bringing home Jon Snow and calling him his bastard. In House of the Dragon, the fact that Rhaenyra’s eldest three sons are bastards nearly cost her the title of heir to the Iron Throne. The difference is that Rhaenyra’s sons have been declared legitimate by the crown, with both families claiming the children as trueborn Velaryons despite the well-known fact that they’re actually bastards of House Strong. If Ned had already sworn fealty to Rhaenyra and her Velaryon heirs after Viserys declared them legitimate under the law, he would be bound to his word to support them.
Additionally, Ned trying to disinherit Joffrey in Game of Thrones due to his status as Jaime Lannister’s bastard is different from Rhaenyra’s children being bastards in House of the Dragon. Joffrey’s only claim to the Iron Throne was through Robert, with whom he didn’t actually share any blood, whereas Jacaerys Velaryon’s claim to the crown is through Rhaenyra, who actually bore him. Joffrey’s true father was paramount to his inheritance, whereas Jacaerys’ parentage doesn’t truly matter as long as he has Targaryen blood from his mother. Also, since Laenor Velaryon is gay, Rhaenyra’s affairs weren’t inherently dishonorable, as she was ultimately upholding her duty to Viserys to bear heirs and strengthen her succession on the Iron Throne.
Targaryen. While Cregan was loyal to Rhaenyra, his honor meant that he couldn’t stand by while men like Corlys Velaryon and Larys Strong conspired to kill the ruler they were sworn to. Ultimately, Cregan spared Corlys and executed Larys, after which time Lord Stark stepped down as Hand and returned home to Winterfell. Since Jacaerys died in the Dance of the Dragons, the Pact of Ice and Fire was technically never fulfilled, yet Cregan maintained his loyalty to Rhaenyra and her heirs.
Ned Stark Would Support Rhaenyra (Because Of His Honor)
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Much like his ancestor, Game of Thrones’ Ned Stark would have declared for Rhaenyra Targaryen in the civil war. Ned wouldn’t have necessarily bent the knee to Queen Rhaenyra because he believed she would be a better ruler, but rather because his honor would have dictated his support. House Stark swore fealty to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as the true heir to King Viserys, and the ever-honorable Ned Stark wouldn’t have dared to go back on his family’s word.
Ned also wouldn’t have supported Aegon usurping the crown simply based on his sex, as House Stark hadn’t set a precedent for supporting male primogeniture in the Great Council of 101 AC. Rather, House Stark favored Rhaenys Targaryen and her children as King Jaehaerys’ heirs over her younger cousin Viserys. Therefore, given Rhaenyra was King Viserys’ eldest child and declared heir, Ned and Cregan Stark would have considered her the rightful successor to the Iron Throne. Despite the fact that Ned was integral to Robert’s Rebellion, the stealing of the crown in the Dance wasn’t the same as Robert’s usurpation before Game of Thrones, as Rhaenyra wasn’t a tyrant or incapable of ruling like the Mad King.
While the Starks weren’t integral to many of the Southern wars given their geographic isolation, they typically ended up on the right side of history due to honor dictating their loyalties in the Dance of the Dragons and Robert’s Rebellion. However, Cregan and Ned’s relative Jon Snow would later harm House Stark’s honorable legacy by killing Queen Daenerys Targaryen. Although Cregan and Ned both took up arms against the rulers on the Iron Throne, they found it dishonorable to kill a king or queen, which is why they looked down upon the Kingslayers Jaime Lannister and Corlys Velaryon. For this reason, Jon didn’t live up to the honor that Ned and Cregan Stark upheld amid the calamities of war.
Would Ned Stark Support Rhaenyra’s Bastard Children?
Blend of Jacaerys and Starks in House Of The Dragon Starks
Honor and duty were key tenets of House Stark’s philosophy, especially for Ned, which is why his values were questioned when
