Editing Jon Snow (character) (section)

===Parentage===
<!-- This section is the redirect destination of [[R+L=J]] and [[R+L=J fan theory]] -->
The identity of Jon's mother has created much speculation among readers of the series, and guessing her identity was the test Martin gave Benioff and Weiss when they approached him in March 2006 about adapting his novels into a TV series.<ref name="Buzzfeed">{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/this-game-of-thrones-fan-theory-will-blow-your-mind? |title=This ''Game Of Thrones'' Fan Theory Will Blow Your Mind |first=Jenna |last=Guillaume |publisher=[[BuzzFeed]] |date=July 16, 2014 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717152542/http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/this-game-of-thrones-fan-theory-will-blow-your-mind |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Collider 2013">{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/game-of-thrones-season-3-4-george-r-r-martin-interview/ |title=Producers David Benioff, Dan Weiss & George R.R. Martin Talk ''Game of Thrones'' Season 3 and 4, Martin's Cameo, the End of the Series, and More |first=Christina |last=Radish |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |year=2013 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001234231/http://collider.com/game-of-thrones-season-3-4-george-r-r-martin-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Variety 2007-01">{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Michael|title=HBO turns ''Fire'' into fantasy series|work=Variety |date=January 16, 2007|access-date=July 11, 2014|url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/hbo-turns-fire-into-fantasy-series-1117957532/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120516224747/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957532?refCatId=14|archive-date=May 16, 2012}}</ref> In the novels, characters believe that she could be a servant named Wylla, or the noblewoman Ashara Dayne.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latintimes.com/winds-winter-plot-spoilers-who-jon-snows-mother-plus-rlj-explained-169991 |title=''The Winds Of Winter'' Plot Spoilers: Who Is Jon Snow's Mother? |work=[[Latin Times]] |first=Donovan |last=Longo |date=May 1, 2014 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808123201/http://www.latintimes.com/winds-winter-plot-spoilers-who-jon-snows-mother-plus-rlj-explained-169991 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/87971-alternate-jon-snow-parentage-theories-in-case-game-of-thrones-shoots-down-rlj |title=Alternate Jon Snow Parentage Theories In Case ''Game Of Thrones'' Shoots Down R+L=J |first=Jefferson |last=Grubbs |date=June 7, 2015 |work=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]] |access-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808153923/https://www.bustle.com/articles/87971-alternate-jon-snow-parentage-theories-in-case-game-of-thrones-shoots-down-rlj |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://zap2it.com/2014/10/winds-of-winter-jon-snow-parents-rhaegar-lyanna-game-of-thrones/ |title=Jon Snow's parents to be revealed in ''Winds of Winter''? |publisher=[[Zap2it]] |first=Terri |last=Schwartz |date=October 24, 2014 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-date=October 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005002314/http://zap2it.com/2014/10/winds-of-winter-jon-snow-parents-rhaegar-lyanna-game-of-thrones/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The popular fan theory—called '''R+L=J''', an abbreviation of "Rhaegar + Lyanna = Jon"—proposes that Jon is not the son of Ned at all, but is actually the son of [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] and Ned's younger sister [[Lyanna Stark]],<ref name="Buzzfeed" /><ref name="RLJ youtube">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHqzFwodZqQ |title=R+L=J: who are Jon Snow's parents? |publisher=[[YouTube]] |author=Alt Shift X |date=July 12, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2014 |archive-date=December 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220063051/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHqzFwodZqQ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BI 2014-07">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-jon-snows-parents-theory-2014-7 |title=Fans Have A Crazy ''Game Of Thrones'' Theory About Jon Snow's True Parentage |first=Frank |last=Pallotta |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=June 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626050539/http://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-jon-snows-parents-theory-2014-7 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Ned feigned dishonor and claimed the nephew to be his own child in order to protect Jon from harm.

Though the character is presented as the illegitimate son of Ned Stark,<ref name="NYT 2011-08"/><ref name="NYT Dance 2011-07"/>{{sfn|Martin|1996|pp=49-56}}  David Orr voiced the doubt of some readers when he wrote in ''The New York Times'' in 2011, "Jon Snow is presented as the illegitimate son of the Stark patriarch, although it's uncertain whether Stark is indeed his father."<ref name="NYT 2011-08"/> Actor [[Sean Bean]], who portrays Ned in the HBO television series, said when asked in a 2014 interview about returning to the series to appear in flashbacks, "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?"<ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |date=July 17, 2014 |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/07/sean-bean-legends-game-thrones-chat.html |title=Sean Bean on ''Legends'', Method Acting, and ''Game of Thrones'' Flashbacks |work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |access-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615181400/http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/sean-bean-legends-game-thrones-chat.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The uncertainty arises from anecdotal evidence in the texts interpreted by readers to connect the mysterious maternity of Ned's son with the vague backstory of his sister Lyanna.<ref name="Buzzfeed"/><ref name="BI 2014-07"/><ref name=WesterosDomain>{{Cite web |last1=García |first1=Elio M. |last2=Antonsson |first2=Linda |title=The Citadel: FAQ – 6.2.1. Who are Jon Snow's parents? |url=http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_are_Jon_Snows_parents/ |publisher=Westeros: The A Song of Ice and Fire Domain |access-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001909/http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/Who_are_Jon_Snows_parents/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As recounted by Ned in ''A Game of Thrones'', at a [[tourney]] years before the events of the novel, Rhaegar had shown public favor to Lyanna in the presence of his own wife, the [[Dorne|Dornish]] princess [[Elia Martell]].{{sfn|Martin|1996|pp=607,608}} When Rhaegar and Lyanna disappeared a year later, her father [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] and eldest brother [[Brandon I Stark|Brandon]] confronted Rhaegar's father, the "Mad King" [[Aerys Targaryen]], demanding that his son return the abducted Lyanna. Aerys had Rickard and Brandon brutally executed for their insolence, inciting Ned and his friend [[Robert Baratheon]], Lord of  [[Storm's End]] and Lyanna's betrothed, to rebel against Aerys.{{sfn|Martin|1996|pp=39,40}}{{sfn|Martin|1996|pp=708,709}} In what later became known as Robert's Rebellion, Aerys was overthrown and Rhaegar was killed by Robert in [[single combat]].{{sfn|Martin|1996|pp=39,40}} After a bloody battle against three of Aerys' Kingsguard protecting the Tower of Joy in Dorne, Ned found Lyanna inside, in a "bed of blood." She died shortly after eliciting a promise from Ned.{{sfn|Martin|1996|pp=607,608}}{{sfn|Martin|1996|pp=39,40}} Once the war was won, he returned to Winterfell with his supposed illegitimate son Jon.{{sfn|Martin|1996|pp=49-56}}

The R+L=J theory posits that rather than Rhaegar kidnapping Lyanna, they fell in love and ran away together. Living for a year in the Tower of Joy, they conceived a child—Jon. Rhaegar was killed in battle by Robert, and Lyanna died in childbirth.<ref name=MTV>{{Cite web|author = Wigler, Josh|date = July 15, 2014|title = This ''Game of Thrones'' Theory Will Blow Jon Snow Fans' Minds|url = http://www.mtv.com/news/1868295/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-mother/|publisher = [[MTV News]]|access-date = June 14, 2016|archive-date = December 11, 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171211054015/http://www.mtv.com/news/1868295/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-mother/|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name=Metro>{{Cite web |title=Did ''Game Of Thrones'' just confirm one of the biggest Jon Snow fan theories? |url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/05/did-game-of-thrones-season-5-just-confirm-one-of-the-biggest-fan-theories-5180404/ |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |last=Graham |first=Daniella |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728122658/http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/05/did-game-of-thrones-season-5-just-confirm-one-of-the-biggest-fan-theories-5180404/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ned promised Lyanna on her deathbed to claim the baby as his own to protect him from Robert, who sought to exterminate all Targaryens out of hatred and to secure his claim to the throne.<ref name=Metro/>

HBO's ''Game of Thrones'' has included in its adaptation many of the "hints" identified by this theory.<ref name="VF R+L=J">{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-parents-lyanna-stark-rhaegar-targaryen|title=All The Times ''Game of Thrones'' Tried to Tell You Who Jon Snow's Parents Are|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|first=Joanna|last=Robinson|date=June 26, 2016|access-date=June 27, 2016|archive-date=November 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118123421/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-parents-lyanna-stark-rhaegar-targaryen|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[Game of Thrones season 6|season 6]] finale, "[[The Winds of Winter (Game of Thrones)|The Winds of Winter]]", [[Bran Stark]] has a vision of the past which shows Ned reuniting with a dying Lyanna in the Tower of Joy. Lyanna makes him promise to protect her son—Jon.<ref name="VF R+L=J"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/6/26/12029644/winds-of-winter-recap-jon-snow-parents|title=''Game of Thrones'' just revealed Jon Snow's real parents|work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|first=Matthew|last=Yglesias|author-link=Matthew Yglesias|date=June 26, 2016|access-date=June 27, 2016|archive-date=August 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831185907/https://www.vox.com/2016/6/26/12029644/winds-of-winter-recap-jon-snow-parents|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/06/26/game-of-thrones-season-6-finale-recap-the-winds-of-winter/|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|title=''Game of Thrones'' Season 6 Finale Recap: 'The Winds of Winter'|last=Calia|first=Michael|date=June 26, 2016|access-date=June 27, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817123724/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/06/26/game-of-thrones-season-6-finale-recap-the-winds-of-winter/|url-status=live}}</ref> An infographic subsequently posted on the HBO-controlled website MakingGameofThrones.com confirmed Rhaegar as Jon's father.<ref name="HBO Rhaegar">{{cite web |url=http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/production-diary/got-connections-ned-promise-tower-of-joy-infographic |title=See the Connections Behind Ned's Promise With This Infographic |publisher=MakingGameofThrones.com ([[HBO]]) |date=June 28, 2016 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629193851/http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/production-diary/got-connections-ned-promise-tower-of-joy-infographic |archive-date=June 29, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Hibberd EW Jon">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/26/game-thrones-jon-snow-mother |title=''Game of Thrones'' finale confirms game-changing fan theory |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=James |last=Hibberd |date=June 26, 2016 |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630125802/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/26/game-thrones-jon-snow-mother |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="io9 Jon">{{cite web |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/you-can-stop-second-guessing-that-big-jon-snow-revelati-1782810006 |title=You Can Stop Second-Guessing That Big Jon Snow Revelation from the Finale |publisher=[[io9]] |first=Rob |last=Bricken |date=June 29, 2016 |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-date=July 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705211540/http://io9.gizmodo.com/you-can-stop-second-guessing-that-big-jon-snow-revelati-1782810006 |url-status=live }}</ref> Journalists later commented on the significance of two plot points in the [[Game of Thrones season 7|season 7]] episode "[[Eastwatch]]". One of [[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s dragons, Drogon, approaches Jon calmly and allows the King in the North to pet him, seemingly recognizing him as a Targaryen.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/recap/game-of-thrones-eastwatch/|title=''Game of Thrones'' recap: 'Eastwatch' (Part 1)|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=James|last=Hibberd|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 15, 2017|page=1|archive-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125022130/http://ew.com/recap/game-of-thrones-eastwatch/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2017/08/13/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-dragons-drogon-targaryen/|title=Apparently ''Game of Thrones'' dragons enjoy the smell of Jon Snow|first=Peter Allen|last=Clark|publisher=[[Mashable]]|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118205114/http://mashable.com/2017/08/13/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-dragons-drogon-targaryen/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/does-drogon-know-jon-snow-is-a-targaryen-on-game-of-thrones-daenerys-dragon-may-sense-the-secret-76306|title=Does Drogon Know Jon Snow Is A Targaryen On ''Game Of Thrones''? Daenerys' Dragon May Sense The Secret|first=Leah|last=Thomas|website=Bustle|date=August 13, 2017|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825020303/https://www.bustle.com/p/does-drogon-know-jon-snow-is-a-targaryen-on-game-of-thrones-daenerys-dragon-may-sense-the-secret-76306|url-status=live}}</ref> Later, [[Gilly (A Song of Ice and Fire)|Gilly]] learns from a book at the Citadel that a High Septon [[annulled]] Rhaegar's marriage, and married him to someone else in Dorne, suggesting the possibility that Jon is the legitimate son of Rhaegar and Lyanna.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/recap/game-of-thrones-eastwatch/3/|title=''Game of Thrones'' recap: 'Eastwatch' (Part 3)|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=James|last=Hibberd|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 15, 2017|page=3|archive-date=August 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817040245/http://ew.com/recap/game-of-thrones-eastwatch/3/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4898856/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-parents-annulment/|title=''Game of Thrones'' Just Slipped in a Huge Reveal About Jon Snow's Parents|first=Megan|last=McCluskey|magazine=Time|date=August 13, 2017|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822062521/http://time.com/4898856/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-parents-annulment/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/game-of-thrones-gilly-book-rhaegar-annulled-marriage-lyanna-stark-elia-jon-snow-not-a-bastard-eastwatch|title=''Game of Thrones'': The Massive Bombshell Hidden in Gilly's Book|first=Joanna|last=Robinson|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=August 13, 2017|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001140141/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/game-of-thrones-gilly-book-rhaegar-annulled-marriage-lyanna-stark-elia-jon-snow-not-a-bastard-eastwatch|url-status=live}}</ref> The season 7 finale episode "[[The Dragon and the Wolf]]" confirmed that Jon is indeed the legitimate son of Rhaegar and Lyanna, and that his birth name is actually Aegon Targaryen.<ref name="EW 7.7 recap">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/recap/game-of-thrones-finale-dragon-wolf/6/|title=''Game of Thrones'' finale recap: 'The Dragon and the Wolf'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=James|last=Hibberd|date=August 28, 2017|access-date=August 28, 2017|archive-date=August 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829033323/http://ew.com/recap/game-of-thrones-finale-dragon-wolf/6/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="EW 7.7 Jon">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/08/28/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-aegon-parents/|title=''Game of Thrones'': How that Jon Snow twist changes everything|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=James|last=Hibberd|date=August 28, 2017|access-date=August 28, 2017|archive-date=December 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229144814/http://ew.com/tv/2017/08/28/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-aegon-parents/|url-status=live}}</ref>