Robert Baratheon is king when Game of Thrones open, but several Great Houses of Westeros overthrew King Aerys II Targaryen during Robert’s Rebellion. This raises questions about why Robert becomes the new ruler of the Seven Kingdoms afterwards. The uprising that eventually defeats the Mad King is named after Robert, as he is one of the driving forces behind it. Although the Great Houses resent the Targaryens for conquering Westeros, Robert’s outrage at Rhaegar’s supposed kidnapping of Lyanna Stark sparks the rebellion.
The deaths of Rickard and Brandon Stark also contribute to this, giving Ned Stark a lot of motivation to join Robert’s fight against the crown. And other important players, like House Arryn and House Tully, get involved alongside Robert and Ned. The Lannisters joined the fight later, but that wouldn’t stop Tywin from seizing power if the opportunity arose. Several other characters could also have tried to replace King Aerys II after his death, including Ned himself. However, Robert Baratheon has a better claim to the Iron Throne for an ironic reason.
Robert Baratheon’s Targaryen lineage and claim to the Iron Throne explained
Robert has Targaryen blood from his grandmother
Despite several Great Houses uniting to defeat the Mad King, Robert Baratheon has the strongest claim to the Iron Throne of all the lords on his side in Robert’s Rebellion. This is because he has Targaryen bloodan unexpected development when you consider his hatred of the Targaryens in Game of Thrones. Robert is a descendant of House Targaryen through his grandmother, Rhaelle Targaryen. There are also rumors that his Targaryen ancestry goes back much further than that, with some reports claiming that Aegon the Conqueror and Lord Orys Baratheon were half-brothers.
With the Targaryen dynasty lasting nearly three centuries before Robert’s Rebellion, his connection to the house may have put some of his allies and followers at ease.
This would mean that Robert Targaryen’s roots go back centuriesalthough even his more traceable connection to Rhaelle gives him a better claim to the Iron Throne than Ned Stark or Jon Arryn. Both could have tried to take the throne for themselves, but neither of them has Targaryen blood. And with the Targaryen dynasty lasting nearly three centuries before Robert’s Rebellion, his connection to the house may have put some of his allies and followers at ease. Of course, it wasn’t the only thing that gave him the edge over Ned and Jon.
Did Robert Baratheon have Targaryen blood really matter?
This strengthened his claim, but also defeated Rhaegar
Robert Baratheon having more Targaryen blood than Jon Arryn and Ned Stark certainly strengthened his claim to the Iron Throne, and this likely contributed to him becoming king. With Westeros placing so much value on lineages and legitimate claims, It worked in Robert’s favor that his ancestry could not be disputed as much as someone like Ned’s. However, Robert also had other things going for him, and these strengths also contributed to his rise to power. He proved to be an impressive leader and powerful warrior during Robert’s Rebellion, demonstrating the qualities of a king.
Robert defeating Rhaegar Targaryen at the Battle of the Trident also gained him supportfurther highlighting his skill on the battlefield. Robert received a lot of recognition for personally overthrowing Rhaegar – also essentially ending the war – and this convinced people to support him as the new king. Even Tywin Lannister decided to forge an alliance with Robert after this victory, and Tywin’s desire to gain something from Robert’s kingship could not have harmed his chances of being crowned either.
Why Ned Stark Couldn’t Have Been King
He had no claim to and would not have wanted the Iron Throne
In Game of Thrones, Jaime Lannister questions why Ned Stark didn’t claim the Iron Throne for himself when he took King’s Landing for Robert. The most obvious answer to this question is that he could not have proved a strong claim. It was easier for people to support a Baratheon with Targaryen blood than a lord of the North whose customs would be very different from those of the people living in and around King’s Landing.
He gives no indication throughout Game of Thrones that he craves such power.
Furthermore, Ned Stark has a lot in common with Jon Snow, and he probably wouldn’t have wanted the Iron Throne. He gives no indication throughout Game of Thrones that he craves such power. In fact, Ned is even reluctant to become Robert’s Hand of the King, although he accompanies him to King’s Landing out of a sense of duty. But Ned didn’t want to keep the crown for himself, even if he was an honorable leader. And if Game of Thrones proves anything over its eight seasons, and it’s that the kings of Westeros need more than honor to get through the job.