Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)

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House Targaryen.svg Prince
Daeron Targaryen
the Daring
House Targaryen.svg
Daeron-by-enife.png
Art by Enife

Alias Daeron the Daring
Titles
Allegiances
Race Valyrian
Culture Crownlands
Born In 114 AC[1]King's Landing
Died In 130 AC[2]Tumbleton[3]
Father Viserys I Targaryen
Mother Alicent Hightower
Books

Prince Daeron Targaryen, also known as Daeron the Daring, was the third and youngest son of King Viserys I Targaryen and his second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower. He was a younger brother to King Aegon II Targaryen. Like his siblings, Daeron was a dragonrider, and he rode the she-dragon Tessarion.[1]

Appearance and Character

Young Daeron, by Douglas Wheatley, as depicted in The World of Ice & Fire

Daeron had the coloring of the blood of the dragon. A handsome boy, Daeron was the most popular of the three sons of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower. He was courteous and clever, and was described as "the gentlest" of his brothers.[1]

Daeron grew up in the shadow of his brothers, and therefore became more accustomed to following orders than giving them.[4]

Daeron had a splendid silken pavilion.[3]

History

Early life

Late in 114 AC, Daeron was born to King Viserys I Targaryen and his second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower. He had two elder brothers, Aegon and Aemond, and an older sister, Helaena, as well as an older half-sister, Rhaenyra. Daeron was born only shortly after Rhaenyra's eldest son, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon. However, Rhaenyra did not get along with Daeron's mother, Alicent. Trying to prevent a similar enmity between his youngest son and eldest grandson, Viserys had the two children share a wet nurse until they were weaned, hoping that them being milk brothers would make a difference.[1]

The king's hope was in vain, because just as his older siblings, Daeron grew up to be a bitter rival to Jacaerys and his younger siblings, Lucerys and Joffrey. While Daeron and his older siblings were forced to spend time with their cousins (i.e. attending the same feasts, and occasionally training at arms or studying with a maester together), it is said that this only increased the enmity.[1]

By the age of six, Daeron had a dragon of his own, Tessarion, though he had yet to ride her. When Daeron was twelve in 126 AC, he was sent to serve as a cupbearer and squire to Lord Ormund Hightower, his mother Alicent's cousin, in Oldtown.[1]

The Dance of the Dragons

Daeron and Tessarion, by Jota Saraiva

In 129 AC, after the death of Daeron's father, King Viserys I Targaryen, the Dance of the Dragons began as Daeron's older brother claimed the Iron Throne as Aegon II Targaryen, despite the fact that their half-sister, Rhaenyra Targaryen, had been Viserys's declared heir. Daeron was still in Oldtown, squiring for Lord Ormund Hightower.[5]

Daeron accompanied Lord Ormund Hightower's army as it marched from Oldtown. During the Battle of the Honeywine, Ormund faced defeat until Daeron arrived on Tessarion, saving his cousin and his army. For this act, Daeron was feasted by Ormund, who knighted him with the Valyrian sword Vigilance, dubbing the young prince "Daeron the Daring".[6][2]

After King Aegon II was injured in the battle at Rook's Rest, Prince Aemond Targaryen took command. Aemond saw his uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra's husband, as the biggest threat to their rule, and was determined to defeat him in battle. Wanting sole glory for defeating Daemon and considering Daeron too young, Aemond did not ask Daeron for help when preparing to retake Harrenhal from Daemon.[6]

After the fall of King's Landing to Rhaenyra, Daeron was considered the greatest threat to her rule. He remained with Lord Ormund's army, and scouted ahead for them on his dragon. The Shield Islands, House Oakheart, and House Rowan submitted to the greens to avoid facing Daeron's Tessarion. Because his nephew, Prince Maelor Targaryen, had died at Bitterbridge, Daeron refused to be merciful to Lady Caswell. Daeron had Tessarion burn the town during the sack of Bitterbridge.[4]

Ulf White and Hugh Hammer were sent to Tumbleton to defend the town against Daeron, but the Two Betrayers defected to the greens during the First Battle of Tumbleton. Since Ormund had died during the battle, command of the greens' host was disputed by several nobles. Daeron ordered Ser Hobert Hightower to stop the sickening sack of Tumbleton, but Hobert was ineffective. Although Daeron named Ulf as Lord of Bitterbridge, the Two Betrayers refused to join Daeron in an attack on King's Landing if their demands were not met.[4]

With Aegon II missing after the fall of King's Landing and with Aemond killed in the Battle Above the Gods Eye, Prince Daeron became the first in line for the throne. Lord Unwin Peake, one of the leaders at Tumbleton, insisted Daeron should be proclaimed Prince of Dragonstone immediately. Others, who believed Aegon II to be dead, wished Daeron to be crowned king. When Hugh declared that he should become king, Daeron threw wine in his face. Hugh was then seen wearing an iron crown. Offended by the arrogance of the Betrayers, the lords and knights of the Reach, later known as the Caltrops, began to plot their deaths. While Daeron was not a member of the Caltrops, the men did not wish to proceed without his consent, which the prince gave swiftly.[3]

Two days later, the Second Battle of Tumbleton began. Prince Daeron died during the battle, though it is not known exactly how he died. The story most often told claims Daeron was cut down by Black Trombo with a morningstar whilst stumbling out of his tent with his clothes on fire, after the attacks of the dragon Seasmoke had begun. Another claims the same, except that the prince was slain by a man-at-arms with a sword, who was unaware of the identity of his victim. The third account, agreed upon by Munkun and Gyldayn, states that Daeron's burning tent collapsed on top of him.[3]

Legacy

Prince Daeron's death is regarded as mysterious, and his body was never identified.[7][8] Because of this opportunity, several pretenders were able to claim to be Daeron during the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen. According to Maester Yandel, it has been conclusively proven that these men were imposters.[9]

After briefly regaining the Iron Throne, King Aegon II Targaryen ordered the building of giant statues of his fallen brothers, Aemond and Daeron, in King's Landing.[10] Ser Tyland Lannister halted the statues during the regency of Aegon III, however.[11]

Quotes by Daeron

Ormund: Ser Daeron the Daring.
Daeron: My Lord is kind to say so, but the victory belongs to Tessarion.[6]

Ormund Hightower and Daeron

Quotes about Daeron

Little boys should be more mannerly when men are speaking. I think your father did not beat you often enough. Take care I do not make up for his lack.[3]

Hugh Hammer to Daeron

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jocelyn
Baratheon
 
Aemon
 
Daella
 
Rodrik
Arryn
 
Baelon
 
Alyssa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corlys
Velaryon
 
Rhaenys
 
 
 
 
 
Aemma
Arryn
 
Viserys I
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alicent
Hightower
 
Daemon
[Note 1]
 
Rhea
Royce
 
Aegon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laena
Velaryon
 
Daemon
[Note 1]
 
Laenor
Velaryon
 
Rhaenyra
 
Daemon
[Note 1]
 
Son
 
Baelon
 
Aegon II
 
Helaena
 
Aemond
 
Daeron
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rhaena
 
Baela
 
Stillborn
son
 
Jacaerys
Velaryon
 
Lucerys
Velaryon
 
Joffrey
Velaryon
 
Viserys II
 
Visenya
 
Aegon III
 
Jaehaera
 
Jaehaerys
 
Maelor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes:
  1. 1.0 1.1 Prince Daemon Targaryen was married to Lady Rhea Royce from 97 AC to 115 AC, to Lady Laena Velaryon from 115 AC to 120 AC, and to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen from 120 AC to 130 AC.


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  2. 2.0 2.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
  5. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  9. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  10. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
  11. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.