One thing about the world of Game of Thrones takes place if that there is a great amount of history to it. A lot of this history not only has played a significant build up to the current situation but also has implications on future events. Additionally a lot of theories being floated also weigh heavily on this. So lets take a look at a bit of the backstory now prior to moving forward with the next chapter.
As we learned in the prior chapter King Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark were both wards of Jon Arryn. The Mad King Aerys Targaryen II demanded their heads Jon opted to go to war instead of turn over his charges. But why?
To learn this we have to go back to when Ned was 18. (He’s 35 when the books begin.) A great tournament is held at Harrenhal castle and the joust tournament was won by the crown prince Rhaegar Targaryen.
The victory was quickly followed with scandal however. Normally a victor will present a crown of flowers to a woman and name her “Queen of Love and Beauty”. This is usually an indication of romantic interest.
At the time Rhaegar was married to Elia Martell of Dorn who had borne him two children. Traditionally a married victor will present the crown to his wife, but Rhaegar opted instead to present the crown to Lyanna Stark who was engaged to Robert Baratheon. Even more scandalous is that both Robert and Elia were present when Prince Rhaegar did this.
A year later Rhaegar kidnaps Lysa, and her brother Brandon Stark rides to Kingslanding and demands justice. Unfortunately his demands are heard by the Mad King Aerys Targaryen who arrests him and his companions for treason.
The King summoned the fathers of the accused to court and promptly had them all executed. Ned’s father Rickard Stark demanded a trial by combat as was his right. The Mad King named Fire to be the champion of the crown and suspended Rickard from the rafters over a burning blaze. To make matters worse Brandon was brought in with a cord about his neck and a sword was placed just out of reach. He was told should he attain the sword he could free his father. But every attempt he made to grab the blade tightened the strangling cord and eventually Brandon strangled to death attempting to save his father who roasted alive.
Wishing to purge his kingdoms of all traitors the Mad King then called for the heads of Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark who at the time were the wards of Jon Arryn. Arryn refused and Robert and Ned who was now Lord of Winterfell went to war.
Now some significant events occurred here. Robert returned to the Stormlands and called his bannermen. Ned returned to the North and raised his armies as well. In addition Ned also was able to attain the loyalty of House Tully by agreeing to take the place of his older brother Brandon whom she had been betrothed to.
Eventually the rebel and loyalist armies met at the trident and Robert slew Rhaegar at the battle of the trident. After this battle Robert declared his intentions to usurp power from the Mad King and to take the throne. He did have a weak claim as a grandmother was a Targaryen, but not nearly as good as that of any of the grandchildren of the Mad King.
Robert was unable to continue to fight on as he had suffered wounds at the Battle of the Trident. Thus command was given to Lord Eddard Stark who went on to Kings Landing.
As the Rebel forces marched upon the capital city the forces of House Lannister arrived first. Declaring loyalty to the crown they were welcomed as allies by the Mad King and under command of Tywin the Lannister men began to sack the city. Jamie Lannister who was part of the Kingsguard was ordered by Mad King Aerys to kill his own father.
Jamie had other ideas. Instead he slew the Mad King in his own throneroom and earned the name “The Kingslayer”. The Lannister men then sought out the rest of the royal family and put them to death. Most notably Ser Gregor Clegane killed Rhaegar's son Prince Aegon, then raped and killed Elia Rhaegar’s wife before killing Reagan's daughter as well.
When Ned arrived he found Jamie upon the Iron Throne with the Mad Kings body dead at his feet. When Robert arrived the bodies of the Targaryens were presented as proof of fealty to King Robert which he accepted.
Following this Ned set out to the tower of Joy and confronts the remaining Kingsguard who were guarding Lyanna Stark. After the conflict he finds Lysa who, before dying makes him promise her something. This isn’t immediately revealed but many theories as to the nature of the promise have been put forth, which I’ll get to later.
At the end of the rebellion Robert is King, who marries Cersei Lannister, as Lyanna is dead. Viserys Targaryen and Daenerys fled across the Narrow Sea to Braavos.
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