As the final season of Game Of Thrones inches ever nearer, fans are hotly debating how the hit show will end - and who will end it atop the Iron Throne. Since season one, the rulership of Westeros has been bitterly fought over, and while everyone has their own opinions over who should rule (and who will), a clear fan-favorite has to be Jon Snow... aka Aegon Targaryen.
In season six, it was revealed that Jon is actually not the Bastard of Winterfell, but the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, born at the end of Robert's Rebellion in the Tower of Joy. As a baby, Jon was spirited away to Winterfell to live as Ned Stark's son, but now it seems that he may be the true heir to the Iron Throne - and there are several different ways that this could come to pass in the upcoming season.
RELATED: How Jon Snow Can Prove He Is The Rightful Heir
Septon Maynard's Journal
The simplest, but by far the least likely way that Jon could gain the throne for himself would be the acceptance of his claim - courtesy of Septon Maynard's journal. This was the book that Gilly and Sam found at the Citadel, a diary in which the High Septon recorded the annulment of Rhaegar's marriage to Elia Martell, and his re-marriage to Lyanna Stark.
If this was one of the books that Sam stole when he left the citadel, Jon could use it - along with Bran/The Three-Eyed Raven's visions, to prove that he is the rightful heir and gain the support of the Lords of Westeros. However, even if Jon can prove his claim, it's incredibly unlikely that the other players in the Game of Thrones would simply roll over and accept it.
White Walkers Kill Everyone Else
Jon may not be the King of Westeros quite yet, but he is the King in the North - and should King's Landing fall, that ruler could become the only one Westeros has. Should Cersei and Daenerys end up killed by White Walkers during their invasion of Westeros and the battle between the living and the dead, Jon would become the only remaining character with any real claim to the throne.
RELATED: How Winterfell Can Survive The White Walkers
The Baratheons are dead, the Lannisters would die with Cersei, and Jon would be the only Targaryen left. However, this would require the White Walkers essentially destroying most of Westeros from the Wall to King's Landing in order to get to Cersei - which wouldn't leave Jon much of a kingdom to rule over.
The Magic Of The Three-Eyed Raven
Jon's younger brother, Bran, has now become the Three-Eyed Raven; and that comes with a hefty dose of magical powers. The Three-Eyed Raven is a Greenseer - people with special abilities that include the power to see the past, and into the future. It's also been shown that the Three-Eyed Raven has other magical abilities, but these haven't been explored in any real depth yet. While theories about how Bran's transformation into the Three-Eyed Raven will play out abound, one possibility is that Bran will use his new gifts to help his brother take the throne... especially now that Bran know exactly who Jon really is.
Tyrion Betrays Daenerys
Possibly the biggest obstacle standing between Jon and the Iron Throne is the woman he loves - Daenerys Targaryen. She's spent the entire series determined to get back to Westeros and take the throne for herself, and it's unlikely she would simply hand it over to Jon. However, fans have theorized that Tyrion, her Hand, may double cross her.
RELATED: (Theory) How Tyrion Betrays Daenerys In Season 8
Tyrion's meeting with Cersei in the last season has convinced many that he is playing a longer game, and should Tyrion's betrayal lead to her death, Jon could step up and take over her forces (and dragons) as King. This theory does mean that Cersei would have to die too, but thanks to the Valonqar prophecies, her death seems like a foregone conclusion at this point.
Sends Arya To Kill All His Enemies
The Starks are back together again! (The living ones, that is...) And given Arya's training with the Faceless Men, she has become the perfect assassin to remove any enemies Jon may face and clear his path to the throne. She's already determined to kill Cersei (one of the last names on her list), and given the closeness of her relationship with Jon in the past, it would definitely be possible for her to use her new skills to make sure he stands unopposed as ruler. This would also allow for Sansa to remain as Wardenness of the North, putting the Starks in power everywhere.
Daenerys Goes Back To Meereen
Assuming that Cersei dies and the White Walkers are defeated (which most fans do), the battle for the throne will come down to Jon and Dany. However, Dany doesn't necessarily have to die for Jon to become King - she could choose to leave. Although she has been determined to return to Westeros and take the throne since the early seasons, many people have pointed out that she has never actually spent any time there - and that the people may not actually embrace her as Queen. It's possible (although also unlikely) that Daenerys will decide to return to Meereen and Daario, who was left in charge of the city with the Second Sons, and rule there instead. She could even decide to leave Jon as ruler in Westeros in order to expand the kingdom to include Meereen and Dragon's Bay (Slaver's Bay that was).
Daenerys Dies In Childbirth
Although not confirmed, it has been theorized that Cersei isn't the only pregnant Queen in Westeros - but that Jon Snow's night with Daenerys has led to her becoming pregnant too. Should Daenerys win the Iron Throne, if she then died in childbirth, Jon would likely take her place.
RELATED: Is Dany Pregnant In Game Of Thrones Season 8?
This may be the saddest way that he could end up ruler of Westeros, but it would be fitting, given how his own mother died... and Jon ruling while his motherless son grows up would certainly live up to the description of the final result as 'bittersweet'.
Turns Out To Be Azor Ahai
One of the (many) prophecies in Game of Thrones concerns Azor Ahai, the reincarnation of a mythical figure who will be the one to defeat the Night King and save the seven kingdoms. There are plenty of theories about who may turn out to be the Prince that was Promised - and Jon is a definite possibility. His rebirth at the hands of Melisandre is one of the biggest indicators that he could be this legendary figure... and should Jon be the one to defeat the Night King and his army, the people of Westeros may crown him in gratitude.
Marries Daenerys Targaryen
Another way for Jon to take the throne without Daenerys having to die would be if the two are able to defeat the army of the dead, take out Cersei (or watch as the Valonqar does it), and then marry and rule the Seven Kingdoms together. While plenty of fans love the idea of Jon and Dany ruling side by side (perhaps building a second Iron Throne to sit next to the first), it's not the most likely way for the show to end. It's still possible, of course, but Jon and Dany as rulers, Tyrion as Hand, and Sansa as Wardenness of the North... just seems like too much of a happy ending for a series as determined to rip the hearts out of its viewers as Game of Thrones.
Becomes A Dragonrider
Another theory that would be incredibly satisfying, but perhaps a bit too cheerful, is that Jon will mount Rhaegal and become a dragonrider himself. Now that his Targaryen bloodline has been proven, this seems likely, and fans would love to see Jon and Daenerys riding their dragons side by side. As a dragonrider, Jon would be able to take the throne by force - and it would bring the story of Westeros full circle. Jon's real name is Aegon, just like the original Aegon the Conqueror who first forged the Iron Throne and united the Seven Kingdoms. With Daenerys riding Drogon, the riderless dragon Jon would claim is Rhaegal, named after Rhaegar - Jon's father. It all lines up, although this would probably mean that Daenerys and Drogon fall in battle before the series is done.
How do you think Jon could win the Iron Throne for himself? Let us know in the comments.