The following article contains major spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1. Winter may have finally come, but at least there's a warm, bright spot for TV watchers — A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, HBO’s newest Game of Thrones spin-off, premiered Jan. 18, 2026, to high approval ratings. The new fantasy TV show adapts George R.R. Martin’s “The Hedge Knight” novella, following the exploits of Ser Duncan the Tall and his, by contrast, quite short squire, Egg.

But who is Egg, really? Fans of Game of Thrones are no stranger to secret identities. The HBO drama A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms might just be getting started, but Martin’s novella has been in readers’ hands since 1998 — plenty of time for fan speculation to run the gamut. Stop reading now if you don't want spoilers for Egg’s true identity!

Duncan the Tall vs Lyonel, and Lyonel Baratheon in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

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By Renan Fontes

Who is Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

Dunk and Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set in between the prequel series House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones — approximately 80 years after House of the Dragon and 90 years before Game of Thrones. King Daeron II Targaryen sits on the Iron Throne, yet the time of dragons is past. Some can still remember the sight of dragons flying in the skies, but the fearsome creatures have been extinct for over 50 years at this point in the timeline.

Egg’s true name is Aegon Targaryen. He's been called “Egg” ever since he was a baby for two simple reasons: because he's small, and because he had a green-and-white swirl dragon egg in his cradle. He also looks eggish due to his bald head. Egg wants no part in his royal duties, so he shaves his distinctive silvery Targaryen hair and masquerades as a common stable boy, keeping his Egg moniker.

How A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Connects to Game of Thrones Through Egg's Story

Cover art of Duncan the Tall's trial by seven (art by Gary Gian)

Growing up in the Red Keep, Egg learned much about politics and manipulation, but as he finds out when he becomes Dunk’s squire, there's a whole lot more he has yet to learn about the world and life outside the castle walls.

Egg might be hiding his true royal heritage for now, but the timeline tells us that he doesn't run from it forever. Egg the Squire is destined to become King Aegon V, “the Unlikely.” His rule set the path in motion for the events of Game of Thrones. Fans might remember Maester Aemon's last words in Game of Thrones — "Egg, I dreamed I was old!" Viewers know that Maester Aemon was one of the last Targaryens, but here's where the two series connect: Aemon was actually Egg's older brother.

Future seasons of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will follow Egg as he grows into adulthood and eventually becomes King of Westeros, with Dunk serving as the Lord Commander of his Kingsguard.

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