What did Varys know about Jon Snow that led him to betray Daenerys?
Game of Thrones
Updated Aug 30, 2026
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Contains spoilers: Major spoilers for Game of Thrones Seasons 7-8.
Direct answer
In HBO's Game of Thrones, Varys learned that Jon Snow was actually the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark—the lawful Targaryen heir, with a stronger claim to the Iron Throne than Daenerys. That gave Varys an alternative ruler, and he turned against Daenerys because he believed Jon was more stable, more respected, and better for the realm as Daenerys became increasingly volatile.
## What Varys learned
Varys learned, via Tyrion, that Jon was not Ned Stark's bastard. Jon was Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark's son, and their secret marriage made him legitimate in the show's continuity. Varys therefore regarded Jon—called Aegon Targaryen in the series—as the "one true heir" to the Iron Throne.
## Why that led to betrayal
Jon's ancestry was the political opportunity, not the whole reason. Varys had lost faith in Daenerys after her losses, grief, isolation, and growing willingness to rule through fear. He argued that Jon was a proven leader whom Northerners and soldiers respected, and that Jon's lack of ambition was a virtue: he did not want power for himself.
## What Varys did
Varys began spreading Jon's parentage and succession claim through letters to influential people in Westeros. Tyrion reported this to Daenerys, who treated it as treason. She had Drogon execute Varys at Dragonstone in Season 8, Episode 5, "The Bells."
## What remains uncertain
The series does not show Varys independently verifying Jon's parentage; he received the information through the Sansa-to-Tyrion-to-Varys chain. It also strongly implies, but never explicitly confirms, that Varys may have been trying to poison Daenerys through her food.
Varys learned, via Tyrion, that Jon was not Ned Stark's bastard. Jon was Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark's son, and their secret marriage made him legitimate in the show's continuity. Varys therefore regarded Jon—called Aegon Targaryen in the series—as the "one true heir" to the Iron Throne.
## Why that led to betrayal
Jon's ancestry was the political opportunity, not the whole reason. Varys had lost faith in Daenerys after her losses, grief, isolation, and growing willingness to rule through fear. He argued that Jon was a proven leader whom Northerners and soldiers respected, and that Jon's lack of ambition was a virtue: he did not want power for himself.
## What Varys did
Varys began spreading Jon's parentage and succession claim through letters to influential people in Westeros. Tyrion reported this to Daenerys, who treated it as treason. She had Drogon execute Varys at Dragonstone in Season 8, Episode 5, "The Bells."
## What remains uncertain
The series does not show Varys independently verifying Jon's parentage; he received the information through the Sansa-to-Tyrion-to-Varys chain. It also strongly implies, but never explicitly confirms, that Varys may have been trying to poison Daenerys through her food.