Game of Thrones Secretly Revealed Egg’s Connection To Jon Snow & Daenerys

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The Targaryen family is famous for reusing names, especially “Aegon.” They did this to emphasize their right to rule and strengthen their political power. Aegon, the first ruler with that name, founded the Targaryen dynasty in Westeros. He united previously separate kingdoms, bringing them together under his rule.

Several characters in the series have been named Aegon, honoring the original Conqueror. We’ve seen three so far: Jon Snow, who is actually Aegon Targaryen, Aegon II in House of the Dragon, and Egg, also known as Prince Aegon, in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. As established in the original Game of Thrones, each of these Aegons has a traceable family history, and Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are even directly related to Egg.

Game of Thrones Hid Egg’s Relation to Jon Snow & Dany in Plain Sight

While stationed at Castle Black, Jon Snow developed a strong bond with Maester Aemon. When Jon learned his father, Ned Stark, had been imprisoned and his sisters taken hostage by the Lannisters in King’s Landing, he left the Night’s Watch to join Robb Stark’s army. However, his brothers brought him back. Upon his return, Maester Aemon spoke with Jon about the importance of fulfilling one’s obligations, famously stating, “Love is the death of duty.”

Maester Aemon then shared a stunning secret: he was actually Aemon Targaryen, son of Maekar Targaryen. He explained that he had once refused the throne, allowing it to pass to his brother, Aegon. Jon was shocked to finally understand the true identity of the man before him.

The character Aegon, known as Egg, appears in the current Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He later became King Aegon V, and his son, Jaehaerys II, went on to have Aerys II – better known as the Mad King. As fans of Game of Thrones will remember, the Mad King is Daenerys Targaryen’s father. Interestingly, Maester Aemon Targaryen, who was featured early in Game of Thrones, is Daenerys’s great-uncle.

I’ve always been fascinated by the Targaryen family tree! It’s incredible to think about how everything connects. Daenerys, being Rhaegar Targaryen’s sister, actually makes her Jon Snow’s aunt – it blew my mind when I realized that! And it gets even more poignant when you consider Maester Aemon. He was Jon’s mentor at Castle Black, and a great-great-uncle, but he never knew Jon was family. It’s heartbreaking, really. He even famously told Jon to cast off his boyhood, urging him to become the man he was meant to be, completely unaware he was speaking to his own nephew! It just highlights the immense tragedy that seems to follow House Targaryen throughout the story.

Jon Snow And Daenerys Are Descended From Egg

In Game of Thrones, the show makes it clear that Egg (Aegon Targaryen), Maester Aemon, and Daenerys are related through conversations between Aemon and Samwell Tarly at the Wall. Samwell reads a report to Aemon about the difficulties Daenerys is facing in Meereen, noting that she is determined to stay and protect the newly freed slaves. Aemon is deeply saddened to learn of his great-niece’s struggles, feeling helpless that she is fighting alone and without any family support.

He describes himself as useless and dying, emphasizing his isolation as the last of his line, thousands of miles from anyone he knows. He poignantly states that being the last Targaryen in the world is a terrible fate. This moment is underscored by a shot of Jon Snow approaching Maester Aemon for guidance. The scene highlights the loneliness of the three remaining Targaryens – Aemon, Jon, and Daenerys – and their shared sense of being utterly alone.

Both Daenerys and Jon Snow are descendants of Aegon V, also known as Aegon the Unlikely. Tragically, Aegon V, his son Duncan Targaryen, and the Lord Commander Ser Duncan the Tall all died in a fire at Summerhall during a failed attempt to hatch dragons. After Aegon V’s death, his son Jaehaerys II ruled briefly, followed by the reign of the Mad King, whose cruel leadership ultimately led to the Targaryen dynasty’s fall in Westeros.

Maester Aemon Remembers Egg in One of Game of Thrones’ Most Heartbreaking Scenes

As a critic, I’ve always been struck by the quiet tragedy of Maester Aemon’s story, and the scene of his passing is particularly poignant. He was utterly consumed by memories of his younger brother, Egg – a brother he clearly adored. He’d constantly reminisce about Egg to Samwell, recalling even the sound of his laugh and the details of his personality. It’s heartbreaking, really, to watch him slip away, mistaking Gilly’s baby for Egg and reliving those cherished moments. “There he is… that laugh!” he exclaims, lost in the past. Samwell gently explains Egg’s identity – that he wasn’t just a brother, but a future king – and Aemon, even in his delirium, remembers him as a happy soul before the weight of the Iron Throne changed him. It’s a beautifully acted and written moment that truly highlights the enduring power of family and the bittersweet nature of memory.

Even though A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place in the world of Game of Thrones, it’s remarkable how small details build into a rich and expansive history of the Targaryen family.

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2026-02-20 07:06