Summary
One of the ongoing debates aboutGame of Thronesiswhether Daenerys Targaryen or Jon Snow was ultimately the Prince That Was Promised. TheGame of Thronesendingleft a lot to be desired, particularly for those who thought either Dany or Jon would end up on the Iron Throne. Throughout the show’s eight seasons, they both grew to be fan-favorite heroes, yet audiences watched them succumb to their awkward romance before their arcs practically collapsed in the final episodes, with Jon absent at the Battle of Winterfell and Dany falling into madness.
Perhaps the biggest lingering question concerns thePrince That Was Promised prophecy: whether it pertained to either character and whether it ever mattered in the first place. Readers of George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firenovel series know how vital the prophecy is to the mythology the author has built, but theGame of ThronesTV adaptation practically omitted it altogether. So, whilethere’s no clear answer to the question, Jon and Daenerys both have valuable information to back their cause.
10Daenerys Fits The Criteria For The Prince That Was Promised
Dany Seems Like The Ideal Fit, Given The Criteria Laid Out By Melisandre
The prophecy is scarcely mentioned inGame of Thrones, but there are some Melisandre quotes from the series and information from the book that can be used to determine the criteria. For starters,the Prince That Was Promised is said to be a hero who comes forth to deliver the world from darkness, implying the Long Night and the return of the White Walkers. That hero is said to have a “song” known as the song of ice and fire. The other criteria are as follows:
The first criteria immediately points to Daenerys Targaryen, as a “bleeding star” or rather a red comet, was seen following her rise from the pyre at the end ofGame of Thronesseason 1. So she wasreborn amidst salt and smoke, where she also woke dragons from stone(petrified dragon eggs). These are massive indicators, but the major flaw is that she doesn’t really save the realm from darkness. She undoubtedly helps in the Battle of Winterfell, but Arya is the one who kills the Night King, and Daenerys soon after falls into darkness herself.
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9Jon Snow Also Fits Most Of The Criteria For The Prince That Was Promised
GoT & ASOIAF Sneak In Ways To Tie The Prophecy To Jon Snow
Using information from the books and the show, Jon Snow can be categorized into many of these details, though not as cleanly. An important detail in Jon’s birth scene in the Tower of Joy is that Ned Stark lays Ser Arthur Dayne’s sword, which is covered in blood, at the foot of Lyanna Stark’s birthing bed. That sword, Dawn, was allegedly forged from a fallen star. So Jon was, in a sense, born beneath a bleeding star.
To add, when Jon is stabbed by his Night’s Watch brothers in the books, Martin explicitly uses the term “smoking” to describe his wounds. Bowen Marsh also cries “tears of salt” while stabbing him. So, Jon’s rebirth sees him “born amidst salt and smoke.” The most crucial aspect that fits Jon, however, is thathe’s ultimately the one who combats darkness. He’s the one who is forced to murder Daenerys at the end, protecting the realm at the cost of being sent into exile.
8Game Of Thrones Makes It Clear It Could Be The Princess That Was Promised
The Prophecy Translates From Valyrian, Where The Term For Prince Also Means Princess
One of the key reasons fans have pointed to Daenerys for the prophecy is because of the Valyrian translation of the prophecy. In season 7, Melisandre believes Dany might be the Prince That Was Promised, but Daenerys suggests that it’s impossible because she isn’t a prince.Missandei clarifies an important detail, which is that the High Valyrian word for “prince” is gender neutral, meaning it could also be the Princess That Was Promised.
This could also just be a red herring put in place, as it also doesn’t disqualify Jon.
In the books, Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch clarifies the same thing, making it clear that Daenerys being a woman doesn’t work against her. In fact, it’s commonly suggested thatbecauseMartin took the time to make this clarification, it serves as evidence in favor of Dany. This could also just be a red herring put in place, as it also doesn’t disqualify Jon. Or, the intention could be that there will be more than one Prince That Was Promised.
7Jon Snow Is The Son(g) Of Ice & Fire
Jon Is A Stark And A Targaryen
The title ofMartin’sA Song of Ice & Firebook seriesis quite telling as to what the saga is about in its entirety. Not to mention, Rhaegar Targaryen explicitly says that the Prince That Was Promised will have a song of ice and firein Dany’s House of the Undying vision in book 2. This could mean Jon is ice and Daenerys is fire, again supporting the idea that multiple characters fulfill the prophecy. However, it’s strange, given whatGame of Thronesrevealed about Jon.
Jon isn’t just a Stark bastard; he’s Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark’s son.He’s both ice and fire on his own, which distinguishes him and leaves no need for a second personto complete the prophecy with him. He could be the Prince That Was Promised all on his own.
6Daenerys' Appearance In Daemon Targaryen’s Vision
Daemon Targaryen Envisions Daenerys Giving Birth To Dragons
House of the Dragon’sintroduction ofAegon’s Dreamcontinues to expand on the Prince That Was Promised theory. The prequel show’sseason 2 finale saw Daemon Targaryen experience a vision at a weirwood tree, where he foresaw the coming of the White Walkers, the Three-Eyed Raven, and Daenerys Targaryen. The fact that Daenerys directly appeared led many to believe the show was confirming she was the Prince That Was Promised. Showrunner Ryan Condal (viaTHR) had this to say on the matter:
“Remember that Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, House of the Dragon in many ways, are warnings about the perils of power and people in power and absolute power … [and the reason there was no Jon Snow was] the connectivity for us is specifically in and around the dragons … The connectedness between this family and the family to come … We know who Daenerys is watching that image, but Daemon has no idea — that could be his future daughter with Rhaenyra … So for that reason, I think it was important that it was Daenerys the image. We are not trying to make any kind of specific interpretation of a prophecy that has yet to be revealed by its author. That is George’s space to tell that story.”
Regardless of what Condal says, it’s important that Daenerys shows up. It implies that, in some capacity,Dany is the ideal version of what Aegon’s Dream should represent. She’s a Targaryen who inspires thousands with her leadership, unites people of different cultures under a common goal, and even makes a miracle happen with her three dragons being born. ButGame of Thronesexists in a world where idealistic possibilities are often subverted, hence her succumbing to madness instead.
5Jon Snow Is The Biggest Hero In Game Of Thrones
Jon Unites The Realm Against The White Walkers And The Long Night
Daenerys may be a hero and one of the show’s most inspirational characters, but Jon Snow is the hero at the show’s end.He’s the one who kills Daenerys for the good of the realm, breaking his own heart and having himself sent beyond the Wall in exile after everything he’s done, just to protect the innocents and prevent further war. Not to mention, Jon is the one who rallies the wildings and the noble houses of Westeros to fight the dead in the first place.
Just because Jon doesn’t land the killing blow on the Night King doesn’t mean he didn’t defeat the White Walkers.
If the Prince That Was Promised prophecy is about a chosen one who will defend the realm from the darkness, then it’s hard to against Jon. He spends the entire series working toward fulfilling this purpose, andevenafter the White Walkers have been dealt with, he saves everyone from Daenerys. Just because Jon doesn’t land the killing blow on the Night King doesn’t mean he didn’t defeat the White Walkers.
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4Daenerys Brings Dragons Back To The World
Daenerys Is Special In Game Of Thrones, And That Has To Mean Something
Daenerys is undoubtedly special, and that contributes to much of the reasoning behind her being the Prince That Was Promised. TheGame of Thronesseason 1 finale shows her stepping into a burning pyre and coming out unscathed, with three baby dragons at her side.In a world of low-magic fantasy, this is an inexplicable, magical eventthat leads even a worldly man like Jorah Mormont to swear himself to her eternally.
Daenerys draws a powerful weapon, her dragons, from the flame and then uses them to combat the darkness.
As for the Lightbringer part of the prophecy, this is the closest comparison between the two characters. Daenerys draws a powerful weapon, her dragons, from the flame and then uses them to combat the darkness.Her dragons are instrumental in winning the war against the dead, and the narrative significance of her dragons being born in the first place can’t go understated.
3Jon Snow Was Resurrected By Melisandre
Jon Snow Is Special Too, But Melisandre’s Magic Is Questionable
Jon Snow is also special in a particular way, as he was murdered and brought back to life. Resurrection is not a common thing in Martin’s world, and the show only sees Beric Dondarrion experience it aside from Jon Snow. Especially given the ties between the Lord of Light and the Prince That Was Promised prophecy,Melisandre’s magic working on Jon seems to imply that he’s being brought back for some grander purpose.
However, anything to do with Melisandre needs to be treated with a grain of salt to some extent. She was horribly wrong about Stannis Baratheon, yet she was able to summon a shadow baby to kill Renly on his behalf.Melisandre suggests that her magic works on behalf of some divine order, but it often works in mysterious waysthat don’t necessarily reflect any more significant meaning.
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2Maester Aemon Thinks Daenerys Is The Prince That Was Promised
Aemon Thinks Daenerys Fits The Bill, But That’s In The Books
Maester Aemon is one of the wisest figures inA Song of Ice & Fire, and The Prince That Was Promised prophecy is something that’s weighed on him for a long time. Therefore, when he says it’s Daenerys, it must be noted. InA Feast for Crows,Aemon is on his deathbed, and he speaks about how he and Rhaegar had spent time decades prior considering the prophecyand its meaning. He said he considered Rhaegar to be the hero of the story, and then Rhaegar later considered his son.
But Aemon ends his monologue, declaring that Daenerys is the one and that he and Rhaegar were foolish for never considering it to be a woman. This is a man who’s spent years considering this carefully, whoknows Jon Snow well and admires him deeply, yet he dies adamant that Daenerys is the Prince That Was Promised and that it’s a fact, proven by her dragons.
1Jon Snow Fulfills The Azor Ahai Story
Jon & Daenerys Mirror Azor Ahai & Nissa Nissa
Metaphorically, comparisons can be made between Jon Snow’sGame of Thronesending and the Azor Ahai story from the books. Azor Ahai is often used synonymously with the Prince That Was Promised prophecy, but it has a slightly different meaning, specifically pertaining to the ancient hero from the following of R’hllor, the Lord of Light. In the story,Azor Ahai has a wife named Nissa Nissa, whom he sacrifices by stabbing her, thus creating the sword Lightbringer.
The comparison to be made here is with Jon Snow and Daenerys. Azor Ahai kills Nissa Nissa in order to create Lightbringer and defend the world against darkness.Jon kills Daenerys to end the cycle created by the Iron Throne, allowing Westeros to advance into a new age of peace and prosperity. It’s a messy comparison, but if one of these characters is believed to be Azor Ahai or the Prince That Was Promised, then the wayGame of Thronesmirrors this story is worth noting.
Sources:THR
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
