Is Viserys talking about Jon Snow in his last words?

It’s ‘Dragon Day’. HBO’s House of The Dragon (HOTD) recently aired its 8th episode of the first season, “Lord of the Tides.” The show took the series to another height and raised the stakes even further. He saw, fan favorite – King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) finally rises to unite his family in his final days.

However, during his last breath, he mentions a prophecy called “A Song of Ice and Fire” which speaks of a “prince who was promised”, misleading Alicent thinking of her as Rhaenyra. Viserys’ last words will surely have huge repercussions going forward. Let’s try to really dig into what he said and what it means for the future of the series.

The Prophecy and the Dream

Artist’s rendering of Aegon I Targaryen riding his dragon Belarion, the Dread

Rhaenyra and Viserys have spoken of this prophecy before in Viserys’ chambers. Rhaenyra pulls out the old Valyrian dagger in front of the fire and out comes the words that said –

From my blood came the promised prince and his will will be the song of ice and fire.

This prophecy is probably the divine right of the Targaryen dynasty. From generation to generation, as Viserys tells Rhaenyra, it has been passed down from heir to heir with the belief that a Targaryen must sit on the Iron Throne if they are to survive the prophecy. Long night (the arrival of the White Walkers).

Earlier, King Viserys told Rhaenyra about Aegon Targaryen, the Conqueror’s Dream. A dream that has been held as a prophecy through generations of Targaryen.

Aegon has seen absolute darkness roll over these winds, and whatever dwells within will destroy the world of the living. When that great winter comes, Rhaenyra, all of Westeros must stand against it. And if the world of men is to survive, then a Targaryen must sit on the Iron Throne. A king or queen, strong enough to unite the kingdom against cold and darkness. – King Viserys in Rhaenyra

Aegon called his dream – “A song of ice and fire”.

The Four Aegons

Aegon II Targaryen

There are four Aegon Targaryens that viewers of House of the Dragon (HOTD) and Game of Thrones (GOT) are sure to know. They are –

  • Aegon I Targaryen (aka Aegon, the Conqueror) – the first Targaryen to conquer and unite the Seven Kingdoms.
  • Aegon II Targaryen – Eldest son of Viserys Targaryen and Alicent Hightower.
  • Aegon III Targaryen (aka Aegon, the Unlucky) – the eldest son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen.
  • Aegon Targaryen (aka Jon Snow) – the son of Rhaegar Targryen and Lyanna Stark.

Apart from these, there have been many more children named Aegon Targaryen in the Targaryen line. But these four are the most important of the events that are about to unfold in the series.

The Song of Ice and Fire

Night King with his army of White Walkers in GOT

The dream of Aegon Targaryen that King Viserys talks about is really important. Game of Thrones viewers already know that in the future of HOTD events (i.e. during GOT), the last surviving Targaryen – Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) will one day attempt (unsuccessfully) to claim his place on the Iron Throne. Viewers are also familiar with the arrival of the Long night and the battle against white walkers. In the midst of it all, a Targaryen by the name of Aegon – more commonly known as Jon Snow (Kit Harington) – helped save Westeros.

Aegon, the Conqueror, had foreseen this threat which hovered over the seven kingdoms and would come from the North. The threat is – the White Walkers and the Night King. This obviously happened at the end of the Game of Thrones series. Aegon knew that once his dream came true, he charged the other Targaryen kings to continue the line as much as they could, as he believed that only a Targaryen could unite the entire kingdom against the danger that had to come from the north.

The promised Prince

Rhaenyra and Viserys

During his dilapidated state, Rhenyra and Daemon visit King Viserys on his bed. Rhaenyra asks Viserys if he believed in Aegon’s dream he once mentioned to her. She then asks him to resist her succession to the throne and support her eldest son (allegedly with Laenor Velaryon) – Jace’s (Jacaerys Targaryen) claim to the Driftmark. She also names her eldest son Aegon Targaryen similar to Alicent. Viserys however still believes that Rhaenyra is his true heiress and his eldest son with Daemon – Aegon Targaryen is truly the promised prince.

However. when Alicent comes to visit Viseryes on her last time, Viserys mistakes her for Rhaenyra. He tells her that he believes in Aegon’s dream and believes that Aegon was truly destined to rule – the promised prince. It’s probably the fact that Alicent believes Viserys was talking about their Aegon (their eldest son) that would further her belief in being the next King of the Seven Kingdoms.

the real prince

Jon Snow

Whereas King Viserys didn’t mean that, as he was referring to the Aegon, the Conqueror and his dream. And we all know that the real “Promised Prince” was indeed Jon Snow aka Aegon Targaryen from GOT. After her secret marriage to Rhaegar Targaryen, on her deathbed, Lyanna Stark named the boy Aegon and asked her brother Eddard (aka Ned) Stark to protect her from Robert Baratheon’s wrath. Ned then renamed this child – Jon Snow and raised him as his own bastard son.

This huge misunderstanding will surely add more fuel to add even more animosity between Alicent and Rhaenyra as the Dragon Dance is about to begin in future episodes. With the adrenaline pumping already, fans can’t wait to see what happens next.

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