Lyanna Stark

Lyanna Stark
Biographical information
Born	At Winterfell
Died	281 AC in the Tower of Joy Bled to death following a caesarean section to give birth to Jon Snow
Political information
House(s)	Stark Targaryen (by marriage)
Personal information
Culture	Northern
Religion	Old Gods
Father	{Rickard Stark}
Spouse(s)	{Rhaegar Targaryen}
Issue	Jon Snow
Sibling(s)	{Brandon Stark} {Eddard Stark} {Benjen Stark}
World of Westeros
Series	Game of Thrones
Season(s)	6 · 7
Appeared in	5 episodes (see below)
First seen in	"Home" (Bran's vision)
Last seen in	"The Dragon and the Wolf" (Bran's vision)
Died in	"The Winds of Winter" (Bran's vision)
Portrayed by	Aisling Franciosi Cordelia Hill (child)

"His name is Aegon Targaryen. If Robert finds out, he'll kill him. You know he will. You have to protect him. Promise me, Ned. Promise me."

―Lyanna's final wish for her son, Jon Snow, to her brother Ned.

Lyanna Stark was the daughter of Lord Rickard Stark and sister of Brandon, Eddard, and Benjen. She went on to be the wife of Rhaegar Targaryen, and mother to his son.

Biography

Background

Lyanna Stark was the third child and only daughter of Lord Rickard Stark, head of House Stark.^{[citation needed]}

Lyanna is betrothed to Robert Baratheon.

Lyanna had three brothers, Brandon, Eddard, and Benjen. Her father arranged a betrothal between her and Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.^{[citation needed]}

Some time after the betrothal, Lord Walter Whent organized a great tourney at Harrenhal, in which Lyanna saved Howland Reed from a group of squires who were tormenting him. Later, she took him to their tent, where she introduced him to her three brothers. Prince Rhaegar, the heir to the Iron Throne, was the victor. Afterward, the prince rode past his wife, Princess Elia Martell, and placed a crown of winter roses, the crown of the queen of love and beauty, on Lyanna's lap. This action was considered an outrage by many because not only was Rhaegar married, but Lyanna was already betrothed to another man.

Lyanna is "taken" by Rhaegar Targaryen.

At some point after these events, Lyanna was supposedly abducted by Rhaegar, who took her south and hid her away in Dorne. In reality, Lyanna had willingly eloped with Rhaegar and married him in a secret ceremony (the High Septon had also secretly annulled Rhaegar's marriage to Elia Martell). Brandon, who had been on his way to Riverrun to wed Catelyn Tully, went to King's Landing instead to demand Rhaegar's arrest and punishment. Unaware of Rhaegar's new marriage, King Aerys II Targaryen had Brandon and all his companions charged with treason. He demanded all their fathers, including Lord Rickard Stark, come to King's Landing and promised they would receive a fair trial. Instead, the king had them all burned alive, except for Brandon, who strangled himself trying to save his father.

This incident sparked the uprising known as Robert's Rebellion. Jon Arryn was commanded to arrest and turn over his wards Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark, but he refused. The three of them rose in rebellion along with Hoster Tully of Riverrun after Eddard and Jon Arryn married his daughters, Catelyn and Lysa, respectively. The war saw House Targaryen almost completely destroyed and Robert installed as king after he personally slew Rhaegar at the Battle of the Trident. During the war, Lyanna died of then-unknown causes in Eddard's arms after her rescue. As per her request, she was buried next to her brother Brandon in the crypt at Winterfell. Robert continued to mourn her despite becoming king and marrying Cersei Lannister. Though Eddard was furious with Robert for refusing to hold Tywin Lannister and his army accountable for the Sack of King's Landing and for condoning the murders of Rhaegar's children with Elia Martell, their friendship was rekindled over their mutual grief over Lyanna's death.

Lyanna is buried in the tomb beneath Winterfell.

In reality, Lyanna's death was due to complications after giving birth to her son with Rhaegar. Her death was witnessed by Ned, two handmaidens and possibly Howland Reed. Before her death, Lyanna reveals her son's name is Aegon and begs Ned that he'll promise to keep her son safe from Robert, who would have had the child killed if he found out Rhaegar was his father. Remembering how the Lannisters had already brutally murdered Rhaegar's son and daughter with Elia Martell, Ned protects his sister's son. He brings Lyanna's child with him to Winterfell and claims his nephew as his bastard son to keep him safe, renaming him Jon Snow. Ned raises Jon as his own alongside his trueborn children and Jon grows up with the maternal side of the family, unaware of his origins. Few knew the truth of Jon's parentage, with Ned, Howland, and the two handmaidens being the only individuals bearing the knowledge.

Game of Thrones: Season 1

Robert Baratheon visits Lyanna's grave.

Robert visits Lyanna's tomb under Winterfell almost immediately after arriving. During this visit, he places a feather in the hand of her statue. Robert says the statue doesn't do her justice. He becomes emotional and tells Eddard how he relives killing Rhaegar again and again in his dreams for what he did to Lyanna. He asks Eddard if it was necessary to bury Lyanna in a cold tomb rather than somewhere in the sunlight, but Eddard responds that she was of the North and of House Stark; this is her place.

While departing Winterfell, Jon asks Eddard about his mother, unaware of her identity, and as to whether or not she is alive or knows about him. Still unprepared to tell Jon the truth about Lyanna and Rhaegar, Eddard promises that the next time they see each other, they will talk about Jon's mother.

In King's Landing, Robert shares a drink with Cersei, and they begin to talk about Lyanna Stark for the first time in their marriage. Robert tells Cersei how much Lyanna meant to him. He explains that even though now he cannot even remember Lyanna's face, she was the only thing he ever wanted but then someone took her away from him, and even the entire Seven Kingdoms couldn't fill the hole she left. Cersei reminds him that she once had feelings for him, which Robert acknowledges. She asks if there had ever been even a moment when he had loved her but Robert says no. He asks her if that makes her feel better or worse. Cersei replies it doesn't make her feel anything.

When Eddard discovers that Cersei has been having an incestuous affair with her twin brother Jaime, he confronts her. Cersei denies Eddard's accusation that she always hated Robert, saying she once worshiped him back when he was young and handsome and muscular. All the girls wanted him, and he was hers by oath. But then that love turned to hate on their wedding night when Robert came to bed drunk and afterward muttered Lyanna's name in her ear.

The statue at Lyanna's grave in Winterfell.

Bran shows Osha the tombs under Winterfell and gives a quick summary of the events leading to the civil war: how Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna, who was betrothed to Robert Baratheon, and the Mad King then killed Lyanna's brother and father, triggering the war.

Game of Thrones: Season 3

When speaking to her daughter-in-law Talisa Stark, Catelyn confesses her guilt over not being a mother to Jon, and even praying for his death as a baby "all because [she] was jealous of his mother." When Jon becomes ill as a young boy, Catelyn was overwhelmed with guilt, prayed for his survival, but was unable to be a mother to him. She remained unaware that Jon was Eddard's nephew and not his son, with Jon's true parents being Rhaegar and Lyanna.

Game of Thrones: Season 4

When speaking to Tyrion, Oberyn Martell expresses anger that, despite his sister Elia's love and loyalty for her husband, Rhaegar ended up leaving her for "another woman", namely Lyanna.

Game of Thrones: Season 5

Sansa, upon returning to Winterfell after being gone for four years, visits her Aunt Lyanna's statue and lights a candle in the statue's hand to honor Lyanna as her father used to do. Petyr Baelish finds her there. They discuss what happened at the Tourney of Harrenhal where Rhaegar shocked everyone present by passing over his wife Elia Martell in order to crown Lyanna as the queen of love and beauty. Sansa says Rhaegar later kidnapped and raped Lyanna, while Petyr said Rhaegar's choices led to the deaths of thousands.

Game of Thrones: Season 6

Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven observe a young Lyanna with her brothers Eddard and Benjen in Winterfell.

While exploring the Sight under the tutelage of the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran views an event from his father's past, and sees Lyanna showing off her riding skills as a girl in front of her brothers, Eddard and Benjen. She later encourages a young Benjen to fight a bout with the young stablehand Wylis, giving Wylis tips on how to beat her brother.

In yet another vision, Bran witnesses another event, this time during the aftermath of Robert's Rebellion, in which Ned Stark, accompanied by five bannermen including Howland Reed, confront Arthur Dayne and Gerold Hightower of the Kingsguard before the Tower of Joy. Before the fight ensues, Ned demands to know where Lyanna is. After the battle, Ned and Bran hear Lyanna scream from inside the tower. Ned hurries inside, but Bran is pulled out of the vision before he can pursue.

Bran observes Ned receiving Jon on Lyanna's deathbed.

Much later, after becoming the new Three-Eyed Raven following his predecessor's death, Bran returns to the Tower of Joy vision and watches as his young father reunites with his dying sister, Lyanna, who is lying in a bed of blood, which is later revealed to be caused by the aftereffects of childbirth. Lyanna tells Ned she wants to be brave but she is afraid she is going to die. Ned tells Lyanna that she is not going to die and desperately orders the handmaidens to aid his sister. However, Lyanna stops Ned and whispers to him, revealing she has just given birth to a baby boy. She tells Ned her child's name is Aegon Targaryen and pleads with her brother to keep her son safe from Robert, who she fears will kill her child if he finds out. As Ned takes in this revelation, a handmaiden places Lyanna's newborn child into his arms. It is later revealed that Lyanna had a son with Rhaegar. Tearfully, Ned complies with Lyanna's wish and holds his newborn nephew, who Bran immediately realizes is his "half-brother" Jon Snow.

Game of Thrones: Season 7

Lyanna secretly weds Rhaegar.

While reading the journal of High Septon Maynard, who was known for recording every minor detail of his life, Gilly reads aloud to Samwell Tarly that Maynard issued an annulment for "Prince Ragger," who remarried at a secret ceremony in Dorne. This alludes to Lyanna, whom Rhaegar had married after Maynard annulled the marriage between Rhaegar and Elia, though Sam and Gilly don't realize this at the time.

Upon his arrival at Winterfell, Sam goes to see Bran, who shares his knowledge of Jon's true parentage with Sam. Bran believes that Jon Snow is actually Jon Sand as he was born in Dorne but Sam reveals Jon is the legitimate son of Rhaegar and Lyanna, remembering Gilly's discovery. He tells Bran that Rhaegar and Lyanna were wed and asks if Bran can see this in a vision. Bran wargs into the past to see the wedding for himself. He confirms that it did happen and that Rhaegar was in love with Lyanna and she was in love with him. Bran then flashes forward to Lyanna's death, and hears Jon's birth name, whispered to Ned Stark with Lyanna's dying breath: Aegon Targaryen, the same as his half-brother.

Game of Thrones: Season 8

Sam is sent by Bran to tell Jon the truth about his parentage. He finds Jon in the crypts beneath Winterfell, and reveals that he is "Aegon Targaryen, Sixth of His Name." Jon is in disbelief that Eddard, the most honorable man he had ever known, has lied to him his entire life. Sam states that Ned did so to honor his sister's dying wish, and to protect Jon from Robert Baratheon's wrath.

Jon is standing in front of Lyanna's statue in the Winterfell crypt when Daenerys comes to comfort him. She recalls hearing about Rhaegar's kidnapping of Lyanna, but expresses her confusion, saying that people told her all her life that Rhaegar was a good man. Jon then reveals the truth of his parentage to Daenerys, telling her that Lyanna is his mother and Rhaegar his father and they were in love. This leaves Daenerys concerned over the line of succession of the Iron Throne.

Tyrion remarks that all the wars, loss of lives, and misery in the past twenty years in Westeros were because Robert loved Lyanna, who didn't love him back.

Personality

At first glance, Lyanna is shown to be fiercely independent, tomboyish, and willful, much like her niece Arya. As a young girl, Lyanna was extremely spirited and self-confident, as evidenced by how great a rider she was. In addition, she was uncommonly kind to those of lower birth than her, shown prominently by her friendly treatment of Wylis, a mere stableboy in contrast to her being a great lady from a powerful family. Lyanna also showed herself to be quite practical, stating that with Ned leaving to the Eyrie someone would have to train their little brother Benjen.

She is later revealed to be rash, when Bran discovers that she flouted her betrothal to Robert Baratheon without making a clean break with him, and secretly wed Rhaegar instead. It can be argued that she did not love Robert as she did the dragon prince, but it is rather surprising that someone like Lyanna wasn't swayed by the fact that their marriage (or the incidents surrounding their marriage) could bring about the deaths of her whole family, or that it would haunt her house (and Rhaegar's) for years to come. Although Rhaegar annulled his marriage to Elia before marrying Lyanna, their discretion inadvertently led to the deaths of Lyanna's father and eldest brother, which in turn sparked a war that caused the deaths of tens of thousands, including that of her beloved Rhaegar. Her love for Rhaegar might have made her blind to the consequences that their marriage could have caused such a major conflict between their families.

Despite all of this, Lyanna was fiercely protective of her son in the brief time that she had with him, and begged her brother Eddard to protect him, knowing that Robert would surely kill him if he ever found out the truth. She deeply loved and, more importantly, trusted her brother - she showed true gratitude that it was him who found her; furthermore, Lyanna freely admitted to him that, despite wanting to be brave so desperately, she was afraid to die. That being said, in her final moments, Lyanna pleaded with Ned to protect her beloved son, as opposed to lamenting about the fact that she was going to die. She held more value on the life of her child Aegon.

Quotes

Spoken by Lyanna

Benjen Stark: "Will you get out of here? We're sparring."

Lyanna Stark: "Who are you going to spar with when Ned goes off to the Eyrie?"

— Lyanna Stark and Benjen Stark.

Lyanna Stark: "Benjen always raises his chin when he's about to charge."

Hodor: "And lowers it when he's going to dodge, m'lady."

— Lyanna Stark and Hodor.

Lyanna Stark: "I want to be brave."

Eddard Stark: "Shh. You are."

Lyanna Stark: "I'm not. I don't want to die."

— Lyanna to her brother Eddard Stark.

Spoken about Lyanna

"We were meant to rule together. If your sister had lived, we would have been bound by blood."

―Robert Baratheon to Eddard Stark about his sister Lyanna.

Robert Baratheon: "Did you have to bury her in a place like this? She should be on a hill somewhere with the sun and the clouds above her."

Eddard Stark: "She was my sister. This is where she belongs."

Robert Baratheon: "She belonged with me."

— Robert and Ned at Lyanna's tomb.

Jon Snow: "Is my mother alive? Does she know about me? Where I am, where I'm going? Does she care?"

Eddard Stark: "The next time we see each other, we'll talk about your mother. Hmm? I promise."

— Jon Snow asks Ned about his mother, unaware that she is his "aunt" Lyanna.

"I never met my mother. My father wouldn't even tell me her name. I don't know if she's a noblewoman or a fisherman's wife or a whore..."

―Jon Snow about Lyanna.

"Do you want to know the horrible truth? I can't even remember what she looked like. I only know she was the one thing I ever wanted. Someone took her away from me, and Seven Kingdoms couldn't fill the hole she left behind."

―Robert Baratheon to Cersei Lannister about Lyanna.

"And that night, he crawled on top of me, stinking of wine, and did what he did - what little he could do - and whispered in my ear, 'Lyanna.' Your sister was a corpse, and I was a living girl, and he loved her more than me."

―Cersei Lannister recounts how Robert Baratheon drunkenly called her Lyanna when they consummated their marriage.

"That's Lyanna, my father's sister. King Robert was supposed to marry her, but Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped her. Robert started a war to win her back. He killed Rhaegar, but she died anyway."

―Bran, to Osha

"Your traitor father teach you that!? Or was it your whore mother!?"

―Qhorin to Jon Snow, unknowingly talking about Lyanna.

"I'd condemned this poor, innocent child to a horrible death...all because I was jealous of his mother. A woman he didn't even know."

―Catelyn Stark unknowingly talking about Lyanna.

"The last time I was in the capital was many years ago. Another wedding. My sister Elia and Rhaegar Targaryen, the last dragon. My sister loved him. She bore his children. Swaddled them, rocked them, fed them at her own breast, Elia wouldn't let the wet nurse touch them. And beautiful, noble Rhaegar Targaryen...left her for another woman."

―Oberyn Martell remembers Lyanna without mentioning her name.

Petyr Baelish: "Your aunt Lyanna."

Sansa Stark: "Father never talked about her. But sometimes I'd find him down here lighting the candles. He'd say she was beautiful."

Petyr Baelish: "I saw her once. I was a boy living with your mother's family. Lord Whent had a great tourney at Harrenhal. Everyone was there. The Mad King, your father, Robert Baratheon. And Lyanna...she was already promised to Robert. You can imagine what it was like for me, a boy from nowhere with nothing to his name, watching these legendary men tilting at the lists. The last two riders were Barristan Selmy and Rhaegar Targaryen. When Rhaegar won, everyone cheered for their prince. I remember the girls laughing when he took off his helmet and saw that silver hair. How handsome he was. Until he rode right past his wife, Elia Martell, and all the smiles died. I had never seen so many people. He rode past his wife and he lay a crown of winter roses in Lyanna's lap. Blue with frost. How many tens of thousands had to die because Rhaegar chose your aunt?"

Sansa Stark: "Yes, he chose her. And then he kidnapped her and raped her."

— Littlefinger and Sansa Stark discuss Lyanna.

"Robert's Rebellion was built on a lie. Rhaegar didn't kidnap or rape my aunt. He loved her, and she loved him."

―Bran Stark to Samwell Tarly, realizing that Jon Snow is a trueborn Targaryen

"Think of the past twenty years. The war, the murder, the misery. All of it because Robert Baratheon loved someone who didn't love him back."

―Tyrion Lannister talking about Lyanna Stark abandoning her betrothal to Robert Baratheon.

Family

Rickard Stark Deceased

Lyarra Stark Deceased

Brandon Stark Deceased

Catelyn Stark née Tully Deceased

Eddard Stark Deceased

Rhaegar Targaryen Deceased

Lyanna Stark Deceased

Benjen Stark Deceased

Robb Stark Deceased

Talisa Stark née Maegyr Deceased

Tyrion Lannister

Sansa Stark

Ramsay Bolton Deceased

Arya Stark

Bran I the Broken

Rickon Stark Deceased

Jon Snow

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Lyanna does appear, albeit only in flashbacks and visions. She is described as intelligent, tomboyish and willful, frequently compared to her niece Arya in terms of temperament and appearance. According to Ned, his sister was a child-woman of surpassing loveliness; Kevan recalls she had a wild beauty. She was fond of flowers, especially loved the scent of winter roses.

When Robert says that Lyanna would never have opposed him vehemently as Cersei does, Ned notes that Robert either overlooked or had forgotten Lyanna's iron will. It is also implied she was not as passionate about her betrothal as Robert was: Lyanna knew about Robert's philandering ways and felt that his love for her wouldn't stop him from sleeping with other women. On the night her father promised her hand to Robert, Lyanna told Ned, "Robert will never keep to one bed. I hear he has gotten a child on some girl in the Vale." Ned could not refute his sister's words because he was holding Robert's illegitimate daughter Mya Stone in his arms, the babe Lyanna referred to, and Ned would not lie to her. Ned assured Lyanna that what Robert did before their betrothal was of no matter, that he was a good man and true who would love her with all his heart. Lyanna smiled and said, "Love is sweet, dearest Ned, but it cannot change a man’s nature."

When Rhaegar won the great tourney at Harrenhal, he crowned Lyanna the queen of love and beauty over his own wife, an action that stunned all present. A year later, Rhaegar kidnapped her, which led to Robert's Rebellion. During the war, Lyanna was hidden at a remote location and defended by three members of the Kingsguard, whom Eddard and his retainers had to kill. Only Eddard and Howland Reed, a vassal of House Stark, survived. However, Lyanna died from unknown causes before they could successfully rescue her.

Many years later, Ned still recalls how he found his sister, in a room that smelled of blood and roses. "Promise me", she cried, "Promise me, Ned." The fever took her strength and her voice has been faint as a whisper, but when Ned gave her his word, the fear has gone out of her eyes. Ned also remembers the way she smiled then, how tightly her fingers clutched his as she gave up her hold on life, the rose petals spilling from her palm, dead and black. After that he remembers nothing: he was found still holding her body, silent with grief. Howland Reed has taken her hand from his. Lyanna's death instilled in Robert a great hatred of the Targaryens, and he vowed not to rest until every last scion of the Targaryen house was killed (though on his deathbed, Robert ordered that Daenerys be spared from death). Despite the heartbreak it caused, Eddard refused to let Lyanna's tragic death skew his views on justice and mercy.

In the first novel, Ned has occasional dreams and flashbacks of his sister's death, each of them includes the sight or smell of pale blue roses: when Ned and Robert visit her grave at the crypts of Winterfell; after his secret conversation with Cersei; and in prison. In one of those dreams, Ned walks through the crypts beneath Winterfell and the statues watch him with eyes of ice. He sees that Lyanna's statue wears a garland of pale blue roses, her eyes weeping blood, and there is a whisper, "Promise me, Ned."

In the second novel, Theon has a dream about a bloody feast in Winterfell. Among the dead people, he notices a slim, sad girl who wears a crown of pale blue roses and a white gown spattered with gore; he assumes it is Lyanna.

In the cave of the three-eyed crow, one of the visions Bran sees is about a boy and a girl dueling with wooden branches. At first, Bran thinks he is the boy and Arya is the girl, but dismisses that thought because the boy's hair is too long, and Arya never beat him playing swords. It is speculated by fans that the vision is about Lyanna and Benjen.

So far in the novels, it has not been revealed what Lyanna asked Ned to promise her. According to the most common fan theory (known as R+L=J), which has been confirmed in "The Winds of Winter", Lyanna asked Ned to protect her son from Robert.

Gallery

Young Lyanna Stark in Winterfell.

Young Lyanna.

A depiction of the abduction of Lyanna Stark by Rhaegar Targaryen.

Lyanna's brother Ned holds his newborn nephew, who will grow up as Jon Snow.

Rhaegar and Lyanna kiss

Appearances

• – Pilot (unreleased) (depicted in a statue) (non-canonical appearance)
• – "Winter Is Coming" (depicted in a statue)
• – "The Kingsroad" (mentioned)
• – "The Wolf and the Lion" (mentioned)
• – "You Win or You Die" (mentioned)
• – "Fire and Blood" (depicted in a statue)
• – "Mad King Aerys - House Baratheon" (illustrated)
• – "Mad King Aerys - House Stark" (illustrated)
• – "Robert's Rebellion - House Targaryen" (illustrated)
• – "The Sack of King's Landing - House Baratheon" (appeared as a corpse) (illustrated)
• – "The Sack of King's Landing - House Stark" (mentioned)
• – "House Baratheon" (illustrated)
• – "Robert's Rebellion - Catelyn Stark" (mentioned)
• – "Dark Wings, Dark Words" (mentioned)
• – "Robert's Rebellion - Petyr Baelish and Varys" (mentioned)
• – "Two Swords" (mentioned)
• – "Robert's Rebellion - Oberyn Martell" (mentioned)
• – "The Kingsguard - Bronn" (mentioned)
• – "Sons of the Harpy" (depicted in a statue)
• – "Robert's Rebellion - Barristan Selmy" (illustrated)
• – "Home" (appeared in vision(s) or dream(s))
• – "Oathbreaker" (voice) (appeared in vision(s) or dream(s))
• – "Blood of My Blood" (appeared in vision(s) or dream(s))
• – "The Winds of Winter" (appeared in vision(s) or dream(s))
• – "The Great Tourney at Harrenhal" (illustrated)
• – "House Dayne" (mentioned)
• – "Eastwatch" (mentioned)
• – "The Dragon and the Wolf" (appeared in vision(s) or dream(s))
• – "The Last Dragons" (illustrated)
• – "Winterfell" (mentioned)
• – "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" (depicted in a statue)
• – "The Last of the Starks" (mentioned)
• – "The Bells" (mentioned in text)

External links

• Lyanna Stark on A Wiki of Ice and Fire