Stark on the Iron Throne

[Furion Matsuya]

Considering the new info that Jaehaerys and Alysanne had nine children :O, then their tip to the north may have been more than just a stroll to the wall. One of their daughters marrying a Stark would cement GreatJon's "we married the dragons" and Neds "you had the better claim" quote to Robert. Which gives us some indication that the Starks too, have a tenuous claim. Along with the Arryns.

Rhaenrya had more Targaryen blood than Aegon II through her Arryn mother, (who's Targaryen ancestor was either her mother, through Jaehaerys or great-grandmother through one of Aegon I's three daughters).

Then the Martell's (and through them the Tolands), Velaryons (through Laenor and the Hull bastards), Plumms and finally the Baratheons.

Pretty much everyone in Westeros has Aegon the Conqueror somewhere on their family tree.

I wouldn't say everyone since there are likely hundreds maybe even thousands of smaller great/lesser houses that have no Targ blood due to been to lowly in status or some other reason. But your point still stands most of the great houses more thinly like do have Aegon as an ancestor directly or indirectly somewhere on their family trees

 

[CJMoore]

Well, I did phrase it quite murkily. I did mean all the noble houses, not like hedge knights and minor land holders.

For instance, A Stark marries a Targ, their Stark daughter marries a Bolton, a Bolton daughter marries a Stout. Gone from the Royal house to a relatively low level Lord (still noble in the grand scheme of things) in four generations.

The same, would be true for the Arryns marrying their bannermen. The Baratheon and the Stormlands would be likewise. Admittedly this would be through Aerion Targaryen rather than Aegon, unless Orys' children or grandchildren married into the Targaryens again. The Martells (only a few Houses considering the marriage was three/four generation past), the Plumms and through them potentially the Lannisters and even some of the Freys :angry: through Genna. etc etc.

 

[Rubidium]

Well, I did phrase it quite murkily. I did mean all the noble houses, not like hedge knights and minor land holders.

For instance, A Stark marries a Targ, their Stark daughter marries a Bolton, a Bolton daughter marries a Stout. Gone from the Royal house to a relatively low level Lord (still noble in the grand scheme of things) in four generations.

The same, would be true for the Arryns marrying their bannermen. The Baratheon and the Stormlands would be likewise. Admittedly this would be through Aerion Targaryen rather than Aegon, unless Orys' children or grandchildren married into the Targaryens again. The Martells (only a few Houses considering the marriage was three/four generation past), the Plumms and through them potentially the Lannisters and even some of the Freys :angry: through Genna. etc etc.

There are probably quite a few houses with traces of noble blood, but not necessarily even most of the noble houses. The fact that Targs have a strong tendency towards incest could also complicate matters; e.g. those 9 kids could lead to only 5 lines of ancestry (some of which might have gone extinct or merged) due to brother-sister marriages. I suspect out-marriages of Targ women were fairly rare because of this. Especially when we remember that many of the offspring of these incestuous marriages may be less likely to have descendants.

Remember also that they have only been in Westeros for 300 years, which limits the amount of spread that can take place (especially since they seem to have had quite a few die-offs due to things like epidemics and civil wars). Daeron the Good, for instance, had 5 known children but only the descendants of his youngest son seem to have survived to the present. So, while there are probably many houses that have some blood, I doubt "most" would be an accurate description.

 

[D Toccs]

So, while there are probably many houses that have some blood, I doubt "most" would be an accurate description.

You under estimate how much intermarriage takes place, especially in the new canon family trees. For example if we assume that one of those 9 children of Jaeherys did in fact marry a Stark, from that time period to the present, through the Stark family, the majority of Northern houses would have Targ blood.
The Arryns Targ marriage is confirmed and is earlier then the proposed Stark/Targ one, and with a similar rate of Arryns marrying into their vassal families, the majority of the houses in the Vale have Targ blood. That doesn't even take into account the vassal families then intermarrying with each other.

Realistically in the present day, an overwhelming majority of the noble born people of Westeros have a Targaryen somewhere in their lineage.

 

[CJMoore]

Following on with that Toccs said, an example if you will, to build on the intermarrying with each other.

House Blackwood, has Targaryen blood through House Baratheon. Bloodravens grandmother was a Baratheon (Ellyn if I remember right, one of Borros daughters). Just through that marriage (which is canon to this point, as it was updated when tPaQ came out), the Sarfields (westerlands), Ryswells (north), Pipers(riverlands), Coldwaters(vale), Hardyngs(vale) and Lockes(north), have Baratheon blood through the Blackwoods (and in turn Targaryen). That's one generation. That's around the Conquest of Dorne. Now, give that 140 more years. Incidentially, the Blackwoods have Stark blood from this time, a daughter of Cregan Stark.

Now, go back to the Baratheons, Ellyn's great aunt, married into House Waxley (Vale), a cousin married into Bolling (a Durrendon or Baratheon bastard cadet, stormlands).

Now, going by that small snippet. The majority of families will have Targaryen blood.

 

[Furion Matsuya]

Jesus that would make claims over the Iron Throne really complicated and messy if you got a scenario where there is no clear heir to the throne but lots of house with some level of Targaryen blood

 

[zonkie]

How likely would it be for Ned to convert to the Faith of Seven? As you've pointed out it would be nearly impossible for an Old gods follower to rule over The Seven Kingdoms so I guess Eddard would just have changed his faith upon coronation?

 

[Azaghal1502]

afaik Ned was a faithfull follower of the old ways. He wouldn't have converted.

greetings

 

[D Toccs]

Ned would only ever accept the Throne as an absolute last resort if there were literally no other viable candidates, and even then it would take a lot of convincing to get him to do it. But in that unlikely event, if it came down to either a conversion or outright rebellion, I think there is a chance that Ned could be convinced to convert. It would haunt him till his dying days though.