R+L=J theory
R+L=J is a fan theory based on George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy novels and their television adaptation, Game of Thrones. An abbreviation for "Rhaegar + Lyanna = Jon", the theory proposes that the character Jon Snow is not the illegitimate son of Eddard "Ned" Stark, but rather the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Ned's sister, Lyanna Stark.[1][2][3][4]
A Game of Thrones
In Martin's 1996 novel A Game of Thrones, Jon is introduced as the bastard son of Ned Stark, Lord of Winterfell.[5][6] In the story, it is explained that after marrying Catelyn Tully and fathering his heir Robb, Ned had returned from war with the infant Jon, whose mother he would never discuss with anyone.[7] 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."[5]
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.[1][2][3][8][9][10][11][12][13] Even actor Sean Bean, who portrays Ned Stark on the HBO TV series, affirmed the theory when asked in a 2014 interview about returning to the series to appear in flashbacks, 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?"[14]
Lyanna
As recounted by Ned, years before the events of the novel, Prince Rhaegar, the son of the Mad King Aerys Targaryen, had won a tourney. Required by custom to crown a woman present as the "queen of love and beauty", Rhaegar rode past his wife, the Dornish princess Elia Martell, and placed a crown of blue roses in the lap of Lyanna Stark. Ned called this "the moment when all smiles died".[15] When Rhaegar and Lyanna disappeared sometime later, her father Rickard Stark and eldest brother Brandon confronted Aerys, demanding that his son return the abducted Lyanna. Aerys had Rickard and Brandon put to death for their insolence, sparking Ned and his friend Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Lyanna's betrothed, to rebel against Aerys.[16][17]
In what later became known as Robert's Rebellion, Aerys was overthrown and Rhaegar was killed by Robert in single combat.[16] 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.[18] Once the war was won, he returned to Winterfell with his illegitimate son Jon.[7]
The R+L=J theory posits that rather than Rhaegar kidnapping Lyanna, they had run off together. Living for a year in the Tower of Joy, they conceived a child — Jon — whom Ned promised to protect on Lyanna's deathbed.[1][2][3][8][9]
References
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- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Martin A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 524–531.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 33–40
- ↑ Martin A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 18–22
- ↑ Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996), pp. 354–359
