Here's Jon Snow's Official Title Now That He Knows He's Heir to the Iron Throne

Photo credit: HBO
Photo credit: HBO

From Harper's BAZAAR

Game of Thrones Season 8 has so far been filled with long-awaited reunions between various fan-favorite characters, including Night Watch BFFs Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly, who haven't been onscreen together since the Season 5 finale nearly four years ago. Unfortunately, their reunion wasn't the lovefest fans were hoping for, because Sam dropped a bombshell on his friend.

After learning that Jon's new lover and partner Daenerys had Sam’s father and brother executed, Sam lashed out in his grief and told Jon about his true parentage: He is Aegon Targaryen, the secret son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Which means he's been sleeping with his aunt. Whoops.

But it also means, as Sam so succinctly puts it, that Jon is "Aegon Targaryen, sixth of his name, protector of the realm, all of it."

Photo credit: HBO
Photo credit: HBO

So what exactly is Jon's official royal title? Well, based on what the show has established via Robert Baratheon and his son Joffrey when they were each king, Jon's official title is at least: Aegon of Houses Targaryen and Stark, Sixth of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. (For those diehard fans who know there were actually eight Aegon Targaryens before Jon Snow, you’re right-but for the purposes of a royal title, they only count the ones who have sat on the throne. Therefore, Jon would be the sixth of his name, not the ninth.)

As we've all heard many times over the years, other things can be added to a title, like with Daenerys, whose lengthy royal title is Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.

With that in mind, there are several other names Jon could add to his royal title. He could definitely use "998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch" and "King in the North," both of which are actual titles bestowed on him in the show-though it might be weird to have “King” twice, especially since it’s moving backward to go from being king of all men to king of the Northmen.

The same goes for “the Prince That Was Promised.” There is a theory that Jon Snow is this prophesied savior called “the Prince That Was Promised,” who will defeat the Night King and his army of the undead. But it’s a little weird to use a “prince” title if you’re already the king, so that’s probably not a great choice.

We do like "the White Wolf," which Lord Wyman Manderly called Jon for avenging the Red Wedding after the Battle of the Bastards. And in a nice bit of symmetry with Daenerys being "the Unburnt," he could also use "the Resurrected," since Melisandre brought him back to life after the Night's Watch turned on him.

Fans have also made some tongue-in-cheek suggestions, like "Beater of Bastards," in reference to conquering Ramsay Bolton and his army, and "Knower of Nothing," which is a reference to his wildling lover Ygritte. But those might be a bit much.

So might we suggest: Aegon of Houses Targaryen and Stark, Sixth of His Name, the Resurrected, King of the Andals and the First Men, 998th Commander of the Night's Watch, the White Wolf, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. and Protector of the Realm.

We think Jon should take a page out of Joffrey’s book (literally the only page out of that book) and use both houses in his royal title. Though technically he should only use the house of his father, Targaryen, Jon obviously most identifies with House Stark, where he was raised. In the books, the Stark children actually comment about how unusual it is that Joffrey uses both names, but we all know he felt far more kinship with his mother’s house than his father’s (and biologically, Joffrey was only Lannister anyway).

So perhaps Aegon of Houses Targaryen and Stark and Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen can find a way to rule together, despite being aunt and nephew. They definitely both have titles fit for a king and queen.

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