Anyone who has talked to me in the past nine weeks knows that I become slightly obsessive when HBO’s Game of Thrones is in season. Well, ‘slightly’ is putting it rather mildly— once you engage me in conversation about anything concerning this series, you will have a hard time making me shut up. As a personal favour for my friends who are struggling with my constant babbling, I have volunteered to use my energy to write a column about the series, particularly about the many theories that fans of the show and books have formed in an attempt to debunk some of the mysteries that surround George R. R. Martin’s complex story.
As a general disclaimer, all of the theories discussed here are in no way confirmed in canonical material, and of course, this column may contain some very serious spoilers concerning the series. This week, there will be spoilers for the entire first season of Game of Thrones and the first book of the same name in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. If you have not finished at least up to this point, read no further (unless, of course, you really don’t care about spoiling the series, to which I must ask: don’t you love yourself?)
One of the series’ earliest and most pressing mysteries concerns Jon Snow, the bastard of Winterfell–– more specifically, his parentage. From the moment we are introduced to Lord Eddard Stark we are told of nothing but his incredible sense of duty and honour, and yet within almost the same breath, we are introduced to his illegitimate son, conceived by an unknown woman, who we only know is not Ned’s wife, Lady Catelyn. It seems a contradiction towards the very basis of his character, especially in the fact that he is consistently hesitant to discuss the circumstances of Jon’s birth throughout the series. Ned Stark is not one for secrets, instead choosing to remain (at times stupidly) honest about his actions and mistakes— but he insists on keeping this particular secret with him even to his unfortunate death.
While there are a few theories floating around the internet regarding possible women Ned Stark could have been with and seen fit to protect, most of these are shrugged aside when the oh-so-famous R + L = J theory is explained in full. It suggests that Ned was keeping secrets not to protect himself, but for the sake of Jon and his mother–– Ned’s sister, Lyanna Stark.
Long before his rebellion against the Mad King Aerys Targaryen, Lyanna was betrothed to Robert Baratheon. While it is made undoubtedly clear that Robert is madly in love with the beautiful Lyanna, Ned suggests in the books that it was not a mutual love, as Lyanna was very wary of Robert’s all-around unfaithful nature regarding women.
After his victory at the Tourney of Harrenhal, Rhaegar Targaryen, prince and heir to the Iron Throne, declared Lyanna Stark as his Queen of Love and Beauty–– a scandalous choice for the customary title, as Rhaegar was married to Elia Martell, and Lyanna was betrothed to Robert. Not long afterwards, Lyanna was stolen away by Rhaegar, prompting a (rather complicated) sequence of events that ultimately lead to the start of Robert’s Rebellion.
The next time Ned Stark sees his sister is near the end of the war. At this point, Rhaegar was already killed by Robert Baratheon at the Battle of the Trident, and the Mad King Aerys was already killed by Jaime Lannister in King’s Landing. Despite this, three knights of the Kingsguard (sworn to protect the royal family) are present defending the tower where Lyanna was hidden, unwilling to leave their post. A battle ensues, which only Ned and his ally Howland Reed survive. Ned proves a rather unreliable narrator at this point, remembering only that he found Lyanna dying in her own blood, pleading “Promise me, Ned” with her last breaths.
Many fans speculate that this promise was for Ned to protect Jon Snow, Lyanna and Rhaegar’s child. This would thus explain why Ned lied about Jon’s parentage even to his closest friend, Robert Baratheon, as he harboured a maddening hatred for all Targaryens and would not react well to learning that the woman he loved had a son with the man he hated above all others. This theory would also explain why the Kingsguard insisted on defending the tower even after the death of their king and prince— if Lyanna and Rhaegar were secretly married, it is possible that Jon could be considered an heir to the Iron Throne, as the Targaryens were known to practice polygamy.
There are numerous subtle references throughout the books that support this theory. Rhaegar is remembered by all (save Robert Baratheon) as a valiant and noble man, and not one that would abduct a woman against her will. It is likely that he and Lyanna shared deep affections for each other, and that Lyanna would thus plead to see their child safe with her dying breath. Ned is also hesitant to ever call Jon his son, instead referring to him as “his blood” and naming him as some sort of family, but never mentally including him amongst his own children.
The implications of this theory are quite numerous– does this make Jon a viable candidate to sit the iron throne? If so, did he forsake his claim when he joined the Night’s Watch? Would this revelation make Daenerys his friend or foe? Rhaegar was her brother, but Jon’s claim to the throne, as a legitimate son, would be stronger than hers as a sister. How many people would want to see Jon dead if this ‘truth’ of his birth got out? Would Jon even WANT the throne?
George R. R. Martin has stated that he plans on revealing the truth of Jon Snow’s birth in a future book. If the R + L = J theory is to be believed, Ned’s unfortunate beheading would leave only a single person who knows of this truth: Howland Reed, a Crannogman from the Neck who has been suspiciously absent from the series, choosing instead to remain inside the safety of his mobile castle, Greywater Watch. The theory has stood the test of time, with fan speculations first rising in 1996, when A Game of Thrones was first published. However, eighteen years of acceptance has lead many to think the theory almost too obvious to be true, and nearly cliché— and Martin is nothing if not a smasher of clichés traditionally associated with the fantasy genre.
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