For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Aegon II Targaryen was the sixth Targaryen king to sit the Iron Throne, succeeding his father, Viserys I Targaryen, as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. His ascent was disputed by his older half-sister, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, who had been their father's designated heir. Aegon and Rhaenyra fought for the throne in the civil war the singers called the Dance of the Dragons, in which both siblings perished.
Aegon was married to his full sister, Princess Helaena Targaryen. His dragon was Sunfyre the Golden and for his personal sigil he took a golden dragon instead of a red Targaryen one, indicating his mount. During the Dance of the Dragons, his faction used his personal heraldry as their battle-flag.
See also: Images of Aegon II Targaryen
Aegon resembled his father in appearance, though not in personality. He had only a wispy mustache and a sullen look to his face. He wore the crown of Aegon the Conqueror and carried the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre, the Conqueror's blade.
Aegon’s father, King Viserys I Targaryen, had three children by his first wife, Queen Aemma Arryn. Two were sons who died in infancy. Only Princess Rhaenyra survived to adulthood. Lacking a son to succeed him, Viserys had started to groom Rhaenyra to be his heir. He taught her how to rule and made her part of his small council. In 105 AC, shortly after the death of Aemma and her son, hundreds of lords and landed knights had done obeisance to the princess and sworn solemn oaths to defend her rights.
A year later, in 106 AC, King Viserys married again, this time to Lady Alicent Hightower, who bore him three sons: Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron. Alicent also birthed Viserys a daughter, Helaena. Despite now having three sons, however, Rhaenyra remained King Viserys's heir, a decision he left in his will.
Aegon's mother, Queen Alicent, did not agree with her husbands decision to name Rhaenyra heir to the throne over Aegon. When attempts to persuede him to do otherwise failed, Alicent attempted to convince her husband to have Rhaenyra and Aegon marry. Viserys did not agree. The two siblings were ten years apart in age, and had never gotten along. King Viserys knew that Alicent only proposed the match to get Aegon on the throne, and thus married Rhaenyra to Ser Laenor Velaryon instead.
Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra did not get along either, and the enmity between the two women was passed on to their children: Aegon and his brothers, Aemond and Daeron, did not get along with their Velaryon nephews, and resented the three boy for having stolen their "birthright", the Iron Throne itself. Prince Aegon was convinced that Rhaenyra's three Velaryon sons were fathered by Ser Harwin Strong, and stated such to his younger brother Aemond. It has been said by Grand Maester Gyldayn that forcing Aegon and his siblings to be close to Rhaenyra's sons (attending the same feasts, balls and revels, and having them train together in the yard, and study together) only caused their mutual dislike to grow.
It is unknown when Prince Aegon became a dragonrider, but by the time he was thirteen years old at least, Aegon had succesfully bonded with Sunfyre.
In 122 AC, Prince Aegon married his sister, Princess Helaena Targaryen, in King's Landing. Their first children, the twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, were born a year later, as were Aegon's first two bastards, one boy he had fathered on a girl on the Street of Silk, and one girl he had fathered on one of his mother's servants.
Despite the various attempts of King Viserys to get Aegon, his siblings, and their Velaryon nephews on friendlier terms, Aegon remained resentfull of Rhaenyra's children. When, in 127 AC, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon asked Princess Helaena for a dance, Aegon took offense. They argued, and might even have fought, had the Kingsguard not intervened.
Main article: Dance of the Dragons
When King Viserys I died in 129 AC, Princess Rhaenyra was still the heir to the throne. With Rhaenyra pregnant on Dragonstone, at the moment of Viserys' death, however, the greens in King's Landing hid the news of Viserys' death, keeping the King's body in his room for seven days, until their preparations for Aegon's coronation was done. It would be Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and later known as the Kingmaker, who crowned Aegon king. According to Septon Eustace,
Rhaenyra refused to be denied her crown, disputing Aegon's ascension. The realm was split into two factions, known as the greens and the blacks, and the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons began. Aegon kept his grandfather, Ser Otto Hightower, as his Hand of the King.
Early in the war, Aegon's heir, Prince Jaehaerys, was murdered in the Red Keep by Blood and Cheese, agents of Mysaria, Prince Daemon's spymaster. His sister-wife Helaena quickly began to sink into depression and madness, due to the role she had played in the events leading to Jaehaerys' death.
Because of his grandfather's delays in waging war, Aegon stripped Ser Otto of the Handship and awarded it to Criston the Kingmaker. Ser Criston immediately took to the offensive. Aegon himself took the field in a trap set by Cole at Rook's Rest, where he and his brother Aemond Targaryen fought and killed Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, and her dragon, Meleys. Aegon and his dragon Sunfyre were badly maimed. Aegon suffered from burns and broken bones. His armor had melted into his left arm, and it would take him a year to recover, his mind clouded by milk of the poppy, causing him to sleep nine hours out of every ten. Only his mother, Queen Alicent, and his Hand, Ser Criston, were allowed to disturb his rest. Prince Aemond took over the rule in his stead as Prince Regent. Aegon remained bent and twisted for the rest of his life, half his body covered in burn scars.
When his half sister Rhaenyra took King's Landing and the Iron Throne in 130 AC, Larys Strong secretly smuggled Aegon out of the city. Disguised as one of the smallfolk, Aegon hid on Dragonstone and convinced several blacks to defect and help him take the island. During the coup, he fought Lady Baela Targaryen, both of them mounted on dragons. When the dragons fell to the earth during the fight, Aegon tried to jump off Sunfyre's back, shattering his legs. He carried great pain with him for the rest of his life, but refused milk of the poppy, due to his experience with from his recovery from Rook's Rest. Meanwhile, his wife, Queen Helaena, had ended her grief by suicide in the capital and his second and youngest son Maelor Targaryen was killed by a mob in Bitterbridge.
In late 130 AC, Rhaenyra chose to flee to Dragonstone where, unaware of the coup, she was captured, judged a traitor, and fed by Aegon to his dragon Sunfyre, as he and Rhaenyra's son, Aegon the Younger (the future king Aegon III), watched.
After the defeat of Borros Baratheon's army by the Lads and the approach of Lord Cregan Stark's army towards the capital, Lord Corlys knew defeat was imminent. He counselled King Aegon to take the black, but the king refused and instead gave orders to have the ear of his nephew, Aegon the Younger, cut off and sent to the Lads as a warning - if his bloodline died, so would Rhaenyra's. Aegon then climbed into his litter, to be carried to his chamber, and was given a cup of wine along the way to ease his pain. When his escort arrived at his private chamber and lifted the litter's curtains, Aegon II was found dead with blood on his lips. Thus died Aegon the second of his name in 131 AC, dead by poison. Who exactly poisoned the king remains unknown to history, though twenty-two men would later be arrested for the crime.
Aegon II had no male heirs left, which led to his nephew Aegon III Targaryen (Rhaenyra's son) ascending to the throne and marrying Aegon II's daughter, Jaehaera, thus uniting the two branches of House Targaryen. She would die two years later and with her ended the royal line of the marriage of King Viserys I and his second wife Alicent Hightower.
Despite being considered as part of the Targaryen dynasty, unlike Rhaenyra who would be remembered as a usurper, history would not be kind on Aegon (though history is equally unkind to his half sister, Rhaenyra). In the tome *Lives of Four Kings*, Grandmaestar Kaeth would describe Aegon II as "grasping", and comparing him with some of the worst Targaryen kings: the weakling Aenys and the tyrannical Maegor the Cruel.
During the reign of King Aegon his small council had the following known members:
Rhaenyra: Dear brother. I had hoped you were dead.
Aegon II: After you. You are the elder.
Rhaenyra: I am pleased to know that you remember that. It would seem we are your prisoners ... but do not think that you will hold us long. My leal lords will find me.
Aegon II: If they search the seven hells, mayhaps.
– Rhaenyra Targaryen and Aegon II
Let the ravens fly that the realm may know the pretender is dead, and their true king is coming home to reclaim his father’s throne.
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Aegon IV Targaryen, known as Aegon the Unworthy, was the eleventh Targaryen to sit the Iron Throne, and is considered to be one of the worst Targaryen kings. He sired numerous bastards, legitimizing them on his deathbed, an act that led to five Blackfyre Rebellions.
Aegon began his reign when he was young, vigorous, robust, and handsome but ended it old, corrupt and morbidly obese. By the end of it he was bloated and fat. His eyes were almost lost in the fat of his face, his legs too weak to support his belly. He had a small mouth and a large beard used in an attempt to cover the fat of his neck and face. He wore a new crown he had made, huge and heavy, red gold, each of its points a dragon head with gemstone eyes.
Aegon coveted the Iron Throne as a boy. As a prince he was handsome, skilled with lance and sword. He loved to hunt, hawk, and dance. At court he was the brightest prince who dazzled lords with his wit. He had one major flaw, however: he could not rule himself. His lusts, gluttony and desires ruled him.
Prince Viserys and his wife Larra Rogare hold a young Prince Aegon, as depicted by Magali Villeneuve in *The World of Ice & Fire*.
Aegon was the eldest son of the King's Hand, Prince Viserys Targaryen, and his wife, Larra Rogare. He grew up during the rule of his uncle, King Aegon III. In 139 AC, his mother Larra returned to her native Lys, where she died in 145 AC.
As a young prince, Aegon accompanied his cousin, King Daeron "the Young Dragon", in his conquest of Dorne, as did Aegon's younger brother, Prince Aemon "the Dragonknight", who had joined the Kingsguard. After the submission of Sunspear, Aegon was tasked by King Daeron I to escort the highborn Dornish hostages to King's Landing.
When Baelor the Blessed became king after Daeron's death in Dorne, Baelor dissolved his marriage to his sister-wife, Daena, and imprisoned her and his other sisters in comfortable confinement of the Maidenvault so the sight of her would not tempt him or the men of his court to carnal thoughts. That did not stop Daena from escaping her confinement on three occasions, one time with the help of her cousin, Aegon. Daena became pregnant, refused to say who the father was, and was dubbed "Daena the Defiant" for her willfulness. In time she gave birth to Aegon's son who she named Daemon.
Daemon was not the first of Aegon's bastards, however. Aegon had already acknowledged multiple children by two of his four mistresses, and more children would follow. In his marriage, however, childbirth went less easily. During the years of their marriage, Princess Naerys had several difficult pregnancies. In 161 AC, Naerys gave birth to twins who died shortly after the birth. This caused the new king, Baelor I Targaryen, to fast for a moon's turn.
Eventually Baelor starved himself to death during one of his pious fasts, and Daena and her sisters were passed over in the succession. Aegon's father Viserys became king, but he only ruled for a year before passing away himself. So, in 172 AC, the throne passed to Aegon, the Fourth of His Name. Some historians suspect that the sudden death of Aegon's father, King Viserys, was not natural and that his successor and son Aegon poisoned him in order to hasten his inheritance to the Iron Throne.
Aegon IV is generally considered to be one of the worst kings in the history of Westeros, and is dubbed "Aegon the Unworthy" in the face of his excess and misrule. Aegon's behavior caused great strife at court, especially with his son Daeron and Aegon's brother Aemon, who was then the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
Aegon was a decadent, corrupt ruler who indulged his passions and whims at every opportunity. Being attractive, he was popular with women both highborn and lowborn. He had as many as nine mistresses and many bastards. Supposedly, he had any woman he wanted, whether they were married or not.
Aegon's misrule started with small acts of pleasure, but in time his appetites knew no bounds and his corruption and oppression led to acts that would haunt the realm for generations to come. He filled his court not with men who were noble, wise, or honest, but with those who could flatter and amuse him. The women at court were largely those who could do the same, letting him slake his lusts upon their bodies. On his whims he gave to one House while taking from another. He deprived men of their rightful inheritance, when he desired their wealth, as rumors claim he did following the death of Lord Ossifer Plumm during his wedding day.
Aegon gave away priceless treasures to Lords who managed to please him and for the sake of his desires: an example, on one of his many trips he gifted a dragon egg to Lord Butterwell, after guesting at his castle and allegedly impregnating his host's three maiden daughters in one night.
Aegon once renamed the Teats, two hills that were disputed territories between House Bracken and House Blackwood. They were dubbed by Aegon as Barba's Teats in honor of his Bracken mistress, Barba Bracken, the mother of Bittersteel. A few years later, he casually appropriated the hills from the Brackens and gifted them to the Blackwoods while renaming the hills for his new Blackwood mistress, Melissa Blackwood, the mother of Bloodraven. The Blackwoods still call them Missy's Teats, while the Brackens call them Barba's Teats.
To the smallfolk, Aegon's reign might have been a source of gossip and amusement. To the lords of the realm who did not stay at his court, and who did not wish Aegon to take liberties with their daughters, he might have seemed strong and decisive, frivolous, but largely harmless. Those who were actually at court (among them Aegon's brother Aemon saw him for what he truly was. Aegon was too mercurial, too greedy and too cruel to be anything other than dangerous.
From a young age, Aegon indulged himself with women and continued to do so after his marriage, even during his own reign. He quite openly flaunted his mistresses at court, to the distress of his wife. Naerys Targaryen was the only woman Aegon took no pleasure in bedding; he did not love her as she was pious, gentle and frail, everything Aegon loathed. Aegon could have easily ended the marriage by allowing Naerys to join the Faith of the Seven as she wanted, and then married any other woman of his choosing. Why he never did this is cause of much speculation among the maesters. The answer most likely was simple cruelty. According to Grand Maester Alford, after the birth of Prince Daeron, he warned Aegon that a second pregnancy could kill Naerys. After giving Aegon an heir, Naerys begged him, "Let us live henceforth as brother and sister." Aegon refused, saying "that is what we are doing", and insisted she still perform her "wifely duties" for the rest of her life.
Aegon's treatment of Naerys inflamed matters between Aegon and his brother, Aemon. As children, Aemon and Naerys had been inseparable. Aegon's resentment of his younger noble, famed, and celebrated brother was plain for all to see, most likely because Aemon was everything Aegon was not.
When Queen Naerys was accused of adultery and treason by the knight Ser Morgil Hastwyck, Prince Aemon defended his sister's honor in trial by combat and slew Morgil. This event became famous and inspired many songs, stories, and fables by bards, furthering Prince Aemon's renown, much to King Aegon's annoyance. According to the writings of Maester Kaeth in *Lives of Four Kings*, it was Aegon who secretly started the rumors of Naerys's adultery and used Morgil to instigate this tale, though at the time Aegon denied this. Strangely enough, there were no known rumors spread about the parentage of Princess Daenerys, only about Daeron; these accusations also coincidentally started when Aegon and his heir, Prince Daeron, were quarreling. Daeron opposed Aegon's plan for an unprovoked war on Dorne. The king ignored Daeron's protests, he built a massive fleet, and in 174 AC sent it to launch an invasion by landing on the Dornish coast. The fleet was scattered en route and destroyed by a vicious storm, however.
In 178 AC, Aegon caught one of his Kingsguard knights, Ser Terrence Toyne, sleeping with one of his mistresses, Lady Bethany Bracken. Even though they proclaimed love, Aegon had them both executed.
King Aegon IV publicly knighting and then bestowing the Targaryen sword of kings, Blackfyre, on his bastard son Daemon. As depicted by Marc Simonetti in The World of Ice & Fire.
Blackfyre, the Valyrian steel sword of Aegon the Conqueror, was traditionally carried by the Targaryen kings who succeeded him. Aegon IV, however, gave Blackfyre not to his heir, Daeron, but to one of his bastards, Daemon, when he knighted Daemon at the age of 12, formally recognizing him as his son. Talk of Daemon becoming Aegon's heir instead of Daeron began after this point.
Aegon betrothed Daemon to the daughter of the Archon of Tyrosh, a girl named Rohanne. This match, however, was not one of Daemon's wishes. It was claimed he wanted to wed his half-sister, Princess Daenerys. King Aegon, however, refused this, and it was believed that Aegon saw more profit in making ties with Tyrosh, as to have the aid of the Tyroshi fleet available, should he want to make another attempt to conquer Dorne.
Other sources claim that Daemon did not mind the marriage to Rohanne, as he had believed he would be allowed to follow the example of Aegon the Conquerer and Maegor the Cruel and have more than one wife. Some of the Blackfyre loyalists would later claim that Aegon IV even promised this to Daemon. Daemon's half-brother Daeron, on the other hand, had different views on the matters, and after his own coronation, made certain that the dowry for Daemon's wedding to Rohanne was paid.
In the last few years of Aegon's corrupt reign, his heir, Daeron, became one of the biggest obstacles to Aegon's misrule. While some lords saw opportunity in the gluttonous, corpulent king who could easily be convinced to part with honors, offices and treasures for a chance at pleasure, many others who condemned the king's behavior flocked to Daeron. Aegon, despite all the threats, japes and disparities he heaped upon his son, never formally disowned Daeron. Accounts differ as to why, the most likely explanation being that Aegon knew that his hold on his throne would not be secure if he disowned his son. It would mean civil war, as many lords who were sickened by Aegon's depravity would defend Daeron's rights. Chief amongst them were House Martell, due to the fact Daeron was married to Princess Mariah Martell of Sunspear. Aegon tried to use the hatred of the stormlands and the Reach toward Dorne to his advantage. Aegon decided to go ahead with another plan to invade Dorne, which led to an even greater folly then his first attempted invasion.
Like many other Targaryen kings, Aegon was obsessed with regaining dragons for his house. Instead of trying to resurrect the dead dragons of his ancestors, Aegon instead turned to the pyromancers and commanded them "build me dragons". What followed were seven wood and iron monstrosities, fitted with pumps that shot jets of wildfire. Upon their completion, Aegon ordered these devices dragged to the Boneway to initiate the invasion of Dorne; this plan lacked any tactical sense, as the Boneway was too steep for the lumbering constructs. The man-made dragons did not even reach that far, due to the instability of wildfire and the difficulty of moving the massive siege engines. All seven were consumed by fire in the kingswood; hundreds of men operating them burned alive inside them and a quarter of the kingswood went up in flames. Aegon, after this humiliation, never spoke of Dorne again.
The reign of the unworthy monarch finally ended in 184 AC. At only forty-nine years of age, he had become so morbidly obese he could not walk anymore, making many wonder how his last mistress could endure his embrace. Aegon died a horrible death, his bloated body so swollen that he could not even lift himself from his couch that became covered in his feces. Aegon's limbs were rotting and crawling in hosts of flesh worms, and the maesters said they had never seen the like of this before. The septons, however, pronounced it a judgment of the gods. He was given the milk of the poppy to try to dull the pain but nothing else could be done.
Aegon's last decree before his death was bitter poison that would lay the seeds to generations of war, bloodshed, death, and woe to the realm. Aegon legitimized all his bastard children, causing five generations of strife as the Blackfyre Pretenders tried to claim the Iron Throne.
Throughout his life, Aegon Targaryen had many mistresses. From the highest-born princess to the meanest whore, Aegon made no difference between them. By the end of his life, he claimed to have slept with at least nine hundred women (the exact number he could not remember). However, out of all those women, Aegon claims to have only ever truly loved nine. His wife, Naerys Targaryen, is not counted among them.
Lady Falena Stokeworth was Aegon's first mistress. In 149 AC, she took the virginity of the fourteen-year-old prince. Their affair continued, until a Kingsguard knight found them together in bed in 151 AC. Prince Viserys then decided to mary Falena off to his master-at-arms, Lord Lucas Lothston, and convinced King Baelor I to name Lothston as the new Lord of Harrenhal, thereby removing Falena from court. Prince Aegon, however, continued to frequently visit Harrenhal for two more years, and it has been suggested that even after that, his visits to Falena continued.
Megette, also known as Merry Meg, was found by Prince Aegon in 155 AC, when he was in need of a smith. Megette was married to the smith, and seven gold dragons and a threat of Ser Joffrey Staunton of the Kingsguard "persuaded" the man to let Aegon "buy" his wife. Megette was placed in a mansion in King's Landing, and "wed" Aegon in a secret ceremony by a mummer playing a septon. After four years in 158 AC, Prince Viserys returned Megette to her husband, who beat her to death within a year.
Lady Cassella Vaith was one of the hostages King Daeron I Targaryen had accepted at the Submission of Sunspear. It was Prince Aegon who escorted the hostages back to King's Landing. Eventually, the Dornishmen revolted, and killed Daeron, leading to Prince Viserys demanding Cassella returned to the other hostages, as he planned to execute them. Prince Aegon, who by then had grown bored of her, did not resist. Casella was returned to Dorne by the new king, Baelor I Targaryen, and would live a long life, consumed by the belief that she had been Aegon's one and true love, and that he would soon send for her.
Bellegere Otherys, the Black Pearl of Braavos, was the captain of the *Widow Wind*, whom Aegon met after having been sent as an envoy to Braavos in 161 AC. Their affair would continue for ten years.
Lady Barba Bracken was the daughter of Lord Bracken; she had been a companion to the Princesses Daena, Rhaena and Elaena in the Maidenvault. She caught Aegon's attention in 171 AC, when all were free to leave the Maidenvault again following King Baelor's death. When Aegon became king in 172 AC, Barba openly became his mistress and her father became his Hand. She gave birth to a son that same year, two weeks before Queen Naerys gave birth to a daughter - a childbirth that nearly killed her. Hoping that Naerys would die and he could make his daughter a queen, Lord Bracken spoke openly of wedding Barba to Aegon. When Naerys eventually recovered, Prince Daeron and Prince Aemon forced Aegon to send the Brackens away from court.
Lady Melissa Blackwood, also known as Missy, was a kind girl who befriended Queen Naerys and Princes Daeron and Aemon. She "reigned" for five years as Aegon's mistress, before being set aside.
Lady Bethany Bracken, the younger sister of Lady Barba, had been trained by her sister and father to seduce Aegon and replace Melissa Blackwood. She caught Aegon's eye in 177 AC, when he came to visit his bastard son by Barba, and was taken back to King's Landing. Aegon had grown fat by then, and Bethany did not feel comfortable with this relationship. She found comfort in the arms of Ser Terrence Toyne. The king discovered them in 178 AC, and had Bethany and her father executed and Terrence tortured to death.
Lady Jeyne Lothston, the daughter of Lady Falena Stokeworth, Aegon's first mistress, and Lord Lucas Lothston (though some would claim Aegon himself was the father), was only fourteen years old when she was brought to court in 178 AC. She became Aegon's mistress, but not for long. Jeyne caught a pox from Aegon, which he had caught from a whore he had been seeing since Lady Bethany's death. Jeyne and her family were sent away from court quickly after this.
Serenei of Lys was brought to court by Aegon's newest Hand, Lord Jon Hightower. Serenei was said to be a sorceress, and would die giving birth to the last of the king's acknowledged bastards.
Besides these nine "official" mistresses, Aegon had had an affair with his cousin, Princess Daena, during her time in the Maidenvault, which led to the birth of Daemon Waters in 170 AC. Aegon would not acknowledge the boy until 182 AC.
While on his deathbed, Aegon legitimized his bastard sons and placed them in his line of succession after his trueborn son, Daeron II. Twelve years after Aegon's death, Daemon Blackfyre rose against his half-brother and attempted to take the throne in the First Blackfyre Rebellion. He was defeated, but the Blackfyres continued to trouble the Targaryens for sixty-four more years.
The bastard sons and daughters born to Aegon IV from noblewomen were known as "Great Bastards". They included:
Aenys was weak and Maegor was cruel and Aegon II was grasping, but no king before or after that would practice so much willful misrule.
– writings of Kaeth in *Lives of Four Kings*
Aegon was not called the Unworthy without cause.
– Arys Oakheart to Arianne Martell
That King Aegon, he had any woman he wanted, whether they were married or not.
– Joffrey I Baratheon to Sansa Stark
Aegon the Fourth legitimized all his bastards on his deathbed. And how much pain, grief, war, and murder grew from that? ... The Blackfyre pretenders troubled the Targaryens for five generations, until Barristan the Bold slew the last of them on the Stepstones.
– Catelyn Stark to Robb Stark
'Fire and Blood' were the words of House Targaryen, but Dunk once heard Ser Arlan say that Aegon's should have been, 'Wash Her and Bring Her to My Bed'.
– thoughts of Duncan the Tall
George R. R. Martin has described Aegon IV as the Henry VIII of Westeros.
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Aegon I Targaryen, also known as Aegon the Conqueror and Aegon the Dragon, was the first Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and king on the Iron Throne, having conquered six of the Seven Kingdoms during the Conquest. The dragonlord was the founder of the ruling Targaryen dynasty of Westeros.
See also: Images of Aegon I Targaryen
Aegon was tall, broad-shouldered and powerful in appearance, with purple eyes and short-cut silver-gold hair. He was very charismatic and commanding. During his Conquest he typically wore a shirt of black scales into battle and wielded Blackfyre, a bastard sword made of Valyrian steel. His crown was a simple circlet of Valyrian steel, set with big square-cut rubies.
Aegon was seen as an enigma. He was a solitary person whose only friend was Orys Baratheon. He was a great warrior but only rode his dragon, Balerion, for battle or travel and never entered tourneys. Aegon remained faithful to his sisters and left governance in their hands and only took command when necessary. While he was harsh with those who defied him, he was generous to those that bent the knee.
Aegon is not considered to have been particularly pious.
Aegon the Conqueror, by Magali Villeneuve.
Aegon was born on Dragonstone
Aegon was born in the latter half of the Century of Blood, during which Volantis attempted to expand their power, as they saw themselves as the rightful heirs to the remains of the Valyrian Freehold. The other Free Cities rose up against Volantis, and when Pentos and Tyrosh asked for his aid in their struggle against Volantis, Aegon flew to Pentos atop of Balerion to meet with the Prince of Pentos and the city's magisters. Aegon next flew to Lys, where he burned a Volantene fleet before it could attempt to invade the city. Shortly after, Aegon returned to Dragonstone.
Main article: Aegon's Conquest
While the Century of Blood came to an end, Aegon's interest in Westeros grew. He had previously visited the Citadel of Oldtown and the Arbor in the Kingdom of the Reach with his sister Visenya, and might also have visited Lannisport in the Kingdom of the Rock.
Storm King Argilac Durrandon reached out to Aegon, proposing a marriage between Aegon and his only daughter, Princess Argella. All the lands east of the Gods Eye from the Trident to the Blackwater Rush were offered as her dowry. Even though the lands did not belong to Argilac, the offer was an attempt to create a buffer between his own kingdom, and that of Harren Hoare. Aegon spurned the offer, stating he had no need of a third wife, and offered his close friend and rumored bastard half-brother Orys Baratheon instead, in return for lands. Insulted, Argilac cut off the hands of Aegon's envoy and sent those back to Dragonstone, upon which Aegon called his councilors together. After six days of consulting, Aegon sent forth ravens to every lord in Westeros, declaring his claim to the throne.
Aegon landed with his army on the eastern coast of Westeros at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, where he constructed the wooden Aegonfort. House Rosby and House Stokeworth surrendered to him quickly, and House Mooton and Darklyn were quickly defeated in the first battle. Making use of their three dragons (Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar), Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya conquered or subjected six of the seven kingdoms of Westeros. Only Dorne remained untaken. Aegon established the riverlands as a separate region from the Iron Islands, and placed them under the rule of House Tully.
Aegon chose to date the beginning of his reign from the day the High Septon anointed him in Oldtown.
In 2 AC, Aegon finally turned his attention to the Iron Islands, where the Ironborn had been fighting for two years over the kingship. Aegon landed on Great Wyk with Balerion, and a war fleet to deal with the contenders. Aegon personally cut down Qhorin Volmark, while the priest-king Lodos walked into the sea, drowning himself. The other contenders quickly bend the knee. Aegon ignored the suggestions of making the ironborn vassals to the Tullys of Riverrun or the Lannisters of Casterly Rock, as well as the suggestion to exterminate the ironborn by dragonflame. Instead, Aegon allowed the ironborn to name their own lord paramount, for which the ironborn chose Vickon Greyjoy.
King Aegon with his sister-queens Visenya (left) and Rhaenys (right), by Amok ©.
Main article: First Dornish War
Aegon turned his attention back on Dorne in 4 AC. The king launched a new invasion, hoping to complete his conquest. The First Dornish War lasted nine years, and knew many deaths and tragedies. One of these tragedies was the capture and mutilation of Aegon's friend and Hand of the King, Orys Baratheon. Following his release from the two-year captivity, Orys returned home lacking a swordhand – as did the men who had been taken captive with him. Aegon, intend on revenge, released his dragons and burned the castles of the defiant dornish lords. Yet the greatest loss Aegon faced was the death of Queen Rhaenys Targaryen at Hellholt in 10 AC, when her dragon Meraxes fell from the sky (with Rhaenys upon her back) when a shot from a scorpion took her in the eye. The two years that followed are known as the Dragon’s Wroth, as Aegon's wrath after Rhaenys's death knew no bounds.
Aegon and Visenya placed bounties on the heads of Dornish lords after Rhaenys's death and in turn the Dornish put bounties on the Targaryens. Aegon and Visenya were assaulted on the streets of King's Landing and if not for Visenya and Dark Sister they would have been killed. This attack led to the forming of the elite royal bodyguard known as the Kingsguard in 10 AC. Visenya personally chose the men herself.
Aegon would keep up good relations with Princess Deria, and is known to have visited Sunspear together with his eldest son, Aenys, in 23 AC to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the peace between the Iron Throne and Dorne.
Aegon the Conqueror upon Balerion the Black Dread by Jordi Gonzalez ©.
The remaining twenty-four years of Aegon's reign were peaceful. He spent much of his time consolidating his power by traveling throughout the Seven Kingdoms and building his capital at King's Landing.
King's Landing initially lacked walls, and the likely reason is that the Targaryens likely believed no one would attack a city which housed dragons. However, when he learned about a pirate fleet sacking Tall Trees Town in the Summer Isles in 19 AC, Aegon came to the realization that he and Visenya were not always in the city. As such, he ordered the construction of massive walls to be built around the city. Construction began in 20 AC, and was completed in 26 AC.
After Aegon celebrated his sixtieth name day in 33 AC, the royal progresses continued, but were now made by his son Aenys and his wife Alyssa, while the aging king remained at home. By this point late in his reign, Aegon decided that the ramshackle Aegonfort was not a suitable seat for a king, so the structure was torn to the ground in 35 AC. Aegon moved his family and court back to Dragonstone, while he commanded the construction of what would later be called the Red Keep. Visenya was placed in charge of the building of the Red Keep, and it was rumored that Aegon had done this so that he would not have to suffer her presence on Dragonstone.
In 7 AC, Aegon became a father for the first time, when his younger sister-wife Rhaenys gave birth to a son: Aenys. However, Aenys was a sickly boy, and Rhaenys's death in 10 AC shattered him. Aegon grew desperate, and there were worries about whether or not Aenys would even live. As Aenys had troubled health, there were rumors that he had been fathered by a singer instead of Aegon. However, when Aenys bonded with his dragon Quicksilver, his health improved, and the rumors faded away.
As Visenya by then had not gotten pregnant yet, some believed she was barren, and during the times when Aenys's health was still troubled it was rumored at court that Aegon might take another wife. Although Aegon refused to speak his mind on the matter, many lord and knights brought their young daughters to court. In 11 AC, Queen Visenya announced her pregnancy, and the next year she gave birth to Aegon's second son, Maegor.
Aegon raised Aenys at King's Landing, and took him with him on his progressions. Occasionally, he let Aenys train with his Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre. Lacking daughters, he married Aenys to a cousin, Lady Alyssa Velaryon, the daughter of his master of ships, in 22 AC. Aenys would have six children with Alyssa, five of whom were born during Aegon's reign.
In 33 AC, Aegon made his final progress throughout Westeros,
In 37 AC on Dragonstone, while telling his two eldest grandsons Aegon and Viserys the tales of his conquest at the Painted Table, Aegon died from a stroke at the age of sixty-four.
Although Aegon’s reign had largely been peaceful, many of his subjects desired to go back to the days of old, when there were still seven Kingdoms. Others wanted vengeance for the deaths of their loved ones in wars, and yet others saw the Targaryens as abominations. Because of this, the reigns of both Aenys and Maegor were tumulus, and filled with battles and chaos.
Although the small council would only be formed during the reign of Aegon's grandson Jaehaerys I, Aegon had established his councillors early on. The following members are known:
From this day forth there would be but one king in Westeros.
A king should never sit easy.
When the sun sets, your line shall end.
– Aegon, to Harren Hoare
Aegon the Conqueror brought fire and blood to Westeros, but afterward he gave them peace, prosperity, and justice.
Aegon once stood here as I do, looking down on this table. Do you think we would name him Aegon the Conqueror today if he had not had dragons?
– Stannis Baratheon, to Davos Seaworth
According to a semi-canon source, William the Conqueror is an inspiration for Aegon.
Aegon Targaryen has been the name of several members of House Targaryen:
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Prince Aegon Targaryen was a member of House Targaryen and was the second child, and eldest son and heir, of King Aenys I Targaryen and Queen Alyssa Velaryon. He was a dragonrider who after his father's death rode his father's dragon, Quicksilver.
Aegon was born in 26 AC to Prince Aenys Targaryen and Lady Alyssa Velaryon. In 37 AC, he was present on Dragonstone with his younger brother, Prince Viserys, where their grandfather, King Aegon I Targaryen, was telling them tales of his conquests. Aegon the Conqueror suffered a stroke, however, and later died in peace.
In 41 AC, during the reign of his father Aenys I, Aegon was married to his older sister, Rhaena. At the feast of his wedding, King Aenys officially named him the Prince of Dragonstone, upsetting Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen, who left the feast in protest.
In 42 AC Aegon and Rhaena were trapped at Crakehall by members of the Faith, and Aegon's father, King Aenys I died on Dragonstone. Dowager Queen Visenya brought Prince Maegor back from his exile in Essos, and he declared himself king.
Aegon was declared king by his mother, Alyssa, in 42 AC. In 43 AC Queen Tyanna of the Tower warned Maegor that Alyssa was secretly communicating with the Starks, Arryns, Baratheons, and Lannisters. The great lords, however, would only publicly support Aegon after a victory. Thus, Aegon denounced his uncle as a tyrant and usurper
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Prince Aegon Targaryen was the thirdborn son of King Aerys II Targaryen and Queen Rhaella Targaryen.
Prince Aegon was born in 272 AC, two months premature. As his brother Daeron before him, Aegon did not live long. He died in 273 AC.
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Prince Aegon Targaryen was the youngest child of Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen. His older brothers were King Viserys I and Prince Daemon Targaryen
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Lord Aegon Targaryen was the son of Daenys Targaryen and Gaemon Targaryen of Dragonstone.
Aegon was born on Dragonstone. He eventually married his sister, Elaena Targaryen, and together they had two sons: Maegon and Aerys Targaryen. Aegon and Elaena ruled Dragonstone together. Eventually, Maegon inherited the rule of Dragonstone.
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Prince Aegon Targaryen was the eldest child of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen.
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Prince Aegon Targaryen was the second child and only son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell.
See also: Images of Aegon Targaryen
According to semi-canonical sources, Aegon looked like a Targaryen, taking after his father, Rhaegar, while his sister, Rhaenys, took after their Dornish mother, Elia Martell.
A comet was seen above King's Landing on the night Aegon was conceived, which led his father Rhaegar Targaryen to believe that he was the "prince that was promised". The comet was seen as "the bleeding star" of the prophecy. Maester Aemon was aware of Rhaegar's beliefs, though it is unclear if he shared them. Aemon would later come to doubt the wisdom of looking for a prince, rather than a princess. He realized there was a translation error, and that the term translated was fluid in terms of gender. This is connected to the term for dragons, which are neither male nor female.
Aegon was an infant during Robert's Rebellion,
With the death of Rhaegar, Grand Maester Pycelle was convinced the war was effectively over, and that House Targaryen could no longer offer a proper king to the realm. Pycelle worked to convince Aerys II to open the gates of King's Landing to the Lannister forces, secretly hoping Lord Tywin Lannister would rise to the Iron Throne.
Aegon is killed in front of his mother, Elia Martell
During the Sack of King's Landing a fortnight after the royal forces had left for the Trident, Ser Jaime Lannister killed Aerys in the throne room of the Red Keep. Jaime, though the only Kingsguard member left in the city, did not think his father Tywin, whose troops were attacking the city, would harm little Aegon and his young sister, Rhaenys. While Jaime was standing over Aerys's corpse, Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch scaled the walls of Maegor's Holdfast and then killed Aegon, Rhaenys, and Elia. The deaths of the children caused a dispute between Lord Eddard Stark and the new king, Robert I Baratheon, and also began the feud between House Martell and House Lannister. It caused Dorne to remain loyal to the Iron Throne only by name, interacting with the other kingdoms as little as necessary.
According to stories told by Viserys Targaryen to his sister Daenerys, Elia Martell pleaded for mercy as the head of Aegon, Rhaegar's heir, was dashed against a wall.
Lord Eddard Stark recalls that Lord Tywin Lannister's soldiers tore Aegon from his mother's breast and dashed his head against a wall. They were also said to have dragged Rhaenys from beneath her bed, putting her to the sword.
According to Tyrion Lannister, the responsibility of Gregor for the murders of Elia and Aegon was common knowledge in Casterly Rock. The tale states that while Gregor raped Elia, his hands were still covered in the blood and brains of Aegon.
According to Tywin, Rhaenys hid under Rhaegar's bed while Elia and Aegon were in the nursery, a floor below. Since the westerlands were neutral for most of Robert's Rebellion, Tywin needed a way to demonstrate loyalty to Robert Baratheon, a way to convince people that House Lannister had severed all ties to House Targaryen. In addition, Eddard Stark was heading toward King's Landing, leading Robert's army south from the Trident. Instead of the Lannister and Stark forces meeting as allies, there was still a chance for the two armies to clash. Tywin also feared that his elder son, Ser Jaime, might do something stupid or that Aerys would kill Jaime out of spite.
Oberyn Martell has another view on Tywin's motives. Elia was once supposed to marry Jaime Lannister, based on an agreement between her mother and Joanna Lannister. Following the death of Joanna, Tywin broke the agreement, though he offered Tyrion as a a prospective bridegroom instead of Jaime, taunting House Martell. He had also informed them that his daughter, Jaime's twin Cersei, was meant for Rhaegar, not for Oberyn. When Elia married Rhaegar, the Martells ruined Tywin's plans. Tywin was "not a man to forget such slights". Oberyn believes the murder of Elia was decided by Tywin, to teach Elia the same lesson that Houses Reyne and Tarbeck had learned.
Eddard recalls how Tywin presented Robert with the corpses of Elia, Aegon, and Rhaenys: his "token of fealty".
Ser Kevan Lannister was able to recognize Rhaenys, but recalls that nobody could recognize Aegon. All that remained of the boy was a faceless horror of bone, brain, and gore with a few hanks of fair hair. Tywin stated that this was Aegon and everyone else took him at his word. Seventeen years later, however, Kevan expresses uncertainty about the identity of the babe.
One of the visions Daenerys Targaryen sees in the House of the Undying involves Rhaegar Targaryen, Elia Martell, and Aegon. She sees a newborn Aegon nurses from the breast of Elia, who is seated in a great wooden bed. Rhaegar decides on the name "Aegon" for his newborn son, as he thinks the name fit for a king. When Elia asks whether Rhaegar will make a song for their son, he replies that Aegon, the prince that was promised, already has the song of ice and fire. Rhaegar then claims that there must be "one more", since "the dragon has three heads". Rhaegar moves to a seat near the window, and picks up a harp. Daenerys listens to the "sweet sadness" of his music as the vision fades away.
During Tyrion Lannister's trial by combat, a wounded Gregor Clegane narrates a brief account of Aegon's death to Oberyn Martell. He first killed Aegon, the "screaming whelp", and then raped Elia. Gregor claims to have smashed her head with his bare hands, the same method the Mountain then uses to finish off Oberyn.
Griff and Young Griff - by Pojypojy ©
While in Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen muses about Aegon, who would have been the sixth of his name to sit on the Iron Throne. She believes that, had Aegon lived, she might have married him, as he would have been closer to her in age than Viserys.
In 300 AC, Illyrio Mopatis and Tyrion Lannister depart Pentos for the Rhoyne. Tyrion and a sellsword, "Griff", are to head towards Volantis and wait for the expected arrival of Daenerys in that city, with the Golden Company and more ships for her cause. Based on Illyrio's information, Daenerys has conquered Astapor, made Yunkai bend the knee, and sacked Meereen. He estimates that Daenerys is heading westwards, either by land to Mantarys or by sea to Volantis.
Once aboard the *Shy Maid*, Tyrion is introduced to Griff's son, "Young Griff", a young man who dyes his hair blue in memory of his late mother, who was from Tyrosh.
Tyrion notes that Young Griff is more learned than "half the lords in Westeros". He is well educated and intelligent, well versed in history, and septa Lemore has taught him about the Faith of the Seven. Young Griff speaks the Common Tongue as a native speaker. He is fluent in High Valyrian, in the Bastard Valyrian dialects of Pentos, Tyrosh, Myr, and Lys, and in the trade talk, but a novice at speaking the dialect of Volantis, only familiar with a few of its words. The dialect of Meereen, whose terms derive from both Valyrian and Ghiscari, gives him trouble. Young Griff has some training in mathematics, with a decent knowledge of sums and a limited understanding of geometry. He also has been trained in songs.
After being rescued from the Sorrows, Tyrion admits his suspicion that the youth is claiming to be an incognito Aegon. The young man explains his apparent survival to Tyrion while they play *cyvasse*. According to his account, the infant killed during the Sack of King's Landing was a tanner's infant son born at Pisswater Bend, a street of King's Landing. The child's mother had died at birth. The tanner sold his boy to Varys for a jug of wine, since he already had other sons, but had never tasted Arbor gold. Varys arranged the swap between the two infants. Elia received the tanner's son, whom Tyrion dubs the pisswater prince, while Varys took custody of the real Prince Aegon.
Blue-haired Young Griff aboard the *Shy Maid* - by © FFG
Tyrion deduces that once the impostor infant was dead at Gregor Clegane's hands, Varys smuggled the genuine Aegon across the narrow sea. Varys first entrusted the boy to Illyrio Mopatis and eventually found an adoptive father for Aegon in the person of "Griff", the exiled Lord Jon Connington, a friend of Aegon's late father, Rhaegar.
Aegon's journey brings him to Volon Therys, where he and Jon Connington head toward the camp of the Golden Company. Wearing red silk and a black cloak, the colors of House Targaryen, Aegon is introduced by Jon as Aegon VI, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. This is met with silence by the officers, and Jon realizes the sellswords are already aware of Aegon's identity. They discuss Daenerys's lingering presence in Meereen, and whether they should join the ongoing conflict in Slaver's Bay. Aegon sees the opportunity to introduce his own plan of going to Westeros and claiming the Iron Throne in his own name. Harry Strickland tries to point out the risks, but most officers are eager to support this course of action. Aegon further explains that his aunt is welcome to keep Meereen. His plan is to move fast and strike hard, gaining a foothold before House Lannister can react. The Golden Company swear allegiances to Aegon, but the officers agree to keep his identity secret from the soldiers until they land in Westeros.
The ten thousand sellswords soon depart Volantis, but the landing of the Golden Company is disrupted by storms and less than half arrive in the stormlands on schedule. Jon leads a quarter of the available forces in seizing Griffin's Roost. Simultaneously Tristan Rivers besieges Crow's Nest, and Laswell Peake besieges Rain House. Aegon remains in their camp, guarded by the remaining quarter of the Golden Company under Gorys Edoryen. Haldon collects information about the military and diplomatic situation across Westeros, and he considers marital alliances for Aegon and his Hand of the King, Jon. Lord Connington decides to bring Aegon to Griffin's Roost for increased safety, and he has a plan to capture Storm's End, the last foothold of Stannis Baratheon in the stormlands.
Four days later, Aegon arrives at Griffin's Roost at the head of a column, which includes a hundred horsemen and three elephants. He is accompanied by Lemore and Ser Rolly Duckfield, the first person in his version of the Kingsguard.
When news of Aegon's survival reaches King's Landing, the small council of King Tommen declare him to be a pretender. Ser Kevan Lannister, however, recalls Jon from his time at Aerys II Targaryen's court, and wonders whether Aegon could have survived, recalling how the babe killed by Gregor had been unrecognizable.
Arianne Martell departs Sunspear on a mission from her father, Doran Martell, to discover the truth about Aegon. At Ghost Hill, Ser Daemon Sand expresses his skepticism of Aegon's claim to Arianne.
Aegon: Daenerys is Prince Rhaegar's sister, but I am Rhaegar's son. I am the only dragon you need.
Jon: Spoken boldly, but think what you are saying.
Aegon: I have. Why should I go running to my aunt as if I were a beggar? My claim is better than her own. Let her come to me ... in Westeros.
- Aegon and Jon Connington
It is tragic that the blood spilled in war may as readily be innocent as it is guilty, and those who ravished and murdered Princess Elia escaped justice. It is not known who murdered Princess Rhaenys in her bed, or smashed the infant Prince Aegon's head against a wall. Some whisper it was done at Aerys's own command when he learned Lord Lannister had taken up Robert's cause, while others suggest that Elia did it herself for fear of what would happen to her children in the hands of her dead husband's enemies.
- writings of Yandel
This beardless boy could have any maiden in the Seven Kingdoms, blue hair or no. Those eyes of his would melt them.
- Tyrion Lannister's thoughts
The perfect prince but still half a boy for all that, with little and less experience of the world and all its woes.
– Tyrion Lannister's thoughts
Trust no one, my prince. Not your chainless maester, not your false father, not the gallant Duck nor the lovely Lemore nor these other fine friends who grew you from a bean. Above all, trust not the cheesemonger, nor the Spider, nor this little dragon queen you mean to marry. All that mistrust will sour your stomach and keep you awake by night, 'tis true, but better that than the long sleep that does not end.
- Tyrion Lannister, to Aegon
Sail west, not east. Leave the little queen to her olives and seat Prince Aegon upon the Iron Throne. The boy has stones, give him that.
- Franklyn Flowers to the Golden Company
Kevan Lannister had been here, in this very hall when Tywin had laid the bodies of Prince Rhaegar's children at the foot of the Iron Throne, wrapped up in crimson cloaks. The girl had been recognizably the Princess Rhaenys, but the boy ... a faceless horror of bone and brain and gore, a few hanks of fair hair. None of us looked long. Tywin said that it was Prince Aegon, and we took him at his word.
- Kevan Lannister's thoughts
Aegon has been shaped for rule before he could walk. He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, he speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them. He has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need. He can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right. Aegon knows kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them.
– Varys, to Kevan Lannister
Arianne: Could this truly be Prince Aegon?
Daemon: If Lord Connington's prince has a crushed skull, I will believe that Aegon Targaryen has returned from the grave. Elsewise, no. This is some feigned boy, no more. A sellsword's ploy to win support.
- Arianne Martell and Daemon Sand
After Rhaegar died on the Trident, Prince Viserys Targaryen was apparently named heir to the throne by King Aerys II Targaryen, while Aegon was still alive.
Aegon himself, as well as Tyrion Lannister, believe Aegon's claim is stronger than Daenerys's claim. According to the relevant succession laws,
The sons of the first son come before the second son.
Aegon is a son of Rhaegar Targaryen, who was himself the eldest son of Aerys II Targaryen, which would, under normal circumstances, place Aegon higher in the Targaryen succession line than both Viserys (Aerys II's second son) and Daenerys (the daughter of Aerys II).
In both 92 AC and 101 AC, the succession of House Targaryen was brought into question when the proclaimed heir of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen died. On both occasions, the male line through a younger son was chosen over the female line through the elder (but deceased) son, by first choosing the King's second son, Baelon, over the elder son's heir, Rhaenys, and by later chosing Baelon's elder son over Rhaenys's son, after Baelon's death.
After her brother's death in Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys names herself a queen. in her own right, having conquered the city and installed herself as ruler.
However, in contrast to the alleged Aegon Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen's lineage is not under suspicion. During a small council meeting in the Red Keep's throne room concerning the Targaryen pretender, Kevan Lannister says as much, stating that there is
A second Targaryen, and one whose blood no man can question. Daenerys Stormborn.
During the Golden Company's rendezvous with Jon Connington in Volantis, leader Harry Strickland points out that Aegon's lineage can be questioned and Aegon’s marriage to his aunt would quell any doubts,
Has the sun curdled your brains, Flowers? We need the girl. We need the marriage. If Daenerys accepts our princeling and takes him for her consort, the Seven Kingdoms will do the same. Without her, the lords will only mock his claim and brand him a fraud and a pretender.
Main article: Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)/Theories Even before the release of *A Dance with Dragons, the fandom had speculated about whether or not Aegon had survived the Sack of King's Landing. With the revelation from *A Dance With Dragons about Aegon's survival and his fake identity of "Young Griff", some members of the fandom have speculated about the character's true identity.
A source of speculation that has existed for years within the fandom is whether or not Aegon Targaryen survived. A Dance With Dragons reveals that the character is alive and living under the false name of Young Griff in order to hide his true identity. A number of fans believe the character to be a fraud.
Fans have wondered for years whether or not Aegon survived which was spurred on by George Martin not confirming that the character died in one of his communications. He did confirm that there was no doubt that Aegon's sister died.
In A Dance With Dragons, Tyrion Lannister discovers that a youth going by the name of Young Griff is truly Aegon Targaryen in disguise. A story is given of how Aegon was switched with another baby by Varys and spirited away to be raised in secret until he could claim the Iron Throne. He fits the description of a Targaryen, specifically Aegon, with purple eyes, and silver-blond hair that he dyes blue.
The circumstance that the switch occurred during of the Sack of King's Landing has brought up the question whether Varys would have had enough time to switch the children. However, it is important to know that King Aerys II had already planned the Wildfire plot, the destruction of King's Landing through wildfire, prior to the Sack. Knowledge of the Wildfire Plot could have given the spymaster enough time to find a suitable baby to switch Aegon with, giving the Targartyen dynasty a chance to survive. Additionally, Varys might have foreseen the possibility that King's Landing would, eventually, fall, and thus prepared for the situation by finding suitable child.
It may also be the case that Gregor Clegane or his party learned of the switch, so Clegane opted to destroy the boy's head to prevent a proper identification. This being so, it also became necessary to kill Elia, if she also knew of the switch.
In 300 AC, Varys murdered Kevan Lannister, who was Lord Regent at this time, in order to prevent him from clearing up the mess caused by his niece, Cersei Lannister, and to secure the campaign of the Golden Company. While Kevan was dying, Varys revealed that Aegon is the son of Rhaegar.
*"Aegon has been shaped for rule before he could walk. He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, he speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them. He has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need. He can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right. Aegon knows kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them".*
Because Varys told this to a dying man, it is believed he had no reason to lie.
A prominent theory is that Varys is presenting a false Aegon Targaryen in order to place an imposter on the Iron Throne. Varys's speech to Kevan Lannister does not conclusively imply that Aegon is a Targaryen, but instead that he is simply well-qualified for the throne (based on his qualities if not by blood), as Tyrion Lannister remarks to himself " the perfect prince".
Quaithe told Daenerys Targaryen to beware "the mummer's dragon". Either this refers to Aegon being under the control of "the mummer" - Varys was a mummer in his childhood and is a master actor - or that he's a false dragon, a fake Targaryen.
At the House of the Undying, Daenerys is referred to as the Slayer of Lies while she sees 3 visions. The second vision is of A cloth dragon swayed on poles amid a cheering crowd. This could mean that she will encounter a fake Targaryen.
The fact that it should not have been possible for Varys to know in advance that Aegon would be killed in such a manner as to leave him unrecognizable is often seen as a key problem with the pisswater prince story. If the pisswater prince's face had remained intact after his death (as Rhaenys' was), no one would have been fooled. Moreover, the Valyrian features of silver-gold hair and purple eyes are rare in Westeros, making it is unlikely that the pisswater prince could have had them. Pale blond hair may pass for silver-gold if there is very little left and it's covered in blood, but Varys could not have known in advance that Aegon's whole head would be smashed. While possible explanations can be given (e.g. Varys's knowledge of Aerys's wildfire plot made him certain that the pisswater prince would become unidentifiable; or, Varys had not been planning to fool the rebels into thinking Aegon had died, but needed a substitute child in place only long enough to have sufficient time to smuggle the real Aegon out of King's Landing), part of the readers see the issue as an argument against Varys's story. In their opinions, the pisswater prince plot only makes sense retrospectively, knowing that the baby presented by Tywin Lannister was not recognizable as Aegon. They feel it seems more likely that Varys cooked up this plot after the real Aegon had died to exploit the shred of doubt that the corpse's condition had created.
As such, multiple possible theories have arisen to explain who Aegon is, summarized below.
Some readers have the theory that Aegon is in truth a Blackfyre, a descendant of a legitimized branch of House Targaryen which contested the succession to the Iron Throne. Officially, the male line of the Blackfyres was wiped out when Ser Barristan Selmy killed Maelys I Blackfyre, but Aegon could be related to this House. Bookreaders have theorized that the Golden Company would never back a Targaryen after they have fought against them for generations. Illyrio told Tyrion Lannister that the Blackfyres are extinct in the male line, which could imply that there are still female-line descendants. Or that Maelys I had a wife and children, in secret. In this case, because of his age, Aegon could be his grandson. Or he is in a similar way related to another Blackfyre; Daemon I Blackfyre had seven sons and an unknown number of daughters. While three of his sons (Aegon, Aemon and Daemon) presumably died without issue, at least one of Daemon's sons (Haegon) fathered issue, and several other of his children lived until adulthood. A cousin of Maelys I, another Daemon Blackfyre, lived during the same timespan as Maelys; his ancestry, as well as any possible descendants, is equally unknown.
Illyrio Mopatis is noted to have had a wife with Valyrian features in the past,. This would explain why Illyrio was seemingly eager to help Viserys and Daenerys to make their claim for the Iron Throne, yet apparently wanted nothing in return. He and Varys may have had no real intention of crowning either, but they needed Viserys's claim to build an army in advance of crowning Aegon. They may have intended to kill Viserys and Daenerys, or they may have expected them to be killed by one of Viserys's many enemies.
Shortly before his death Kevan Lannister mentioned in a Small Council meeting that Aegon isn't Aegon, just a boy as part of a plot to gain support for the Golden Company. That's also possible because in Essos, in the Free Cities, are people who descend from Valyria, with the purple eyes and the hair of silver-gold or platinum white. It is known that Targaryen kings looked for brides in the Free Cities like Lys to find right matches for their sons, especially when there were no other girls available, like sisters/cousins of House Targaryen or daughters of other Valyrian families, like House Velaryon. Varys and Illyrio Mopatis could have found a boy with the right age and look to portray him as Aegon, so that he can gain support. Varys is originally from Lys and had as spymaster still contacts to all Free Cities, including his hometown so that he could arrange such a scheme. Ironically this could mean that even if Aegon is really just a boy of right look and age, he could still have Targaryen-blood in his veins because Aerion Targaryen, who was called "Brightflame", has spent time in Lys, rode with the Second Sons and could have fathered a few children during his time there.
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Aegon V Targaryen was a Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and the fifteenth Targaryen king to sit the Iron Throne..
Aegon became king after a Great Council bypassed a number of candidates earlier in the line of succession, and after his elder brother, Maester Aemon, refused the throne. As the fourth son of Maekar I, himself a fourth son, Aegon was called Aegon the Unlikely.
See also: Images of Aegon V Targaryen
According to a semi-canonical source, Aegon had long, shoulder-length hair that shone like beaten gold with strands of silver woven together. Tall, slender and handsome, he had large eyes, deep and dark and purple. He wore the crown of Aegon III.
Aegon was born the fourth son and fifth child of then-Prince Maekar Targaryen and his wife Dyanna Dayne.
Aegon was supposed to squire for his eldest brother, Daeron, in the tourney at Ashford Meadow, but Daeron had no interest in jousting and drank himself into a stupor at an inn. Ser Duncan the Tall visited the inn and Aegon was impressed by the humble hedge knight and followed him. Duncan agreed to let Egg serve as his squire during the tourney. Duncan was arrested and sentenced to fight a trial by battle after attacking a prince of House Targaryen. The trial was to be a Trial of Seven, during which Aegon's his uncle, Prince Baelor Breakspear, fighting on behalf of Duncan, died of a wound inflicted by Prince Maekar, Baelor's brother and Aegon's father, who had fought on behalf of House Targaryen.
A little less than two years later Egg squired for Duncan during the small localized conflict between House Webber and House Osgrey.
Aegon married Lady Betha Blackwood in 220 AC. The marriage at the time provoked no opposition as Aegon was very low in the line of succession. They married for love and eventually had five children together. Aegon named his first-born son Duncan to honor his friend, Ser Duncan the Tall.
According to a semi-canon source, Aegon participated in the suppression of the Peake Uprising in 233 AC, with Tion Lannister as his squire. Aegon's father, King Maekar I Targaryen, was killed at Starpike during the rebellion, however. According to a semi-canon source, the prince knighted the mortally wounded Tywald Lannister, Tion's twin, during the battle.
With Maekar dead, it was unclear who should be king since two of Aegon's older brothers had died before his father. Daeron left a feeble-witted daughter named Vaella and Aerion an infant son, so a Great Council was called to choose the king. Aegon seemed the logical choice but many lords considered him "half a peasant" due to his youth among the smallfolk. The council approached Aegon's older brother, Maester Aemon, but he refused, stating the crown should be given to Aegon.
Aegon V was crowned Lord of the Seven Kingdoms in 233 AC when he was thirty-three years old. During most, if not all, of Aegon's reign, his old friend Ser Duncan the Tall served as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
Aegon's first act as king was the arrest of Lord Brynden Rivers, the Hand of the King known as Bloodraven, for the murder of Aenys Blackfyre, as Brynden had offered him safe conduct to Westeros for the Great Council but had Aenys executed when he arrived in the capital.
Aegon's reign began during a harsh winter which lasted from 230 AC until 236 AC. The benevolent Aegon sent massive shipments of food and grain to aid starving northmen, though there were those who felt he provided too much aid. The end of winter saw the return of the Blackfyre Pretenders, with the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion taking place in 236 AC. Daemon III Blackfyre attempted to seize the Iron Throne with the Golden Company, but few rallied to his side. Aegon and his sons rode to meet and repel the invaders, and Duncan the Tall slew Daemon in single combat, ending the rebellion. Aegor Rivers, known as Bittersteel, managed to flee with the remnants of the Golden Company across the narrow sea.
Aegon V spent much of his reign dealing with uprisings. On three occasions, the Iron Throne had to intervene in the westerlands due to the inferior and inept leadership of Lord Tytos Lannister of Casterly Rock. kings, Aegon reluctantly compromised with the recalcitrant lords on several issues.
Aegon faced renewed troubles in his reign caused because of his sons.
Beginning in 239 AC, Prince Duncan fell in love with and eventually wed the mysterious Jenny of Oldstones. King Aegon, the small council, the Grand Maester, and the High Septon forced Duncan to choose between the peasant girl or the Iron Throne. The prince choose his wife and abdicated as Prince of Dragonstone, making his younger brother, Prince Jaehaerys, the new heir. With Duncan refusing to marry the daughter of Lord Baratheon, Storm's End briefly rose in rebellion, which ended when Ser Duncan the Tall of the Kingsguard forced Lord Lyonel to yield during trial by combat. King Aegon pardoned Lyonel and betrothed his daughter, Princess Rhaelle, to Lyonel's heir, Ormund. Aegon sent Rhaelle to Storm's End as Lyonel's cupbearer and companion to his wife.
While King Aegon disliked the Targaryen practice of marriage through incest, Prince Jaehaerys and his sister, Princess Shaera, desired each other from a young age. With Duncan marrying Jenny as precedent, Jaehaerys and Shaera secretly wed and consummated their marriage in 240 AC, leaving Aegon to deal with the anger of Houses Tully and Tyrell.
Though betrothed for nine years to Lady Olenna Redwyne, Prince Daeron broke his betrothal in 246 AC when he was eighteen years old. Daeron remained unwed, instead preferring the companionship of Ser Jeremy Norridge, a young knight whom he had befriended when they were squires at Highgarden. Daeron and Jeremy perished in battle in 251 AC, crushing a rebellion led by the Rat, the Hawk, and the Pig.
In 258 AC, nine outlaws, exiles, pirates and sellswords hoping to carve out individual kingdoms came together in the Disputed Lands of Essos. Among these Band of Nine was Maelys I Blackfyre, the last of the Blackfyres. Because the outlaws had no great urgency, King Aegon remained intent on his reign and on dragons in particular. Against the advice of his friends and counselors, Aegon V became convinced that only with dragons could he force the lords of the Seven Kingdoms to accept his decrees that granted freedoms, rights, and protections to the smallfolk.
This eventually led to the tragedy of Summerhall in 259 AC, in which Aegon perished while trying to hatch dragon eggs. His son, Prince Duncan the Small; his friend and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall; and others of the royal court also perished in the fire..
Many of the laws, rights and protections King Aegon V had granted and bestowed upon the smallfolk were later undone during the reign of King Aerys II by the Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister.
A bloody-handed tyrant intent on depriving us of our gods-given rights and liberties.
– a lord regarding Aegon's reforms
Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. Kill the boy within you, I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born.
All three of the sons of the fifth Aegon had wed for love in defiance of their father's wishes. And because that unlikely monarch had followed his heart when he chose his queen, he allowed his sons to have their way, making bitter enemies when he might have made fast friends. Treason and turmoil followed, as night follows day, ending at Summerhall in sorcery, fire and grief.
– thoughts of Barristan Selmy
The Aegonfort, as depicted by Ted Nasmith in *The World of Ice and Fire*
The Aegonfort was the first fort built by Aegon the Conquerer, constructed where King's Landing and the Red Keep now reside.
After defeating a dozen castles in the vicinity of Blackwater Bay, Aegon I Targaryen commanded the defeated lords to attend him at the Aegonfort atop what would become known as Aegon's High Hill. There, the lords laid their swords at the conqueror's feet, and he confirmed them in their lands and titles.
The city of King's Landing formed around the Aegonfort, the seat from which Aegon ruled his realm. A wooden palisade was constructed around the Aegonfort, with walls fifty feet high.
Over the next few decades, the Aegonfort grew larger and came to spread halfway down Aegon's High Hill. It was a sloppy confusion of wood, earth, and brick which had long ago outgrown the old log palisades that were its only walls. In 35 AC the elderly King Aegon I came to the realization that the ramshackle pile of wood and earth that his seat consisted of was entirely unsuited to be the seat of power for a king. Aegon moved his family back to Dragonstone, the ancient seat of House Targaryen, and ordered the Aegonfort razed to the ground. Construction of a castle began, which would later become known as the Red Keep.
Ser Aegor Rivers, frequently called Bittersteel, was one of the Great Bastards and a son of King Aegon IV Targaryen by his fifth mistress, Lady Barba Bracken.
See also: Images of Aegor Rivers
Being half-Targaryen, Aegor had purple eyes, but black hair. As an adult, he had a close-cropped beard. He looked like a warrior, being lean, light, and tall.
Aegor was angry all of his life,
Aegor was born at King's Landing to one of King Aegon IV Targaryen's mistresses, Barba Bracken. When Queen Naerys Targaryen recovered her health, Prince Daeron and Aemon the Dragonknight forced Aegon to send Barba and child from the capital, and Aegor was instead raised at Stone Hedge in the riverlands.
The angry Aegor reserved particular loathing for his half-brother Brynden Rivers, whose mother, Melissa Blackwood, had replaced his own as their father's favorite mistress. Aegor loathed Brynden, who was known as Bloodraven, even further when Shiera Seastar, their beautiful half-sister and a fellow Great Bastard, chose Brynden over him. Their other half-brother, Daemon Blackfyre, agreed to wed his daughter Calla to Aegor. Aegor often urged Daemon to press his own claim to the Iron Throne.
In the First Blackfyre Rebellion in 196 AC, Aegor sided with Daemon Blackfyre against King Daeron II Targaryen. During the battle of the Redgrass Field, Aegor commanded the right of Daemon's host.
To prevent a rout upon Daemon's death during the battle, Aegor rallied his troops and charged into the Raven's Teeth, the archers of Brynden Rivers. Although Aegor took out Bloodraven's eye during their duel, he ultimately fled the battlefield.
Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers leads the charge of the Golden Company - by Marc Simonetti ©
Aegor served a year with the Second Sons before leaving to create the Golden Company, a famous mercenary organization, to stop the loss of support for the Blackfyres as other exile lords began to join other mercenary companies. While sellswords are notoriously unreliable, the Golden Company has a respectable reputation. They are said to have never broken a contract. The words of the Golden Company are "Beneath the gold, the bitter steel"
The Golden Company was heavily involved in three of the four Blackfyre Rebellions that followed the first one. While Aegor refused to support Daemon II Blackfyre during the Second Blackfyre Rebellion in 211 AC, he supported Haegon I Blackfyre in the Third Blackfyre Rebellion in 219 AC. Aegor was captured at the end of the third rebellion, and brought to the Red Keep as a captive. While Brynden Rivers and Prince Aerion Targaryen argued that Aegor should be executed, King Aerys I Targaryen decided to send Aegor to the Wall to join the Night's Watch. The ship taking Aegor north was intercepted, however, and Aegor returned to the Golden Company. In Tyrosh, before the year was over, Aegor crowned Daemon III Blackfyre, Haegon I's eldest son.
In 236 AC, Aegor landed on Massey's Hook at the head of the Golden Company with Daemon III, starting the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion. The rebellion was crushed at the battle of Wendwater Bridge, though Aegor managed to escape.
During one of the various Blackfyre Rebellions, Aegor swore a blood oath with Torwyn Greyjoy, but this Lord Reaper of Pyke betrayed Aegor to his enemies.
Aegor Rivers by Amoka
Tommard: ... beggar's feast you've laid before us. Without Bittersteel ...
Gormon: Bittersteel be buggered. No bastard can be trusted, not even him. A few victories will bring him over the water fast enough.
– Tommard Heddle and Gormon Peake
Bitter his steel may have been, but worse was his tongue.
– writings of Yandel
He died defeated and alone, a broken man in an alien land.
– Jon Connington's thoughts
Bittersteel and Bloodraven both loved Shiera Seastar, and the Seven Kingdoms bled.
– Barristan Selmy's thoughts
When he fled, he swore he would return to place a son of Daemon's upon the Iron Throne. He never did.
– Stannis Baratheon, to Justin Massey
– Arianne Martell, to Lysono Maar
Queen Aelinor Penrose was a lady of House Penrose who married King Aerys I Targaryen.
Aelinor was married to her cousin, Prince Aerys Targaryen. He never showed any interest in getting her with child, instead shunning her bed. Rumor had it that Aerys never even consummated the marriage.
During the reign of Aerys I, it was said that Queen Aelinor would pray at the Great Sept of Baelor daily, beseeching the Mother Above to bless her with a child.
Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, briefly mentions the queen of Aerys I in a conversation with Jon Snow about the lineage of Maester Aemon. Jeor mistakenly believes Aelinor was Aerys's sister, per the traditions of Targaryen incest.
Aelinor was a cousin of her husband, Aerys,
Prince Aelor Targaryen was the son of Prince Rhaegel Targaryen and Lady Alys Arryn. He had a twin sister, Aelora, to whom he was married, and a younger sister, Daenora.
After the death of Aelor's father in 215 AC, Aelor was named Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the throne by his uncle, King Aerys I Targaryen. Aelor, however, died two years after his father at the hand of his sister-wife through a mishap, which left her mad with grief.
Princess Aelora Targaryen was the daughter of Prince Rhaegel Targaryen and Lady Alys Arryn. She had a twin brother, Aelor, to whom she was married, and a younger sister, Daenora.
Aelora was married to her twin brother, Prince Aelor. She caused Aelor's death in a mishap in 217 AC, which left her mad with grief.
Aelyx Targaryen was a member of House Targaryen and son of Lord Aerys Targaryen of Dragonstone. He was the first of Aerys's three sons.
Lady Aemma Arryn was the queen consort and first wife of King Viserys I Targaryen, and a granddaughter of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his sister-wife, Queen Alysanne Targaryen.
Aemma was the daughter of Lord Rodrik Arryn and his wife, Princess Daella Targaryen, herself the daughter of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his sister-wife Alysanne Targaryen. Aemma married Prince Viserys Targaryen, her cousin, in 93 AC. Upon her grandfather's death, Aemma became the queen consort of Viserys, who had been chosen as heir to the throne during the Great Council in 101 AC.
Aemma became pregnant multiple times in the early years of her marriage. She suffered multiple miscarriages, and gave birth to a son who eventually died in the cradle. In 97 AC, Aemma gave birth to a healthy daughter, Princess Rhaenyra. Aemma and Viserys both adored their only living child.
In early 105 AC, Aemma became pregnant once more. Late in the year, she gave birth to a son, Prince Baelon Targaryen. Aemma died during the birth, and her son died a day later.
Aemma's daughter Rhaenyra was chosen as heir to King Viserys I Targaryen in late 105 AC, after the deaths of both Aemma and her son Baelon, and after a fall-out between King Viserys and his brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen. Despite the fact that the lords of the realm swore their fealthy to Princess Rhaenyra in 105 AC,
This power struggle lead to a war known as the Dance of the Dragons, which caused the deaths of both Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon, as well as most of Rhaenyra's children, and Aegon's siblings and sons.
Aemma's daughter Rhaenyra had six children, one of them stillborn. The youngest two of Rhaenyra's living children, Princes Aegon and Viserys, would later become kings, Aegon III and Viserys II. It would be the line of Viserys II that continued the line of dragonkings. In addition, Aegon's daughter Daena and Viserys's son Aegon had a bastard son together, Daemon, who would create House Blackfyre.
Aemon Blackfyre was the second son of Daemon Blackfyre. He was Aegon Blackfyre's twin brother, the younger of the two. He squired for his father.
Aemon was the secondborn of the children of Daemon Blackfyre. He had an older twin brother, Aegon, and five younger brothers, Daemon, Haegon, Aenys Blackfyre, and two whose names are currently unknown. He also had at least two sisters.
The twins liked to bully their younger brother Daemon and Daemon's friend, Alyn Cockshaw.
Young Aemon took up Blackfyre when the blade slipped from his dying father's fingers, so Bloodraven slew him, too, the younger of the twins. Thus perished the black dragon and his sons.
- Eustace Osgrey to Duncan the Tall
Aegon and Aemon. Wretched witless bullies, just like you. When we were little, they took pleasure in tormenting me and Daemon both.
- Alyn Cockshaw to Duncan the Tall
I dreamed it. This pale white castle, you, a dragon bursting from an egg, I dreamed it all, just as I once dreamed of my brothers lying dead. They were twelve and I was only seven, so they laughed at me, and died. I am two-and-twenty now, and I trust my dreams.
- Daemon II Blackfyre to Duncan the Tall
Aemon Costayne is a member of House Costayne and is a traveling singer.
Symon Silver Tongue tells Tyrion Lannister that Aemon is one of the seven singers who is to perform at the wedding feast of King Joffrey I Baratheon and Queen Margaery Tyrell.
Ser Aemon Estermont is a knight of House Estermont. He is the son of Eldon Estermont and the father of Alyn Estermont.
Aemon is listed among the supporters of Renly Baratheon at the beginning of the War of the Five Kings.
Aemon has bent the knee to King Joffrey I Baratheon.
Aemon is in King's Landing with his son, Alyn, supporting King Tommen I Baratheon.
There are different possibilities for the Estermont family tree; see House Estermont/Family Trees.
Ser Aemon Rivers is a knight and the only son of Ser Walder Rivers, the oldest of Lord Walder Frey's bastard sons.
Like his father, he also has a personal blazon.[*citation needed*]
Aemon Steelsong is the name to be given to the free folk son of Mance Rayder and his wife Dalla when he is two years of age.
Dalla, the wife of the King-beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder, dies in childbirth during the battle beneath the Wall. He is dubbed the "wildling prince" and "the little prince" on account of his birth, and called "born-in-battle" for the moment of his birth by the men of Stannis Baratheon and the Night's Watch.
The infant is given to Gilly to nurse. By the design of Lord Commander Jon Snow the boy changes place with Gilly's babe. To protect him from Melisandre, the wildling prince is placed under the care of Gilly and Samwell Tarly and sent to Oldtown, while Gilly's babe remains at Castle Black. Gilly thinks of naming the wildling prince Aemon Battleborn or Aemon Steelsong when he is two years old, in honor of Maester Aemon.
Once they arrive at Oldtown, Sam leaves Gilly and the boy aboard the *Cinnamon Wind*. Before going to the Citadel, he tells Gilly that he will arrange for horses and a wagon to take her and the baby to his mother, Melessa Florent, at Horn Hill. that the boy is the bastard son of Samwell.
Aemon Targaryen can refer to multiple members of House Targaryen:
See also:
Not to be confused with:
For other characters named "Aemon Targaryen", see here.
Prince Aemon Targaryen was a member of House Targaryen. He was the secondborn son of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen. Aemon was married to Lady Jocelyn Baratheon. Together, they had a daughter, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.
The eldest of King Jaehaerys I's sons to live to adulthood, Aemon had been Prince of Dragonstone and Jaehaerys's heir for an unknown period of time. He died in battle in 92 AC, fighting against Myrish pirates who had seized the eastern side of Tarth.
Upon his death, Aemon only had a daughter, Princess Rhaenys, who could inherit. Therefore, Aemon's death caused King Jaehaerys's succession to become unclear, and the king saw the need to personally choose his new heir. The king eventually chose Prince Baelon, Aemon's younger brother, over Rhaenys, Aemon's only child. Rhaenys became known as "The Queen Who Never Was."
Aemon was married to his aunt, Jocelyn Baratheon, and together, they had only one child: Rhaenys. Rhaenys was married to Lord Corlys Velaryon. This marriage led to two grandchildren for Aemon, though he did not live long enough to meet them: Laena and Laenor Velaryon. Laena had two daughters, Rhaena and Baela, while Laenor had three sons, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey. Though no one questioned the paternity of Laena's children, there were unproven rumors that Laenor's children had been fathered on Laenor's wife, Rhaenyra Targaryen, by Ser Harwin Strong.
*"Aemon" redirects here. For other uses, see Aemon (disambiguation). For other characters named "Aemon Targaryen", see Aemon Targaryen.*
Aemon, born Aemon Targaryen, is the third son of King Maekar I Targaryen and his wife Dyanna Dayne. He has served as a maester to the Night's Watch at Castle Black for so long that the rest of the Seven Kingdoms has forgotten about his Targaryen blood. In the television series *Game of Thrones* he is portrayed by Peter Vaughan.
See also: Images of Aemon Targaryen
An ancient man of a hundred years old at the beginning of *A Song of Ice and Fire*, Aemon is bald, wrinkled, shrunken, and blind. He speaks softly but his counsel is so valued and respected that many fall silent to hear it. Despite his age his mind is still sharp as is his hearing. Aemon is a wise, humble and capable man.
Aemon Targaryen was the third son of King Maekar I Targaryen and his wife, Lady Dyanna Dayne. the pair visited Aemon in Oldtown. Aemon measured Duncan's height.
Aemon forged his chain, and earned the title of Maester Aemon, finishing his studies at the age of 19.
Maester Aemon in Castle Black - by Amok ©
Aemon then chose to go to the Wall to take the vows of the Night's Watch for fear that he may be used in a plot to usurp his brother. On his journey King Aegon provided him with an "honor guard" (emptying the dungeons) to take the vows of the Night's Watch with him. Among them was Brynden Rivers, who later went on to become Lord Commander of the Watch. Ser Duncan accompanied them aboard the *Golden Dragon* on the way to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.
Rhaegar Targaryen sometimes corresponded with his ancient great-great uncle via raven messages. Aemon claims that every man who has ever joined the Watch has been tested on keeping his vows at least once. Aemon stated that he was tested three times, and that the hardest time for him was hearing about the destruction of House Targaryen during the War of the Usurper.
Maester Aemon and Jon Snow on the Wall - by Marc Simonetti ©
Maester Aemon is present at the feast at Castle Black when Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, welcomes Tyrion Lannister to the Wall. Aemon recognizes the intelligence of Tyrion and describes him as "a giant come among us," rendering Tyrion, a dwarf, uncharacteristically speechless.
Aemon aids Jon Snow in helping his friend Samwell Tarly become a steward of the Night's Watch, fearing for the boy's safety if he remains a recruit under the brutal training of Ser Alliser Thorne.
Aemon, being too old to accompany the great ranging, remains at Castle Black. The duty of writing and sending messages falls to Sam Tarly. Jeor reveals much of Aemon's history to Jon, including the fact that Aemon could have been king, but refused the crown. Jeor has a very high opinion of Aemon and his abilities, an opinion Jon shares.
When Jon returns to Castle Black, badly wounded by an arrow, Maester Aemon treats his injury; despite being blind, his hands are steady and he treats the wound successfully.
Maester Aemon and Samwell Tarly on the *Blackbird* - by zippo514 ©
Jon, the new Lord Commander, sends Aemon to Oldtown with Samwell Tarly and the wildling girl Gilly, carrying Mance Rayder's infant "wildling prince", to remove all "royal blood" from Melisandre's grasp. Jon fears that Melisandre might kill Aemon for his "king's blood" to use in a spell. However, the sea voyage on the *Blackbird* is hard for the old man and Sam struggles to tell him what to do, leaving him out on the deck, in the rain for too long whilst he is lost in his reminiscences. He is bedridden and near death when arriving at Braavos.
Aemon, upon hearing of Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons, is convinced she is the prince that was promised, the High Valyrian word for "dragon" being gender neutral.
During the voyage from Braavos to Oldtown Aemon dies of a chill at the age of one hundred and two.
Once at Oldtown, Sam informs Archmaester Marwyn of Aemon's passing and of Aemon's intention to help Daenerys. Marwyn immediately leaves the Ravenry to travel to Daenerys in Slaver's Bay.
Jon reads about Azor Ahai and Lightbringer in the *Jade Compendium*,
I have been called many things, my lord, but kind is seldom one of them.
– Aemon, to Tyrion Lannister
Aemon: Jon, did you ever wonder why the men of the Night's Watch take no wives and father no children?
Jon: No.
Aemon: So they will not love, for love is the bane of honor, the death of duty.
– Aemon and Jon Snow
What is honor compared to a woman's love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms ... or the memory of a brother's smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy.
– Aemon, to Jon Snow
I see their shadows on the snow, hear the crack of leathern wings, feel their hot breath.
– Aemon, to Samwell Tarly
Allow me to give my lord one last piece of counsel, the same counsel that I once gave my brother when we parted for the last time. He was three-and-thirty when the Great Council chose him to mount the Iron Throne. A man grown with sons of his own, yet in some ways still a boy. Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. Kill the boy within you, I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born. You are half the age that Egg was, and your own burden is a crueler one, I fear. You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born.
- Aemon, to Jon Snow
Knowledge is a weapon, Jon. Arm yourself well before you ride forth to battle.
– Aemon, to Jon Snow
He was a good man... No. He was a great man. A maester of the Citadel, chained and sworn, and Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch, ever faithful. When he was born they named him for a hero who had died too young, but though he lived a long long time, his own life was no less heroic. No man was wiser, or gentler, or kinder. At the Wall, a dozen lords commander came and went during his years of service, but he was always there to counsel them. He counseled kings as well. He could have been a king himself, but when they offered him the crown he told them they should give it to his younger brother. How many men would do that? He was the blood of the dragon, but now his fire has gone out. He was Aemon Targaryen. And now his watch is ended.
- Samwell Tarly's eulogy
He was more than just the oldest living maester. He was the oldest man in Westeros, and lived through more history than Archmaester Perestan has ever learned. He could have told us much and more about his father's reign, and his uncle's.
- Alleras, to Samwell Tarly
The world the Citadel is building has no place in it for sorcery or prophecy or glass candles, much less for dragons. Ask yourself why Aemon Targaryen was allowed to waste his life upon the Wall, when by rights he should have been raised to archmaester. His blood was why. He could not be trusted. No more than I can.
- Marwyn, to Samwell Tarly
Many good men have been bad kings, Maester Aemon used to say, and some bad men have been good kings.
Aemon Targaryen had seen nine kings upon the Iron Throne. He had been a king's son, a king's brother, a king's uncle.
- thoughts of Jon Snow
For other characters named "Aemon Targaryen", see here.
Prince Aemon Targaryen, called the Dragonknight, was a knight from House Targaryen who became Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. He was the second son of King Viserys II Targaryen and the brother of King Aegon IV Targaryen.
Prince Aemon has been referred to as the noblest knight who ever lived, and his skill with a sword is legendary throughout Westeros. Even over a hundred years after his death, he is a popular figure among the highborn and smallfolk in songs, stories, and fables. He bore the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister, previously wielded by Aegon the Conqueror's sister-wife, Queen Visenya, and Aemon's grandfather, Prince Daemon Targaryen.
Aemon became known as the Dragonknight because the crest on his helm was a three-headed dragon of House Targaryen wrought in white gold.
Aemon was born to King Viserys II Targaryen and the beautiful Lady Larra Rogare of Lys.
During his life Aemon served under five kings: Aegon III, Daeron I, Baelor I, his father Viserys II, and lastly his brother Aegon IV.
Songs speak of Aemon's doomed love for his brother's queen, his own sister Naerys. According to singers, Aemon loved Naerys, and Naerys loved him. He supposedly cried when their father Viserys had Naerys marry their brother Aegon in 153 AC, and Aemon joined the Kingsguard shortly afterwards.
Aemon once fought Lord Cregan Stark. Prince Aemon claimed he never faced a finer swordsman.
Aemon took part in the invasion of Dorne, led by his cousin and king, Daeron the Young Dragon. An assassination attempt on Daeron was prevented by the actions of the Dragonknight, who threw himself in the path of an poisoned arrow meant for his king. Aemon survived the poison and was sent back to King's Landing to heal.
Upon his recovery Aemon returned to Dorne to protect his king and won great fame by defeating a Dornish champion. A rebellion in Dorne undid Daeron's conquest, however, and the Young Dragon was murdered in 161 AC while meeting Dornishmen under a peace banner, despite the presence of five Kingsguard. Three died defending the king, one shamefully yielded, and Aemon the Dragonknight was captured after slaying two of the betrayers.
The new king, Baelor I Targaryen, made peace with the Prince of Dorne. On his return trip from Sunspear, Baelor tried to free his cousin Aemon. House Wyl was told to release Aemon into Baelor's custody, but instead they gave Baelor the key to the op and an invitation to use it. The Dragonknight, fearing for his cousin and new king's safety, begged Baelor to leave him, but Baelor refused and walked into the pit.
Singers say the snakes bowed their heads and refused to bite Baelor due to protection from the gods.
The venom put Baelor in a coma, so Aemon carried the comatose king north. A septon in a village located on the Boneway in the Red Mountains gave Aemon clothing and an ass to carry Baelor. The cousins arrived at Blackhaven where the castle's maester treated Baelor. The king eventually awoke upon the journey to Storm's End but was half a year more before he was fit to travel to King's Landing.
Aemon served during the brief reign of his father Viserys II Targaryen, king from 171 AC to 172 AC.
Aemon's elder brother, Aegon IV, succeeded their father, Viserys II. During Aegon's reign, Aemon remained the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, a position he held until his death.
When Naerys was accused of adultery and treason by Ser Morgil Hastwyck, Prince Aemon defended his sister's honor in trial by combat and slew Morgil. This inspired many songs and furthered Aemon's renown, much to King Aegon's annoyance.
Rumors remained about Aemon being the actual father of Aegon's son and heir, Prince Daeron.
Queen Naerys Targaryen was near death after the birth of Daenerys and a stillborn son. There were no known rumors about the parentage of Princess Daenerys.
Disguised as a mystery knight, Prince Aemon once won a tourney after his brother Aegon had forbidden him to take part, because Aegon wanted to crown his mistress of that time as the queen of love and beauty. Disguised as the Knight of Tears, Aemon won the tournament and named Naerys Targaryen in place of the mistress.
Despite Aegon's feelings of disrespect and hatred towards Aemon and Aegon's provocations, Aemon died honorably, defending his brother and king against the assassination attempt by two brothers of House Toyne who sought revenge for the torture and execution of their brother, Ser Terrence Toyne.
King Aegon IV did little to honor the Dragonknight's memory. Aegon began to make barely-veiled references to his son Daeron's alleged illegitimacy, something he only dared to do because both Naerys and Aemon were dead., while the king was posthumously dubbed Aegon the Unworthy.
Daeron II, Aemon's nephew (or son, according to the rumors), named his grandson Aemon Targaryen in honor of the Dragonknight.
The days when men like Ryam Redwyne and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight wore the white cloak are gone to dust and song.
– Varys to Eddard Stark regarding Robert I Baratheon's Kingsguard
My grandfather named me for Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, who was his uncle, or his father, depending on which tale you believe. Aemon, he called me ...
Arianne: And the Dragonknight? The noblest knight who ever lived, you said, and he took his queen to bed and got her with child.
Arys: I will not believe that. The tale of Prince Aemon's treason with Queen Naerys was only that, a tale, a lie his brother told when he wished to set his trueborn son aside in favor of his bastard. Aegon was not called the Unworthy without cause.
– Arianne Martell and Arys Oakheart
When he was born they named him for a hero who had died too young.
– Samwell Tarly recalling Aemon's namesake
Why, every child in Westeros knows how Prince Aemon the Dragonknight championed his sister Queen Naerys against Ser Morghil's accusations.
– Cersei Lannister to Taena of Myr
Not every man has it in him to be Prince Aemon the Dragonknight or Symeon Star-Eyes...
– Wyman Manderly to Davos Seaworth
Not to be confused with Aemon Targaryen. For characters with a similar name, see Aemon (disambiguation) or Aemon Targaryen (disambiguation).
Prince Aemond Targaryen, also known as Aemond One-Eye
See also: Images of Aemond Targaryen
At birth, Aemond was said to be half the size his older brother, Aegon, had been, though he was twice as fierce.
Aemond was born in 110 AC to King Viserys I Targaryen and his second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower. He had two older sisters, Rhaenyra, Viserys's daughter by his first wife, and Helaena, and an older brother, Aegon. Aemond would later also have a younger brother, Daeron.
The births of Aemond and his older brother Aegon were the cause of some strife at the court of Viserys I. King Viserys had named his only surviving child by his first marriage, Rhaenyra, his official heir in 105 AC, but refused to change the order of succession after the birth of two healthy sons. This eventually led to the rise of the "queen's party" at the royal court, as opposed to the "princess's party". Additionally, Prince Daemon Targaryen, the younger brother of King Viserys and Aemond's uncle, was said to be notably cool towards Aemond and Aegon, as their births had pushed him back even further in the line of succession as well.
The enmity between Aemond's mother, Alicent Hightower, and older half-sister Rhaenyra was passed on to their children; Aemond and his siblings became bitter rivals to Rhaenyra's three sons, Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey Velaryon, resenting them for stealing their birth right, the Iron Throne. The time the six boys were forced to spend together (e.g. attending feasts, sometimes training together at arms or studying under the same maester) only caused to increase this dislike.
In 120 AC, when Aemond was ten years old, his brother-in-law, Ser Laenor Velaryon, died. Aemond accompanied his parents and siblings to Driftmark to attend Laenor's funeral. King Viserys had suggested traveling to Dragonstone after the funeral, and informed Aemond, who out of all his siblings was the only one yet without a dragon of his own, that he could claim a dragon egg or hatchling on Dragonstone for his own, if he was "bold enough". Annoyed by his father's comment, Aemond resolved to claim Vhagar, the eldest of the dragons, who had recently become riderless with the death of Laena Velaryon. Vhagar was present on Driftmark, and Aemond, who knew that his parents would not allow him near the dragon, went to make his attempt in secret.
Aemond Targaryen, by DarklyGreen
He was caught by his three-year old nephew, Joffrey. In an attempt to keep the boy quiet, he slapped and threatened the boy, before shoving him into a pile of dragon droppings. When Joffrey began to yell, Aemond climbed on top of Vhagar's back. The dragon broke free of her chains, and Aemond flew two circles before landing.
While he was an unforgiving person, Aemond would later say that he considered losing an eye to be a fair trade in exchange for obtaining Vhagar.
On the first day of 127 AC, King Viserys I Targaryen held a feast to celebrate the return of his health. After the king had left the feast, Aemond toasted his three Velaryon cousins, speaking of their appearance, mocking them as *"three strong boys"*.
Aemond mounted on Vhagar kills Lucerys Velaryon and Arrax.
In 129 AC, when Aemond was nineteen years old, his father, King Viserys I Targaryen died. Aemond's older brother Aegon was crowned king, despite their older sister Rhaenyra still having been Viserys's chosen heir, starting the war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons. Aegon's supporters realised that Rhaenyra would likely resist against Aegon's coronation. As the previous lord of Storm's End, Lord Boremund Baratheon, had been a supporter of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Rhaenyra's mother-in-law and one of her supporters, the greens feared that Lord Borros Baratheon, the current Lord of Storm's End, might side with Rhaenyra as well. Thus, shortly after Viserys's death, Aemond was send to Storm's End, to convince Lord Borros to support Aegon by promising to marry one of his daughters.
While Aemond was at Storm's End, Lord Borros received a visit from Prince Lucerys Velaryon, who had come to speak on behalf of Rhaenyra's claim. Aemond attempted to provoke Lucerys, who ignored his cousin. When Aemond threatened to kill Lucerys, Lord Borros refused to allow them to fight under his roof, and had his men stop Aemond. Once Lucerys had taken off on his dragon, Arrax, Lord Borros told Aemond *"It is not for me to tell you what to do when you are not beneath my roof"* and allowed him to leave. Aemond chased Lucerys on Vhagar. Aemond, mounted on Vhagar, avenged the loss of his eye when he managed to kill Lucerys and Arrax, which would have terrible consequences.
The Battle Above the Gods Eye.
Prince Daemon Targaryen swore to avenge Lucerys, promising his wife Rhaenyra "a son for a son". Contacting a former friend, Daemon arranged for two men to kill Aegon II's son Jaehaerys, which drove the child's mother Helaena slowly mad, eliminating her as a dragonrider.
Aemond joined his brother Aegon during the Battle of Rook's Rest, where the brothers slew Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon, Meleys. While Aegon and Vhagar remained unhurt, Aegon was severely wounded. Aemond ruled in his stead as Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm for a year while Aegon recovered. He took up the iron and ruby crown of Aegon the Conqueror, and was said to have stated that it looked better on himself than it ever did on Aegon.
Prince Regent Aemond and the Hand of the King, Ser Criston Cole, gathered an army to march on Prince Daemon Targaryen at Harrenhal. As they were on the march, King's Landing fell without them present to defend it, as Daemon's spies had learned of their intent. Following the greens' defeat in the Battle by the Lakeshore, Aemond and Criston Cole split up, with Aemond taking Vhagar to burn black-aligned settlements throughout the riverlands.
Prince Daemon Targaryen and the dragonseed Nettles searched for Aemond and Vhagar throughout the riverlands, but were unable to find them. Eventually, Daemon travelled to Harrenhal, challenged Aemond, and waited for thirteen days with Caraxes by his side until Aemond arrived to come face him. With him, Aemond took pregnant Alys Rivers, whom he had taken for his bedmate. On the twenty-second day of the fifth month of 130 AC, Aemond and Daemon, mounted on their dragons, engaged in the battle above the Gods Eye, which ended with the two dragons crashing to the floor while Prince Daemon stabbed Aemond in his eye with the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister. Aemond's body, chained to Vhagar's saddle, sank into the lake. His body (along with Vhagar's skull) was recovered only years later, with Dark Sister still through his eye-socket.
Lord Aenar Targaryen, known as Aenar the Exile, was a nobleman of House Targaryen from the Valyrian Freehold. He was the father of Daenys "the Dreamer" and Gaemon "the Glorious".
Twelve years before the Doom of Valyria (114 BC), Aenar's daughter, Daenys the Dreamer, foretold the destruction of Valyria. In response to this, Aenar sold his holdings in the Valyrian Freehold and the Lands of the Long Summer and moved with all his family, wealth, slaves, and dragons to Dragonstone, a bleak island citadel beneath the Dragonmont, a smoking mountain in the narrow sea. The Targaryens were far from the most powerful of the dragonlords, and their rivals in Valyria saw their flight as an act of cowardice. However, because Aenar had moved his family away from Valyria, the Targaryens were the only dragonlords to survive the Doom and the following Century of Blood.
Aenar ruled as Lord of Dragonstone until his death, after which his son Gaemon inherited the rule.
By the time of the War of the Five Kings, it is believed visions written down by Daenys, Aenar's daughter, before the Doom were in a book called *Signs and Portents, that is now lost. Archmaester Marwyn claims he found three pages from it in his *Book of Lost Books.
Aenys Blackfyre was the fifth son of Daemon I Blackfyre and Rohanne of Tyrosh.
After the death of King Maekar I Targaryen in 233 AC, there was no definitive heir to ascend the Iron Throne. When the Hand of the King, Lord Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers, called a Great Council, Aenys put forth his claim to the throne by writing from exile. Bloodraven offered him safe conduct to King's Landing, so Aenys could present his claim in person. Aenys accepted this proposal, but as soon as he entered the capital he was seized by the gold cloaks and dragged to the Red Keep, where he was executed. His head was presented to the lords of the Great Council, as a warning to any who might still have Blackfyre sympathies.
After King Aegon V Targaryen was crowned king, he had Bloodraven arrested for the murder of Aenys, as Brynden had broken the word of the Iron Throne with the act. Brynden was sentenced to death but later sent to the Wall instead, to live out the remainder of his life as a Brother of the Night's Watch.
Aenys may be a reference by George R. R. Martin to Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk, a Yorkist rival to King Henry VII of England, a Tudor. When he returned to England after exile, Edmund was imprisoned by Henry VII and later executed by Henry's son, King Henry VIII.
Ser Aenys Frey is a knight from House Frey and is the third son of Walder Frey, Lord of the Crossing, and his first spouse, Lady Perra Royce. Aenys is married to Tyana Wylde, and has two sons with her, Aegon and Ser Rhaegar.
Aenys is a tall grey man with a bald head, round shoulders, and gnarled hands.
Aenys is a seasoned soldier, but he is regarded as a commander, not a swordsman. He is cruel and clever.
Ser Aenys is presumably one of the numerous Freys present at the Twins when Catelyn Stark comes to treat with Lord Walder Frey. Robb Stark agrees to marry one of Walder's daughters.
Ser Aenys commands the fifteen hundred men of House Frey who are part of Lord Roose Bolton's army. Roose negotiates with Vargo Hoat for the sellsword captain to betray Ser Amory Lorch, castellan of Harrenhal. Robett Glover and Aenys head a group of prisoners who are admitted into the castle by Vargo's Brave Companions. An unknowing and incognito Arya Stark helps to free them ahead of schedule, however. After the fall of Harrenhal, Vargo relinquishes the castle to Roose, and the Lord of the Dreadfort is then introduced to Rorge and Biter by Aenys.
Aenys has difficulty commanding his kin.
Aenys is among the Freys that meet Ser Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth when they arrive at Harrenhal as prisoners of the Brave Companions. Angry that Robb Stark has wed Jeyne Westerling instead of a Frey, Aenys spits upon hearing Robb's name. When Brienne says Catelyn Stark's daughters will be killed if Jaime is not delivered safely to King's Landing, Aenys is unmoved and untroubled if that should happen.
Aenys leads the Frey contingent north to the Twins to attend the wedding of Ser Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey. Roose departs Harrenhal with his northern army three days later. Aenys has some difficulty crossing the ruby ford because of heavy rainfall.
Ser Aenys and his half-brother, Ser Hosteen Frey, command the two thousand Frey swords that are sent with Lord Roose Bolton to retake the north.
Aenys and Hosteen are distressed that Aenys's second son, Rhaegar, as well as Symond and Jared Frey, disappeared while en route to Barrowton from White Harbor.
The Freys attend the wedding of Ramsay Bolton to "Arya Stark" at Winterfell. Lord Wyman Manderly serves pork pies to the Freys during the feast.
When his squire is found naked and dead in the lichyard, Aenys suggests the man was drunk and became lost in the blizzard blanketing the castle.
When Hosteen and Wyman come to blows after the death of Big Walder Frey, Roose orders the Freys and Manderlys to leave Winterfell by separate gates to attack Stannis Baratheon.
It is revealed that Aenys fell from his horse and broke his neck when he and his men rode into pit traps planted near Winterfell by Mors Umber and his levies. This news pleases Stannis, as it means command of the Frey forces now falls to Ser Hosteen Frey, who is not the brightest.
We trusted the word of Robb Stark, and he repaid our faith with betrayal.
—Aenys to Brienne of Tarth
Aenys: I do not claim Lord Wyman does the deeds himself. He brought three hundred men with him. A hundred knights. Any of them might have—
Barbrey: Night work is not knight's work. And Lord Wyman is not the only man who lost kin at your Red Wedding, Frey. Do you imagine Whoresbane loves you any better? If you did not hold the Greatjon, he would pull out your entrails and make you eat them, as Lady Hornwood ate her fingers. Flints, Cerwyns, Tallharts, Slates ... they all had men with the Young Wolf.
Roger: House Ryswell too.
Barbrey: Even Dustins out of Barrowton. The north remembers, Frey.
Aenys: Stark dishonored us. That is what you northmen had best remember.—Aenys, Barbrey Dustin, and Roger Ryswell
Aenys I Targaryen was Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and the second Targaryen king to sit the Iron Throne. He was the son of King Aegon I Targaryen and his younger sister-wife, Queen Rhaenys Targaryen. He had a younger half-brother Maegor I Targaryen.
At birth, Aenys was small, with spindly limbs and small, watery eyes. He was weak and sickly for the first few years of his life, and slow to grow, but once he was given the hatchling Quicksilver Aenys began to thrive.
Aenys dressed in the finest silks, samites, and velvets.
A diligent student who did not lack for courage, Aenys was an adequate fighter. However, he was not a warrior, and lacked his father's strength.
Aenys was born on Dragonstone in 7 AC to King Aegon I Targaryen and Queen Rhaenys Targaryen. He was weak and sickly at birth and cried all the time. He refused to nurse from wet nurses and would only nurse at his mother's breast. He was so unlike the king that it was rumored that the boy could not be the son of Aegon the Conqueror, who was a peerless warrior, and that perhaps his father had been one of the singers or mummers that Rhaenys had delighted in.
Aenys was five years older than his half-brother, Maegor. He was not close with Maegor while growing up, as Aenys was kept by his father's side in King's Landing, while Visenya and Maegor lived on Dragonstone. Aenys was trained by his father's Kingsguard, and although he was an adequate fighter, he lacked his father's size and strength. From time to time Aegon would let him practice with the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre.
Aenys was married to Alyssa Velaryon in 22 AC. Their marriage was a political match.
Aenys accompanied his father to Sunspear to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the peace between the Iron Throne and Dorne.
After Aegon's funeral, Aenys traveled to King's Landing where he claimed his father's throne amidst the rubble and mud of the torn-down Aegonfort and the foundations of the Red Keep. He was cheered by many. There are conflicting written accounts about his coronation by the maesters, According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Aenys was crowned with his father's circlet of Valyrian steel and rubies on Dragonstone, and later, when he traveled with his wife and children to Oldtown by the way of Riverrun, Lannisport, and Highgarden, was presented by the High Septon at the Starry Sept with a crown of yellow gold, with the faces of the Seven inlaid in jade and pearl.
King Aenys upon the Iron Throne, art by Magali Villeneuve.
Aenys received the blessings of the Faith. Nonetheless, some people casted doubt on his ability to rule. Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen voiced a similar opinion, claiming that, by giving Blackfyre to Maegor, Aenys had admitted that he lacked the strength to rule.
Within the first year of his reign, uprisings led by four rebels rose throughout the realm. The first of these occurred in the riverlands, where a bandit outlaw known as Red Harren claimed to be a grandson of Harren the Black. Harren and his men seized Harrenhal and killed Lord Gargon Qoherys. On the Iron Islands, a man claiming to be the priest-king Lodos began to gather followers, while in the Dornish marches the Vulture King began to gather an army of Dornishmen who wished to avenge the destruction visited upon Dorne during the First Dornish War. Finally in the Vale, Lord Ronnel Arryn was taken captive by his own brother, Jonos Arryn.
Convinced that the smallfolk loved him, Aenys did not understand why people felt the need to rebel against him. He considered sending messengers to the four rebels, to learn why they had rebelled. While Aenys was unable to decide how best to handle the rebels, the lords of the Seven Kingdoms took matters into their own hands. Lord Allard Royce gathered forces and penned Jonos up in the Eyrie, after which Prince Maegor flew up to the Eyrie on Balerion to resolve the situation.
As Lord Alyn Stokeworth had been killed by Red Harren, Aenys named his brother Maegor as his new Hand of the King. The two brothers despite there differences ruled together amiacably for two years. began to call Aenys weak and consider him incapable of ruling. Aenys was oblivious to these criticisms.
In 41 AC, Aenys wed his daughter, Princess Rhaena, to his son and heir, Prince Aegon. The Faith condemned the incestuous marriage as an obscenity, and on the day of the wedding Warrior's Sons scowled at the guests as they entered the Sept of Remembrance. At the feast that followed the ceremony, Aenys named Aegon Prince of Dragonstone, a title which had previously belonged to his brother Maegor. Dowager Queen Visenya left the feast in protest.
Aenys sent Aegon and Rhaena on a royal progress throughout the realm, but the smallfolk was not receptive of them. For having performed the wedding ceremony, Septon Murmison was expelled from the Faith. When Aenys asked the High Septon to restore Murmison, explaining the long history of Valyrian marriage customs practiced by House Targaryen, he received a denunciation as a response, addressed to "King Abomination". The pious lords of the realm, and even the smallfolk who had once loved Aenys, turned against him. When the High Septon declared Aenys to be a pretender and a tyrant who had no right to rule the Seven Kingdoms, the Faithful responded. Within a fortnight, Septon Murmison was hacked in pieces, signalling the start of the Faith Militant uprising.
The Warrior's Sons fortified the Sept of Remembrance on Rhaenys's Hill. Aenys decided to leave for Dragonstone with his family. Three days before they were set to sail, Ser Raymont Baratheon of the Kingsguard saved Aenys's life when two Poor Fellows scaled the walls of the king's manse upon Visenya's Hill and slipped into the royal apartments in an attempt to murder the king.
According to Grand Maester Gawen, Aenys looked like a man of sixty even though he was only thirty-five years old. The maester despaired of improving his condition. When Dowager Queen Visenya took over his care, Aenys briefly improved, but he suffered a collapse upon learning that his eldest son and daughter were besieged at Crakehall during their yearly progress.
Aenys died in 42 AC, after only ruling for five years, at the age of thirty-five.
The Iron Throne, due to Visenya's actions after Aenys' death, passed to Aenys's half-brother Maegor instead of Aenys's eldest son Aegon.
During the reign of King Aenys, his small council had the following known members:
The king was easily influenced, swaying this way and that like a reed into the wind, like as not to heed whichever councillor last had his ear.
– writings of Grand Maester Gawen
How can he rule the Seven Kingdoms when he cannot rule his brother?
– lords on Aenys's rule and his relationship with Maegor
You are a fool and a weakling, nephew. Do you think any man would ever have dared speak so to your father?
– Visenya Targaryen to Aenys
Princess Aerea Targaryen was a daughter of Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaena Targaryen. She had a younger twin sister, Rhaella.
Aerea's parents, Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaena, were married in 41 AC. As this was an incestuous marriage, it led to a rebellion of the Faith of the Seven.
Aegon was killed in battle in 43 AC. Rhaena disguised Aerea and twin sister Rhaella and sent them away with allies—even refusing to know where they were, for further protection—but the children were found by Tyanna, and used to force Rhaena to marry Maegor in 47 AC. Aerea's sister, Rhaella was sent to Oldtown as a ward of House Hightower, while Aerea remained at court to ensure her mothers good behavior. As Maegor had no children of his own, Aerea was named his heir while her uncle, Prince Jaehaerys, was disinherited.
In 48 AC when Princess Aerea's mother Rhaena learned that her youngest brother, Prince Jaehaerys, had announced his claim to the Iron Throne, she escaped King's Landing in the dead of night upon Dreamfyre to join Jaehaerys's cause, taking Aerea and the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre with her.
It is unknown what happened to Princess Aerea later in life, but Jaehaerys, Aenys's only surviving son, eventually succeeded Maegor on the Iron Throne.
The name Aerion can refer to the following characters:
See Also
For the Lord of Dragonstone and father of Aegon the Conqueror, see Aerion Targaryen (son of Daemion).
Prince Aerion Targaryen, also known as Aerion the Monstrous, or Aerion Brightflame as he liked to call himself, was the second son of King Maekar I Targaryen.
See also: Images of Aerion Targaryen
In his youth, Aerion was slim and of average height. He had curly silver-gold hair, deep violet eyes, and pale skin. Aerion's face was sculptured and imperious, with a high brow, sharp cheekbones, and a straight nose. He frequently wore clothing as bright as fire, in red and yellow and gold.
Aerion was one of the most outstanding examples of the madness that can hit the members of House Targaryen. Cruel and arrogant, he thought he was a dragon in human form.
Aerion was despised by his brother Aegon. Aerion threw Aegon's pet cat down a well, though he claimed otherwise, but Aegon believed Aerion was an inveterate liar. Aerion once visited Aegon in his bedroom during the dead of night, and put a knife to Aegon's privates and joked about removing his genitals so he would become a sister he could marry. According to Raymun Fossoway, the prince was all smiles and courtesy in front of his father, but his true nature showed in front of others. Aerion's brother, Daeron, called him "quite the monster".
Aerion was born the second son to Prince Maekar Targaryen and his wife, Lady Dyanna Dayne. He had one older brother, Daeron, two younger brothers, Aemon and Aegon, and two younger sisters, Daella and Rhae.
Aerion owned a dragon egg that was gold and silver.
Aerion breaks Tanselle's fingers. Art by Mike S. Miller.
In 209 AC Aerion traveled to Ashford for the tourney at Ashford Meadow, where he mistook Ser Duncan the Tall for a stable boy, ordering him to take his horse. Aerion seemed about to challenge his cousin Valarr Targaryen to a joust, but instead challenged Humfrey Hardyng. Prince Aegon Targaryen, Duncan's squire, wanted Humfrey to kill Aerion. Aerion lowered his lance and impales Humfrey's horse, injuring Humfrey's leg and leaving his horse to die in agony, which Aegon considered to be intentional.
Aerion was insulted by a puppet show portraying a dragon being slain, as the prince felt he was a dragon. Aerion attacked the puppeteers, breaking the fingers of a girl named Tanselle and destroying the puppets. Duncan was then arrested after punching and kicking the prince. After Prince Baelor Targaryen reminded Duncan he could request a trial by battle, Aerion requested a trial of seven. Aerion bribed Ser Steffon Fossoway, one of Duncan's champions, with the chance of a lordship to join the accusers against Duncan. Joining Aerion were his brother Daeron, his father Prince Maekar, and three knights of the Kingsguard, Willem Wylde, Donnel of Duskendale, and Roland Crakehall. Aerion's uncle, Prince Baelor, joined Duncan's side.
During the trial, Aerion put his lance through Duncan's side and struck him from the saddle with a morningstar. Duncan refused to yield and used his skills as a brawler from Flea Bottom to beat the prince down. Duncan forced Aerion to repeat his submission before Lord Ashford, ending the threat to Dunk's other champions. Baelor died from wounds sustained in the trial, however.
After the conclusion of the tournament, Maekar sent Aerion to Lys.
Aerion drinks wildfire, illustrated by Roman Papsuev
Aerion stayed in Lys for a few years. It is possible that he fathered some children while living there.
Aerion returned to Westeros at some point and fought in the Third Blackfyre Rebellion in 219 AC. He performed some actions there that are "known well". After Aegor Rivers was captured, Aerion and the Hand of the King, Lord Brynden Rivers, urged King Aerys I Targaryen to put Aegor to death, but the king decided to send Bittersteel to the Night's Watch instead.
Aerion was married to his cousin, Daenora Targaryen.
Aerion: If you cannot manage a horse, fetch me some wine and a pretty wench.
Duncan: I ... m'lord, pardons, I'm no serving man either. I have the honor to be a knight.
Aerion: Knighthood has fallen on sad days.
- Aerion and Duncan the Tall
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Aerion Targaryen was a Lord of Dragonstone and the son of Lord Daemion Targaryen. Aerion was the husband of Valaena Velaryon, and their children were Visenya, Aegon the Conqueror, and Rhaenys Targaryen. Aerion was also rumored to have been the father of Orys Baratheon.
An aeromancer is a type of magic practitioner that can manipulate the element of air.
Aeromancers are said to be present in Asshai, were no type of religion or magic is forbidden and can be practiced with impunity.
Aeron Greyjoy is the youngest surviving son of the late Lord Quellon Greyjoy and Lady Sunderly, and is a younger brother of Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands. As a result of a near-death experience during Greyjoy's Rebellion, Aeron became a priest of the Drowned God, and is now called the Damphair
See also: Images of Aeron Greyjoy
Aeron is tall and thin with fierce black eyes and a beak of a nose,
Aeron was once an amiable man, fond of songs, ale, and women.
Aeron considers himself a prophet
Aeron nearly drowned when his ship was sunk off the coast of Fair Isle © Fantasy Flight Games
Aeron was born the youngest son from Lord Quellon Greyjoy's second of three marriages. At six-and-ten he called himself a man, but in truth he had been a ribald drunk, who would sing, dance, play pipes, juggle and ride horses. He drank much, and claimed no man could piss longer or farther than him. He once wagered his ship against a flock of goats that he could douse a hearth-fire by urinating on it, and subsequently outraged his brother, Lord Balon, by naming the ship *Golden Storm*.
During Greyjoy's Rebellion, Aeron joined his brothers Victarion and Euron in raiding the coasts. Aeron nearly drowned when Golden Storm was sunk by the war galley *Fury* during the sea battle off Fair Isle, when the ironborn fleet was caught in a trap set by the master of ships, Lord Stannis Baratheon. Aeron was initially believed to be lost at sea, but he washed ashore and was discovered by local fishermen, who led him to Lannisport in chains. Aeron spent the rest of the rebellion as a prisoner of the Lannisters, but he was later returned to the Iron Islands. Aeron spend his time as a captive holding piss-contests with "lions, boars and chickens".
An unknown amount of time after Greyjoy's Rebellion, Aeron went down in a storm, but washed up ashore, safely and unharmed. Due to his near-death experience, he underwent a spiritual reawakening, and dedicated himself to the worship of the Drowned God.
Aeron fears his brother, Euron, for reasons that are not made clear. He has recurring memories and nightmares of a door with screeching hinges, which he associates with Euron.
Aeron is still afflicted with guilt over the death of another brother, Urrigon, who died from the infection of a wound that occurred while he and Aeron performed a finger dance, a traditional axe-juggling game among the ironborn.
Aeron Greyjoy - by artist Anders Finer © Fantasy Flight Games
In the early phases of the War of the Five Kings, Robb Stark, King in the North, sends his friend, Theon Greyjoy, back to the Iron Islands to negotiate an alliance with Theon's father, Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands. Aeron Damphair, Balon's brother, is sent to bring Theon from Lordsport to Pyke. Since Theon has been living for years with the Starks of Winterfell, who worship the old gods, Aeron blesses Theon was seawater.
Balon declines Robb's alliance offer, however, and Aeron attends Balon's war council regarding an offensive against the north.
The ironmen take Benfred Tallhart prisoner when they ambush his Wild Hares. When Benfred refuses to answer questions Aeron and Theon put to him, Aeron commands that the prisoner be sacrificed to the Drowned God. Theon decides to attack Torrhen's Square and Winterfell with the crew of Sea Bitch and Dagmer's *Foamdrinker*, granting the six remaining ships to Aeron for future raiding.
Aeron in worship - by Amok ©
After finishing the reaving, Aeron returns to his normal priestly duties in the Iron Islands. Within the Sea Tower of Pyke, Aeron informs Balon of the defeat of his last son, Theon, at Winterfell. Aeron opposes Balon's intention to be succeeded by his daughter, Asha.
While reviving Emmond on the shores of Great Wyk, Aeron learns from the Sparr and Gormond Goodbrother that Balon, his oldest brother, has fallen to his death from Pyke. At Hammerhorn he is told by Maester Murenmure that another older brother, the despised Euron, has claimed the Seastone Chair.
The ironborn captains answer Aeron's summons, and most of the Iron Fleet returns from the Fever River. On the shores of Nagga's Cradle, Aeron blesses and prays with his preferred candidate, his third brother, Victarion, whom he knows will continue Balon's traditional ways.
Aeron asks Victarion to aid him in opposing Euron, but the obedient Victarion submits to the new king. The Damphair announces plans to try to rouse the smallfolk of the Iron Islands against the "godless" Euron, and he disappears the next day.
Aeron's niece, Asha Greyjoy, tells Tristifer Botley that no one has seen the Damphair since the kingsmoot, but his drowned men claim that he is hiding on Great Wyk and will soon come forth to call down the wrath of the Drowned God on Euron Crow's Eye and his minions. Erik Ironmaker, now Lord Steward of the Iron Islands, searches for Aeron by hunting down his drowned men. Tris suspects that Euron slit the Damphair's throat, however.
Aeron is revealed to have been captured after the kingsmoot by Euron's mutes and chained up in the hold of the *Silence*. Euron forces him to drink shade of the evening and Aeron has numerous nightmarish visions. Aeron remembers how Euron used to sexually abuse him and another brother, Urri, when they were children. On Oakenshield Aeron encounters Falia Flowers. When she feeds him during his imprisonment, Falia believes Euron will make her his salt wife and her sons will come before Euron's other baseborn children. Aeron warns her to flee but she refuses.
Aeron is later taken to a captured island castle located near the Arbor. Several of Euron's lieutenants feast as a dozen bodies of the castle's former occupants hang from the rafters. All take turns mocking Aeron before taking him back to the Silence, where Euron commands that his brother to be tied to the prow of the ship as Euron sails to meet the Redwyne fleet. A pregnant and naked Falia is tied next to him, her tongue cut out.
What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.
– Aeron to Theon Greyjoy
Young I was, and vain, but the sea washed my follies and my vanities away. That man drowned, nephew. His lungs filled with seawater, and the fish ate the scales off his eyes. When I rose again, I saw clearly.
– Aeron to Theon Greyjoy
Balon: The lords are gone south with the pup. Those who remained behind are the cravens, old men, and green boys. They will yield or fall, one by one. Winterfell may defy us for a year, but what of it? The rest shall be ours, forest and field and hall, and we shall make the folk our thralls and salt wives.
Aeron: And the waters of wrath will rise high, and the Drowned God will spread his dominion across the green lands!
Victarion: What is dead can never die.
- Balon Greyjoy, Aeron, and Victarion Greyjoy
Aeron Greyjoy was a prophet. He did not suffer petty lords ordering him about like some thrall.
- thoughts of Aeron
The sound of a door opening, the scream of a rusted iron hinge. Euron has come again.
- memory of Aeron
The god took me deep beneath the waves and drowned the worthless thing I was. When he cast me forth again he gave me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a voice to spread his word, that I might be his prophet and teach his truth to those who have forgotten. I was not made to sit upon the Seastone Chair ... no more than Euron Crow's Eye. For I have heard the god, who says, No godless man may sit my Seastone Chair!
- Aeron to his drowned men
I was reborn from the sea, a harder man and stronger.
- thoughts of Aeron
I have my voice, and the god is with me. Mine is the strength of the sea, a strength the Crow's Eye cannot hope to withstand. The waves may break upon the mountain, yet still they come, wave upon wave, and in the end only pebbles remain where once the mountain stood. And soon even the pebbles are swept away, to be ground beneath the sea for all eternity.
– Aeron to Victarion Greyjoy
The ironborn shall be waves ... Not the great and lordly, but the simple folk, tillers of the soil and fishers of the sea. The captains and the kings raised Euron up, but the common folk shall tear him down. I shall go to Great Wyk, to Harlaw, to Orkmont, to Pyke itself. In every town and village shall my words be heard. No godless man may sit the Seastone Chair!
– Aeron to Victarion Greyjoy
Gods, he has grown grim.
– thoughts of Theon Greyjoy
You ought to have no trouble catching our uncles. One is drunk on seawater, after all, and the other is a great grey bullock so dim he'll probably get lost.
– Asha Greyjoy, to Theon Greyjoy
Rodrik: Aeron Damphair has called a kingsmoot.
Asha: The Drowned God must have shoved a pricklefish up Uncle Aeron's arse. A kingsmoot? Is this some jape, or does he mean it truly?
Rodrik: The Damphair has not japed since he was drowned.
- Rodrik Harlaw and Asha Greyjoy
Balon was mad, Aeron is madder, and Euron is maddest of them all.
– Baelor Blacktyde to Victarion Greyjoy
I am more devout than even you, Aeron. Perhaps it should be you who kneels to me for blessing.
- Euron Greyjoy to Aeron
I think the Damphair's dead. I think the Crow's Eye slit his throat for him. Ironmaker's search is just to make us believe the priest escaped. Euron is afraid to be seen as a kinslayer.
- Tristifer Botley to Asha Greyjoy