The Role of Aegon's Prophecy in the Winds of Winter (ASOIAF Theory)

[@BenJack]

For the “A Targaryen must be seated on the Iron Throne” part, I took that more as Viserys’ interpretation of the prophecy, not a direct quote from the prophecy. To him a Targaryen uniting the realm and leading the fight would be the King/Queen on the throne. But the Iron Throne didn’t exist yet when Aegon had this dream, so it would make sense for the prophecy to not mention it specifically. For how Rhaegar discovers the prophecy, one theory I’ve seen is that he reads it off of the heated dagger like Rhaenyra does in a later episode. Possibly reading in a book some kind of reference to messages being hidden in Valyrian steel blades.

[@Lumistrocity]

It is mentioned that he and maester aemond would send birds to eachother, I find it more likely that aemond send him down the path, (I also subscribe to the theory that bloodraven and aemond conspired to put egg on the throne, for tptwp reasons)

[@Methus3lah]

I have a few theories on Aegon’s prophecy: - The Tyrells were allowed paramountcy over the Reach because Aegon saw a rose (particularly a blue rose; aka Lyanna) being important to the fulfillment of the prophecy. - Nymor’s letter basically said “we won’t bow to you, but will join you in saving the world from darkness when the time comes.” He learned the prophecy from Meria, who learned it from the Ullers, who learned it from Rhaenys as they tortured her after shooting her down. - Jahaerys didn’t know the prophecy until he and Alysanne went north. The Starks were also keepers of the prophecy (the North Remembers), and so they told Alysanne. That’s why she took that detour to the Wall and was so invested in the Night’s Watch. - the “pact of Ice and Fire” was meant to create the supposed prince that was promised, or at least start a bloodline of Ice and Fire. - Aegon III learned of the prophecy from Cregan Stark - Nymor’s letter was forgotten by the time of the Young Dragon. - Baelor sought to use piety to unify the kingdoms, either by making everyone see him as a saint, or seeking direct intervention from the Seven itself. - Viserys II learned of the prophecy from being hand to 3 different kings. - Aegon IV likely told Daemon Blackfyre of the prophecy, rather than his heir Daeron. Perhaps when legitimizing his bastards, he wanted to try and get Daemon on the throne. Or perhaps, he wanted to throw the kingdoms into chaos and make them die to the winter because he’s so spiteful. - Years later, a head of that black iron dragon washed up on the quiet isle, red with rust. - BUT BLOODRAVEN LEARNED THE PROPHECY THROUGH THE TREES BAY-BEEEEEEEE. He wanted to preserve the “true” Targaryen bloodline to save the world. - the next few kings may not have known of the prophecy, but our boy Bloodraven did. He definitely told Aegon V about the prophecy when he was sent north. Heck, maybe that’s the whole reason he went north. - Aegon V tried to marry his children to other nobles to make strong alliances. That didn’t work. - Summerhall was an attempt to hatch dragons to fight the darkness - “Southron ambitions” was meant to unify the realm against the cold, just in time for Rhaegar to turn that alliance against the Targaryens. - Brandon and Rickard Stark knew of the prophecy. Ned didn’t. - Jon snow is actually the icy threat that the Targaryens were trying to prevent. I will die on that hill. The Night King is an adaptation of Jon Snow. He’s connected to Bran. Stop booing me. I’m right. - See, I believe Aegon’s dream was of a war between Ice from the North and Fire from the east, with a dragon on the Iron Throne. And he saw a three-headed dragon. Those three heads are Jon in the North, Daenerys in the East, and FAegon on the throne. - Of course this guy saw a catastrophic war between elemental forces, and saw himself as the good guy. When he saw ice and fire and a dragon, he assumed that the dragon on the throne was using the fire to defeat ice. - But he didn’t consider that the destructive power of fire from across the sea was just as harmful, and that the ice from the north was also from his bloodline. - And Bloodraven didn’t know that the Blackfyre on the throne would actually be the least destructive chosen one. Maybe I’m not making sense

[@gokbay3057]

I don't believe this will happen but it is a pretty based take, I would enjoy it in theory video form. 10/10

[@Lumistrocity]

I disagree with most of this, it's all tinfoily but, I'm in the camp that after rhaenyra the prophecy was lost until the days of aerys first, after he becomes king there is consistently atleast one targ alive doing fuckity prophecy things, aerys, bloodraven, aemond, rhaegar..

[@fishpastethe4th340]

This might be a tinfoil theory but all that foil is cooking something amazing! I love it!

[@Isuream6331]

@@Lumistrocity I agree. I find the mention of Aerys I bookish nature suspicious, especially as that nature was the justification for Rhaegar finding the prophecy

[@NovaPotter]

I think you are making sense, I personally think some of the points you made are correct, more with the Starks that also unify their reign, and I think that there is some lost knowledge with Ned because he was never supoused to be the heir and perhaps there are some rituals that Ned never put into practice or perhaps putting Lyanna into the crypts of Winterfell was something that could carry bad consecuences

[@Rosie-yt8nd]

i find it very interesting. compared to other stories, where a prophecy is almost like divine law, here it is fundamentally warped by each person it passes through. the original prophecy is Aegon's *interpretation* and therefore isnt necessarily accurate. and then with each retelling to the next heir, they add their own interpretation, what are the important points to *them* and how to achieve that. so it warps a little more. So even IF Aenis wrote it down verbatim, it might not match 1:1 to Aegon's original. And i doubt that if a clearly written prophecy exists, it wouldnt have been found. I rather think there are hints to a prophecy that Rhaegar put together, like a jigsaw. Even if something is lost, the shape it occupied is left behind, like a mold. This further leaves room for error on Rhaegar's reinterpretation and therefore the events he sets in motion to cause our main series are further warped. Instead of their devine destiny, this prophecy instead caused the Targaeryens' doom

[@CarneDeBlaQ]

"Last seen a pie" 😂 Bravo

[@ashleyofnaath]

The way I envisioned it, Viserys might've been the one to write the prophecy down in scrolls; perhaps to unburden himself from the stress of knowing it because he couldn't do so by talking about it with Daemon due to Daemon's unwillingness to take it seriously. From there, I actually think Aegon V might've found the scrolls and the prophecy was the real reason he sent Bloodraven and a bulk of the Raven's Teeth to the Wall, in addition to why Aemon chose to serve there (though the reasons given to the public still stand). The prophecy could also explain Aegon V's desperation to bring dragons back, though again the reasons recorded by history do make sense too. Nice job Quinn!

[@leont5659]

Very good Video bro, like allways. But a little correction: Jaehaerys is Aenys third son. Not the second. You forgot Viserys I think. Keep up the great work. You are my favorite asoiaf creator right now!

[@natemccollum3731]

More than Maegor thinking Aenys was too weak to save Westeros from The Others, VISENYA pushing Maegor’s ascension to the throne has new motivation

[@snoboater]

Thanks to you, im reading Fire And Blood. My favorite ASOIAF channel that i discovered this year psyched for what you're cooking up in 2024!

[@Lumistrocity]

I've seen alot of people online upset with this saying that it only serves to try to justify the targaryen's imperialist ways, but for me it fit perfectly into the "canon" we know that around the time of aerys 1 a prophecy is discovered tptwp, this leads bloodraven to start culling the targaryen bloodlines to set the stage for the prince that was promised to be able to ascend the throne, (we also can infer rhaegar though himself to be the prince, "rhaegar walked into the training yard and announced he was to be a great warrior" aswell as that aemond at the wall and rhaegar discussed prophecy through letters

[@JimRFF]

One possible element of Aegon's prophesy that I've never heard anyone talk about is the creation of the Iron Throne itself... when Aegon had his dream, King's Landing didn't exist and the Iron Throne certainly didn't exist, so perhaps he did specifically see a chair made of swords in his dream and chose to recreate it, or maybe it's completely unrelated and Aegon just thought it was a cool way to show how he subjugated everyone... or maybe it was a failed (maybe? depending on what's inside the throne) attempt to recreate Valyrian Steel by mixing the steel of a thousand swords with blood magic and dragonfire, if Aegon thought that was the only viable weapon against the "darkness" he could have been trying to create a new weapon, and the throne was just an accident... in that way, "a Targaryen must be on the Iron Throne" may not FIGURATIVELY mean a Targaryen monarch must rule the realm but rather LITERALLY the ancestral dragon-blood of the Targaryen family must be poured on and into the Iron Throne (like Maegor the Cruel, and Viserys' cuts) to infuse it with blood magic to make new "Westerosi Valyrian" steel out of it

[@thewerdna]

I suspect the Aegon V also had rediscovered at least part of the prophecy, since he had his grandkids marry entirely because he was told the Prince that was Promised would come from their line. I wouldn't be shocked though if after the dance later kings were operating only on fragments of the prophecy, with Rheagar being the one to rediscover the whole thing

[@t_hetty1758]

I wonder if Rhaenyra tells Jacerys but since he dies it gets lost to time for all these years but somehow Rhaegar finds it. Perhaps even Rhaenyra was the one to write it down after he dies so that it survives and is one day passed down to Aegon III. Also Griff being the Targaryen to help would be cool (he could be fake but I’m coping).

[@Rougarou99]

I could see her try and tell Aegon II before her execution, only for him to dismiss it as nonsense.

[@t_hetty1758]

@@Rougarou99 perhaps he’s too young and the memory of what happens to Rhaenyra clouds what is said about the prophecy.

[@Rougarou99]

@@t_hetty1758 Isn't Aegon II in his twenties?

[@t_hetty1758]

@@Rougarou99 her son Aegon III not king Aegon II.

[@lukacvitkovic8550]

Blackfyres are totally true Targaryens. they have the blood and their founder was legitimized, if you care for such protocol

[@jamiswamp]

A theory I have is that Aegon the uncrowned shared this prophecy with Rhaena and then she shared it with Jaehaerys when he became king. However, you may be right about Rhaegar finding it again! In one of Daenerys’ visions at the house of the Undying(I think), she sees him talking about Aegon(his son), saying “his will be the song of ice and fire” Great video as always!

[@dakotavinyard2239]

I love how you just consistently pump out peak content

[@netojader]

Merry Christmas Quinn ❤

[@fantasyhaven1]

Least insane asoiaf theory

[@entwifey]

Thank you for your content. I rewatched the GOT series and I am just reminded how much we fans deserve a better conclusion to this story. Thanks for keeping the hope alive.

[@ZegetaX1]

Good luck I remember law school can be very difficult

[@jcoles1276]

I think Aerys I may have sort of rediscovered parts of the prophecy too as he was consumed with reading books about prophecy, and perhaps wrote them down.

[@Rougarou99]

Aenys was a people pleaser, so perhaps he told the prophecy to each of his children. Alternatively, perhaps Visenya told Jaehaerys on her deathbed given it had become clear by that point that Maegor would not father any heirs.

[@messtin]

Jaehaerys is actually third son. He had an elder brother Viserys who was also killed by Maegor.

[@saljpal3]

2:34 Just FYI Jaehaerys was the third son, both his older brothers were killed by Maegor.

[@Schloetz]

You really upped your thumbnail game for this one, very nice

[@spellisthebullyboy6485]

2:34 hate to be THAT GUY but Jaehaerys was Aenys’ third son. His second son was Viserys, who Maegor killed after Queen Alyssa fled Dragonstone after Visenya’s death

[@autje1970]

People are way too indoctrinated by Season 8, thinking that there will be war with the Others first, and then we get another war for the throne. Daenerys will not first go north to deal with the Others, then south to deal with King's Landing. "To go north, you must go south". She will hit King's Landing first and take the throne from fAegon VI, and she will not exactly be a good ruler, certainly not in the eyes of the people (whose popular king she has killed). After the Long Night falls she will see her mistakes and go north. "To touch the light you must pass under the shadow" means that to see her true destiny (sacrifice herself to save the world) she must first go through her darkest hour. And her darkest hour is on the throne in King's Landing, ironic since that is all she ever wanted since the beginning of the story. TLDR; she will first do a Bloodstone Emperor (an amethyst-eyed woman kills a relative to usurp a throne, then the Long Night falls; note the gender-reversal), then Azor Ahai (she fits the Azor Ahai Reborn prophecy to a T, and fulfils it in the final chapter of the first book, a key chapter in the story).

[@jolinefields3460]

🎊looking forward to it!

[@nevaehaho61]

I’m personally of the opinion that Jaehaerys learned of the prophecy from his mother Alyssa, perhaps when she crowned him. Aegon probably told his sisters about his dream, so it makes sense that Aenys would tell his wife as well. I also think Alyssa would’ve also told Alysanne since she and Jaehaerys were her last two children (apart from Rhaena but she was married to Maegor) to further ensure its survival. Then Alysanne would travel North and Jaehaerys would secure the realm. I don’t think Rhaena knew though. Jaehaerys was very sexist and she was never seen as heir, but her dragon being named Dreamfyre seems fairly significant. Also if Aegon didn’t tell Maegor, I think it’s fairly possible he found out either when Aenys named him hand and gave him Blackfyre or maybe when he tortured Viserys, giving more reason as to why he would even do that.

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

@QuinnTheGM do you remember in I think DWD Tyrion and Jorah are in a tavern I think and there's a song about a woman that throws herself from a tower because her prince is dead? Could that be RHAEGAR and ASHARA DAYNE? Or is it a red herring

[@TheBmw4545]

LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOOO! MOM NEW QUINN THE GM THEORY VIDEO JUST DROPPED!!

[@samuelleask1132]

Brilliant breakdown!

[@reptilesarecool6739]

Aegon passes to Aenys Maegor is unaware Aenys passes to Aegon the Uncrowned Aegon passes to little Jaehaerys before he goes to face Maegor + dies Jaehaerys passes to Aemon, who dies Then tells Baelon who dies Then waits Grand Council, tells Viserys Viserys tells Rhaenyra Rhaenyra tells Jace [spoilers] Prophecy is lost We are told in the text that the Rhaegar used to dig around in old libraries in the depths of the red keep, where he inevitably finds some written record of the prophecy and returns, saying “it seems I must be a warrior”

[@AnarchoCatBoyEthan]

love you quinn!

[@molleh3180]

Wait the Aenys/Rhaegar symbolism is on point

[@dstny3839]

Quinn i love you❤

[@badyoutuber1986]

Everybody stop what your doing quin stopped studying to give us a nother video I SAID STOP WHAT YOUR DOING

[@masterstyx2877]

It is possible that Rhaegar rediscovered the Prophecy not from any written records but from Dragon dreams of his own, or potentially Bloodraven rediscovered the Prophecy himself and then he sent Rhaegar the Prophecy through dreams, tho i do think personally that the original Prophecy Aegon saw didn't indicate in anyway Targaryens should rule Westeros and that was something he came to believe himself, and in reality what he saw was just the WW invasion and he went "Oh well obviously us and our fire breathing dragons need to rule Westeros to prevent this" prob partially out of genuine belief that was the correct decision to save the world but also just latent ambition.

[@openthemind1244]

"He has a song, his is the Song of Ice and Fire" -- Rhaegar to Lyanna, speaking of their new child: Aegon, (AKA Jon Snow)

[@lxfj2128]

Jon snow isn't Aegon in the books and the prophecy isn't as simple as that

[@enzobodean2599]

If this prophecy was written down somewhere, do you u think maester Aemon would have knowledge of it?

[@Hikaru3899]

i think people over look the fact that aegon the uncrowned was married to rhaena and probably told her. and when Jaehaerys took the throne and all the maegor drama came to an end its quite possible she told him as he was now the king and she saw the importance of continuing it.

[@MrWestbrook11]

jaehaerys was aenys 3rd son not the second. first was aegon then viserys and then jaehaerys

[@sinthoras1917]

Rhaena might have also learned it from Aegon the uncrowned, and told it to Jaehaerys

[@vortex_1336]

Isn't that prophecy mentioned nowhere except the TV show?

[@J.lind_2012]

Where are you attending law school? Are you 1L and what which area(s) would you like to practice in?

[@QuinnTheGM]

I’m a 1L, and I’m unsure on practice area! My initial instinct is something relating to education, though no clue at the moment.

[@Jayp1980]

Very cool video

[@BigBalvin]

Im convinced Jaeherys created the heir to heir. The whole Targaryen Generation pre Jaeherys reign seemed like a no secrets Blood of the Dragon tight knit group

[@chandlerdoeswhatifs9399]

You made a minor.mistake in the video Jaehaerys was not Aenys' second son He was his third. Aenys had three sons: aegon, viserys, and jaehaerys

[@Commanber]

I mean, Blackfyres are Targaryens. Not in name, mayhaps, but I don't know if that is important for a prophecy.

[@DiversDesign]

I dont see how Deanerys can just go North and deal with Others by herself (any northern allies or not). The Long Night is supposed to come - over the whole Westeros, not just North. And to make it into a really devastating turn of events the whole North should be taken over by the Others - and then the whole Seven Kingdoms should unite to try and push them back. Where? Probably at the Neck because thats one naturally suitable choking point of the continent where the armies of the Seven Kingdoms could make their stand. And it seems to me prophecies in ASoIaF should not be taken literally, as the whole saga tries to tell us from the beginning. So the solution to the Others should come from something more complex then just the three heads of the Dragon, or any action by an individual.

[@ejfagan]

Wouldn't Egg presumably be aware of the prophecy, prompting Summerhall?

[@QuinnTheGM]

Potentially? Though I think his desire for dragons is framed as a way to reinforce his reforms, rather than prophetic in nature

[@justdirt]

I love how Aegon's profecy is more proof for Aegon VI's claims as a true born Targaeryan, but instead of seeing it that way, you do mental gymnastics to twist it to be that he is fake. Yes, George likes to subvert and have profecies, but it's much more likely the subverting will be Dany not being the Targaeryen on the throne.

[@thatoneblackdude3333]

How does the prophecy prove aegons real ? There's so much evidence he's a blackfaire what are you talking about? And how would Dany not getting the throne be subversive when nobody believes she'll take it ? If it was a subversion it would be the opposite.

[@RohanSlazar]

And besides, Daemon Blackfyre was legitimized. They are true Targaryens.

[@thatoneblackdude3333]

@@RohanSlazar daemons immediate children sure but his grandkids and great grandkids? Not so sure

[@Mr.Owl777]

So my theory is Aegon couldn't or didn't have any legitimate children. Rhaenys was the dreamer and had the prophecy of ice and fire. The dagger was hers. Aegon had Blackfyre and Visenya had Dark sister,so Rhaenys would have a valerian steel weapon of her own,the dagger. All of the Targaryen kings are bastards decended from Rhaenys. The letter from Dorne that upset Aegon said that dorne knew the secret and returned the dagger.

[@badyoutuber1986]

Deep one problem tho Dorne is well known to treat bastard's like every child born in wedlock so they probably wouldn't take that confession from rheanys as important and also rheanys favourites we're not velerian at least the named ones and seeing through out there history Targaryen blood is very easily over powered by Andals

[@yurinabesima]

My theory is that the prophecy was lost at the end of the Dance but was rediscovered years later by Aerys I. We know very little about Aerys I except that he had no interest in being King and let Bloodraven rule for him while he was obsessed with ancient books about prophecy. We never hear what those prophecies were about, but Aegon's dream was definately the most important one so it would make sense for Aerys to find it. This also explains why Egg' children were married by the instructions of the Ghost of High Heart, they explicitly wanted to birth The Prince that was Promised, but we never learn from where Egg got instered in magic Aerys I was Egg's uncle, and while his dad Maekar probably would not care or believe in magic, Egg or a young Maester Aemon might have listened to their uncle because they loved knowledge in general.

[@QuinnTheGM]

My theory doesn’t mention Aerys I at all. I think that AENYS wrote it down without anyone knowing about it, and that record was rediscovered by Rhaegar.

[@yurinabesima]

@@QuinnTheGM I know, I just has this theory about Aerys and decided to post it here. Just like in the show, the Targaryen habit of giving similar names can create a huge mess

[@ryanwilliams9751]

What if the dream was interpreted wrong and it wasnt that "A Targaryen must be on the throne to stop the threat" and instead "the threat will be stopped, THEN a new Targaryen would take the throne" 🤔 misinterpreting dreams happens all the time

[@jasonsmith9968]

So is this show canon or book canon?

[@QuinnTheGM]

It’s only directly mentioned in HotD, but it came directly from GRRM

[@Koudey]

Tinfoil Town 🤣🤣

[@caydenbreidel3065]

First

[@TalesfromtheS]

second

[@billbrennan2347]

Book canon isn’t show canon

[@ayiza8511]

H eay the whole prophecy is crap. It did not matter and since I have the sneaking suspicion that Bran will end up on the throne and Jon will again be exiled the whole R+L=J is irrelevant and will only be used for cheap conflict between Jon and Dany when they meet in the books

[@yami_323]

🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬

[@fuckoffgoogle1657]

I feel like “aegons magical prophecy dagger” would be a big deal if it suddenly disappeared. Even after the sack of kings landing by Robert’s rebellion. The cats paw dagger is still an enigma as a result. I don’t believe no one has ever seen or heard of this magical Valyrian dagger the Targeryans would pass from king to king for over 200 years. Which makes it very difficult to wire it together with canon because it doesn’t exist anywhere in the text unless we really are willing to accept that this licensed fan fiction that deletes people from existence entirely is the only canon now.