Difference between revisions of "The prince that was promised"

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[[File:the_dragon_prince.jpg|In his youth, Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] thought he might be the prince that was promised - by Silvenger ©|thumb|300px|right]]
 
[[File:the_dragon_prince.jpg|In his youth, Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] thought he might be the prince that was promised - by Silvenger ©|thumb|300px|right]]
The '''prince that was promised''' is a prophesized leader or savior.  The prince may be part of an ancient prophecy, a prophecy that foretells the coming of a hero to deliver the world from darkness.
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The '''prince that was promised''' is a prophesized leader or savior.  The prince may be part of an ancient prophecy, a prophecy that foretells the coming of a hero to deliver the world from darkness. A "bleeding star" is supposed to herald the coming of the prince. 
  
 
At the moment it is not known where the prophesy originates, information on the prince that was promised is rather scant.  There is not as much clear information on the prince as, for example, [[Azor Ahai]].  Thus far there has been no mention of the prince wielding a sword, unlike the [[last hero]] or [[Azor Ahai]].   
 
At the moment it is not known where the prophesy originates, information on the prince that was promised is rather scant.  There is not as much clear information on the prince as, for example, [[Azor Ahai]].  Thus far there has been no mention of the prince wielding a sword, unlike the [[last hero]] or [[Azor Ahai]].   

Revision as of 02:25, 15 February 2013

In his youth, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen thought he might be the prince that was promised - by Silvenger ©

The prince that was promised is a prophesized leader or savior. The prince may be part of an ancient prophecy, a prophecy that foretells the coming of a hero to deliver the world from darkness. A "bleeding star" is supposed to herald the coming of the prince.

At the moment it is not known where the prophesy originates, information on the prince that was promised is rather scant. There is not as much clear information on the prince as, for example, Azor Ahai. Thus far there has been no mention of the prince wielding a sword, unlike the last hero or Azor Ahai.

The prince that was promised is first mentioned in the House of the Undying when Daenerys Targaryen sees a vision of her brother Rhaegar Targaryen who names his son Aegon, and says,

He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire.

Melisandre, a worshipper of R’hllor has stated that,

“When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt.

Much later in Braavos, when talking of the prince to Samwell Tarly Maester Aemon mentions smoke and salt as being part of the heralding of the prince that was promised coming. Obviously the mention of smoke and salt immediately brings to mind Melisandre’s abovementioned statement. However it is important to keep in mind what Tyrion Lannister has stated about prophesy,

Prophecy is like a half-trained mule. It looks as though it might be useful, but the moment you trust in it, it kicks you in the head." [1]

Therefore readers have to be careful of being kicked in the head by smoke and salt also being mentioned in relation to the prince who was promised. Azor Ahai and the prince that was promised may be two distinct prophesies. It is easy get rather confused. Indeed the prince may not even be male; the prince may have been referred to as male erroneously for centuries. Before his death Maester Aemon came to firmly believe that the prince is not a prince but a princess.

The prince that was promised theories

References and Notes

  1. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 40, Tyrion IX, page 534.