Lịch sử gia tộc Targaryen - những vị vua của Westeros | Hải Stark

Key Concepts:

• House Targaryen: A Valyrian noble house that ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros for nearly 300 years.
• Dragonstone: The ancestral seat of House Targaryen.
• Valyrian Freehold: A vast empire in Essos that collapsed due to a cataclysm.
• Conquest of Aegon: Aegon Targaryen's campaign to unite the Seven Kingdoms.
• Iron Throne: The seat of power in the Seven Kingdoms, forged from the swords of defeated enemies.
• Dragonlords: Houses in Valyria that possessed dragons and ruled over vast territories.
• "Fire and Blood": The motto of House Targaryen.
• "Blood of the Dragon": Refers to the Valyrian heritage and dragon-riding lineage of House Targaryen.
• Inbreeding: A common practice among Targaryens, believed to contribute to their distinctive traits and occasional madness.
• Greenseers: Individuals with the ability to see the past, present, and future, often associated with the Children of the Forest.
• Dance of the Dragons: A brutal civil war between two factions of House Targaryen over succession.
• Blackfyre Rebellions: A series of uprisings by the Blackfyre pretenders, claiming descent from a Targaryen bastard.
• The Ninepenny Kings: A group of mercenaries and exiles who invaded Westeros.
• Robert's Rebellion: A war that overthrew the Targaryen dynasty.
• Daenerys Targaryen: The last known Targaryen claimant to the Iron Throne, who hatched three dragons.

House Targaryen: Origins and Rule

House Targaryen, originating from Dragonstone, was a prominent Valyrian house that once ruled all Seven Kingdoms. Their sigil is a red three-headed dragon breathing fire on a black field, and their motto is "Fire and Blood." They became the first royal house of the Seven Kingdoms, establishing their seat in King's Landing.

Migration from Valyria and Survival

The Targaryens left the Valyrian Freehold 12 years before its destruction, making them the sole surviving dragonlord house after the cataclysm. They resided on Dragonstone for over a century until Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, launched their conquest in 2 BC (Before Conquest). During Aegon's conquest, they established the fortress of Aegonfort at the site that would become King's Landing. This fortress was later replaced by the Red Keep, serving as their ancestral seat and the location of the Iron Throne. Dragonstone was designated for the heir to the throne, holding the title of Prince/Princess of Dragonstone. Later, House Targaryen built a summer palace, Summerhall, for their younger children, who would hold the title of Prince/Princess of Summerhall. House Targaryen ruled as Kings of the Andals, the First Men, and the Seven Kingdoms for nearly 300 years, with 17 Targaryen kings sitting the Iron Throne. Their reign ended with the death of King Aerys II Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion, and House Baratheon replaced them. The two surviving children of King Aerys II, Viserys and Daenerys, fled Westeros and lived in exile in the Free Cities.

Cultural and Physical Characteristics

The term "Blood of the Dragon" refers to House Targaryen's Valyrian lineage and their history as one of the 40 dragonlord houses in Valyria. Typical Targaryens have pale skin, silver, platinum, or golden hair, and violet or pale blue eyes. They possess a slightly higher tolerance for heat but are not immune to fire. A notable trait is their frequent prophetic dreams, a tradition dating back to Daenerys Targaryen's dreams before leaving Valyria in 114 BC. Members of other branches, like the Blackfyres, also experienced such dreams. Targaryens are often perceived as prone to madness, attributed to their tradition of incestuous marriages. As King Jaehaerys II Targaryen famously said, "Madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin to decide whether he will be a hero or a monster."

Customs and Heraldry

The Targaryen motto is "Fire and Blood," and their sigil is a red three-headed dragon breathing fire on a black field, symbolizing Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys. Variations of the sigil were used by some cadet branches. For instance, Maekar I Targaryen, before becoming king, used a sigil of four three-headed dragons on a black field. His son, Prince Aelor Targaryen, altered the colors of the dragons to orange, yellow, and red, with golden fire. King Aegon II Targaryen used a golden dragon as his sigil. Targaryens primarily wore black armor. Despite establishing their capital in King's Landing, their ancestral seat, Dragonstone, remained significant and was traditionally held by the heir to the Iron Throne, along with the title Prince/Princess of Dragonstone. The summer palace, Summerhall, built in 188 AC (After Conquest), was granted to younger sons with the title Prince/Princess of Summerhall.

Religion and Burial Practices

House Targaryen initially worshipped the Old Gods of Valyria but abandoned this religion shortly before Aegon's Conquest, adopting the Faith of the Seven, the dominant religion in Westeros. However, they retained Valyrian customs, including incestuous marriages (between siblings, uncles/nieces, etc.), which set them apart from other houses. Targaryens practiced cremation, with the ashes of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his queen, Alysanne, being interred together beneath the Red Keep.

Dragons and Their Demise

As one of the 40 dragonlord houses of Valyria, House Targaryen possessed dragons and had a close relationship with them. Aenar Targaryen brought five dragons to Dragonstone. Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters used dragons in their conquest. House Targaryen continued to own and ride dragons for about a century and a half after Aegon's Conquest. However, the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons resulted in the deaths of most of their dragons, and disease further depleted their numbers. The last Targaryen dragon was a weak, deformed creature that died in 153 AC during the reign of Aegon III Targaryen, the "Dragonbane." Targaryen dragons were housed in the Dragonpit, a large domed building in King's Landing, built during the reign of King Maegor I Targaryen. However, not all dragons had riders; wild and riderless dragons lived on Dragonstone. Traditionally, a Targaryen child was gifted a dragon egg, a practice that continued even after dragons became extinct. The last recorded recipient of a dragon egg was Prince Maekar during the reign of King Jon II. It is unknown if the tradition continued afterward, as House Targaryen possessed dragon eggs until the reign of King Aerys II, the last king. Since the death of the last dragon, many Targaryens, including Aegon III, his brother Viserys I, Aegon V, and Aerys II, attempted to hatch dragon eggs without success.

History of House Targaryen

Origins and Migration from Dragonstone:

House Targaryen was one of the 40 dragonlord houses of the Valyrian Freehold. They were not initially a powerful house. Daenys Targaryen, known as "Daenerys the Dreamer," foresaw the doom of Valyria. Her father, Aenar Targaryen, sold his possessions in Valyria, gathered his family, slaves, wealth, and five dragons, including Balerion, and moved to Dragonstone, a western outpost of the empire. They settled in the castle of Dragonstone in 114 BC. Twelve years later, the Doom of Valyria occurred, destroying the peninsula and leaving House Targaryen as the sole surviving dragonlord house. In the century following the Doom, four of their dragons died, leaving only Balerion, with two new dragons, Vhagar and Meraxes, hatching. The subsequent century, known as the Century of Blood, was marked by constant wars in Essos as various powers tried to assert control over former Valyrian territories. Most Free Cities rebelled against Volantis. By the end of this century, Lord Aegon Targaryen, a dragonrider of Balerion, proposed an alliance with Pentos and Tyrosh. Aegon and Balerion flew to Pentos, met the prince, and then burned the Valyrian fleet at Tyrosh. With Volantis's power diminished, Aegon returned to Dragonstone to focus on Westeros, a land he had always been interested in.

The Conquest of Aegon:

Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, intended to unite the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. In 2 BC, a century after the Doom of Valyria, he began his conquest with his two sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys. All three were dragonriders. The conquest lasted approximately two years, beginning with Aegon's landing at the Blackwater Bay with a small army and concluding with his coronation as king by the High Septon. He united six of the seven kingdoms, with Dorne remaining unconquered. During the war, the Gardener dynasty of the Reach and the Ironborn rulers of the Iron Islands and Riverlands were destroyed. The Durrandon dynasty of the Stormlands survived through the female line. From the swords of the defeated, Aegon forged the Iron Throne and placed it at his landing site. The surrounding settlement became King's Landing, the new capital. Dragonstone remained Targaryen property and one of Aegon's favored locations. The lands around King's Landing later became known as the Crownlands. In 4 AC, Aegon's conquest continued with the First Dornish War, aiming to force the Dornish to submit. This was a bloody conflict, with Queen Rhaenys and her dragon Meraxes being killed at Hellholt in 10 AC. Assassination attempts on Aegon led to the formation of the Kingsguard, knights sworn to protect the king and royal family. The First Dornish War ended in 13 AC when Prince Nymor of Dorne sent his daughter, Princess Deria, to King's Landing with a letter and the skull of Meraxes. The contents of the letter remain unknown, but Aegon agreed to end the war the following day.

Aegon's Children and Grandchildren:

Aegon I Targaryen died in 37 AC, succeeded by his eldest son, Aenys I Targaryen. Aenys II immediately faced four rebellions stemming from discontent, ambition, vengeance, and the fact that Aenys and his brother Maegor were born from incestuous marriages. A bandit named the Red Harren, claiming to be Harren the Black's grandson, seized Harrenhal and killed Lord Gargon of Harrenhal. In the Vale, Lord Ronnel Arryn and his family were held hostage by his brother, Jonos Arryn. On the Iron Islands, a man calling himself the "Sea-Wolf" Lodos, son of the Drowned God, claimed kingship. In Dorne, another claimant, "King of the Mountains," gathered 30,000 followers against House Targaryen. However, the rebels were quickly defeated by loyal lords and the king's brother, Maegor. Lord Goren Greyjoy killed the Sea-Wolf and sent his head to King Aenys. Lord Royce of Runestone defeated Jonos Arryn's supporters but at the cost of Lord Ronnel and his family's lives, as they were pushed from the Moon Door in the Eyrie. Prince Maegor, a new dragonrider of Balerion, flew to the Eyrie and executed Jonos and his supporters. Meanwhile, King Ken's forces were defeated by Lord Orys Baratheon, Lord Durran of Storm's End, Lady Cassena, and Lord Triston. The final rebel, Harren the Red, was captured by the Hand of the King, Lord Alys Stokeworth, who died at Harren's hand. Harren was killed shortly after. With the Hand of the King deceased, Aenys appointed his brother Maegor as the new Hand.

The Faith Militant Uprising and Maegor's Reign:

Aenys's next challenge was the Faith Militant. Although House Targaryen had followed the Faith of the Seven before the conquest, they continued their Valyrian customs, with Aegon marrying his sisters and continuing the tradition of incestuous marriages. This, along with his two wives, was considered a grave sin by the Faith, which forbade incest and polygamy. While the High Septon treated the Faith of the Seven cautiously, he never declared Aegon's marriages legal, nor did they openly oppose the king. However, when Queen Visenya wished to betroth her son Maegor to Aenys's daughter, Princess Rhaena, in 23 AC, the High Septon objected. Maegor later married the High Septon's granddaughter, Ceryse Hightower. After six years of marriage, Maegor remained childless. In 39 AC, Aenys's sixth child was born. Maegor took a second wife, Alysanne Hightower, which greatly angered the Faith. Aenys gave Maegor two choices: abandon Alysanne or be exiled. Maegor chose exile and left Westeros for Pentos. The Faith remained dissatisfied. While they did not object to Aenys marrying his sister Alysanne Velaryon in 22 AC, trouble arose in 41 AC when he allowed his eldest daughter, Rhaena, to marry his son and heir, Prince Aegon. This led to the Faith Militant Uprising. Aenys left the capital for Dragonstone, fell ill, and died in 42 AC. Queen Visenya immediately recalled Maegor to the throne. Maegor recaptured King's Landing from the Faith Militant, but the rebellions continued throughout his reign. He also fought against Aenys's successor, Aegon, and killed his nephew and dragon, Quicksilver, in 43 AC. Maegor's reign was brutal. He completed the Red Keep, begun in 35 AC, but then had all the builders killed. Upon returning from exile, Maegor took a new wife, Tyana, but still remained childless. To secure his succession against Jaehaerys, Aenys's only surviving son, Maegor married three more times, including Rhea Targaryen, Aenys's eldest daughter. He named his daughter's son as his heir until he had a child of his own. However, support for Jaehaerys grew, and support for Maegor dwindled. When Maegor died mysteriously in 48 AC, Jaehaerys was proclaimed king. He would become a wise king known as the "Conciliator."

Jaehaerys I Targaryen: The Conciliator

King Jaehaerys I ruled for 55 years, restoring peace and reconciling with the Faith of the Seven. However, he faced succession issues when his son, Prince Aenys, died. Jaehaerys had to choose between his daughter, Princess Rhaenys, and his brother, Prince Baelon. He chose Baelon, but Baelon died in 101 AC, forcing the king to convene the Great Council. Baelon's son was then chosen as heir. Jaehaerys I died in 103 AC, and his grandson, Viserys I, ascended the throne.

The Doom of the Dragons and the Dance of the Dragons:

King Viserys I Targaryen faced challenges. His first wife, Aemma Arryn, married in 93 AC, bore him a single daughter, Princess Rhaenyra. Queen Aemma died giving birth to Prince Baelon in 105 AC. The king officially declared Rhaenyra his heir and demanded oaths of fealty from the lords of the realm. However, King Viserys remarried in 106 AC to Alicent Hightower. He then had four more children: three sons, Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron, and one daughter, Helaena. Despite this, he remained firm in Rhaenyra's succession. The rivalry between Rhaenyra and Alicent divided the court into two factions: the Blacks (supporting Rhaenyra) and the Greens (supporting Alicent). Alicent's three sons disliked Rhaenyra's three eldest sons, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, as they were rumored to be bastards of Ser Harwin Strong. Thus, Alicent's sons felt their rightful claim to the Iron Throne was stolen. Rhaenyra and her uncle, Prince Daemon, brother of Viserys I, married into the Velaryon family and had children. When Rhaenyra's husband, Laenor, and Daemon's wife, Laena, both died in 120 AC, Rhaenyra and Daemon married, having three more children: Aegon, Viserys, and Senya. Meanwhile, Viserys's children, Aegon and Helaena, were married and had three children: Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and Maelor. When Viserys I died in 129 AC, Queen Alicent Hightower and Ser Criston Cole, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, disregarded the king's will. They crowned Aegon II, his son, instead of informing Rhaenyra, who was on Dragonstone. Unwilling to yield, Rhaenyra declared war on her brother, and a civil war erupted, dividing the realm. This war became known as the Dance of the Dragons. Tens of thousands died, as did most of the Targaryen dragons. Rhaenyra herself was eventually devoured by Aegon II's dragon, Sunfyre, when captured in late 130 AC. Her only son with her, Aegon, was imprisoned. Her other children died in the war, except for Viserys, who was taken hostage and sent to Essos, though this was unknown to many. The war continued for another half-year. Aegon II was forced to betroth his daughter, Jaehaera, to his nephew Aegon, Rhaenyra's son, and named him heir. However, the king intended to remarry, but in mid-131 AC, he was poisoned by his councilors to prevent further conflict. The war ended when Aegon III, only 11 years old, ascended the Iron Throne. For the next five years, regents ruled in his stead. His brother, Viserys, returned to Westeros with his wife, Larra Rogare, and later served as Hand of the King to Aegon III. They ruled together until Aegon III's death. The Targaryen dragons were severely depleted after the war, and the last one died in 153 AC. Viserys persuaded his brother to allow nine sorcerers to attempt to hatch dragon eggs, but they failed. Aegon III died in 157 AC, succeeded by his eldest son, Daeron II, from his second marriage to Daenerys Velaryon. His first marriage to Jaehaera Targaryen ended abruptly with her death in 133 AC. Daeron II was only 14 years old when he ascended, but his uncle Viserys chose not to appoint a regent and continued to serve as Hand of the King. Jon I had great ambitions and decided to complete his ancestor's conquest of Dorne within a year. In 158 AC, the Prince of Dorne and many lords submitted to Daeron at Sunspear. After pacifying Dorne, Daeron returned to King's Landing with 14 Dornish noble hostages, leaving Lord Harventarel to govern the South. However, the conquest of Dorne was short-lived. The Dornish began to rebel, and despite Lord Tyrell's efforts, resistance persisted. After Daeron was assassinated at Sunspear, all of Dorne revolted and regained independence within two weeks. Daeron returned to Dorne in 160 AC, and when the Dornish came to discuss peace terms, they ambushed King Daeron and his retinue. Despite Daeron carrying a peace offering, one of his Kingsguard surrendered, and another, his cousin Prince Amon, a dragonrider, was captured. Three other Kingsguard knights died defending the king, but to no avail, as Daeron I was killed on the spot. His reign lasted only four years but was bloody. It is said Daeron lost 10,000 men to conquer Dorne and another 40,000 to hold it. Daeron I died at 18, unmarried and childless, so his brother Baelor succeeded him. After Daeron I's death, the Hand of the King, Lyonel Baratheon, proposed executing all the Dornish hostages. However, the new king, Baelor I, decided to release them all. He walked from King's Landing to Sunspear to escort the hostages home and personally met with the Prince of Dorne. They agreed to a pact: Baelor would betroth his cousin Daeron, Viserys's grandson, to the Prince of Dorne's eldest daughter, Princess Myriah Martell. On the way back, Baelor rescued his cousin Amon but was bitten by many venomous snakes. Upon returning to King's Landing, Baelor persuaded the High Septon to annul his marriage to his sister, Daena, as it was never consummated. He then sent Daena and his two other sisters, Rhaena and Elaena, to the Maidenvault to preserve their virginity. Baelor I was devoutly religious and even took vows as a septon, promising never to have children. His decrees increasingly favored the Faith, displeasing the nobility. Baelor even commissioned a new sept, which was completed after his death. Towards the end of his reign, the king fasted more frequently. When Daena, who had repeatedly attempted to escape the Maidenvault, gave birth to Prince Daemon Waters, Baelor began a 40-day fast in late 170 AC, despite nearly dying from a similar fast years earlier. He collapsed on the 41st day and died shortly after in 171 AC. As the next in line, Prince Viserys, who was Hand of the King to Daeron I and Baelor I, ascended the throne as Viserys II. Though he ruled for less than a year, he enacted reforms, built a new mint, promoted trade, and revised laws established by Jaehaerys I.

The Blackfyre Rebellions:

After King Viserys II's death, his son ascended as Aegon IV. Rumors suggested the new king had a hand in his father's sudden death. Aegon IV's reign was corrupt; he took from nobles whenever he pleased. He had a wife, his sister Naerys, married in 153 AC, but they were never close due to their differences. When their first son, Daeron, was born in 153 AC, the Grand Maester warned that due to Naerys's frail health, further pregnancies could kill her. Aegon disregarded this, and Naerys had three more pregnancies, with only one surviving: Daeron, born in 172 AC. Years later, Naerys became pregnant again and died in childbirth. Aegon was a womanizer even before becoming king, but he only acknowledged his children with nine official mistresses, with one exception: his son with his cousin Daena, a boy named Daemon. In 182 AC, the king officially recognized Daemon as his son and even bestowed upon him the sword Blackfyre, a symbol of kingship. Many worried the king intended to pass the throne to Daemon, which became a root cause of the First Blackfyre Rebellion. Daemon, after acquiring the sword, adopted the surname Blackfyre. The relationship between Aegon and his legitimate son, Daeron, was fraught with conflict. As Daeron grew older, he and his father frequently argued, and in the later years of Aegon IV's reign, Daemon was a major thorn in the king's side. When King Aegon IV planned to invade Dorne in 174 AC, the first rumors of Daeron being the bastard son of Queen Naerys and her brother Daemon began to surface. Although Daemon defeated Ser Morril Haskew, who accused Naerys of adultery, in a trial by combat, the rumors persisted. Some believed Aegon IV himself spread these rumors, though he denied it. After both Daemon and Naerys died, Aegon grew increasingly frustrated with Daeron but never disinherited him. Finally, on his deathbed in 184 AC, Aegon IV legitimized all his bastard sons. Although his successor, Daeron II, could not revoke this, he sought to foster closer relationships with his half-brothers. Daeron II began his reign by negotiating with his brother-in-law, Maron, the ruler of Dorne. The king arranged a marriage between his sister Daenerys and Maron in 187 AC. After the wedding, Dorne officially became part of the kingdom and swore fealty to the Iron Throne. However, new troubles arose due to disagreements between the regions and Dorne, especially as Dorne gained more influence in court. More lords wished to return to a time when Dorne was an enemy, not a political rival. These lords rallied behind Daemon Blackfyre, a tall, strong warrior with a Valyrian appearance: dark purple eyes and silver-gold hair falling to his shoulders. Daemon was described as having a beauty surpassing ordinary mortals, like a demigod in mortal form. Over the years, these words turned into action, and Daemon finally decided to rebel for the Iron Throne. The First Blackfyre Rebellion broke out in 196 AC, lasting nearly a year and ending with the Battle of the Redgrass. Daemon and his two eldest sons, Aegon and Aemon Blackfyre, died in battle. Meanwhile, Aegor Rivers, another bastard son of Aegon IV, fled with Daemon's remaining sons, carrying the sword Blackfyre. Aegor remained in Tyrosh for a time with Daemon's family until he founded the Golden Company in 212 AC.

The Spring Sickness and the Great Spring:

The remaining years of Daeron II's reign were peaceful. However, in 209 AC, a succession crisis arose when his heir, Prince Baelor, who was also Hand of the King, died fighting in a seven-on-seven melee to defend a hedge knight named Dunkin. Baelor's fatal head wound was reportedly from his brother, Prince Mor, who fought on the opposing side, which included Baelor's two eldest sons, Daeron and Aerion. After Baelor's cremation, Aegon IV exiled his son Aerion and allowed his youngest son, Maekar, nicknamed "Egg," to accompany Dunkin as a squire to learn humility and honor. Shortly after Baelor's death, the Spring Sickness struck, killing thousands, including King Daeron II and Baelor's two sons, Valarr and Matarys. Thus, the king's fourth son, Aerys, ascended the throne in 209 AC. Immediately after his coronation, a two-year drought began. The Spring Sickness severely affected the cities of the Seven Kingdoms, especially King's Landing. Most hostages from the lords who rebelled in the First Blackfyre Rebellion died from the plague, igniting new rebellions. Lord Gormon Peake persuaded Daemon II Blackfyre to cross the Narrow Sea and reclaim the throne. However, the Second Blackfyre Rebellion was short-lived, as Daemon II Blackfyre was captured in the White Walls before he could gather an army. He was taken hostage in King's Landing but died a few years later. Aegor Rivers then proclaimed Aegon I Blackfyre the new king. In 219 AC, Aegon I Blackfyre and Aegor Rivers crossed the Narrow Sea with the Golden Company to invade Westeros. However, their army was defeated, Aegon surrendered and was beheaded. Aegor was captured and allowed to join the Night's Watch. He escaped, returned to Tyrosh, and proclaimed his son Daemon king, thus Daemon III.

Aerys II Targaryen and the End of the Dynasty:

Regarding succession, besides the Blackfyre Rebellions, Aerys II's reign faced other issues: plague, drought, declining trade, and rising banditry, particularly the raids of the Kingswood Brotherhood. Aerys II also had succession problems. Before ascending, Aerys married Alinor Penrose, but the marriage was never consummated. The king refused to take another wife, and as he had no children, he initially named his brother Rhaegel as heir. But after Rhaegel died in 215 AC, Rhaegel's son, Aelor, was named Prince of Dragonstone. Aelor died in 217 AC, and then Aerys II's brother, Maekar, became the new heir. Maekar ascended the throne after Aerys II's death in 221 AC and ruled for 12 years. Maekar died leading an attack on Starfall during the Pike Rebellion in 233 AC, and the succession issue arose again. Maekar I's eldest son, Prince Aerys, had died earlier, leaving only a mentally challenged daughter, Vaella. Maekar I's second son, Prince Aerion, died in 232 AC after drinking a cup of wildfire. Aerion had only one son, Maegor, who was born recently. The king's third son, Aemon, had been sent to the Citadel to study as a maester by King Jaehaerys II when he was young. The king's youngest son, Daeron, was disliked by many lords for interfering in their affairs. A Great Council was convened by the Hand of the King, Brynden Rivers. The council bypassed Aerys's daughter and Aerion's son. As many disliked Maekar's youngest son, they secretly crowned Aegon initially. However, Aegon refused, and the crown was returned to Aenys, King Aegon V.

Aegon V Targaryen's Reign:

Aegon V's reign began with turmoil. Before the Great Council, an anonymous letter was sent to Aenys Blackfyre, the fifth son of Daemon I Blackfyre, inviting him to King's Landing to have a say in the succession and guaranteeing his safety. However, upon arriving in King's Landing, Aenys was arrested and immediately beheaded. The letter was from Brynden Rivers. After ascending, Aegon V was forced to put Brynden on trial for betraying his promise and violating guest right. Brynden was spared but forced to join the Night's Watch. The king's brother, Aemon, also voluntarily joined to prevent anyone from using him to cause trouble for his brother. When winter ended in 236 AC, Daemon III Blackfyre and Aegor Rivers crossed the Narrow Sea again, initiating the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion. However, few supported them, and Daemon III died in battle at the hands of Aegon V's Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall. Aegon's reign continued to face resistance from lords unhappy with his policies or distrustful and resentful of the king due to his association with commoners, making Aegon seem more like a commoner than a noble. Aegon's reign also began during a six-year winter that caused widespread famine in the North. To aid the people, Aegon V ordered the transfer of much relief food to the North. However, many lords were displeased that he cared so much for commoners. Aegon V even considered abolishing the power of the lords and implementing reforms to protect commoners' rights. This led to significant opposition, even open defiance. Opposition also came from his own children. Aegon V had five children: Duncan, Jaehaerys, Shira, Jon, and Rhaelle. The four eldest were betrothed to powerful houses: Baratheon, Tully, Tyrell, and Redwyne. However, in 239 AC, Prince Duncan broke his betrothal to Lord Lyonel Baratheon's daughter to marry a commoner named Jenny of Stone. He even renounced his claim to the throne to be with the woman he loved. Enraged, Lord Lyonel Baratheon declared the Stormlands independent. Only after being defeated by Ser Duncan the Tall, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, in a trial by combat, and after Aegon V betrothed his daughter Rhaelle to the heir of the Stormlands, Olyvar Baratheon, did Lord Lyonel agree to end the secession. Aegon V's other children, except for Rhaelle, also broke their betrothals. While Jaehaerys and Shira secretly married in 240 AC, Jon chose not to marry. Towards the end of his reign, Aegon V began dreaming of reviving dragons to restore House Targaryen's power. Many kings had attempted this before, trying to hatch dragon eggs at Summerhall. It was there that Aegon V gathered his family to celebrate the birth of his great-grandchild in 259 AC. However, a great tragedy occurred when a terrible fire at Summerhall claimed the lives of Aegon V, Prince Duncan, and many others. Although survivors did not speak of the tragedy, surviving records from Archmaester Gyldayn mention seven dragon eggs and fire mages. As Summerhall burned and collapsed, Princess Rhaella Targaryen, the only daughter of Prince Jaehaerys, gave birth to a healthy son named Aegon.

The War of the Ninepenny Kings:

The second son of Aegon V, Jaehaerys II Targaryen, succeeded him in 259 AC after the Summerhall tragedy. He immediately faced a threat from the east, as the Ninepenny Kings conquered Tyrosh and the Stepstones. The Ninepenny Kings were a group formed in the disputed lands in 258 AC by nine outlaws, exiles, pirates, and sellswords who swore to aid each other in conquering kingdoms. One of them was Maekar I Blackfyre, nicknamed "the Monstrous," leader of the Golden Company. To counter the "Ninepenny Kings," a name Prince Duncan had coined earlier, King Jaehaerys II dispatched an army to the Stepstones, including the heir, Prince Aerys, and the Hand of the King, Lord Ormund Baratheon. The war lasted nearly a year and ended when a young knight, Ser Barristan Selmy, killed Maekar, ending the male line of House Blackfyre after five generations. As the remaining Ninepenny Kings were not interested in Westeros, this victory ended the war. King Jaehaerys II ruled for nearly three years and died of illness in 262 AC. The king's successor was Aerys, King Aerys II Targaryen.

The Reign of Aerys II Targaryen and the Fall of the Dynasty:

Despite a promising start, King Aerys II's reign would end the Targaryen dynasty. Upon his coronation, Aerys II replaced all his father's courtiers with younger men and appointed his friend, Ser Tywin Lannister, only 20 years old, as Hand of the King. Although Aerys II seemed to have many plans for the kingdom, he was fickle. Tywin served Aerys II for 19 years, and their relationship grew distant and strained. Aerys became increasingly jealous of Tywin and even began to humiliate him. The deaths of several of his children further drove Aerys to madness. In 276 AC, after three miscarriages, two children died shortly after birth, and three others died in infancy, Queen Rhaella finally gave birth to a healthy son, Prince Viserys. To celebrate, Tywin organized a tournament at the Lannister stronghold to honor the newborn prince, which both Aerys II and Rhaella attended. There, Tywin proposed to betroth his 10-year-old daughter, Cersei, to Prince Viserys, the king's eldest son, and have Jaime serve as his squire. But Aerys refused, stating he did not want his son to marry a servant girl. Aerys's jealousy of Tywin intensified when the king heard whispers suggesting Tywin was the true ruler of the kingdom. The king grew suspicious of all his courtiers, and it was this suspicion that led Aerys II to try and personally deal with the defiance of House Jace. Aerys II traveled to Duskendale with only a small retinue and was immediately captured. This event, later known as the "Duskendale Scandal," lasted for half a year, during which the king was imprisoned while Lord Tywin besieged the city. Although eventually freed, the king's remaining sanity vanished. He became extremely paranoid, even suspecting his own son, Prince Rhaegar, and did not leave the Red Keep for four years. Tensions escalated between Aerys II and Rhaegar, especially after Rhaegar, with his newlywed wife Elia Martell, left King's Landing to live on Dragonstone in 280 AC. In 281 AC, Aerys appointed Tywin Lannister's heir, Ser Jaime Lannister, as a Kingsguard, indirectly making the heir to Tywin's legacy Tyrion, a dwarf he despised. Tywin then resigned as Hand of the King and left King's Landing. Later, believing Rhaegar intended to use a tournament at Harrenhal as a pretext to gather lords and depose him, Aerys II also attended the tournament. Prince Rhaegar was the ultimate victor, but when he ignored his wife and honored Lyanna Stark, who was betrothed to Robert Baratheon, as the Queen of Love and Beauty, everyone was displeased and angered. The following year, Rhaegar left his wife and newborn son Aegon on Dragonstone to go somewhere. He was last seen in the Riverlands with Lyanna Stark. Her brother, Brandon, immediately went to King's Landing and threatened Rhaegar. King Aerys II had Brandon arrested and summoned a trial. However, Aerys then executed both, demanding the death of Lord Robert Baratheon and Lyanna's second brother, Eddard Stark. Their guardian, Lord Jon Arryn, refused to comply and raised his banners, sparking a civil war. Towards the end of the war, Lord Robert Baratheon declared his intention to claim the Iron Throne. Among the three rebel commanders, Robert had the best chance of succession because his maternal grandmother was Princess Rhaella Targaryen, the youngest daughter of King Aegon V Targaryen. Prince Rhaegar later returned from the South and took command of the royal army, fighting in the Battle of the Trident, where he was killed by Robert. Aerys II then sent for Prince Viserys and the pregnant Queen Rhaella to be taken to Dragonstone, leaving Elia and Rhaegar's daughter in King's Landing as hostages. Lord Tywin then unexpectedly appeared at the gates of King's Landing with his army, hours before the rebel army arrived, despite remaining neutral for most of the war. Posing as loyal to House Targaryen, the Lannister army infiltrated the city and immediately began to sack it. Tywin's men found and killed Queen Elia, Princess Rhaenys, and Prince Aegon. Meanwhile, King Aerys II was killed by the last remaining Kingsguard, Ser Jaime Lannister. The war was nearly over when the last loyal Targaryen forces on land surrendered. However, on Dragonstone, the last members of House Targaryen remained. Queen Dowager Rhaella, acting as regent, proclaimed her son Viserys king. But after giving birth to Princess Daenerys in 284 AC during a great storm that destroyed the last remaining Targaryen fleet, with the enemy army approaching and the garrison unwilling to fight, Ser William Derry smuggled Viserys and Daenerys to Bravos, where they remained until his death in 289 AC. Afterward, Viserys and Daenerys wandered through the Free Cities for years, forced to sell their remaining possessions until they were taken in by Magister Illyrio Mopatis in 297 AC. Thus, with the death of King Aerys II Targaryen and the exile of Prince Viserys, the 283-year reign of House Targaryen came to an end.

House Targaryen in A Song of Ice and Fire and A Game of Thrones

Across the Narrow Sea, the surviving son of Aerys II, Viserys III, proclaimed himself king. He and his sister, Daenerys Targaryen, wandered the Free Cities for years seeking aid to reclaim their throne. They were taken in by Illyrio Mopatis, a magister of Pentos. With Illyrio's help, Viserys agreed to betroth Daenerys, a 13-year-old girl, to Khal Drogo, a Dothraki warlord, in exchange for Drogo's army to help Viserys reclaim the throne. Daenerys married Drogo and joined the Khalasar on their journey across the Dothraki Sea. During this time, Daenerys gradually grew stronger and resisted her brother. Viserys's behavior made him a laughingstock among the Dothraki. After threatening Daenerys's life and the child she was carrying, and drawing his sword in the sacred city of Vaes Dothrak, Viserys was killed by Khal Drogo by pouring molten gold on his head. King Robert I Baratheon promised a lordship to anyone who killed Daenerys and her unborn child, or Viserys. After Daenerys escaped an assassination attempt with poisoned wine, Drogo vowed to invade the Seven Kingdoms. When Drogo was wounded in a battle with another Khal, Daenerys ordered her new slave, Mirri Maz Duur, to heal him, but to no avail. Daenerys attempted to resurrect her husband using blood magic, but this caused division within the Khalasar and led to a brawl. Daenerys later gave birth, and upon waking, found her child was a deformed creature. Khal Drogo's Khalasar had dissolved, and Drogo himself was in a vegetative state. Daenerys had Mirri arrested and used a pillow to end Drogo's suffering. She ordered a funeral pyre for three dragon eggs and tied Mirri to it. As the fire blazed, Daenerys walked into the pyre, and the next morning, when the fire died down, she was unharmed, with three newly hatched dragons beside her – the first dragons in the world in over a century and a half.

At the Wall, Ser Alliser Thorne, brother of King Aegon V, an old man of a hundred years, still served at Castle Black. Alliser intervened when a new recruit, Jon Snow, was being bullied by another recruit, Samwell Tarly. He offered to take Sam as his personal servant so he wouldn't have to continue training, as he would be trained to death. Alliser later advised Jon when he was torn between loyalty to his family and duty to the Night's Watch, telling him he himself had been torn three times, the most recent being when he heard of his family's deaths.

A Clash of Kings:

Daenerys named her three dragons Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, after her husband and brothers. She led the remnants of her Khalasar across the Red Waste and was allowed entry into the city. There, she stayed in the residence of a merchant prince, Illyrio Mopatis. Daenerys also heard news of King Robert I Baratheon's death and the ongoing war in Westeros. After refusing the help of legitimate claimants, Daenerys resolved to seek help from sorcerers. She drank a liquid called "Milk of the Poppy" and entered the House of the Undying, where she encountered the warlocks and saw many visions. The warlocks told her cryptic information before attempting to absorb her. Khal Drogo intervened and saved her by breathing fire on them. This forced Daenerys to leave Qarth and find a way to travel by sea. She was later rescued from an assassination attempt by two men, Arstan White and Belwas, who claimed to be sent by Magister Illyrio with three ships to take her and her people to Pentos.

A Storm of Swords:

On the way to Pentos, Daenerys was persuaded by Jorah Mormont to change course to Astapor, one of the slave cities in Slaver's Bay. There, she acquired an army of 8,600 Unsullied and 5,000 trainees. She used this army to capture Astapor and then began her campaign in Slaver's Bay. She freed the slaves and invited them to join her army. Daenerys marched on Yunkai, where she faced the city's soldiers and two mercenary companies: the Second Sons and the Stormcrows. Daenerys defeated the Yunkai soldiers, while the Stormcrows switched sides and joined her. The Second Sons also chose a new leader and joined Daenerys. She freed the slaves in Yunkai and marched on Meereen. Daenerys captured Meereen with the help of the slaves in the city. She then learned that the council she had established to rule Astapor had been replaced by a man named Cleon, who declared himself king of Astapor and enslaved all the nobles in the city. Daenerys decided not to let Meereen suffer the same fate, believing she needed to learn to rule before conquering Westeros. Daenerys remained to rule Meereen as queen. Later, she discovered that Jorah Mormont had been providing information about her to the assassins during the previous poisoning attempt. She also discovered that Arstan was actually Ser Barristan Selmy, a former Kingsguard who had served Robert. Enraged, Daenerys gave them a chance to redeem themselves. She eventually forgave Barristan and accepted his service. However, she could not do the same for Jorah, and Daenerys banished him. Ben Plumm, chosen as leader of the Second Sons after his predecessor Mero disappeared in Yunkai, claimed descent from House Targaryen, as his ancestor Osric Plum married Elena Targaryen. At Castle Black, Maester Aemon trusted Jon Snow when he said he was ordered by Qhorin Halfhand to infiltrate the wildlings. After the death of Donal Noye, Aemon instructed Jon to command the defense of Castle Black. When Jon was arrested on suspicion of treason, it was only Aemon's intervention that saved him from being killed. While with King Stannis Baratheon, Aemon asked to see the sword "Lightbringer" and asked it to be described to him, as he was blind. Aemon was entrusted with choosing a new commander but was not allowed to interfere directly. Instead, he suggested that perhaps Jon Snow could be chosen as the new commander.

A Feast for Crows:

Commander Jon Snow feared that the Red Priestess Melisandre might want to sacrifice Aemon to R'hllor due to his royal blood. Therefore, he sent Aemon to Braavos. Accompanying him were Samwell Tarly, a singer named Gilly, her son, and a wildling. Aemon's health weakened during the journey and worsened when they reached Braavos. After Daeron left them, Sam managed to help the group reach the ship "Cinnamon Wind." Aemon's health improved slightly upon hearing news of the dragons and Viserion. However, it worsened again, and he eventually died at the age of 102 at sea. His body was placed in a barrel of wine for preservation, and upon docking, he was cremated. Upon arrival, Sam informed Aemon's successor of Aemon's death and his desire to join Daenerys. Marin then decided to go to Slaver's Bay instead of Aemon.

A Dance with Dragons:

Daenerys continued to rule Meereen but faced significant resistance from various factions: the Ghiscari nobles, the Sons of the Harpy, who were secretly against her. In Yunkai, slavery was reinstated. An alliance gradually formed against Daenerys. She formed a guard called the "Queensguard" to counter the Sons of the Harpy, and the killings increased. Daenerys then agreed to marry Hizdahr zo Loraq if he stopped the killings for 90 days. Meanwhile, the Yunkai defeated Astapor, besieged and plundered the city, and then marched on Meereen. The Yunkai army besieged Meereen, and the Second Sons abandoned her after Daenerys refused to use dragons to fight due to the death of a young girl caused by Drogon. Drogon flew away from Meereen, and Daenerys had Rhaegal and Viserion locked in the dungeons. Hizdahr supported Daenerys by negotiating peace with the Yunkai, and their marriage played a significant role. The seven leaders of Yunkai and Meereen signed a peace treaty and celebrated the opening of the fighting pits. Daenerys was disgusted by this and, after witnessing a female warrior killed by a wild boar, left the arena. At the same time, Belwas fell ill after eating poisoned locusts meant for Daenerys. As Belwas collapsed, Drogon returned and landed in the fighting pits. As the crowd panicked and fled, Daenerys ran to Drogon and flew away from Meereen. Drogon carried her to the Dothraki Sea, where it was nesting. Daenerys then encountered Khalajao's Khalasar. Meanwhile, Prince Quentyn Martell of Dorne sent his son, Quentyn, to find Daenerys. Years earlier, he had secretly arranged a marriage between his daughter, Arianne, and Viserys Targaryen to support his claim to the Iron Throne. The Dornish hoped Daenerys would replace her brother and marry Quentyn. Quentyn arrived in Meereen the day before Daenerys's wedding to Hizdahr. After she and Drogon flew away, Quentyn decided to steal one of Daenerys's dragons to prove himself and also to get the mercenary groups, the Bloody Mummers and the Windblown, to help him. However, Quentyn was severely burned and died afterward. On the Rhoyne River, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen's close friend, Jon Connington, who was previously exiled by Aerys II, faked his death and secretly raised Rhaegar's son, Aegon, who was believed to have died during the sacking of King's Landing. It was revealed that Veris had swapped Aegon with another child. Connington and Aegon planned to meet Daenerys in Volantis, but in Horis, they received news that she was still in Meereen and that many city-states, including Volantis, had gathered an army against her. Following the Yunkai, Connington introduced Aegon to the Golden Company, whom Lyonel had entrusted to help him reclaim Westeros. With Daenerys still in the East, Prince Aegon decided to march west and start a war. This was a plan he followed based on Tywin Lannister's reasoning that Daenerys, upon hearing the news, would immediately lead her army back for reinforcements. The Golden Company agreed, and they marched to Westeros, achieving several victories in the Stormlands. Aegon decided to personally lead his army to attack Storm's End. Outside the Wall, the three-eyed raven that appeared in Bran Stark's dreams, the bloodraven Brynden Rivers, was still alive due to magic and resided in an ancient cave.

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