Editing Jon Connington (section)

==History==
===Early life===
[[File:Mustamirri Griff.jpg|250px|thumb||left|Jon Connington, by mustamirri ©]]
Jon Connington was the only son of [[Armond Connington]], [[Lord of Griffin's Roost|Lord]] of [[Griffin's Roost]], and his wife.{{Ref|AFFC|27}} Lady [[Mary Mertyns]] knew Jon's mother.<ref name=Winds2>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[Arianne II (The Winds of Winter)|Arianne II]]</ref>

Jon served as a [[squire]] in [[King's Landing]], first alongside Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]],{{Ref|ADWD|22}} and later for the crown prince.<ref name=Winds1/> Jon was considered to be one of Prince Rhaegar's dear friends.{{Ref|ASOS|8}} Some felt Jon was the most headstrong of the young lordlings who had gathered around Rhaegar, seeking his favor.{{ref|ADWD|Epilogue}}

During a time when Jon's father was still alive, Rhaegar was returning from a trip to [[Dorne]], and visited Griffin's Roost for a fortnight. At the welcoming feast, Rhaegar played a song on his [[harp]] that made every woman in the hall cry, but per Jon's recollection, none of the men. Rhaegar visited the tallest tower of the castle with Jon, and complimented the beauty of the Connington lands.{{ref|ADWD|61}}

After Armond died, Jon inherited rule of Griffin's Roost. When Jon left to serve at [[King's Landing]], he named his cousin, Ser [[Ronald Connington]], as [[castellan]].{{ref|ADWD|61}} In {{Date|280}}, Jon was present for the wedding of Rhaegar to Princess [[Elia Martell]] of Dorne.{{ref|ADWD|61}} In {{Date|281}}, Jon was present at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]], where he danced with [[Ashara Dayne]].{{ref|ASOS|24}} In a [[tourney at Storm's End]], he was unhorsed in a [[joust]] by Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] of the [[Kingsguard]].{{ref|ASOS|67}}

===Robert's Rebellion===
{{See also|Robert's Rebellion|Battle of the Bells}}

During [[Robert's Rebellion]], King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] dismissed his [[Hand of the King]], Lord [[Owen Merryweather]], believing him  ineffectual, and suspecting foul play by Owen in favor of the rebels.{{ref|SSM|1118}} To match [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]], Lord of [[Storm's End]] and one of the leaders of the rebellion, Aerys wanted someone young and vigorous as his next Hand, and so named Jon to the office.{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}}{{ref|affc|14}} Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], a former Hand to Aerys, considered Jon to be too young and impetuous.{{ref|ADWD|Epilogue}}

Jon promised King Aerys he would deliver Robert's head,{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}} and he led an army into the field. After the [[Battle of Ashford]], Jon took over the pursuit of Robert from the [[House Tyrell|Tyrell]] army, and tracked him to [[Stoney Sept]] in the [[riverlands]]. Jon offered rewards and put [[hostage]]s in [[crow cage]]s,{{Ref|ADWD|61}} while his soldiers began a house-to-house search for Robert. They were unable to locate him before his rebel allies, Lords [[Eddard Stark]] and [[Hoster Tully]], arrived at Stoney Sept to oust Jon and his forces. Lord Connington fought back fiercely, killing Lord [[Jon Arryn]]'s nephew and heir, Ser [[Denys Arryn]], and wounding Lord Tully.{{Ref|ASOS|29}} Jon was nearly slain by Robert at the town's [[sept]],{{ref|ADWD|61}} and retreated when he saw that the [[Battle of the Bells]] was lost.{{ref|ASOS|29}}

King Aerys held Jon responsible for his defeat at Stoney Sept. The king exiled Jon, stripping him of his titles, lands, and wealth, and passing the rule of [[Griffin's Roost]] to Ser Ronald Connington.{{ref|AFFC|27}}{{Ref|ADWD|61}} After Jon's exile, Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] was killed by Robert at the [[Trident]], and Aerys was killed in the [[Sack of King's Landing]]. Jon felt that both losses were his fault, as the [[Battle of the Trident]] would never had been fought had he killed Robert in Stoney Sept.{{ref|ADWD|24}}

===Exile===
[[File:Jon Connington and Myles Toyne by Amuelia.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Jon and [[Myles Toyne]], before the [[golden skulls]] of the [[Golden Company]]. Art by Amuelia ©]]

After the war, the new king, Robert I Baratheon, was not willing to recall Jon from exile, since he had been among Rhaegar's closest friends.{{ref|SSM|1203}} Robert allowed Ronald Connington to keep his castle, but he took away the [[lord]]ship from [[House Connington]], making them a house of [[landed knight]]s. Robert also kept the Connington wealth in the treasury, and took away nine-tenths of the Connington lands, distributing them to his more loyal supporters.{{ref|AFFC|27}}{{Ref|ADWD|61}}

The exiled Jon joined the [[Golden Company]]{{Ref|AWOIAF|Jon Connington}}{{Ref|ADWD|24}} in {{date|283}},<ref name=Calcul>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued)#Rumoured death|Connington's rumoured death]] calculation.''</ref> and rose quickly in the ranks to a place of honor at the right hand of Ser [[Myles Toyne]], the company's [[captain-general]]. Jon believes that, had his exile gone otherwise, he might have been the successor to his friend Myles instead of [[Harry Strickland]].{{ref|ADWD|24}} When Jon reflected on the [[Battle of the Bells]] in his first year of exile, he defended his actions, telling Myles that [[Tywin Lannister]] himself could not have done more. Myles replied that Tywin would not have bothered searching for Robert; he would have burned down [[Stoney Sept]], burning everything and everybody within the town to kill Robert, despite the civilian casualties.{{ref|ADWD|61}}

In {{date|288}},<ref name=Calcul/> after having served with the Golden Company for five years, Jon and Myles were approached by [[Illyrio Mopatis]] and Lord [[Varys]], who informed them that Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]'s infant son, [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]], had survived the [[Sack of King's Landing]] during [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Jon Connington}} In order to remove Jon from the Golden Company, they concocted a plan where Jon was driven from the company in disgrace after he was allegedly caught stealing from the war chest. Afterwards, news was spread that Jon drank himself to death in [[Lys]]. The remainder of the Golden Company was left unaware of the truth, so that they could not divulge anything.{{ref|ADWD|24}}

While Jon went along with Varys's scheme for Prince Aegon's sake, he believed it a dishonorable slight, and resented the shameful lie of his death. Varys, however, was adamant about the need for secrecy, and felt that the lie would help people forget Jon's existence.{{Ref|ADWD|24}} The rumors of Jon's disgrace and death eventually reached Westeros, and convinced everyone that he was dead.{{Ref|ACOK|3}}{{Ref|AFFC|24}} Jon focused on raising and protecting "[[Aegon Targaryen (Young Griff)|Young Griff]]" in the guise of his father, "Griff", for twelve years.{{ref|ADWD|24}}