon II Targaryen]] to put [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]] to death, and some [[greens]] hated him for serving Aegon III faithfully in the aftermath of the war. Leaving behind no wife or children, there were few to mourn him when he passed. His veiled face had led to tales that his visage was monstrous and evil, and some called him craven for keeping the [[Seven Kingdoms]] out of the [[Daughters' War]], and for not effectively curbing the raids of Lord [[Dalton Greyjoy]] in the west.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} Tyland had come to be perceived as a weak and ineffectual Hand, yet somehow sinister, scheming, and monstrous.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}

[[Archmaester]] [[Gyldayn]] noted that Tyland was a tireless and effective man, nothing that his cunning in relocating the crown's gold had sown the seeds of Rhaenyra's downfall and her eventual death, yet he continued to serve as a faithful and able servant to her son as Hand of the King.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} In that office, Tyland was replaced by Lord [[Unwin Peake]] of [[Starpike]], though Aegon III resented Lord Peake's brusque and forceful personality, and preferred the kindness and deference that Tyland had shown to the young king.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}

==Quotes by Tyland==
{{Quote|I myself swore no such oath. I was a child at the time.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}|Tyland, to the [[small council]] of [[Viserys I Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|[[Aegon III Targaryen|The boy]] will remain a threat so long as he draws breath. Remove his head, and [[blacks|these traitors]] will be left with neither queen nor king nor prince. The sooner he is dead, the sooner [[Dance of the Dragons|this rebellion]] will end.{{Ref|FAB|The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}|Tyland, to the small council of [[Aegon II Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|It would be a grave mistake for [[Westeros]] to become embroiled in the endless quarrels of the [[Free Cities]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}|Tyland, to the [[Regency of Aegon III|council of regents]]}}

{{Quote|'''Munkun:''' We must abide by primogeniture, as the [[Great Council]] [[Great Council of 101 AC|ruled in 101]]. The male claim comes before the female. '''Tyland:''' And who is this male claimant, my lord? We seem to have killed them all.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}|Grand Maester [[Munkun]] and Tyland, to the [[Regency of Aegon III|council of regents]]}}

==Quotes about Tyland==
{{Quote|A monster who hides his twisted face from [[gods]] and men.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}|an unnamed [[smallfolk]] preacher}}

==Family==
Tyland was the younger twin brother of [[Jason Lannister]], the [[Lord of Casterly Rock]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} He may have been the son of Lord [[Tymond Lannister]]. Tyland never married nor had any children.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}
{{Lannister tree Dance}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=before|unknlast=[[Corlys Velaryon]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Master of ships]] [[Lord admiral]]|years=?–{{Date|129}}|under=[[Viserys I Targaryen]]}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Corlys Velaryon]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Lyman Beesbury]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Master of coin]]|years={{Date|129|131}}|under=[[Aegon II Targaryen]]}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after|unknnext=[[Isembard Arryn]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Cregan Stark]]}}
{{S-ttl|order=21st|title=[[Hand of the King]]|years={{Date|131|133}}|under=[[Aegon III Targaryen]]}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Unwin Peake]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Master of ships}}
{{Master of coin}}
{{Hands of the King}}
{{Viserys I small council}}
{{Aegon II small council}}
{{Aegon III small council}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lannister, Tyland}}
[[Category:House Lannister|Tyland Lannister]]
[[Category:1st century AC births]]
[[Category:133 AC deaths]]
[[Category:Admirals]]
[[Category:Blind characters]]
[[Category:Casualties of the Winter Fever]]
[[Category:Characters from the Westerlands]]
[[Category:Characters with blond hair]]
[[Category:Earless characters]]
[[Category:Eunuchs]]
[[Category:Greens]]
[[Category:Hands of the King]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:Maimed characters]]
[[Category:Masters of coin]]
[[Category:Masters of ships]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon II Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Trystane Truefyre's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon III Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Twins]]

[[es:Tyland Lannister]]
[[fr:Tyland Lannister]]
[[nl:Tyland Lannister]]
[[pt:Tyland Lannister]]
[[ru:Тайленд Ланнистер]]
[[zh:泰兰·兰尼斯特]]

Jonah Mooton

2024-07-31T16:52:01Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| firstname = Jonah
| lastname = Mooton
| arms = Mooton
| title = Lord
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title = [[Lord of Maidenpool]]{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
| Allegiance = [[House Mooton]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Rivermen]]
| Spouse = Lady [[Perianne Moore]]
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms =
| Played_by =
| TV_series =
}}

'''Jonah Mooton''' was the heir to, and later Lord of [[Maidenpool]] and head of [[House Mooton]] during the reign of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

==History==
Jonah Mooton, [[Roy Connington|Red Roy Connington]], and [[Braxton Beesbury]] became the three male favorites of Princess [[Saera Targaryen]] in {{Date|82}}. Jonah, Roy, Braxton, Saera, [[Alys Turnberry]], and [[Perianne Moore]] became inseparable at every feast and ball, hunted and [[hawk]]ed together, and once sailed across [[Blackwater Bay]] to [[Dragonstone]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

In {{Date|84}}, Jonah, Roy, and Braxton were found drunk at the [[Blue Pearl]], a brothel in [[King's Landing]], laughing as the king's [[fool]], [[Tom Turnip]], was surrounded by [[Prostitution|whores]]. When asked by men of the [[City Watch of King's Landing|City Watch]], Roy admitted they thought it would be funny to see the fool do the deed, and Jonah laughed, saying it had been Saera's notion, praising her cleverness.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

When Perianne and Alys were questioned about the incident, it was revealed that Alys was pregnant outside of wedlock, and that Saera had coerced them into sexual acts with her male favorites. Jonah, Roy, and Braxton were then imprisoned in the [[Black cells|dungeons]] for one night.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

When questioned by King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys]] and Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]], Saera defended herself by saying Jonah Mooton said he loved her. She confessed that she had given her maidenhead to all three of her male favorites, with each of them thinking he was the first. She proposed a solution of redemption by [[Polygamy|marrying all three]] of her favorites, like King [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor]] and his six wives, which the king grew furious at.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

A hasty [[marriage]] was arranged for Perianne to Jonah, with the king telling him he could play a part in her redemption as he had played a part in her ruin. The marriage was a success, and they later ruled together as Lord and Lady of Maidenpool. King Jaehaerys later asked Lord Jonah and Lady Perianne to keep watch for Saera after she fled from her punishment in [[Oldtown]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=before|unknlast=[[Jirelle Mooton]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Lord of Maidenpool]]}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after|unknnext=[[Walys Mooton]]}}
{{S-end}}

[[Category:House Mooton]]
[[Category:Characters from the Riverlands|Mooton, Jonah]]
[[Category:Favorites of Saera Targaryen|Mooton, Jonah]]
[[Category:Lords of Maidenpool]]
[[Category:Members of Jaehaerys I Targaryen's court|Mooton, Jonah]]
[[Category:Nobles|Mooton, Jonah]]

[[es:Jonah Mooton]]
[[fr:Jonah Mouton]]

Saera Targaryen

2024-07-31T15:41:53Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Distinguish|Shaera Targaryen}}
{{Infobox character
| arms = Targaryen
| title = Princess
| firstname = Saera
| lastname = Targaryen
| image = [[File:Saera_Targaryen_(2)_by_Riotarttherite.png|350px|]]
| image_caption = Saera Targaryen by © [https://riotarttherite.tumblr.com/ Riotarttherite]
| Alias =
| Title = [[Prince]]ss
| Allegiance = [[House Targaryen]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]
| Mother = [[Alysanne Targaryen]]
| Spouse =
| Lover = Ser [[Braxton Beesbury]] Lord [[Roy Connington]] Lord [[Jonah Mooton]] [[Triarch of Volantis]]
| Issue = At least three [[bastard]] sons
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|67}}{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death = In or after {{Date|101}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued3)#Saera Targaryen|Saera Targaryen]] calculation.''</ref>
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned)
| Coat-of-arms =
}}

Princess '''Saera Targaryen''' was the ninthborn child and fifthborn daughter of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] and Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]].

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Saera Targaryen{{!}}Images of Saera Targaryen}}
Saera was a pretty girl. She was taller than her sister [[Daella Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daella]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

Saera was a courageous and clever, girl, in her own way as clever as her brother [[Vaegon Targaryen|Vaegon]]. She was just as strong, quick and spirited as her sister [[Alyssa Targaryen|Alyssa]]. Saera was tempestuous, demanding, and disobedient. Her first word was "''no''", which she said often and loudly. She was very vocal about wanting her mother's milk and became furious whenever another [[wet nurse]] was dismissed. Queen Alysanne is known to have compared Saera in her temperament to her cousin [[Aerea Targaryen]]. According to [[Archmaester]] [[Gyldayn]], however, Aerea had been very well-behaved compared to Saera. Saera was a fierce and stubborn young girl who thrived upon attention and became bad-tempered whenever she did not receive any.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

It was difficult to resist Saera when she wanted to be charming. Saera quickly learned how to get anything she wanted from her father. However, she could not as easily manipulate her mother, Queen Alysanne. Although her eldest two brothers, [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon]] and [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon]], were always amused by Saera's mischiefs, they never knew the worst of them, and according to [[Septon]] [[Barth]], Saera's sisters all disliked her to various degrees.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

According to Grand Maester [[Elysar]], by the age of two Saera knew exactly what she wanted, and when she wanted it (“now”). According to Barth, however, who observed Saera at the age of twelve, Saera took it for her due that her every need was seen to, and desired to be the firstborn, or even the king's only child. As the ninthborn, however, with six living siblings to contest with, Saera desired attention and comfort, yet would often find herself ignored.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

==History==
===Early life===
Saera was born in {{Date|67}} as the ninth child and fifth daughter of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] and Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]]. She was a difficult child, and refused to be weaned until past the age of four. She was also given to mischief and pranks. Saera always sneaked cats into the bedchamber of her sister [[Daella Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daella]], knowing that Daella was afraid of cats, and once filled Daella's chamberpot with bees.<ref group="N">Daella had been frightened of gardens ever since a bee had almost stung her.</ref> When she was ten years old, Saera slipped into [[White Sword Tower]], stole all the white cloaks of the [[Kingsguard]] that she could get her hands on and dyed them pink. When she was seven, Saera learned when and how to slip into the kitchens, making off with all kinds of treats. Before she was eleven, she had taken to stealing alcoholic beverages instead. By the time she was twelve, she was often drunk when she was summoned to the [[sept]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

A frequent victim of Saera's pranks was [[Tom Turnip]], the [[court fool]]. Once, after a particularly cruel prank which resulted in Tom being injured, Saera's septa declared her to be "an evil child". Before she had even turned thirteen, Saera had already had half a dozen septas and as many bedmaids.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

In {{Date|73}}, after her parents had concluded that her siblings [[Vaegon Targaryen|Vaegon]] and Daella should not wed each other, Saera was briefly considered as a bride for Vaegon.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

After her [[flowering]], Saera took to the men at the royal court. When she was fourteen years old, Saera told her father that she wanted to become a queen like her mother, by wedding the [[Prince of Dorne]] or the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]]. When she saw a trader from the [[Summer Islands]], she declared that she might want to marry him as well. By the time she was fifteen, however, she had come to entertain other fantasies. At home, she could have as many young men, squires, [[knight]]s and lords, as she liked. She quickly had three favorites of all the men who attended her: [[Jonah Mooton]], the heir to [[Maidenpool]], [[Roy Connington]], the [[Lord of Griffin's Roost]], and Ser [[Braxton Beesbury]], the heir to [[Honeyholt]]. Meanwhile, two girls her own age, [[Perianne Moore]] and [[Alys Turnberry]], became Saera's closest friends. For more than a year, the three girls and young lordlings did everything together.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

King Jaehaerys considered all three of Saera's male favorites promising when considering a future husband for Saera. Queen Alysanne did not agree, and spoke of her doubts on Saera's companions, especially Ser Braxton. Jaehaerys waved her concerns away, claiming that Saera had never been alone with any of the men, as she was always attended by servants, and thus could not possibly get herself in trouble.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

===Scandal===
[[File:Saera Targaryen by Fkaluis.jpg|thumb|350px|Saera, by Fkaluis ©]]
In {{Date|84}}, two men of the [[City Watch of King's Landing]] rescued the court fool Tom Turnip from the whores at the [[Blue Pearl]], where the young lords Mooton, Connington, and Beesbury were amongst the drunken patrons laughing at the fool. When Mooton admitted the joke had been Saera's idea, the three lordlings were brought before Ser [[Robert Redwyne]], who brought them to King Jaehaerys, seated on the [[Iron Throne]]. When none of the three men dared to say a word about Saera, they were thrown in the [[black cells]]. Subsequently, Queen Alysanne called Saera's two friends, Lady Perianne Moore and Lady Alys Turnberry, to her to be questioned. Threatened with imprisonment, the two girls quickly revealed that the three girls had practiced at kissing, dressed at first, naked later on. When the girls dared each other to kiss a real boy, Saera had proclaimed she would kiss a man, which is where her three male favorites came in. According to Lady Perianne "''it was [Beesbury] who did the training for all of them.''" When asked where the servants had been during all they had done, the two girls informed the queen that they had simply been ordered to stay outside, and that the few who had known something, had been forced to keep quiet by Beesbury.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

Jaehaerys was subsequently informed, and had squires, grooms and maids questioned on the matter. Only then, Jaehaerys called Saera to him in the throne room. Jaehaerys scolded her for the joke regarding Tom and the Blue Pearl, after which Alysanne informed her they were aware that Alys Turnberry was pregnant. When informed of the imprisonment of her three favorite lordlings, Saera began to speak and within the span of an hour "went from denial to dismissal to quibbling to contrition to accusation to justification to defiance", according to Septon [[Barth]]. When Saera finally fell silent, Jaehaerys asked her whether she had given her [[maiden]]head to any of the three men, and Saera proclaimed that they all three believed they had been the first, saying that boys were such "silly fools". Saera declared she would be married, but that she could not decide which one of the three would be the best choice. When she suggested marrying all three of them, she compared herself to [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] and [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor the Cruel]]. The latter comparison enraged King Jaehaerys, who had her confined to her bedchamber. She had to be dragged there by the guards.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

The entire following day, Jaehaerys and Alysanne discussed what had to be done with Saera and her friends with Septon Barth and Grand Maester Elysar. King Jaehaerys, furious and ashamed, said more than once that Saera was no longer his daughter. Alysanne agreed that Saera needed to be punished, and moved Jaehaerys by telling him that, if he had been able to reconcile with the lords who had fought against him and his family, he could reconcile with Saera as well.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

According to Septon Barth, Jaehaerys might have been willing to forgive Saera, had she done as she had been told. Instead, Saera escaped her confinement that night and attempted to enter the [[Dragonpit]], only to be caught by the [[Dragonkeepers]]. Enraged by this attempt of stealing a [[dragon]], Jaehaerys had her confined to a tower cell, where [[Jonquil Darke]], Queen Alysanne's personal guard, stood watch over her every moment of the day. Saera's five companions in crime were dealt with. Ser Braxton Beesbury requested a [[trial by combat]], in which he faced King Jaehaerys himself. Saera was forced to watch from the window of her cell while her father slew her lover.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

Saera was sent to [[Oldtown]] and given to [[the Faith]] a fortnight later. At Oldtown, her older sister, Septa [[Maegelle Targaryen|Maegelle]], was to take charge of her instruction. It was announced that Saera would become a novice with the [[silent sisters]]. Septon Barth believed that Jaehaerys only meant the sentence to be a lesson, that he felt a few years of silent prayer, harsh discipline, and contemplation would be good for her and set her on the path to redemption, but that he did not intend for her to join the Faith in the end. However, Saera did not care for this plan. For a year and a half she endured cold baths, roughspun robes, meatless meals, having her head shaved and scrubbed with horsehair brushes, and being caned when she was disobedient. But in {{Date|85}} she fled from the motherhouse during the night, knocking down an older silent sister during her escape. Lord [[House Hightower|Hightower]]'s men searched every house in [[Oldtown]], but they found no trace of her. When she did not turn up at the [[Red Keep]] either, Jaehaerys ordered her former friends to keep out an eye for her.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

===Across the narrow sea===
[[File:Saera Targaryen by Laura Avellino.jpg|thumb|Saera, by Laura Avellino ©]]
Instead of hiding within the [[Seven Kingdoms]], however, Saera had found passage on a ship at Oldtown, which had brought her to [[Lys]]. There, she took service at a [[Pleasure house|pleasure garden]], still clad as a novice of the Faith, pretending to be a godsworn maiden for the patrons to despoil. This news reached the court half a year after Saera's escape from Oldtown. When Alysanne wept, saying the Lyseni had turned Saera into a whore, Jaehaerys proclaimed that she had always been one. After Saera's betrayal and abandonment, it is said that King Jaehaerys was never again the same as he had been.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

Jaehaerys forbade Alysanne from keeping in contact with Saera. Alysanne defied the king, however, and hired agents to keep watch over Saera. Following the death of three of Saera's sisters, Alyssa, Daella, and Viserra, within a span of five years, Queen Alysanne begged King Jaehaerys to bring Saera home. Jaehaerys refused to do so, declaring he did not want to hear her name again, and discouraged Alysanne from going to [[Lys]] herself.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

Alysanne would write to Saera every now and then, although Saera would never reply. Saera, infamous but wealthy, left Lys for [[Volantis]] a few years before {{Date|99}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} In Volantis, she became the proprietor of a famous pleasure house.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}

When King Jaehaerys called a [[Great Council]] in {{Date|101}} to settle the matter of his succession, three [[bastard]] sons of Saera - each fathered by a different man, one by a [[Triarch]] of Volantis - came to press their claims. Saera herself, though only thirty-four, decided not to press her own claim, boasting she had "her own kingdom" in Volantis. One of her bastard sons was said to be the very image of Jaehaerys in his youth.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

On his deathbed in {{Date|103}}, King Jaehaerys sometimes mistook Lady [[Alicent Hightower]], his caretaker, for his daughters. Near the end, he grew convinced that Alicent was Saera, returned from across the sea.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|Such a fierce little thing she is, they say, she has no need of comfort. They are wrong in that, I fear. All men need comfort.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}|[[Barth]] on Saera's character}}

{{Quote|I have my own kingdom [[Volantis|here]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|Saera, when asked if she meant to return to Westeros}}

==Family==
{{Targaryen tree Jaehaerys I}}

==Behind the Scenes==
In the earlier published Targaryen family tree as found in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'', Princess Saera was the twelfthborn child of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] and Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]], while her brother [[Valerion Targaryen|Valerion]] was the ninthborn child.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}} For ''[[Fire & Blood]]'', Saera and Valerion were switched in their order of birth, making Saera the ninthborn and Valerion the twelfthborn. Besides this change, several other children of Jaehaerys and Alysanne were shifted in their order of birth,<ref group="N">Prince [[Valerion Targaryen|Valerion]], originally Jaehaerys's and Alysanne's ninth child, and Princess [[Saera Targaryen|Saera]], originally their twelfth born child, have been switched in birth order, making Saera the ninth born and Valerion their twelfth born. Four other children have shifted in their birth orders as well. Princess [[Alyssa Targaryen|Alyssa]] was changed from the secondborn to the fifthborn, Princess [[Daella Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daella]] subsequently from being the fifthborn to the eighthborn child, and Princess [[Maegelle Targaryen|Maegelle]] from eighthborn to the sixthborn. Lastly, Prince [[Aeryn Targaryen|Aeryn]], originally the sixthborn, has been exchanged for Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daenerys]], who has become the secondborn child of the king and queen.</ref> while the character of Prince Aeryn Targaryen was exchanged entirely for Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daenerys]]. Regarding these changes, Elio Garcia has stated the following:

{{Quote|''... [[George R. R. Martin|George]] had some new ideas for some of the names and the stories of the children who died young, and corrected some issues that came out of his original birth order (we actually got the names of all the kids quite late in the production of [[The World of Ice & Fire|TWoIaF]]—literally a month before we had to finalize the book—so there was not much time to interrogate it). However, the stories of those who live to adulthood, as published in TWoIaF, do remain the same (just, of course, much more detailed).<ref>Westeros.org: [https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/147116-fire-and-blood-volume-1/&page=17&tab=comments#comment-8210126 FIRE AND BLOOD Volume 1 (July 21, 2018)]</ref>}}

The scandal of {{Date|84}} may have been inspired by the [[w:Tour de Nesle affair|Tour de Nesle affair]].

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:House Targaryen]]
[[Category:67 AC births|Targaryen, Saera]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Targaryen, Saera]]
[[Category:Courtesans|Targaryen, Saera]]
[[Category:Members of Jaehaerys I Targaryen's court|Targaryen, Saera]]
[[Category:Noblewomen|Targaryen, Saera]]
[[Category:Pleasure house and brothel proprietors|Targaryen, Saera]]
[[Category:Prostitutes|Targaryen, Saera]]

[[es:Saera Targaryen]]
[[fr:Saera Targaryen]]
[[pt:Saera Targaryen]]
[[ru:Сейра Таргариен]]

Sowing

2024-07-31T02:25:12Z

Noneofyourbusiness: /* The Sowing */

{{stub}}
{{For|the television episode|The Red Sowing (TV)}}
The '''Sowing''', known by many as '''the Red Sowing''' and dubbed '''the Sowing of the Seeds''' by [[Grand Maester]] [[Munkun]], was an event in {{Date|129}} during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].

==Prelude==
Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] had been broken by childbirth, betrayal, and the death of her son [[Lucerys Velaryon]]. Following the death of Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] and her [[dragon]] [[Meleys]] at [[Rook's Rest]], Rhaenyra received the blame from Rhaenys's husband, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]. Her eldest son, [[Jacaerys Velaryon]], stepped forth and took charge, sending most of his siblings to safety, with only his half-sister and betrothed [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]] remaining on [[Dragonstone]]. Jacaerys next named Lord Corlys as Rhaenyra's [[Hand of the Queen]], and together with him began to plan an assault on [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}

At King's Landing, only [[Vhagar]] and [[Dreamfyre]] remained to defend the city, and Dreamfyre's rider, Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]], had sunken into madness and was unable to fly her. Although none of the dragons on Rhaenyra's side could match Vhagar, Jacaerys expressed belief that [[Vermax]], [[Syrax]], and [[Caraxes]] combined should be able to defeat the older dragon.{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}

Regardless, a call was made out to all "[[dragonseeds]]", [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] [[bastard]]s or their descendants. Prince Jacaerys promised [[knight]]hood, lands and wealth to anyone who could [[Dragonrider|master]] a dragon.{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}

==The Sowing==
The attempt of the many men and some women to claim a dragon became known as the Sowing. Besides "dragonseeds", a score of Rhaenyra's household [[knights]], including Ser [[Steffon Darklyn]], made an attempt, as did squires, scullions, sailors, men-at-arms, mummers, and two of Rhaenyra's maids. According to [[Mushroom]], he made an attempt as well, giving a long account of his attempt to mount [[Silverwing]] in his ''[[The Testimony of Mushroom|Testimony]]''.{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}

According to [[Munkun]]'s ''[[True Telling]]'', sixteen men died during the Sowing, and forty-eight men were burned or maimed. One of those who died was Ser Steffon Darklyn, who attempted to mount [[Seasmoke]] but was burned to death. Lord [[Gormon Massey]] was burned to death in his attempt to claim [[Vermithor]]. [[Silver Denys]], supposedly a [[bastard]] son of King [[Maegor I Targaryen]], was maimed when [[Sheepstealer]] tore one of his arms off, and was devoured with his sons when the [[Cannibal]] arrived.{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}

In the end, [[Seasmoke]] was claimed by [[Addam of Hull]], whose [[Marilda|mother]] named him a bastard son of [[Laenor Velaryon]], Queen Rhaenyra's late first husband. Vermithor was claimed by [[Hugh Hammer]], a blacksmith's bastard, and [[Silverwing]] by [[Ulf the White]]. Addam's younger brother, [[Alyn of Hull]], attempted to claim [[Sheepstealer]], but suffered burns and was eventually saved by his brother. The dragon killed many of the others who sought to ride him. Sheepstealer was claimed by a girl called [[Nettles]], who brought him sheep every day until the dragon accepted her. [[Grey Ghost]] hid from all, and [[The Cannibal]] was out right avoided.{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}

==Aftermath==
Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] asked Rhaenyra to remove the taint of [[bastardy]] from [[Addam Velaryon|Addam]] and his brother [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn]], making them true [[House Velaryon|Velaryons]], and he named Addam heir to [[Driftmark]].{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}

Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] planned to fly together with the new-found [[dragonriders]] on [[King's Landing]] on the first full moon of {{Date|130}}. Yet as the year drew to a close, news reached [[Dragonstone]] of the attack on the ''[[Gay Abandon]]'', which had been escorting Jacaerys's half-brothers [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]], and its escorts by ships from the [[Triarchy]]. Instead of an attack on King's Landing, Jacaerys and his fellow dragonriders flew against the Triachy's fleet and fought them in the [[Battle of the Gullet]]. Jacaerys and his dragon [[Vermax]] died during the battle.{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}

==References==
{{references}}

{{Dance of the Dragons}}

[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:Dance of the Dragons]]

[[fr:Semaison rouge]]
[[pt:Semeadura]]

Dragon egg/Theories

2024-07-05T18:00:03Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}
It is theorized that the [[dragon egg]]s of unknown parentage that [[Elissa Farman]] stole from the [[Dragonstone]] hatcheries in {{Date|54}}{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} were the same petrified eggs that [[Illyrio Mopatis]] gifted to [[Daenerys Targaryen]] in {{Date|297}},{{Ref|AGoT|11}} those that hatched into [[Drogon]], [[Viserion]], and [[Rhaegal]].

==Supporting evidence==
*Elissa steals exactly three eggs, before taking ship to [[Pentos]].{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
*According to [[Grand Maester]] [[Benifer]], the eggs would most likely turn to stone whilst away from [[Dragonstone]].{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
*[[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] states that the petrified dragon eggs could end up in the possession of a Pentoshi [[spice]]monger.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} Illyrio Mopatis is a Pentoshi merchant who deals in spices and other luxuries.{{Ref|AGoT|3}}
*The first promotion for ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' stated that the question of the origin of Daenerys’s three dragon eggs would be answered in that book.<ref>georgerrmartin.com: [https://georgerrmartin.com/grrm_book/fire-and-blood/ FIRE AND BLOOD]</ref>

==Counter-evidence==
*Elissa did not sell the eggs in Pentos, but to the [[Sealord of Braavos|Sealord]] of [[Braavos]],{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} which Jaehaerys eventually learned.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
*[[Illyrio Mopatis]] states that the eggs are from the [[Shadow Lands]], and eons old.{{Ref|AGoT|11}} It is unknown how the eggs might have gone from Braavos to the lands beyond [[Asshai]], and then back to the [[Free Cities]], while losing their provenance (as Illyrio would have surely told Daenerys they were Targaryen dragon eggs, if he knew, as that would have made them even more special to her).
*The actual printed book jacket copy for ''Fire & Blood'' makes no mention of Daenerys's dragon eggs.<ref>[https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/556963/ PenguinRandomHouse.com: Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin]</ref>
*In [[Not A Blog|his blog]] post about ''Fire & Blood'', when asked about Daenerys's eggs by a fan, [[George R.R. Martin]] said that was not his text:<ref name=notablog>[[Not A Blog]]: [https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2018/04/25/fire-blood-on-the-way/#comment-823 FIRE & BLOOD : On The Way (comment thread)] (April 25, 2018)</ref>
{{Quote|'''Targaryen Loyalist''' (May 1, 2018 at 8:41 pm) 
:Thank you, Mr. Martin! Can’t wait to find out the origins of Dany’s babies. ❤️ And everything else in between.
'''grrm''' (May 1, 2018 at 11:42 pm) 
:Uh… I never said anything about Dany, that was added by Bantam. Please disregard.
'''RJ Morrison''' (May 2, 2018 at 1:21 am) 
:Was the part about finding out why travellers can’t go to [[Valyria]] accurate or was that an addition by them as well?
'''grrm''' (May 2, 2018 at 6:12 am) 
:Hmmmm… well, I think some of the hype is overblown but that is the nature of advertising. There are a few bits and scenes and suggestions in the text from which one can extrapolate certain things and concoct theories… but in the case of things like Valyria and the dragon eggs, it is all ''possible'' answers, not meant to be definitive.<ref name=notablog />}}

==References==
{{references}}
[[Category:Theories]]

Corlys Velaryon

2024-07-01T13:49:14Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{About|the Master of Driftmark during the Dance of the Dragons
|the ship|Sea Snake
|the planned television series|The Sea Snake
|the first Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Corlys Velaryon (son of Daemon)
|the supporter of Stannis Baratheon|Corliss Penny}}
{{Infobox character
| title = Lord
| firstname = Corlys
| lastname = Velaryon
| arms = Velaryon
| epithet = the Sea Snake
| image = Z37tvql2m6m71.png
| image_caption = Art by Eve Venture, from the Unseen Westeros exhibition.
| Alias = The Sea Snake The Snake{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]] [[Lord of the Tides]] [[Master of Driftmark]] [[Lord admiral]] [[Master of ships]] [[Hand of the King|Hand of the Queen]] [[Regent|Lord Regent]] Captain of the ''[[Cod Queen]]'' Captain of the ''[[Summer Maid]]'' Captain of the ''[[Ice Wolf]]'' Captain of the ''[[Sea Snake]]''
| Allegiance = [[House Velaryon]] [[Blacks]] (formerly) [[Greens]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = [[Corwyn Velaryon]]
| Mother =
| Spouse = Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]]
| Lover = [[Marilda of Hull]] (rumored){{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
| Issue = [[Laena Velaryon]] [[Laenor Velaryon]] [[Addam Velaryon]] (rumored) [[Alyn Velaryon]] (rumored)
| Place_of_Birth = [[Driftmark]]{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under Jaehaerys I}}
| Date_of_Birth = early {{Date|53}}{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under Jaehaerys I}}<ref group="N">Corlys was born in the first half of the year {{Date|53}} since he was born earlier than but in the same year as Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daenerys Targaryen]] who was born in the seventh [[moon]] ''([[Fire & Blood]] - Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I)''. Moreover he is noted to have died at the age of 79 on the sixth day of the third moon of {{Date|132}}. As 132 AC is the year he would have turned 79, this means Corlys's [[name day]] had already occured that year prior to his death. Therefore Corlys's name day is early in the year in between the first day of the first moon and the sixth day of the third moon.</ref>
| Place_of_Death = [[Red Keep]], [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}
| Date_of_Death = 6th day of the 3rd moon of {{Date|132}} (aged 79){{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = [[w:Steve Toussaint|Steve Toussaint]]
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[House of the Dragon - Season 2|2]]
}}

'''Corlys Velaryon''', known as '''the Sea Snake''', was a fabled [[Lord of the Tides]], [[Master of Driftmark|Master]] of [[Driftmark]], and head of [[House Velaryon]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Red Kraken}} In his younger years he made nine [[great voyages]] on ''[[Sea Snake]]'', a ship he designed and built himself. Corlys was the husband of Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]], the Queen Who Never Was. During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], he became [[Hand of the King|Hand]] to Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Corlys is portrayed by [[w:Steve Toussaint|Steve Toussaint]].<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref>

==Character==
[[File:Corlys Velaryon by Chillyravenart.png |thumb|right|350px|Corlys Velaryon, by Chillyravenart ©]]
By the of age seven-and-thirty, Corlys was hailed as the greatest seafarer the [[Seven Kingdoms]] had ever known.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Corlys was said to be as brilliant as he was restless, and as adventurous as he was ambitious. Though he accomplished much and more in life, he was seldom satisfied.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Corlys was known to be intractable, even in old age.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}} He was remembered as wise in peace and valiant in war.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} He was a proud man.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Queen [[Alicent Hightower]] thought him arrogant.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

During his elder years, Corlys liked to say that he was clinging to life "like a drowning sailor clinging to the wreckage of a sunken ship".{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

==History==
===Early life===
Corlys was born in {{Date|53}} at [[Driftmark]] to [[Corwyn Velaryon]] and his lady wife.{{ref|trotd|6}}{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under Jaehaerys I}} Corwyn in turn was the eldest son of Lord [[Daemon Velaryon (son of Aethan)|Daemon Velaryon]].{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under Jaehaerys I}} He was [[named after]] his great-granduncle, Ser [[Corlys Velaryon (son of Daemon)|Corlys Velaryon]], who served King [[Aegon I Targaryen]] as the first [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under Jaehaerys I}}

Corlys took to the sea at a young age, first crossing the [[narrow sea]] to [[Pentos]] with an uncle when he was only six. Corlys would make such voyages every year that followed, working on the ships as a member of the crew. According to the captains he served under, they had never seen such a natural sailor as Corlys. He became a captain himself at the age of sixteen, when he sailed the ''[[Cod Queen]]'' from [[Driftmark]] to [[Dragonstone]] and back.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} By the age of twenty-three, Corlys was already a celebrated mariner.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} Corlys sailed to [[Oldtown]], [[Lannisport]], [[Lordsport]], [[Lys]], [[Tyrosh]], Pentos, and [[Myr]]. He sailed the ''[[Summer Maid]]'' to [[Volantis]] and the [[Summer Isles]], and he took ''Ice Wolf'' to [[Braavos]], [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]], [[Hardhome]], [[Lorath]], and the [[Port of Ibben]]. He also took ''Ice Wolf'' [[beyond the Wall]], but was unsuccessful in finding a northerly route in the [[Shivering Sea]] around [[Westeros]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Corlys was [[knight]]ed at some point.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

Corlys sailed aboard his ''[[Sea Snake]]'', a ship he designed and built, on nine [[great voyages]] to [[Essos]]. During his first voyage, he sailed beyond the [[Jade Gates]] at [[Qarth]] to [[Yi Ti]] and [[Leng]]. Corlys returned with treasures like [[silk]], [[spices]], and [[jade]], doubling the wealth of [[House Velaryon]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} His second voyage took him to [[Asshai]], where he "lost his love and half his crew", according to the stories. At Asshai, Corlys also saw a ship docked in the harbor that he believed to have been the ''[[Sun Chaser]]'' of [[Elissa Farman]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} Corlys's third voyage led to him becoming the first Westerosi to navigate the [[Thousand Islands]] in the Shivering Sea and visit [[Nefer]]{{Ref|AWOIAF|Nefer}} in [[N'ghai]] and [[Mossovy]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

During his ninth voyage on ''Sea Snake'', Corlys filled the ship's hold with gold and bought twenty more ships at Qarth, loading them with spices, [[elephants]], and silk. Only fourteen ships reached Driftmark and all the elephants died, but Corlys became vastly wealthy from the venture.{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} He took his nickname "Sea Snake" from his famous ship. Corlys's expeditions on the ''Sea Snake'' have been described by Maester [[Mathis]] in his book ''[[The Nine Voyages]]''.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}

===Lord of the Tides===
Ser Corlys became head of [[House Velaryon]] and [[Lord of the Tides]] after the death of his grandsire. Richer than Lords [[House Lannister|Lannister]] or [[House Hightower|Hightower]] through his expeditions, Lord Corlys used his great wealth to construct a new seat, [[High Tide]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}} where he stored his eastern treasures. The towns of [[Hull]] and [[Spicetown]] sprang up and drew trade away from [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|90}}, Corlys married the sixteen-year old Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]], the only child of Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon Targaryen]], who in turn was the eldest son of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]. Two years later, Corlys sailed his [[Velaryon fleet|fleet]] to [[Tarth]], to aid Prince Aemon in fighting the [[Myr]]ish exiles who had invaded the island. Shortly before they left, Corlys's wife announced she was pregnant. During the campaign, Prince Aemon died, leading King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] to appoint a new heir to the throne. He chose his second son [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon]] over Aemon's only heir, Rhaenys, thereby also passing over Corlys and Rhaenys's unborn child. Furious over this decision, Corlys gave up his admiralty and his place on the king's [[small council]] and returned to [[Driftmark]] with his wife.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}

In late {{Date|92}},<ref group="N">Earlier editions of ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' mentioned Rhaenys learning of her pregnancy in early 92 AC and giving birth to Laena in 93 AC. Later editions of ''Fire & Blood'' corrected Laena’s birth to late in the year 92 AC.</ref> Rhaenys gave birth to a daughter, [[Laena Velaryon|Laena]]. A son, [[Laenor Velaryon|Laenor]], followed in {{Date|94}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} When Prince Baelon died in {{Date|101}}, King Jaehaerys I's succession became unclear again, and reports reached the court that Corlys was gathering ships and men to defend the rights of his son.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}} When the king declared a [[Great Council]] would be held at [[Harrenhal]] to settle the succession, Corlys and his wife traveled there, using their wealth and influence to try and persuade the lords present to vote for Laenor, after Rhaenys and Laena had been passed over once again on account of their sex. Corlys' fame, reputation, and wealth did much to support Laenor's claim, but in the end, Baelon's son [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys]] received the majority of the votes, and was named [[Prince of Dragonstone]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}

Following the death of Queen [[Aemma Arryn]], in {{Date|105}}, [[Grand Maester]] [[Runciter]] suggested to King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] that he take Corlys's twelve-year-old daughter, Laena, to wife. King Viserys, however, chose [[Alicent Hightower]]. Angered by the third time his wife and children had been scorned by [[House Targaryen]], Corlys and his family did not attend the wedding in {{Date|106}}. Instead, he made an alliance with Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], King Viserys's younger brother, equally angered by the king's marriage. Corlys had suffered from the [[Triarchy]]'s rule over the [[Stepstones]], and together with Daemon was determined to conquer the Stepstones for themselves. The fighting began in {{Date|106}}, with Daemon leading their army and Corlys leading their fleet. They won many victories in the first few years, and by {{Date|109}} all but two of the islands and the waters in between were firmly under their control. When Daemon declared himself [[King of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea]], Corlys placed the crown upon his brow.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} No further involvement of Corlys in the conflicts have been reported after {{Date|109}}.

[[File:Meet the Velaryons by Chillyravenart.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]], [[Laena Velaryon]], [[Laenor Velaryon]], and Corlys Velaryon, by Chillyravenart ©]]
In {{Date|113}}, King Viserys I and his [[small council]] began discussions concerning a betrothal for Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], Viserys's heir. They eventually agreed on Corlys's son, Laenor. Laenor and Rhaenyra were married in {{Date|114}}. When Rhaenyra gave birth late that same year, Corlys overruled his son's wish and insisted that the child would be given a traditional Velaryon name. The boy was named [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]]. Two more sons, [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]], in {{Date|115}}, and [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]], in {{Date|117}}, would follow.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

By {{Date|115}}, Corlys's daughter Laena had been betrothed for nearly a decade to the son of a former [[Sealord of Braavos]]. After the Sealord had died, the son had proven to be a wastrel and a fool, who lost all of his family's wealth and power, after which he turned up on Driftmark. Corlys lacked a graceful way to break the betrothal, but was unwilling to let the marriage occur, and had thus repeatedly postponed the wedding over the years. When Prince Daemon Targaryen arrived on Driftmark and asked for Laena's hand in marriage, Corlys thus agreed. Daemon mocked the late Sealord's son until the latter demanded a duel, in which he was slain by Daemon. A fortnight later, Corlys saw Laena and Daemon wed. Through this marriage, Corlys would have two more grandchildren: the twin girls [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]], born in {{Date|116}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the first few days of {{Date|120}}, Corlys's daughter Laena died several days after giving birth to her third child, who had died within an hour after birth. His son, Laenor, died not long after, stabbed to death by Ser [[Qarl Correy]] while attending a fair in [[Spicetown]]. That same year, Lord [[Lyonel Strong]] and his son, Ser [[Harwin Strong|Harwin]], died during a fire at Harrenhal. While there are many stories concerning this fire, the court fool [[Mushroom]] claims Corlys had been involved in the fire, as revenge on Harwin cuckolding his son.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

When Corlys fell ill with a sudden fever in {{Date|126}}, the issue of the succession of [[Driftmark]] arose. As both of his children were dead, according to law Laenor's eldest son Jacaerys stood to inherit. However, Jacaerys, as the eldest son to the [[Princess of Dragonstone]], already stood to inherit the [[Iron Throne]] after his mother, and as such, Corlys was being urged by Rhaenyra to name her second son by Laenor, Lucerys, as his heir. However, the eldest of Corlys's six nephews, Ser [[Vaemond Velaryon]], insisted that he should be proclaimed heir, insisting that Rhaenyra's three sons by Laenor had in truth been fathered by the late Ser Harwin Strong. When Prince Daemon seized and executed Vaemond, Vaemond's wife, children, and siblings fled to King's Landing, where they were [[Silent five|punished]] by King Viserys I for repeating the rumors regarding the paternity of Rhaenyra's eldest children.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Corlys eventually recovered from his [[illness]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

===Dance of the Dragons===
[[File:The Blacks by naomimakesart.jpg|thumb|450px|The Blacks, by Naomimakesart ©]]
When King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] died in early {{Date|129}}, and the king's eldest son [[Aegon II Targaryen]] ascended the throne, passing over Viserys's appointed heir [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], Corlys traveled to [[Dragonstone]] to lend his support in the struggle to his former daughter-in-law. He sat on [[black council|Rhaenyra's council]] and was the greatest lord to pledge his strength to her cause. More than half of Rhaenyra's army was made up of men sworn to [[House Velaryon]]. Corlys's fleets also gave the [[blacks]] superiority at sea.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

When Lord [[Bartimos Celtigar]] urged Rhaenyra to reduce King's Landing to ash and bone, Corlys strongly opposed the idea, telling him "we want to rule the city, not burn it to the ground".{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Corlys' fleet closed off the [[Gullet]] and sailed back and forth from Dragonstone and [[Driftmark]], blocking all ships from entering or leaving [[Blackwater Bay]] and thereby choking off trade to and from King's Landing. Corlys was on Dragonstone when the black council learned of the death of [[Lucerys Velaryon]], and together with his wife was able to prevent Lucerys' younger brother [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]] from mounting his own [[dragon]] to extract vengeance for his brother's death.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} According to [[Mushroom]], while Rhaenyra was so griefsick over Lucerys's death, command of the war council was given to Corlys and his wife [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys]]. When Rhaenys flew to [[Rook's Rest]] to give aid to Lord [[House Staunton|Staunton]], who was besieged by the forces of Aegon II, she fell in [[Battle at Rook's Rest|battle]] against King Aegon II and [[Sunfyre]], and Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] and [[Vhagar]]. When news of Rhaenys's death reached Dragonstone, Corlys blamed Rhaenyra for Rhaenys's death, as she had forbidden her sons from accompanying Rhaenys. Corlys was brought back into the fold when Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] named him [[Hand of the Queen]]. Together, they planned an assault on [[King's Landing]]. For his plan, Jacaerys offered lands, riches and knighthood to anyone who could mount one of the riderless dragons. The fifteen-year-old [[Addam Velaryon|Addam of Hull]] managed to claim [[Seasmoke]], formerly ridden by Corlys's late son Laenor. Addam's mother [[Marilda of Hull|Marilda]] proclaimed that Addam and his younger brother [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn]] had both been fathered by Laenor, and, apparently accepting this fact, Corlys petitioned Rhaenyra to legitimize them both, naming Addam his new heir.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} Marilda's claim regarding the parentage of her sons was considered remarkable by many, due to the rumors concerning Laenor's sexuality. The court fool [[Mushroom]], however, suggests in his ''[[The Testimony of Mushroom|Testimony]]'' that Addam and Alyn had both been fathered by Corlys himself, and that he had kept them far from court whilst his wife was still alive, but took the opportunity, after her death, to acknowledge them after a fashion.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

[[File:Addam and Corlys Velaryon by Riotarttherite.png|thumb|350px|right|Corlys and [[Addam Velaryon]] in the aftermath of the [[Battle of the Gullet]], by [https://riotarttherite.tumblr.com/ Riotarttherite] ]]
Late in {{Date|129}}, the Velaryon blockade in the [[Gullet]] was eventually broken by the [[Triarchy]] in the [[battle of the Gullet]]. During the battle, the Velaryon fleet lost one third of its strength, while sixty-two out of the ninety ships of the Triarchy were destroyed. The survivors of the Triarchy sacked [[High Tide]] and put it to the torch, destroying all of the treasures Corlys had gathered in the east. [[Spicetown]] was destroyed as well. When Corlys was congratulated on his victory over the Triarchy, he replied, “If this be victory, I pray I never win another.” Addam Velaryon spoke with Corlys after the battle, but it is unknown what they said to each other.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

In {{Date|130}}, Corlys's ships closed off [[Blackwater Bay]] when Rhaenyra [[fall of King's Landing|took King's Landing]]. Though Rhaenyra's forces were victorious in the [[Butcher's Ball]], the [[First Battle of Tumbleton]] resulted in a loss for the blacks. King Aegon II and his two younger children were missing, Prince Aemond was terrorizing the [[riverlands]] with [[Vhagar]], and Lord [[Ormund Hightower]]'s host, with Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]] and his dragon [[Tessarion]], was slowly advancing on the city. With these threats in mind, Lord Corlys suggested to Rhaenyra that she should offer pardons to Lord [[Borros Baratheon]], [[Ormund Hightower]] and [[House Lannister]], send Queen [[Alicent Hightower]] and Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]] to the [[Faith of the Seven|Faith]], make Aegon II's daughter [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]] Corlys's ward, and to marry her to [[Aegon III Targaryen|her own son Aegon]] in due time, while allowing her half-brothers to [[Night's Watch|take the black]]. Rhaenyra, however, insisted that her half-brothers had broken their vows before, and that the vows of the Night's Watch would mean little to them. Prince Daemon proposed to destroy both [[House Lannister]] and [[House Baratheon]], and granting their seats to [[Ulf White]] and [[Hugh Hammer]], two of the four [[dragonseeds]], but Corlys, horrified by this suggestion, insisted that half of the Westerosi lords would turn against them if they were to destroy two ancient and noble houses.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

After the [[Two Betrayers]] went over to Aegon II's side during the [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]], Lord Corlys spoke in defense of the two remaining dragonseeds, [[Nettles]] and [[Addam Velaryon]]. He remarked that Addam and Alyn were "true heirs" and worthy of Driftmark, and that [[Nettles]] had fought valiantly in the [[Battle in the Gullet]]. His protests were in vain, however, and Rhaenyra commanded Ser [[Luthor Largent]] to arrest Addam in the [[Dragonpit]]. Corlys warned Addam, who made his escape on Seasmoke's back. Confronted by an angry Ser Luthor, Corlys did not deny the accusations of treachery. Corlys was bound and beaten before he was taken down into the [[Red Keep]]'s dungeons and thrown into a [[black cell]] to await trial and execution.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

When it became known that Corlys had been arrested, his men, who made up half of Rhaenyra's forces at King's Landing, began to abandon Rhaenyra by the hundreds. Those who remained could not be trusted. Some of Corlys's men joined the mob in [[Cobbler's Square]] that had gathered for the [[Riot of King's Landing (Dance of the Dragons)|riot of King's Landing]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} Others attempted to scale the walls and free him,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} and yet others fled the city.{{Ref|TPATQ}} Two of lord Corlys' sworn swords, Ser [[Denys Woodwright]] and Ser [[Thoron True]], attempted to cut their way to the dungeons to release their liege but their plan was betrayed to Lady [[Mysaria]] by a whore Thoron had been bedding. Both men were hanged and Lord Corlys remained imprisoned.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

Rhaenyra was eventually forced to [[Flight to Dragonstone|flee]] the city. According to Archmaester [[Gyldayn]], Corlys was released from the dungeons together with the other prisoners by the men of Ser [[Perkin the Flea]], when they took the Red Keep to install [[Trystane Truefyre]] on the Iron Throne.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} However, according to Maester [[Yandel]], Corlys was only released when King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]'s men took the city back.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}

Queen [[Alicent Hightower]] and Lord [[Larys Strong]] offered Corlys a full pardon, in exchange for his support of King Aegon II. Corlys, however, made demands of his own, insisting that all who had fought for Rhaenyra should be pardoned, that his granddaughter [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]] should be released immediately, and that [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]] and Princess Jaehaera should be wed and be proclaimed Aegon II's joint heirs. Although Queen Alicent was outraged by the proposals, Lord Larys Strong convinced her to accept the terms, and Corlys swore his loyalty to Aegon II. King Aegon II, however, was less willing to heed Corlys's counsel, and when the king insisted on ending Rhaenyra's line, either by making Aegon the Younger a [[eunuch]] or by having him [[Night's Watch|take the black]], and Ser [[Tyland Lannister]] argued for Aegon the Younger's immediate execution a horrified Corlys accused them of being "fools, liars, and oathbreakers" and stormed out. Lord Larys Strong afterwards went to Corlys to bring him back on the council, and together they secretly plotted to end the war. Following the defeat of Lord [[Borros Baratheon]] at the [[Battle of the Kingsroad]], with an army of [[riverlands|rivermen]] near the city, and a second host, led by Lord [[Cregan Stark]], coming down the [[kingsroad]], Corlys advised Aegon II to join the [[Night's Watch]]. The king refused, but was poisoned soon after, thereby ending the war.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}

===Reign of Aegon III===
Following the death of [[Aegon II Targaryen]], Corlys sent envoys to [[Casterly Rock]], [[Storm's End]] and [[Oldtown]], who had been Aegon II's main supporters, suing for peace. When Lord [[Cregan Stark]] arrived in [[King's Landing]], he took power over the court and, insisting that the poisoners of Aegon II were punished, had twenty-two men arrested, including Corlys. This time became known as the [[Hour of the Wolf]]. Corlys was spared a trial. Instead, he was freed thanks to an edict of King [[Aegon III Targaryen]] that [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]] had persuaded him to issue. [[Alysanne Blackwood]] promised Lord Cregan her hand in marriage if he would honor the edict, which he did.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}

Corlys served as one of the [[regent]]s for [[Aegon III Targaryen]] during from {{Date|131}} until his death in {{Date|132}}. Corlys was regarded as the most powerful of the regents. When he died of old age on the sixth day of
the third moon of {{Date|132}},{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} at the age of seventy-nine, his body was placed beneath the [[Iron Throne]] for a week.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} [[Marilda of Hull]] and her son, [[Alyn Velaryon]], sailed Corlys's remains to [[Driftmark]] on ''[[Mermaid's Kiss]]''. Corlys was then buried at sea east of Dragonstone on his ancient ''[[Sea Snake]]''. When the ship sank, the [[Cannibal (dragon)|Cannibal]] allegedly flew overheard in salute.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

==Legacy==
After Corlys's death, his grandson and chosen heir, [[Alyn Velaryon]], and his granddaughter, [[Baela Targaryen]], hastily married in order to avoid Aegon III's regents choosing a husband for her without her consent. When Baela became pregnant, Alyn wished to name the child after Corlys. The child turned out to be a girl, however, and was instead named [[Laena Velaryon (daughter of Alyn)|Laena]] after [[Laena Velaryon|Corlys' daughter]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}

==Quotes by Corlys==
{{Quote|Mayhaps [[Faith of the Seven|the Seven]] have preserved me for this fight.{{Ref|tpatq}}|Corlys at the start of the [[Dance of the Dragons]]}}

{{Quote|My knees are old and stiff and do not bend easy.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}|Corlys setting his terms to the [[green council]] at the end of [[Dance of the Dragons]]}}

==Quotes about Corlys==
{{Quote|He likes his boats better than he likes me.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}|complaint of [[Daella Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daella Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|His captains said they had never seen such a natural sailor.{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|writings of [[Gyldayn]]}}

{{Quote|Seventy-nine years of age, he had served four kings and [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|a queen]], sailed to the ends of [[known world|the earth]], raised [[House Velaryon]] to unprecedented levels of wealth and power, married [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|a princess]] who might have been a queen, fathered [[dragonrider]]s, built towns and fleets, proved his valor in times of [[Dance of the Dragons|war]] and his wisdom in times of peace. The [[Seven Kingdoms]] would never see his like again.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}|writings of [[Gyldayn]]}}

==Family==
{{Velaryon tree Dance}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Daemon Velaryon (son of Aethan)|Daemon Velaryon]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Lord of the Tides]] [[Master of Driftmark]]|years={{Date|77}}/{{Date|90}}–{{Date|132}}}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Alyn Velaryon]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Manfryd Redwyne]]}}
{{S-ttl|order=5th |title=[[Master of ships]] [[Lord admiral]]|years={{Date|89|92}} {{Date|131}}|under=[[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] [[Aegon II Targaryen]]|rows=2}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after|unknnext=[[Tyland Lannister]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Tyland Lannister]]}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after|unknnext=[[Gedmund Peake]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Lords of the Tides}}
{{Hands of the King}}
{{Master of ships}}
{{Jaehaerys I small council}}
{{Aegon II small council}}
{{Aegon III small council}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Velaryon, Corlys}}
[[Category:House Velaryon|Corlys Velaryon]]
[[Category:Adventurers and explorers]]
[[Category:Blacks]]
[[Category:Builders]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Deaths by natural causes]]
[[Category:Greens]]
[[Category:Hands of the King]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:Lords of the Tides|Corlys Velaryon]]
[[Category:Masters of ships]]
[[Category:Members of Jaehaerys I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Rhaenyra Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Trystane Truefyre's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon II Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon III Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Regents]]
[[Category:Ship captains]]
[[Category:Shipwrights]]
[[Category:Turncloaks in the Dance of the Dragons]]
[[Category:Veterans of the Dance of the Dragons]]

[[es:Corlys Velaryon]]
[[fr:Corlys Velaryon]]
[[nl:Corlys Velaryon (Zeeserpent)]]
[[pt:Corlys Velaryon]]
[[ru:Корлис Веларион]]
[[zh:科利斯·瓦列利安]]

Daemon II Blackfyre

2024-06-27T06:27:40Z

Noneofyourbusiness: context

{{For|other characters with the same name|Daemon Blackfyre}}
{{Infobox character
| firstname = Daemon
| regnalnumber = 2
| lastname = Blackfyre
| arms = Blackfyre
| arms2 = John the Fiddler
| image = [[File:Daemon II Blackfyre by Riotarttherite.jpg|350px]]
| image_caption = Daemon II Blackfyre by Riotarttherite
| Alias = Daemon the Younger{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} Young Daemon{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} Ser John the [[Fiddle]]r{{Ref|TMK}} The Brown Dragon{{Ref|TMK}}
| Title = [[Prince]]{{Ref|TMK}} [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men|King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men]] (claimant) [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]] (claimant) [[Protector of the Realm]] (claimant)
| Predecessor = [[Daemon I Blackfyre]] (Blackfyre Pretender)
| Successor = [[Haegon I Blackfyre]] (Blackfyre Pretender)
| Allegiance = [[House Blackfyre]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|189}}<ref name=Cal>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Daemon II Blackfyre|Daemon II Blackfyre]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|212|219}}<ref name=Cal />
| Place_of_Death =
| Father = [[Daemon I Blackfyre]]
| Mother = [[Rohanne of Tyrosh]]
| Spouse =
| Lover = Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]]
| coat-of-arms = As John the Fiddler: an engrailed cross in gold with a golden [[fiddle]] in the first and third quarters, a golden sword in the second and fourth.{{Ref|TMK}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (appears)
}}

'''Daemon II Blackfyre''', also known as '''Daemon the Younger''',{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} was the third son of [[Daemon I Blackfyre]]. He used the alias '''John the Fiddler''', a [[hedge knight]], while traveling incognito through the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. He led the brief [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]].{{Ref|TMK}}

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Daemon II Blackfyre|l1=Images of Daemon II Blackfyre}}
When meeting him under the alias of "Ser John the Fiddler", Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] thought of Daemon II as "a young man lean and lithe, with a comely clean-shaved face and fine features". He had collar-length black hair and eyes that caught the deep blue of his doublet; Dunk noted he had "[[Purple eyes|Egg's eyes]]". After revealing himself as the son of [[Daemon I Blackfyre]], Daemon the Younger washed the black [[Hair dye|dye]] from his hair to reveal its silver-gold color.{{Ref|TMK}}

According to Duncan, Daemon smelled of oranges and [[Lemon|limes]], with a hint of some strange eastern [[spice]] beneath.{{Ref|TMK}}

Daemon had a love of music and fine things. He had a close relationship with Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]] and appeared to be attracted to Dunk.{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has confirmed that Daemon was homosexual.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGA6JHNI-oo Ideas at the House:] George R.R. Martin, Lena Headey & Michelle Fairley - 'Game of Thrones' (November 11, 2013)</ref>

Daemon had [[dragon dreams|prophetic dreams]]. He correctly dreamed that his brothers [[Aegon Blackfyre|Aegon]] and [[Aemon Blackfyre|Aemon]] would die, and that Dunk would become a knight of the [[Kingsguard]]. He also dreamed that a [[dragon]] would hatch from an [[dragon egg|egg]] at [[Whitewalls]], but this turned out to be a metaphor for [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon "Egg" Targaryen]] revealing himself.{{Ref|TMK}}

==History==

===Early life===
Daemon was born in [[Westeros]], the third son of [[Daemon I Blackfyre]] and [[Rohanne of Tyrosh]]. He was [[named after]] his father.{{Ref|TMK}} As a child, he became close friends with [[Alyn Cockshaw]], and they were bullied by Daemon's older brothers, [[Aegon Blackfyre|Aegon]] and [[Aemon Blackfyre|Aemon]]. In {{Date|196}}, when he was seven years old, his father began the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]]. After the death of his father and his older brothers at the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field]], Daemon went into exile in [[Tyrosh]] with his surviving family and with [[Aegor Rivers]].{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}

===The Second Blackfyre Rebellion===
In Tyrosh, Daemon dreamed that a dragon would be born at [[Whitewalls]]. Lord [[Gormon Peake]], a Blackfyre supporter, somehow heard of this, and convinced Daemon to cross the [[narrow sea]] and make a play for the [[Iron Throne]]. The pretext for gathering other lords to support Daemon was a [[Whitewalls tourney|wedding tourney]] that Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]] would hold in {{Date|212}}, at which the grand prize would be Butterwell's [[dragon egg]]. However, Bittersteel did not think much of Peake's plan, and mistrusted Daemon's dreams (or perhaps was troubled by his homosexuality), and so did not give him his support nor the sword [[Blackfyre]].{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}

[[File:Daemon-II-Blackfyre-arrested.jpg|350px|thumb|Daemon arrested by the [[Raven's Teeth]], from ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' [[The Hedge Knight (comics)#The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel|graphic novel]], by Mike S. Miller©]]
Under the guise of Ser John the Fiddler, Daemon happened across Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]] while heading to [[Whitewalls]] for the tourney. During the wedding, he was given a place of honor on the dais, uncommon for someone supposed to be a [[hedge knight]]. After the bedding took place, Daemon, still under the guise of John, approached Duncan and told him about the [[dreams]] he was having, about Duncan wearing a [[Kingsguard|white cloak]] in the future. He tried to win Duncan over to his side, but Duncan remained unsure and then they were interrupted by Lord [[Gormon Peake]]. Alyn Cockshaw, who had been ecstatic at Daemon's return to Westeros, deeply resented Dunk for the loss of Daemon's attentions and became his secret enemy.{{Ref|TMK}}

During the tourney, Daemon unseated Ser [[Franklyn Frey]] and Ser [[Galtry the Green]], but Dunk discovered that Peake had been bribing Daemon's opponents so that he would win the tourney. Ser [[Glendon Flowers]], who had turned down Peake's bribe, was charged with the theft of the missing dragon egg, and taken away to be tortured. After it was brought to the attention of Daemon that Glendon had been framed, Daemon revealed his true identity and gave Glendon the power to defend himself against the charges through a [[trial by battle]] with Daemon himself. Glendon, though still suffering from the effects of the torture, unhorsed Daemon in the first tilt of their joust. Daemon landed in a mud puddle, gaining the epithet "the Brown Dragon".{{Ref|TMK}}

News quickly spread that Lord [[Brynden Rivers]], Bloodraven, was marching on Whitewalls to end what had become the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Daemon tried to inspire the armsmen who were within the castle, but they had no intention of fighting for such a weak warrior. Daemon met the oncoming army and challenged Bloodraven to single combat, but was instead arrested by Lord Rivers.{{Ref|TMK}}

===Later life===
Bloodraven kept Daemon alive as a hostage to prevent [[Aegor Rivers]] from crowning Daemon's younger brother, [[Haegon I Blackfyre|Haegon]].{{Ref|TMK}} However, Daemon the Younger died a few years later while a hostage in the [[Red Keep]], and Haegon and Bittersteel launched the [[Third Blackfyre Rebellion]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}

==Family==
{{Blackfyre tree}}

==Quotes by Daemon==
{{Quote|'''"John"''': I [[dream]]ed that you were all in white from head to heel, with a long pale cloak flowing from those broad shoulders. You were a White Sword, ser, a Sworn Brother of the [[Kingsguard]], the greatest [[knight]] in all the [[Seven Kingdoms]], and you lived for no other purpose but to guard and serve and please your [[king]]. You have dreamed the same dream, I know you have. 
'''Dunk''': It makes no matter what I dream. Only a king can make a Kingsguard knight. '''"John"''': I suppose that means I'll have to take [[Iron Throne|the throne]], then. I would much rather be teaching you to [[fiddle]].{{Ref|TMK}}|Daemon and [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|This [[Whitewalls|pale white castle]], you, a [[dragon]] bursting from an [[Dragon egg|egg]], I dreamed it all, just as I once dreamed of [[Aegon Blackfyre|my]] [[Aemon Blackfyre|brothers]] lying dead. They were twelve and I was only seven, so they laughed at me, and died. I am two-and-twenty now, and I trust my dreams.{{Ref|TMK}}|Daemon to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|'''Daemon''': They cannot cow us, for our cause is just. We'll slash through them and ride hell-bent for [[King's Landing]]! Sound the [[trumpet]]s! We'll make another [[Redgrass Field]] today. 
'''Squire''': Piss on that, fiddle boy. I'd rather live.{{Ref|TMK}}|Daemon and a [[squire]]}}

{{Quote|I will fight you, or the coward [[Aerys I Targaryen|Aerys]], or any champion you care to name.{{Ref|TMK}}|Daemon to [[Brynden Rivers]]}}

==Quotes about Daemon==
{{Quote|His [[dreams]] will be the death of all of us.{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Gormon Peake]] to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|You would be surprised to know how many [[lord]]s prefer their [[king]]s brave and stupid. Daemon is young and dashing, and looks good on a [[horse]].{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Maynard Plumm]] to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|There have always been [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] who dreamed of things to come, since long before the [[War of Conquest|Conquest]], so we should not be surprised if from time to time a [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre]] displays the gift as well. Daemon dreamed that a [[dragon]] would be born at [[Whitewalls]], and it was. The fool just got [[Aegon V Targaryen|the color wrong]].{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Brynden Rivers]]}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-pre}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon I]]}}
{{S-tul|title=[[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men|King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men]] [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]] [[Protector of the Realm]]|line=2nd [[Blackfyre Pretenders|Blackfyre Pretender]]|years={{Date|212}}|reason=[[First Blackfyre Rebellion|Blackfyres exiled in 196 AC]]}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Haegon I Blackfyre|Haegon I]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Kings of Westeros}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackfyre, Daemon II}}
[[Category:House Blackfyre|Daemon II Blackfyre]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Characters with dyed hair]]
[[Category:Characters with purple eyes]]
[[Category:Characters with silver hair]]
[[Category:Claimants to the Iron Throne]]
[[Category:Conspirators of the Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]
[[Category:Exiles]]
[[Category:Hedge knights]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:LGBT+ characters‎]]
[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Characters in alphabetical order|Daemon Blackfyre II]]

[[es:Daemon II Fuegoscuro]]
[[fr:Daemon II Feunoyr]]
[[nl:Daemon II Zwartvier]]
[[pt:Daemon II Blackfyre]]
[[ru:Деймон Блэкфайр-младший]]
[[zh:戴蒙·黑火二世]]

Daemon II Blackfyre

2024-06-27T06:26:27Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{For|other characters with the same name|Daemon Blackfyre}}
{{Infobox character
| firstname = Daemon
| regnalnumber = 2
| lastname = Blackfyre
| arms = Blackfyre
| arms2 = John the Fiddler
| image = [[File:Daemon II Blackfyre by Riotarttherite.jpg|350px]]
| image_caption = Daemon II Blackfyre by Riotarttherite
| Alias = Daemon the Younger{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} Young Daemon{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} Ser John the [[Fiddle]]r{{Ref|TMK}} The Brown Dragon{{Ref|TMK}}
| Title = [[Prince]]{{Ref|TMK}} [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men|King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men]] (claimant) [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]] (claimant) [[Protector of the Realm]] (claimant)
| Predecessor = [[Daemon I Blackfyre]] (Blackfyre Pretender)
| Successor = [[Haegon I Blackfyre]] (Blackfyre Pretender)
| Allegiance = [[House Blackfyre]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|189}}<ref name=Cal>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Daemon II Blackfyre|Daemon II Blackfyre]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|212|219}}<ref name=Cal />
| Place_of_Death =
| Father = [[Daemon I Blackfyre]]
| Mother = [[Rohanne of Tyrosh]]
| Spouse =
| Lover = Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]]
| coat-of-arms = As John the Fiddler: an engrailed cross in gold with a golden [[fiddle]] in the first and third quarters, a golden sword in the second and fourth.{{Ref|TMK}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (appears)
}}

'''Daemon II Blackfyre''', also known as '''Daemon the Younger''',{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} was the third son of [[Daemon I Blackfyre]]. He used the alias '''John the Fiddler''', a [[hedge knight]], while traveling incognito through the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. He led the brief [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]].{{Ref|TMK}}

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Daemon II Blackfyre|l1=Images of Daemon II Blackfyre}}
When meeting him under the alias of "Ser John the Fiddler", Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] thought of Daemon II as "a young man lean and lithe, with a comely clean-shaved face and fine features". He had collar-length black hair and eyes that caught the deep blue of his doublet; Dunk noted he had "[[Purple eyes|Egg's eyes]]". After revealing himself as the son of [[Daemon I Blackfyre]], Daemon the Younger washed the black [[Hair dye|dye]] from his hair to reveal its silver-gold color.{{Ref|TMK}}

According to Duncan, Daemon smelled of oranges and [[Lemon|limes]], with a hint of some strange eastern [[spice]] beneath.{{Ref|TMK}}

Daemon had a love of music and fine things. He had a close relationship with Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]] and appeared to be attracted to Dunk.{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has confirmed that Daemon was homosexual.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGA6JHNI-oo Ideas at the House:] George R.R. Martin, Lena Headey & Michelle Fairley - 'Game of Thrones' (November 11, 2013)</ref>

Daemon had [[dragon dreams|prophetic dreams]]. He correctly dreamed that his brothers [[Aegon Blackfyre|Aegon]] and [[Aemon Blackfyre|Aemon]] would die, and that Dunk would become a knight of the [[Kingsguard]]. He also dreamed that a [[dragon]] would hatch from an [[dragon egg|egg]] at [[Whitewalls]], but this turned out to be a [[Aegon V Targaryen|metaphor]].{{Ref|TMK}}

==History==

===Early life===
Daemon was born in [[Westeros]], the third son of [[Daemon I Blackfyre]] and [[Rohanne of Tyrosh]]. He was [[named after]] his father.{{Ref|TMK}} As a child, he became close friends with [[Alyn Cockshaw]], and they were bullied by Daemon's older brothers, [[Aegon Blackfyre|Aegon]] and [[Aemon Blackfyre|Aemon]]. In {{Date|196}}, when he was seven years old, his father began the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]]. After the death of his father and his older brothers at the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field]], Daemon went into exile in [[Tyrosh]] with his surviving family and with [[Aegor Rivers]].{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}

===The Second Blackfyre Rebellion===
In Tyrosh, Daemon dreamed that a dragon would be born at [[Whitewalls]]. Lord [[Gormon Peake]], a Blackfyre supporter, somehow heard of this, and convinced Daemon to cross the [[narrow sea]] and make a play for the [[Iron Throne]]. The pretext for gathering other lords to support Daemon was a [[Whitewalls tourney|wedding tourney]] that Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]] would hold in {{Date|212}}, at which the grand prize would be Butterwell's [[dragon egg]]. However, Bittersteel did not think much of Peake's plan, and mistrusted Daemon's dreams (or perhaps was troubled by his homosexuality), and so did not give him his support nor the sword [[Blackfyre]].{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}

[[File:Daemon-II-Blackfyre-arrested.jpg|350px|thumb|Daemon arrested by the [[Raven's Teeth]], from ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' [[The Hedge Knight (comics)#The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel|graphic novel]], by Mike S. Miller©]]
Under the guise of Ser John the Fiddler, Daemon happened across Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]] while heading to [[Whitewalls]] for the tourney. During the wedding, he was given a place of honor on the dais, uncommon for someone supposed to be a [[hedge knight]]. After the bedding took place, Daemon, still under the guise of John, approached Duncan and told him about the [[dreams]] he was having, about Duncan wearing a [[Kingsguard|white cloak]] in the future. He tried to win Duncan over to his side, but Duncan remained unsure and then they were interrupted by Lord [[Gormon Peake]]. Alyn Cockshaw, who had been ecstatic at Daemon's return to Westeros, deeply resented Dunk for the loss of Daemon's attentions and became his secret enemy.{{Ref|TMK}}

During the tourney, Daemon unseated Ser [[Franklyn Frey]] and Ser [[Galtry the Green]], but Dunk discovered that Peake had been bribing Daemon's opponents so that he would win the tourney. Ser [[Glendon Flowers]], who had turned down Peake's bribe, was charged with the theft of the missing dragon egg, and taken away to be tortured. After it was brought to the attention of Daemon that Glendon had been framed, Daemon revealed his true identity and gave Glendon the power to defend himself against the charges through a [[trial by battle]] with Daemon himself. Glendon, though still suffering from the effects of the torture, unhorsed Daemon in the first tilt of their joust. Daemon landed in a mud puddle, gaining the epithet "the Brown Dragon".{{Ref|TMK}}

News quickly spread that Lord [[Brynden Rivers]], Bloodraven, was marching on Whitewalls to end what had become the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Daemon tried to inspire the armsmen who were within the castle, but they had no intention of fighting for such a weak warrior. Daemon met the oncoming army and challenged Bloodraven to single combat, but was instead arrested by Lord Rivers.{{Ref|TMK}}

===Later life===
Bloodraven kept Daemon alive as a hostage to prevent [[Aegor Rivers]] from crowning Daemon's younger brother, [[Haegon I Blackfyre|Haegon]].{{Ref|TMK}} However, Daemon the Younger died a few years later while a hostage in the [[Red Keep]], and Haegon and Bittersteel launched the [[Third Blackfyre Rebellion]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}

==Family==
{{Blackfyre tree}}

==Quotes by Daemon==
{{Quote|'''"John"''': I [[dream]]ed that you were all in white from head to heel, with a long pale cloak flowing from those broad shoulders. You were a White Sword, ser, a Sworn Brother of the [[Kingsguard]], the greatest [[knight]] in all the [[Seven Kingdoms]], and you lived for no other purpose but to guard and serve and please your [[king]]. You have dreamed the same dream, I know you have. 
'''Dunk''': It makes no matter what I dream. Only a king can make a Kingsguard knight. '''"John"''': I suppose that means I'll have to take [[Iron Throne|the throne]], then. I would much rather be teaching you to [[fiddle]].{{Ref|TMK}}|Daemon and [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|This [[Whitewalls|pale white castle]], you, a [[dragon]] bursting from an [[Dragon egg|egg]], I dreamed it all, just as I once dreamed of [[Aegon Blackfyre|my]] [[Aemon Blackfyre|brothers]] lying dead. They were twelve and I was only seven, so they laughed at me, and died. I am two-and-twenty now, and I trust my dreams.{{Ref|TMK}}|Daemon to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|'''Daemon''': They cannot cow us, for our cause is just. We'll slash through them and ride hell-bent for [[King's Landing]]! Sound the [[trumpet]]s! We'll make another [[Redgrass Field]] today. 
'''Squire''': Piss on that, fiddle boy. I'd rather live.{{Ref|TMK}}|Daemon and a [[squire]]}}

{{Quote|I will fight you, or the coward [[Aerys I Targaryen|Aerys]], or any champion you care to name.{{Ref|TMK}}|Daemon to [[Brynden Rivers]]}}

==Quotes about Daemon==
{{Quote|His [[dreams]] will be the death of all of us.{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Gormon Peake]] to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|You would be surprised to know how many [[lord]]s prefer their [[king]]s brave and stupid. Daemon is young and dashing, and looks good on a [[horse]].{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Maynard Plumm]] to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|There have always been [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] who dreamed of things to come, since long before the [[War of Conquest|Conquest]], so we should not be surprised if from time to time a [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre]] displays the gift as well. Daemon dreamed that a [[dragon]] would be born at [[Whitewalls]], and it was. The fool just got [[Aegon V Targaryen|the color wrong]].{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Brynden Rivers]]}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-pre}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon I]]}}
{{S-tul|title=[[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men|King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men]] [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]] [[Protector of the Realm]]|line=2nd [[Blackfyre Pretenders|Blackfyre Pretender]]|years={{Date|212}}|reason=[[First Blackfyre Rebellion|Blackfyres exiled in 196 AC]]}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Haegon I Blackfyre|Haegon I]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Kings of Westeros}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackfyre, Daemon II}}
[[Category:House Blackfyre|Daemon II Blackfyre]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Characters with dyed hair]]
[[Category:Characters with purple eyes]]
[[Category:Characters with silver hair]]
[[Category:Claimants to the Iron Throne]]
[[Category:Conspirators of the Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]
[[Category:Exiles]]
[[Category:Hedge knights]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:LGBT+ characters‎]]
[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Characters in alphabetical order|Daemon Blackfyre II]]

[[es:Daemon II Fuegoscuro]]
[[fr:Daemon II Feunoyr]]
[[nl:Daemon II Zwartvier]]
[[pt:Daemon II Blackfyre]]
[[ru:Деймон Блэкфайр-младший]]
[[zh:戴蒙·黑火二世]]

Maynard Plumm/Theories

2024-06-27T03:02:36Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}
It has been widely speculated that Ser [[Maynard Plumm]], a character in ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'', is really [[Brynden Rivers]] wearing a [[glamor]].

==Supporting Evidence==
*Maynard and Bloodraven are both thin with long, straight hair.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard claims to be distantly related to Lord [[Viserys Plumm]];{{Ref|TMK}} Brynden Rivers is (officially){{Ref|AFFC|12}} a distant cousin of Viserys, who is a descendant of King [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]], whereas Brynden is a descendant of his brother [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
*Maynard states that Viserys Plumm would not want to admit to their relation.{{Ref|TMK}} If the rumors about Viserys being a son of [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon IV]] are true, they are actually half-brothers, but Viserys and his mother [[Elaena Targaryen]] would naturally not want to admit to her affair.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I (The Sisters of Baelor I)}}{{Ref|aFfC|12}}
*When [[Duncan the Tall|Dunk]] hears a story about Aegon IV's promiscuity and says "We'd all be bastard sons of old King Aegon if half these tales were true," Maynard quips "And who's to say we're not?"{{Ref|TMK}}
*When [[Kyle the Cat]] rants about Bloodraven's inaction in the face of [[Dagon Greyjoy]]'s raiding, Maynard speaks in Bloodraven's defense, explaining that he is focused on [[Aegor Rivers|Bittersteel]] and the [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre]] exiles.{{Ref|TMK}}
*While waiting for the ferry to [[Whitewalls]], Maynard spends his time gossiping with an innkeep.{{Ref|TMK}}
*There is something about Maynard that immediately troubles Dunk, but he can't quite place it.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard is the first to object to [[Glendon Flowers]] spilling his wine during a toast to Bloodraven.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard is unusually knowledgeable about current events for a hedge knight.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard knows about the Blackfyre conspiracy and urges Dunk to leave. He specifically suggests he go to [[Summerhall]].{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard takes an interest in Dunk and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]]'s presence at Whitewalls during the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Both Maynard and Bloodraven describe the wedding as a "nest of adders."{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard knows about Egg's true identity and the ring hidden in his boot.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard says that Bloodraven knows "quite a lot" about [[Gormon Peake|Peake]]'s conspiracy.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Up close, Dunk finds Maynard's features queer. The longer he looks at his face, the less he seems to see.{{Ref|TMK}}
*On one occasion, Maynard calls Duncan by his childhood name "Dunk."{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard wears a moonstone brooch that the narration calls attention to, which could be an anchor for his spells much like [[Melisandre]]'s ruby choker.{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|aSoS|54}}{{ref|ADWD|31}}
*Maynard is not seen or heard from again when Brynden appears, having vanished shortly before.{{Ref|TMK}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Maynard Plumm/Theories

2024-06-27T02:55:33Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}
It has been widely speculated that Ser [[Maynard Plumm]], a character in ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'', is really [[Brynden Rivers]] wearing a [[glamor]].

==Supporting Evidence==
*Maynard and Bloodraven are both thin with long, straight hair.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard claims to be distantly related to Lord [[Viserys Plumm]];{{Ref|TMK}} Brynden Rivers is (officially){{Ref|AFFC|12}} a distant cousin of Viserys, who is a descendant of King [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]], whereas Brynden is a descendant of his brother [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} And if the rumors about Viserys Plumm being a son of Aegon IV are true, they are actually half-brothers.
*When [[Duncan the Tall|Dunk]] hears a story about [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon IV]]'s promiscuity and says "We'd all be bastard sons of old King Aegon if half these tales were true," Maynard quips "And who's to say we're not?"{{Ref|TMK}}
*When [[Kyle the Cat]] rants about Bloodraven's inaction in the face of [[Dagon Greyjoy]]'s raiding, Maynard speaks in Bloodraven's defense, explaining that he is focused on [[Aegor Rivers|Bittersteel]] and the [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre]] exiles.{{Ref|TMK}}
*While waiting for the ferry to [[Whitewalls]], Maynard spends his time gossiping with an innkeep.{{Ref|TMK}}
*There is something about Maynard that immediately troubles Dunk, but he can't quite place it.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard is the first to object to [[Glendon Flowers]] spilling his wine during a toast to Bloodraven.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard is unusually knowledgeable about current events for a hedge knight.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard knows about the Blackfyre conspiracy and urges Dunk to leave. He specifically suggests he go to [[Summerhall]].{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard takes an interest in Dunk and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]]'s presence at Whitewalls during the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Both Maynard and Bloodraven describe the wedding as a "nest of adders."{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard knows about Egg's true identity and the ring hidden in his boot.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard says that Bloodraven knows "quite a lot" about [[Gormon Peake|Peake]]'s conspiracy.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Up close, Dunk finds Maynard's features queer. The longer he looks at his face, the less he seems to see.{{Ref|TMK}}
*On one occasion, Maynard calls Duncan by his childhood name "Dunk."{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard is not seen or heard from again when Brynden appears, having vanished shortly before.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard wears a moonstone brooch that the narration calls attention to, which could be an anchor for his spells much like [[Melisandre]]'s ruby choker.{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|aSoS|54}}{{ref|ADWD|31}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Morgan Dunstable

2024-06-27T02:53:51Z

Noneofyourbusiness: that aspect is unconfirmed; Dunk himself doubts the veracity of the story

{{Infobox character
| arms =
| title = Ser
| firstname = Morgan
| lastname = Dunstable
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]
| Allegiance =
| Race =
| Culture = [[Rivermen]]
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth = [[Tumbler's Falls]]{{Ref|AWOIAF|Morgan Dunstable}}
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (mentioned)
| Coat-of-arms =
}}

'''Morgan Dunstable''' was a [[knight]] from [[Tumbler's Falls]] during the reign of King [[Aerys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|TMK}}

==History==
Morgan knighted [[Glendon Flowers]] in front of two dozen witnesses at the [[Pussywillows]], but supposedly only because Glendon's sister gave him her [[Maiden|maidenhead]].{{Ref|TMK}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Characters from the Riverlands|Dunstable, Morgan]]
[[Category:Knights|Dunstable, Morgan]]

[[es:Morgan Dunstable]]
[[fr:Morgan Donestable]]
[[pt:Morgan Dunstable]]
[[zh:摩根·邓斯塔波]]

Glendon Flowers

2024-06-27T02:53:02Z

Noneofyourbusiness: that aspect is unconfirmed

{{Infobox character
| arms = Quentyn Ball
| title = Ser
| firstname = Glendon
| lastname = Flowers
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias = Glendon Ball{{Ref|TMK}} The Knight of the Pussywillows{{Ref|TMK}} Glendon the Bastard{{Ref|TMK}} The Bastard of the Pussywillows{{Ref|TMK}}
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]{{Ref|TMK}}
| Allegiance =
| Race =
| Culture = [[Reach]]
| Father = [[Quentyn Ball]] (supposed)
| Mother = [[Penny Jenny]]
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth = [[Westeros]]{{Ref|AWOIAF|Glendon Flowers}}
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|197}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued)#Glendon Flowers|Glendon Flowers]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (appears)
| coat-of-arms = A fireball blazing red and yellow across a night black field{{Ref|TMK}}
}}

'''Glendon Flowers''' was a [[hedge knight]] during the reign of King [[Aerys I Targaryen]]. He referred to himself as '''Glendon Ball''', but was mockingly referred to as '''the Knight of the Pussywillows'''.{{Ref|TMK}}

Glendon claimed to be the son of Ser [[Quentyn Ball]], a renowned [[knight]] known as "Fireball", and used the personal coat-of-arms of his alleged father, a fireball blazing red and yellow across a night black field, as his own.{{Ref|TMK}}

==Appearance and Character==
Glendon was short and chunky, with thick shoulders and arms heavy with muscle. He had small, close-set eyes, shaggy thick eyebrows, a bulbous nose, a prominent chin and pimples on his cheeks. He had dark brown hair.{{Ref|TMK}}

Glendon's clothes were of good cloth, but well-worn and ill-matched. He possessed a clean handsome doublet of old garment with gold lace at the cuffs and collar and the red chevron and white plates of House Ball sewn across the chest. He owned an iron halfhelm.{{Ref|TMK}}

Glendon was proud to be the son of Fireball, and liked to boast of coming from "hero's blood".{{Ref|TMK}}

==History==
===Early life===
Glendon was born to a [[Prostitution|camp follower]], known as [[Penny Jenny]]. Penny claimed that Glendon's father was Ser [[Quentyn Ball]]. After the war, Jenny came to work in a brothel called the [[Pussywillows]], where Glendon and his sister were raised. After Penny died, Glendon and his sister were looked after by the other women working at the Pussywillows.{{Ref|TMK}}

Glendon was taught the [[knight]]ly arts by an old [[squire]] that lived nearby the brothel. In {{Date|211}}, half a year before the [[Whitewalls tourney]], Glendon was knighted by Ser [[Morgan Dunstable]] in front of two dozen witnesses, supposedly in exchange for Glendon's sister giving up her maidenhead to Morgan.{{Ref|TMK}}

===Whitewalls tourney===
Glendon was among the [[hedge knight]]s camped next to the [[Gods Eye]] before the [[wedding tourney at Whitewalls]]. He hoped to claim the [[dragon egg]] prize and make a name for himself. After almost being refused entry to [[Whitewalls]], Glendon participated in the tourney and unhorsed Ser [[Argrave the Defiant]], Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]], [[Lord Costayne (Aerys I)|Lord Costayne]], and Ser [[Mortimer Boggs]].{{Ref|TMK}}

In an effort to remove him from the path of [[Daemon II Blackfyre]] and victory, Lord [[Gormon Peake]] framed Ser Glendon with the theft of the dragon egg. He was tortured by Ser [[Tommard Heddle]] while in the dungeons and was only released on the condition he face Daemon in a joust. While still reeling from the effects of the torture, Glendon unhorsed Daemon in the first tilt, proving his innocence.{{Ref|TMK}}

==Family==
{{Ball tree Dunk & Egg}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:House Ball]]
[[Category:Bastards|Flowers, Glendon]]
[[Category:Characters from the Reach|Flowers, Glendon]]
[[Category:Characters with bulbous nose|Flowers, Glendon]]
[[Category:Characters with red hair|Flowers, Glendon]]
[[Category:Hedge knights|Flowers, Glendon]]
[[Category:Knights|Flowers, Glendon]]
[[Category:Lowborn nobles|Flowers, Glendon]]
[[Category:Stableboys|Flowers, Glendon]]

[[es:Glendon Flores]]
[[fr:Glendon Flowers]]
[[ru:Глендон Флауэрс]]
[[zh:格伦顿·佛花]]

Maynard Plumm/Theories

2024-06-27T02:50:39Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}
It has been widely speculated that Ser [[Maynard Plumm]], a character in ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'', is really [[Brynden Rivers]] wearing a [[glamor]].

==Supporting Evidence==
*Maynard and Bloodraven are both thin with long, straight hair.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard claims to be distantly related to Lord [[Viserys Plumm]];{{Ref|TMK}} Brynden Rivers is (officially){{Ref|AFFC|12}} a distant cousin of Viserys, who is a descendant of King [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]], whereas Brynden is a descendant of his brother [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} And if the rumors about Viserys Plumm being a son of Aegon IV are true, they are actually half-brothers.
*When [[Duncan the Tall|Dunk]] hears a story about [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon IV]]'s promiscuity and says "We'd all be bastard sons of old King Aegon if half these tales were true," Maynard quips "And who's to say we're not?"{{Ref|TMK}}
*When [[Kyle the Cat]] rants about Bloodraven's inaction in the face of [[Dagon Greyjoy]]'s raiding, Maynard speaks in Bloodraven's defense, explaining that he is focused on [[Aegor Rivers|Bittersteel]] and the [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre]] exiles.{{Ref|TMK}}
*While waiting for the ferry to [[Whitewalls]], Maynard spends his time gossiping with an innkeep.{{Ref|TMK}}
*There is something about Maynard that immediately troubles Dunk, but he can't quite place it.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard is the first to object to [[Glendon Flowers]] spilling his wine during a toast to Bloodraven.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard is unusually knowledgeable about current events for a hedge knight.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard knows about the Blackfyre conspiracy and urges Dunk to leave. He specifically suggests he go to [[Summerhall]].{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard takes an interest in Dunk and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]]'s presence at Whitewalls during the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Both Maynard and Bloodraven describe the wedding as a "nest of adders."{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard knows about Egg's true identity and the ring hidden in his boot.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard says that Bloodraven knows "quite a lot" about [[Gormon Peake|Peake]]'s conspiracy.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Up close, Dunk finds Maynard's features queer. The longer he looks at his face, the less he seems to see.{{Ref|TMK}}
*On one occasion, Maynard calls Duncan by his childhood name "Dunk."{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard is not seen or heard from again when Brynden appears, having vanished shortly before.{{Ref|TMK}}
*Maynard prominently wears a moonstone brooch, which could be an anchor for his spells much like [[Melisandre]]'s ruby choker.{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|aSoS|54}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Chestnut

2024-06-06T02:03:33Z

Noneofyourbusiness: redundant

{{Infobox animal character
| firstname = Chestnut
| epithet =
| arms1 = Arlan of Pennytree
| arms2 = Duncan the Tall
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title =
| Owner = [[Arlan of Pennytree]] [[Duncan the Tall]]
| Species = [[Horse]] (stot)
| Gender = Uncertain<ref group="N">Chestnut's gender switches between ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' and ''[[The Sworn Sword]]''. In ''The Hedge Knight'', [[Dunk]] calls the horse "her" (in both the original short story and ''[[A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms]]''), but in ''The Sworn Sword'', Chestnut is called "him".</ref>
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death = [[Dorne]]
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|210}}
| Books = ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' (appears) ''[[The Sworn Sword]]'' (mentioned)
| Played_by =
| TV_series =
}}

'''Chestnut''' was a [[horse]], a stot owned by Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]], and later Ser [[Duncan the Tall]].{{Ref|THK}}

==Appearance and Character==
Chestnut was old, and swaybacked.{{Ref|THK}} The stot was too old to be worth much,{{Ref|THK}} but he was patient, and never bucked or bit.{{Ref|TSS}} The horse's gait was less easy than the palfrey [[Sweetfoot]].{{Ref|THK}}

==History==
When [[Dunk]] became Ser Arlan's [[squire]], he would ride the [[hedge knight]]'s stot Chestnut,{{Ref|TSS}} while Arlan rode his palfrey Sweetfoot. (Arlan's destrier, [[Thunder]], was not ridden except in [[tourney]]s and battle.) Arlan frequently told Dunk that a [[knight]] should never love a horse, since they might die under him, but he loved his horses anyway. Arlan often spent his last [[currency|copper]] on an apple for Chestnut, or oats for Sweetfoot and Thunder.{{Ref|THK}}

In {{Date|209}}, the aged Arlan died from a chill on the way to [[Ashford Meadow]], and Dunk took ownership of Chestnut, along with Thunder and Sweetfoot. At first Dunk debated selling Thunder and Chestnut, and keeping Sweetfoot, but then he decided to attend the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]] as the knight Ser Duncan the Tall. To afford a suit of [[armor]], Dunk reluctantly decided to sell Sweetfoot, as Chestnut was not worth much, and Thunder would be needed for the [[joust]].{{Ref|THK}}

Dunk rode Sweetfoot to [[Ashford]], finding her gait easier than Chestnut's, but still tiring. On the way, he stopped at an inn, where Dunk first met Prince [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]], disguised as "Egg", when he asked the (assumed) [[stableboy]] to rub down Sweetfoot and feed his horses. On the tourney grounds, Dunk was arrested when he attacked Prince [[Aerion Targaryen]], who was assaulting [[Tanselle|a girl]] that Dunk had met earlier. While Dunk was imprisoned, Egg and their friend [[Raymun Fossoway]] took care of Chestnut and Thunder.{{Ref|THK}}

After Prince [[Maekar Targaryen]] allowed his son Aegon to officially become Dunk's [[squire]], Egg rode Chestnut when they traveled, while Duncan rode Thunder.{{Ref|THK}}

Chestnut died in [[Dorne]], during the desert crossing between the [[Prince's Pass]] and [[Vaith]]. Dunk wanted to bury his old friend, but their Dornish companions would not wait, and so Chestnut's corpse was left to the [[dog|sand dogs]]. Afterwards, Dunk and Egg rode double on Thunder, until Egg's brother gave them [[Maester (mule)|Maester]] the [[mule]].{{Ref|TSS}}

Later, at [[Standfast]], Dunk dreamed of burying Chestnut in the sands while crying, as the Dornish [[knight]]s and others stood by and mocked him.{{Ref|TSS}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|'''Egg:''' [[Maekar Targaryen|My lord father]] says I am to serve you. 
'''Dunk:''' Serve you, ''ser''. You can start by saddling the horses. Chestnut is yours, treat her kindly. I don't want to find you on [[Thunder]] unless I put you there.{{Ref|THK}}|Prince [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] and [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|Chestnut, his name was Chestnut, and he bore me on his back for years, and never bucked or bit. The old [[horse|stot]] had looked a sorry thing beside the sleek [[sand steed]]s that the [[Dornishmen]] were riding, with their elegant heads, long necks, and flowing manes, but he had given all he had to give.{{Ref|TSS}}|thoughts of [[Duncan the Tall]], in his dream}}

{{Quote|Weeping for a swaybacked stot? Why, lad, you never wept for me, who put you on his back.{{Ref|TSS}}|"[[Arlan of Pennytree]]", in [[Duncan the Tall|Duncan]]'s dream}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{references}}

[[Category:Horses]]
[[Category:Steeds of Duncan the Tall]]

[[es:Castaño]]
[[fr:Noisette]]

Jon Snow/Theories

2024-06-05T00:43:57Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}

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.{{Ref|aGoT|41}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|6}} the likelihood that neither of his parents is a [[House Stark|Stark]] appears small. As such, besides Eddard, the fandom has frequently suggested either Eddard’s older brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] or younger sister [[Lyanna Stark|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.”<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040 Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> Daenerys Targaryen, in turn, was born nine months after her mother [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] and brother [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] fled [[King’s Landing]] at the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|aGoT|3}} Rhaella and Viserys fled at some point during the two-week period<ref group="N">Rossart was Hand for two weeks ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]). He was appointed after the Battle of the Trident ([[The World of Ice & Fire]], The Fall of the Dragons: The End) and died during the Sack of King’s Landing ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]).</ref> between the [[Battle of the Trident]] and the [[Sack of King’s Landing]].{{Ref|twoiaf| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} This information indicates that Jon was born towards the end of the rebellion. As the rebellion lasted "close to a year",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} 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.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} [[Cersei Lannister]], when confronting Eddard about his bastard son, offers several possibilities for Jon's mother, including Ashara.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}

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''".{{Ref|asos|43}} 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''".{{Ref|aSoS|43}} [[Meera Reed|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.{{Ref|aSoS|24}}

Besides the tourney in {{Date|281}}, 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.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Dorne: The Andals Arrive}} Some time afterwards, Ashara jumped from the top of the Palestone Sword, one of the towers of Starfall, into the sea.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} Several reasons are given for Ashara's motivation: a broken heart,{{Ref|ASOS|43}} because of her stillborn daughter,{{Ref|ADWD|67}} because of a stolen child,{{Ref|AGOT|45}} or due to grief over Arthur's death.{{Ref|ASOS|43}} Her body was never found.<ref name="ssm">[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1116 Soms Questions (August 23, 2000)]</ref>

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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}
* 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]],{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|aDwD|67}} would be a good candidate for the "rare wench".
* At the tourney at Harrenhal, Ashara is said to have "looked" at "Stark",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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 {{Date|281}}, and following the conclusion of [[Robert's Rebellion]] in late {{Date|283}}. [[Barristan Selmy]] implies that Ashara's childbirth took place not long before her suicide,{{Ref|adwd|67}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} 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",<ref name="ssm2">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040/ Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> 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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} and when his son [[Robb Stark|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.{{Ref|aSoS|14}}{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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",{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
*[[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.{{Ref|Adwd|67}} 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 [[House Dayne|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.<ref group="N" name=BAJ>229 out of 9115 votes (2.5%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

====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"''.{{Ref|aDwD|41}} As Eddard was too shy to even speak with Ashara at the tourney,{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and Benjen 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 Barbrey's maidenhead,{{Ref|aDwD|41}} and although he had been betrothed to [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]] by the time of the tourney for several years,<ref group="N">Catelyn and Brandon were betrothed when Catelyn was twelve years old (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 6|Catelyn II]]). As Catelyn was born in either {{Date|264}} or {{Date|265}}, they were betrothed in either {{Date|276}}, {{Date|277}}, or {{Date|278}}.</ref> Barbrey claims Brandon "never wanted" the marriage.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}
** [[Barristan Selmy]] recalls that Ashara had been "dishonored" by a man at Harrenhal, although he does not reveal the man's identity.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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''",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} suggesting Ashara turned to one of the Starks after the final tilts had taken place.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} By the account as told by [[Meera Reed]], [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], and [[Benjen Stark]] were all present during the tourney.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} 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, as does Selmy's lack of animus towards Eddard, whose character he attempts to defend to Daenerys Targaryen.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments are most frequently cited:
*According to [[George R. R. Martin]], "Brandon died before he had sons".<ref name="Asshai">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Asshai.com_Interview_in_Barcelona/ Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona (July 29, 2012)]</ref>
**While this would rule out Brandon as Jon's father, it would still be possible for Brandon to have been Ashara's lover.
**GRRM also stated: "It'd be an exaggeration to say that Brandon died before he could have children. It's established in the books that he was no virgin. He could very well have left behind some little Snows in the various places he visited. But what's absolutely clear is that he had no legitimate children."<ref name="Asshai"/>
*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,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert’s Rebellion}} 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,{{Ref|aCoK|55}} making it unlikely he impregnated a woman during this time.
*There's no known reason Eddard Stark would feel compelled to lie about Jon's parentage and put the resulting strain on his own marriage if Jon were Brandon and Ashara's son, as there's no known threat this information would pose to Jon's life.
**However, Jon being Brandon's son might muddle the line of succession, as a son inherits before a brother. An illegitimate son would not normally inherit, but it might cause dissent should there be discontent with Eddard and/or his children.

==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".{{Ref|aGoT|12}} According to Robert, Wylla was a "common girl",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} while [[Sansa Stark]] heard whispers that Jon's mother "had been common",{{Ref|aGoT|15}} and [[Cersei Lannister]] mentions "some [[Dornish]] peasant" as Jon's potential mother.{{Ref|AGOT|45}} Lord [[Edric Dayne]] of Starfall tells [[Arya Stark]] that Jon's mother is [[Wylla]], whom he identifies as his own former wetnurse, who served at [[Starfall]] "''for years and years''", since before Edric's birth.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}

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 Stark|Catelyn Tully]].

==The fisherman's daughter==
During [[Robert's Rebellion]] [[Eddard Stark]] traveled from the [[Vale of Arryn]] to the [[north]]. Eddard crossed the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]] and hired a fisherman to bring him to [[White Harbor]] with a boat. However, they were caught by a storm on the [[Bite]] and the fisherman drowned. The fisherman's daughter brought Eddard to the [[Three Sisters]]. According to Lord [[Godric Borrell]], it is said that Eddard "''left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly''". Lord Borrell claims the fisherman's daughter named her bastard Jon Snow, after [[Jon Arryn]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}}

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this story are most frequently cited:
*While the story as Lord Borrell tells it claims the fisherman's daughter had given Jon his name,{{Ref|aDwD|9}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that Jon had "most like" been named by Eddard Stark.<Ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1202/ Numerous Questions (February 28, 2002)]</ref>
*If Eddard had fathered Jon on the fisherman's daughter, he would have done so before his marriage to [[Catelyn Stark|Cately Tully]]. However, this would mean Eddard lied, for no apparent reason, when he claimed that he had fathered Jon after his wedding.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} In addition, if the fisherman's daughter is Jon's mother, Eddard has no reason to keep her identity a secret.

==Lyanna Stark==
===Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen===
[[File:The sun, the dragon, the wolf by Fkaluis.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Elia, Rhaegar, and Lyanna, by [https://fkaluis.tumblr.com/ Fkaluis] ©]]
The most popular theory regarding the identity of [[Jon Snow]]'s mother is [[Lyanna Stark]], with Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] for his father.<ref group="N" name=RLJ>8690 out of 9115 votes (95.0%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

Lyanna was [[Eddard Stark]]'s younger sister, who was betrothed to [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|35}} In {{Date|281}}, Lyanna was present at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]], where she was crowned the [[queen of love and beauty]] by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.{{Ref|AGOT|58}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} The next year, Lyanna came face to face with Rhaegar ten leagues from [[Harrenhal]],{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} and was abducted by him{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} at swordpoint,{{Ref|aDwD|43}} according to a semi-canon source with the aid of Ser [[Arthur Dayne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]], two knights of his father's [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Rhaegar Targaryen}} When her brother Brandon learned about this, he rode to [[King's Landing]], where he was arrested and charged with treason. King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] summoned Lyanna's father [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] to court, and subsequently had both Brandon and Rickard killed. Lord [[Jon Arryn]]'s response to Aerys's next demanded started [[Robert's Rebellion]],{{Ref|ACOK|55}}{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} which lasted "close to a year".

Lyanna was found by Eddard after the war had ended at the [[tower of joy]].{{ref|agot|39}} Eddard was by her side when she died, in a bed that smelled "of blood and roses".{{Ref|agot|4}} Shortly before her death, fearing something unknown, Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard brought Lyanna's remains home to [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aDwD|41}}

The theory proposes that Jon is Lyanna's son by Rhaegar Targaryen, Lyanna's abductor. Rhaegar, who had been married to [[Elia Martell]], had two children by his wife, but following the birth of his second child, the [[maesters]] informed him that Elia could have no more children.{{Ref|aDwD|61}} [[Kevan Lannister]] believes that Rhaegar abducted Lyanna because he wanted more sons,{{Ref|aDwD|72}}{{Ref|aDwD|epilogue}} while Robert believes that Rhaegar raped Lyanna "hundreds of times".{{Ref|aGoT|12}}

====Supporting evidence====
The following arguments are frequently used in favor of this theory:
* [[Blue winter rose]]s are associated in text with Lyanna, Rhaegar, death, and a newborn child:
** Lyanna was crowned by Rhaegar at the tourney at Harrenhal using "a crown of winter roses, blue as frost".{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
** While in captivity, Eddard Stark dreams of Lyanna's statue in the crypts of Winterfell, where she is wearing a garland of pale blue roses, while weeping blood.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**To Robert, Eddard states that Lyanna was fond of flowers,{{Ref|agot|4}} and to himself he thinks that she had loved the scent of winter roses.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**As she is dying, rose petals spill from Lyanna's palm, dead and black.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
**During a fever dream about the [[combat at the tower of joy]], Eddard dreams of a storm of rose petals blowing across a blood-streaked sky, "as blue as the eyes of death", while hearing Lyanna call out to him.{{Ref|aGoT|39}}
**Theon has a prophetic-like dream in which he sees Lyanna, who had never known personally, in a gown spattered with gore wearing a crown of pale blue roses.{{Ref|aCoK|56}}
**When [[Cersei Lannister]] tells Eddard how Robert whispered Lyanna's name in her ear during their wedding night, Eddard thinks of pale blue roses and wants to weep.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}
** While at the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of a blue flower growing in a wall of ice,{{Ref|aCoK|48}} which would symbolize Jon Snow at the Wall.
** According to legend, [[Bael the Bard]] climbed the [[Wall]], and traveled to [[Winterfell]] pretending to be a singer with a harp. There, he impressed Lord [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]], and was allowed to choose a reward. He requested the most beautiful flower blooming in Winterfell's gardens, and Lord Brandon agreed to offer him the most of his blue winter roses. The following morning, Bael was found to have disappeared with Lord Brandon's only daughter, a young maiden, having left the blue winter rose behind in her bed. The girl was found by Lord Stark again a year later, with the babe Bael had fathered on her, having hid in the crypts of Winterfell all that time.{{Ref|ACOK|51}}
***The parallel with Bael is Rhaegar, also royalty, a singer{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and harpist,{{Ref|aCoK|63}}{{Ref|aSoS|8}} who gave blue winter roses to a Stark and took Lord Stark's (Rickard's) only maiden daughter (Lyanna), only for her to be eventually found again by Lord Stark (by now her brother, Eddard), according to the theory with a newborn babe (Jon).
*Eddard found Lyanna dying, stricken with a fever which had taken all of her strength,{{Ref|aGoT|4}} in her "bed of blood".{{Ref|aGoT|39}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} The terms "beds of blood and pain"{{Ref|aFfC|1}} and "bloody bed"{{Ref|aGoT|61}} are used in further text to refer to childbirth, giving the impression that Lyanna's "bed of blood" might likewise be connected to childbirth.
*Jon is said to resemble [[Arya Stark]] in appearance.{{Ref|aGoT|7}}{{Ref|aGoT|15}} Arya is said to look like Lyanna,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} thereby linking Jon's appearance to Lyanna's. The statement made by [[Tyrion Lannister]] that Jon looks so much like a Stark, and that "''whoever his mother had been, she had left little of herself in her son.''", would be most ironic if Jon's Stark parent was indeed Lyanna, and not Eddard.
*According to [[Catelyn Stark]], Eddard must have loved Jon's mother fiercely.{{Ref|agot|6}} Eddard himself recalls how he had "loved [Lyanna] with all his heart".{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
*As she was dying, a fearful Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard, and was only reassured when he gave her his word.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard recalls Lyanna whispering "promise me, Ned" frequently throughout the story,{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|47}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} and at one point thinks back to "''the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them''".{{Ref|aGoT|35}} At some point, Eddard recalls Robert ordering the pregnant [[Daenerys Targaryen]] slain, as well as how Robert had turned away from the corpses of the brutally murdered young children of Prince Rhaegar's by Elia Martell during the war, as well as turning away when [[Sansa Stark]]'s innocent [[direwolf]] pup [[Lady]] was ordered executed. Sansa's pleading for the life of her pup makes him think of Lyanna's pleading.{{Ref|aGoT|20}} That Robert either ordering the death of Targaryen children, or approving of the death of Targaryen children, and Robert being willing to allow an innocent pup to be killed evoke the memory of Lyanna's pleas, could suggest that Lyanna made Eddard promise to keep her child by Rhaegar safe. After all, according to [[Tywin Lannister]] "''Robert's hatred for Rhaegar was scarcely a secret''"{{Ref|aSoS|53}} and according to Eddard, even fifteen years after Rhaegar's death by Robert's hand, Robert still hates him just as much as when he was still alive.{{Ref|aGoT|33}} In addition, Robert considered Rhaegar's young children to be "dragonspawn", and saw no issue in their deaths.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} The idea that Lyanna would fear for the life of her child by Rhaegar is more than valid, and Eddard's line of thought regarding Lyanna's promise and her pleas is argued to favor this idea. In addition, it provides Eddard with the motivation to lie about Jon's parentage, even to his new wife.
*At the end of Robert's Rebellion, Eddard travels with six companions to the [[tower of joy]], where they encounter three [[Kingsguard]] knights guarding the tower where Lyanna resides: Lord Commander [[Gerold Hightower]], [[Oswell Whent]], and [[Arthur Dayne]].{{Ref|aGoT|39}} In Eddard's fever dream, the three white cloaks reaffirm their loyalty to [[House Targaryen]], before engaging in combat with the northmen.{{Ref|aGoT|39}} A Kingsguard's duty is defending the king and obeying his commands. The king might decide to extend Kingsguard protection to others in his family, or even their mistresses and bastards.{{Ref|aDwD|55}} The presence of the three Kingsguard knights at the tower where Lyanna was being kept has been taken to mean by supporters of the theory that Rhaegar's child by Lyanna was present at the tower. Eddard Stark considered Arthur Dayne "the finest knight" he ever saw, "a marvel, a shining lesson to the world" years after Arthur's death,{{Ref|aCoK|21}} implying that Eddard considers Arthur's (and by default Oswell's and Gerold's) reasons for being at the tower in line with his Kingsguard vows, indicating they acted on orders given to them by a Targaryen.
**Some supporters of the theory have even suggested the presence of the Kingsguard knights implies that Lyanna's child is considered the heir to the Iron Throne following the deaths of Aerys and Rhaegar. In this scenario, Rhaegar and Lyanna had wed before he returned to King's Landing. The Targaryen tradition of [[polygamy|polygamous]] marriages would allow for this possibility.
**Arthur Dayne's presence makes it plausible that Wylla, known to serve House Dayne as a wetnurse, was also present at the tower as a wetnurse provided by Arthur for Lyanna's child, explaining why Robert Baratheon and Edric Dayne were told Wylla was Jon's mother.
*Rhaegar's motivation for taking Lyanna have been argued to have two possibilities: either because he loved Lyanna, as argued by [[Daenerys Targaryen]],{{Ref|AGOT|3}}{{Ref|aGoT|64}} [[Barristan Selmy]],{{Ref|aDwD|67}} and singers,{{Ref|aFfC|31}} or due to prophecy. Prophecy undeniably played an important role in Rhaegar's motivations for his actions.{{Ref|aSoS|8}}{{Ref|aFfC|35}} In the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of Rhaegar with his wife Elia shortly after the birth of their son [[Aegon VI Targaryen|Aegon]]. Rhaegar proclaims that "there must be one more" because "the dragon has three heads".{{Ref|aCoK|48}} Given that the maesters told Rhaegar after Aegon's birth that his wife Elia could have no more children,{{Ref|aDwD|61}} Rhaegar could have attempted to fulfill the prophecy by having a third child with another woman. The fact that Rhaegar named the tower the "tower of joy"{{Ref|aGoT|39}} would fit with both interpretations: either joy over being with the woman he loved, or joy over fulfilling the prophecy.
**Eddard's proclamation of Lyanna's character{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and her "wolf blood", which he claims brought her to an early grave,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} could suggest Lyanna had not gone with Rhaegar against her will, although others have suggested it instead refers to [[Knight of the Laughing Tree/Theories|another theory]].
*Bran sees a vision of his father, much younger than he had ever known him, praying in front of the weirwood tree in Winterfell's godswood, saying "''… let them grow up close as brothers, with only love between them. And let my lady wife find it in her heart to forgive …''"{{Ref|aDwD|34}} Readers have suggested that this is Eddard after his return to Winterfell following Robert's Rebellion, referring to Robb and Jon with "let them grow up close as brothers", which would mean that the two boys are not brothers. Furthermore, besides his supposed affair during the first year of his marriage, the novels mention nothing that Eddard has done that could possibly require Catelyn's forgiveness.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which are not connected to the text in the novels:
* It is obvious.<ref name=westeros/>
* It is cliche.<ref name=westeros>westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_are_Jon_Snows_parents The Citadel - FAQ: Who are Jon Snow's parents?]</ref>
* It makes Daenerys unimportant.<ref name=westeros/>
* It romanticizes Rhaegar and Lyanna.<ref name=westeros/>

The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which refer to the text in the novels:
* Eddard Stark claims he "found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen" for "the first time in years",{{Ref|aGoT|35}} which is considered odd if he had been raising Rhaegar's bastard son for years.
** Eddard speaks of Rhaegar in earlier chapters,{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|30}}{{Ref|aGoT|33}} and thinks about Rhaegar the chapter ''before'' the claim "for the first time in years" is made.{{Ref|aGoT|33}}
* If Eddard is not Jon's father, he has no reason to keep Jon's parentage a secret from his wife. Instead, he kept the identity of Jon's mother a secret, which caused a strain in his marriage to Catelyn.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}
** The danger Jon could be in if it was discovered that his father was Rhaegar Targaryen was not insignificant, and Eddard barely knew his wife. It would not be odd that he had kept the secret from her. Keeping Catelyn out of his secret meant keeping her from committing treason, and thus keeping her and their children safe, should his deceit ever be discovered. In addition, Jon could, due to his parentage, represent a danger to Catelyn's children. Even without having Catelyn being aware of Jon's parentage, Eddard wonders what choice Catelyn would make, if she would have to choose between the lives of her own children, or Jon.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}
* Eddard never thinks of Lyanna as being Jon's mother.
* Jon does not have any of the Valyrian physical traits.
** Numerous Targaryens did not look Valyrian: [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s three eldest sons, [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen]] and at least his son [[Valarr Targaryen|Valarr]], [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)]], [[Aegor Rivers]] (one of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]'s bastard sons), [[Duncan Targaryen]], and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]], Rhaegar's daughter by Elia.
* Eddard's honor is frequently cited,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} [[Robert I Baratheon]] states that Eddard "never could lie for love nor honor",{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and [[Sansa Stark]] and [[Olenna Tyrell]] agree that Eddard had a reputation for never lying.{{Ref|aSoS|6}} Eddard personally claimed that Jon is his bastard son,{{Ref|aGoT|12}} it will be unlikely that he lied as he is too honorable to lie.
** Following the incident with [[Arya Stark|Arya]], Sansa, [[Joffrey Baratheon]], and [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]] near the [[Trident]], [[Jory Cassel]] lies and claims that Nymeria ran off.{{Ref|aGoT|16}} Eddard later informs Arya that he knows it is a lie, after which Arya confesses how she and Jory chased Nymeria away to prevent her from being killed. Eddard states that "even the lie was... not without honor".{{Ref|aGoT|22}} Eddard also agrees to falsely confess to treason when his daughter Sansa is threated, showing that he would lie to protect a family member's life.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}

==''Game of Thrones''==
{{Warning|This section discusses plot points from HBO's TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' which have not or not yet featured in the novels of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''.}}

{{Warning|Due to deviations between the books and the TV series, the situation as presented in the TV series could differ from the situation as will be revealed in the novels}}

In "[[The Winds of Winter (TV)|The Winds of Winter]]", the finale episode of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|sixth season]] of [[w:HBO|HBO's]] TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is revealed to be the son of [[Lyanna Stark]] by [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. The episode reveals the promise she exacted from [[Eddard Stark]] was indeed to protect her son from [[Robert I Baratheon]], before she died at the [[tower of joy]].{{Ref|hbogot|s06e10}}

In "[[The Dragon and the Wolf]]", the finale of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 7|seventh season]], Rhaegar and Lyanna are revealed to have been married, while Rhaegar's marriage to Princess [[Elia Martell]] had been annulled, making Jon a trueborn [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and the heir to the [[Iron Throne]] through the most senior line.{{Ref|hbogot|s07e07}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Jon Snow/Theories

2024-06-05T00:41:37Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}

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.{{Ref|aGoT|41}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|6}} the likelihood that neither of his parents is a [[House Stark|Stark]] appears small. As such, besides Eddard, the fandom has frequently suggested either Eddard’s older brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] or younger sister [[Lyanna Stark|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.”<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040 Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> Daenerys Targaryen, in turn, was born nine months after her mother [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] and brother [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] fled [[King’s Landing]] at the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|aGoT|3}} Rhaella and Viserys fled at some point during the two-week period<ref group="N">Rossart was Hand for two weeks ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]). He was appointed after the Battle of the Trident ([[The World of Ice & Fire]], The Fall of the Dragons: The End) and died during the Sack of King’s Landing ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]).</ref> between the [[Battle of the Trident]] and the [[Sack of King’s Landing]].{{Ref|twoiaf| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} This information indicates that Jon was born towards the end of the rebellion. As the rebellion lasted "close to a year",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} 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.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} [[Cersei Lannister]], when confronting Eddard about his bastard son, offers several possibilities for Jon's mother, including Ashara.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}

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''".{{Ref|asos|43}} 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''".{{Ref|aSoS|43}} [[Meera Reed|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.{{Ref|aSoS|24}}

Besides the tourney in {{Date|281}}, 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.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Dorne: The Andals Arrive}} Some time afterwards, Ashara jumped from the top of the Palestone Sword, one of the towers of Starfall, into the sea.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} Several reasons are given for Ashara's motivation: a broken heart,{{Ref|ASOS|43}} because of her stillborn daughter,{{Ref|ADWD|67}} because of a stolen child,{{Ref|AGOT|45}} or due to grief over Arthur's death.{{Ref|ASOS|43}} Her body was never found.<ref name="ssm">[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1116 Soms Questions (August 23, 2000)]</ref>

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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}
* 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]],{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|aDwD|67}} would be a good candidate for the "rare wench".
* At the tourney at Harrenhal, Ashara is said to have "looked" at "Stark",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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 {{Date|281}}, and following the conclusion of [[Robert's Rebellion]] in late {{Date|283}}. [[Barristan Selmy]] implies that Ashara's childbirth took place not long before her suicide,{{Ref|adwd|67}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} 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",<ref name="ssm2">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040/ Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> 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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} and when his son [[Robb Stark|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.{{Ref|aSoS|14}}{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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",{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
*[[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.{{Ref|Adwd|67}} 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 [[House Dayne|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.<ref group="N" name=BAJ>229 out of 9115 votes (2.5%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

====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"''.{{Ref|aDwD|41}} As Eddard was too shy to even speak with Ashara at the tourney,{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and Benjen 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 Barbrey's maidenhead,{{Ref|aDwD|41}} and although he had been betrothed to [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]] by the time of the tourney for several years,<ref group="N">Catelyn and Brandon were betrothed when Catelyn was twelve years old (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 6|Catelyn II]]). As Catelyn was born in either {{Date|264}} or {{Date|265}}, they were betrothed in either {{Date|276}}, {{Date|277}}, or {{Date|278}}.</ref> Barbrey claims Brandon "never wanted" the marriage.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}
** [[Barristan Selmy]] recalls that Ashara had been "dishonored" by a man at Harrenhal, although he does not reveal the man's identity.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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''",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} suggesting Ashara turned to one of the Starks after the final tilts had taken place.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} By the account as told by [[Meera Reed]], [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], and [[Benjen Stark]] were all present during the tourney.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} 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, as does Selmy's lack of animus towards Eddard, whose character he attempts to defend to Daenerys Targaryen.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments are most frequently cited:
*According to [[George R. R. Martin]], "Brandon died before he had sons".<ref name="Asshai">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Asshai.com_Interview_in_Barcelona/ Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona (July 29, 2012)]</ref>
**While this would rule out Brandon as Jon's father, it would still be possible for Brandon to have been Ashara's lover.
**GRRM also stated: "It'd be an exaggeration to say that Brandon died before he could have children. It's established in the books that he was no virgin. He could very well have left behind some little Snows in the various places he visited. But what's absolutely clear is that he had no legitimate children."<ref name="Asshai"/>
*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,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert’s Rebellion}} 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,{{Ref|aCoK|55}} making it unlikely he impregnated a woman during this time.
*There's no known reason Eddard Stark would feel compelled to lie about Jon's parentage and put the resulting strain on his own marriage if Jon were Brandon and Ashara's son, as there's no known threat this information would pose to Jon's life.
**However, Jon being Brandon's son might muddle the line of succession, as a son inherits before a brother. An illegitimate son would not normally inherit, but it might cause dissent should there be discontent with Eddard and/or his children.

==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".{{Ref|aGoT|12}} According to Robert, Wylla was a "common girl",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} while [[Sansa Stark]] heard whispers that Jon's mother "had been common",{{Ref|aGoT|15}} and [[Cersei Lannister]] mentions "some [[Dornish]] peasant" as Jon's potential mother.{{Ref|AGOT|45}} Lord [[Edric Dayne]] of Starfall tells [[Arya Stark]] that Jon's mother is [[Wylla]], whom he identifies as his own former wetnurse, who served at [[Starfall]] "''for years and years''", since before Edric's birth.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}

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 Stark|Catelyn Tully]].

==The fisherman's daughter==
During [[Robert's Rebellion]] [[Eddard Stark]] traveled from the [[Vale of Arryn]] to the [[north]]. Eddard crossed the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]] and hired a fisherman to bring him to [[White Harbor]] with a boat. However, they were caught by a storm on the [[Bite]] and the fisherman drowned. The fisherman's daughter brought Eddard to the [[Three Sisters]]. According to Lord [[Godric Borrell]], it is said that Eddard "''left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly''". Lord Borrell claims the fisherman's daughter named her bastard Jon Snow, after [[Jon Arryn]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}}

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this story are most frequently cited:
*While the story as Lord Borrell tells it claims the fisherman's daughter had given Jon his name,{{Ref|aDwD|9}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that Jon had "most like" been named by Eddard Stark.<Ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1202/ Numerous Questions (February 28, 2002)]</ref>
*If Eddard had fathered Jon on the fisherman's daughter, he would have done so before his marriage to [[Catelyn Stark|Cately Tully]]. However, this would mean Eddard lied, for no apparent reason, when he claimed that he had fathered Jon after his wedding.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} In addition, if the fisherman's daughter is Jon's mother, Eddard has no reason to keep her identity a secret.

==Lyanna Stark==
===Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen===
[[File:The sun, the dragon, the wolf by Fkaluis.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Elia, Rhaegar, and Lyanna, by [https://fkaluis.tumblr.com/ Fkaluis] ©]]
The most popular theory regarding the identity of [[Jon Snow]]'s mother is [[Lyanna Stark]], with Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] for his father.<ref group="N" name=RLJ>8690 out of 9115 votes (95.0%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

Lyanna was [[Eddard Stark]]'s younger sister, who was betrothed to [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|35}} In {{Date|281}}, Lyanna was present at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]], where she was crowned the [[queen of love and beauty]] by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.{{Ref|AGOT|58}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} The next year, Lyanna came face to face with Rhaegar ten leagues from [[Harrenhal]],{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} and was abducted by him{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} at swordpoint,{{Ref|aDwD|43}} according to a semi-canon source with the aid of Ser [[Arthur Dayne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]], two knights of his father's [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Rhaegar Targaryen}} When her brother Brandon learned about this, he rode to [[King's Landing]], where he was arrested and charged with treason. King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] summoned Lyanna's father [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] to court, and subsequently had both Brandon and Rickard killed. Lord [[Jon Arryn]]'s response to Aerys's next demanded started [[Robert's Rebellion]],{{Ref|ACOK|55}}{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} which lasted "close to a year".

Lyanna was found by Eddard after the war had ended at the [[tower of joy]].{{ref|agot|39}} Eddard was by her side when she died, in a bed that smelled "of blood and roses".{{Ref|agot|4}} Shortly before her death, fearing something unknown, Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard brought Lyanna's remains home to [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aDwD|41}}

The theory proposes that Jon is Lyanna's son by Rhaegar Targaryen, Lyanna's abductor. Rhaegar, who had been married to [[Elia Martell]], had two children by his wife, but following the birth of his second child, the [[maesters]] informed him that Elia could have no more children.{{Ref|aDwD|61}} [[Kevan Lannister]] believes that Rhaegar abducted Lyanna because he wanted more sons,{{Ref|aDwD|72}}{{Ref|aDwD|epilogue}} while Robert believes that Rhaegar raped Lyanna "hundreds of times".{{Ref|aGoT|12}}

====Supporting evidence====
The following arguments are frequently used in favor of this theory:
* [[Blue winter rose]]s are associated in text with Lyanna, Rhaegar, death, and a newborn child:
** Lyanna was crowned by Rhaegar at the tourney at Harrenhal using "a crown of winter roses, blue as frost".{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
** While in captivity, Eddard Stark dreams of Lyanna's statue in the crypts of Winterfell, where she is wearing a garland of pale blue roses, while weeping blood.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**To Robert, Eddard states that Lyanna was fond of flowers,{{Ref|agot|4}} and to himself he thinks that she had loved the scent of winter roses.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**As she is dying, rose petals spill from Lyanna's palm, dead and black.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
**During a fever dream about the [[combat at the tower of joy]], Eddard dreams of a storm of rose petals blowing across a blood-streaked sky, "as blue as the eyes of death", while hearing Lyanna call out to him.{{Ref|aGoT|39}}
**Theon has a prophetic-like dream in which he sees Lyanna, who had never known personally, in a gown spattered with gore wearing a crown of pale blue roses.{{Ref|aCoK|56}}
**When [[Cersei Lannister]] tells Eddard how Robert whispered Lyanna's name in her ear during their wedding night, Eddard thinks of pale blue roses and wants to weep.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}
** While at the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of a blue flower growing in a wall of ice,{{Ref|aCoK|48}} which would symbolize Jon Snow at the Wall.
** According to legend, [[Bael the Bard]] climbed the [[Wall]], and traveled to [[Winterfell]] pretending to be a singer with a harp. There, he impressed Lord [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]], and was allowed to choose a reward. He requested the most beautiful flower blooming in Winterfell's gardens, and Lord Brandon agreed to offer him the most of his blue winter roses. The following morning, Bael was found to have disappeared with Lord Brandon's only daughter, a young maiden, having left the blue winter rose behind in her bed. The girl was found by Lord Stark again a year later, with the babe Bael had fathered on her, having hid in the crypts of Winterfell all that time.{{Ref|ACOK|51}}
***The parallel with Bael is Rhaegar, also royalty, a singer{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and harpist,{{Ref|aCoK|63}}{{Ref|aSoS|8}} who gave blue winter roses to a Stark and took Lord Stark's (Rickard's) only maiden daughter (Lyanna), only for her to be eventually found again by Lord Stark (by now her brother, Eddard), according to the theory with a newborn babe (Jon).
*Eddard found Lyanna dying, stricken with a fever which had taken all of her strength,{{Ref|aGoT|4}} in her "bed of blood".{{Ref|aGoT|39}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} The terms "beds of blood and pain"{{Ref|aFfC|1}} and "bloody bed"{{Ref|aGoT|61}} are used in further text to refer to childbirth, giving the impression that Lyanna's "bed of blood" might likewise be connected to childbirth.
*Jon is said to resemble [[Arya Stark]] in appearance.{{Ref|aGoT|7}}{{Ref|aGoT|15}} Arya is said to look like Lyanna,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} thereby linking Jon's appearance to Lyanna's. The statement made by [[Tyrion Lannister]] that Jon looks so much like a Stark, and that "''whoever his mother had been, she had left little of herself in her son.''", would be most ironic if Jon's Stark parent was indeed Lyanna, and not Eddard.
*According to [[Catelyn Stark]], Eddard must have loved Jon's mother fiercely.{{Ref|agot|6}} Eddard himself recalls how he had "loved [Lyanna] with all his heart".{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
*As she was dying, a fearful Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard, and was only reassured when he gave her his word.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard recalls Lyanna whispering "promise me, Ned" frequently throughout the story,{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|47}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} and at one point thinks back to "''the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them''".{{Ref|aGoT|35}} At some point, Eddard recalls Robert ordering the pregnant [[Daenerys Targaryen]] slain, as well as how Robert had turned away from the corpses of the brutally murdered young children of Prince Rhaegar's by Elia Martell during the war, as well as turning away when [[Sansa Stark]]'s innocent [[direwolf]] pup [[Lady]] was ordered executed. Sansa's pleading for the life of her pup makes him think of Lyanna's pleading.{{Ref|aGoT|20}} That Robert either ordering the death of Targaryen children, or approving of the death of Targaryen children, and Robert being willing to allow an innocent pup to be killed evoke the memory of Lyanna's pleas, could suggest that Lyanna made Eddard promise to keep her child by Rhaegar safe. After all, according to [[Tywin Lannister]] "''Robert's hatred for Rhaegar was scarcely a secret''"{{Ref|aSoS|53}} and according to Eddard, even fifteen years after Rhaegar's death by Robert's hand, Robert still hates him just as much as when he was still alive.{{Ref|aGoT|33}} In addition, Robert considered Rhaegar's young children to be "dragonspawn", and saw no issue in their deaths.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} The idea that Lyanna would fear for the life of her child by Rhaegar is more than valid, and Eddard's line of thought regarding Lyanna's promise and her pleas is argued to favor this idea. In addition, it provides Eddard with the motivation to lie about Jon's parentage, even to his new wife.
*At the end of Robert's Rebellion, Eddard travels with six companions to the [[tower of joy]], where they encounter three [[Kingsguard]] knights guarding the tower where Lyanna resides: Lord Commander [[Gerold Hightower]], [[Oswell Whent]], and [[Arthur Dayne]].{{Ref|aGoT|39}} In Eddard's fever dream, the three white cloaks reaffirm their loyalty to [[House Targaryen]], before engaging in combat with the northmen.{{Ref|aGoT|39}} A Kingsguard's duty is defending the king and obeying his commands. The king might decide to extend Kingsguard protection to others in his family, or even their mistresses and bastards.{{Ref|aDwD|55}} The presence of the three Kingsguard knights at the tower where Lyanna was being kept has been taken to mean by supporters of the theory that Rhaegar's child by Lyanna was present at the tower. Eddard Stark considered Arthur Dayne "the finest knight" he ever saw, "a marvel, a shining lesson to the world" years after Arthur's death,{{Ref|aCoK|21}} implying that Eddard considers Arthur's (and by default Oswell's and Gerold's) reasons for being at the tower in line with his Kingsguard vows, indicating they acted on orders given to them by a Targaryen.
**Some supporters of the theory have even suggested the presence of the Kingsguard knights implies that Lyanna's child is considered the heir to the Iron Throne following the deaths of Aerys and Rhaegar. In this scenario, Rhaegar and Lyanna had wed before he returned to King's Landing. The Targaryen tradition of [[polygamy|polygamous]] marriages would allow for this possibility.
**Arthur Dayne's presence makes it plausible that Wylla, known to serve House Dayne as a wetnurse, was also present at the tower as a wetnurse provided by Arthur for Lyanna's child, explaining why Robert Baratheon and Edric Dayne were told Wylla was Jon's mother.
*Rhaegar's motivation for taking Lyanna have been argued to have two possibilities: either because he loved Lyanna, as argued by [[Daenerys Targaryen]],{{Ref|AGOT|3}}{{Ref|aGoT|64}} [[Barristan Selmy]],{{Ref|aDwD|67}} and singers,{{Ref|aFfC|31}} or due to prophecy. Prophecy undeniably played an important role in Rhaegar's motivations for his actions.{{Ref|aSoS|8}}{{Ref|aFfC|35}} In the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of Rhaegar with his wife Elia shortly after the birth of their son [[Aegon VI Targaryen|Aegon]]. Rhaegar proclaims that "there must be one more" because "the dragon has three heads".{{Ref|aCoK|48}} Given that the maesters told Rhaegar after Aegon's birth that his wife Elia could have no more children,{{Ref|aDwD|61}} Rhaegar could have attempted to fulfill the prophecy by having a third child with another woman. The fact that Rhaegar named the tower the "tower of joy"{{Ref|aGoT|39}} would fit with both interpretations: either joy over being with the woman he loved, or joy over fulfilling the prophecy.
**Eddard's proclamation of Lyanna's character{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and her "wolf blood", which he claims brought her to an early grave,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} could suggest Lyanna had not gone with Rhaegar against her will, although others have suggested it instead refers to [[Knight of the Laughing Tree/Theories|another theory]].
*Bran sees a vision of his father, much younger than he had ever known him, praying in front of the weirwood tree in Winterfell's godswood, saying "''… let them grow up close as brothers, with only love between them. And let my lady wife find it in her heart to forgive …''"{{Ref|aDwD|34}} Readers have suggested that this is Eddard after his return to Winterfell following Robert's Rebellion, referring to Robb and Jon with "let them grow up close as brothers", which would mean that the two boys are not brothers. Furthermore, besides his supposed affair during the first year of his marriage, the novels mention nothing that Eddard has done that could possibly require Catelyn's forgiveness.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which are not connected to the text in the novels:
* It is obvious.<ref name=westeros/>
* It is cliche.<ref name=westeros>westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_are_Jon_Snows_parents The Citadel - FAQ: Who are Jon Snow's parents?]</ref>
* It makes Daenerys unimportant.<ref name=westeros/>
* It romanticizes Rhaegar and Lyanna.<ref name=westeros/>

The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which refer to the text in the novels:
* Eddard Stark claims he "found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen" for "the first time in years",{{Ref|aGoT|35}} which is considered odd if he had been raising Rhaegar's bastard son for years.
** Eddard speaks of Rhaegar in earlier chapters,{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|30}}{{Ref|aGoT|33}} and thinks about Rhaegar the chapter ''before'' the claim "for the first time in years" is made.{{Ref|aGoT|33}}
* If Eddard is not Jon's father, he has no reason to keep Jon's parentage a secret from his wife. Instead, he kept the identity of Jon's mother a secret, which caused a strain in his marriage to Catelyn.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}
** The danger Jon could be in if it was discovered that his father was Rhaegar Targaryen was not insignificant, and Eddard barely knew his wife. It would not be odd that he had kept the secret from her. Keeping Catelyn out of his secret meant keeping her from committing treason, and thus keeping her and their children safe, should his deceit ever be discovered. In addition, Jon could, due to his parentage, represent a danger to Catelyn's children. Even without having Catelyn being aware of Jon's parentage, Eddard wonders what choice Catelyn would make, if she would have to choose between the lives of her own children, or Jon.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}
* Eddard never thinks of Lyanna as being Jon's mother.
* Jon does not have any of the Valyrian physical traits.
** Numerous Targaryens did not look Valyrian: [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s three eldest sons, [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen]] and at least his son [[Valarr Targaryen|Valarr]], [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)]], [[Aegor Rivers]] (one of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]'s bastard sons), [[Duncan Targaryen]], and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]], Rhaegar's daughter by Elia.
* Eddard's honor is frequently cited,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} [[Robert I Baratheon]] states that Eddard "never could lie for love nor honor",{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and [[Sansa Stark]] and [[Olenna Tyrell]] agree that Eddard had a reputation for never lying.{{Ref|aSoS|6}} Eddard personally claimed that Jon is his bastard son,{{Ref|aGoT|12}} it will be unlikely that he lied as he is too honorable to lie.
** Following the incident with [[Arya Stark|Arya]], Sansa, [[Joffrey Baratheon]], and [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]] near the [[Trident]], [[Jory Cassel]] lies and claims that Nymeria ran off.{{Ref|aGoT|16}} Eddard later informs Arya that he knows it is a lie, after which Arya confesses how she and Jory chased Nymeria away to prevent her from being killed. Eddard states that "even the lie was... not without honor".{{Ref|aGoT|22}} Eddard also agrees to falsely confess to treason when his daughter Sansa is threated.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}

==''Game of Thrones''==
{{Warning|This section discusses plot points from HBO's TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' which have not or not yet featured in the novels of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''.}}

{{Warning|Due to deviations between the books and the TV series, the situation as presented in the TV series could differ from the situation as will be revealed in the novels}}

In "[[The Winds of Winter (TV)|The Winds of Winter]]", the finale episode of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|sixth season]] of [[w:HBO|HBO's]] TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is revealed to be the son of [[Lyanna Stark]] by [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. The episode reveals the promise she exacted from [[Eddard Stark]] was indeed to protect her son from [[Robert I Baratheon]], before she died at the [[tower of joy]].{{Ref|hbogot|s06e10}}

In "[[The Dragon and the Wolf]]", the finale of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 7|seventh season]], Rhaegar and Lyanna are revealed to have been married, while Rhaegar's marriage to Princess [[Elia Martell]] had been annulled, making Jon a trueborn [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and the heir to the [[Iron Throne]] through the most senior line.{{Ref|hbogot|s07e07}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Jon Snow/Theories

2024-06-05T00:39:31Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}

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.{{Ref|aGoT|41}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|6}} the likelihood that neither of his parents is a [[House Stark|Stark]] appears small. As such, besides Eddard, the fandom has frequently suggested either Eddard’s older brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] or younger sister [[Lyanna Stark|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.”<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040 Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> Daenerys Targaryen, in turn, was born nine months after her mother [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] and brother [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] fled [[King’s Landing]] at the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|aGoT|3}} Rhaella and Viserys fled at some point during the two-week period<ref group="N">Rossart was Hand for two weeks ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]). He was appointed after the Battle of the Trident ([[The World of Ice & Fire]], The Fall of the Dragons: The End) and died during the Sack of King’s Landing ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]).</ref> between the [[Battle of the Trident]] and the [[Sack of King’s Landing]].{{Ref|twoiaf| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} This information indicates that Jon was born towards the end of the rebellion. As the rebellion lasted "close to a year",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} 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.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} [[Cersei Lannister]], when confronting Eddard about his bastard son, offers several possibilities for Jon's mother, including Ashara.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}

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''".{{Ref|asos|43}} 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''".{{Ref|aSoS|43}} [[Meera Reed|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.{{Ref|aSoS|24}}

Besides the tourney in {{Date|281}}, 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.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Dorne: The Andals Arrive}} Some time afterwards, Ashara jumped from the top of the Palestone Sword, one of the towers of Starfall, into the sea.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} Several reasons are given for Ashara's motivation: a broken heart,{{Ref|ASOS|43}} because of her stillborn daughter,{{Ref|ADWD|67}} because of a stolen child,{{Ref|AGOT|45}} or due to grief over Arthur's death.{{Ref|ASOS|43}} Her body was never found.<ref name="ssm">[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1116 Soms Questions (August 23, 2000)]</ref>

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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}
* 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]],{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|aDwD|67}} would be a good candidate for the "rare wench".
* At the tourney at Harrenhal, Ashara is said to have "looked" at "Stark",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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 {{Date|281}}, and following the conclusion of [[Robert's Rebellion]] in late {{Date|283}}. [[Barristan Selmy]] implies that Ashara's childbirth took place not long before her suicide,{{Ref|adwd|67}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} 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",<ref name="ssm2">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040/ Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> 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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} and when his son [[Robb Stark|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.{{Ref|aSoS|14}}{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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",{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
*[[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.{{Ref|Adwd|67}} 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 [[House Dayne|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.<ref group="N" name=BAJ>229 out of 9115 votes (2.5%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

====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"''.{{Ref|aDwD|41}} As Eddard was too shy to even speak with Ashara at the tourney,{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and Benjen 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 Barbrey's maidenhead,{{Ref|aDwD|41}} and although he had been betrothed to [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]] by the time of the tourney for several years,<ref group="N">Catelyn and Brandon were betrothed when Catelyn was twelve years old (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 6|Catelyn II]]). As Catelyn was born in either {{Date|264}} or {{Date|265}}, they were betrothed in either {{Date|276}}, {{Date|277}}, or {{Date|278}}.</ref> Barbrey claims Brandon "never wanted" the marriage.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}
** [[Barristan Selmy]] recalls that Ashara had been "dishonored" by a man at Harrenhal, although he does not reveal the man's identity.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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''",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} suggesting Ashara turned to one of the Starks after the final tilts had taken place.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} By the account as told by [[Meera Reed]], [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], and [[Benjen Stark]] were all present during the tourney.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} 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, as does Selmy's lack of animus towards Eddard, whose character he attempts to defend to Daenerys Targaryen.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments are most frequently cited:
*According to [[George R. R. Martin]], "Brandon died before he had sons".<ref name="Asshai">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Asshai.com_Interview_in_Barcelona/ Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona (July 29, 2012)]</ref>
**While this would rule out Brandon as Jon's father, it would still be possible for Brandon to have been Ashara's lover.
**GRRM also stated: "It'd be an exaggeration to say that Brandon died before he could have children. It's established in the books that he was no virgin. He could very well have left behind some little Snows in the various places he visited. But what's absolutely clear is that he had no legitimate children."<ref name="Asshai"/>
*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,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert’s Rebellion}} 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,{{Ref|aCoK|55}} making it unlikely he impregnated a woman during this time.
*There's no known reason Eddard Stark would feel compelled to lie about Jon's parentage and put the resulting strain on his own marriage if Jon were Brandon and Ashara's son, as there's no known threat this information would pose to Jon's life.
**However, Jon being Brandon's son might muddle the line of succession, as a son inherits before a brother. An illegitimate son would not normally inherit, but it might cause dissent should there be discontent with Eddard and/or his children.

==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".{{Ref|aGoT|12}} According to Robert, Wylla was a "common girl",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} while [[Sansa Stark]] heard whispers that Jon's mother "had been common",{{Ref|aGoT|15}} and [[Cersei Lannister]] mentions "some [[Dornish]] peasant" as Jon's potential mother.{{Ref|AGOT|45}} Lord [[Edric Dayne]] of Starfall tells [[Arya Stark]] that Jon's mother is [[Wylla]], whom he identifies as his own former wetnurse, who served at [[Starfall]] "''for years and years''", since before Edric's birth.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}

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 Stark|Catelyn Tully]].

==The fisherman's daughter==
During [[Robert's Rebellion]] [[Eddard Stark]] traveled from the [[Vale of Arryn]] to the [[north]]. Eddard crossed the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]] and hired a fisherman to bring him to [[White Harbor]] with a boat. However, they were caught by a storm on the [[Bite]] and the fisherman drowned. The fisherman's daughter brought Eddard to the [[Three Sisters]]. According to Lord [[Godric Borrell]], it is said that Eddard "''left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly''". Lord Borrell claims the fisherman's daughter named her bastard Jon Snow, after [[Jon Arryn]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}}

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this story are most frequently cited:
*While the story as Lord Borrell tells it claims the fisherman's daughter had given Jon his name,{{Ref|aDwD|9}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that Jon had "most like" been named by Eddard Stark.<Ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1202/ Numerous Questions (February 28, 2002)]</ref>
*If Eddard had fathered Jon on the fisherman's daughter, he would have done so before his marriage to [[Catelyn Stark|Cately Tully]]. However, this would mean Eddard lied, for no apparent reason, when he claimed that he had fathered Jon after his wedding.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} In addition, if the fisherman's daughter is Jon's mother, Eddard has no reason to keep her identity a secret.

==Lyanna Stark==
===Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen===
[[File:The sun, the dragon, the wolf by Fkaluis.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Elia, Rhaegar, and Lyanna, by [https://fkaluis.tumblr.com/ Fkaluis] ©]]
The most popular theory regarding the identity of [[Jon Snow]]'s mother is [[Lyanna Stark]], with Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] for his father.<ref group="N" name=RLJ>8690 out of 9115 votes (95.0%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

Lyanna was [[Eddard Stark]]'s younger sister, who was betrothed to [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|35}} In {{Date|281}}, Lyanna was present at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]], where she was crowned the [[queen of love and beauty]] by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.{{Ref|AGOT|58}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} The next year, Lyanna came face to face with Rhaegar ten leagues from [[Harrenhal]],{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} and was abducted by him{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} at swordpoint,{{Ref|aDwD|43}} according to a semi-canon source with the aid of Ser [[Arthur Dayne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]], two knights of his father's [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Rhaegar Targaryen}} When her brother Brandon learned about this, he rode to [[King's Landing]], where he was arrested and charged with treason. King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] summoned Lyanna's father [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] to court, and subsequently had both Brandon and Rickard killed. Lord [[Jon Arryn]]'s response to Aerys's next demanded started [[Robert's Rebellion]],{{Ref|ACOK|55}}{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} which lasted "close to a year".

Lyanna was found by Eddard after the war had ended at the [[tower of joy]].{{ref|agot|39}} Eddard was by her side when she died, in a bed that smelled "of blood and roses".{{Ref|agot|4}} Shortly before her death, fearing something unknown, Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard brought Lyanna's remains home to [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aDwD|41}}

The theory proposes that Jon is Lyanna's son by Rhaegar Targaryen, Lyanna's abductor. Rhaegar, who had been married to [[Elia Martell]], had two children by his wife, but following the birth of his second child, the [[maesters]] informed him that Elia could have no more children.{{Ref|aDwD|61}} [[Kevan Lannister]] believes that Rhaegar abducted Lyanna because he wanted more sons,{{Ref|aDwD|72}}{{Ref|aDwD|epilogue}} while Robert believes that Rhaegar raped Lyanna "hundreds of times".{{Ref|aGoT|12}}

====Supporting evidence====
The following arguments are frequently used in favor of this theory:
* [[Blue winter rose]]s are associated in text with Lyanna, Rhaegar, death, and a newborn child:
** Lyanna was crowned by Rhaegar at the tourney at Harrenhal using "a crown of winter roses, blue as frost".{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
** While in captivity, Eddard Stark dreams of Lyanna's statue in the crypts of Winterfell, where she is wearing a garland of pale blue roses, while weeping blood.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**To Robert, Eddard states that Lyanna was fond of flowers,{{Ref|agot|4}} and to himself he thinks that she had loved the scent of winter roses.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**As she is dying, rose petals spill from Lyanna's palm, dead and black.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
**During a fever dream about the [[combat at the tower of joy]], Eddard dreams of a storm of rose petals blowing across a blood-streaked sky, "as blue as the eyes of death", while hearing Lyanna call out to him.{{Ref|aGoT|39}}
**Theon has a prophetic-like dream in which he sees Lyanna, who had never known personally, in a gown spattered with gore wearing a crown of pale blue roses.{{Ref|aCoK|56}}
**When [[Cersei Lannister]] tells Eddard how Robert whispered Lyanna's name in her ear during their wedding night, Eddard thinks of pale blue roses and wants to weep.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}
** While at the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of a blue flower growing in a wall of ice,{{Ref|aCoK|48}} which would symbolize Jon Snow at the Wall.
** According to legend, [[Bael the Bard]] climbed the [[Wall]], and traveled to [[Winterfell]] pretending to be a singer with a harp. There, he impressed Lord [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]], and was allowed to choose a reward. He requested the most beautiful flower blooming in Winterfell's gardens, and Lord Brandon agreed to offer him the most of his blue winter roses. The following morning, Bael was found to have disappeared with Lord Brandon's only daughter, a young maiden, having left the blue winter rose behind in her bed. The girl was found by Lord Stark again a year later, with the babe Bael had fathered on her, having hid in the crypts of Winterfell all that time.{{Ref|ACOK|51}}
***The parallel with Bael is Rhaegar, also royalty, a singer{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and harpist,{{Ref|aCoK|63}}{{Ref|aSoS|8}} who gave blue winter roses to a Stark and took Lord Stark's (Rickard's) only maiden daughter (Lyanna), only for her to be eventually found again by Lord Stark (by now her brother, Eddard), according to the theory with a newborn babe (Jon).
*Eddard found Lyanna dying, stricken with a fever which had taken all of her strength,{{Ref|aGoT|4}} in her "bed of blood".{{Ref|aGoT|39}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} The terms "beds of blood and pain"{{Ref|aFfC|1}} and "bloody bed"{{Ref|aGoT|61}} are used in further text to refer to childbirth, giving the impression that Lyanna's "bed of blood" might likewise be connected to childbirth.
*Jon is said to resemble [[Arya Stark]] in appearance.{{Ref|aGoT|7}}{{Ref|aGoT|15}} Arya is said to look like Lyanna,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} thereby linking Jon's appearance to Lyanna's. The statement made by [[Tyrion Lannister]] that Jon looks so much like a Stark, and that "''whoever his mother had been, she had left little of herself in her son.''", would be most ironic if Jon's Stark parent was indeed Lyanna, and not Eddard.
*According to [[Catelyn Stark]], Eddard must have loved Jon's mother fiercely.{{Ref|agot|6}} Eddard himself recalls how he had "loved [Lyanna] with all his heart".{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
*As she was dying, a fearful Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard, and was only reassured when he gave her his word.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard recalls Lyanna whispering "promise me, Ned" frequently throughout the story,{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|47}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} and at one point thinks back to "''the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them''".{{Ref|aGoT|35}} At some point, Eddard recalls Robert ordering the pregnant [[Daenerys Targaryen]] slain, as well as how Robert had turned away from the corpses of the brutally murdered young children of Prince Rhaegar's by Elia Martell during the war, as well as turning away when [[Sansa Stark]]'s innocent [[direwolf]] pup [[Lady]] was ordered executed. Sansa's pleading for the life of her pup makes him think of Lyanna's pleading.{{Ref|aGoT|20}} That Robert either ordering the death of Targaryen children, or approving of the death of Targaryen children, and Robert being willing to allow an innocent pup to be killed evoke the memory of Lyanna's pleas, could suggest that Lyanna made Eddard promise to keep her child by Rhaegar safe. After all, according to [[Tywin Lannister]] "''Robert's hatred for Rhaegar was scarcely a secret''"{{Ref|aSoS|53}} and according to Eddard, even fifteen years after Rhaegar's death by Robert's hand, Robert still hates him just as much as when he was still alive.{{Ref|aGoT|33}} In addition, Robert considered Rhaegar's young children to be "dragonspawn", and saw no issue in their deaths.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} The idea that Lyanna would fear for the life of her child by Rhaegar is more than valid, and Eddard's line of thought regarding Lyanna's promise and her pleas is argued to favor this idea. In addition, it provides Eddard with the motivation to lie about Jon's parentage, even to his new wife.
*At the end of Robert's Rebellion, Eddard travels with six companions to the [[tower of joy]], where they encounter three [[Kingsguard]] knights guarding the tower where Lyanna resides: Lord Commander [[Gerold Hightower]], [[Oswell Whent]], and [[Arthur Dayne]].{{Ref|aGoT|39}} In Eddard's fever dream, the three white cloaks reaffirm their loyalty to [[House Targaryen]], before engaging in combat with the northmen.{{Ref|aGoT|39}} A Kingsguard's duty is defending the king and obeying his commands. The king might decide to extend Kingsguard protection to others in his family, or even their mistresses and bastards.{{Ref|aDwD|55}} The presence of the three Kingsguard knights at the tower where Lyanna was being kept has been taken to mean by supporters of the theory that Rhaegar's child by Lyanna was present at the tower. Eddard Stark considered Arthur Dayne "the finest knight" he ever saw, "a marvel, a shining lesson to the world" years after Arthur's death,{{Ref|aCoK|21}} implying that Eddard considers Arthur's (and by default Oswell's and Gerold's) reasons for being at the tower in line with his Kingsguard vows, indicating they acted on orders given to them by a Targaryen.
**Some supporters of the theory have even suggested the presence of the Kingsguard knights implies that Lyanna's child is considered the heir to the Iron Throne following the deaths of Aerys and Rhaegar. In this scenario, Rhaegar and Lyanna had wed before he returned to King's Landing. The Targaryen tradition of [[polygamy|polygamous]] marriages would allow for this possibility.
**Arthur Dayne's presence makes it plausible that Wylla, known to serve House Dayne as a wetnurse, was also present at the tower as a wetnurse provided by Arthur for Lyanna's child, explaining why Robert Baratheon and Edric Dayne were told Wylla was Jon's mother.
*Rhaegar's motivation for taking Lyanna have been argued to have two possibilities: either because he loved Lyanna, as argued by [[Daenerys Targaryen]],{{Ref|AGOT|3}}{{Ref|aGoT|64}} [[Barristan Selmy]],{{Ref|aDwD|67}} and singers,{{Ref|aFfC|31}} or due to prophecy. Prophecy undeniably played an important role in Rhaegar's motivations for his actions.{{Ref|aSoS|8}}{{Ref|aFfC|35}} In the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of Rhaegar with his wife Elia shortly after the birth of their son [[Aegon VI Targaryen|Aegon]]. Rhaegar proclaims that "there must be one more" because "the dragon has three heads".{{Ref|aCoK|48}} Given that the maesters told Rhaegar after Aegon's birth that his wife Elia could have no more children,{{Ref|aDwD|61}} Rhaegar could have attempted to fulfill the prophecy by having a third child with another woman. The fact that Rhaegar named the tower the "tower of joy"{{Ref|aGoT|39}} would fit with both interpretations: either joy over being with the woman he loved, or joy over fulfilling the prophecy.
**Eddard's proclamation of Lyanna's character{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and her "wolf blood", which he claims brought her to an early grave,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} could suggest Lyanna had not gone with Rhaegar against her will, although others have suggested it instead refers to [[Knight of the Laughing Tree/Theories|another theory]].
*Bran sees a vision of his father, much younger than he had ever known him, praying in front of the weirwood tree in Winterfell's godswood, saying "''… let them grow up close as brothers, with only love between them. And let my lady wife find it in her heart to forgive …''"{{Ref|aDwD|34}} Readers have suggested that this is Eddard after his return to Winterfell following Robert's Rebellion, referring to Robb and Jon with "let them grow up close as brothers", which would mean that the two boys are not brothers. Furthermore, besides his supposed affair during the first year of his marriage, the novels mention nothing that Eddard has done that could possibly require Catelyn's forgiveness.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which are not connected to the text in the novels:
* It is obvious.<ref name=westeros/>
* It is cliche.<ref name=westeros>westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_are_Jon_Snows_parents The Citadel - FAQ: Who are Jon Snow's parents?]</ref>
* It makes Daenerys unimportant.<ref name=westeros/>
* It romanticizes Rhaegar and Lyanna.<ref name=westeros/>

The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which refer to the text in the novels:
* Eddard Stark claims he "found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen" for "the first time in years",{{Ref|aGoT|35}} which is considered odd if he had been raising Rhaegar's bastard son for years.
** Eddard speaks of Rhaegar in earlier chapters,{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|30}}{{Ref|aGoT|33}} and thinks about Rhaegar the chapter ''before'' the claim "for the first time in years" is made.{{Ref|aGoT|33}}
* If Eddard is not Jon's father, he has no reason to keep Jon's parentage a secret from his wife. Instead, he kept the identity of Jon's mother a secret, which caused a strain in his marriage to Catelyn.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}
** The danger Jon could be in if it was discovered that his father was Rhaegar Targaryen was not insignificant, and Eddard barely knew his wife. It would not be odd that he had kept the secret from her. Keeping Catelyn out of his secret meant keeping her from committing treason, and thus keeping her and their children safe, should his deceit ever be discovered. In addition, Jon could, due to his parentage, represent a danger to Catelyn's children. Even without having Catelyn being aware of Jon's parentage, Eddard wonders what choice Catelyn would make, if she would have to choose between the lives of her own children, or Jon.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}
* Eddard never thinks of Lyanna as being Jon's mother.
* Jon does not have any of the Valyrian physical traits.
** Numerous Targaryens did not look Valyrian: [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s three eldest sons, [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen]] and at least his son [[Valarr Targaryen|Valarr]], [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)]], [[Aegor Rivers]] (one of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]'s bastard sons), [[Duncan Targaryen]], and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]], Rhaegar's daughter by Elia.
* Eddard's honor is frequently cited,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} [[Robert I Baratheon]] states that Eddard "never could lie for love nor honor",{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and [[Sansa Stark]] and [[Olenna Tyrell]] agree that Eddard had a reputation for never lying.{{Ref|aSoS|6}} Eddard personally claimed that Jon is his bastard son,{{Ref|aGoT|12}} it will be unlikely that he lied as he is too honorable to lie.
** Following the incident with [[Arya Stark|Arya]], Sansa, [[Joffrey Baratheon]], and [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]] near the [[Trident]], [[Jory Cassel]] lies and claims that Nymeria ran off.{{Ref|aGoT|16}} Eddard later informs Arya that he knows it is a lie, after which Arya confesses how she and Jory chased Nymeria away to prevent her from being killed. Eddard states that "even the lie was... not without honor".{{Ref|aGoT|22}}

==''Game of Thrones''==
{{Warning|This section discusses plot points from HBO's TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' which have not or not yet featured in the novels of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''.}}

{{Warning|Due to deviations between the books and the TV series, the situation as presented in the TV series could differ from the situation as will be revealed in the novels}}

In "[[The Winds of Winter (TV)|The Winds of Winter]]", the finale episode of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|sixth season]] of [[w:HBO|HBO's]] TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is revealed to be the son of [[Lyanna Stark]] by [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. The episode reveals the promise she exacted from [[Eddard Stark]] was indeed to protect her son from [[Robert I Baratheon]], before she died at the [[tower of joy]].{{Ref|hbogot|s06e10}}

In "[[The Dragon and the Wolf]]", the finale of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 7|seventh season]], Rhaegar and Lyanna are revealed to have been married, while Rhaegar's marriage to Princess [[Elia Martell]] had been annulled, making Jon a trueborn [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and the heir to the [[Iron Throne]] through the most senior line.{{Ref|hbogot|s07e07}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Jon Snow/Theories

2024-06-05T00:38:39Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}

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.{{Ref|aGoT|41}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|6}} the likelihood that neither of his parents is a [[House Stark|Stark]] appears small. As such, besides Eddard, the fandom has frequently suggested either Eddard’s older brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] or younger sister [[Lyanna Stark|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.”<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040 Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> Daenerys Targaryen, in turn, was born nine months after her mother [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] and brother [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] fled [[King’s Landing]] at the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|aGoT|3}} Rhaella and Viserys fled at some point during the two-week period<ref group="N">Rossart was Hand for two weeks ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]). He was appointed after the Battle of the Trident ([[The World of Ice & Fire]], The Fall of the Dragons: The End) and died during the Sack of King’s Landing ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]).</ref> between the [[Battle of the Trident]] and the [[Sack of King’s Landing]].{{Ref|twoiaf| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} This information indicates that Jon was born towards the end of the rebellion. As the rebellion lasted "close to a year",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} 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.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} [[Cersei Lannister]], when confronting Eddard about his bastard son, offers several possibilities for Jon's mother, including Ashara.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}

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''".{{Ref|asos|43}} 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''".{{Ref|aSoS|43}} [[Meera Reed|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.{{Ref|aSoS|24}}

Besides the tourney in {{Date|281}}, 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.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Dorne: The Andals Arrive}} Some time afterwards, Ashara jumped from the top of the Palestone Sword, one of the towers of Starfall, into the sea.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} Several reasons are given for Ashara's motivation: a broken heart,{{Ref|ASOS|43}} because of her stillborn daughter,{{Ref|ADWD|67}} because of a stolen child,{{Ref|AGOT|45}} or due to grief over Arthur's death.{{Ref|ASOS|43}} Her body was never found.<ref name="ssm">[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1116 Soms Questions (August 23, 2000)]</ref>

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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}
* 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]],{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|aDwD|67}} would be a good candidate for the "rare wench".
* At the tourney at Harrenhal, Ashara is said to have "looked" at "Stark",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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 {{Date|281}}, and following the conclusion of [[Robert's Rebellion]] in late {{Date|283}}. [[Barristan Selmy]] implies that Ashara's childbirth took place not long before her suicide,{{Ref|adwd|67}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} 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",<ref name="ssm2">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040/ Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> 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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} and when his son [[Robb Stark|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.{{Ref|aSoS|14}}{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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",{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
*[[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.{{Ref|Adwd|67}} 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 [[House Dayne|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.<ref group="N" name=BAJ>229 out of 9115 votes (2.5%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

====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"''.{{Ref|aDwD|41}} As Eddard was too shy to even speak with Ashara at the tourney,{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and Benjen 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 Barbrey's maidenhead,{{Ref|aDwD|41}} and although he had been betrothed to [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]] by the time of the tourney for several years,<ref group="N">Catelyn and Brandon were betrothed when Catelyn was twelve years old (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 6|Catelyn II]]). As Catelyn was born in either {{Date|264}} or {{Date|265}}, they were betrothed in either {{Date|276}}, {{Date|277}}, or {{Date|278}}.</ref> Barbrey claims Brandon "never wanted" the marriage.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}
** [[Barristan Selmy]] recalls that Ashara had been "dishonored" by a man at Harrenhal, although he does not reveal the man's identity.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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''",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} suggesting Ashara turned to one of the Starks after the final tilts had taken place.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} By the account as told by [[Meera Reed]], [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], and [[Benjen Stark]] were all present during the tourney.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} 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, as does Selmy's lack of animus towards Eddard, whose character he attempts to defend to Daenerys Targaryen.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments are most frequently cited:
*According to [[George R. R. Martin]], "Brandon died before he had sons".<ref name="Asshai">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Asshai.com_Interview_in_Barcelona/ Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona (July 29, 2012)]</ref>
**While this would rule out Brandon as Jon's father, it would still be possible for Brandon to have been Ashara's lover.
**GRRM also stated: "It'd be an exaggeration to say that Brandon died before he could have children. It's established in the books that he was no virgin. He could very well have left behind some little Snows in the various places he visited. But what's absolutely clear is that he had no legitimate children."<ref name="Asshai"/>
*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,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert’s Rebellion}} 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,{{Ref|aCoK|55}} making it unlikely he impregnated a woman during this time.
*There's no known reason Eddard Stark would feel compelled to lie about Jon's parentage and put the resulting strain on his own marriage if Jon were Brandon and Ashara's son, as there's no known threat this information would pose to Jon's life.
**However, Jon being Brandon's son might muddle the line of succession, as a son inherits before a brother. An illegitimate son would not normally inherit, but it might cause dissent should there be discontent with Eddard and/or his children.

==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".{{Ref|aGoT|12}} According to Robert, Wylla was a "common girl",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} while [[Sansa Stark]] heard whispers that Jon's mother "had been common",{{Ref|aGoT|15}} and [[Cersei Lannister]] mentions "some [[Dornish]] peasant" as Jon's potential mother.{{Ref|AGOT|45}} Lord [[Edric Dayne]] of Starfall tells [[Arya Stark]] that Jon's mother is [[Wylla]], whom he identifies as his own former wetnurse, who served at [[Starfall]] "''for years and years''", since before Edric's birth.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}

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 Stark|Catelyn Tully]].

==The fisherman's daughter==
During [[Robert's Rebellion]] [[Eddard Stark]] traveled from the [[Vale of Arryn]] to the [[north]]. Eddard crossed the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]] and hired a fisherman to bring him to [[White Harbor]] with a boat. However, they were caught by a storm on the [[Bite]] and the fisherman drowned. The fisherman's daughter brought Eddard to the [[Three Sisters]]. According to Lord [[Godric Borrell]], it is said that Eddard "''left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly''". Lord Borrell claims the fisherman's daughter named her bastard Jon Snow, after [[Jon Arryn]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}}

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this story are most frequently cited:
*While the story as Lord Borrell tells it claims the fisherman's daughter had given Jon his name,{{Ref|aDwD|9}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that Jon had "most like" been named by Eddard Stark.<Ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1202/ Numerous Questions (February 28, 2002)]</ref>
*If Eddard had fathered Jon on the fisherman's daughter, he would have done so before his marriage to [[Catelyn Stark|Cately Tully]]. However, this would mean Eddard lied, for no apparent reason, when he claimed that he had fathered Jon after his wedding.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} In addition, if the fisherman's daughter is Jon's mother, Eddard has no reason to keep her identity a secret.

==Lyanna Stark==
===Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen===
[[File:The sun, the dragon, the wolf by Fkaluis.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Elia, Rhaegar, and Lyanna, by [https://fkaluis.tumblr.com/ Fkaluis] ©]]
The most popular theory regarding the identity of [[Jon Snow]]'s mother is [[Lyanna Stark]], with Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] for his father.<ref group="N" name=RLJ>8690 out of 9115 votes (95.0%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

Lyanna was [[Eddard Stark]]'s younger sister, who was betrothed to [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|35}} In {{Date|281}}, Lyanna was present at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]], where she was crowned the [[queen of love and beauty]] by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.{{Ref|AGOT|58}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} The next year, Lyanna came face to face with Rhaegar ten leagues from [[Harrenhal]],{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} and was abducted by him{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} at swordpoint,{{Ref|aDwD|43}} according to a semi-canon source with the aid of Ser [[Arthur Dayne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]], two knights of his father's [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Rhaegar Targaryen}} When her brother Brandon learned about this, he rode to [[King's Landing]], where he was arrested and charged with treason. King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] summoned Lyanna's father [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] to court, and subsequently had both Brandon and Rickard killed. Lord [[Jon Arryn]]'s response to Aerys's next demanded started [[Robert's Rebellion]],{{Ref|ACOK|55}}{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} which lasted "close to a year".

Lyanna was found by Eddard after the war had ended at the [[tower of joy]].{{ref|agot|39}} Eddard was by her side when she died, in a bed that smelled "of blood and roses".{{Ref|agot|4}} Shortly before her death, fearing something unknown, Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard brought Lyanna's remains home to [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aDwD|41}}

The theory proposes that Jon is Lyanna's son by Rhaegar Targaryen, Lyanna's abductor. Rhaegar, who had been married to [[Elia Martell]], had two children by his wife, but following the birth of his second child, the [[maesters]] informed him that Elia could have no more children.{{Ref|aDwD|61}} [[Kevan Lannister]] believes that Rhaegar abducted Lyanna because he wanted more sons,{{Ref|aDwD|72}}{{Ref|aDwD|epilogue}} while Robert believes that Rhaegar raped Lyanna "hundreds of times".{{Ref|aGoT|12}}

====Supporting evidence====
The following arguments are frequently used in favor of this theory:
* [[Blue winter rose]]s are associated in text with Lyanna, Rhaegar, death, and a newborn child:
** Lyanna was crowned by Rhaegar at the tourney at Harrenhal using "a crown of winter roses, blue as frost".{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
** While in captivity, Eddard Stark dreams of Lyanna's statue in the crypts of Winterfell, where she is wearing a garland of pale blue roses, while weeping blood.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**To Robert, Eddard states that Lyanna was fond of flowers,{{Ref|agot|4}} and to himself he thinks that she had loved the scent of winter roses.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**As she is dying, rose petals spill from Lyanna's palm, dead and black.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
**During a fever dream about the [[combat at the tower of joy]], Eddard dreams of a storm of rose petals blowing across a blood-streaked sky, "as blue as the eyes of death", while hearing Lyanna call out to him.{{Ref|aGoT|39}}
**Theon has a prophetic-like dream in which he sees Lyanna, who had never known personally, in a gown spattered with gore wearing a crown of pale blue roses.{{Ref|aCoK|56}}
**When [[Cersei Lannister]] tells Eddard how Robert whispered Lyanna's name in her ear during their wedding night, Eddard thinks of pale blue roses and wants to weep.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}
** While at the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of a blue flower growing in a wall of ice,{{Ref|aCoK|48}} which would symbolize Jon Snow at the Wall.
** According to legend, [[Bael the Bard]] climbed the [[Wall]], and traveled to [[Winterfell]] pretending to be a singer with a harp. There, he impressed Lord [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]], and was allowed to choose a reward. He requested the most beautiful flower blooming in Winterfell's gardens, and Lord Brandon agreed to offer him the most of his blue winter roses. The following morning, Bael was found to have disappeared with Lord Brandon's only daughter, a young maiden, having left the blue winter rose behind in her bed. The girl was found by Lord Stark again a year later, with the babe Bael had fathered on her, having hid in the crypts of Winterfell all that time.{{Ref|ACOK|51}}
***The parallel with Bael is Rhaegar, also royalty, a singer{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and harpist,{{Ref|aCoK|63}}{{Ref|aSoS|8}} who gave blue winter roses to a Stark and took Lord Stark's (Rickard's) only maiden daughter (Lyanna), only for her to be eventually found again by Lord Stark (by now her brother, Eddard), according to the theory with a newborn babe (Jon).
*Eddard found Lyanna dying, stricken with a fever which had taken all of her strength,{{Ref|aGoT|4}} in her "bed of blood".{{Ref|aGoT|39}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} The terms "beds of blood and pain"{{Ref|aFfC|1}} and "bloody bed"{{Ref|aGoT|61}} are used in further text to refer to childbirth, giving the impression that Lyanna's "bed of blood" might likewise be connected to childbirth.
*Jon is said to resemble [[Arya Stark]] in appearance.{{Ref|aGoT|7}}{{Ref|aGoT|15}} Arya is said to look like Lyanna,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} thereby linking Jon's appearance to Lyanna's. The statement made by [[Tyrion Lannister]] that Jon looks so much like a Stark, and that "''whoever his mother had been, she had left little of herself in her son.''", would be most ironic if Jon's Stark parent was indeed Lyanna, and not Eddard.
*According to [[Catelyn Stark]], Eddard must have loved Jon's mother fiercely.{{Ref|agot|6}} Eddard himself recalls how he had "loved [Lyanna] with all his heart".{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
*As she was dying, a fearful Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard, and was only reassured when he gave her his word.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard recalls Lyanna whispering "promise me, Ned" frequently throughout the story,{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|47}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} and at one point thinks back to "''the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them''".{{Ref|aGoT|35}} At some point, Eddard recalls Robert ordering the pregnant [[Daenerys Targaryen]] slain, as well as how Robert had turned away from the corpses of the brutally murdered young children of Prince Rhaegar's by Elia Martell during the war, as well as turning away when [[Sansa Stark]]'s innocent [[direwolf]] pup [[Lady]] was ordered executed. Sansa's pleading for the life of her pup makes him think of Lyanna's pleading.{{Ref|aGoT|20}} That Robert either ordering the death of Targaryen children, or approving of the death of Targaryen children, and Robert being willing to allow an innocent pup to be killed evoke the memory of Lyanna's pleas, could suggest that Lyanna made Eddard promise to keep her child by Rhaegar safe. After all, according to [[Tywin Lannister]] "''Robert's hatred for Rhaegar was scarcely a secret''"{{Ref|aSoS|53}} and according to Eddard, even fifteen years after Rhaegar's death by Robert's hand, Robert still hates him just as much as when he was still alive.{{Ref|aGoT|33}} In addition, Robert considered Rhaegar's young children to be "dragonspawn", and saw no issue in their deaths.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} The idea that Lyanna would fear for the life of her child by Rhaegar is more than valid, and Eddard's line of thought regarding Lyanna's promise and her pleas is argued to favor this idea. In addition, it provides Eddard with the motivation to lie about Jon's parentage, even to his new wife.
*At the end of Robert's Rebellion, Eddard travels with six companions to the [[tower of joy]], where they encounter three [[Kingsguard]] knights guarding the tower where Lyanna resides: Lord Commander [[Gerold Hightower]], [[Oswell Whent]], and [[Arthur Dayne]].{{Ref|aGoT|39}} In Eddard's fever dream, the three white cloaks reaffirm their loyalty to [[House Targaryen]], before engaging in combat with the northmen.{{Ref|aGoT|39}} A Kingsguard's duty is defending the king and obeying his commands. The king might decide to extend Kingsguard protection to others in his family, or even their mistresses and bastards.{{Ref|aDwD|55}} The presence of the three Kingsguard knights at the tower where Lyanna was being kept has been taken to mean by supporters of the theory that Rhaegar's child by Lyanna was present at the tower. Eddard Stark considered Arthur Dayne "the finest knight" he ever saw, "a marvel, a shining lesson to the world" years after Arthur's death,{{Ref|aCoK|21}} implying that Eddard considers Arthur's (and by default Oswell's and Gerold's) reasons for being at the tower in line with his Kingsguard vows, indicating they acted on orders given to them by a Targaryen.
**Some supporters of the theory have even suggested the presence of the Kingsguard knights implies that Lyanna's child is considered the heir to the Iron Throne following the deaths of Aerys and Rhaegar. In this scenario, Rhaegar and Lyanna had wed before he returned to King's Landing. The Targaryen tradition of [[polygamy|polygamous]] marriages would allow for this possibility.
**Arthur Dayne's presence makes it plausible that Wylla, known to serve House Dayne as a wetnurse, was also present at the tower as a wetnurse provided by Arthur for Lyanna's child, explaining why Robert Baratheon and Edric Dayne were told Wylla was Jon's mother.
*Rhaegar's motivation for taking Lyanna have been argued to have two possibilities: either because he loved Lyanna, as argued by [[Daenerys Targaryen]],{{Ref|AGOT|3}}{{Ref|aGoT|64}} [[Barristan Selmy]],{{Ref|aDwD|67}} and singers,{{Ref|aFfC|31}} or due to prophecy. Prophecy undeniably played an important role in Rhaegar's motivations for his actions.{{Ref|aSoS|8}}{{Ref|aFfC|35}} In the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of Rhaegar with his wife Elia shortly after the birth of their son [[Aegon VI Targaryen|Aegon]]. Rhaegar proclaims that "there must be one more" because "the dragon has three heads".{{Ref|aCoK|48}} Given that the maesters told Rhaegar after Aegon's birth that his wife Elia could have no more children,{{Ref|aDwD|61}} Rhaegar could have attempted to fulfill the prophecy by having a third child with another woman. The fact that Rhaegar named the tower the "tower of joy"{{Ref|aGoT|39}} would fit with both interpretations: either joy over being with the woman he loved, or joy over fulfilling the prophecy.
**Eddard's proclamation of Lyanna's character{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and her "wolf blood", which he claims brought her to an early grave,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} could suggest Lyanna had not gone with Rhaegar against her will, although others have suggested it instead refers to [[Knight of the Laughing Tree/Theories|another theory]].
*Bran sees a vision of his father, much younger than he had ever known him, praying in front of the weirwood tree in Winterfell's godswood, saying "''… let them grow up close as brothers, with only love between them. And let my lady wife find it in her heart to forgive …''"{{Ref|aDwD|34}} Readers have suggested that this is Eddard after his return to Winterfell following Robert's Rebellion, referring to Robb and Jon with "let them grow up close as brothers", which would mean that the two boys are not brothers. Furthermore, besides his supposed affair during the first year of his marriage, the novels mention nothing that Eddard has done that could possibly require Catelyn's forgiveness.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which are not connected to the text in the novels:
* It is obvious.<ref name=westeros/>
* It is cliche.<ref name=westeros>westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_are_Jon_Snows_parents The Citadel - FAQ: Who are Jon Snow's parents?]</ref>
* It makes Daenerys unimportant.<ref name=westeros/>
* It romanticizes Rhaegar and Lyanna.<ref name=westeros/>

The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which refer to the text in the novels:
* Eddard Stark claims he "found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen" for "the first time in years",{{Ref|aGoT|35}} which is considered odd if he had been raising Rhaegar's bastard son for years.
** Eddard speaks of Rhaegar in earlier chapters,{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|30}}{{Ref|aGoT|33}} and thinks about Rhaegar the chapter ''before'' the claim "for the first time in years" is made.{{Ref|aGoT|33}}
* If Eddard is not Jon's father, he has no reason to keep Jon's parentage a secret from his wife. Instead, he kept the identity of Jon's mother a secret, which caused a strain in his marriage to Catelyn.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}
** The danger Jon could be in if it was discovered that his father was Rhaegar Targaryen was not insignificant, and Eddard barely knew his wife. It would not be odd that he had kept the secret from her. Keeping Catelyn out of his secret meant keeping her from committing treason, and thus keeping her and their children safe, should his deceit ever be discovered. In addition, Jon could, due to his parentage, represent a danger to Catelyn's children. Even without having Catelyn being aware of Jon's parentage, Eddard wonders what choice Catelyn would make, if she would have to choose between the lives of her own children, or Jon.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}
* Eddard never thinks of Lyanna as being Jon's mother.
* Jon does not have any of the Valyrian physical traits.
** Numerous Targaryens did not look Valyrian: [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s three eldest sons, [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen]] and at least his son [[Valarr Targaryen|Valarr]], [[Aegor Rivers]] (one of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]'s bastard sons), [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)]] and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]], Rhaegar's daughter by Elia.
* Eddard's honor is frequently cited,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} [[Robert I Baratheon]] states that Eddard "never could lie for love nor honor",{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and [[Sansa Stark]] and [[Olenna Tyrell]] agree that Eddard had a reputation for never lying.{{Ref|aSoS|6}} Eddard personally claimed that Jon is his bastard son,{{Ref|aGoT|12}} it will be unlikely that he lied as he is too honorable to lie.
** Following the incident with [[Arya Stark|Arya]], Sansa, [[Joffrey Baratheon]], and [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]] near the [[Trident]], [[Jory Cassel]] lies and claims that Nymeria ran off.{{Ref|aGoT|16}} Eddard later informs Arya that he knows it is a lie, after which Arya confesses how she and Jory chased Nymeria away to prevent her from being killed. Eddard states that "even the lie was... not without honor".{{Ref|aGoT|22}}

==''Game of Thrones''==
{{Warning|This section discusses plot points from HBO's TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' which have not or not yet featured in the novels of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''.}}

{{Warning|Due to deviations between the books and the TV series, the situation as presented in the TV series could differ from the situation as will be revealed in the novels}}

In "[[The Winds of Winter (TV)|The Winds of Winter]]", the finale episode of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|sixth season]] of [[w:HBO|HBO's]] TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is revealed to be the son of [[Lyanna Stark]] by [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. The episode reveals the promise she exacted from [[Eddard Stark]] was indeed to protect her son from [[Robert I Baratheon]], before she died at the [[tower of joy]].{{Ref|hbogot|s06e10}}

In "[[The Dragon and the Wolf]]", the finale of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 7|seventh season]], Rhaegar and Lyanna are revealed to have been married, while Rhaegar's marriage to Princess [[Elia Martell]] had been annulled, making Jon a trueborn [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and the heir to the [[Iron Throne]] through the most senior line.{{Ref|hbogot|s07e07}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Jon Snow/Theories

2024-06-05T00:32:55Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}

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.{{Ref|aGoT|41}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|6}} the likelihood that neither of his parents is a [[House Stark|Stark]] appears small. As such, besides Eddard, the fandom has frequently suggested either Eddard’s older brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] or younger sister [[Lyanna Stark|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.”<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040 Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> Daenerys Targaryen, in turn, was born nine months after her mother [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] and brother [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] fled [[King’s Landing]] at the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|aGoT|3}} Rhaella and Viserys fled at some point during the two-week period<ref group="N">Rossart was Hand for two weeks ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]). He was appointed after the Battle of the Trident ([[The World of Ice & Fire]], The Fall of the Dragons: The End) and died during the Sack of King’s Landing ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]).</ref> between the [[Battle of the Trident]] and the [[Sack of King’s Landing]].{{Ref|twoiaf| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} This information indicates that Jon was born towards the end of the rebellion. As the rebellion lasted "close to a year",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} 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.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} [[Cersei Lannister]], when confronting Eddard about his bastard son, offers several possibilities for Jon's mother, including Ashara.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}

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''".{{Ref|asos|43}} 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''".{{Ref|aSoS|43}} [[Meera Reed|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.{{Ref|aSoS|24}}

Besides the tourney in {{Date|281}}, 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.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Dorne: The Andals Arrive}} Some time afterwards, Ashara jumped from the top of the Palestone Sword, one of the towers of Starfall, into the sea.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} Several reasons are given for Ashara's motivation: a broken heart,{{Ref|ASOS|43}} because of her stillborn daughter,{{Ref|ADWD|67}} because of a stolen child,{{Ref|AGOT|45}} or due to grief over Arthur's death.{{Ref|ASOS|43}} Her body was never found.<ref name="ssm">[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1116 Soms Questions (August 23, 2000)]</ref>

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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}
* 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]],{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|aDwD|67}} would be a good candidate for the "rare wench".
* At the tourney at Harrenhal, Ashara is said to have "looked" at "Stark",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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 {{Date|281}}, and following the conclusion of [[Robert's Rebellion]] in late {{Date|283}}. [[Barristan Selmy]] implies that Ashara's childbirth took place not long before her suicide,{{Ref|adwd|67}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} 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",<ref name="ssm2">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040/ Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> 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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} and when his son [[Robb Stark|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.{{Ref|aSoS|14}}{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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",{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
*[[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.{{Ref|Adwd|67}} 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 [[House Dayne|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.<ref group="N" name=BAJ>229 out of 9115 votes (2.5%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

====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"''.{{Ref|aDwD|41}} As Eddard was too shy to even speak with Ashara at the tourney,{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and Benjen 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 Barbrey's maidenhead,{{Ref|aDwD|41}} and although he had been betrothed to [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]] by the time of the tourney for several years,<ref group="N">Catelyn and Brandon were betrothed when Catelyn was twelve years old (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 6|Catelyn II]]). As Catelyn was born in either {{Date|264}} or {{Date|265}}, they were betrothed in either {{Date|276}}, {{Date|277}}, or {{Date|278}}.</ref> Barbrey claims Brandon "never wanted" the marriage.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}
** [[Barristan Selmy]] recalls that Ashara had been "dishonored" by a man at Harrenhal, although he does not reveal the man's identity.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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''",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} suggesting Ashara turned to one of the Starks after the final tilts had taken place.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} By the account as told by [[Meera Reed]], [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], and [[Benjen Stark]] were all present during the tourney.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} 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, as does Selmy's lack of animus towards Eddard, whose character he attempts to defend to Daenerys Targaryen.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments are most frequently cited:
*According to [[George R. R. Martin]], "Brandon died before he had sons".<ref name="Asshai">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Asshai.com_Interview_in_Barcelona/ Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona (July 29, 2012)]</ref>
**While this would rule out Brandon as Jon's father, it would still be possible for Brandon to have been Ashara's lover.
**GRRM also stated: "It'd be an exaggeration to say that Brandon died before he could have children. It's established in the books that he was no virgin. He could very well have left behind some little Snows in the various places he visited. But what's absolutely clear is that he had no legitimate children."<ref name="Asshai"/>
*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,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert’s Rebellion}} 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,{{Ref|aCoK|55}} making it unlikely he impregnated a woman during this time.
*There's no known reason Eddard Stark would feel compelled to lie about Jon's parentage and put the resulting strain on his own marriage if Jon were Brandon and Ashara's son, as there's no known threat this information would pose to Jon's life.
**However, Jon being Brandon's son might muddle the line of succession, as a son inherits before a brother. An illegitimate son would not normally inherit, but it might cause dissent should there be discontent with Eddard and/or his children.

==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".{{Ref|aGoT|12}} According to Robert, Wylla was a "common girl",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} while [[Sansa Stark]] heard whispers that Jon's mother "had been common",{{Ref|aGoT|15}} and [[Cersei Lannister]] mentions "some [[Dornish]] peasant" as Jon's potential mother.{{Ref|AGOT|45}} Lord [[Edric Dayne]] of Starfall tells [[Arya Stark]] that Jon's mother is [[Wylla]], whom he identifies as his own former wetnurse, who served at [[Starfall]] "''for years and years''", since before Edric's birth.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}

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 Stark|Catelyn Tully]].

==The fisherman's daughter==
During [[Robert's Rebellion]] [[Eddard Stark]] traveled from the [[Vale of Arryn]] to the [[north]]. Eddard crossed the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]] and hired a fisherman to bring him to [[White Harbor]] with a boat. However, they were caught by a storm on the [[Bite]] and the fisherman drowned. The fisherman's daughter brought Eddard to the [[Three Sisters]]. According to Lord [[Godric Borrell]], it is said that Eddard "''left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly''". Lord Borrell claims the fisherman's daughter named her bastard Jon Snow, after [[Jon Arryn]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}}

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this story are most frequently cited:
*While the story as Lord Borrell tells it claims the fisherman's daughter had given Jon his name,{{Ref|aDwD|9}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that Jon had "most like" been named by Eddard Stark.<Ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1202/ Numerous Questions (February 28, 2002)]</ref>
*If Eddard had fathered Jon on the fisherman's daughter, he would have done so before his marriage to [[Catelyn Stark|Cately Tully]]. However, this would mean Eddard lied, for no apparent reason, when he claimed that he had fathered Jon after his wedding.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} In addition, if the fisherman's daughter is Jon's mother, Eddard has no reason to keep her identity a secret.

==Lyanna Stark==
===Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen===
[[File:The sun, the dragon, the wolf by Fkaluis.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Elia, Rhaegar, and Lyanna, by [https://fkaluis.tumblr.com/ Fkaluis] ©]]
The most popular theory regarding the identity of [[Jon Snow]]'s mother is [[Lyanna Stark]], with Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] for his father.<ref group="N" name=RLJ>8690 out of 9115 votes (95.0%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

Lyanna was [[Eddard Stark]]'s younger sister, who was betrothed to [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|35}} In {{Date|281}}, Lyanna was present at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]], where she was crowned the [[queen of love and beauty]] by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.{{Ref|AGOT|58}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} The next year, Lyanna came face to face with Rhaegar ten leagues from [[Harrenhal]],{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} and was abducted by him{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} at swordpoint,{{Ref|aDwD|43}} according to a semi-canon source with the aid of Ser [[Arthur Dayne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]], two knights of his father's [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Rhaegar Targaryen}} When her brother Brandon learned about this, he rode to [[King's Landing]], where he was arrested and charged with treason. King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] summoned Lyanna's father [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] to court, and subsequently had both Brandon and Rickard killed. Lord [[Jon Arryn]]'s response to Aerys's next demanded started [[Robert's Rebellion]],{{Ref|ACOK|55}}{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} which lasted "close to a year".

Lyanna was found by Eddard after the war had ended at the [[tower of joy]].{{ref|agot|39}} Eddard was by her side when she died, in a bed that smelled "of blood and roses".{{Ref|agot|4}} Shortly before her death, fearing something unknown, Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard brought Lyanna's remains home to [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aDwD|41}}

The theory proposes that Jon is Lyanna's son by Rhaegar Targaryen, Lyanna's abductor. Rhaegar, who had been married to [[Elia Martell]], had two children by his wife, but following the birth of his second child, the [[maesters]] informed him that Elia could have no more children.{{Ref|aDwD|61}} [[Kevan Lannister]] believes that Rhaegar abducted Lyanna because he wanted more sons,{{Ref|aDwD|72}}{{Ref|aDwD|epilogue}} while Robert believes that Rhaegar raped Lyanna "hundreds of times".{{Ref|aGoT|12}}

====Supporting evidence====
The following arguments are frequently used in favor of this theory:
* [[Blue winter rose]]s are associated in text with Lyanna, Rhaegar, death, and a newborn child:
** Lyanna was crowned by Rhaegar at the tourney at Harrenhal using "a crown of winter roses, blue as frost".{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
** While in captivity, Eddard Stark dreams of Lyanna's statue in the crypts of Winterfell, where she is wearing a garland of pale blue roses, while weeping blood.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**To Robert, Eddard states that Lyanna was fond of flowers,{{Ref|agot|4}} and to himself he thinks that she had loved the scent of winter roses.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**As she is dying, rose petals spill from Lyanna's palm, dead and black.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
**During a fever dream about the [[combat at the tower of joy]], Eddard dreams of a storm of rose petals blowing across a blood-streaked sky, "as blue as the eyes of death", while hearing Lyanna call out to him.{{Ref|aGoT|39}}
**Theon has a prophetic-like dream in which he sees Lyanna, who had never known personally, in a gown spattered with gore wearing a crown of pale blue roses.{{Ref|aCoK|56}}
**When [[Cersei Lannister]] tells Eddard how Robert whispered Lyanna's name in her ear during their wedding night, Eddard thinks of pale blue roses and wants to weep.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}
** While at the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of a blue flower growing in a wall of ice,{{Ref|aCoK|48}} which would symbolize Jon Snow at the Wall.
** According to legend, [[Bael the Bard]] climbed the [[Wall]], and traveled to [[Winterfell]] pretending to be a singer with a harp. There, he impressed Lord [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]], and was allowed to choose a reward. He requested the most beautiful flower blooming in Winterfell's gardens, and Lord Brandon agreed to offer him the most of his blue winter roses. The following morning, Bael was found to have disappeared with Lord Brandon's only daughter, a young maiden, having left the blue winter rose behind in her bed. The girl was found by Lord Stark again a year later, with the babe Bael had fathered on her, having hid in the crypts of Winterfell all that time.{{Ref|ACOK|51}}
***The parallel with Bael is Rhaegar, also royalty, a singer{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and harpist,{{Ref|aCoK|63}}{{Ref|aSoS|8}} who gave blue winter roses to a Stark and took Lord Stark's (Rickard's) only maiden daughter (Lyanna), only for her to be eventually found again by Lord Stark (by now her brother, Eddard), according to the theory with a newborn babe (Jon).
*Eddard found Lyanna dying, stricken with a fever which had taken all of her strength,{{Ref|aGoT|4}} in her "bed of blood".{{Ref|aGoT|39}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} The terms "beds of blood and pain"{{Ref|aFfC|1}} and "bloody bed"{{Ref|aGoT|61}} are used in further text to refer to childbirth, giving the impression that Lyanna's "bed of blood" might likewise be connected to childbirth.
*Jon is said to resemble [[Arya Stark]] in appearance.{{Ref|aGoT|7}}{{Ref|aGoT|15}} Arya is said to look like Lyanna,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} thereby linking Jon's appearance to Lyanna's. The statement made by [[Tyrion Lannister]] that Jon looks so much like a Stark, and that "''whoever his mother had been, she had left little of herself in her son.''", would be most ironic if Jon's Stark parent was indeed Lyanna, and not Eddard.
*According to [[Catelyn Stark]], Eddard must have loved Jon's mother fiercely.{{Ref|agot|6}} Eddard himself recalls how he had "loved [Lyanna] with all his heart".{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
*As she was dying, a fearful Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard, and was only reassured when he gave her his word.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard recalls Lyanna whispering "promise me, Ned" frequently throughout the story,{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|47}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} and at one point thinks back to "''the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them''".{{Ref|aGoT|35}} At some point, Eddard recalls Robert ordering the pregnant [[Daenerys Targaryen]] slain, as well as how Robert had turned away from the corpses of the brutally murdered young children of Prince Rhaegar's by Elia Martell during the war, as well as turning away when [[Sansa Stark]]'s innocent [[direwolf]] pup [[Lady]] was ordered executed. Sansa's pleading for the life of her pup makes him think of Lyanna's pleading.{{Ref|aGoT|20}} That Robert either ordering the death of Targaryen children, or approving of the death of Targaryen children, and Robert being willing to allow an innocent pup to be killed evoke the memory of Lyanna's pleas, could suggest that Lyanna made Eddard promise to keep her child by Rhaegar safe. After all, according to [[Tywin Lannister]] "''Robert's hatred for Rhaegar was scarcely a secret''"{{Ref|aSoS|53}} and according to Eddard, even fifteen years after Rhaegar's death by Robert's hand, Robert still hates him just as much as when he was still alive.{{Ref|aGoT|33}} In addition, Robert considered Rhaegar's young children to be "dragonspawn", and saw no issue in their deaths.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} The idea that Lyanna would fear for the life of her child by Rhaegar is more than valid, and Eddard's line of thought regarding Lyanna's promise and her pleas is argued to favor this idea. In addition, it provides Eddard with the motivation to lie about Jon's parentage, even to his new wife.
*At the end of Robert's Rebellion, Eddard travels with six companions to the [[tower of joy]], where they encounter three [[Kingsguard]] knights guarding the tower where Lyanna resides: Lord Commander [[Gerold Hightower]], [[Oswell Whent]], and [[Arthur Dayne]].{{Ref|aGoT|39}} In Eddard's fever dream, the three white cloaks reaffirm their loyalty to [[House Targaryen]], before engaging in combat with the northmen.{{Ref|aGoT|39}} A Kingsguard's duty is defending the king and obeying his commands. The king might decide to extend Kingsguard protection to others in his family, or even their mistresses and bastards.{{Ref|aDwD|55}} The presence of the three Kingsguard knights at the tower where Lyanna was being kept has been taken to mean by supporters of the theory that Rhaegar's child by Lyanna was present at the tower. Eddard Stark considered Arthur Dayne "the finest knight" he ever saw, "a marvel, a shining lesson to the world" years after Arthur's death,{{Ref|aCoK|21}} implying that Eddard considers Arthur's (and by default Oswell's and Gerold's) reasons for being at the tower in line with his Kingsguard vows, indicating they acted on orders given to them by a Targaryen.
**Some supporters of the theory have even suggested the presence of the Kingsguard knights implies that Lyanna's child is considered the heir to the Iron Throne following the deaths of Aerys and Rhaegar. In this scenario, Rhaegar and Lyanna had wed before he returned to King's Landing. The Targaryen tradition of [[polygamy|polygamous]] marriages would allow for this possibility.
**Arthur Dayne's presence makes it plausible that Wylla, known to serve House Dayne as a wetnurse, was also present at the tower as a wetnurse provided by Arthur for Lyanna's child, explaining why Robert Baratheon and Edric Dayne were told Wylla was Jon's mother.
*Rhaegar's motivation for taking Lyanna have been argued to have two possibilities: either because he loved Lyanna, as argued by [[Daenerys Targaryen]],{{Ref|AGOT|3}}{{Ref|aGoT|64}} [[Barristan Selmy]],{{Ref|aDwD|67}} and singers,{{Ref|aFfC|31}} or due to prophecy. Prophecy undeniably played an important role in Rhaegar's motivations for his actions.{{Ref|aSoS|8}}{{Ref|aFfC|35}} In the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of Rhaegar with his wife Elia shortly after the birth of their son [[Aegon VI Targaryen|Aegon]]. Rhaegar proclaims that "there must be one more" because "the dragon has three heads".{{Ref|aCoK|48}} Given that the maesters told Rhaegar after Aegon's birth that his wife Elia could have no more children,{{Ref|aDwD|61}} Rhaegar could have attempted to fulfill the prophecy by having a third child with another woman. The fact that Rhaegar named the tower the "tower of joy"{{Ref|aGoT|39}} would fit with both interpretations: either joy over being with the woman he loved, or joy over fulfilling the prophecy.
**Eddard's proclamation of Lyanna's character{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and her "wolf blood", which he claims brought her to an early grave,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} could suggest Lyanna had not gone with Rhaegar against her will, although others have suggested it instead refers to [[Knight of the Laughing Tree/Theories|another theory]].
*Bran sees a vision of his father, much younger than he had ever known him, praying in front of the weirwood tree in Winterfell's godswood, saying "''… let them grow up close as brothers, with only love between them. And let my lady wife find it in her heart to forgive …''"{{Ref|aDwD|34}} Readers have suggested that this is Eddard after his return to Winterfell following Robert's Rebellion, referring to Robb and Jon with "let them grow up close as brothers", which would mean that the two boys are not brothers. Furthermore, besides his supposed affair during the first year of his marriage, the novels mention nothing that Eddard has done that could possibly require Catelyn's forgiveness.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which are not connected to the text in the novels:
* It is obvious.<ref name=westeros/>
* It is cliche.<ref name=westeros>westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_are_Jon_Snows_parents The Citadel - FAQ: Who are Jon Snow's parents?]</ref>
* It makes Daenerys unimportant.<ref name=westeros/>
* It romanticizes Rhaegar and Lyanna.<ref name=westeros/>

The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which refer to the text in the novels:
* Eddard Stark claims he "found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen" for "the first time in years",{{Ref|aGoT|35}} which is considered odd if he had been raising Rhaegar's bastard son for years.
** Eddard speaks of Rhaegar in earlier chapters,{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|30}}{{Ref|aGoT|33}} and thinks about Rhaegar the chapter ''before'' the claim "for the first time in years" is made.{{Ref|aGoT|33}}
* If Eddard is not Jon's father, he has no reason to keep Jon's parentage a secret from his wife. Instead, he kept the identity of Jon's mother a secret, which caused a strain in his marriage to Catelyn.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}
** The danger Jon could be in if it was discovered that his father was Rhaegar Targaryen was not insignificant, and Eddard barely knew his wife. It would not be odd that he had kept the secret from her. Keeping Catelyn out of his secret meant keeping her from committing treason, and thus keeping her and their children safe, should his deceit ever be discovered. In addition, Jon could, due to his parentage, represent a danger to Catelyn's children. Even without having Catelyn being aware of Jon's parentage, Eddard wonders what choice Catelyn would make, if she would have to choose between the lives of her own children, or Jon.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}
* Eddard never thinks of Lyanna as being Jon's mother.
* Jon does not have any of the Valyrian physical traits.
** Numerous Targaryens did not look Valyrian: [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s three eldest sons, [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen]] and at least his son [[Valarr Targaryen|Valarr]], [[Aegor Rivers]] (one of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]'s bastard sons), and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]], Rhaegar's daughter by Elia.
* Eddard's honor is frequently cited,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} [[Robert I Baratheon]] states that Eddard "never could lie for love nor honor",{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and [[Sansa Stark]] and [[Olenna Tyrell]] agree that Eddard had a reputation for never lying.{{Ref|aSoS|6}} Eddard personally claimed that Jon is his bastard son,{{Ref|aGoT|12}} it will be unlikely that he lied as he is too honorable to lie.
** Following the incident with [[Arya Stark|Arya]], Sansa, [[Joffrey Baratheon]], and [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]] near the [[Trident]], [[Jory Cassel]] lies and claims that Nymeria ran off.{{Ref|aGoT|16}} Eddard later informs Arya that he knows it is a lie, after which Arya confesses how she and Jory chased Nymeria away to prevent her from being killed. Eddard states that "even the lie was... not without honor".{{Ref|aGoT|22}}

==''Game of Thrones''==
{{Warning|This section discusses plot points from HBO's TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' which have not or not yet featured in the novels of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''.}}

{{Warning|Due to deviations between the books and the TV series, the situation as presented in the TV series could differ from the situation as will be revealed in the novels}}

In "[[The Winds of Winter (TV)|The Winds of Winter]]", the finale episode of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|sixth season]] of [[w:HBO|HBO's]] TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is revealed to be the son of [[Lyanna Stark]] by [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. The episode reveals the promise she exacted from [[Eddard Stark]] was indeed to protect her son from [[Robert I Baratheon]], before she died at the [[tower of joy]].{{Ref|hbogot|s06e10}}

In "[[The Dragon and the Wolf]]", the finale of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 7|seventh season]], Rhaegar and Lyanna are revealed to have been married, while Rhaegar's marriage to Princess [[Elia Martell]] had been annulled, making Jon a trueborn [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and the heir to the [[Iron Throne]] through the most senior line.{{Ref|hbogot|s07e07}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Larys Strong

2024-05-21T00:28:23Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{For-multi|the Bracken man-at-arms|Lharys|the cousin of Princess Rhaena Targaryen|Larissa Velaryon}}
{{Infobox character
| firstname = Larys
| lastname = Strong
| arms = Strong
| epithet = the Clubfoot
| title = Lord
| image = [[File:Clubfoot.jpg|300px]]
| image_caption = Larys Strong, as depicted by Douglas Wheatley in ''[[Fire & Blood]]''.
| Alias = Larys the Clubfoot{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Larys Clubfoot{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} The Clubfoot{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
| Title = [[Lord of Harrenhal]] [[Master of whisperers]] [[Lord Confessor]]
| Allegiance = [[House Strong]] [[Greens]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Rivermen]]
| Father = [[Lyonel Strong]]
| Mother =
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death = [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|131}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = [[w:Matthew Needham|Matthew Needham]]
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[House of the Dragon - Season 2|2]]
}}

'''Larys Strong''', known as '''Larys Clubfoot''' or '''the Clubfoot''', was the [[Lord of Harrenhal]] and head of [[House Strong]] during the latter part of the reign of [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and the reign of [[Aegon II Targaryen]]. He served on the [[small council]] as the [[master of whisperers]] and [[Lord Confessor]] for both kings.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Larys is portrayed by [[w:Matthew Needham|Matthew Needham]].<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref>

==Appearance and Character==
One of Larys's feet was [[w:Clubfoot|twisted at birth]], so he dragged it with a limp.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

Larys rarely spoke, preferring to listen. When he did so it was either to be glib or share words of great importance.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} The Clubfoot was an enigmatic and cunning man.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}} Although he could be convincing and amiable when needed,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}} he kept his own counsel and was largely friendless.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

Historians are still baffled as to exactly what Clubfroot's loyalties and goals were during the Dance of the Dragons. He does not seem to have been absolutely loyal to Aegon II, so much as he aligned with him against their mutual enemy Rhaenyra, who had shamed House Strong in her affair with his older brother.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}

==History==
===Reign of Viserys I===
In {{Date|105}}, Larys was brought to court by his father, Lord [[Lyonel Strong]], alongside his older brother, Ser [[Harwin Strong|Harwin]], and two sisters. Larys joined the confessors of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}

In {{Date|120}}, Lyonel and Harwin died in a fire at [[Harrenhal]], leaving Larys to inherit his father's seat and title as [[Lord of Harrenhal]]. Although the cause of the fire was never determined, one of the suggestions to have been put forth was that Larys had caused the fire.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Riverlands: House Tully}} Other suggested culprits were Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], King Viserys I himself, and the curse of [[Harren Hoare|Black Harren]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}

Larys eventually became the [[Lord Confessor]] and [[master of whisperers]] on Viserys's [[small council]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Dance of the Dragons===
When King Viserys I died in {{Date|129}}, Larys was part of the [[Greens|green faction]] at court. He attended the meeting of the [[small council]] which agreed to support [[Aegon II Targaryen]] against his older half-sister, [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]. Larys cut his palm and had the male conspirators in attendance swear a blood oath.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

When the [[Dance of the Dragons]] broke out, Larys' castle was taken by Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] in the [[assault on Harrenhal]]. Aegon's mother, Queen [[Alicent Hightower]], allegedly ordered Larys to torture [[Blood (the butcher)|Blood]] after the murder of Prince [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} The Clubfoot drew up lists of [[blacks]] whom Ser [[Criston Cole]] could march against.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Larys escaped capture during the [[fall of King's Landing]] to Rhaenyra in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} He spirited Aegon, who was still recovering from the [[battle at Rook's Rest]], and the king's two remaining children, Prince [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]] and Princess [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]], from the [[Red Keep]] through a [[secret passage]] which led them out of the capital while bypassing the city's gates. Larys insisted the group part ways and ordered Ser [[Rickard Thorne]] of Aegon's [[Kingsguard]] to bring Maelor to Lord [[Lyonel Hightower]] at [[Oldtown]], and Ser [[Willis Fell]] of the Kingsguard to escort Jaehaera to Lord [[Borros Baratheon]] at [[Storm's End]]. Larys disguised King Aegon as a commoner and sent him to [[Dragonstone]] under the care of Ser [[Marston Waters]], believing her own stronghold would be the last place Rhaenyra would think to search for her half brother.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}

On campaign in the [[riverlands]], Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] believed Larys had somehow aided Rhaenyra in the capital's fall. Aegon's brother had every member of [[House Strong]] at Harrenhal killed.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

Larys remained in [[King's Landing]], strategically working in secret to undermine Rhaenyra's hold on the capital. When Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]] committed suicide, a rumor was spread throughout the city that she was murdered on the orders of Rhaneyra. [[Mushroom]] in his writings accused Larys of being the source for this slander.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

The massive [[Riot of King's Landing (Dance of the Dragons)|riot of King's Landing]] led to Rhaenyra abandoning the capital. When Ser [[Perkin the Flea]] and his followers gained control of the [[Red Keep]] and crowned [[Trystane Truefyre]] during the [[Moon of the Three Kings]], Larys emerged and walked into the Red Keep, where he was greeted by Perkin and given a place of honor at the side of Trystane.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

Larys feigned support to the pretender Trystane and secured the release of Alicent, Grand Maester [[Orwyle]], and Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]. When the host of Lord [[Borros Baratheon]] arrived outside King's Landing, Larys offered to treat with the [[Lord of Storm's End]] on Trystane's behalf. Larys instead conspired with Perkin and the greens to betray Trystane and give the city to supporters of Aegon II. A full pardon was promised to Perkin and all his followers in exchange for their aid in restoring the capital to King Aegon, who had killed Rhaenyra after the [[fall of Dragonstone]]. However, the pardon was not extended to Trystane, who was later executed. Larys agreed to a betrothal with one of Borros's daughters, [[Floris Baratheon]]. When Alicent advocated that Corlys should be killed for having supported Rhaenrya, Larys pointed out that her son, Aegon, was on [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]] surrounded by a [[House Velaryon|Velaryon]] fleet. The Clubfoot suggested to Alicent they pardon Corlys and wait until the war's end before quietly disposing of him.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}

During a meeting of the council after Aegon's return, Corlys Velaryon was outraged by the suggestion of Ser [[Tyland Lannister]] to execute Prince [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]], Rhaenyra's surviving son who was held captive by the greens. Lord Strong convinced Aegon II not to punish Corlys, as that would make [[Alyn Velaryon]] an enemy. After the meeting, Larys discreetly alerted Corlys of the plot to eventually murder him, and the Clubfoot persuaded the Sea Snake to be part of a scheme of his own devising.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}

After the defeat of Lord Borros and his army at the [[Battle of the Kingsroad]], King Aegon declined Lord Velaryon's recommendation to surrender. Larys had Princess [[Baela Targaryen]] clandestinely spirited away so she could not be used as a hostage against Corlys. Aegon II was soon found dead with blood on his lips, murdered by [[poison]]. Larys and Corlys had the few loyalists remaining either killed or imprisoned and persuaded the remaining greens to surrender as the [[Lads]] descended on the capital.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}

Aegon II was succeeded as king by Aegon the Younger, who wed Princess Jaehaera.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}} When the [[riverlands|riverlords]] reached King's Landing, they were joyously greeted by [[smallfolk]], a welcome presumably devised by the Clubfoot.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

===Hour of the Wolf===
[[File:Clubfoots end.jpg|thumb|300px|Lord Larys's and Ser [[Gyles Belgrave]]'s end, as depicted by Douglas Wheatley in ''[[Fire & Blood]]''.]]
Fortunes turned against Lord Strong and his conspirators with the arrival of the [[north]]ern army of Lord [[Cregan Stark]], who served as [[Hand of the King]] to the new King Aegon III Targaryen during the [[Hour of the Wolf]]. Despite having been a supporter of Rhaenyra, Cregan objected to the murder of Aegon II. Grand Maester Orwyle confessed to having given Larys the [[poison]] used to kill Aegon, and Ser Perkin confessed to being the Clubfoot's agent. While Lord Corlys admitted to having conspired against Aegon for the good of the Seven Kingdoms, Larys refused to confirm or deny Cregan's accusations. Lord Stark condemned both of the great lords, but [[Alysanne Blackwood]] convinced him to spare Lord Velaryon.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

While most of those found guilty followed Perkin in [[Night's Watch|taking the black]], Lord Larys and Ser Gyles of the Kingsguard chose death over the [[Wall]]. Cregan beheaded the pair with his [[Valyrian steel]] greatsword, [[Ice]]. Cregan granted Larys' last request, that his clubfoot be removed from his corpse so Larys would at least be free of it in death.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

The heads of Larys and Gyles were mounted on pikes by the gates of the [[Red Keep]]. Lord Strong's corpse was given to the [[silent sisters]], and years later his bones were taken to [[Harrenhal]] as his final resting place. Cregan ordered that the removed foot be buried in a field, but the limb disappeared before that could occur.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} As Larys was the last of his line, his death brought an end to [[House Strong]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}

==Quotes by Larys==
{{Quote|When was a [[House Stark|wolf]] ever moved by words?{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}|Larys to [[Cregan Stark]]}}

{{Quote|When I am dead, hack off my clubfoot with [[Ice|that great sword]] of yours. I have dragged it with me all through life, let me be free of it in death at least.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}|Larys to [[Cregan Stark]]}}

==Quotes about Larys==
{{Quote|A man who gathers [[master of whisperers|whispers]] can spread them just as well.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}|writings of [[Mushroom]]}}

{{Quote|Was there ever a man as devious as the Clubfoot? Oh, he would have made a splendid [[fool]], that one. The words dripped from his lips like honey from a comb, and never did [[poison]] taste so sweet.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}|writings of [[Mushroom]]}}

{{Quote|The enigma that is Larys Strong the Clubfoot has vexed students of history for generations, and is not one we can hope to unravel here. Where did his true loyalty lie? What was he about?{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}|writings of [[Gyldayn]]}}

==Family==
{{Strong tree Dance}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Lyonel Strong]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Lord of Harrenhal]]|years={{Date|120|131}}}}
{{S-vac|recreated|parameter=after|next=[[Lucas Lothston (husband of Falena)|Lucas Lothston]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-vac|unknown}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Lord Confessor]]|years=?–{{Date|131}}|under=[[Viserys I Targaryen]] [[Aegon II Targaryen]]}}
{{S-aft|after=[[George Graceford]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=before|unknlast=[[Tyanna of the Tower]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Master of whisperers]]|years=?–{{Date|131}}|under=[[Viserys I Targaryen]] [[Aegon II Targaryen]]}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after|unknnext=[[Brynden Rivers]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Lord Confessor}}
{{Master of whisperers}}
{{Viserys I small council}}
{{Aegon II small council}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strong, Larys}}
[[Category:House Strong|Larys Strong]]
[[Category:Casualties of the Dance of the Dragons]]
[[Category:Characters from the Riverlands]]
[[Category:Cripples]]
[[Category:Deaths by beheading]]
[[Category:Executions for treason]]
[[Category:Greens]]
[[Category:Lords Confessor]]
[[Category:Lords of Harrenhal|Larys Strong]]
[[Category:Masters of whisperers]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon II Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Trystane Truefyre's court]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Torturers]]

[[es:Larys Strong]]
[[fr:Larys Fort]]
[[nl:Larys Sterk]]
[[pt:Larys Strong]]
[[ru:Ларис Стронг]]
[[zh:拉里斯·斯壮]]

Two Swords (sellsword)

2023-11-03T14:14:01Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Hatnote|"Two Swords" redirects here. For the episode of Game of Thrones, see [[Two Swords (TV)]].}}
{{Warning/twow}}
{{Character
| Character_name = [[File:Golden Company.svg|50px|left]] Two Swords [[File:Golden Company.svg|50px|right]]
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title =
| Allegiance = [[Golden Company]]
| Race =
| Culture =
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = ''[[The Winds of Winter]]'' (mentioned)
}}

'''Two Swords''' is a [[sellsword]] in service to the [[Golden Company]].<ref name=Ar2>[[Arianne II (The Winds of Winter)]]</ref> His given name is unknown.

==Character==
Two Swords has a fondness for red-haired women.<ref name=Ar2/>

==Recent Events==
===''The Winds of Winter''===
Two Swords takes part in the Golden Company's [[Landing of the Golden Company|invasion]] of the [[Stormlands]].<ref name=Ar2/> While accompanying Princess [[Arianne Martell]]'s embassy to [[Griffin's Roost]], [[Chain]] reveals some details of his fellow sellswords to her, including Two Sword's taste in women.<ref name=Ar2/>

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Characters from Essos]]
[[Category:Members of the Golden Company]]
[[Category:Mercenaries]]
[[Category:Unnamed characters]]

Qarl Correy

2023-01-20T01:45:27Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = Qarl Correy
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]
| Allegiance = [[House Velaryon]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Spouse =
| Father =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death = the [[narrow sea]] (possibly)
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|120}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned)
| Coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = Arty Froushan
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

Ser '''Qarl Correy''' was a [[Household knight|household]] [[knight]] in service to [[House Velaryon]] at [[High Tide]]. Of relatively low birth, Qarl was rumored to have been a [[Paramour|lover]] of Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', he is portrayed by Arty Froushan.

==History==
Laenor had always favored handsome knights of his household, whom he likely took as lovers. The first prominent knight was Ser [[Joffrey Lonmouth]], whom Laenor's third son, Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]], was later [[named after]]. After Ser Joffrey's death, Ser Qarl Correy became Laenor's new favorite.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Qarl slew Laenor over a quarrel at a fair at [[Spicetown]]. The reasons for the quarrel are not known. Correy was never seen again after escaping.{{Ref|TRP}} According to ''[[The Testimony of Mushroom]]'', Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] paid Correy to kill Laenor to free Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] for himself and offered him escape from Spicetown on a boat but had him murdered and the body disposed of at sea instead.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==Behind the Scenes==
Qarl's name may be a reference by [[George R. R. Martin]] to ''[[w:Nine Princes in Amber|Nine Princes in Amber]]'' by [[w:Roger Zelazny|Roger Zelazny]], where the protagonist Prince Corwin uses the alias Carl Corey. Other homages by Martin to Zelazny include [[House Rogers]] and the [[Pattern]].

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Favorites of Laenor Velaryon|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:House Velaryon retainers|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Household knights|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Knights|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:LGBT+ characters‎|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Nobles|Correy, Qarl]]

[[es:Qarl Correy]]
[[fr:Qarl Correy]]
[[nl:Qarl Corry]]
[[ru:Кварл Корри]]

Gendry

2023-01-18T05:14:02Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = Gendry
| image = [[File:Gendry Amoka.png|300px]]
| image_caption = Gendry by [http://en.amokanet.ru/gallery/martin/ Amok ©]
| Alias = The Bull{{Ref|ACOK|1}} Mutton Chop{{Ref|ASOS|13}}
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]
| Allegiance = [[Tobho Mott]] [[Brotherhood without banners]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = [[Robert I Baratheon]]
| Mother =
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth = [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|AFFC|37}}
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|284}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued)#Gendry|Gendry]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (appears) ''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (appears) ''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (appears) ''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (appears) ''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (appendix)
| Coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = [[List of actors of the televised series#Joe Dempsie,Gendry|Joe Dempsie]]
| 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 7|Season 7]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 8|Season 8]]
}}

'''Gendry''' is a blacksmith apprentice for Master [[Tobho Mott]] in [[King's Landing]]. He does not know he is a [[Bastardy|bastard]] son of King [[Robert I Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|27}} In the television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Gendry is portrayed by [[w:Joe Dempsie|Joe Dempsie]].

==Appearance and Character==
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Gendry|Images of Gendry]]''
Gendry is of a similar age to [[Robb Stark]]. Tall and muscled, he has blue eyes and thick, black hair.{{Ref|AGOT|27}} When he grows a beard, it is also thick and black.{{Ref|ACOK|19}} Gendry looks like a young [[Renly Baratheon]], albeit with a squarer jaw, bushier brows, and tangled hair.{{Ref|AFFC|37}}

Gendry is a smart boy, but stubborn, sullen, and suspicious.{{Ref|AGOT|27}}{{Ref|ACOK|19}}{{Ref|ACOK|38}}{{Ref|ASOS|3}}{{Ref|AFFC|37}} [[Arya Stark]] thinks Gendry looks pained when he tries to think.{{Ref|ACOK|19}}{{Ref|ASOS|39}} The smith can be shy around women.{{Ref|ASOS|29}}

The apprentice is skilled at smithing but is not a good horseman.{{Ref|ASOS|3}} Gendry made a rounded and curved steel helm shaped like a bull's head, with a slit visor and two great curving metal horns.{{Ref|AGOT|27}}{{Ref|ACOK|9}} While Gendry often polishes the helm, he is reluctant to wear it.{{Ref|ACOK|9}}

==History==
Gendry was born in [[King's Landing]], but he does not know that his father is King [[Robert I Baratheon]].{{Ref|AFFC|37}} His mother, a worker at an [[ale]]house, died when he was still a young boy. All he remembers of her was that she had blond hair.{{Ref|AGOT|27}}

Gendry saw King Robert from afar at [[tourney]]s and once at the [[Great Sept of Baelor]]. A drunken Robert also once nearly rode down Gendry when the boy was playing near the [[Mud Gate]].{{Ref|AFFC|37}}

[[Tobho Mott]], a master smith, took Gendry on as an apprentice after being paid double the customary fee by a [[Varys|stout brown-bearded man with a hooded face]].{{Ref|AGOT|27}} Lords [[Jon Arryn]] and [[Stannis Baratheon]] called upon Tobho and Gendry during their investigation into Robert's children.{{Ref|AGOT|27}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Gendry Jason Jenicke.jpg|thumb|Gendry, by Jason Jenicke © Fantasy Flight Games]]

When Lord [[Eddard Stark]] investigates the death of Lord [[Jon Arryn]], his predecessor as [[Hand of the King]], Eddard meets several people who had met with Jon shortly before his death, including Master [[Tobho Mott]] and his apprentice, Gendry. At once Lord Stark sees the similarity with King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and recognizes that Gendry is his [[bastard]]. The promising Gendry has made a helmet in the shape of a bull. Eddard compliments the helmet, offering to purchase it, but Gendry refuses, to the shame of Tobho. Eddard tells the master smith that if Gendry ever shows interest in wielding a sword, he should send him to Eddard.{{Ref|AGOT|27}}

===''A Clash of Kings''===
[[File:JB Casacop Gendry.jpg|thumb|Gendry, by JB Casacop © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Tobho gives Gendry a piece of metal so he can make his first sword.{{Ref|ASOS|22}} Before the youth can do so, however, arrangements are made by Lord [[Varys]] for [[Yoren]] of the [[Night's Watch]] to take Gendry to the [[Wall]] with him, to protect him from Cersei.{{Ref|ACOK|8}} Gendry travels north with Yoren and thirty other recruits, including a disguised [[Arya Stark]], [[Lommy Greenhands]], [[Hot Pie]], [[Jaqen H'ghar]], [[Rorge]], [[Biter]], and others.{{Ref|ACOK|1}} After [[Praed]] passes away, his longsword of cheap steel is given to Gendry by Yoren.{{Ref|ACOK|5}}

In the aftermath of Lord Stark's arrest and execution, Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] orders the [[City Watch of King's Landing]] to hunt down the late King Robert's bastards.{{Ref|ACOK|8}} Not far from King's Landing, Yoren's party is stopped by several gold cloaks, who demand that Yoren give up Gendry. Yoren refuses, however, and with his recruits chases off the gold cloaks.{{Ref|ACOK|5}} Lommy assumes that Gendry is Lord Stark's bastard.{{Ref|ACOK|9}}

Later, at an [[Gods Eye town|abandoned town]] by the [[Gods Eye]], the recruits are [[Storming of the Gods Eye town holdfast|attacked]] by soldiers led by Ser [[Amory Lorch]]. Gendry wears his bull helm during the fighting. Praed's cheap sword breaks on a helm, so Gendry takes a new sword after after he, Arya, and Hot Pie kill a soldier. Yoren is slain, however, and Gendry is one of the few to escape.{{Ref|ACOK|14}}

Gendry advises the survivors to avoid roads. Whilst on reconnaissance with Arya, Gendry confronts her about being a girl. He eventually has the truth out of her, that she is Lord Stark's daughter, and he is subsequently embarrassed by how crassly he had spoken to her when she was in fact highborn.{{Ref|ACOK|19}} The youths are captured in a village by the [[Mountain's men]], soldiers led by Ser [[Gregor Clegane]], and [[Rafford|Raff the Sweetling]] kills Lommy.{{Ref|ACOK|19}}

The soldiers spare Gendry's life, since a smith is useful, although his horned helm is worn first by [[Dunsen]]{{Ref|ACOK|26}} and later [[Polliver]].{{Ref|ACOK|38}} The captives are taken to [[Harrenhal]], where Gendry works in the forge{{Ref|ACOK|30}} as a smith for [[Lucan]].{{Ref|ACOK|38}} He does not take part in the [[fall of Harrenhal]] to [[north]]men.{{Ref|ACOK|47}}

Gendry continues to smith at Harrenhal after the castle is occupied by Lord [[Roose Bolton]]. Arya persuades Gendry and Hot Pie to escape the castle with her, since Roose intends to grant Harrenhal to [[Vargo Hoat]] and the [[Brave Companions]]. Gendry wears oiled chainmail under a cloak and brings stolen swords and his blacksmith's hammer with him.{{Ref|ACOK|64}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry travel through hills, woods, and fields in the direction of [[Riverrun]].{{Ref|ASOS|3}} They are apprehended by the [[brotherhood without banners]] at the [[Inn of the Kneeling Man]], where Hot Pie decides to remain as a baker.{{Ref|ASOS|13}} [[Greenbeard]] leads the group to the [[Lady of the Leaves]], [[High Heart]], and [[Acorn Hall]]. Gendry and Arya tussle in the forge of Acorn Hall.{{Ref|ASOS|22}} Gendry is embarrassed at the [[Peach]] in [[Stoney Sept]], and he declines to sleep with [[Bella]]. When an old man propositions Arya at the brothel, Gendry defends her and claims she is his sister.{{Ref|ASOS|29}}

The brotherhood brings Gendry and Arya to the [[hollow hill]], where they witness Lord [[Beric Dondarrion]]'s duel with [[Sandor Clegane]].{{Ref|ASOS|34}} [[Beardless Dick]] and [[Mudge]] guard the youths during the [[battle at the burning septry]]. Impressed with the ideals of the brotherhood, Gendry offers to serve them as a blacksmith. He is [[knight]]ed by Beric as Ser Gendry, knight of the hollow hill.{{Ref|ASOS|39}} Gendry is distrustful of Beric's squire, Lord [[Edric Dayne]].{{Ref|ASOS|43}}

Arya, feeling abandoned by Gendry and Hot Pie and angry at the brotherhood's slowness in taking her to Riverrun, escapes from the outlaws.{{Ref|ASOS|43}} [[Lady Stoneheart]] replaces Beric as the leader of the brotherhood.{{Ref|ASOS|Epilogue}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
[[File:Gendry by henning.jpg|thumb|thumb|Gendry, by Henning Ludvigsen © Fantasy Flight Games]]
While questing to find [[Sansa Stark]], [[Brienne of Tarth]] encounters Gendry working as a smith at the [[inn at the crossroads]], and she is shocked by his striking resemblance to [[Renly Baratheon]]. Gendry wants Brienne's party to leave, but [[Willow Heddle]] allows them to stay at the inn. Gendry has begun following the [[Lord of Light]] instead of the [[Faith of the Seven]].{{Ref|AFFC|37}}

While Gendry is making a sword at the inn's forge, Brienne questions the boy about his parentage. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of former Brave Companions, however. Brienne duels with [[Rorge]] and slays him, only to be savaged by [[Biter]]. Gendry saves Brienne's life by driving a spear through Biter's neck.{{Ref|AFFC|37}}{{Ref|AFFC|42}} Brienne is taken captive by the brotherhood. Gendry accompanies them as far as a river, then returns to the inn to protect its orphaned children.{{Ref|AFFC|42}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
Gendry remains ignorant of his heritage.{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}

==Quotes by Gendry==
[[File: Gendry portrait HBO.jpg|thumb|Joe Dempsie as Gendry in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
{{Quote|'''Gendry''': I'm a 'prentice smith, and one day might be I'll make a master armorer ... if I don't run off and lose my feet or get myself killed. 
'''Arya''': The next helm you make, put mule's ears on it in place of bull's horns!{{Ref|ACOK|47}}|Gendry and [[Arya Stark]]}}

{{Quote|'''Arya''': You're not my brother. 
'''Gendry''': That's right. I'm too bloody [[smallfolk|lowborn]] to be kin to m'lady high. 
'''Arya''': That's not the way I meant it. 
'''Gendry''': Yes it is. Go away. I want to drink this wine in peace. Then maybe I'll go find that [[Bella|black-haired girl]] and ring her bell for her.{{Ref|ASOS|29}}|[[Arya Stark]] and Gendry}}

{{Quote|'''Brienne''': My lord? 
'''Gendry''': Lord? I'm just a smith.{{Ref|AFFC|37}}|[[Brienne of Tarth]] and Gendry}}

{{Quote|'''Brienne''': You're a [[bastard]]. 
'''Gendry''': I'm a [[knight]].{{Ref|AFFC|37}}|[[Brienne of Tarth]] and Gendry}}

==Quotes about Gendry==
{{Quote|'''Eddard''': You know who the boy is. That is not a question. 
'''Tobho''': The boy is my apprentice. Who he was before he came to me, that's none of my concern.{{Ref|AGOT|27}}|[[Eddard Stark]] and [[Tobho Mott]]}}

{{Quote|If the day ever comes when Gendry would rather wield a sword than forge one, send him to me. He has the look of a warrior.{{Ref|AGOT|27}}|[[Eddard Stark]] to [[Tobho Mott]]}}

{{Quote|The [[House Baratheon|Baratheon]] look was stamped on his face, in his jaw, his eyes, that black hair.{{Ref|AGOT|30}}|thoughts of [[Eddard Stark]]}}

{{Quote|When he worked, nothing existed for him but metal, bellows, fire. The hammer was like part of his arm.{{Ref|ACOK|47}}|thoughts of [[Arya Stark]]}}

{{Quote|Gendry had his own secret, though even he didn't seem to know what it was.{{Ref|ASOS|3}}|thoughts of [[Arya Stark]]}}

{{Quote|In his chainmail shirt with a sword in his hand, Gendry looked almost a man grown, and dangerous.{{Ref|ASOS|13}}|thoughts of [[Arya Stark]]}}

{{Quote|'''Bella''': Don't he like girls? 
'''Arya''': He's just stupid. He likes to polish helmets and beat on swords with hammers.{{Ref|ASOS|29}}|[[Bella]] and [[Arya Stark]]}}

==Family==
{{Baratheon tree}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

[[Category:House Baratheon]]
[[Category:Bastards]]
[[Category:Blacksmiths]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:House Bolton retainers]]
[[Category:House Lannister retainers]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:Members of the Brotherhood Without Banners]]
[[Category:Outlaws]]
[[Category:Recruits of the Night's Watch]]
[[Category:Smallfolk]]

[[es:Gendry]]
[[fr:Gendry]]
[[ru:Джендри]]
[[zh:詹德利]]

Jacaerys Velaryon

2022-11-01T22:34:10Z

Noneofyourbusiness: /* The Dance of the Dragons */

{{Hatnote|"Jace" redirects here. For the recruit of the Night's Watch, see [[Jace (Night's Watch)]].}}

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[File:House Velaryon.svg|50px|left]] Jacaerys Velaryon [[File:House Targaryen.svg|50px|right]]
| image = [[File:Jacaerys Velaryon.jpg|200px]]
| image_caption = Jacaerys in childhood, by Douglas Wheatley, as depicted in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]''
| Alias = Jace Jacaerys "Strong"{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
| Title = [[Prince of Dragonstone]]
| Allegiance = [[House Velaryon]] [[House Targaryen]] [[Blacks]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = [[Laenor Velaryon]] (officially) [[Harwin Strong]] (rumored)
| Mother = [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
| Spouse = [[Sara Snow]] (possibly)
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|114}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
| Place_of_Death = the [[Battle of the Gullet|Gullet]]{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
| Date_of_Death = 5th day of the 1st moon of {{Date|130}}<ref group="N">Jacaerys died during the [[Battle of the Gullet]] which ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' includes among the battles of {{Date|129}}, but this was [https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/152215-fire-and-blood-excerpt/&page=24&tab=comments#comment-8264969 changed] by [[George R. R. Martin]] to {{Date|130}} in ''[[Fire & Blood]]''.</ref>
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = [[w:Harry Collett|Harry Collett]] Leo Hart (young)
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

Prince '''Jacaerys Velaryon''', also known as '''Jace''', was the firstborn son of Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] and her first husband, Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]]. When Rhaenyra was crowned queen during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], she named Jacaerys as [[Prince of Dragonstone]] and heir to the [[Iron Throne]]. Jacaerys was a [[dragonrider]] whose [[dragon]] was [[Vermax]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Jacaerys is portrayed by [[w:Harry Collett|Harry Collett]] and Leo Hart (young).<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref><ref>WarnerMedia Pressroom: [https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/na/bio/house-dragon-character-descriptions House of the Dragon | Character Descriptions]</ref>

==Appearance and Character==
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Jacaerys Velaryon|Images of Jacaerys Velaryon]]''
Jace was a strapping boy,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} who grew to become a handsome teenager.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Like his brothers, [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]] and [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]], he had brown hair and eyes, and a pug nose. This made many at court suspect that Ser [[Harwin Strong]], the [[sworn shield]] of Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], was the brothers' true father.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}

Responsible,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} bold,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} and politically savvy,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} Jace was protective of his family.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Jacaerys became skilled at arms by serving as a squire.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

==History==
===Early Years===
Prince Jacaerys was born at the end of {{Date|114}} to [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], daughter of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and [[Princess of Dragonstone]], and her husband Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]]. Laenor wished to name the boy Joffrey, in memory of his late friend, Ser [[Joffrey Lonmouth]], but he was overruled by his father, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]. Instead, the child was given a traditional [[House Velaryon|Velaryon]] name, Jacaerys, and nicknamed "Jace" by his friends and family.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Jace's uncle, Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron Targaryen]], was born soon afterwards to Viserys's second wife, Queen [[Alicent Hightower]]. Trying to prevent any enmity (as existed between Rhaenyra and Alicent), Viserys ordered that Jacaerys and Daemon share a [[wet nurse]] until they were weaned, hoping that them being [[milk brother]]s would make a difference.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Jace's brother [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]] was born in {{Date|115}}, followed by [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]] in {{Date|117}}. By royal decree, each of Rhaenyra's sons was presented with a [[dragon egg]] while in the cradle. Those who doubted the paternity of the children whispered that the eggs would never hatch, but the birth of three dragons proved otherwise. Jacaerys's hatchling was named [[Vermax]]. According to Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], while holding court King Viserys once told the young Jacaerys that the [[Iron Throne]] would one day be his.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

The king's hopes for peace between his sons and grandsons was futile. Alicent's three sons ([[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]], [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]], and Daeron Targaryen) became bitter rivals to Rhaenyra's three sons, resenting the Velaryons for stealing their birthright, the Iron Throne. The enforced closeness between the six boys (attending feasts, sometimes training together at arms, or studying under the same [[maester]]s) only increased this dislike.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|118}}, with the blessing of the king, Rhaenyra announced the betrothal of her two eldest sons to their cousins, the daughters of Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and Lady [[Laena Velaryon]]. Jacaerys, four years old, was betrothed to [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]], two.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===The "strong boys"===
[[File:Jacaerys Velaryon and Rhaenyra Targaryen by Fkaluis.jpg|thumb|300px|Jacaerys and Rhaenyra Targaryen, by Fkaluis ©]]
Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]] died in {{Date|120}}, when his son Jacaerys was six years old, and King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] visited [[High Tide]] on [[Driftmark]] with his family for the funeral. Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] claimed [[Vhagar]], the eldest and largest of the dragons, but was caught by Jacaerys's youngest brother, [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]]. Aemond mocked his three nephews as "[[House Strong|strong boys]]", alluding to the insinuation they had been fathered by Ser [[Harwin Strong]], and the four boys fought. When Aemond gained the upper hand against Jacaerys, Lucerys took out Aemond's right eye with his dagger. King Viserys decreed afterward that anyone who mocked his grandsons as "Strongs" again would have their tongues pulled out with hot pincers. Further, Rhaenyra and her sons were to stay at Dragonstone, while Alicent and her sons returned to [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Later in that year, Jacaerys's widowed mother, [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], married her uncle, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]]. Jace's half-brother [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] was born at the end of the year, followed by [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]] in {{Date|122}}. Unlike their Velaryon half-brothers, Rhaenyra's younger sons looked entirely [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|126}}, Jacaerys's grandfather, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], became ill. The question of who would succeed him as [[Lord of the Tides]] and [[Master of Driftmark]] became a debate, as his children Laenor and [[Laena Velaryon|Laena]] were dead, and Laenor's eldest son Jacaerys would eventually succeed his other grandfather and mother to the Iron Throne. Rhaenyra urged Corlys to name her second son, Lucerys, as his heir, but Corlys's eldest nephew, Ser [[Vaemond Velaryon]], protested on the grounds that Rhaenyra's Velaryon sons were not Laenor's, but the bastards of Harwin Strong. Rhaenyra had her husband seize Vaemond and strike off his head, and fed the body to her dragon, [[Syrax]]. Vaemond's [[Silent five|five cousins]] fled to [[King's Landing]] with Vaemond's wife and sons, [[Daemion Velaryon|Daemion]] and [[Daeron Velaryon]], to seek justice before the king. Viserys heard them out, but ordered each of the cousins' tongues to be removed when they called Rhaenyra's sons bastards.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Viserys's hand became infected after cutting it on the throne, and it was feared that he might die. On the first day of {{Date|127}}, the king held a feast to celebrate the return of his health, and Rhaenyra and Alicent made a show of amity and love. However, after the king left the feast, Aemond toasted his three Velaryon nephews, speaking in mock admiration of their brown hair, brown eyes, and strength, calling them "three strong boys". Later in the evening, Aegon took offense when Jacaerys asked his wife, [[Helaena Targaryen]], for a dance, but the [[Kingsguard]] prevented them from fighting.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===The Dance of the Dragons===
[[File:The Blacks by naomimakesart.jpg|thumb|450px|The Blacks, with Jacaerys fourth to the right, by Naomimakesart ©]]
In {{Date|129}}, King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] died in his sleep, and a succession war broke out between the [[blacks]] of Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], Viserys's choice of heir, and the [[greens]] of her younger half-brother, King [[Aegon II Targaryen]], Viserys's eldest son. At Aegon's first [[green council]], Ser [[Criston Cole]] objected to Rhaenyra's claim by stating that her heir, Prince Jacaerys, was a [[bastard]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

Jacaerys was fourteen years old at the start of the civil war that became known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. His dragon, [[Vermax]], was thriving, and growing every year. At Rhaenyra's first [[black council]] on [[Dragonstone]], Jacaerys and his brother, Prince [[Lucerys Velaryon]], volunteered to serve as her envoys to the [[lord]]s of [[Westeros]] to raise support for her claim. Rhaenyra allowed this, but she first made her young sons swear on ''[[The Seven-Pointed Star]]'' that they would not take part in any fighting. The next day, at Rhaenyra's coronation as [[Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men]], she named Jacaerys as [[Prince of Dragonstone]] and heir to the Iron Throne. Aegon II sent terms saying if Rhaenyra would submit, he would grant her the possession of Dragonstone to eventually be inherited by Jacaerys, but she rejected the offer.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

Jacaerys, as Rhaenyra's oldest son, was given the more difficult mission as an envoy. He flew Vermax to the [[Eyrie]], where Lady [[Jeyne Arryn]] agreed to support Rhaenyra if she defended the [[Vale of Arryn]] with [[dragonriders]]. The salacious [[Mushroom]] alleged that Jeyne offered her support if Jace could please her in bed, but Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]] discounts the story. Jacaerys then gained the support of the [[Three Sisters]] by meeting with Lords [[House Borrell|Borrell]] and [[House Sunderland|Sunderland]] at [[Sisterton]]. At [[White Harbor]], Jacaerys negotiated with [[Desmond Manderly]] at [[White Harbor]] that the lord's youngest daughter would marry Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]] once the war ended.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}

According to Grand Maester [[Munkun]], Jacaerys befriended Lord [[Cregan Stark]] at [[Winterfell]], as the prince reminded the lord of a younger brother who had passed away. After drinking and hunting together, the pair swore an oath of brotherhood. Eustace, on the other hand, claimed that Jacaerys tried to convince Cregan to follow [[Faith of the Seven]] instead of the [[old gods]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} Mushroom states Jacaerys fell in love with Cregan's half-sister, [[Sara Snow]], and married her in secret in the [[godswood of Winterfell]], although Archmaester [[Gyldayn]] discounts the [[fool]]'s claim.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} Mushroom also claimed that Vermax laid a clutch of [[dragon egg]]s in the [[crypts beneath Winterfell]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North: Winterfell}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} Jacaerys ultimately gained the [[north]] through the [[Pact of Ice and Fire]], promising that if he were to have children, his firstborn daughter would be betrothed to Cregan's heir, [[Rickon Stark (son of Cregan)|Rickon Stark]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}

Queen Rhaenyra was consumed by grief after her second son, Prince Lucerys, was killed by his uncle, Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]], near [[Storm's End]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} According to Mushroom, Ser [[Arryk Cargyll]] was sent to Dragonstone to avenge the murder of Prince [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys Targaryen]] by assassinating Jacaerys and Joffrey. Arryk was killed by his twin, Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]], however.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] was killed at the [[battle at Rook's Rest]], leaving her grieving husband, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], estranged from Rhaenyra. Jacaerys reconciled Corlys with Rhaenyra by naming him [[Hand of the Queen]], and Jace began plotting an attack on [[King's Landing]] with his grandfather. He sent his surviving younger brother, Prince Joffrey, to the Vale. Lady [[Baela Targaryen]] wanted to marry Jacaerys at Dragonstone, but Munkun claims that the prince preferred to wait until the war had ended.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

To make up for the losses of [[Arrax]] at Storm's End and [[Meleys]] at Rook's Rest, Mushroom claims he suggested that the blacks recruit [[dragonseeds]] to attempt to claim the six riderless dragons nesting on the island of [[Dragonstone]]; Munkun claims the [[Sowing of the Seeds]] was Jacaery's suggestion. The prince vowed that any man or woman who could master a dragon would be ennobled.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} Several dragonseeds succeeded in the Red Sowing, including Addam of [[Hull]], who was adopted by Lord Corlys into House Velaryon. On the request of Corlys and Jacaerys, Queen Rhaenyra legitimized the dragonseed as [[Addam Velaryon]] and made him heir to [[Driftmark]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Jacaerys arranged for the safety of his half brothers, [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]], nine, and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]], seven, by reaching out to the [[Prince of Pentos]], who agreed to [[fostering|foster]] the boys. Near the end of {{Date|129}}, Aegon and Viserys boarded the ''[[Gay Abandon]]'' to set sail for [[Pentos]], but in the [[Gullet]] the ship ran into a fleet of warships sent by the [[Triarchy]], allies of the [[greens]], with ''Gay Abandon'' captured and its escort ships sunk or taken. Aegon the Younger escaped on his dragon [[Stormcloud]] to Dragonstone to tell the blacks of the attack, however.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

In the ensuing [[Battle of the Gullet]], Jacaerys and four dragonseeds attacked the Triarchy's fleet with [[dragonflame]]. Victory for the blacks seemed at hand, until Vermax flew too low, possibly wounded from a crossbow bolt to the eye or pulled down by a grapnel, and crashed into a burning galley. Jacaerys lept free and clung to the smoking wreckage of the ship, but was struck by [[Myr]]ish crossbow quarrels until he sank into the sea. Driftmark was also invaded by the Triarchy's soldiers during the battle.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

===Legacy===
The death of Jacaerys, [[Prince of Dragonstone]], was a terrible loss for the [[blacks]]. Many became further despondent after the [[Battle on the Honeywine]], but a vengeful [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] became focused on [[fall of King's Landing|capturing King's Landing]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Near the end of the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Lord [[Cregan Stark]] led an army of [[northmen]] to [[King's Landing]] to honor the pledge he had made to the late Jacaerys.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

Jace's betrothed, Lady [[Baela Targaryen]], eventually wed Lord [[Alyn Velaryon]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

==Quotes by Jacaerys==
{{Quote|We should bear those messages. [[Dragon]]s will win the [[lord]]s over quicker than [[raven]]s.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}|Jacaerys to the [[black council]]}}

==Quotes about Jacaerys==
{{Quote|One day [[Iron Throne|this]] will be your seat, lad.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|[[Viserys I Targaryen]] to Jacaerys}}

{{Quote|[[The Seven|Seven]] save [[Westeros|this realm]] if we seat a [[bastard]] on the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}|[[Criston Cole]] to the [[green council]]}}

{{Quote|Though his fifteenth [[nameday]] was still half a year away, Prince Jacaerys proved himself a man, and a worthy heir to the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}|writings of [[Gyldayn]]}}

{{Quote|Broken after the [[Lucerys Velaryon|loss of one son]], [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] seemed to find new strength after the loss of a second. Jace's death hardened her, burning away her fears, leaving only her anger and hatred.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}|writings of [[Gyldayn]]}}

==Family==
{{Targaryen tree Dance}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Velaryon, Jacaerys}}
[[Category:House Velaryon|Jacaerys Velaryon]]
[[Category:House Targaryen|Jacaerys Velaryon]]
[[Category:Blacks]]
[[Category:Casualties of the Dance of the Dragons]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Deaths by shooting]]
[[Category:Dragonriders]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Rhaenyra Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Princes of Dragonstone]]
[[Category:Squires]]

[[es:Jacaerys Velaryon]]
[[fr:Jacaerys Velaryon]]
[[nl:Jacaerys Velaryon]]
[[pt:Jacaerys Velaryon]]
[[ru:Джекейрис Веларион]]
[[zh:杰卡里斯·瓦列利安]]

Two Betrayers

2022-10-24T23:25:53Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

The '''Two Betrayers''' is the historical reference given to [[Ulf White]] and [[Hugh Hammer]], two [[dragonseed]]s who betrayed the [[blacks]] for the [[greens]] in the [[First Battle of Tumbleton]] and had [[Silverwing]] and [[Vermithor]] [[Dragonflame|burn]] the market town of [[Tumbleton]].

==Quotes==
{{Quote|As neither man could read nor write, we shall never know what drove the Two Betrayers (as history has named them) [[First Battle of Tumbleton|to do what they did]].{{Ref|TPATQ}}|writings of [[Gyldayn]]}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Bastards]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Collective nicknames]]
[[Category:Dance of the Dragons]]
[[Category:Dragonriders]]
[[Category:Dragonseeds]]
[[Category:Smallfolk]]

[[es:Dos Traidores]]
[[fr:Deux Traîtres]]
[[pt:Dois Traidores]]

Doctrine of Exceptionalism

2022-10-18T04:52:31Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

The '''Doctrine of Exceptionalism''', or '''Exceptionalism''' for short, is the precept that King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] worked out with the [[Faith of the Seven]] in order for them to tolerate the continued practice of [[Incest|incestuous]] [[marriage]]s by [[House Targaryen]]. It was developed by King Jaehaerys, with help from [[Septon]] [[Oswyck]] and Septon [[Barth]]. The supporters of this doctrine are called '''Exceptionalists'''.{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}

==Doctrine==
The Doctrine of Exceptionalism's basic tenet was simple: the [[Faith of the Seven]] had been born in [[Andalos]] of old, where the laws laid down by the Seven in the holy texts decreed that incest was an abomination. The Doctrine of Exceptionalism confirmed this, but with one caveat: the Targaryens were not like other men as they rode [[dragons]] and were the only ones in the world since the [[Doom of Valyria]]. In addition, they did not have their roots in Andalos, but in [[Valyria]], where different laws and traditions held sway. The Targaryens wed brother to sister as the Valyrians had always done, and as the gods had made them this way, it was not for men to judge. The [[Seven Speakers]] preached the doctrine throughout Westeros.{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}

==Consequences==
From the time the Doctrine was accepted till the fall of its dynasty, House Targaryen had nine incestuous marriages:{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}<ref group="N" name=Cousins>Marriages between cousins are not considered incestuous by Westerosi standards. Therefore the following unions do not hinge on the Doctrine of Exceptionalism: [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and [[Aemma Arryn]] (1st cousins); [[Laenor Velaryon]] and [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] (2nd cousins); [[Daemon Targaryen]] and [[Laena Velaryon]] (1st cousins once removed); [[Aegon III Targaryen]] and [[Jaehaera Targaryen]] (1st cousins); [[Alyn Velaryon]] and [[Baela Targaryen]] (1st cousins); [[Aerys I Targaryen]] and [[Aelinor Penrose]] (cousins of an unknown degree); and [[Aerion Targaryen]] and [[Daenora Targaryen]] (1st cousins).</ref>
* Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon Targaryen]] wed his half-aunt Lady [[Jocelyn Baratheon]].
* Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon Targaryen]] wed his sister Princess [[Alyssa Targaryen]].
* Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] wed his niece Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]].
* King [[Aegon II Targaryen]] wed his sister Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]].
* King [[Baelor I Targaryen]] wed his sister Queen [[Daena Targaryen]] (marriage dissolved).
* King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] wed his sister Queen [[Naerys Targaryen]].
* Prince [[Aelor Targaryen]] wed his twin sister Princess [[Aelora Targaryen]].
* King [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]] wed his sister Queen [[Shaera Targaryen]].
* King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] wed his sister Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]].

Incestuous [[betrothal]]s also occurred:
* Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] was betrothed to his first cousin and step-sister Princess [[Baela Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Prince [[Lucerys Velaryon]] was betrothed to his first cousin and step-sister Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Faith of the Seven]]
[[Category:House Targaryen]]
[[Category:Seven Speakers]]

[[es:Doctrina del Excepcionalismo]]
[[fr:Exceptionnalisme]]

Helaena Targaryen

2022-10-01T21:54:01Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| firstname = Helaena
| lastname = Targaryen
| arms = House Targaryen.svg
| image = [[File:Helaena Targaryen by Hylora.png|300px]]
| image_caption = Helaena Targaryen, by Hylora ©
| Alias =
| Title = [[Prince]]ss Queen
| Allegiance = [[House Targaryen]] [[Greens]]
| Predecessor = [[Alicent Hightower]]
| Successor = [[Jaehaera Targaryen]]
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|109}}
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|130}}
| Place_of_Death = [[Maegor's Holdfast]], [[King's Landing]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = [[Viserys I Targaryen]]
| Mother = [[Alicent Hightower]]
| Spouse = King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]
| Issue = [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys Targaryen]] [[Jaehaera Targaryen]] [[Maelor Targaryen]]
| coat-of-arms =
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| Played_by = Phia Saban Evie Allen (young)
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

Queen '''Helaena Targaryen''' was the sister-wife to King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]. She was the only daughter of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] by his second wife, Queen [[Alicent Hightower]], and his second daughter overall. Helaena and Aegon had three children: the twins [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys]] and [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]], and [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]]. Like her siblings, Helaena was a [[dragonrider]], who rode the dragon [[Dreamfyre]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Helaena is portrayed by Phia Saban and Evie Allen (young).<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref><ref>WarnerMedia Pressroom: [https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/na/bio/house-dragon-character-descriptions House of the Dragon | Character Descriptions]</ref>

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Helaena Targaryen|l1=Images of Helaena Targaryen}}
At the age of thirteen, Helaena was plumper than most [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]], and less striking as well. Nonetheless, she was a pleasant and happy girl, and all agreed she would be an excellent mother.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} As queen, Helaena was loved by the [[smallfolk]].{{Ref|tpatq}} Following the murder of her eldest son, however, Helaena became depressed and descended into [[Targaryen madness|madness]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}

==History==
===Early life===
[[File:Helaena and Dreamfyre by Samantha Altarozzi.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Helaena and her dragon [[Dreamfyre]], by Samantha Altarozzi ©]]
In {{Date|109}}, Helaena was born to King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and his second wife, Queen [[Alicent Hightower]]. She had an older half-sister, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], and an older brother, Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]], and would have two younger brothers, Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] and Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}

By the age of twelve, Helaena had become a dragonrider, and rode the [[dragon]] [[Dreamfyre]]. In {{Date|122}}, at the age of thirteen, Helaena was married to her older brother Prince Aegon, following the ancient tradition of [[House Targaryen]]. Barely a year after her [[wedding]], Helaena gave birth to twins: [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys]] and [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

On the first day of {{Date|127}}, Helaena's father, King Viserys I, held a feast to celebrate the recovery of his health. According to the [[court fool]] [[Mushroom]], after the king had left the feast, Helaena's nephew, Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]], asked her for a dance, which her husband and brother, Aegon, took offense to. Later that same year, Helaena gave birth to a third child, a boy named [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

On the third day of the third month of {{Date|129}}, Helaena brought her three children to her father's chambers, where the king, the night before his death, entertained her children with a fictional tale{{Refn|group="N"|Elio García has stated that George R. R. Martin confirmed to him that this story was made up by Viserys to entertain his grandchildren.<ref>A Forum of Ice and Fire: [https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/148940-inconsistencies-plot-holes-and-missing-details-in-tsotd-trp-and-tpatq/&page=7#comment-8138013 Inconsistencies, plot holes, and missing details in TSOTD, TRP, and TPATQ] (February 28, 2018)</ref>}} about their great-great-grandsire, King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===The Dance of the Dragons===
With the death of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], a [[Dance of the Dragons|war for succession]] began. Helaena was informed of her father's passing a day after his death was discovered. When the decision was made to [[crown]] her husband, Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]], instead of Viserys's appointed heir, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], Helaena became a queen. On the day of the coronation, it was Helaena's mother [[Alicent Hightower]] who placed the crown upon Helaena's head and addressed her as "my queen".{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

Unwilling to accept Aegon as her king, Helaena's half-sister Rhaenyra was crowned herself as [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men|Queen of the Seven Kingdoms]] on [[Dragonstone]]. While she declared Ser [[Otto Hightower]], Helaena's grandfather, and Dowager Queen Alicent to be traitors, Rhaenyra expressed willingness to forgive Helaena and her siblings, as long as they came to Dragonstone and swore fealty to her.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

When [[Grand Maester]] [[Orwyle]] suggested traveling to Dragonstone to make Rhaenyra give up her claim, Helaena spoke in favor of his plan, together with her mother, after which King Aegon reluctantly agreed to send the Grand Maester under a peace banner.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

[[File:Season5Dance of DragonsRoyalApartmentsentered.png|thumb|400px|Helaena and her three young children, [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]] (left), [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]] (middle) and [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys]] (right) are surprised by [[Blood (butcher)|Blood]] and [[Cheese (ratcatcher)|Cheese]].]]

Helaena was accustomed to bring her children by her mother's chambers in the [[Tower of the Hand]] every night before they were put to bed. The two men Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], Rhaenyra's husband, had hired to murder one of Helaena's sons, were aware of this fact. Thus these two men, known as [[Blood (butcher)|Blood]] and [[Cheese (ratcatcher)|Cheese]], hid in Alicent's chambers, bound and gagged Alicent, and murdered her bedmaid. There, they awaited Helaena's arrival. After killing her guardsmen and barring the door they took Helaena and her children hostage, and forced Helaena to choose which one of her sons would die. Helaena offered herself, but was refused. Threatening to have Blood rape Jaehaera, and to kill all three of her children should she refuse, the two men forced Helaena to make a decision. In the end, Helaena reluctantly named her youngest child, Prince [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]], who was deemed to be too young to understand what was happening. In response, the two men killed Prince [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys]] instead, cutting off his head with a single swing of a sword, and fled with it in hand. After Jaehaerys's death, Helaena became depressed and slowly sank into madness, and refused to eat, bathe, or leave her chambers. Nor would she look at her younger son, Maelor, knowing that she had chosen him to die.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}

Aegon and Helaena slept apart from one another from then on, and after Aegon was severely injured at the [[Battle at Rook's Rest]], Helaena did not even make an attempt to visit him. She had become unreliable as a [[dragonrider]], incapable to fly in battle. When [[Fall of King's Landing|King's Landing fell]] to Rhaenyra in early {{Date|130}}, Helaena was taken captive.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

On the twenty-second day of the fifth moon of {{Date|130}}, at sunset, Helaena jumped from the window of her room in [[Maegor's Holdfast]]. She died on the spikes below, with her throat impaled, only twenty-one years old. At the moment of Helaena's death, her dragon Dreamfyre suddenly rose and snapped two of her chains, and roared loud enough to shake the [[Dragonpit]]. When Dowager Queen Alicent was informed of her daughter's death, she tore her clothes and cursed Rhaenyra.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

The reasons Helaena committed suicide, after half a year of captivity, remain the subject of speculation. [[Court fool]] [[Mushroom]] asserted that Helaena had been impregnated after being sold into [[prostitution]] by Rhaenyra and [[Mysaria]], but Archmaester [[Gyldayn]] dismisses the tale of the "[[Brothel Queens]]". Grand Maester [[Munkun]] proposes the horror of seeing Ser [[Thoron True]] and Ser [[Denys Woodwright]] hanged drove her to the act, but Gyldayn also dismisses this notion as there is no evidence she witnessed their hanging, knowing the two men as gaolers at best. For his part, [[Septon]] [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]] suggests that Lady Mysaria had chosen that night to tell her of the death of her son Maelor and the manner it had happened.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

By the nightfall of Helaena's death, rumors were flying in King's Landing that she had been murdered. It was believed it had been done by Ser [[Luthor Largent]] of the [[gold cloaks]], at the behest of Rhaenyra,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} for Prince Daeron would soon be at the gates of the city with his dragons. Munkun proposes these calumnies were begotten by the [[Shepherd]], who decried both crime and the queen. Mushroom, for his part, indicates this slander was concocted by Lord [[Larys Strong]], the Clubfoot, who had never left the capital. That same night, [[Riot of King's Landing (Dance of the Dragons)|King's Landing rose in a riot]], with men and women of the [[Smallfolk|common folk]] shouting for justice for the beloved Helaena and her dead sons.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}

==Family==
{{Targaryen tree Dance}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{Royal consorts of Westeros}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Targaryen, Helaena}}
[[Category:House Targaryen|Helaena Targaryen]]
[[Category:Casualties of the Dance of the Dragons]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Deaths by defenestration]]
[[Category:Deaths by impalement]]
[[Category:Deaths by suicide]]
[[Category:Dragonriders]]
[[Category:Greens]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon II Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Noblewomen]]
[[Category:Royal consorts]]

[[es:Helaena Targaryen]]
[[fr:Helaena Targaryen]]
[[nl:Helaena Targaryen]]
[[pt:Helaena Targaryen]]
[[ru:Хелейна Таргариен]]
[[zh:海伦娜·坦格利安]]

Brella

2022-09-27T15:02:36Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Character
| Character_name = Brella
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title =
| Allegiance = [[House Baratheon]] (formerly) [[House Lannister]] (formerly)
| Race =
| Culture =
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = ''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned) ''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms =
}}

'''Brella''' is a servant in [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|aFfC|9}}

==History==
She was originally in service to [[Renly Baratheon]], running his household while he stayed in [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|aSoS|58}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Storm of Swords''===
On the suggestion of [[Varys]], [[Tyrion Lannister]] hires her as [[Sansa Stark|Sansa's]] new maid together with [[Shae]], replacing earlier maids that spied on Sansa for his sister [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei]]. Tyrion considers her a good choice, as her earlier service for [[Renly Baratheon]] has given her some practice at being blind, deaf and mute. However, [[Shae]] complains about her loud snoring, which Tyrion also notices.{{Ref|aSoS|58}}{{Ref|aSoS|59}}

After the death of King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey]] and the disappearance of [[Sansa Stark]], she is questioned by Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], telling him of Sansa's constant praying, both in the sept and at night in the [[godswood]].{{Ref|aFfC|9}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
[[Brienne of Tarth]] searches her as part of her investigation into the disappearance of [[Sansa Stark]], finding her in a brothel in [[King's Landing]], where she does the washing. Brella explains that she has no knowledge of Sansa's disappearance. She complains bitterly that now that she has served two traitors to the crown, she can no longer find work with nobles and thus has to do washing for whores. She tells Brienne about Sansa's constant praying, both in the sept and at night in the [[godswood]], and suggests that Sansa most likely fled north, as that is where her gods are.{{Ref|aFfC|9}} She also informs Brienne about how Sansa begged King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey]] for the life of Ser [[Dontos Hollard]], which makes Brienne believe that Ser Dontos helped Sansa flee and that finding him will lead her to Sansa. Brella also shares that there was little warmth between Sansa and [[Tyrion Lannister]], making Brienne believe that Sansa might have fled her husband just as much as King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey's]] murder.{{Ref|aFfC|4}}

Brella later tells [[Podrick Payne]] that Brienne is looking for Sansa, prompting his wish to find Brienne, as he thinks that through Sansa he might find Tyrion.{{Ref|aFfC|9}}

==References==
{{references}}

[[Category:Smallfolk]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:House Baratheon retainers]]
[[Category:House Lannister retainers]]
[[Category:Tyrion Lannister's household]]

[[es:Brella]]
[[fr:Bella]]
[[ru:Брелла]]

Qarl Correy

2022-09-27T03:43:28Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = Qarl Correy
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]
| Allegiance = [[House Velaryon]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Spouse =
| Father =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death = the [[narrow sea]] (possibly)
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|120}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned)
| Coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = Arty Froushan
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

Ser '''Qarl Correy''' was a [[Household knight|household]] [[knight]] in service to [[House Velaryon]] at [[High Tide]]. Of relatively low birth, Qarl was rumored to have been a [[Paramour|lover]] of Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', he is portrayed by Arty Froushan.

==History==
Laenor had always favored handsome knights of his household, who he likely took as lovers. The first prominent knight was Ser [[Joffrey Lonmouth]], whom Laenor's third son, Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]], was later [[named after]]. After Ser Joffrey's death, Ser Qarl Correy became Laenor's new favorite.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Qarl slew Laenor over a quarrel at a fair at [[Spicetown]]. The reasons for the quarrel are not known. Correy was never seen again after escaping.{{Ref|TRP}} According to ''[[The Testimony of Mushroom]]'', Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] paid Correy to kill Laenor to free Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] for himself and offered him escape from Spicetown on a boat but had him murdered and the body disposed of at sea instead.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==Behind the Scenes==
Qarl's name may be a reference by [[George R. R. Martin]] to ''[[w:Nine Princes in Amber|Nine Princes in Amber]]'' by [[w:Roger Zelazny|Roger Zelazny]], where the protagonist Prince Corwin uses the alias Carl Corey. Other homages by Martin to Zelazny include [[House Rogers]] and the [[Pattern]].

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Favorites of Laenor Velaryon|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:House Velaryon retainers|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Household knights|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Knights|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Nobles|Correy, Qarl]]

[[es:Qarl Correy]]
[[fr:Qarl Correy]]
[[nl:Qarl Corry]]
[[ru:Кварл Корри]]

Qarl Correy

2022-09-27T03:43:13Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = Qarl Correy
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]
| Allegiance = [[House Velaryon]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Spouse =
| Father =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death = the [[narrow sea]] (possibly)
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|120}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned)
| Coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = Arty Froushan
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

Ser '''Qarl Correy''' was a [[Household knight|household]] [[knight]] in service to [[House Velaryon]] at [[High Tide]]. Of relatively low birth, Qarl was rumored to have been a [[Paramour|lover]] of Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', he is portrayed by Arty Froushan.

==History==
Laenor had always favored handsome knights of his household, who he likely took as lovers. The first prominent knight was Ser [[Joffrey Lonmouth]], whom Laenor's third son, Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]], was later [[named after]]. After Ser Joffrey's death, Ser Qarl Correy became Laenor's new favorite.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Qarl slew Laenor over a quarrel at a fair at [[Spicetown]]. The reasons for the quarrel are not known. Correy was never seen again after escaping.{{Ref|TRP}} According to ''[[The Testimony of Mushroom]]'', Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] paid Correy to kill Laenor to free Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] for himself and offered him escape from Spicetown on a boat but had him murdered and the body disposed of at sea instead.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==Behind the Scenes==
Qarl's name may be a reference by [[George R. R. Martin]] to ''[[w:Nine Princes in Amber|Nine Princes in Amber]]'' by [[w:Roger Zelazny|Roger Zelazny]], where the main protagonist Prince Corwin uses the alias Carl Corey. Other homages by Martin to Zelazny include [[House Rogers]] and the [[Pattern]].

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Favorites of Laenor Velaryon|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:House Velaryon retainers|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Household knights|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Knights|Correy, Qarl]]
[[Category:Nobles|Correy, Qarl]]

[[es:Qarl Correy]]
[[fr:Qarl Correy]]
[[nl:Qarl Corry]]
[[ru:Кварл Корри]]

Harwin Strong

2022-09-22T01:44:44Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[File:House Strong.svg|50px|left]] Harwin Strong [[File:City Watch.svg|50px|right]]
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias = Breakbones Brokenbones
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]] [[City Watch of King's Landing|Captain]]
| Allegiance = [[House Strong]] [[City Watch of King's Landing]] [[House Targaryen]] [[Blacks]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Rivermen]]
| Father = [[Lyonel Strong]]
| Mother =
| Spouse =
| Lover = Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] (rumored)
| Issue = [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] (rumored) [[Lucerys Velaryon]] (rumored) [[Joffrey Velaryon]] (rumored)
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|90}} or before<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued)#Harwin Strong|Harwin Strong]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Death = [[Harrenhal]]{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|120}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = [[w:Ryan Corr|Ryan Corr]]
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

Ser '''Harwin Strong''', known as '''Breakbones''', was a [[knight]] from [[House Strong]] and the heir to [[Harrenhal]]. He also served as a captain in the [[City Watch of King's Landing]]. The rumored [[Paramour|lover]] of Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], Harwin is believed by some to have been the real father of her three sons with her first husband Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]], ([[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]], [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]], and [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]]).{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Harwin is portrayed by [[w:Ryan Corr|Ryan Corr]].<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref>

==Appearance and Character==
Breakbones was said to be the strongest man in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] in his day. He was described as being massive and redoubtable.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==History==
In {{Date|105}}, Ser Harwin was brought to court by his father, Lord [[Lyonel Strong]], alongside his younger brother [[Larys Strong|Larys]] and his two sisters. Harwin was made a captain in the [[gold cloaks]] of [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

During {{Date|112}}, Harwin was one of many suitors to pay court to [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], the [[Princess of Dragonstone]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

According to [[Mushroom]] in {{Date|113}}, Harwin one night returning to the [[Red Keep]] from a night of reveling in the capital happened upon a spurned Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and she took solace in his company, being found abed together by Mushroom the following morning.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|114}}, Princess Rhaenyra granted Harwin her favor at the [[tourney]] celebrating her [[wedding]] with Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]]. At that tourney, Ser [[Criston Cole]] broke his collarbone and shattered his elbow. Mushroom mocked him as "Brokenbones" after this event. Thereafter Harwin was a consistent presence at Rhaenyra's side and was the foremost member among the [[blacks]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In late {{Date|115}}, according to [[Septon]] [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], during the birth of Rhaenyra's second son, [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]], both Rhaenyra's husband Ser Laenor and Breakbones were in attendance at her bedside. When Rhaenyra moved to [[Dragonstone]] after the rivalry with Queen [[Alicent Hightower]] and the [[greens]] grew to be too much, Breakbones went with her as her personal [[sworn shield]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|120}}, after Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] called Rhaenyra's sons "[[House Strong|Strongs]]" and a brawl broke out, Harwin was removed as Princess Rhaenyra's champion by King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and he returned to [[Harrenhal]], being replaced by Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]] of the [[Kingsguard]]. Harwin died in a fire at Harrenhal that same year, with it also killing his father, Lord Lyonel Strong. The fire was said to be an accident and blamed on the [[Curse of Harrenhal|curse]] of Harrenhal. Other non-mystical suspects included Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], whose motive would have been eliminating a rival for Princess Rhaenyra's affections; Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], as revenge for Harwin cuckolding his son; Harwin's brother, Larys, to claim the inheritance of Harrenhal; and King Viserys I, to eliminate the man who brought dishonor on his House.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==Family==
{{Strong tree Dance}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strong, Harwin}}
[[Category:House Strong|Harwin Strong]]
[[Category:Blacks]]
[[Category:Characters from the Riverlands]]
[[Category:Deaths by fire]]
[[Category:House Targaryen retainers]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:Members of the City Watch (King's Landing)]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Mistresses and paramours]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Sworn shields]]

[[es:Harwin Strong]]
[[fr:Harwin Fort]]
[[nl:Harwin Sterk]]
[[pt:Harwin Strong]]
[[ru:Харвин Стронг]]
[[zh:哈尔温·斯壮]]

Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)

2022-09-20T16:25:30Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{For|other characters with the same name|Rhaena Targaryen}}

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[File:House Targaryen.svg|50px|left]] Rhaena Targaryen [[File:House Hightower.svg|50px|right]] [[File:House Corbray.svg|50px]]
| image = [[File:Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon) by Naomimakesart.png|350px]]
| image_caption = Rhaena Targaryen, by Naomimakesart ©
| Alias = Rhaena of Pentos{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Rhae{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} Rhaena Corbray{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}} [[Dragon Twins|Dragon Twin]]{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}
| Title = Lady{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Princess{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}
| Allegiance = [[House Targaryen]] [[House Corbray]] [[House Hightower]] [[Blacks]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|116}}
| Place_of_Birth = [[Pentos]]{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
| Date_of_Death =
| Place_of_Death =
| Father = Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]]
| Mother = Lady [[Laena Velaryon]]
| Spouse = 1st: Ser [[Corwyn Corbray]] 2nd: [[Garmund Hightower]]
| Issue = Six daughters
| coat-of-arms =
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| Played_by = Phoebe Campbell Eva Ossei-Gerning (young)
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

Lady '''Rhaena Targaryen''', also known as '''Rhaena of Pentos'''{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} and '''Rhaena Corbray''',{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}} was one of the twin daughters of Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and Lady [[Laena Velaryon]]; [[Baela Targaryen]] was her older twin.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} Rhaena was the niece of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and the cousin of King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]. She was also the half-sister of Kings [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen]], as well as the stillborn [[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Rhaenyra)|Visenya Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Rhaena was a [[dragonrider]] who rode [[Morning]].{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Rhaena is portrayed by Phoebe Campbell and Eva Ossei-Gerning (young).<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref><ref>WarnerMedia Pressroom: [https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/na/bio/house-dragon-character-descriptions House of the Dragon | Character Descriptions]</ref>

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|l1=Images of Rhaena Targaryen}}
Rhaena and her twin, [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]], had fine features, silver-white hair, and [[purple eyes]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} As young girls, the twins had been inseparable and impossible to tell apart. Though they were both tall and slim by the age of sixteen, they no longer looked alike. Rhaena was slender and graceful, and Baela was lean and quick with hair as short as a boy's. Rhaena loved to dance whilst Baela preferred to ride and to fly.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

==History==
===Youth===
[[File:Baela and Rhaena Targaryen by chillyravenart.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Rhaena and [[Baela Targaryen]], by chillyravenart ©]]
Rhaena and [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]] were born small and sickly in [[Pentos]] in {{Date|116}}. Rhaena was [[named after]] her maternal grandmother, Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} When they were half a year old, the twins sailed from Pentos to [[Driftmark]] with their mother, [[Laena Velaryon]]. In {{Date|117}}, Rhaena was presented at court by her father, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}

In {{Date|118}}, with the blessing of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], Rhaena was betrothed to her cousin, Prince [[Lucerys Velaryon]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Rhaena received a [[dragon egg]], but the hatchling dragon was unhealthy and died within hours of emerging from its egg. Eventually, an egg from another clutch, laid by [[Syrax]], was given to Rhaena, and it was said that she slept with it every night and prayed for a [[dragon]] to match her sister's, [[Moondancer]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

===Dance of the Dragons===
[[File:Jeyne Arryn and Rhaena of Pentos by Riotarttherite.png|thumb|right|350px|Rhaena, Lady [[Jeyne Arryn]], and Rhaena's dragon [[Morning]], by riotarttherite ©]]
During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Rhaena was chosen to accompany Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]] to [[Gulltown]] for their protection, although they were told it was to defend the [[Vale of Arryn]] against King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]'s dragons. Rhaena brought three dragon eggs with her to the Vale, where she prayed nightly for their hatching.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Rhaena remained in the Vale throughout the duration of the civil war as the ward of [[Jeyne Arryn]], [[Lady of the Eyrie]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}} In the Vale, Rhaena enjoyed a life of comfort and privilege, with maids brushing her hair and drawing her baths. Singers composed odes to her beauty, and [[knight]]s jousted for her favor. Rhaena befriended Ser [[Corwyn Corbray]] during her stay at the [[Eyrie]], and grew "especially fond" of him.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} Eventually one of her dragon eggs hatched, and Rhaena quickly bonded with the hatchling, which she named [[Morning]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}} News of Morning's birth reached the [[greens]] around the start of {{Date|131}}, greatly troubling them, as they had lost all of their dragons during the fighting. Dowager Queen [[Alicent Hightower]] feared that the [[smallfolk]] would consider the [[blacks]] as more legitimate, due to Morning's birth.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}} However, the war lasted only for another half a year,{{Ref|TPATQ}} during which time Morning was still too young to be ridden.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}

===Reign of Aegon III===
[[File:Baela and Rhaena Targaryen by Hylora.png|thumb|right|400px|[[Baela Targaryen|Baela]] and Rhaena Targayren, by [https://www.deviantart.com/rlyeha © Hylora].]]
At the end of the war, Rhaena and her dragon accompanied Lady Jeyne, sailing from [[Gulltown]] towards [[King's Landing]] with a great host. Once at the capital, Rhaena was reunited with her twin sister Baela, and the pair became the darlings of the city overnight. The [[smallfolk]] became ecstatic at the sight of Morning, one of the few still living dragons and the only one in King's Landing. However, Rhaena's half-brother, Prince [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]], who had seen a dragon eat his mother [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], paled when he saw Morning for the first time and commanded his guards to "get that wretched creature out of my sight."{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

Rhaena and Baela were among the foremost of those pleading for a pardon for their grandfather, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]. They made their plea directly to Aegon, who went against the wishes of the [[Hand of the King]], Lord [[Cregan Stark]], and pardoned the Sea Snake. [[Mushroom]], on the other hand, claimed that it was Lady [[Alysanne Blackwood]] who convinced Cregan to spare Corlys.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

After the ascension of her cousin and half-brother, as King [[Aegon III Targaryen]], Rhaena and her sister Baela were thought to be the only living [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] aside from the king and his queen, [[Jaehaera Targaryen]], as Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] was presumed dead at the time. Rhaena and Baela were very popular in King's Landing, as they frequently traveled through the city, while Aegon and Jaehaera remained in the [[Red Keep]]. The twins often rode out to hunt or hawk, gave alms to the poor, served as hosts, and met with envoys and visiting [[lord]]s. Dozens of young lords competed for Rhaena's smiles, artists requested to draw or paint her, and the city’s finest dressmakers sought the honor of making her gowns. Everywhere Rhaena went was with Morning, her young dragon, usually coiled around her shoulders like a stole.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

===First marriage===
In {{Date|132}}, following the sudden death of Rhaena's grandfather, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], the [[Regency of Aegon III|council of regents]] began to discuss the matter of Aegon's heir. Baela and Rhaena were considered to be the only two claimants the realm would likely accept as the childless king's heirs. Despite the fact that Baela was the elder twin, the council considered Rhaena more suitable, as she was the less willful and more tractable of the two. Furthermore, Rhaena had her dragon, Morning, unlike Baela, whose [[Moondancer]] had died during the [[fall of Dragonstone]]. When [[Myles Mooton]] noted that Rhaena only had a hatchling, Lord [[Roland Westerling]] further pointed out that Baela had taken down King Aegon II, and that there were many who would be angered should she be crowned. Grand Maester [[Munkun]] attempted to end the debate, insisting that both Baela and Rhaena were female and thus disqualified altogether, as that the [[Dance of the Dragons]] had shown that they had to favor the male claimant per the ruling of the [[Great Council of 101 AC]]. However, the Hand [[Tyland Lannister]] pointed out that all the male claimants had been killed.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

The regents planned to [[marriage|marry]] Baela to Lord [[Thaddeus Rowan]] to curb her wilful ways and provide a proper consort to a possible queen. However, she greatly disagreed with their choice and escaped to [[Driftmark]] to marry Lord [[Alyn Velaryon]], her cousin and a legitimized [[bastard]]. This act confirmed the regents' opinion of Baela, and they feared she would soon become pregnant. They decided that Rhaena must be Aegon's heir, and that she should marry quickly. Rhaena agreed to do as the king and council wished, and when Ser Tyland asked if she had any preference from among her suitors, she named Ser [[Corwyn Corbray]], whom she had met in the Vale. Corwyn was not the ideal choice, as he was a second son who had been previously married and widowed. Still, [[House Corbray]] was old and prestigious, Corwyn was a great warrior and the bearer of the [[Valyrian steel]] sword [[Lady Forlorn]], and his brother Lord [[Leowyn Corbray]] was [[Protector of the Realm]]. Rhaena and Corwyn were married within a fortnight.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

In second half of the year of {{Date|133}}, the court rejoiced when Rhaena announced that she was pregnant, but unfortunately she miscarried within a month. Later that year, young Queen Jaehaera apparently committed suicide, and some wondered if she had become despondent over Rhaena's miscarriage. Desiring to prevent the succession of Rhaena or Baela, the Hand [[Unwin Peake]] planned to betroth King Aegon to his maiden daughter [[Myrielle Peake|Myrielle]]. However, the other regents and the lords of the realm felt Lord Unwin had overstepped, and instead forced him to declare a ball to be held on [[Maiden's Day]], where the king himself would be able to choose his own bride. At the [[Maiden's Day Ball]], hundreds of young maidens were presented to the king, but when only a few remained, Baela and Rhaena suddenly arrived. Though Baela was heavily pregnant, and Rhaena pale and thin from her miscarriage, they were as one, dressed in black velvet and red [[ruby|rubies]], with the Targaryen [[sigil]] on their cloaks. Mounted on a pair of black chargers, the twins rode down the hall together, and Rhaena announced to Aegon that they had brought his new queen. Rhaena's husband Corwyn presented Baela's young [[ward]], [[Daenaera Velaryon]], and at the ball's conclusion, Aegon announced he would marry Daenaera. The twins were cheered by the people of King's Landing when Aegon wed Daenaera on the last day of {{Date|133}}.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}} However, Unwin Peake had never cared for Baela, but now disliked Rhaena as well; he was convinced both of them were working against him.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}

[[File:Reunion of Aegon and Viserys by naomimakesart.png|thumb|400px|The reunion of King [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]] and Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]], attended by Rhaena and her family, by Naomimakesart ©]]
In {{Date|134}}, Rhaena and Corwyn accompanied the royal court to the harbor of King's Landing to welcome back Alyn Velaryon from his first great voyage, and the Oakenfist revealed that he had returned with Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]], Aegon's long-lost younger brother. Viserys's return greatly pleased the regents as well as his family, as he was the undisputed heir apparent, ahead of any child born to Baela or Rhaena, or the twins themselves.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}

Later that year, Corwyn became a member of the council of regents, and in the spring of {{Date|135}}, he was sent to the Vale to settle the [[Arryn Succession Conflict (134 AC)|matter of succession]] to [[House Arryn]] and restore peace. On the third day of the third moon of {{Date|135}}, Rhaena rode Morning for the first time. She only circled once around the city before returning to the [[Dragonpit]], but soon grew bolder and flew farther every day. However, she only once landed in the Red Keep, as King Aegon was still terrified of dragons, and shortly thereafter Rhaena flew across [[Blackwater Bay]] to stay at [[Dragonstone]] where, as she said, "Dragons and those who ride them are more welcome." Later that spring, Rhaena's husband Corwyn was killed at [[Runestone]] in the Vale while dealing with the Arryn succession. Baela traveled to Dragonstone to comfort her widowed twin, and to ensure that Rhaena would not use Morning to attempt to avenge her husband's death.{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}

===Later life===
When preparations were being made in {{Date|136}} for a [[royal progress]] to be held after Aegon [[age of majority|turned sixteen]], Rhaena desired to accompany the king on Morning. However, this suggestion was delicately deflected by the council of regents.{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}

Later in life, Rhaena married [[Garmund Hightower]], the younger brother of Lord [[Lyonel Hightower]],{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} by whom she had six daughters.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}

==Quotes by Rhaena==
{{Quote|So long as [my husband] is kind and gentle and noble, I know that I shall love him.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}|Rhaena, to the [[Regency of Aegon III|council of Aegon III's regents]]}}

{{Quote|Brother, if it please you, we have brought [[Daenaera Velaryon|your new queen]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}|Rhaena, to [[Aegon III Targaryen]]}}

==Quotes about Rhaena==
{{Quote|Lady Rhaena would make a splendid queen.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}|[[Leowyn Corbray]], to the [[Regency of Aegon III|regents]]}}

==Family==
===Ancestors===
{{Targaryen tree Dance}}

===Descendants===
{{Targaryen tree Daemon}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Targaryen, Rhaena}}
[[Category:House Targaryen|Rhaena Targaryen]]
[[Category:House Corbray|Rhaena Targaryen]]
[[Category:House Hightower|Rhaena Targaryen]]
[[Category:Blacks]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Characters with purple eyes]]
[[Category:Dragonriders]]
[[Category:House Arryn wards]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Rhaenyra Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon III Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Noblewomen]]
[[Category:Twins]]

[[es:Rhaena Targaryen, hija de Daemon]]
[[fr:Rhaena Targaryen (fille de Daemon)]]
[[nl:Rhaena Targaryen (Daemon Targaryens dochter)]]
[[pt:Rhaena Targaryen (Rhaena de Pentos)]]
[[ru:Рейна Таргариен (дочь Деймона)]]
[[zh:雷妮亚·坦格利安(戴蒙之女)]]

Lucamore Strong

2022-09-20T16:14:37Z

Noneofyourbusiness: tense

{{Character
| Character_name = [[File:House Strong.svg|50px|left]] [[File:Night's Watch.svg|right|50px]] Lucamore Strong [[File:Kingsguard.svg|50px]]
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias = Lucamore the Lusty
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]
| Allegiance = [[House Strong]] [[Kingsguard]] [[Night's Watch]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Rivermen]]
| Spouse = Three wives
| Issue = Sixteen children
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms =
}}

Ser '''Lucamore Strong''', also known as '''Lucamore the Lusty''', was a [[knight]] from [[House Strong]] and a member of the [[Kingsguard]] during the reign of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]. When it was discovered he had broken the vows of the Kingsguard, he was sent to the [[Night's Watch]] by King Jaehaerys I.

==Appearance and Character==
Lucamore was described as an amiable, strapping, broad-shouldered, young blond bull. He was a great favorite of the [[smallfolk]] in [[tourney]]s and was well loved at court.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progency, and Pain}}

==History==
In {{Date|55}}, a great tourney was held to celebrate the completion of the [[Dragonpit]]. Ser Lucamore was the victor of the great melee in the pit. After the death of Ser [[Willam the Wasp]] the following year, Jaehaerys awarded a white cloak to Ser Lucamore. Ser Lucamore was on duty when [[Balerion]] returned to [[King's Landing]] in {{Date|56}} with the afflicted Princess [[Aerea Targaryen]] barely clinging to him. Lucamore shoved through the onlookers and carried the girl to [[Grand Maester]] [[Benifer]]. He later told anyone who'd listen that the princess was stick thin, so hot with fever he could feel the heat through his armor, there was blood in her eyes and something was moving beneath her skin. He was summoned by King Jaehaerys the next day and commanded not to speak of Aerea anymore.{{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}

After Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]], who had ruled as ''de facto'' Lady of [[Harrenhal]], died in {{Date|73}}, King Jaehaerys named Lucamore's brother, Ser [[Bywin Strong]], the new [[Lord of Harrenhal]].{{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}

It was discovered by Ser [[Ryam Redwyne]] of the [[Kingsguard]] near the end of {{Date|73}} that Ser Lucamore had broken his Kingsguard vows: he had wed in secret, not once, but thrice, with each woman being ignorant of the other two. On these three wives, he had fathered a total of sixteen children. Ser Ryam brought the revelation to the [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]], Ser [[Gyles Morrigen]], who in turn had Ser Lucamore seized and brought before the [[Iron Throne]], along with his three wives and all his children. This scandal shocked both the court and city, although it was eventually a cause of great laughter and merriment among the [[smallfolk]].{{Ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progency, and Pain}}{{Ref|AfFc|13}}{{Ref|Affc|16}}{{Ref|AfFc|44}}

Ser Gyles requested that Ser Lucamore be put to death. In front of the king, Lucamore fell to his knees, confessed his guilt, and begged for mercy. According to [[Septon]] [[Barth]], the king might have granted it, had Lucamore not been foolish enough to add ''"for the sake of my wives and children"'' to the end of his plea, as this was tantamount to throwing his crimes in the king's face.{{Ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progency, and Pain}} Jaehaerys declared he would have no oathbreakers serving him, and Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]] added that Lucamore had not only broken the vows of the Kingsguard, but also his [[marriage]] vows. None of the three marriages could be declared lawful, and thus all the children were [[bastard]]s. Alysanne also declared that his wives were not entirely innocent: while each woman had been unaware of the other two, they had known that Lucamore was a knight of the Kingsguard and thus not allowed to wed. She declared some mercy would be granted for them, but none for him.{{Ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progency, and Pain}}

Ser Lucamore was [[Eunuch|gelded]] by his former sworn brothers of the Kingsguard, after which King Jaehaerys sent Lucamore to the [[Wall]] to join the [[Night's Watch]]. Two of his elder sons chose to accompany him. A daughter chose to become a [[septa]]. His three wives were each sent into exile away from King's Landing, the first given to the charge of Lord Bywin Strong of Harrenhal, Lucamore's brother in the [[riverlands]], the second to Lord [[Daemon Velaryon (son of Aethan)|Daemon Velaryon]] of [[Driftmark]] in the [[crownlands]], and the third wife was sent to Ser [[Garon Baratheon|Garon]] and Lord [[Boremund Baratheon]] of [[Storm's End]] in the [[stormlands]], along with their children, who were forbidden to continue using the surname [[House Strong|Strong]] from that day forth. The children of his first wife were known as Rivers, the children of his second as Waters, and the children of his third as Storm. Lucamore forever more became known as ''Lucamore the Lusty''. His deceits are recorded in the [[White Book]] and are sung about in a humorous song.{{Ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progency, and Pain}}{{Ref|AfFc|13}}{{Ref|AfFc|16}}{{Ref|AfFc|44}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Feast for Crows''===
Ser [[Arys Oakheart]] uses Lucamore as an example why he must keep his vows.{{Ref|AfFc|13}} Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] mentions Lucamore to Ser [[Loras Tyrell]]{{Ref|AfFc|16}} and later cites him as an example to Ser [[Ilyn Payne]] when discussing what to do about Ser [[Osmund Kettleblack]].{{Ref|AfFc|44}}

==Quotes about Lucamore==
{{Quote|When I rose against my uncle [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor]], two of his [[Kingsguard]] abandoned him to fight for me. They might well have believed they would be allowed to keep their white cloaks once I'd won, perhaps even be honored with [[lord]]ships and a higher place at court. I sent them to the [[Wall]] instead. I wanted no oathbreakers around me, then or now.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progency, and Pain}}|[[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] while sentencing Lucamore}}

{{Quote|'''Arianne''': Yes, and what of Lucamore the Lusty, with his three wives and sixteen children? The song always makes me laugh. 
'''Arys''': The truth is less funny. He was never called Lucamore the Lusty whilst he lived. His name was Ser Lucamore Strong, and his whole life was a lie. When his deceit was discovered, his own sworn bothers [[Eunuch|gelded]] him, and [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|the Old King]] sent him to the Wall. Those sixteen children were left weeping. He was no [[true knight]], no more than [[Terrence Toyne]]...{{Ref|aFfC|13}}|[[Arianne Martell]] and [[Arys Oakheart]]}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{Kingsguard of Jaehaerys I}}

[[Category:House Strong]]
[[Category:Characters from the Riverlands|Strong, Lucamore]]
[[Category:Eunuchs|Strong, Lucamore]]
[[Category:Knights|Strong, Lucamore]]
[[Category:Members of Jaehaerys I Targaryen's court|Strong, Lucamore]]
[[Category:Members of the Kingsguard|Strong, Lucamore]]
[[Category:Members of the Night's Watch|Strong, Lucamore]]
[[Category:Nobles|Strong, Lucamore]]
[[Category:Polygamous characters|Strong, Lucamore]]

[[es:Lucamour Strong]]
[[fr:Lucamore Fort]]
[[nl:Lucamour Sterk]]
[[ru:Лукамор Стронг]]
[[zh:卢卡默·史壮斯]]

Criston Cole

2022-09-19T23:33:37Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[File:House Cole.svg|50px|left]] Criston Cole [[File:Kingsguard.svg|50px|right]]
| image = [[File:Kingmaker by Naomimakesart.png|300px]]
| image_caption = Kingmaker, by Naomimakesart ©
| Alias = Criston the Kingmaker Kingmaker
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]] [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]] [[Hand of the King]]
| Allegiance = [[House Cole]] [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] (formerly) [[Kingsguard]] [[Greens]]
| Predecessor = [[Harrold Westerling]] (Lord Commander of the Kingsguard) [[Otto Hightower]] (Hand of the King)
| Successor = [[Willis Fell]] (Lord Commander of the Kingsguard) [[Cregan Stark]] (Hand of the King)
| Race =
| Culture = [[Dornish Marches|Marcher]]
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|82}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
| Place_of_Birth = [[Blackhaven]]
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|130}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
| Place_of_Death = [[Butcher's Ball]] south of the [[Gods Eye]]
| Spouse =
| Lover = Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] (rumored){{Ref|AFFC|13}}
| coat-of-arms =
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned) ''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)
| Played_by = [[w:Fabien Frankel|Fabien Frankel]]
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

Ser '''Criston Cole''' was a [[knight]] from [[House Cole]] who rose to become [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]] for [[Viserys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} His relationship with Viserys's daughter, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], was first friendly and then adversarial.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Criston convinced Viserys's son, Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon the Elder]], to claim the rule of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] as his father lay dead. This led to the [[Dance of the Dragons]], a civil war between Aegon II and his elder half-sister, Rhaenyra, whom Viserys had long groomed as his successor. For this the knight became known as '''Criston the Kingmaker'''.{{Ref|AFFC|13}} Criston also served as [[Hand of the King]] for Aegon II during part of the war.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Criston is portrayed by [[w:Fabien Frankel|Fabien Frankel]].<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref>

==Appearance and Character==
Criston had coal black hair and pale green eyes. Many ladies described him as charming.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Criston was an exceptionally skilled warrior, particularly with his [[Armament#Flails|morningstar]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} He is also known to have wielded a [[longsword]] in battle.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}} The Kingmaker rode a white [[horse]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

==History==
===Early life===
Ser Criston was born to a steward of Lord [[House Dondarrion|Dondarrion]] at [[Blackhaven]], in the [[Dornish Marches]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|104}}, Criston won a melee at [[Tourney for King Viserys I's accession|the tourney]] at [[Maidenpool]] to celebrate the ascension of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] to the [[Iron Throne]], drawing the attention of the royal court by knocking [[Dark Sister]] from the hands of Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] with his morningstar. He gave the victor's laurel to the seven-year-old Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], whose favor he wore while unhorsing Daemon in the joust, as well as the twins Ser [[Arryk Cargyll|Arryk]] and Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]] of the [[Kingsguard]], before being unhorsed by Lord [[Lymond Mallister]]. Thereafter, King Viserys indulged Rhaenyra by naming Criston her personal [[sworn shield]]. In {{Date|105}}, the twenty-three-year-old Criston became a member of the Kingsguard, taking the place of the legendary Ser [[Ryam Redwyne]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Criston wore Rhaenyra's favor in [[History of Tourneys in Westeros#Great Tourney on the fifth anniversary of King Viserys I and Queen Alicent's marriage|a tournament]] in {{Date|111}} where he unhorsed Ser [[Gwayne Hightower]], younger brother and champion to King Viserys's second wife and queen, [[Alicent Hightower]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Half a year later, Daemon departed the capital after quarreling with his royal brother. According to [[Mushroom]], Daemon had given explicit lessons to Rhaenyra so that she could seduce the noble Criston. When Rhaenyra finally approached the knight, however, the horrified Criston rejected the girl.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===Lord Commander===
[[File:Criston Cole.jpeg|thumb|left|Criston, by Enife ©]]
When Ser [[Harrold Westerling]], [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]], died in {{date|112}}, Criston was named his successor to lead the white cloaks.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|113}}, King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] arranged for his reluctant daughter [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], [[Princess of Dragonstone]], to wed Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]]. According to Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], Criston slipped into Rhaenyra's bedchamber to confess his love, offering to abscond with her to one of the [[Free Cities]] where he would pledge his sword to some merchant prince. Rhaenyra refused him, however, saying a [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] was meant to be more than the wife of a [[sellsword]], and that if he could forget his Kingsguard vows, he could forget marriage vows.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} According to [[Mushroom]], however, it was Rhaenyra who unsuccessfully attempted to seduce Criston in [[White Sword Tower]]. The spurned princess took solace in Ser [[Harwin Strong]], called Breakbones. Whatever the way of it, Criston went from being her staunchest defender to her bitterest foe, and Rhaenyra soon left for [[Driftmark]] with Harwin as her new sworn shield.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|114}}, Ser Criston attended the wedding of Rhaenyra to Laenor, which included seven days of feasting and jousting. He fought with Queen [[Alicent Hightower]]'s token, and during a melee left Harwin with a broken collarbone and shattered elbow, prompting Mushroom to call him "Brokenbones" thereafter. Criston's morningstar also cracked the helm of Laenor's favorite, Ser [[Joffrey Lonmouth]], which the Knight of Kisses died from six days later. While many were angered at Criston for this, including King Viserys, Queen Alicent did not share their displeasure, and asked that he be made her personal sworn shield. Criston became a staunch supporter of Alicent and a member of the [[greens]] ever after.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Criston tutored Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] to be a skilled swordsman, despite Aemond's one eye.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===The Dance of the Dragons===
:{{Main|Dance of the Dragons}}
====Aegon II====
[[File:Aegon II crowned.jpg|thumb|[[Aegon II Targaryen]] is crowned by Criston, by Douglas Wheatley ©]]
When King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] died in {{Date|129}}, Criston and Queen [[Alicent Hightower]] assembled the [[small council]] to discuss the succession, keeping the king's death a secret from the public. Criston objected to [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], [[Princess of Dragonstone]], or her husband, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], holding power, and he also repeated the rumor that Rhaenyra's children from Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]] were [[bastard]]s. Instead of Rhaenrya, the [[greens]] wanted to crown her younger half-brother, Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon the Elder]]. According to Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], Criston cut the throat of Lord [[Lyman Beesbury]], the only councilor to support Rhaenyra, while [[Mushroom]] claims that Criston instead flung Lyman to his death from a window; neither Eustace or Mushroom was present at the meeting, however.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

Any [[blacks]] who remained at court were taken by Criston into custody. When Criston went to Aegon to convince the prince to ascend the [[Iron Throne]], Mushroom wrote that Criston found him with a young girl in [[Flea Bottom]], while Eustace claimed Aegon was in a more respectable situation with the daughter of a trader. According to the septon, Criston told the prince that he and his siblings would be killed by Rhaenyra if he did not claim the Iron Throne.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

During Aegon's coronation in the [[Dragonpit]], Criston placed the crown of [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] on the young king's head.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Criston became known as the Kingmaker due to his support of Aegon II.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}{{Ref|AFFC|16}}

====Hand of the King====
[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], who was at [[Dragonstone]] at the time of [[Aegon II Targaryen]]'s coronation, refused to support her half-brother, beginning the great armed conflict which engulfed the Seven Kingdoms and became known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Many of the lords of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] were aware of [[Viserys I Targaryen]]'s wish to have Rhaenyra succeed him as [[House Targaryen]]'s first ruling queen, and threw their support behind the princess. As the [[blacks]] gathered their forces and allies, Aegon II became frustrated with Ser [[Otto Hightower]], his grandfather and [[Hand of the King]], and instead awarded the office to Criston.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

In response to [[Blood (the butcher)|Blood]] and [[Cheese (the rat-catcher)|Cheese]] having killed young Prince [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys Targaryen]], the new Hand ordered a reluctant Ser [[Arryk Cargyll]] of the [[Kingsguard]] to infiltrate Dragonstone in the guise of his twin, Ser [[Erryk Cargyll]], who was supporting Rhaenyra on the island. Grand Maester [[Munkun]] believed that Criston wanted Arryk to assassinate Rhaenyra herself, while Mushroom wrote that Arryk was supposed to kill Rhaenyra's sons, [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] and [[Joffrey Velaryon]]. Criston's scheme faltered when Arryk and Erryk came face to face, however, and the twins killed each other in combat.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Criston marched on [[Rosby]] and [[Stokeworth]] and forced their levies to join his host of [[greens]], and he then led the [[sack of Duskendale]]. The Kingmaker was prepared for the arrival of Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] and [[Meleys]] at the [[Battle at Rook's Rest]], having planned for King Aegon II Targaryen on [[Sunfyre]] and Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] on [[Vhagar]] to wait in ambush. Rhaenys and Meleys were killed in the fighting, and Aegon was left crippled as well. Aemond and Criston killed the garrison of Rook's Rest and carried the head of [[Lord Staunton]] back to [[King's Landing]]. When Aemond became [[Protector of the Realm]] and [[Regent|Prince Regent]] because of Aegon's injuries, Criston remained Hand.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

====Harrenhal====
Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] and Criston desired to retake [[Harrenhal]] from Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], the husband of Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], who had gathered an army of [[rivermen]] to the great castle. While Lord [[Jason Lannister]] marched toward the [[Gods Eye]] with a host of [[westermen]] in support of King [[Aegon II Targaryen]], Criston departed [[King's Landing]] with another four thousand greens and Aemond on [[Vhagar]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Jason was killed in the [[Battle at the Red Fork]], however, and his westermen struggled on under Lord [[Humfrey Lefford]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

After defeating Ser [[Oswald Wode]] and Lords [[Lord Darry (Dance)|Darry]] and [[House Roote|Roote]] by the shores of the Gods Eye, Criston's host found Harrenhal to have been abandoned by the [[blacks]] when they finally arrived at the castle. Aemond saw it as a great victory, but he was outraged upon learning that Daemon had flown away on [[Caraxes]] to aid Rhaenyra with the [[fall of King's Landing]]. Meanwhile, Humfrey's [[House Lannister|Lannister]] host was shattered in the [[Battle by the Lakeshore]] by the rivermen and the [[Winter Wolves]]. In response to the blacks' victories, Criston urged Aemond to retreat south and join the host of greens led by Lord [[Ormund Hightower]] and Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron Targaryen]]. Aemond refused, however, and decided to instead burn the [[riverlands]] with Vhagar's [[dragonflame]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

====Butcher's Ball====
Criston marched south from [[Harrenhal]] with his remaining host of thirty-six-hundred greens to meet the [[House Hightower|Hightower]] host, traveling along the western shore of the [[Gods Eye]]. The [[blacks]] destroyed villages and befouled waters on his line of march, denying supplies to the [[greens]]. [[Rivermen]] such as young [[Benjicot Blackwood]], [[Lord of Raventree]],{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} harried Criston's host as they marched south, and a dozen greens were killed at [[Crossed Elms]] in an ambush planned by [[Black Trombo]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

While marching from the Gods Eye to the [[Blackwater Rush]], Criston's surviving host was met at a ridge by an army of thousands of blacks led by Ser [[Garibald Grey]], Ser [[Pate of Longleaf]], and [[Roderick Dustin]], [[Lord of Barrowton]]. Criston offered to yield if the blacks would spare the lives of his men, but he was refused. When Criston then challenged all three of his counterparts, Pate had [[Robb Rivers]] and his archers strike down the Kingmaker with three arrows. Hundreds of Criston's men were then killed by the rivermen and [[Winter Wolves]] in the ensuing [[Butcher's Ball]] in {{Date|130}}. Garibald and Pate brought Criston's head on a spear to the [[First Battle of Tumbleton]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

Criston was eventually succeeded as [[Hand of the King]] by Lord [[Cregan Stark]], who served briefly,{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} and as [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]] by Ser [[Willis Fell]], with both men serving [[Aegon III Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

==Legacy==
Criston's motives in supporting [[Aegon II Targaryen]] in the [[Dance of the Dragons]] are unclear. Some say that he acted from ambition as Aegon was more controllable than his willful half-sister, [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], and that Rhaenyra's spurning of him added a personal dimension to the conflict.{{Ref|AFFC|13}} Others allow Criston nobler motives and claim he was defending ancient [[Andal]] custom giving precedence to sons over daughters,{{Ref|AFFC|13}} or that he did not wish to see Rhaenyra's children whom he believed to be [[House Strong|Strong]] bastards—[[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]], [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]], and [[Joffrey Velaryon]]—to inherit the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} Criston is remembered as embodying some of the best and worst aspects of the [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|AFFC|16}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Feast for Crows''===
Trying to gain Ser [[Arys Oakheart]] of the [[Kingsguard]] for her plot to crown Princess [[Myrcella Baratheon]], Princess [[Arianne Martell]] tells Arys that [[Anders Yronwood]], [[Lord of Yronwood]], is Criston Cole reborn, as Arianne believes that Anders supports her younger brother, Prince [[Quentyn Martell]]. Arys recalls a rumor that Criston had been Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s lover before he joined the Kingsguard.{{Ref|AFFC|13}}

While showing Ser [[Loras Tyrell]] the [[White Book]], Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], the [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]], mentions the controversial Criston.{{Ref|AFFC|16}}

==Quotes by Criston==
{{Quote|[[Faith of the Seven|Seven]] save [[Seven Kingdoms|this realm]] if we seat [[Jacaerys Velaryon|a bastard]] on the [[Iron Throne]]. [[Blacks|They]] will turn the [[Red Keep]] into a brothel. No man's daughter will be safe, nor any man's wife. Even the boys ... we know what [[Laenor Velaryon|Laenor]] was.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}|Criston to the [[small council]] of [[Viserys I Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|'''Aegon''': My new [[Hand of the King|Hand]] is a steel fist. We are done with writing letters. 
'''Criston''': It is not for you to plead for support from your [[lord]]s, like a beggar pleading for alms. You are the lawful [[king]] of [[Westeros]], and those who deny it are traitors. It is past time they learned the price of treason.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}|[[Aegon II Targaryen]] and Criston}}

{{Quote|We can begin here, the four of us. One of me against the three of you. Will that be enough to [[Butcher's Ball|make a fight of it]]?{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}|Criston to [[Garibald Grey]], [[Pate of Longleaf]], and [[Roderick Dustin]]}}

==Quotes about Criston==
{{Quote|My white knight.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|Ser Criston protects [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|the princess]] from her enemies, but who protects the princess from Ser Criston?{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|[[Alicent Hightower]] to the court of [[Viserys I Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|When he looks at you, he sees the little girl you were, not the woman you've become, but I can teach you how to make him see you as a woman.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|[[Daemon Targaryen]] to [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], according to [[Mushroom]]}}

{{Quote|I saved my [[maiden]]head for you. Take it now, as proof of my love. It will mean little and less to [[Laenor Velaryon|my betrothed]], and perhaps when he learns that I am not chaste he will refuse me.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] to Criston, according to [[Mushroom]]}}

{{Quote|I'll have no songs about how brave you died, Kingmaker. There's tens o' thousands dead on your account.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}|[[Pate of Longleaf]] to Criston}}

{{Quote|Criston the Kingmaker had set brother against sister and divided the [[Kingsguard]] against itself, bringing on the terrible war the singers named the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|AFFC|13}}|thoughts of [[Arys Oakheart]]}}

{{Quote|'''Loras''': The heroes will always be remembered. The best. 
'''Jaime''': The best and the worst. And a few who were a bit of both. Like him. 
'''Loras''': Who? Ten black pellets on a scarlet field. I do not know [[House Cole|those arms]]. 
'''Jaime''': They belonged to Criston Cole, who served the [[Viserys I Targaryen|first Viserys]] and the [[Aegon II Targaryen|second Aegon]]. They called him Kingmaker.{{Ref|AFFC|16}}|[[Loras Tyrell]] and [[Jaime Lannister]]}}

==Behind the Scenes==
Criston may be a homage by [[George R. R. Martin]] to [[w:Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick|Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick]], who is remembered as Warwick the Kingmaker for having supported first [[w:Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] and then [[w:Henry VI of England|Henry VI]] as King of England during the [[w:Wars of the Roses|Wars of the Roses]].

==References==
{{References}}

{{Kingsguard of Viserys I}}
{{Kingsguard of Aegon II}}
{{Lords Commander of the Kingsguard}}
{{Hands of the King}}
{{Viserys I small council}}
{{Aegon II small council}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Criston}}
[[Category:House Cole|Criston Cole]]
[[Category:Casualties of the Dance of the Dragons]]
[[Category:Characters from the Stormlands]]
[[Category:Greens]]
[[Category:Hands of the King]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:Lords Commander of the Kingsguard]]
[[Category:Members of the Kingsguard]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon II Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Sworn shields]]

[[es:Criston Cole]]
[[fr:Criston Cole]]
[[nl:Christan Coolsch]]
[[pt:Criston Cole]]
[[ru:Кристон Коль]]
[[zh:克里斯顿·科尔]]

Terrence Celtigar

2022-09-19T16:34:19Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Game|type=cyanide}}
{{Character
| Character_name = [[File:House Celtigar.svg|50px|left]] Terrence Celtigar [[File:Night's Watch.svg|50px|right]]
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]
| Allegiance = [[House Celtigar]] [[Night's Watch]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books =
| coat-of-arms =
}}

Ser '''Terrence Celtigar''' is a member of [[House Celtigar]] and is a new recruit to the [[Night's Watch]] in the video game ''[[Game of Thrones (2012 video game)|Game of Thrones]]''. He is put under the command of [[Mors Westford]] by [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]] [[Jeor Mormont]].<ref>''[[Game of Thrones (2012 video game)|Game of Thrones]]''</ref>

==Appearance and Character==
Terrence is a young cocky [[knight]], who is very proud, and not happy about having to be around the criminals that make up much of the [[Night's Watch]].

==References==
{{references}}

[[Category:House Celtigar]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Celtigar, Terrence]]
[[Category:Members of the Night's Watch|Celtigar, Terrence]]
[[Category:Nobles|Celtigar, Terrence]]
[[Category:Knights|Celtigar, Terrence]]

Black council

2022-09-19T16:32:40Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Organization
| Name = Black council
| image = [[File:House Targaryen (Rhaenyra).svg|250px|center]]
| image_caption = The sigil of [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
| Symbol =
| Type = Council
| Seat = [[Dragonstone]] [[Red Keep]] (briefly)
| Region = [[Westeros]]
| Allegiance = [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
| Current_Leader =
| Founder = Rhaenyra Targaryen
| Founded = {{Date|129}}
| Disbanded = {{Date|130}}
| Reorganized =
}}

The '''black council''' was a version of the [[small council]] which advised [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. Formed at the start of the civil war, the [[Blacks|black]] council's main composition was:{{Ref|tpatq}}
*[[File:House Targaryen (Rhaenyra).svg|25px]] Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
*[[File:House Targaryen.svg|25px]] Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]]
*[[File:House Velaryon.svg|25px]] Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]
*[[File:House Targaryen.svg|25px]] Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]]
*[[File:House Velaryon.svg|25px]] Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]
*[[File:House Velaryon.svg|25px]] Prince [[Lucerys Velaryon]]
*[[File:House Velaryon.svg|25px]] Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]] 

Also a dozen lesser lords, bannermen and vassals of [[Dragonstone]], among them:
*[[File:House Celtigar.svg|25px]] Lord [[Bartimos Celtigar]] of [[Claw Isle]]
*[[File:House Staunton.svg|25px]] Lord [[Lord Staunton|Staunton]] of [[Rook's Rest]]
*[[File:House Massey.svg|25px]] Lord [[Gormon Massey]] of [[Stonedance]]
*[[File:House Bar Emmon.svg|25px]] Lord [[House Bar Emmon|Bar Emmon]] of [[Sharp Point]]
*[[File:House Darklyn.svg|25px]] Lord [[Gunthor Darklyn]] of [[Duskendale]]

After the [[Fall of King's Landing]], Rhaenyra took the [[Iron Throne]] and named several members to her [[small council]].

*[[File:House Velaryon.svg|25px]] Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] was named the [[Hand of the King|Hand of the Queen]]
*[[File:Maester.svg|25px]] Maester [[Gerardys]] was named her [[Grand Maester]]
*[[File:House Celtigar.svg|25px]] Lord [[Bartimos Celtigar]] was named [[master of coin]]
*[[Mysaria]] was unofficially the [[Master of whisperers|mistress of whisperers]]

==Quotes==
{{Quote|And so [[Dance of the Dragons|the dance began]], as the princess called a council of her own. "The [[Blacks|black]] council", setting it against the "[[greens|green council]]" of [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}|[[Archmaester]] [[Gyldayn]]}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Blacks| ]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Small council]]

[[es:Consejo Negro]]
[[fa:شورای سیاه]]
[[fr:Noirs (faction)#Membres du Conseil Noir]]
[[pt:Conselho Negro]]
[[ru:Чёрные]]

Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aerys II)

2022-09-18T20:16:22Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = Jaehaerys Targaryen
| arms = [[File:House Targaryen.svg|50px]]
| image =
| image_caption =
| Alias =
| Title = [[Prince]]
| Allegiance = [[House Targaryen]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = [[Aerys II Targaryen]]
| Mother = [[Rhaella Targaryen]]
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|274}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|274}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)
| Coat-of-arms =
}}

{{See homonyms|Jaehaerys Targaryen}}

Prince '''Jaehaerys Targaryen''' was the fourthborn son of King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] and Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}

==History==
Jaehaerys's birth in {{Date|274}} seemed to abate the [[Targaryen madness|madness]] that was rising in King [[Aerys II Targaryen]], who was so joyful he seemed to become as he had been in his youth. Jaehaerys died later in the same year, though, causing Aerys to despair. The rageful king blamed the prince's death on his [[wet nurse]] and had her beheaded.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}

Later deciding that the royal mistress, the [[Aerys II Targaryen's last mistress|daughter]] of a [[household knight]], had [[poison]]ed his son, Aerys [[torture]]d the girl and her family to death. The entire family admitted to the murder, though their confessions differed greatly. This led to Aerys fasting for a fortnight, making a walk of repentance, and praying with the [[High Septon (Aerys II)|High Septon]], before announcing that he would remain loyal to Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}

==Family==
{{Targaryen tree now}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:House Targaryen]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Targaryen, Jaehaerys]]
[[Category:Deaths by poison|Targaryen, Jaehaerys]]
[[Category:Deaths in infancy|Targaryen, Jaehaerys]]
[[Category:Members of Aerys II Targaryen's court|Targaryen, Jaehaerys]]
[[Category:Nobles|Targaryen, Jaehaerys]]

[[es:Jaehaerys Targaryen, hijo de Aerys II]]
[[fr:Jaehaerys Targaryen (fils d'Aerys II)]]

Jon Snow/Theories

2022-09-11T16:54:24Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Theory_Policy}}

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.{{Ref|aGoT|41}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|6}} the likelihood that neither of his parents is a [[House Stark|Stark]] appears small. As such, besides Eddard, the fandom has frequently suggested either Eddard’s older brother [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] or younger sister [[Lyanna Stark|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.”<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040 Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> Daenerys Targaryen, in turn, was born nine months after her mother [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] and brother [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] fled [[King’s Landing]] at the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|aGoT|3}} Rhaella and Viserys fled at some point during the two-week period<ref group="N">Rossart was Hand for two weeks ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]). He was appointed after the Battle of the Trident ([[The World of Ice & Fire]], The Fall of the Dragons: The End) and died during the Sack of King’s Landing ([[A Feast for Crows]], [[A Feast for Crows-Chapter 11|Jaime II]]).</ref> between the [[Battle of the Trident]] and the [[Sack of King’s Landing]].{{Ref|twoiaf| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} This information indicates that Jon was born towards the end of the rebellion. As the rebellion lasted "close to a year",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} 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.{{Ref|AGOT|6}} [[Cersei Lannister]], when confronting Eddard about his bastard son, offers several possibilities for Jon's mother, including Ashara.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}

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''".{{Ref|asos|43}} 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''".{{Ref|aSoS|43}} [[Meera Reed|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.{{Ref|aSoS|24}}

Besides the tourney in {{Date|281}}, 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.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Dorne: The Andals Arrive}} Some time afterwards, Ashara jumped from the top of the Palestone Sword, one of the towers of Starfall, into the sea.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} Several reasons are given for Ashara's motivation: a broken heart,{{Ref|ASOS|43}} because of her stillborn daughter,{{Ref|ADWD|67}} because of a stolen child,{{Ref|AGOT|45}} or due to grief over Arthur's death.{{Ref|ASOS|43}} Her body was never found.<ref name="ssm">[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1116 Soms Questions (August 23, 2000)]</ref>

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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}
* 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]],{{Ref|aGoT|6}}{{Ref|aDwD|67}} would be a good candidate for the "rare wench".
* At the tourney at Harrenhal, Ashara is said to have "looked" at "Stark",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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 {{Date|281}}, and following the conclusion of [[Robert's Rebellion]] in late {{Date|283}}. [[Barristan Selmy]] implies that Ashara's childbirth took place not long before her suicide,{{Ref|adwd|67}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} 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",<ref name="ssm2">[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1040/ Chronology (July 11, 1999)]</ref> 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.{{Ref|aSoS|43}} 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,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} and when his son [[Robb Stark|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.{{Ref|aSoS|14}}{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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",{{Ref|aSoS|19}} 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.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
*[[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.{{Ref|Adwd|67}} 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 [[House Dayne|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.<ref group="N" name=BAJ>229 out of 9115 votes (2.5%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

====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"''.{{Ref|aDwD|41}} As Eddard was too shy to even speak with Ashara at the tourney,{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and Benjen 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,{{Ref|aDwD|41}} and although he had been betrothed to [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]] by the time of the tourney for several years,<ref group="N">Catelyn and Brandon were betrothed when Catelyn was twelve years old (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 6|Catelyn II]]). As Catelyn was born in either {{Date|264}} or {{Date|265}}, they were betrothed in either {{Date|276}}, {{Date|277}}, or {{Date|278}}.</ref> Barbrey claims Brandon "never wanted" the marriage.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}
** [[Barristan Selmy]] recalls that Ashara had been "dishonored" by a man at Harrenhal, although he does not reveal the man's identity.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} 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''",{{Ref|aDwD|67}} suggesting Ashara turned to one of the Starks after the final tilts had taken place.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} By the account as told by [[Meera Reed]], [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], and [[Benjen Stark]] were all present during the tourney.{{Ref|aSoS|24}} 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, as does Selmy's lack of animus towards Eddard, whose character he attempts to defend to Daenerys Targaryen.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments are most frequently cited:
*According to [[George R. R. Martin]], "Brandon died before he had sons".<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Asshai.com_Interview_in_Barcelona/ Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona (July 28, 2012)]</ref>
**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,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert’s Rebellion}} 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,{{Ref|aCoK|55}} making it unlikely he impregnated a woman during this time.
*There's no known reason Eddard Stark would feel compelled to lie about Jon's parentage and put the resulting strain on his own marriage if Jon were Brandon and Ashara's son, as there's no known threat this information would pose to Jon's life.

==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".{{Ref|aGoT|12}} According to Robert, Wylla was a "common girl",{{Ref|aGoT|12}} while [[Sansa Stark]] heard whispers that Jon's mother "had been common",{{Ref|aGoT|15}} and [[Cersei Lannister]] mentions "some [[Dornish]] peasant" as Jon's potential mother.{{Ref|AGOT|45}} Lord [[Edric Dayne]] of Starfall tells [[Arya Stark]] that Jon's mother is [[Wylla]], whom he identifies as his own former wetnurse, who served at [[Starfall]] "''for years and years''", since before Edric's birth.{{Ref|aSoS|43}}

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 Stark|Catelyn Tully]].

==The fisherman's daughter==
During [[Robert's Rebellion]] [[Eddard Stark]] traveled from the [[Vale of Arryn]] to the [[north]]. Eddard crossed the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]] and hired a fisherman to bring him to [[White Harbor]] with a boat. However, they were caught by a storm on the [[Bite]] and the fisherman drowned. The fisherman's daughter brought Eddard to the [[Three Sisters]]. According to Lord [[Godric Borrell]], it is said that Eddard "''left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly''". Lord Borrell claims the fisherman's daughter named her bastard Jon Snow, after [[Jon Arryn]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}}

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this story are most frequently cited:
*While the story as Lord Borrell tells it claims the fisherman's daughter had given Jon his name,{{Ref|aDwD|9}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that Jon had "most like" been named by Eddard Stark.<Ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1202/ Numerous Questions (February 28, 2002)]</ref>
*If Eddard had fathered Jon on the fisherman's daughter, he would have done so before his marriage to [[Catelyn Stark|Cately Tully]]. However, this would mean Eddard lied, for no apparent reason, when he claimed that he had fathered Jon after his wedding.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} In addition, if the fisherman's daughter is Jon's mother, Eddard has no reason to keep her identity a secret.

==Lyanna Stark==
===Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen===
The most popular theory regarding the identity of [[Jon Snow]]'s mother is [[Lyanna Stark]], with Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] for his father.<ref group="N" name=RLJ>8690 out of 9115 votes (95.0%) during a poll held in 2015 across five platforms (Results: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faJx4pvYnKHZu8Wdw9LKEHSuuf4IVnOrVRukWwv1sA4/viewanalytics# Reddit], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wwDjAvyKgrOW6PIuFDMHrhaMnNjWbMeyj3fYUoj1E5A/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Westeros.org], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1A77zgkXxVeeU7J7CA1e5h0aF5sJw7UmYa1z2kG13Bpo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Tower of the Hand], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgwBVijTxdyXbQ2z1e4fjI8gchEUI2sVEBol__csumc/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Watchers on the Wall], [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1omstJHPpewu-jp6bIeuU5UikzWxWppkU3hqWc1UPiDo/viewanalytics#start=publishanalytics Facebook]).</ref>

Lyanna was [[Eddard Stark]]'s younger sister, who was betrothed to [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|35}} In {{Date|281}}, Lyanna was present at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]], where she was crowned the [[queen of love and beauty]] by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.{{Ref|AGOT|58}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} The next year, Lyanna came face to face with Rhaegar ten leagues from [[Harrenhal]],{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} and was abducted by him{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} at swordpoint,{{Ref|aDwD|43}} according to a semi-canon source with the aid of Ser [[Arthur Dayne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]], two knights of his father's [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Rhaegar Targaryen}} When her brother Brandon learned about this, he rode to [[King's Landing]], where he was arrested and charged with treason. King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] summoned Lyanna's father [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] to court, and subsequently had both Brandon and Rickard killed. Lord [[Jon Arryn]]'s response to Aerys's next demanded started [[Robert's Rebellion]],{{Ref|ACOK|55}}{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} which lasted "close to a year".

Lyanna was found by Eddard after the war had ended at the [[tower of joy]].{{ref|agot|39}} Eddard was by her side when she died, in a bed that smelled "of blood and roses".{{Ref|agot|4}} Shortly before her death, fearing something unknown, Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard brought Lyanna's remains home to [[Winterfell]].{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aDwD|41}}

The theory proposes that Jon is Lyanna's son by Rhaegar Targaryen, Lyanna's abductor. Rhaegar, who had been married to [[Elia Martell]], had two children by his wife, but following the birth of his second child, the [[maesters]] informed him that Elia could have no more children.{{Ref|aDwD|61}} [[Kevan Lannister]] believes that Rhaegar abducted Lyanna because he wanted more sons,{{Ref|aDwD|72}}{{Ref|aDwD|epilogue}} while Robert believes that Rhaegar raped Lyanna "hundreds of times".{{Ref|aGoT|12}}

====Supporting evidence====
The following arguments are frequently used in favor of this theory:
* [[Blue winter rose]]s are associated in text with Lyanna, Rhaegar, death, and a newborn child:
** Lyanna was crowned by Rhaegar at the tourney at Harrenhal using "a crown of winter roses, blue as frost".{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
** While in captivity, Eddard Stark dreams of Lyanna's statue in the crypts of Winterfell, where she is wearing a garland of pale blue roses, while weeping blood.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**To Robert, Eddard states that Lyanna was fond of flowers,{{Ref|agot|4}} and to himself he thinks that she had loved the scent of winter roses.{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
**As she is dying, rose petals spill from Lyanna's palm, dead and black.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
**During a fever dream about the [[combat at the tower of joy]], Eddard dreams of a storm of rose petals blowing across a blood-streaked sky, "as blue as the eyes of death", while hearing Lyanna call out to him.{{Ref|aGoT|39}}
**Theon has a prophetic-like dream in which he sees Lyanna, who had never known personally, in a gown spattered with gore wearing a crown of pale blue roses.{{Ref|aCoK|56}}
**When [[Cersei Lannister]] tells Eddard how Robert whispered Lyanna's name in her ear during their wedding night, Eddard thinks of pale blue roses and wants to weep.{{Ref|aGoT|45}}
** While at the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of a blue flower growing in a wall of ice,{{Ref|aCoK|48}} which would symbolize Jon Snow at the Wall.
** According to legend, [[Bael the Bard]] climbed the [[Wall]], and traveled to [[Winterfell]] pretending to be a singer with a harp. There, he impressed Lord [[Brandon Stark (the daughterless)|Brandon Stark]], and was allowed to choose a reward. He requested the most beautiful flower blooming in Winterfell's gardens, and Lord Brandon agreed to offer him the most of his blue winter roses. The following morning, Bael was found to have disappeared with Lord Brandon's only daughter, a young maiden, having left the blue winter rose behind in her bed. The girl was found by Lord Stark again a year later, with the babe Bael had fathered on her, having hid in the crypts of Winterfell all that time.{{Ref|ACOK|51}}
***The parallel with Bael is Rhaegar, also royalty, a singer{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and harpist,{{Ref|aCoK|63}}{{Ref|aSoS|8}} who gave blue winter roses to a Stark and took Lord Stark's (Rickard's) only maiden daughter (Lyanna), only for her to be eventually found again by Lord Stark (by now her brother, Eddard), according to the theory with a newborn babe (Jon).
*Eddard found Lyanna dying, stricken with a fever which had taken all of her strength,{{Ref|aGoT|4}} in her "bed of blood".{{Ref|aGoT|39}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} The terms "beds of blood and pain"{{Ref|aFfC|1}} and "bloody bed"{{Ref|aGoT|61}} are used in further text to refer to childbirth, giving the impression that Lyanna's "bed of blood" might likewise be connected to childbirth.
*Jon is said to resemble [[Arya Stark]] in appearance.{{Ref|aGoT|7}}{{Ref|aGoT|15}} Arya is said to look like Lyanna,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} thereby linking Jon's appearance to Lyanna's. The statement made by [[Tyrion Lannister]] that Jon looks so much like a Stark, and that "''whoever his mother had been, she had left little of herself in her son.''", would be most ironic if Jon's Stark parent was indeed Lyanna, and not Eddard.
*According to [[Catelyn Stark]], Eddard must have loved Jon's mother fiercely.{{Ref|agot|6}} Eddard himself recalls how he had "loved [Lyanna] with all his heart".{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
*As she was dying, a fearful Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard, and was only reassured when he gave her his word.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Eddard recalls Lyanna whispering "promise me, Ned" frequently throughout the story,{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|47}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}} and at one point thinks back to "''the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them''".{{Ref|aGoT|35}} At some point, Eddard recalls Robert ordering the pregnant [[Daenerys Targaryen]] slain, as well as how Robert had turned away from the corpses of the brutally murdered young children of Prince Rhaegar's by Elia Martell during the war, as well as turning away when [[Sansa Stark]]'s innocent [[direwolf]] pup [[Lady]] was ordered executed. Sansa's pleading for the life of her pup makes him think of Lyanna's pleading.{{Ref|aGoT|20}} That Robert either ordering the death of Targaryen children, or approving of the death of Targaryen children, and Robert being willing to allow an innocent pup to be killed evoke the memory of Lyanna's pleas, could suggest that Lyanna made Eddard promise to keep her child by Rhaegar safe. After all, according to [[Tywin Lannister]] "''Robert's hatred for Rhaegar was scarcely a secret''"{{Ref|aSoS|53}} and according to Eddard, even fifteen years after Rhaegar's death by Robert's hand, Robert still hates him just as much as when he was still alive.{{Ref|aGoT|33}} In addition, Robert considered Rhaegar's young children to be "dragonspawn", and saw no issue in their deaths.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} The idea that Lyanna would fear for the life of her child by Rhaegar is more than valid, and Eddard's line of thought regarding Lyanna's promise and her pleas is argued to favor this idea. In addition, it provides Eddard with the motivation to lie about Jon's parentage, even to his new wife.
*At the end of Robert's Rebellion, Eddard travels with six companions to the [[tower of joy]], where they encounter three [[Kingsguard]] knights guarding the tower where Lyanna resides: Lord Commander [[Gerold Hightower]], [[Oswell Whent]], and [[Arthur Dayne]].{{Ref|aGoT|39}} In Eddard's fever dream, the three white cloaks reaffirm their loyalty to [[House Targaryen]], before engaging in combat with the northmen.{{Ref|aGoT|39}} A Kingsguard's duty is defending the king and obeying his commands. The king might decide to extend Kingsguard protection to others in his family, or even their mistresses and bastards.{{Ref|aDwD|55}} The presence of the three Kingsguard knights at the tower where Lyanna was being kept has been taken to mean by supporters of the theory that Rhaegar's child by Lyanna was present at the tower. Eddard Stark considered Arthur Dayne "the finest knight" he ever saw, "a marvel, a shining lesson to the world" years after Arthur's death,{{Ref|aCoK|21}} implying that Eddard considers Arthur's (and by default Oswell's and Gerold's) reasons for being at the tower in line with his Kingsguard vows, indicating they acted on orders given to them by a Targaryen.
**Some supporters of the theory have even suggested the presence of the Kingsguard knights implies that Lyanna's child is considered the heir to the Iron Throne following the deaths of Aerys and Rhaegar. In this scenario, Rhaegar and Lyanna had wed before he returned to King's Landing. The Targaryen tradition of [[polygamy|polygamous]] marriages would allow for this possibility.
**Arthur Dayne's presence makes it plausible that Wylla, known to serve House Dayne as a wetnurse, was also present at the tower as a wetnurse provided by Arthur for Lyanna's child, explaining why Robert Baratheon and Edric Dayne were told Wylla was Jon's mother.
*Rhaegar's motivation for taking Lyanna have been argued to have two possibilities: either because he loved Lyanna, as argued by [[Daenerys Targaryen]],{{Ref|AGOT|3}}{{Ref|aGoT|64}} [[Barristan Selmy]],{{Ref|aDwD|67}} and singers,{{Ref|aFfC|31}} or due to prophecy. Prophecy undeniably played an important role in Rhaegar's motivations for his actions.{{Ref|aSoS|8}}{{Ref|aFfC|35}} In the [[House of the Undying]], Daenerys sees a vision of Rhaegar with his wife Elia shortly after the birth of their son [[Aegon VI Targaryen|Aegon]]. Rhaegar proclaims that "there must be one more" because "the dragon has three heads".{{Ref|aCoK|48}} Given that the maesters told Rhaegar after Aegon's birth that his wife Elia could have no more children,{{Ref|aDwD|61}} Rhaegar could have attempted to fulfill the prophecy by having a third child with another woman. The fact that Rhaegar named the tower the "tower of joy"{{Ref|aGoT|39}} would fit with both interpretations: either joy over being with the woman he loved, or joy over fulfilling the prophecy.
**Eddard's proclamation of Lyanna's character{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and her "wolf blood", which he claims brought her to an early grave,{{Ref|aGoT|22}} could suggest Lyanna had not gone with Rhaegar against her will, although others have suggested it instead refers to [[Knight of the Laughing Tree/Theories|another theory]].
*Bran sees a vision of his father, much younger than he had ever known him, praying in front of the weirwood tree in Winterfell's godswood, saying "''… let them grow up close as brothers, with only love between them. And let my lady wife find it in her heart to forgive …''"{{Ref|aDwD|34}} Readers have suggested that this is Eddard after his return to Winterfell following Robert's Rebellion, referring to Robb and Jon with "let them grow up close as brothers", which would mean that the two boys are not brothers. Furthermore, besides his supposed affair during the first year of his marriage, the novels mention nothing that Eddard has done that could possibly require Catelyn's forgiveness.

====Counter-evidence====
The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which are not connected to the text in the novels:
* It is obvious.<ref name=westeros/>
* It is cliche.<ref name=westeros>westeros.org: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_are_Jon_Snows_parents The Citadel - FAQ: Who are Jon Snow's parents?]</ref>
* It makes Daenerys unimportant.<ref name=westeros/>
* It romanticizes Rhaegar and Lyanna.<ref name=westeros/>

The following counter-arguments against this theory are most frequently cited which refer to the text in the novels:
* Eddard Stark claims he "found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen" for "the first time in years",{{Ref|aGoT|35}} which is considered odd if he had been raising Rhaegar's bastard son for years.
** Eddard speaks of Rhaegar in earlier chapters,{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|aGoT|30}}{{Ref|aGoT|33}} and thinks about Rhaegar the chapter ''before'' the claim "for the first time in years" is made.{{Ref|aGoT|33}}
* If Eddard is not Jon's father, he has no reason to keep Jon's parentage a secret from his wife. Instead, he kept the identity of Jon's mother a secret, which caused a strain in his marriage to Catelyn.{{Ref|aGoT|6}}
** The danger Jon could be in if it was discovered that his father was Rhaegar Targaryen was not insignificant, and Eddard barely knew his wife. It would not be odd that he had kept the secret from her. Keeping Catelyn out of his secret meant keeping her from committing treason, and thus keeping her and their children safe, should his deceit ever be discovered. In addition, Jon could, due to his parentage, represent a danger to Catelyn's children. Even without having Catelyn being aware of Jon's parentage, Eddard wonders what choice Catelyn would make, if she would have to choose between the lives of her own children, or Jon.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}
* Eddard never thinks of Lyanna as being Jon's mother.
* Jon does not have any of the Valyrian physical traits.
** Numerous Targaryens did not look Valyrian: [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s three eldest sons, [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen]] and at least his son [[Valarr Targaryen|Valarr]], [[Aegor Rivers]] (one of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]'s bastard sons), and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]], Rhaegar's daughter by Elia.
* Eddard's honor is frequently cited,{{Ref|aGoT|42}}{{Ref|aGoT|45}}{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{Ref|aDwD|17}}{{Ref|aDwD|65}} [[Robert I Baratheon]] states that Eddard "never could lie for love nor honor",{{Ref|aGoT|30}} and [[Sansa Stark]] and [[Olenna Tyrell]] agree that Eddard had a reputation for never lying.{{Ref|aSoS|6}} Eddard personally claimed that Jon is his bastard son,{{Ref|aGoT|12}} it will be unlikely that he lied as he is too honorable to lie.
** Following the incident with [[Arya Stark|Arya]], Sansa, [[Joffrey Baratheon]], and [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]] near the [[Trident]], [[Jory Cassel]] lies and claims that Nymeria ran off.{{Ref|aGoT|16}} Eddard later informs Arya that he knows it is a lie, after which Arya confesses how she and Jory chased Nymeria away to prevent her from being killed. Eddard states that "even the lie was... not without honor".{{Ref|aGoT|22}}

==''Game of Thrones''==
{{Warning|This section discusses plot points from HBO's TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' which have not or not yet featured in the novels of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''.}}

{{Warning|Due to deviations between the books and the TV series, the situation as presented in the TV series could differ from the situation as will be revealed in the novels}}

In "[[The Winds of Winter (TV)|The Winds of Winter]]", the finale episode of the [[Season 6|sixth season]] of [[w:HBO|HBO's]] TV series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Jon is revealed to be the son of [[Lyanna Stark]] by [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. The episode reveals the promise she exacted from [[Eddard Stark]] was indeed to protect her son from [[Robert I Baratheon]], before she died at the [[tower of joy]].{{Ref|hbogot|s06e10}}

In "[[The Dragon and the Wolf]]", the finale of the [[Season 7|seventh season]], Rhaegar and Lyanna are revealed to have been married, while Rhaegar's marriage to Princess [[Elia Martell]] had been annulled, making Jon a trueborn [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] and the heir to the [[Iron Throne]] through the most senior line.{{Ref|hbogot|s07e07}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Theories]]

Aemma Arryn

2022-09-09T18:51:50Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[File:House Arryn.svg|50px|left]] Aemma Arryn [[File:House Targaryen.svg|50px|right]]
| image = [[File:Aemma Arryn.png|300px]]
| image_caption = Aemma Arryn, as depicted in ''[[Game of Thrones]]: Histories & Lore''.
| Title = Lady{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Queen{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
| Allegiance = [[House Arryn]] [[House Targaryen]]
| Predecessor = [[Alysanne Targaryen]] (queen consort)
| Successor = [[Alicent Hightower]] (queen consort)
| Race =
| Culture = [[Valemen]]
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|82}}
| Place_of_Birth = the [[Eyrie]]{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|105}}
| Place_of_Death = [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
| Father = Lord [[Rodrik Arryn]]
| Mother = Princess [[Daella Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daella Targaryen]]
| Spouse = King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]
| Issue = Unknown son [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Baelon Targaryen]]
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| Played_by = [[w:Sian Brooke|Sian Brooke]]
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]]
}}

'''Aemma Arryn''' was the queen consort and first wife of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], and a granddaughter of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] and his sister-wife, Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Aemma is portrayed by [[w:Sian Brooke|Sian Brooke]].<ref>WarnerMedia Pressroom: [https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/na/bio/house-dragon-character-descriptions House of the Dragon | Character Descriptions]</ref>

==History==
Aemma was the fifth child of Lord [[Rodrik Arryn]], and the only one by his second wife, Princess [[Daella Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daella Targaryen]], herself the daughter of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] and his sister-wife [[Alysanne Targaryen]]. Aemma's mother died in childbed. Aemma had four elder half-siblings from her father's first marriage, including her half-sisters [[Elys Arryn|Elys]] and [[Amanda Arryn|Amanda]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

Aemma married Prince [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]], her cousin, in {{Date|93}}. Upon her grandfather's death, Aemma became the queen consort of Viserys, who had been chosen as heir to the throne during the [[Great Council]] in {{Date|101}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Aemma became pregnant multiple times in the early years of her marriage. She suffered multiple miscarriages, and gave birth to a son who eventually died in the cradle. In {{Date|97}}, Aemma gave birth to a healthy daughter, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]]. Aemma and Viserys both adored their only living child.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In early {{Date|105}}, Aemma became pregnant once more. Late in the year, she gave birth to a son, Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Baelon Targaryen]]. Aemma died during the birth, and her son died a day later.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==Legacy==
Aemma's daughter [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] was chosen as heir to King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] in late {{Date|105}}, after the deaths of both Aemma and her son Baelon, and after a fall-out between King Viserys and his brother, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]]. Despite the fact that the lords of the realm swore their fealty to Princess Rhaenyra in {{Date|105}},{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Aemma's daughter, upon Viserys's death in {{Date|129}}, found herself in a struggle for the throne. Viserys had remarried after Aemma's death, and fathered four children with his new wife. The eldest of those four, Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]], had been crowned king by Lord Commander [[Criston Cole]], and Queen Regent [[Alicent Hightower]], in an attempt to overthrow Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], who, at that point, was still unaware of her father's death.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

This power struggle lead to a war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]], which caused the deaths of both Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon, as well as most of Rhaenyra's children, and Aegon's siblings and sons.{{Ref|TPATQ}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}

Aemma's daughter Rhaenyra had six children, one of them stillborn. The youngest two of Rhaenyra's living children, Princes Aegon and Viserys, would later become kings, [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]] and [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]]. It would be the line of Viserys II that continued the line of dragonkings. In addition, Aegon's daughter [[Daena Targaryen|Daena]] and Viserys's son [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]] had a bastard son together, [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon]], who would create [[House Blackfyre]].{{Ref|TPATQ}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}

==Family==
Aemma was the fifth child of Lord Rodrik Arryn of the Eyrie and the first by his second wife, Princess Daella Targaryen. Her older half-siblings were two unnamed brothers, and Elys and Amanda Arryn.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} She married Prince Viserys Targaryen and had one unnamed son, one daughter, Rhaenyra, and another son, Baelon, by him.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
===Arryn tree===
{{Arryn tree Jaehaerys I}}

===Targaryen tree===
{{Targaryen tree Dance}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{Royal consorts of Westeros}}

[[Category:House Arryn]]
[[Category:House Targaryen]]
[[Category:Characters from the Vale|Arryn, Aemma]]
[[Category:Characters in alphabetical order]]
[[Category:Deaths by childbirth|Arryn, Aemma]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court|Arryn, Aemma]]
[[Category:Noblewomen|Arryn, Aemma]]
[[Category:Royal consorts|Arryn, Aemma]]

[[es:Aemma Arryn]]
[[fr:Aemma Arryn]]
[[nl:Aemma Arryn]]
[[pt:Aemma Arryn]]
[[ru:Эйма Аррен]]
[[zh:艾玛·艾林]]

Torrhen Stark

2022-09-06T02:50:25Z

Noneofyourbusiness: typo

{{Infobox monarch
| name = [[File:House_Stark.svg|50px|left]] Torrhen Stark [[File:House_Stark.svg|50px|right]]
| image = [[File:KingTorrhen.png|300px]]
| image_caption = Torrhen Stark as depicted in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'': ''Histories & Lore''.
| reign = Ended in the [[War of Conquest]]
| coronation =
| othertitles = [[Lord of Winterfell]] (post-Conquest) [[Warden of the North]] (post-Conquest) [[King in the North]] (pre-Conquest)
| alias = The King Who Knelt
| fullname = Torrhen Stark
| predecessor = Unknown
| successor = None
| heir =
| queen =
| consort =
| spouse =
| issue = Sons{{Ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Lords of Winterfell}} [[Brandon Stark (the Boisterous)|Brandon Stark]] (possibly) At least 1 daughter{{Ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}
| royalhouse = [[House Stark]]
| father =
| mother =
| dateofbirth =
| placeofbirth =
| dateofdeath = {{Date|2|49}}
| placeofdeath =
| dateofburial =
| placeofburial = the [[crypt of Winterfell]]{{Ref|AGOT|66}}
| race = [[First Men]]
| culture = [[Northmen]]
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned) ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (mentioned) ''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (mentioned) ''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)
| Played_by =
| TV_series =
}}

'''Torrhen Stark''', known as '''the King Who Knelt''', was a head of [[House Stark]] who reigned as [[King in the North]] until [[Aegon I Targaryen]] invaded [[Westeros]] with his [[dragon]]s.{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}} He was named [[Lord of Winterfell]] and [[Warden of the North]] after submitting to Aegon during the [[War of Conquest]].{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}}

==History==
===War of Conquest===
After the [[riverlands]] and [[Storm's End]] had fallen under the control of [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]], Torrhen Stark called his banners. He was aware that, due to the vast distance of the [[North]], it would take a long time to assemble his army. After the [[Field of Fire]], whilst at [[Highgarden]], Aegon I learned that Torrhen had crossed the [[Neck]] and entered the riverlands, leading an army of thirty thousand men. Aegon I abandoned his plans to march south, and at once started his way north, racing ahead of his army on [[Balerion]]. Both [[Rhaenys Targaryen|Rhaenys]] and [[Visenya Targaryen]], as well as all the lords who had bent the knee to Aegon after Harrenhal and the Field of Fire, were sent word of this movement. So when Torrhen reached the banks of the [[Trident]], he found a host of forty-five thousand men and three dragons waiting for him.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}

[[File:The King who kneltChaseStone.png|250px|thumb|left|Torrhen Stark kneels before [[Aegon I Targaryen]]]]
Torrhen's scouts had reported seeing the ruins of [[Harrenhal]], and Torrhen had heard accounts of the [[Field of Fire]] as well. Some of his lords urged him to attack, but he realized that a similar fate would await him, if he tried to force a crossing. Others of his lords urged the King of the North to fall back to [[Moat Cailin]], to make his stand there. Torrhen's bastard half-brother, [[Brandon Snow]], offered to cross the Trident at dark, to kill the dragons.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}

In the end, Torrhen sent Brandon Snow to Aegon's camp, with three [[maesters]], to treat with Aegon. The whole night, messages went back and forth, and the next morning, Torrhen crossed the Trident, where he knelt and laid his crown at the feet of Aegon I Targaryen, and swore fealty. For his surrender, he was named the [[Lord of Winterfell]] and [[Warden of the North]].{{Ref|AGOT|66}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Ever since, Torrhen is known as ''the King Who Knelt''.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} It is unknown what Aegon did with Torrhen's crown.{{Ref|ACOK| 7}} The [[Inn of the Kneeling Man]] later arose where Torrhen had bent the knee.{{Ref|ASOS|11}}

===Reign of Aegon I===
After Torrhen's surrender, the [[Company of the Rose]], a sellsword company, was formed by men and (according to some accounts) women from the [[North]] who refused to bend the knee to [[Aegon I Targaryen]]. These men and women willingly chose exile across the [[Narrow Sea]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughter: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}}

Torrhen's sons did not agree with the [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] rule. Some of them spoke of rebelling, and raising the Stark banner.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Lords of Winterfell}} Whether Torrhen gave his consent or not is unknown. No rebellions by House Stark are known thus far.

Lord Torrhen's daughter was married to [[Ronnel Arryn (king)|Ronnel Arryn]], [[Lord of the Eyrie]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Vale: House Arryn}} This marriage had been arranged by Queen [[Rhaenys Targaryen]], as an attempt to knit the new realm together. There are letters at the [[Citadel]] which suggest that Lord Stark only agreed to this match after much protest, and that his sons had refused to attend the wedding.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Lords of Winterfell}} Lord Ronnel would be killed early in the reign of King [[Aenys I Targaryen]] by his own brother, [[Jonos Arryn|Jonos]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Vale: House Arryn}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}} It is unknown whether Torrhen's daughter was still alive at this point.

Torrhen was entombed in the [[crypts of Winterfell]] after his death.{{Ref|AGOT|66}}

==Family==
Torrhen had several sons and at least one daughter.
{{Stark tree Conquest}}

==See also==
:*[[:Category:Images of Torrhen Stark|Images of Torrhen Stark]]

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{Lords of Winterfell}}

[[Category:House Stark]]
[[Category:Characters from the North|Stark, Torrhen]]
[[Category:Kings in the North]]
[[Category:Lords of Winterfell]]
[[Category:Monarchs|Stark, Torrhen]]
[[Category:Nobles|Stark, Torrhen]]
[[Category:Statues|Stark, Torrhen]]
[[Category:Veterans of Aegon's Conquest|Stark , Torrhen]]
[[Category:Wardens|Stark, Torrhen]]

[[es:Torrhen Stark]]
[[fa:تورهن استارک]]
[[fr:Torrhen Stark]]
[[ru:Торрхен Старк]]
[[zh:托伦·史塔克]]

Valarr Targaryen

2022-08-31T02:13:02Z

Noneofyourbusiness:

{{Character
| Character_name = [[File:House Targaryen.svg|50px|left]] Valarr Targaryen [[File:House Targaryen (Valarr).svg|50px|right]]
| image = [[File:Valarr-THK.jpg| 250px]]
| image_caption = Valarr Targaryen, by Mike S. Miller
| Alias = The Young Prince{{Ref|TMK}}
| Title = [[Prince]] [[Knight|Ser]]{{Ref|THK|[[The Hedge Knight (comics)|Graphic Novel]]}} [[Hand of the King]] (possibly)<ref group="Note" name="hand">It is uncertain whether the list of the deaths of "His Grace King Daeron, sweet Matarys and bold Valarr, the Hand..." indicates that Valarr was Hand, or that King Daeron, Matarys, Valarr, and an unnamed Hand of the King died during the Great Spring Sickness.</ref>
| Allegiance = [[House Targaryen]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]]
| Mother = [[Jena Dondarrion]]
| Spouse = [[Kiera of Tyrosh]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}
| Issue = Stillborn sons{{Ref|TSS}}
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|182|193}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued3)#Valarr Targaryen|Valarr Targaryen]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Death = [[King's Landing]]
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|209}}
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' (appears) ''[[The Sworn Sword]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms = Black, the red three-headed dragon of House Targaryen, with a red border{{Ref|THK|[[The Hedge Knight (comics)|Graphic Novel]]}} ''(Sable a dragon thrice headed gules within a bordure of the last)''
}}

Prince '''Valarr Targaryen''', known as '''the Young Prince''',{{ref|thk}} was the oldest son of [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Breakspear]], [[Prince of Dragonstone]], and Lady [[Jena Dondarrion]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}

==Appearance==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Valarr Targaryen|l1=Images of Valarr Targaryen}}
Valarr looked much like his father [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor]], though he was smaller and thinner. He had brown hair, with a streak of silver-gold running through it. He had blue eyes.{{Ref|THK}}

==History==
Prince Valarr was born the eldest son of Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]], and his wife, Lady [[Jena Dondarrion]]. He had one younger brother, Prince [[Matarys Targaryen|Matarys]]. At some point, Valarr was married to [[Kiera of Tyrosh]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}} They had sons, but all were stillborn.{{Ref|TMK}}

===Ashford Tourney===
In {{Date|209}}, Valarr was one of the original champions for the daughter of [[Lord Ashford]] at the start of the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]], but his status as a [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] prince, grandson of King [[Daeron II Targaryen]], and future heir to the [[Iron Throne]] prevented him from facing dangerous opponents. He won at least nine jousts, including against Ser [[Abelar Hightower]] and Lord [[Gawen Swann]], and remained a champion after the first day's jousting.{{Ref|THK}}

During Ser [[Duncan the Tall]]'s [[trial of seven]], Valarr's father, Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Breakspear]], took part as the seventh knight on Dunk's side. However, as Baelor had not expected to fight in the tourney, he had not brought any armor to Ashford with him. Therefore he borrowed Valarr's armor, causing Dunk to briefly believe Valarr was about to champion him.{{Ref|THK}}

Baelor died in the trial, and Valarr stood vigil by his body at the funeral. When Dunk tried to offer his sympathies, Valarr dismissed him.{{Ref|THK}}

===Death===
Valarr died in {{Date|209}} from the [[Great Spring Sickness]], as did his younger brother [[Matarys Targaryen|Matarys]], and their grandfather, King [[Daeron II Targaryen]].{{Ref|TSS}}

In {{Date|211}}, Duncan and Prince [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] heard a [[septon]] in [[Stoney Sept]] preach that the [[Hand of the King]], [[Brynden Rivers]], had killed Valarr's sons in [[Kiera of Tyrosh|their mother's]] womb, and suggest that Brynden was responsible for Valarr's death. The septon was later beheaded for speaking treason.{{Ref|TMK}}

==Family==
{{Targaryen tree Daeron II}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|[[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|My father]] was only nine-and-thirty. He had it in him to be a great king, the greatest since [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Dragon]]. Why would the gods take him, and leave you? Begone with you, Ser Duncan. Begone.{{Ref|THK}}|Valarr to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

==Notes==
<references group="Note"/>

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{Hands of the King}}
{{Daeron II small council}}

[[Category:House Targaryen]]
[[Category:Casualties of the Great Spring Sickness|Targaryen, Valarr]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Targaryen, Valarr]]
[[Category:Hands of the King|Targaryen, Valarr]]
[[Category:Knights|Targaryen, Valarr]]
[[Category:Members of Daeron II Targaryen's court|Targaryen, Valarr]]
[[Category:Nobles|Targaryen, Valarr]]
[[Category:Princes of Dragonstone|Targaryen, Valarr]]

[[es:Valarr Targaryen]]
[[fr:Valarr Targaryen]]
[[nl:Valarr Targaryen]]
[[pt:Valarr Targaryen]]
[[ru:Валарр Таргариен]]
[[zh:瓦拉尔·坦格利安]]

Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)

2022-08-31T02:11:17Z

Noneofyourbusiness: there's no A in "led"

{{see homonyms|Daeron Targaryen}}
{{Character
| Character_name = [[File:House Targaryen.svg|50px|left]] Daeron Targaryen [[File:House Targaryen (Daeron).svg|50px|right]]
| image = [[File:Daeron Targaryen.JPG|350px]]
| image_caption =
| Alias = Daeron the Drunken
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]{{Ref|THK|[[The Hedge Knight (comics)|Graphic Novel]]}} [[Prince of Dragonstone]] [[Prince of Summerhall]]
| Allegiance = [[House Targaryen]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[crownlands]]
| Father = [[Maekar I Targaryen]]
| Mother = [[Dyanna Dayne]]
| Spouse = [[Kiera of Tyrosh]]
| Issue = [[Vaella Targaryen (daughter of Daeron)|Vaella Targaryen]]
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|190}} or {{Date|191}}<ref name=Calculation>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|221|233}}<ref name=Calculation />
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]] (mentioned)'' ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' (appears) ''[[The Sworn Sword]]'' (mentioned) ''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (mentioned) ''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (mentioned) ''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms = The three-headed dragon of House Targaryen facing to its left{{Ref|THK|[[The Hedge Knight (comics)|Graphic Novel]]}} ''(Sable a dragon thrice headed gules contourny)''
}}

Prince '''Daeron Targaryen''', sometimes referred to as '''Daeron the Drunken''', was the eldest son of King [[Maekar I Targaryen]] and his wife [[Dyanna Dayne]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}} Daeron was one of the rare [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] who had prophetic [[dragon dreams]].{{Ref|THK}}

==Appearance and Character==
Daeron had sallow skin, sandy brown hair and a blond beard.{{Ref|THK}} He was not much of a [[knight]], disliking horses and swords.{{ref|THK}}

==History==
Daeron was born the eldest child of Prince [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar Targaryen]] and his wife, Lady [[Dyanna Dayne]]. He was [[named after]] his grandfather, King [[Daeron II Targaryen]].{{Ref|THK}} He had three younger brothers, [[Aerion Targaryen|Aerion]], [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]], and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon]], and two younger sisters, [[Daella Targaryen (daughter of Maekar I)|Daella]] and [[Rhae Targaryen|Rhae.]]{{ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}}

===Ashford Tourney===
[[File:Daeron-THK.jpg|thumb|Daeron and Dunk, by Mike S. Miller|200px|left]]
Prince Maekar sent his sons, Daeron and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon]], to the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]], hoping they would outshine the sons of his brother [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Breakspear]]. Stealing away from their escort, Daeron shaved the head of Aegon, his squire, to hide his Targaryen features. Drinking at an inn, incognito, he encountered Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] and told him he had [[dragon dreams|dreamed]] of him, ordering Dunk to stay away from him. Aegon, who wanted to participate in the tourney, stayed incognito as "Egg" and asked Dunk if he could be his squire. Though Dunk denied him then, Aegon left the inn and followed him to [[Ashford]].

Maekar sent Ser [[Roland Crakehall (Kingsguard)|Roland Crakehall]] of the [[Kingsguard]] in search of Daeron and Aegon, then left Ashford to search for them himself. When Daeron was found, he told his father that a huge robber knight made off with Aegon and that he spent the whole time pursuing them. This lie added evidence against Dunk after he was arrested for assaulting [[Aerion Targaryen]].

Daeron apologized to Dunk for lying, saying he had not noticed Aegon was gone. He also said he had dreamed a great [[dragon]] would fall on Dunk, dead, but the knight would walk off alive. Daeron did not know what it meant, but that his dreams came true and that he was frightened of Dunk. Daeron also told Dunk that he would not fight, and after the first charge in the [[trial of seven]] he would stay on the ground and would also withdraw his accusations.

In the trial, Daeron was unhorsed by Ser [[Robyn Rhysling]], and did as he had promised, staying on the ground. His own horse stepped on him, possibly breaking his foot, but otherwise he was uninjured. Nevertheless, it turned out that Daeron's dream was a true [[prophecy]], as Prince Baelor died in Dunk's arms.{{Ref|THK}}

===Later life===
Daeron's father Maekar ascended to the throne in {{Date|221}} after the death of King [[Aerys I Targaryen]], who had no other living heirs. This made Daeron the [[Prince of Dragonstone]] and heir to the [[Iron Throne]], though he preferred to be called [[Prince of Summerhall]] as he considered [[Dragonstone]] "such a gloomy abode".{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}} Daeron's brother [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] served as his [[maester]].{{Ref|aCoK|6}}

Daeron married [[Kiera of Tyrosh]], the widow of his cousin [[Valarr Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Appendix: Targaryen Lineage}} Their daughter [[Vaella Targaryen (daughter of Daeron)|Vaella]] was born in {{Date|222}}, and proved to be sweet but [[lackwit|simple-minded]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}}{{Ref|aCoK|6}}

Daeron died some time before {{Date|233}}, reputedly from a [[pox]] he caught from a [[whore]].{{Ref|aCoK|6}} His predeceasing his father was part of what led to the succession crisis after Maekar's death, which was resolved in the [[Great Council]] of {{Date|233}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Clash of Kings''===
Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]] tells his steward, [[Jon Snow]], that Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] and his oldest brother Daeron, together with their other brothers, had been summoned to court when their father [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar]] had been crowned king. Daeron, as the [[Prince of Dragonstone]], was joined by his second brother Aemon, who had served as Daeron's [[maester]]. Jeor tells Jon that Daeron died of the pox, leaving only a [[Vaella Targaryen (daughter of Daeron)|feeble-witted daughter]] behind as his heir.{{Ref|aCoK|6}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
During one of his last good days, Maester Aemon wonders if he will be reunited with his siblings, Daeron amongst them, when he dies.{{Ref|aFfC|35}}

==Quotes by Daeron==
{{Quote|'''Aegon:''' [[Maekar I Targaryen|My father]] is going to join the seven accusers. He says it is the only way to redeem [[Aerion Targaryen|Aerion's]] honor, and Daeron's. 
'''Daeron:''' Not that I ever asked to have my honor redeemed. Whoever has it can keep it, so far as I'm concerned.{{Ref|THK}}|[[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] and Daeron}}

{{Quote|My brothers have my measure when it comes to fighting and dancing and thinking and reading books, but none of them is half my equal at lying insensible in the mud.{{Ref|THK}}|Daeron to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|My [[dragon dreams|dreams]] are not like yours, Ser Duncan. Mine are [[prophecy|true]].{{Ref|THK}}|Daeron to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|I'm doomed to some hell, I know. Likely one without wine.{{Ref|THK}}|Daeron to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

==Quotes about Daeron==
{{Quote|'''Baelor''': Daeron has done this before. You should never have commanded him to enter the lists. He belongs on a tourney field no more than [[Aerys I Targaryen|Aerys]] does, or [[Rhaegel Targaryen|Rhaegel]]. 
'''Maekar''': By which you mean he'd sooner ride a [[whore]] than a [[horse]].{{Ref|THK}}|[[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]] and [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|Someday the [[dragon]]s will return. My brother Daeron's [[dragon dreams|dreamed]] of it, and King [[Aerys I Targaryen|Aerys]] read it in a prophecy. Maybe it will be [[dragon egg|my egg]] that hatches. That would be splendid.{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

==Family==
{{Targaryen tree Daeron II}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

[[Category:House Targaryen]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Targaryen, Daeron]]
[[Category:Characters suffering from the pox|Targaryen, Daeron]]
[[Category:Knights|Targaryen, Daeron]]
[[Category:Members of Daeron II Targaryen's court|Targaryen, Daeron]]
[[Category:Members of Aerys I Targaryen's court|Targaryen, Daeron]]
[[Category:Members of Maekar I Targaryen's court|Targaryen, Daeron]]
[[Category:Nobles|Targaryen, Daeron]]
[[Category:Princes of Dragonstone|Targaryen, Daeron]]
[[Category:Princes of Summerhall]]

[[es:Daeron Targaryen]]
[[fr:Daeron Targaryen]]
[[nl:Daeron Targaryen (Dronkaard)]]
[[pt:Daeron Targaryen]]
[[ru:Дейрон Таргариен (сын Мейкара)]]
[[zh:戴伦·坦格利安]]