R+L=J Theory

R+L=J is a fan theory based on George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire, as well as the television adaptation of those novels, Game of Thrones. This theory proposes that Jon Snow was not born to Eddard "Ned" Stark and an unknown woman, as the novels and series lead readers and watchers to believe. Rather, he is the son of Ned's sister, Lyanna Stark as well as prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Thus, "R+L=J" is an abbreviation for "Rhaegar + Lyanna = Jon."^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Background

In 281 AC, Lord Walter Whent held the tourney of Harrenhal and invited many noble lords from all over the Seven Kingdoms. Among them was prince Rhaegar Targaryen, the son of the Mad King Aerys Targaryen. Since Rhaegar was the winner of the tourney, he was to crown any of the women present at the tourney as the new queen of love and beauty. What then happens is what Eddard Stark later recalls as "the moment when all smiles died." Rhaegar rode past his wife, the Dornish princess Elia Martell, and placed a crown of blue roses in the lap of Lyanna Stark.^[6]

Some time later, Rhaegar seemingly abducted Lyanna and they both disappeared. This was cause for a strong reaction from the House Stark of Winterfell, one that ultimately resulted in Brandon Stark I. and Rickard Stark being put to death by the order of the King.^[7] Aerys Targaryen then called for the heads of Lord Eddard Stark as well as Lord Robert Baratheon of Storm's End, both of whom were in the Eyrie under Jon Arryn's care. Jon Arryn refused to hand them to the King, an act that was considered to be the start of the war.^[8]

It is believed that when Rhaegar and Lyanna disappeared, they went to the Tower of Joy in Dorne. They stayed there for most of Robert's Rebellion, which lasted around a year, until Rhaegar went off to battle Robert in single combat. This was called the Battle of the Trident, and ended with Robert slaying Rhaegar with his warhammer.^[7]

After the king was overthrown and Rhaegar was killed, Ned and his men rode to the Tower of Joy to find Lyanna. There, they found three of the late Aerys Targaryen's Kingsguard protecting the tower. A battle ensues in which all three Kingsguard are killed, as well as most of Ned's men. The only remaining survivors, Ned and his companion Howland Reed, then go up the tower to find Lyanna in a "bed of blood." She dies shortly after entrusting her brother with a promise.^[9] Ned later returns from the war with a bastard son, and would never speak of the child's mother to anyone.^[10]

The R+L=J theory states that contrary to common belief that Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna, he in fact ran away with her and they hid in the Tower of Joy. There, the two spent around a year together in which Rhaegar is said to have impregnated Lyanna with a baby boy that Ned later raises as his own illegitimate son. According to the theory, Lyanna dies soon after giving birth to Jon.^[1][2][3][4]

Suggested evidence

• The "bed of blood" that Ned found Lyanna in^[6] alone is said to be a strong implication of a bed of childbirth. Ned recalls that she had lost her strength to a fever, which suggests the unlikeliness that she had been killed.^[5]
• While in her dying bed, Lyanna extracted a promise from Ned.^[7] There is speculation on what that promise was, but it is widely believed that Lyanna had entrusted Ned with protecting her newborn child and raising him as his own.
• Arya Stark, Ned's youngest daughter, is said to strongly resemble Jon out of the other Stark children,^[11] and Arya has been described by her father as similar to Lyanna in looks and character.^[12]
• When Ned and his companions reach the Tower of Joy, they are confronted by Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Gerold Hightower.^[9] The fact that three out of seven of the Kingsguard were entrusted with protecting the Tower of Joy, instead of protecting King Aerys, or fighting by Rhaegar's side at the Battle of the Trident, or protecting Aerys's other children (Viserys and Daenerys), is cause for speculation that something of great importance was in the tower–presumably Rhaegar's attempt to protect his family's dynasty.
• When Daenerys Targaryen visits the House of the Undying in Qarth, she has a vision of a "blue flower [growing] from a chink in a wall of ice, [filling] the air with sweetness".^[13] Ned recalls that Lyanna loved the smell of blue winter roses, and associates her with them several times throughout the book.^{[6][7][14][15]} Jon is a member of the Night's Watch, and is present at the Wall at the time of Daenerys' vision.
• While all of the Stark children's direwolves have dark fur, Jon's direwolf, Ghost, has white hair.^[16] White hair is a common trait among Targaryens.^[17][18][19]
• The defining character trait of Eddard Stark is that he is an "honest and honorable" man, and therefore would not have a child with a woman he did not know out of wedlock.^[20][21]

Reaction by involved creators

Actor Sean Bean, who plays Ned Stark on the HBO TV series, when asked in a 2014 interview about returning to the series to appear in flashbacks, affirmed the theory regarding Jon Snow's parentage, saying, "I've definitely got some unfinished business that needs to be resolved there. I'm obviously not Jon Snow's dad. And you need that to be revealed at some point, don't you?"^[22]

References

1. Runcie, Charlotte (August 12, 2014). "Game of Thrones: the biggest secret revealed?". The Daily Telegraph.
2. Dodds, Eric (August 12, 2014). "Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin Admits Fans Discovered Plot Twist". Time.
3. Wigler, Josh (July 15, 2014). "This 'Game Of Thrones' Theory Will Blow Jon Snow Fans' Minds". MTV News.
4. Graham, Daniella (May 5, 2015). "Did Game Of Thrones just confirm one of the biggest Jon Snow fan theories?". Metro.
5. García, Elio M.; Antonsson, Linda. "The Citadel: FAQ - 6.2.1. Who are Jon Snow's parents?". Westeros: The A Song of Ice and Fire Domain.
6. Martin, George R.R. (1996). A Game of Thrones. New York City: Bantam Books. pp. 524–531. ISBN 0-553-10354-7.
7. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 33–40
8. Martin A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 18–22
9. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 354–359
10. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 49–56
11. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 57–63
12. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 181–189
13. Martin, George R. R. (1999). A Clash of Kings. New York City: Bantam Books. pp. 523–532. ISBN 0-553-10803-4.
14. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 401–408
15. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 419–429
16. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 11–17
17. Bricken, Rob (January 25, 2013). "All the Game of Thrones Fan Theories You Absolutely Need to Know". io9.
18. Shepherd, Jack (April 26, 2016). "Game of Thrones season 6: Melisandre twist could fit perfectly with 'Jon Snow is Azor Ahai' theory". The Independent.
19. Martin, George R.R.; García, Elio M. (2014). "Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria", The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones. Bantam Books.
20. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. Chapter 58
21. Martin, George R.R. (2000). A Storm of Swords. New York City: Bantam Books. Chapter 76. ISBN 0-553-10663-5.
22. Vineyard, Jennifer (July 17, 2014). "Sean Bean on Legends, Method Acting, and Game of Thrones Flashbacks". Vulture