Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Jon Snow; later Jon Gotak 3 249 |
| Gender | Male 3 |
| Affiliation | House Stark; Garon Glover’s Steel Fist Company; later House Gotak 3 52 249 |
| Occupation/Role | Garon Glover’s squire; defender of Winterfell; later Lord of the Dreadfort 47 149 249 |
| Status | Alive in the afterword 249 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 3 |
Background and History
Raised at Winterfell as Ned Stark’s acknowledged bastard, Jon is close to Robb and the younger Stark children. He teaches Bran archery, but his illegitimate status leaves him uncertain about his future. Garon Glover earns Jon’s trust by praising his skills and encouraging him to pursue ambitions beyond joining the Night’s Watch 3 11.
When Catelyn insists that Jon leave Winterfell, Ned arranges for him to become Garon’s squire. Jon travels with Garon to Deepwood Motte, where he joins the Steel Fist Company and shares in its training and discipline 28 46 47 51 52.
Jon repeatedly wants to fight for his family, especially after Ned’s imprisonment. Garon instead keeps him in the North, eventually entrusting him with Winterfell’s defense. Jon refuses to admit Ramsay Snow’s troops through its gates, later leads the defense that defeats Ramsay’s attack, and is given four thousand soldiers to pursue him 75 81 113 149 213 241.
Garon later enfeoffs Jon as Lord of the Dreadfort. Jon founds House Gotak, marries a daughter of House Karstark, and has a son named Rickon 249.
Appearance
Personality
Jon’s loyalty to his family often conflicts with his orders: he wants to rescue Ned and resents being left behind while others fight. Nevertheless, he remains at his post out of honor and duty. When Garon explains the danger to Winterfell, Jon accepts its defense as his responsibility 81 149.
Abilities and Skills
Combat and Archery
- Robb praises Jon’s swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship, and admits Jon is the better swordsman 3.
- Jon defeats an older opponent in a lengthy wooden-sword trial 61.
- He commands archers against Ironborn at Oxhorn Hill and fights a White Walker during the later war 124 247.
Command
- Jon helps train newly recruited Glover soldiers 81.
- As Winterfell’s defender, he coordinates a trap using Robett Glover’s archers in the Wolfswood and Cerwyn cavalry against Ramsay’s army 213.
Relationships
- Ned Stark — Jon’s father as he knows him; Jon seeks to rescue him after his imprisonment and later mourns him at Winterfell 81 239.
- Robb Stark — Jon’s brother and close companion, who openly praises his fighting skills 3.
- Bran Stark — Jon’s younger brother, whom he patiently teaches archery and worries over after Bran’s fall 3 34 36.
- Catelyn Stark — Resents Jon’s presence at Winterfell and insists that he leave 28.
- Garon Glover — Jon’s mentor and lord, who makes him a squire, trusts him with Winterfell’s defense, and later grants him the Dreadfort 47 149 249.
- Ghost — Jon’s direwolf, who accompanies him to Deepwood Motte 46 52.
- Rickon Gotak — Jon’s son, named in honor of Rickon Stark 249.
Notable Quotes
“I swear upon my father’s honor that as long as I remain here, Winterfell will not fall!” 149