5. Young Griff / Aegon
*SPOILER ALERT*
Please note that this character has not yet appeared in the TV series, so if you have not read the books and don’t want the story spoiled, you may want to skip this entry.
Origin of Claim:
The TV series has introduced us to two Targaryens, and we are told that these are the last of the line; their siblings having been murdered as children. But are they indeed the last? The books introduce us to “Young Griff”, whom Tyrion discovers is actually Aegon Targaryen, the murdered prince, son to Rhaegar Targaryen!
Validity of Claim:
Aegon is believed to have been murdered by the Mountain, Tywin Lannister’s evil henchman, as he dashed his brains against a wall. When we meet Young Griff, he is in the company of a character called Griff. It is revealed that he is actually Jon Connington, Lord of Griffin’s Roost and loyal friend to Rhaegar Targaryen, Aegon’s uncle. Prior to the sack of King’s Landing, Connington whisked Aegon away and replaced him with a tanner’s infant son, and it was this child, not Aegon, that The Mountain butchered.
Should They Rule:
We do not yet know enough of this character to necessarily determine that he would be a great leader. We know he has been trained since a child in all things a ruler might require, but he has also lived a very sheltered life and is very young. The smartest move does indeed seem to be to have this young prince marry his Aunt Daenerys, as the Targaryens have done for centuries, and have them rule together. But our little Dany is becoming quite the ruler in her own name, and may not be so quick to share leadership.
4. Stannis Baratheon
Origin of Claim:
Stannis is the eldest brother to King Robert. Should the current King have no true born (born within the confines of marriage) heirs, the crown would then pass to his eldest brother.
Validity of Claim:
For his claim to be valid, it has to be proven that Robert left no true born heirs. Stannis spreads this “rumour” throughout the seven kingdoms, but without any real proof, how many actually believe? Jon Arryn and Ned Stark believed they had the proof, but unless Cersei actually admits her treason, the doubt will always be there, since Robert himself claimed Joffrey as his heir.
Should They Rule:
Stannis is described as “pure iron, black and hard and strong, yes, but brittle, the way iron gets”. He claims he does not really want the throne, but that it is his duty to take it, being Robert’s heir. If that is true, he is going to an awful lot of bother to take something he claims he doesn’t really want. But will he be a good King? He certainly knows his way around a battlefield, which he has proven in the past, but will his stubborn ways be his downfall? And there is his red Priestess Melisandre to contend with. When all is said and done, who would be ruling Westeros; Stannis or the Red Witch?
3. Robb Stark
Origin of Claim:
Now to be fair, Robb never claims the Iron Throne. He is heralded as the “King of the North”; a title once held by his ancestors, but given up hundreds of years before him. He does not make the claim himself, but it is bestowed upon him by one of his bannermen. He goes along with it, since it seems to get his army all riled up and ready for battle.
Validity of Claim:
Certainly he has no claim to the Iron Throne, but calling himself King of The North seems valid enough. It was a title granted to his house decades before, and in order to truly rise up against the Iron Throne and rally all the houses of the North behind him, King seems to have a nice ring to it. Men are more likely to die for a King that just a Lord.
Should They Rule:
His claim is valid and he has real cause to rebel against King’s Landing, since the Lannisters murdered his father, are holding his sisters as hostages, and have been raping and pillaging his mother’s homeland. He is young, but seems to be making real strides in the war and had a real sense of battle strategy. He had only the one real mistake; wronging the Freys. If he had only done as he pledged, and married a Frey girl and made her his Queen, he would have retained all the power of the Twins and possibly won the war and kept his crown. Alas, love is a fickle thing, and it not only cost him his crown, but also his head.
2. Jon Snow
*SPOILER ALERT*
Please note that this entry is based on certain conspiracy theories that have developed from the books. To date, there has been nothing really in the books or the TV series to support these claims. If you do not want the story ruined, again, you may wish to skip this one.
Origin of Claim:
There is a popular fan-based conspiracy theory around that states that Jon Snow is not the bastard son of Ned Stark, but is instead the son of his sister Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. He was supposedly conceived when Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna and held her in the Tower of Joy. The promise that Ned Stark makes to Lyanna on her death bed is never revealed in either the books or the TV series, but many believe he promises to take her new born son and raise him as his own.
Validity of Claim:
Assuming that this theory is correct, Jon Snow is then in fact, Jon Targaryen. Based on the rules of Westeros, since Aerys and his heir Rhaegar are dead, the throne would then pass to Jon. Some may still state that he is not a true Targaryen, having been still born a bastard. The conspiracy theory goes on to say that since other Targaryens have had multiple spouses, that Rhaegar followed suit, married Lyanna in secret, which makes him now a true born heir. Many find this hard to swallow, since there is little in the books or TV series to support this, but it is an interesting twist.
Should They Rule:
Jon Snow (Targaryen?) has proven that he is loyal and brave. He has also proven himself in battle and that he is a natural born leader. There’s just that little sticky thing about his vow to the Night’s Watch. We see repeatedly that he does not take these vows lightly. Even when tempted with a Lordship and Winterfell, something he has always secretly desired, he remains a loyal brother to the Night’s Watch. Now, if his true ancestry was revealed, would that change his mind? Would he feel more compelled to protect the whole realm from the seat of the Iron Throne as opposed to the Wall? A far-fetched theory to be sure, but a thought-provoking one at that.
1. Daenerys Targaryen
Origin of Claim:
Daenerys is the sister to Viserys and the daughter of the Mad King. The Targaryens have been the ruling family in Westeros for years and years. If they had not been disposed by Robert’s rebellion, a Targaryen would still be seated on the Iron Throne.
Validity of Claim:
Once Viserys is murdered, Daenerys would be next in line as now the last living Targaryen. Although the rules of Westeros state that the line of succession seems to skip females, she is the last heir, and certainly seems to believe she has the right to rule.
Should They Rule:
The story certainly seems to favour Daenerys and her claim, since she is one of the main POV characters in all the books, and is given ample airtime on the show as well. As one of the most popular characters, we seem to want to see her succeed. She has proven her ability to lead, but more importantly, has demonstrated caring and compassion for those she means to rule, which is one of her strongest points. She may “only be a young girl and know little of the ways of war”, but she is certainly looking like a strong contender. And… she has dragons!
Who do you think should rule Westeros? Let us know in the comments below…
Samantha Cass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszFLSgML6ddazw180SXMvMz5&v=ONsp_bmDYXc&feature=player_embedded
Originally published March 10, 2015. Updated April 15, 2018.
