‘Game of Thrones’: Who Are The Men Named Aegon Targaryen?

Lawrence Yee
TV Game of Thrones
TV Game of Thrones

SPOILER ALERT: Warning, this article contains spoilers from the Season 7, Episode 7 of Game of Thrones, entitled “The Dragon and The Wolf.” Proceed at your own risk.

Game of Thrones fans have known Jon Snow’s true lineage since Season 6.

In Sunday’s Season 7 finale, they learned his true name: Aegon Targaryen. He is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.

Bran Stark used his greenseer abilities to witness the interaction between Jon’s mother, Lyanna, and her brother, Eddard. As she lay dying, Lyanna revealed the child’s name, and made her brother pledge to protect him.

Aegon Targaryen was the child of the secret union between Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.

Ned eventually claimed Jon as his own bastard son, carrying the secret to his death. However, the identity of Jon’s true parents is now known to Bran as well as Samwell Tarly, and they plan to tell Jon when he returns to Winterfell.

There are many implications to Jon learning his true identity. As Rhaegar was the crown prince and Jon a legitimate child, he is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. There’s also the uncomfortable reality that he just slept with his own aunt, Rhaegar’s younger sister Daenerys Targaryen.

Others Who Bore the Name

Jon isn’t the only person to bear the name Aegon Targaryen.

In fact, Rhaegar had another son named Aegon Targaryen. This Aegon was Rhaegar’s son with his first wife, Elia Martell. Aegon, his sister Rhaenys, and his mother were all killed in The Sack of King’s Landing by The Mountain.

To confuse matters more, Jon’s great-grandfather (and Rhaegar’s grandfather) was also named Aegon. This man, Aegon the Unlikely, sat on the Iron Throne. He was the father to “Mad King” Aerys Targaryen.

Still confused? Check out our primer on Aegon Targaryen above.

Let’s just hope that after he learns his true identity, the still-living Aegon will go by his much shorter name, Jon Snow.

Lawrence Yee
Lawrence is Editor in Chief of FANDOM. He grew up loving X-Men, Transformers, and Japanese-style role playing games like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. First-person shooters make him incredibly nauseous.