How are Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen related in Game of Thrones?
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from Game of Thrones season 7
Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen’s family connection dates back to Rhaegar Targaryen (Wilf Scolding) and Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi).
Game of Thrones fans witnessed Bran Stark’s visions take him back to Jon Snow’s birth in season seven, episode seven.
HBO and Sky Atlantic viewers then saw Jon Snow being born to Lyanna Stark, a detail which had been shrouded in secrecy and hidden from Jon Snow (and audiences) all of his life.
Born Aegon Targaryen, Kit Harrington’s character is the son of Lyanna and Rhaegar – as Rhaegar and Daenerys are brother and sister, he is the nephew to Daenerys.
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Jon Snow’s true identity was kept hidden from him after his mother Lyanna begged her brother Ned Stark (Sean Bean) to “protect him” shortly before her death during his birth.
Lyanna had been engaged to Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) before eloping with Rhaegar – however, Robert believed Rhaegar had kidnapped her and set out to kill every Targaryen in retaliation.
This was known as Robert’s Rebellion which, with the help of the Lannister family, saw the deaths of the Mad King, Prince Rhaegar, and Rhaegar’s other children with Elia Martell, Rhaenys and Aegon (Aegon is a popular Targaryen name).
The Targaryen dynasty then collapsed and Robert Baratheon found himself sitting on the Iron Throne, even though two of the Mad King’s children, Daenerys and Vicerys (Harry Lloyd), were smuggled to Essos to escape him.
Lyanna knew Robert wouldn’t hesitate to have her son killed if he discovered he was a Targaryen, which prompted Ned to come up with the lie that the baby was his b****** son.
Jon Snow was then brought up in Winterfell by Ned, who is actually his uncle, and his wife Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley).
Catelyn struggled to come to terms with Ned fathering a b****** son and, even though it proved a huge obstacle in their relationship, Ned maintained the lie that Jon Snow was, in fact, just that.
In House Stark, Jon Snow was brought up believing Robb Stark (Richard Madden), Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), Rickon Stark (Art Parkinson), and Bran Stark were his siblings.
In reality, Aegon had two half-siblings in the form of Rhaenys and Aegon Targaryen.
Whether Jon Snow and Daenerys’ true family connection will be exposed in season eight of Game of Thrones is yet to be seen, but such an Earth-shattering revelation will change everything for the pair.
Some spoilers predicted by fans ahead of season eight, episode one, however, suggest Jon Snow could actually take the Iron Throne from Daenerys should he make the discovery.
When does Game of Thrones season 8 premiere on HBO?
Game of Thrones season eight will air on HBO in the USA on Sunday, April 14.
In the UK, fans will be able to watch the first episode of the eighth series at exactly the same time on Sky Atlantic at 2am on Monday, April 15 as part of a transatlantic simulcast.
Game of Thrones season eight, episode one will then air at 9pm on April 15 should fans want to catch it at a later time.
The episode will also be available to watch online on NOW TV or Sky Go.
Game of Thrones season 8 premieres on Sky Atlantic on Monday, April 15 in the UK.
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