New play Game of Thrones: The Mad King chronicles the story of the tourney at Harrenhal and Robert's Rebellion, ending around 15 years before the events of the main A Song of Ice and Fire books and the Game of Thrones TV show.
Naturally, that means it reveals plenty about the lore of George R.R. Martin's series – and, below, we've rounded up the 16 biggest revelations from the play. Of course, Martin has said before that only the books are canon, so that means the play might not perfectly match up with revelations in the long-awaited Winds of Winter and beyond, especially considering Martin himself did not write the play. But, considering Martin's involvement in the stage show, we can assume the below is largely in line with his plans.
We'd also say that reading about the plot can't hold a candle to seeing it for yourself, so, if you're able, make your way to Stratford-Upon-Avon and watch The Mad King in all its glory. However, if that's not possible, we've got what you need to know below. That means there are major spoilers ahead, so turn back now if you don't wish to know more.
Everything we learned about Game of Thrones from The Mad King
The Prince that was Promised
In the play, it's revealed that the prophesied Prince that was Promised – who will eventually unite the realm against the threat of the White Walkers, as foreseen by Aegon the Conqueror – must be a third-born child. This is the meaning behind "the dragon has three heads," or at least that's how King Aerys sees it. Rhaegar Targaryen believed himself to be the Prince that was Promised, as he was born amidst the salt and smoke of the doomed Summerhall – smoke of the fire as Summerhall burned, and tears of the grieving.
When a red star appears in the sky later in the play, Lyanna Stark, in the Tower of Joy with Rhaegar, sees this as a sign, as does Aerys. Both Rhaegar and Lyanna, and Aerys and his wife Rhaella Targaryen, conceive a child this night: a third born child for Rhaegar named Jon Snow, and a third born child for Aerys named Daenerys. So, both Jon and Daenerys continue to fit the prophecy.
Jon Snow
Jon Snow is very different in the play compared to the TV show. For one thing, he is not named Aegon Targaryen in The Mad King. Lyanna Stark dies before she can name him, and instead Ned Stark names him after Jon Arryn of the Vale, who fostered him and Robert Baratheon as children. Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna are also not shown to get married in the play, meaning Jon is most likely still a bastard (unlike in the show, where he was revealed to be the true heir) – however, Elia Martell does make reference to always being fine with the idea of Rhaegar taking a second wife, so it's not entirely clear if Rhaegar and Lyanna are considered wed or not. Either way, no marriage ceremony is shown onstage.
Those who know Jon's true identity are Ned, Howland Reed, and Benjen Stark. While Jon is still an infant, Benjen says Jon will never be safe until he joins Benjen at the Wall, meaning it was always the plan for Jon to take the black.
Daenerys Targaryen
On the night Daenerys Targaryen is conceived, her mother, Rhaella Targaryen, raging against being forced to sleep with the abusive Aerys, shouts that she does not want to birth the prophesied prince but rather the "scourge of the world," and "a vengeful daughter, whose wrath will return dragons and set the realm ablaze." In the TV show, Daenerys burns King's Landing, a plot point that remains controversial to this day. Rhaella's declaration in The Mad King certainly lends credence to the argument that Daenerys's book plot is likely headed in a similar direction.
Rhaegar and Lyanna
It might not come as a huge surprise after the TV show, but Rhaegar and Lyanna do indeed love each other, and Lyanna went willingly to the Tower of Joy. What we do learn, though, is that Lyanna is a true believer of the Prince that was Promised prophecy, even after Rhaegar begins to lose his faith. In fact, Rhaegar argues "I made a choice that could not have been foretold" by running away with Lyanna, believing himself in control of his own destiny at last. Of course, he seems to be wrong.
Lyanna also tells Ned, as she lays dying from childbirth, that she wants to go home. This explains Ned's insistence on burying Lyanna at Winterfell, even though Robert Baratheon declares he will never forgive Ned for doing so.
The House of the Undying
In A Clash of Kings, Daenerys Targaryen travels to the House of the Undying Ones after her dragons are kidnapped. Inside, she has fantastical visions – and one is of her older brother, Rhaegar Targaryen, and his second-born child, his son Aegon. When Rhaegar's wife Elia asks Rhaegar to make a song for their son, Rhaegar replies: "He has a song. He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire." Then, Martin writes, "He looked up when he said it and his eyes met Dany's, and it seemed as if he saw her standing there beyond the door."
In the play, when Rhaegar speaks these words, he does indeed look up to see an open door. In the doorway stands a woman with long silver hair, with three dragons behind her. She's not identified by name in the play, but it seems very obvious that this is Daenerys. So, Rhaegar did see his younger sister through time.
Rhaegar and Lyanna's dreams
Both Rhaegar and Lyanna have prophetic dreams. Lyanna dreams of a dragon, and Rhaegar has a vision of Daenerys when Aegon is born, then later sees a dragon and Lyanna while fighting Robert Baratheon on the Trident.
Plotting against Aerys
The tourney at Harrenhal was indeed a smokescreen to hide a plot against Aerys, spearheaded by Rhaegar Targaryen – a popular, semi-textual fan theory. Members of the Kinsguard are in on it, along with Elia Martell. The Starks join Rhaegar before the tourney ends, despite Aerys unexpectedly arriving halfway through, throwing a wrench in the conspirators' plans. Everything soon blows up in Rhaegar's face when he and Lyanna Stark flee to the Tower of Joy together, sparking Robert's Rebellion.
Summerhall
One of the greatest mysteries in the books is what exactly happened at Summerhall. What we do know is that King Aegon V – better known as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Egg – starts a devastating fire while trying to resurrect dragons, and many of the Targaryens die. Rhaegar was born in Summerhall, which is why he believes he is the Prince that was Promised, since he fits the "born amidst salt and smoke" part of the prophecy (the salt of the tears of the grieving and the smoke of the fire). While The Mad King doesn't reveal much more about Summerhall, it does show us that Aerys is still heavily traumatized by what happened, as he speaks of seeing his grandsire, Egg, burn alive. And, Rhaella, Rhaegar's mother, has burn marks from rescuing her son from the blaze.
The Knight of the Laughing Tree
A mystery knight with a laughing tree as their sigil enters the lists during the tourney, inflaming Aerys's paranoia. The Mad King reveals that this mystery knight is none other than Lyanna Stark, a popular fan theory, and that she enters the lists because Howland Reed was attacked by the bannermen of some of the nobles participating. She reveals her identity to Rhaegar, who covers up her involvement with his father. Lyanna uses a laughing tree as her emblem because the Weirwood tree in Winterfell has laughing faces.
Elia Martell
Elia Martell's marriage with Rhaegar is purely political, and she has her own lover, Ashara Dayne. Elia even says she encouraged Rhaegar to take a second wife, as Aegon the Conqueror did, and have a wife for duty and a wife for love. However, Rhaegar and Lyanna running away together causes many, many issues – including for Elia, who ends up a captive, and is then murdered along with her children. Before her death, Elia communicated with Lyanna in the Tower of Joy via raven, urging her to tell Rhaegar to end the war.
Rhaenys's prophecy
Elia and Rhaegar's daughter, Rhaenys, says what Elia thinks is gibberish but is actually a disturbing prophecy. Elia reveals that Rhaenys speaks of a river of rubies and a mountain in their room – the river of rubies refers to the rubies that spray from Rhaegar's armor into the Trident river when he is killed by Robert Baratheon, and the mountain is the Mountain himself, Gregor Clegane, who murders Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon. So, Rhaenys is foreseeing her parents' deaths.
Jaime Lannister
Jaime Lannister is an enthusiastic member of the Kinsguard at first. What we didn't know about his appointment, though, is that Rhaegar begs his father not to name Jaime to the order, since it would inflame tensions with Tywin Lannister – who is already at odds with the crown. Later, Rhaegar warns Aerys again that Jaime could be dangerous. Rhaegar's feelings on the Lannister knight do change eventually, though, as he tells Jaime to await his return as he departs for the Trident, implying they can overthrow Aerys afterwards (as happens in the books).
The play backs up what Jaime himself reveals in the main series, showing he was truly devoted to protecting the innocent during his early time as a knight of the Kingsguard. He puts himself between his brothers in arms to defend Rhaella, Elia, and Ashara from them – and, of course, later kills Aerys when Aerys demands Tywin's head and King's Landing burned. However, the play differs from the books when Jaime chooses to sit the Iron Throne. In the books, when Lannister men find Jaime and the dead king, they ask whether Tywin, Robert Baratheon, or another Targaryen should be crowned king. In the play, the Lannister men merely ask if they should proclaim a new king, implying the new monarch could be Jaime. Jaime then ascends the throne and dons his lion helm, as if trying it out for a moment, before yielding it when Ned arrives, as happens in the books.
Bran Stark
Ned Stark hears a disembodied voice shout "father" twice in the play, and, the second time it happens, he is at the Tower of Joy. While this has yet to happen in the books, it does happen in the TV show: Bran Stark, watching what happens at the Tower of Joy, calls out to Ned, and Ned hears. So, this seems confirmation that Bran will use his powers to discover the truth of Rhaegar and Lyanna's relationship and Jon Snow's parentage.
Ashara Dayne
Ashara Dayne is not only revealed to have been in love with Elia Martell, but she also had a bastard child with Brandon Stark. It's strongly implied in the books that Ashara and a Stark had a child, but now we know for sure. Sadly, the child was stillborn. So, while Ashara and Ned do dance together at the tourney, there was no attraction between them: it was always Brandon and Ashara.
The Trident
At the fateful battle of the Trident, Rhaegar Targaryen repeatedly tries to get Robert to surrender on the promise of a pardon. Robert continues to fight, consumed with rage. Rhaegar is eventually killed because he has a vision of a dragon, as well as of Lyanna. He calls to her, explaining why her name was his last word.
King Aerys
We learn some fascinating new details about the Mad King, too. He truly loves his son Rhaegar and is devastated to learn of his death, saying, "brave boy, I have him still in my arms," and "all this is for you, Rhaegar, my boy." Not only that, he's also traumatized by Summerhall. He even urges Rhaegar to kill him at one point, though Rhaegar can't bring himself to do it.
Game of Thrones: The Mad King is playing at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from now until September 5, 2026.
You can keep up to date with the world of Westeros with our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.
