--- title: Game of Thrones: The Best Theory Who Jon Snow's Mother Is description: Here's a (spoiler-free) argument that Jon Snow could be heir to the Iron Throne canonical: https://time.com/3003227/game-thrones-jon-snow-mother/ author: Eliana Dockterman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-07-18T00:20:43.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:57:51.571Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Game of Thrones: The Best Theory Who Jon Snow's Mother Is og:description: Here's a (spoiler-free) argument that Jon Snow could be heir to the Iron Throne og:url: https://time.com/3003227/game-thrones-jon-snow-mother/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3cbdd590ee1069b5/69869c3d3bc999ad8a1a496a/gameofthrones14_128_th.jpg?branch=production&width=263&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 263 og:image:height: 148 og:image:alt: gameofthrones14_128_th og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Game of Thrones: The Best Theory Who Jon Snow's Mother Is twitter:description: Here's a (spoiler-free) argument that Jon Snow could be heir to the Iron Throne twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3cbdd590ee1069b5/69869c3d3bc999ad8a1a496a/gameofthrones14_128_th.jpg?branch=production&width=263&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Best Theory About Jon Snow's Mother > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: 'Thrones' Catching Up With Book Plot Means Spoilers For All [Watch (HLS stream): 'Thrones' Catching Up With Book Plot Means Spoilers For All](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/j83INjRk.m3u8) (2:02)  _Published 2015-06-16. The day_  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent Jul 18, 2014 12:20 AM UTC  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent Jul 18, 2014 12:20 AM UTC Whether you’ve read all the _Song of Ice and Fire_ books by George R.R. Martin or just watched HBO’s _Game of Thrones_ TV show, you’ve probably looked for clues as to who Jon Snow’s mother really is. As far as Jon Snow knows, he’s the bastard son of Ned Stark. But some fans thinks Ned lied about Jon’s parentage. Jon may in fact be the son of Ned’s sister, Lyanna Stark, and the former king, Rhaegar Targaryan. That means that Jon Snow could have even more of a claim to the Iron Throne than Deanerys. The theory is known online as R+L=J and is elegantly summed up in this video by [Alt Shift X](https://www.youtube.com/user/JaiWbio). Don’t worry TV-only fans: there are no spoilers for plot lines to come. ### See The Real-Life People Who Inspired Game of Thrones Characters  From left: Cersei and Margaret of Anjou HBO; Getty Images  From Left: Khaleesi and Queen Elizabeth I. HBO; Getty Images  From Left: Melisandre and Bloody Mary Helen Sloan—HBO; Getty Images  From left: Talisa Stark and Anne Boleyn. Helen Sloan—HBO; Getty Images  From left: Brienne of Tarth and Joan of Arc. HBO; DeAgostini—Getty Images  From left: Henry VIII and Robert Baratheon. HBO; Getty Images  From left: Joffrey and Caligula. HBO; De Agostini—Getty Images ## Transcript The Game of Thrones season five finale aired sunday and with the end of the season the show has essentially caught up with George R. R. Martin's A song of Ice and Fire series. Throughout the course of the TV series websites like ScreenRant and CheatSheet have discussed the differences between the story told on TV and in Martin's books. But specifically in the last two episodes of season five, we saw new storylines not yet revealed to book readers, and some fans aren't so happy. Prepare for spoilers. In episode nine, Dance of Dragons, Stannis Baratheon most likely lost his entire fan base when he sacrificed his daughter at the stake in a last ditch effort to change his fate with the Lord of Light. Lord of Light, show us the way. Mother. This was one of the first plot lines that Martin suggested to show runners David Benioff and Dan Weiss making it a spoiler for his next book in the series. When George first told us about this, it was one of those moments where I remember looking at Dan I was just like, God that's so, it's so horrible, and so good in a story sense. Because it all comes together. As a result [ UNKNOWN ] wife [ UNKNOWN ] hangs herself in the season finale, right before [ UNKNOWN ] ill- fated march on Windsorfell. Stansis says later, seemingly murdered by, of all people [ UNKNOWN ]. Do you have any last words? In contrast the most recent book, A Dance with Dragons, has Stannis weathering a snow storm and managing depleting supplies and men. But the most confusing plot point for the show is one that the book readers new was coming, John Snows death. When John is stabbed at the end of the fifth novel it is unclear whether he just faints or actually dies. But in the show he's clearly murdered in a scene reminiscent of Julius Caesar's betrayal. This is obviously a big deal, the death of Jon Snow. It's something we've been thinking about for a long, long time. And although Kit Harrington, who plays Snow, and show runners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have all confirmed that Snow is Is in fact dead. Martin has avoided answering whether or not Snow will make appearance in the upcoming Winds for Windsor novel. The book is rumored for release later this year. 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