Game Of Thrones: 10 Smartest Changes HBO Made From The Books

A lot of viewers might have been expecting this twist, ever since the first series in fact, but it was nice to have it officially confirmed within the confines of the show. For a long time both book and series have been baiting the fans with the secret of who Jon's mother was.

The book has been especially good at downplaying it and we still don't know if this is how things will turn out.

But on the small screen Jon Snow, long thought to be Ned Stark's bastard son, is in actual fact his legitimate nephew: Aegon Targaryen, son of Rheagar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, rightful heir to the Iron Throne. His identity was kept a secret in order to protect him from Robert Baratheon who hated the Targaryen bloodline and wanted it wiped out.

Naturally Jon becomes aware of this at the worst possible time: after he's sworn fealty to his aunt Dany Targaryen, with whom he's also fallen in love. Ruh roh.

Aegon does appear in the books too but has nothing to do with Jon. He is supposed to be Dany's exiled brother, having managed to escape the rest of his family's fate. Only Tyrion and a few others know his secret identity.