Throughout Game of Thrones‘ eight-season run, a number of thought-provoking fan theories came to light. One of the longest-running theories suggested that Tyrion wasn’t a Lannister, but instead a Targaryen. Supporters of the theory presented overwhelming evidence from the HBO series as well as George R.R. Martin’s book series in which the series was based. However, reviewing the evidence reveals that Tyrion couldn’t have been a member of House Targaryen.

The popular Game of Thrones fan theory surrounding Tyrion became known as “A+J=T.” It was meant to indicate Tyrion was the child of “Mad King” Aerys II Targaryen and Joanna Lannister. Tyrion was believed to be the youngest son of Tywin and Joanna, two cousins within House Lannister. During Aerys’ reign, Tywin, the Head of House Lannister, served as the Hand of the King. There was ample speculation in the novels that the Mad King lusted after Joanna, some going as far to suggest that the duo had an affair that led to Tyrion’s birth.

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Joanna ended up dying from childbirth when Tyrion was born. Coincidentally, the same tragic event happened with the birth mothers of Jon Snow and Daenerys, two other members of House Targaryen. It was insinuated that Tywin’s hatred for Tyrion because he blamed his son for the death of Joanna. Some viewers believed that Tywin’s displeasure for Tyrion stemmed from the notion that the boy was a product of an affair between Joanna and the Mad King. There was also the evidence centered on Tyrion’s appearance. In the book series, Tyrion was described as having white-blonde hair like Targaryens rather than the golden color common among Targaryens. Despite the evidence, Tyrion was never revealed to be a secret Targaryen, at least in the TV series.

The Evidence Debunking The Tyrion Targaryen Theory

If Tyrion had been a Targaryen, his true ancestry would have been a focal point within Game of Thrones. There were plenty of indicators that Tyrion didn’t fit in with the rest of his family, but there wasn’t any clear evidence suggesting that he was a Targaryen. It would have been foolish to unearth Tyrion as a Targaryen when the series spent so much time teasing, and then revealing, that Jon Snow was indeed Aegon Targaryen. Jon’s ancestry was a major plot development in Game of Thrones even though it didn’t amount to anything. Having another character presented as secret Targaryen would have lessened the initial shock of Jon’s ancestral reveal even more.

Tyrion’s story took a backseat to Jon and Daenerys’ plot lines in the final two seasons of Game of Thrones. For that, it was clear that there were no major surprises surrounding Tyrion and his connection to the Targaryens. Tyrion had a history with dragons in both the show and the books, but that turned out to be more of a mutual respect relationship rather than a deeper familial connection. Even though Tyrion was never named a Targaryen in Game of Thrones, it’s still possible the theory could come true in the books. The Winds of Winter is expected to be released in the near future followed by A Dream of Spring.

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About The Author


Kara Hedash
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Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

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