Jon Connington

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Jon Connington
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Jon Connington - by acazigot ©

Alias Griff
Titles
Allegiances
Culture Westeros
Books

Jon Connington was Lord of Griffin's Roost, the head of House Connington, and for a time Hand of the King to Aerys II Targaryen. He was also possibly the titular Lord of Storm's End.[3] Jon was one of the few close friends of Rhaegar Targaryen.[4] He had no brothers.[5] After failing to defeat Robert Baratheon during the War of the Usurper, he fled in exile to Essos[5] and took the name Griff.[6] He is believed to have drank himself to death in exile.[5]

Character and Appearance

Jon is clean shaven with leathery skin and crow's feet at the corners of his eyes. His greying red hair is dyed blue when under the alias of "Griff".[7]

In his youth Jon was described as proud, bold, energetic, reckless, and thirsty for glory and was ever a capable warrior and commander. His years spent in exile have made him more cautious, more seasoned, and, according to Kevan Lannister, more dangerous.[8]

It is implied that Connington was in love with Rhaegar, as he refers to Rhaegar as his "silver prince" when he reminisces about him. Connington's love for Rhaegar is supported by his dislike for Rhaegar's wife, Elia of Dorne. He thinks that Elia was never worthy of Rhaegar, as she was frail and sickly from the start and left even weaker by childbirth. Jon's love for Rhaegar may also have been confirmed by semi-canon sources.[9] It is also said that while Griffin's Roost is sworn to Storm's End, Jon chafed at serving under a lord like Robert Baratheon, whose liking for wine and whores was well known even then.[10]}}

History

Jon Connington is the only surviving son of Armond Connington, Lord of Griffin's Roost, and his wife. He served as a squire in King's Landing along with Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. He was the most headstrong amongst the gaggle of young lordlings who would gather around Prince Rhaegar competing for his royal favour. He danced with Ashara Dayne at the Tourney at Harrenhal[11] and was unhorsed at a tourney held at Storm's End by Ser Barristan Selmy.[12]

Due to his connections with the royal family, and because he was a noted warrior, Jon was chosen by King Aerys II as Hand of the King after the dismissal of Owen Merryweather. Aerys wanted someone young and vigorous to match the rebelling Robert Baratheon. When word of the king’s choice reached Tywin Lannister he declared that the Handship had come to soon for Connington as he was too young, too bold and too eager for glory. Because the traditional lords of the Stormlands, House Baratheon, were in rebellion to the crown, Jon Connington was possibly titled Lord of Storm's End,[1] although that castle was still held by Stannis Baratheon during the rebellion.

After the Battle of Ashford, Connington took over the pursuit of Robert from the Tyrell army. In the Riverlands, near the town of Stoney Sept, he caught up with Robert, who was hiding in the town. Jon's soldiers began a house-to-house search after failing to find him, but they did not locate Robert before his allies arrived at Stoney Sept to oust Connington and his forces. At this point the Battle of the Bells began. The rebel army under the joint command of Lords Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn and Hoster Tully immediately began attacking the royal army. Jon Connington fought back fiercely, personally killing Jon Arryn's nephew and heir, Denys Arryn, and wounding Lord Tully. Robert nearly killed Jon on the steps of the sept, but he managed to escape and was able to retreat in good order.[13] Jon's retreat was quite a feat considering the fierce, urban fighting would make it hard to hold the army together.

Jon could have had Stoney Sept surrounded and then set the whole town ablaze, killing Robert and ending the rebellion before the relief force of Eddard Stark and Hoster Tully arrived. His critics have said Tywin Lannister would have done so, despite the fact it would have meant the deaths of many innocent men, women and children. Not wanting to be branded a murderer, Jon chose a more honourable course of action, wanting the glory of slaying Robert for himself.[14]

King Aerys II held Jon responsible for this defeat and exiled him, stripping him of his lands, wealth and titles. Griffin's Roost was rewarded to Jon's cousin, Ronald Connington, while most of House Connington's lands were distributed to more fervent supporters of Robert Baratheon.[5] Once on the Iron Throne Robert was not willing to recall Lord Jon from exile, since he had been among Prince Rhaegar's closest friends. [15]

Exile

Once exiled Jon Connington joined the Golden Company and served with them for five years. He rose in the ranks to a place of honor at the right hand of Myles Toyne, the captain-general. Years later Jon thinks to himself that he might have been a successor to Myles if his exile had gone otherwise. He thinks had he stayed it might well have been him the Golden Company turned to for command after Myles died, instead of Harry Strickland.

It was said that Jon was kicked out of the Golden Company after being caught stealing from the company's war chests. It was also claimed that Jon died, that he drank himself to death in Lys a year later. The shame of the lie still sticks in Jon's craw, but he recalls that Varys insisted the lie was necessary, tittering in his mincing voice,

We want no songs about the gallant exile, those who die heroic deaths are long remembered, thieves and drunks and cravens soon forgotten.[16]

Exactly when Jon became aware of Rhaegar’s son Aegon Targaryen's survival is not mentioned. He went along with Varys's scheme for Prince Aegon's sake but he never liked it. The rumors of his disgrace and death reached Westeros and successfully convinced everyone involved in the game of thrones that he was dead and gone, enabling him to focus on raising and protecting "Young Griff" in the guise of his father, "Griff". Jon recalls that Varys was adamant about the need for secrecy.

Jon recalls the plans that Varys and Illyrio Mopatis made with Myles Toyne were known to them alone. The rest of the Golden Company had been left ignorant, as what they did not know they could not let slip.

Recent Events

‎Jon Connington - by TheMico

A Dance with Dragons

The story of Jon stealing from the Golden Company and then drinking himself to death was a fabrication created by Varys, in order to hide Jon's true purpose. After some investigation, Tyrion Lannister learns that Connington changed his name to Griff and adopted Rhaegar's son Aegon, whom many also believed to be dead, with the intention of eventually conquering Westeros and placing the boy on the Iron Throne. They plan to join their strength to Daenerys Targaryen in Volantis.[6]

Jon is infected with greyscale during the journey on to Volantis when rescuing Tyrion from drowning in the Rhoyne, but keeps it a secret.

When Jon reveals to the high commanders of the Golden Company that the young man with him is actually Prince Aegon Targaryen the men greet his announcement with silence. Connington realizes they know, as Harry Strickland had told them already.

Upon learning that Daenerys Targaryen remains in Slaver's Bay, the Golden Company, under Aegon's direction, decide to invade Westeros instead because the time is ripe.[16] Jon, Aegon and the Golden Company land in the Stormlands and take several castles, including the Connington ancestral keep, Griffin's Roost. They next plan to take Storm's End, where Aegon will raise the standard of House Targaryen above the battlements.[14]

Jon is plagued by guilt over the Battle of the Bells and hears the tolling of the bells every time he closes his eyes. He knows that with greyscale death is coming for him, but hopes to live just a few more years to end the usurper's line and restore Aegon VI to the Iron Throne. Jon Connington believes if he can achieve this it will finally stop the tolling of the bells and he can die content in his home of Griffin's Roost.

Quotes

I rose too high, loved too hard, dared too much. I tried to grasp a star, overreached, and fell.[14]

- Jon Connington, on his younger self.


{{Quote|Others might claim that the realm was lost when Prince Rhaegar fell to Robert's warhammer on the Trident, but the Battle of the Trident would never have been fought if the griffin had only slain [[House Baratheon|the stag] there in Stoney Sept. The bells tolled for all of us that day. For Aerys and his queen, for Elia of Dorne and her little daughter, for every man and honest woman in the Seven Kingdoms. And for my silver prince.[16]}} - Jon Connington, on the Battle of the Bells.


I failed the father, but I will not fail the son.[14]

- Jon Connington, reflecting on his failure to end Robert's Rebellion at Stoney Sept, leading to Rhaegar's death at the Trident. He vows to place Prince Aegon on the Iron Throne.


Let me live long enough to see the boy sit on the Iron Throne, and Varys will pay for that slight and so much more. Then we'll see who's soon forgotten.[16]

- Jon Connington, reflecting on the besmirching lies Varys insisted he go along with.


I understand hate well enough. [17]

- Jon Connington, to Tyrion

Quotes about Jon Connington

He’s dead," "He died in the Disputed Lands. Of drink, I’ve heard it said. [18]

- Ser Daemon Sand


He has supped on hate himself, this one. It has warmed him in the night for years. [17]

- Tyrion


What victories has he ever won that we should fear him? He could have ended Robert's Rebellion at Stoney Sept. He failed. Just as the Golden Company has always failed. Some may rush to join them, aye. The realm is well rid of such fools. [8]

- Mace Tyrell


If this is indeed Jon Connington, he will be a different man. Older, harder, more seasoned . . . more dangerous.[8]

- Kevan Lannister thoughts

Family

Lord
Connington
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Armond
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jon
 
 
 
 
Ronald
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
woman
 
Ronnet
 
Raymund
 
Alynne
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ronald
Storm
 


References and Notes