I know there are a lot of ASOIAF fans that read this board. I was reading a site where they discuss the books and came across a theory that I had never thought about, but which now makes a lot of sense to me. I figured I would bring it here for discussion. Maybe all of you will read this and think "duh, how did that not occur to you before". We shall see.
Basically, the whole point of the discussion was that Jon Snow currently has the best claim to the throne in Westeros. (this, of course, assumes that Snow is still alive or is brought back to life).
As I have read the books, I have always thought that an argument could be made that Dani, Aegon (young Griff) and Stannis are the 3 people who have the only legit claims to the throne. (You might include Tommen under the paradigm that possession is 9 tenths of the law).
It never really occurred to me that Jon Snow could figure into the conversation. I have always assumed that he is the son of Rhaegar Targaryean and Lyanna Stark, and that the fact he has Targ blood would play a key role in the future. But, I never thought about a scenario where he ends up sitting the iron throne in the end.
The basis of this discussion falls along the lines of the theory that Rhaegar married Lyanna and took her as a second wife, or considered himself somehow "divorced" from Ellia Martel, and married Lyanna as his only "current" wife. She later became pregnant and gave birth to Jon Snow.
Breaking down the rule of inheritance, in Westeros, as have been delineated by GRRM. When Jaime killed the Mad King, Rhaegar became king of Westeros. But, shortly thereafter, Rhaegar was killed by Robert B. The rule would then pass to Rhaegar's children before it would fall to the Mad King's other children (Danarys/Viserys). We know that Rhaegar had 2 kids. A daughter, Rhaenys, who was killed by the Mountain. A son, Aegon, who may or may not have been killed by the Mountain. (Either he really was killed and Aegon is an imposter, or an imposter was killed and Aegon is who he claims to be).
If Rhaegar had a 3rd legitimate child (Jon), he would be the rightful king if Aegon is proved to be an imposter, or if Aegon dies. I suspect that one of those 2 outcomes will come to fruition.
So, the question becomes, how can Jon be a legitimate child. I don't know the answer to that, but I do believe that Rhaegar considered him his heir. If you go back and read the conversation between Ned Stark and Sir Arthur Dayne, which took place at The Tower of Joy, it is pretty clear that the 3 Kingsguard who are at the tower, protecting Lyanna (and her recently born baby?) think that they are doing what they are doing as part of their responsibilities as Kingsguard.
See this essay for a good breakdown. https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/3d8817/spoilers_all_reading_between_the_lines_at_the/
It clearly makes sense that Dayne and his 2 buddies think they are protecting the rightful king (because, they believe that Arys, Rhaegar, Rhaenys and Aegon are already dead.).
That's it. Just some food for thought, but a theory that makes more and more sense the more I think about it.
Basically, the whole point of the discussion was that Jon Snow currently has the best claim to the throne in Westeros. (this, of course, assumes that Snow is still alive or is brought back to life).
As I have read the books, I have always thought that an argument could be made that Dani, Aegon (young Griff) and Stannis are the 3 people who have the only legit claims to the throne. (You might include Tommen under the paradigm that possession is 9 tenths of the law).
It never really occurred to me that Jon Snow could figure into the conversation. I have always assumed that he is the son of Rhaegar Targaryean and Lyanna Stark, and that the fact he has Targ blood would play a key role in the future. But, I never thought about a scenario where he ends up sitting the iron throne in the end.
The basis of this discussion falls along the lines of the theory that Rhaegar married Lyanna and took her as a second wife, or considered himself somehow "divorced" from Ellia Martel, and married Lyanna as his only "current" wife. She later became pregnant and gave birth to Jon Snow.
Breaking down the rule of inheritance, in Westeros, as have been delineated by GRRM. When Jaime killed the Mad King, Rhaegar became king of Westeros. But, shortly thereafter, Rhaegar was killed by Robert B. The rule would then pass to Rhaegar's children before it would fall to the Mad King's other children (Danarys/Viserys). We know that Rhaegar had 2 kids. A daughter, Rhaenys, who was killed by the Mountain. A son, Aegon, who may or may not have been killed by the Mountain. (Either he really was killed and Aegon is an imposter, or an imposter was killed and Aegon is who he claims to be).
If Rhaegar had a 3rd legitimate child (Jon), he would be the rightful king if Aegon is proved to be an imposter, or if Aegon dies. I suspect that one of those 2 outcomes will come to fruition.
So, the question becomes, how can Jon be a legitimate child. I don't know the answer to that, but I do believe that Rhaegar considered him his heir. If you go back and read the conversation between Ned Stark and Sir Arthur Dayne, which took place at The Tower of Joy, it is pretty clear that the 3 Kingsguard who are at the tower, protecting Lyanna (and her recently born baby?) think that they are doing what they are doing as part of their responsibilities as Kingsguard.
See this essay for a good breakdown. https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/3d8817/spoilers_all_reading_between_the_lines_at_the/
It clearly makes sense that Dayne and his 2 buddies think they are protecting the rightful king (because, they believe that Arys, Rhaegar, Rhaenys and Aegon are already dead.).
That's it. Just some food for thought, but a theory that makes more and more sense the more I think about it.
