Jon Snow


 * "I don't care if he's a bastard; Ned Stark's blood runs through his veins. He's my king, from this day until his last day!"
 * ―Lady Lyanna Mormont

King Jon Snow is a major character in the first, second, third,fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons. He is played by starring cast member Kit Harington, and debuts in the series premiere.

Though presented as the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark, Jon is the son of Lady Lyanna Stark, Eddard's sister, with Rhaegar Targaryen. From infancy, Jon is raised by Eddard as his own alongside his lawful children at Winterfell and Jon's true parentage is kept secret. In order to escape his bastard status, Jon joins the Night's Watch and is chosen as Lord Commander Jeor Mormont's personal steward, and wields the House Mormont ancestral Valyrian steel sword, Longclaw, a gift from Mormont, who came to see Jon as a surrogate son. While on a Great Ranging beyond the Wall, Jon infiltrates Mance Rayder's wildling army and gains knowledge on their plans, enabling him to successfully lead the defense of Castle Black in the ensuing battle. In the aftermath, Jon is elected the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and pursues an alliance with the wildlings in order to keep them from falling to the coming army of White Walkers, straining his relationship with his fellow brothers, especially after a massacre that claims many brothers' lives.