Who Was Rhaegar Targaryen?
Rhaegar is the eldest son of Aerys II (“the Mad King”) and, by most in-universe accounts, nothing like his father — thoughtful, melancholic, and more interested in prophecy and music than the violence that came to define his father’s court. His choices, however, end up triggering the very war that destroys his family’s rule.
Elia Martell and the Tourney of Harrenhal
Rhaegar is married to Elia Martell of Dorne, with whom he has two children, Rhaenys and Aegon. At a famous tourney at Harrenhal, he controversially crowns Lyanna Stark — not his wife — Queen of Love and Beauty, a public gesture widely read as the beginning of their relationship.
Lyanna Stark and Jon Snow
What follows becomes one of the central mysteries of the entire saga. Rhaegar and Lyanna’s disappearance together is initially assumed to be an abduction, sparking Robert’s Rebellion. The truth, revealed much later, is that Lyanna went with Rhaegar and the two secretly married — and that Jon Snow, raised as Ned Stark’s “bastard,” is actually their son, born Aegon Targaryen.
Death at the Trident
Rhaegar is killed by Robert Baratheon in single combat at the Battle of the Trident, a defeat that effectively decides the outcome of the Rebellion and ends Targaryen rule for a generation — right up until his own hidden son eventually re-enters the story.
FAQ
Is Rhaegar Targaryen really Jon Snow’s father?
Yes — Jon (born Aegon Targaryen) is the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark, kept secret to protect his life.
Did Rhaegar abduct Lyanna Stark?
Most accounts, including the eventual in-story reveal, suggest she went with him willingly, and the two secretly married.
How did Rhaegar die?
Killed by Robert Baratheon in single combat at the Battle of the Trident.