The Parallels Between Jon & Daenerys And Aemon & Naerys

The Parallels between Jon & Daenerys and Aemon & Naerys

The parallels of Aemon the Dragonknight and Naerys Targaryen strongly parallel that of Daenerys and Jon Snow, and may suggest what will become of their future relationship in the books. 

Daenerys and Naerys

Physical Appearance

Daenerys is often suggested to look like Queen Naerys. George RR Martin gave a series of descriptions for the previous Targaryens, found in Westeros.org.  

 “She was a wisp of a woman, smaller even than Dany (to whom she bears a certain resemblence), very slender, with big purple eyes and fine, pale, porcelain skin, near translucent.”- So Spake Martin (Naerys Targaryen)

“She’s too skinny,” Viserys said….. “And stand up straight. Let him see you have breasts. Gods know, you have little enough as it is.” - Daenerys I, AGOT

From these passages we can see that George himself likened Naerys to Dany (there is nothing in the novels that I can find where characters directly parallel the two). Both are described as slender with the typical Valyrian silver-gold hair and purple eyes. Now, obviously most of the Targaryen women share these traits, however I think it is worth noting that this specific parallel was drawn. Dany is also noted to be stronger than Naerys was. 

Family 

Aegon IV is paralleled to Viserys - both men covet their sisters and desire to marry them. Of course, only Aegon succeeded. But both of them have little regard for their sister’s happiness and wellbeing. 

Naerys: “I have done my duty by you, and given you an heir. I beg you, let us live henceforth as brother and sister.” Aegon: “That is what we are doing.” - A World of Ice and Fire

The greed of both men are incredibly similar, in both their want for their sisters, and for wealth and the crown. It can also pointed out that both are given negative nicknames, such as Aegon ‘The Unworthy’ and Viserys ‘The Beggar King’. 

There is also a physical resemblance between Aegon and Illyrio Mopatis who also had a hand in Daenerys’ marriage. 

Jon and Aemon the Dragonknight

Jon’s Connection to Aemon

Jon Snow has already met a Targaryen - Aemon, maester of the Night’s Watch, who was named for the Dragonknight. From there, the seeds of Aemon have been planted. First of all the speculation that his Targaryen name will be Aemon. Here’s a cool post that has convinced me that his name will be Aemon. But there is also more! In ASOS Jon remembers his playfights with Robb. They would call out the names of different heroes. 

Robb called himself King Daeron I - known as the Boy King, just as Robb was known as the Boy/Young Wolf. Both these men died young, on campaign. Florian the Fool was also mentioned, and while the legend isn’t as similar, Robb is also remarked as foolish for falling in love. We now can see that some similarities can be drawn from this play battle. If parallels between Robb’s (now ended) life, it can be assumed that there could be parallels for Jon as well. Jon proclaims himself Lord of Winterfell, to which Robb replies he can’t because he is a bastard. Jon is offered the chance to be Lord of Winterfell by Stannis, which he refuses. This could be the parallel however I think it may allude to a later point in the Winds of Winter. Jon also calls out he is Aemon the Dragonknight. With this other assumptions, it is clear there is probably symbolism within this scene, therefore Jon’s parallels to Aemon are strengthened. 

There is also the matter of the orders that they joined. Aemon joined the Kingsguard, a celibate order, just as Jon joined the celibate Night’s Watch. The Kingsguard were also widely respected at the time, and wear white cloaks. When Jon joined the NW, it was a place for criminals, all dressed in black. 

Family and Marriage

Aemon was reported to have loved Naerys Targaryen, and quarreled with her husband Aegon during the wedding. This can be paralleled with Jon Snow and ‘Arya’. Jon undoubtedly loves Arya the most out of his siblings, and there is undertones of romance, which many Jonrya blogs could show you. Jon also was furious when he believed ‘Arya’ was getting married to Ramsay Bolton. 

“His fingers closed around the parchment. Would that they could crush Ramsay Bolton’s throat as easily.” - Jon VI, ADWD

Jon may not have been present at the wedding, but his displeasure at the marriage is very clear. But we also have Daenerys’ parallels to Naerys and Aegon’s wedding as well in her wedding to Khal Drogo. 

This was an unwanted wedding for both women, with Naerys crying during the bedding, just as Daenerys did …When he turned to look at her, she began to cry. Khal Drogo stared at her tears, his face strangely empty of expression. “No,” he said. - Daenerys II, AGOT

But we see that actually this situation (while obviously still rape, I in no way support Dany x Drogos relationship) improves somewhat for Dany, while Naerys suffers abuse until her death. 

What It Means For The Future

We now have more interesting deviations in our hands. GRRM has noted that Dany is stronger than Naerys - she escapes her abusive brother, her marriage, and has agency. Jon as well, a bastard who is part of an order that is a glorified prison colony, compared to legitimate Aemon, of the great Kingsguard. 

These opposites most likely suggest that Jon and Daenerys will have happier lives together while Aemon and Naerys died young, without each other. Aemon and Naerys were a tragedy, and perhaps Jon and Daenerys will be a subversion of their story. 

Kissed by fire

Something’s just occurred to me: Is it just a coincidence that the first woman Jon loved was kissed by fire, or could it be Jonerys foreshadowing? I don’t want to hold onto anything vague too tightly, but I find this quite interesting.

Kissed by fire

Something’s just occurred to me: Is it just a coincidence that the first woman Jon loved was kissed by fire, or could it be Jonerys foreshadowing? I don’t want to hold onto anything vague too tightly, but I find this quite interesting.

jon & dany soulmatism

ASOIAF || Star Wars: Parallel Characters

"She wants fire, and Dorne sent her mud" Jon might be not mud like Quentyn was but he ain't fire either. y'all just focused on foreshadowing that can mean a variety of things and not that they are not each other's types so they normally can't be attracted to each other unless Jon after his resurrection turns him into some daring fuckboy or some romantic prince charming which is unlikely.

Anon, are you sure you’re not the one stretching the text to make it mean what you want it to mean?  "She wants fire", Jon isn’t fire,  therefore Jon isn’t her type? Phew. 

Anyway, Jon is daring (he’s hosting a wildling giant at the Wall, for Pete’s sake!) and he is romantic (dreaming of making love with Ygritte in the Godswood, showing her winter flowers at Winterfell, woah) and he might even be a prince, for all we know so far. He’s 16, give or take? So probably horny, as most 16 years old boys are, and Shireen, Alys Karstark, Val and Ygritte all seem to find him charming enough, so I’m not sure what your point is here.