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| “ | Bastards can rise high in the world, like your half-brother Jon Snow. Born the bastard of Winterfell, now the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. You didn't know? Yes, he's done very well for himself. | „ |
| ~ Ramsay Bolton about Jon Snow. |
| “ | Jon was not afraid of death, but he did not want to die like that, trussed and bound and beheaded like a common brigand. If he must perish, let it be with a sword in his hand, fighting his father's killers. He was no true Stark, had never been one... but he could die like one. Let them say that Eddard Stark had fathered four sons, not three. | „ |
| ~ His thoughts in the first novel |
| “ | Tyrion: But have you ever considered learning how to lie every now and then? Just a bit? Jon: I am not going to swear an oath I can't uphold. Talk about my father if you want, tell me that's the attitude that got him killed. But when enough people make false promises, words stop meaning anything. Then there are no more answers, only better and better lies. |
„ |
| ~ Jon Snow and Tyrion at the post dragon summit meeting in Season 7 E10 |
Jon Snow, also known as the Bastard of Winterfell, is one of the main protagonists of the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.
In the beginning of the story, he is introduced as the illegitimate son of Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark and has five half siblings; an an older brother Robb, two younger sisters Sansa and Arya, and two younger brothers Bran and Rickon. He later earned the nickname Lord Snow after joining the Night's Watch, a thousands of years old military order that guards the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros against any threat that comes from the lands north of the Great Wall protecting them. As a black brother, Jon was named a steward and was put in personal service to Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. Later, in early 300 AC, Jon becomes the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He is 14 years old in the start of the first novel and he is already 16 years old by end of the fifth novel.
In the TV series version, it is eventually revealed Jon is the son of Lyanna Stark, Eddard's younger sister, and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, making Jon not only the nephew of Eddard and cousin of Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon but also House Targaryen's "true" heir to the Iron Throne. This also makes him the nephew of Daenerys Targaryen and Stannis Baratheon's second cousin once removed. Jon did not know his real parentage with only Eddard knowing the truth. However, Eddard claimed Jon as his bastard son to protect him from the Baratheon regime. Unaware of their blood connection, Jon and Daenerys fall in love and become lovers. However, in the version of the novels, as of the fifth installment A Dance With Dragons, this revelation of Jon's parentage is not yet confirmed.
In the sixth season of the television series, Jon is resurrected and later elected the new King in the North after his late brother (revealed to be a biological cousin) Robb Stark while earning the nickname, The White Wolf for avenging the Red Wedding. In the seventh season, Jon Snow's real name is revealed to be Aegon Targaryen and considered by some the heir to the Iron Throne, ahead of Daenerys. In the eighth season, he relinquishes his royal status in the North in favor of vassalage under Daenerys, until he finally returns to the Wall as a black brother of the Night's Watch. He is then seen leaving the Wall through Castle Black's gate, riding with Ghost and the wildlings for lands beyond the Wall.
He was portrayed by Kit Harington, who also played Milo in Pompeii, Black Knight in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and voiced Eret in the How to Train your Dragon franchise.
Appearance
In contrast with most of his half-siblings, who take after their mother Catelyn, Jon Snow possesses the most typical Stark traits of his father Eddard and uncle Benjen, as does his younger half-sister Arya. He is lean in build with grey eyes, dark brown hair and a long face. He is considered to be average looking, though Ygritte found him attractive. Over the course of his time in the Night's Watch, he gains burn scars on his hand and talon scars on his face from being attacked by a skinchanger-possessed eagle. He is fourteen at the beginning of the series.
In the television show Jon is sixteen at the beginning. He has long, curly black hair and dark brown eyes. His skin is fair and he has a scar on his eye. In contrast with the books, Jon in the series is noted by many characters to be rather handsome and attractive. He also gets scars on his face over the course of the series. Following his death and resurrection, his hair is cut and he spends the rest of the series wearing it in a bun, until the final episode of the eighth season, in which he has his old hairstyle again.
Personality
| “ | You will find little joy in your command, but with luck, you'll find the strength to do what needs to be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy, and let the man be born | „ |
| ~ Aemon to (unknowingly, his great-great nephew) Jon Snow |
Due to being raised by Ned Stark in Winterfell, Jon Snow has a strong sense of honor, duty, and morality, striving to do the right thing when faced with difficult choices. Like his father, Jon is solemn, somber, with a drive to protect. He has a deep love for his family and is close with his father, his uncle, and his half-siblings, particularly Robb and Arya. Jon is also mature and perceptive beyond his age. However, despite being more mature than the other Stark children, he initially possesses a childish arrogance when he first arrives at the Night's Watch due to his privileged upbringing, resulting in him being a more skilled swordsman than the other recruits. This attitude attracted him the nickname "Lord Snow". However, after he is scolded by Donal Noye and made to realize his advantages, Jon reaches out to the other recruits, teaches them how to fight, and becomes more open towards people. Despite a solemn nature, Jon is empathetic and possesses a protective streak, particularly showing his compassionate side to other outsiders, such as his little sister Arya, Samwell Tarly, Grenn and Pyp.
Though Jon grows up with loving relationships with most of his family, the societal stigma of his illegitimate status and the cold treatment by his father's wife results in Jon feeling like an outsider among his family. His illegitimate status also results in a strong desire to prove himself, believing that a good way for a bastard child in his position to gain honour and respect is to join the Night's Watch as status means less among the Watch's ranks. Jon dreams of emulating his uncle Benjen, First Ranger in the Night's Watch, and initially aspires to become a ranger like his uncle. Jon's sense of duty is shown as strong when he grows remorseful of breaking his celibacy vows with Ygritte, as seen in Jon's thoughts in the novels.
Jon is also fairly shy around women, as shown during his first encounter with Ygritte, and as revealed to Sam, he was a virgin at the time he joined the Night's Watch. Snow did not try to have sex with women of wary that he could father an illegitimate child himself: having lived his life as a bastard, he felt that it wasn't a life another child should have to go through. When he is ordered to learn of Mance Rayder's plans to attack the Wall, Jon meets the spearwife Ygritte, who becomes his first love and Jon breaks his vow of celibacy with her. However, though their love conflicts Jon, he ultimately does his duty to the Night's Watch as he leaves Ygritte to return to Castle Black and warn his sworn brothers of Mance Rayder's planned invasion of the Seven Kingdoms.
Having grown up with a preconceived idea about the wildings as enemies in the past, Jon's time with the Free Folk changes his mind. He grows more fond of the wildings and develops compassion for them to the point that in both novels and series, he makes peace with the Free Folk after the Battle of Castle Black. In the novels, Jon allows the wildings to join the Night's Watch or take shelter at Castle Black, while in the TV series, he fights among them against the White Walkers at Hardhome.
Telltale's Game of Thrones
Jon as he appears in the game
Jon Snow is a recurring character in Telltale Game of Thrones video game.
He debuts in Episode 3: The Lost Words, after Gared gets into a fight with Finn. He tells Frostfinger he needs another man atop the wall and Gared accompanies him to the top of the wall. While in the elevator, Jon reveals that his brother was Robb Stark and tells him that there were 3,000 men at the Red Wedding and not one could save his brother from being butchered by Lord Walder Frey's men.
Powers and abilities
Powers
- Skinchanging: The ability to inhabit the body of an animal and control its actions by opening the "third eye". Much like his half-brother, Bran, Jon Snow is a strong skinchanger, but unlike Bran, he is untrained and unaware of his true potential. Jon's ability manifested itself few times, most notably during his ranging with Qhorin, when he slips into his direwolf, Ghost, and spies on a wildling horde nearby and wakes up screaming when Ghost is attacked by an eagle. Jon acknowledges his skinchanging abilities during his time with the wildlings, but remains ignorant and refuses Melisandre when she offers her assistance.
- Dragonriding: In the TV series, thanks to the blood of Old Valyria flowing through his veins, Jon Snow had the capability to form bonds with dragons and ride them. Thus, he rode Daenerys' dragon, Rhaegal, on many occasions.
Abilities
- Expert swordsman: Jon is a talented swordsman, having been trained by Ser Rodrik Cassel, Winterfell's Maester-at-arms, and excelling in the use of the blade. His skills are seen in both novels and TV series alike. In the TV series, Jon demonstrates his prowess by overpowering and killing many Thenns in the Battle of Castle Black. Later during the Massacre at Hardhome, Jon, uses his Valyrian steel sword, Longclaw, to hold his own against a White Walker and ultimately kill him. Additionally, in the TV series, Jon has developed a reputation as a great swordsman among the people in the North according to Ramsay Bolton.
- Skilled Hand-To-Hand Combatant: In the TV series, Jon is skilled in unarmed combat. This is shown during the Battle of Castle Black, as he is able to kill Styr despite being overpowered by him, using his fists.
- Archery skills: Jon has middling archery skills, shown mainly during the wildling attack of Castle Black, when he looses arrows against the attack. In TV series, when Mance Rayder is sentenced to death by burning alive, Jon shoots him with an arrow, killing Mance before the flames can consume him.
Lightbringer Theory
While Jon Snow is one of the main candidates for Azor Ahai reborn, there is another popular fan theory suggesting that Rhaegar Targaryen, Jon Snow's presumed father (and canon father in the show), was in fact Azor Ahai, with Jon representing Lightbringer, Azor Ahai's magical sword. There are many symbolic parallels between the story of Lightbringer and Azor Ahai and the story of Rhaegar Targaryen. In the original tale, Azor Ahai forged three swords. The first broke in water, the second broke after stabbing a lion's heart, but the third was plunged in the heart of his wife, Nissa Nissa, and remained intact and was imbued with her power, becoming Lightbringer. In relations to Rhaegar, the first sword in water represents his death of the Trident, the second sword by a lion symbolizes the death of Rhaegar's children at the hands of Lannister bannermen, and the third sword, Lightbringer, represents Jon Snow, with Nissa Nissa being Lyanna Stark. If true, this means that Jon Snow is, in fact, the Prince That Was Promised, the sword destined to lead the fight of humanity against the darkness.
Quotes
| “ | Growing up, Lady Catelyn made sure I knew I wasn't a Stark, no matter how much blood I shared with her trueborn children. But where their name rules over the North, mine is the North. Snow. | „ |
| ~ Jon in Histories & Lore |
| “ | There's no shame in fear, my father told me, what matters is how we face it. | „ |
| ~ Jon to Samwell Tarly |
| “ | Tyrion Lannister had claimed that most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, but Jon was done with denials. He was who he was; Jon Snow, bastard and oathbreaker, motherless, friendless, and damned. For the rest of his life—however long that might be—he would be condemned to be an outsider, the silent man standing in the shadows who dares not speak his true name. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Jon, while deserting the Night's Watch, before being convinced not to do it and go back. |
| “ | Catelyn Tully was a mouse, or she would have smothered this Jon Snow in his cradle. Instead, she's left the filthy task to me. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Cersei Lannister, after learning that Jon Snow became Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and is giving hospitality to Stannis Baratheon. |
| “ | Cersei: Snow shares Lord Eddard's taste for treason too. The father would have handed the realm to Stannis. The son has given him lands and castles. Pycelle: The Night's Watch is sworn to take no part in the wars of the Seven Kingdoms. For thousands of years the black brothers have upheld that tradition. Cersei: Until now. The bastard boy has written us to avow that the Night's Watch takes no side, but his actions give the lie to his words. He has given Stannis food and shelter, yet has the insolence to plead with us for arms and men. Orton Merryweather: An outrage. We cannot allow the Night's Watch to join its strength to that of Lord Stannis. Harys Swyft: We must declare this Snow a traitor and a rebel. The black brothers must remove him. Pycelle: [nods] I propose that we inform Castle Black that no more men will be sent to them until such time as Snow is gone. |
„ |
| ~ Cersei Lannister and her small council, discussing the matter of Lord Snow at the Wall. |
| “ | Jon: You're right. There's no need for a battle. Thousands of men don't need to die. Only one of us. Let's end this old way. You against me. Ramsay: I keep hearing stories about you, bastard. The way people the North talk about you. You're the greatest swordsman who ever walked. Maybe you are that good. Maybe not. I don't know if i'd beat you, but I know that my army would beat yours. I have 6000 men. You have what? Half that? Not even? Jon: Aye. You have the numbers. Will your men want to fight for you, when they hear you wouldn't fight for them? |
„ |
| ~ Jon confronting Ramsay Bolton and challenging him to a one-on-one duel (TV Series only). |
| “ | He's never been a bastard. He's the heir to the Iron Throne. | „ |
| ~ Bran Stark about Jon Snow's true origins (TV series only). |
Chapter and Appearances
Novels
A Game of Thrones
- Bran I - Chapter 2 (Appeared)
- Jon I - Chapter 5
- Catelyn II - Chapter 6 (mentioned)
- Arya I - Chapter 7 (appeared)
- Bran II - Chapter 8 (mentioned)
- Tyrion I - Chapter 9 (mentioned)
- Jon II - Chapter 10
- Tyrion II - Chapter 13 (mentioned)
- Sansa I - Chapter 15 (mentioned)
- Brain III - Chapter 17 (appeared in dream)
- Jon III - Chapter 19
- Eddard IV - Chapter 20 (appeared)
- Tyrion III - Chapter 21 (appeared)
- Arya II - Chapter 22 (mentioned)
- Brain IV - Chapter 24 (mentioned)
- Jon IV - Chapter 26
- Eddard VI -Chapter 27 (mentioned)
- Arya III - Chapter 32 (mentioned)
- Catelyn VI - Chapter 34 (mentioned)
- Eddard IX - Chapter 35 (mentioned)
- Bran V - Chapter 37 (mentioned)
- Jon V - Chapter 41
- Sansa III - Chapter 44 (mentioned)
- Eddard XII - Chapter 45 (mentioned)
- Jon VI - Chapter 48
- Arya IV - Chapter 50 (mentioned)
- Jon VII - Chapter 52
- Eddard XV - Chapter 58 (mentioned)
- Jon VIII - Chapter 60
- Arya V - Chapter 65 (mentioned)
- Bran VIII - Chapter 66 (mentioned)
- Jon IX - Chapter 70
A Clash of Kings
- Arya I - Chapter 2 (mentioned)
- Bran I - Chapter 4 (mentioned)
- Jon I - Chapter 6
- Arya III - Chapter 9 (mentioned)
- Theon I - Chapter 11 (mentioned)
- Jon II - Chapter 13
- Arya V - Chapter 19 (mentioned)
- Jon III - Chapter 23
- Tyrion VI - Chapter 25 (mentioned)
- Catelyn IV - Chapter 33 (mentioned)
- Jon IV - Chapter 34
- Jon V - Chapter 43
- Jon VI - Chapter 51
- Jon VII - Chapter 53
- Catelyn VII - Chapter 55 (mentioned)
- Sansa V - Chapter 57 (mentioned)
- Theon VI - Chapter 66 (mentioned)
- Jon VIII - Chapter 68
A Storm of Swords
- Prologue - (appeared/mentioned)
- Arya I - Chapter I (mentioned)
- Jon I - Chapter 7
- Jon II - Chapter 15
- Jon III - Chapter 26
- Jon IV - Chapter 30
- Jon V - Chapter 41
- Arya VIII - Chapter 43 (mentioned)
- Catelyn V - Chapter 45 (mentioned)
- Jon VI - Chapter 48
- Jon VII - Chapter 55
- Jon VIII - Chapter 64
- Jon IX - Chapter 69
- Jon X - Chapter 73
- Samwell IV - Chapter 75 (appeared)
- Jon XI - Chapter 76
- Jon XII - Chapter 79
A Feast for Crows
- Samwell I - Chapter 5 (mentioned)
- Samwell II - Chapter 15 (mentioned)
- Samwell IV - Chapter 35 (mentioned)
- Alayne II - Chapter 41 (mentioned)
- Samwell V - Chapter 45 (mentioned)
A Dance for Dragons
- Prologue - Chapter 0 (mentioned)
- Jon I - Chapter 3
- Jon II - Chapter 7
TV Series
Trivia
- In the television series, it was revealed that Jon's real name is Aegon Targaryen. His father Rhaegar named him the same as his other son from Elia. In the books, in Westeros there is no such thing as a "divorce/marriage annulment": no man or woman can make a marriage annulment, unless it is for specific reasons to convince the High Septon, and still only these: if the marriage was never consumed or if one of the couple is already married to a living individual. The only thing Rhaegar would be able to do would be legitimization, nothing more (however only kings have such power). If such thing happened, Rhaegar could have still named Jon with another name and not the same as his first son, Prince Aegon. If that's the case, it is speculated that Jon's birth name in the novels might be Jaehaerys Targaryen, or possibly just Jon Targaryen.
- Furthemore, Rhaegar wouldn't have wanted to risk angering the Dornish like that. Even if Rhaegar hypothetically pressured the High Septon into granting him an annulment on some false pretext or another this would greatly anger the Martells and possibly make them rise in open revolt against the Targaryens, especially since her children were heirs to the Iron Throne.
- It is generally suspected that Rhaegar wanted a second marriage because he believed he needed to have three children to fulfill part of the prophecy about The Prince That Was Promised - that the "Prince" would actually be three people acting together. Elia Martell had very frail health, however, and her first two pregnancies nearly killed her, and the maesters said she would not survive another.
- It is speculated on why the TV showrunners would make such an oversimplification from a polygamous marriage to an annulment, and believed that Benioff and Weiss wanted to make Jon Snow unquestionably the rightful heir to the Iron Throne - when in reality, even in the books, there is no scenario under which his inheritance would not be challenged by his enemies. Rebel armies don't care about the legality of words on paper, all they need is a pretext. Rhaegar may have taken Lyanna as a second wife in the books, but Jon's enemies may counter with arguments against the lawfulness of this marriage within the rules the Faith, and rebel movements would use that argument against them. A marriage annulment would simply be considered unlawful, no matter what. Also, bastard or not, compared to Jon's, Aegon Targaryen's claim, if confirmed authentic, would still be superior.
- Also there's still the fact that the Baratheons deposed the Targaryens and were accepted as the new rulers. The Targaryens lost every castle and rights in Westeros and as long as Stannis Baratheon lives in the books, he is the actual rightful monarch of the Iron Throne. Even if every Baratheon dies, the Targaryens remain exiled by the Westerosi and Robert's bastards and House Florent would still hold valid claims. Edric Storm, being the only male bastard acknowledged by Robert as highborn would have the best chance to be legitimized before any other bastard.
- In both novels and TV show, Jon is ordered by Qhorin Halfhand to kill him in order to complete an infiltration mission, since Qhorin was already doomed to be tortured to death by the wildlings anyway. However, in the novels Jon is ultimately unable to stab Qhorin, as he cannot bear to commit the deed. It is his direwolf, Ghost, who ends up killing Qhorin, in defense of Jon and thinking that Qhorin was seriously assaulting Jon. In the TV show, this was changed by having Jon being able to mortally stab Qhorin with his sword Longclaw.
- While in the TV series, Jon died in the finale of Season 5 and was resurrected by Melisandre in the second episode of Season 6, his fate is uncertain in the novels, as George R.R. Martin has neither confirmed nor denied Jon's presence in the upcoming novel, The Winds of Winter. He has implied that he's not done with Jon yet.
- It is speculated that his mind is on his wargs, Ghost, and Jon's mind will return to his body when this will be resurected, but more animal than before.
- In Game of Thrones, Jon Snow is the second of three characters to kill a White Walker, the others being Samwell Tarly and Meera Reed.
- Jon's plot before his stabbing varies depending on version. While in the novels, Snow receives a letter from Ramsay Bolton threatening him to storm Castle Black and enlists the help of the wildings in going to Winterfell to kill Ramsay himself, in the TV series, Jon dies after he rescues the wildlings from Hardhome and grants them safe passage into the Seven Kingdoms.
- However, in Game of Thrones, Jon receives the letter from Ramsay after his resurrection and after reuniting with his half-sister Sansa, Ramsay's TV show bride. Just like in the books, Jon decides to fight back against the Boltons and succeeds leaving Castle Black to fight against Ramsay.
- While in the novels, Jon possesses the strong supernatural power of skinchaging, common among the wildlings and Starks (but also found throughout all Westeros in general, even if rarely identified), in the TV series, these abilities are rarely if ever mentioned. In the books, Jon is able to inhabit his direwolf, Ghost, and has wolf dreams, but he is untrained and unaware of his true potential. He is one of the three wargs in the novels, the other two being his half-siblings Bran and Arya, while in the TV show, only Bran's warging abilities are shown. George R. R. Martin confirmed that all the Starks children of this generation are wargs.
- If the novels ever confirm that Jon is Rhaegar and Lyanna's son (where he's more likely to be their bastard), his paternal great-grandparents will be King Jaehaerys II Targaryen and Queen Shaera Targaryen, who are the parents of King Aerys II Targaryen.
- This differs from the TV series, which omitted Jaehaerys II from the Targaryen dynasty's lineage, making King Aegon V Targaryen the father of King Aerys II and the paternal great-grandfather of Jon instead.
External Links
- Jon Snow on the A Wiki of Ice and Fire
- Jon Snow on the Game of Thrones Wiki
- Jon Snow on the Inconsistently Admirable Wiki
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