Rhaenyra Targaryen

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House Targaryen.svg Queen[N 1]
Rhaenyra Targaryen
Rhaenyra Targaryen.svg
Rhaenyra.jpg
Rhaenyra Targaryen, by Amok ©
Monarch
Reign 129130 AC
Coronation 129 AC, at Dragonstone[4]
Full name Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name
Titles
Allegiance Blacks
Predecessor King Viserys I Targaryen
Heirs
Successor King Aegon II Targaryen
Personal Information
Aliases
  • The Realm's Delight[7]
  • The whore of Dragonstone[7]
  • King Maegor with teats[7]
  • The Half-Year Queen[7]
  • Rhaenyra the Pretender[8]
  • Queen Rhaenyra[9]
  • The dragon queen[9]
  • The bitch queen[9]
Born In 97 AC
Died In 22th day of the 10th moon of 130 AC (aged 33), at Dragonstone
Race Valyrian
Culture Crownlander
Family
Dynasty Targaryen
Consort Prince Daemon Targaryen, Protector of the Realm
Spouses
Lovers Ser Criston Cole (rumored)[10]
Ser Harwin Strong (rumored)[7]
Issue

With Laenor:
Prince Jacaerys Velaryon
Prince Lucerys Velaryon
Prince Joffrey Velaryon


With Daemon:
King Aegon III Targaryen
King Viserys II Targaryen
Princess Visenya Targaryen
Father King Viserys I Targaryen
Mother Queen Aemma Arryn
Personal arms The Targaryen three-headed red dragon on black, quartered with the moon-and-falcon sigil of House Arryn and the silver seahorse on sea green of House Velaryon
(Quarterly 1st and 4th Sable a dragon thrice-headed gules flammant of the last; 2nd Bleu celeste upon a plate a falcon volant of the field; 3rd Aquamarine a seahorse argent)
References
Books
Played by Emma D'Arcy
Milly Alcock (young)
TV series House of the Dragon: Season 1 | 2

Rhaenyra Targaryen, cheered as the Realm's Delight when she was young, and later called the Half-Year Queen,[7] was the first-born child of King Viserys I Targaryen. Rhaenyra was King Viserys I's only living child by his first wife, Queen Aemma of House Arryn. At the age of eight, she was made her father's heir, and grew up expecting to become the first ruling Queen of Westeros. Rhaenyra was a dragonrider whose mount was Syrax.[7][10]

Her claim to the Iron Throne was challenged by her younger half-brother, Aegon II Targaryen, sparking the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. She was the mother of two kings,[11] Aegon III and Viserys II.

Rhaenyra's personal sigil was the standard Targaryen heraldry (a three-headed red dragon on a black field), quartered with the moon-and-falcon sigil of House Arryn (for her mother Aemma Arryn), and the silver seahorse on sea green of House Velaryon (for her first husband Laenor Velaryon, as well as for the Velaryons in general, who were among her major supporters). During the Dance, her faction used her personal heraldry as their battle-flag.[12]

In the television adaptation House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra is portrayed by Emma D'Arcy and Milly Alcock (young).[13]

Appearance and Character

Rhaenyra had her family's Valyrian looks, wearing her silver-gold hair in a long braid in the manner of Queen Visenya Targaryen.[14] Rhaenyra was a precocious child, bright and bold and beautiful.[6][15] At the age of fourteen, Rhaenyra was declared by her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen, to be the most beautiful maiden in all the Seven Kingdoms.[6] Rhaenyra had a large bosom,[14] but never lost the weight she gained from pregnancies, and she had grown stout and thick of waist at the age of twenty after her third pregnancy.[6]

Rhaenyra was proud and stubborn, and there was a certain petulance to her small mouth. Though she could be charming, Rhaenyra was quick to anger and never forgot a slight.[14] She resented her stepmother, Queen Alicent Hightower,[7] but was fond of Lady Laena Velaryon.[10]

Rhaenyra always dressed richly, favoring purple and maroon velvets and golden Myrish lace in intricate patterns. Her bodice often glittered with pearls and diamonds, and there were always rings on her fingers. Whenever she was anxious, she would turn them compulsively around her fingers.[14] During the Dance of the Dragons, she wore the crown of her father, Viserys I,[14] which had first been worn by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.[7]

History

Early life

Newborn Rhaenyra is presented to her family (from left to right: Viserys, Aemma, Rhaenyra, Baelon and Daemon), by Jota Saraiva

Born in 97 AC, Rhaenyra was the only living child of King Viserys I Targaryen by his first wife, Lady Aemma of House Arryn. Rhaenyra had two brothers, both of whom died in the cradle.[6]

Rhaenyra became a dragonrider at the age of seven, when she flew into the sky on the back of a young dragon, whom she named Syrax. A year later, when she was eight, Rhaenyra became a cupbearer for her father, serving him at the table, at tourneys, and at court. From that point onward, King Viserys was seldom seen without Rhaenyra.[6]

At a young age, Rhaenyra became enamored with her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen. The roguish prince often brought her exotic gifts from his trips across the narrow sea. During the tourney for King Viserys I's accession, Ser Criston Cole won the melee by disarming Daemon. The knight granted the victor's laurel to Rhaenyra and asked the seven-year-old girl for her favor in the lists. Rhaenyra became smitten with Criston when he joined the Kingsguard in 105 AC, calling him her white knight, and Viserys allowed the charming knight to become Rhaenyra's personal shield and protector. From that moment on, Cole always wore Rhaenyra's favor in the lists and protected the girl during public events.[6]

Late in 105 AC, Rhaenyra's mother, Aemma, died birthing Rhaenyra's second brother, Prince Baelon, who died a day later. King Viserys then proclaimed Rhaenyra his heir, having all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms swear fealty to her, promising to honor and defend her rights of succession. In addition, Rhaenyra was named Princess of Dragonstone.[6]

King Viserys remarried in 106 AC, to Lady Alicent Hightower, and stepmother and stepdaughter initially got along well. That changed when Alicent birthed the king two sons, Aegon in 107 AC and Aemond in 110 AC, yet Viserys did not proclaim either boy his heir. People continued to ask Viserys about the succession, though Viserys was unwilling to discuss it. Ser Otto Hightower, Alicent's father and Viserys's Hand, was sent away from court for pushing the issue too much. But even after he left, clearly two parties formed at court: the party of the Queen, and the party of the Princess.[6]

In 111 AC, a great tourney was held at King's Landing on the fifth anniversary of King Viserys's marriage to Queen Alicent. At the opening feast, the queen wore a green gown, whilst Princess Rhaenyra dressed dramatically in Targaryen red and black. Note was taken, and thereafter it became the custom to refer to “greens” and “blacks” when talking of the queen's party and the party of the princess, respectively. The blacks had greater success in the tourney as Criston, wearing Rhaenyra's favor, unhorsed all of the queen's champions, including two of her cousins and her youngest brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower.[7]

According to the accounts of Septon Eustace, prior to her turning sixteen, Rhaenyra lost her virginity to her uncle, Prince Daemon, after he seduced her. The account of the fool Mushroom is more scandalous, however, claiming that Daemon gave Rhaenyra lessons on how to seduce and please a man, lessons in which Mushroom insists he took part as well. Mushroon further claimed that Daemon secretly smuggled Rhaenyra from her rooms dressed as a page boy, and took her to brothels on the Street of Silk, where she could observe the act of love and learn the "womanly arts" from prostitutes. Mushroom's account differs from Eustace's account, in that Mushroom claims Rhaenyra remained a virgin during these lessons. According to Mushroom, Rhaenyra received those lessons from Daemon because she was in love with Criston Cole, and she wanted him to see her as a woman. Whichever account is true, (Grand Maester Runciter simply claims that the two brothers quarreled), King Viserys sent his brother into exile.[6]

Ruling Princess of Dragonstone

Princess Rhaenyra at the age of sixteen, as depicted by Magali Villeneuve in The World of Ice & Fire

At the age of sixteen, in 113 AC, Rhaenyra took possession of Dragonstone. She had been courted by many lords and nobles who sought her hand and her favor. The sons of Lords Blackwood and Bracken had dueled over the Princess of Dragonstone when she visited the Trident in 112 AC, and the so-called Fool Frey asked for her hand in marriage. The twin knights Jason and Tyland Lannister wooed her at Casterly Rock, and she was also courted by the sons of Lords Oakheart, Tarly, Tully, and Tyrell. Ser Harwin Strong, the son of Lord Lyonel Strong, also courted the princess. King Viserys I Targaryen considered wedding his daughter to Prince Qoren Martell to bring Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms, while Queen Alicent Hightower pondered a marriage between Rhaenyra and her eldest son, Prince Aegon Targaryen.[6]

Rhaenyra instead married Ser Laenor Velaryon in 114 AC, though it took Viserys's threat of removing her status as heir to the Iron Throne to convince her to accept the marriage, as Rhaenyra did not feel the need to marry a man with interests like Laenor's. The princess was reported to have stated that "My half brothers would be more to his taste", to her father. Laenor's closest friend, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, was mortally wounded by Ser Criston Cole during the wedding tourney. Laenor chose to spend most of his time at High Tide, while his wife preferred to remain at court. Rhaenyra was fond of Laenor's sister, Lady Laena Velaryon, who had wed Prince Daemon Targaryen after the death of his first wife, Lady Rhea Royce.[6]

Laenor and Rhaenyra had three sons together: Princes Jacaerys 'Jace', Lucerys 'Luke', and Joffrey 'Joff' Velaryon. It was rumored that those sons of Rhaenyra's were actually fathered by her lover, Harwin Strong, called "Breakbones". All three were born with brown hair, brown eyes, and features considered "common" such as a pug nose. However, Laenor and Rhaenyra both had the silver-gold hair and purple eyes of Valyria, and Laenor had an aquiline nose.[6][7] The true parentage of Rhaenyra's three eldest children is still unclear.[N 2] Despite these rumors, there was no doubt that King Viserys meant for Rhaenyra to succeed him as heir, and for her sons to follow her. By royal decree, each of Rhaenyra's Velaryon sons was given a dragon egg in the cradle. Those who doubted their paternity claimed the eggs would never hatch; nevertheless, each one did, and in time the three boys all became dragonriders. Septon Eustace stated that King Viserys sat Jace on his knee while he was holding court on the Iron Throne, and said, "One day this will be your seat, lad."[6]

The Rogue Prince and the Realm's Delight, by Fkaluis

In 120 AC, Laena Velaryon, the wife of Prince Daemon Targaryen, died after a failed birth. At her funeral, a quarrel broke out between Alicent's son Aemond Targaryen and the sons of Rhaenyra, who he accused of being bastards from House Strong. In the children's fight, Aemond lost an eye when Lucerys defended Jacaerys with a knife. Though Alicent demanded Luke have an eye removed in recompense, and Rhaenyra demanded that Aemond be questioned "sharply" to learn where he had heard such rumors, King Viserys declared that apologies between the children was all that was needed for peace. The king further issued an edict that anyone spreading the Strong rumor would lose their tongue, and ordered Harwin Strong to depart from Dragonstone to Harrenhal. Afterward, a massive fire at Harrenhal killed Harwin and his father Lyonel, the Hand of the King. While some blamed the inferno on the curse of Harrenhal, other rumors blamed Daemon, Lord Corlys Velaryon, Harwin's younger brother Larys Strong, or even Viserys for the blaze. That year also saw the death of Rhaenyra's husband, Ser Laenor Velaryon, killed in a fight with his companion and rumored lover, Ser Qarl Correy.[6]

Less than six months after the deaths of Laena, Laenor, and Harwin, Rhaenyra secretly married her uncle, Prince Daemon, the most experienced warrior of his time, at Dragonstone. Septon Eustace claimed the two had wed in secret to prevent Viserys from prohibiting the marriage, while Mushroom suggested that Daemon, aged thirty-nine, had already impregnated the princess, who was then twenty-three. The news of their wedding caused a great scandal at the court of King's Landing, and made Rhaenyra's father livid. King Viserys angrily declared that a wedding so soon after the deaths of Daemon's wife and Rhaenyra's husband was an insult to their memories, and it took some time before Viserys and Daemon reconciled. The year ended with Rhaenyra and Daemon welcoming the birth of their first son, Prince Aegon the Younger, who was born with purple eyes and pale silvery hair. Another son, born in 122 AC, was given the name Viserys after Rhaenyra's father.[6]

In 126 AC, Rhaenyra argued her second oldest son, Lucerys, should officially be named heir to Driftmark. Several lesser cousins of House Velaryon, however, unsuccessfully protested to the Iron Throne that her sons were bastards fathered by Harwin Strong and had no claim to Driftmark. King Viserys heard them in stony silence, and after issuing the order to remove their tongues, slipped and cut his hand to the bone on the Iron Throne. Grand Maester Mellos was ineffective at trying to heal the king, who suffered a fever from an infection and it was feared he would die. Viserys only recovered after Rhaenyra sent her own maester, Gerardys, to treat her father's wounds.[6][15]

Dance of the Dragons

The Blacks, by Naomimakesart ©

Rhaenyra was the designated heir of her father, King Viserys I Targaryen, who desired that she succeed him. Viserys's intent had been confirmed by a proclamation of his will.[6] When Viserys died in 129 AC, however, Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, and Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and possibly the former lover of Rhaenyra, defied the king's will and instead crowned Rhaenyra's half-brother, Queen Alicent Hightower's son Aegon II, who was ten years younger.[7] This brought about the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, in which dragonriders fought each other.[16] During the war, Rhaenyra rode her dragon, Syrax.[17][7]

At the time of her father's death, Rhaenyra was on Dragonstone awaiting the birth of her sixth child. The greens in King's Landing ensured that the news of the Viserys's death did not reach her until her own supporters in the Red Keep were dead or imprisoned and Aegon II's coronation had already occurred. When news reached Rhaenyra, she went into a black fury and went into early labor, producing a deformed, stillborn daughter, Visenya. Rhaenyra blamed this tragedy on the enemies who had stolen her crown. Rhaenyra had a hastily-arranged coronation of her own. The arrival of Ser Steffon Darklyn of the Kingsguard on Dragonstone, accompanied by some other supporters, was therefore celebrated, as they brought with them the crown worn by Jaehaerys I and Viserys. Rhaenyra was crowned with her father's crown by her husband and uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen. When news of her coronation reached King's Landing, she was offered terms that would let Rhaenyra and her descendants remain rulers of Dragonstone if she renounced her claims, but she refused, knowing that war was inevitable.[4]

To gain more support to take the throne from her brother, Rhaenyra sent her son Jace on his dragon to treat with the Arryns, Manderlys, and Starks, and her son Luke to treat with Lord Borros Baratheon at Storm's End. Luke's mission was thought to be the safer journey, but he arrived at Storm's End to find Queen Alicent's younger son Aemond already there. Aemond, riding Vhagar, killed Luke over Shipbreaker Bay as he attempted to leave after failing to gain Lord Borros' allegiance. The news of Luke's death devastated his mother.[4][5]

Queen Rhaenyra during the Dance of the Dragons, as depicted by Douglas Wheatley in Fire & Blood

Rhaenyra took the capital and sat in the throne for roughly half a year. Upon taking the city, Rhaenyra insisted on claiming her father's seat, and so she climbed the Iron Throne and accepted pleas of forgiveness and loyalty from those in the Red Keep all throughout the night. Although Rhaenyra was dressed in armor, Septon Eustace[18] claimed that those present witnessed the throne leaving several cuts on her legs and left hand. The dripping blood was taken as a sign that the throne had rejected her; her days as ruler would be few.[19] Eustace further claims that Rhaenyra would continuously cut herself more frequently when she sat on the Iron Throne and became more stout from gluttony during her time in King's Landing.[9]

Those living in King's Landing initially welcomed Rhaenyra's return as a ruler, for they had always had little love for Aegon II Targaryen and his brother Aemond. Rhaenyra once in power sent knights inquisitor to pursue those who had helped Aegon escape the capital, the spikes of the gates started to be filled with more and more heads each day and although the late king Viserys I Targaryen had left the treasure vaults full of gold upon his death, the treasury was completely empty by the time Rhaenyra had taken the city, for the greens had sent three quarters of the gold away for safekeeping and spent the rest prior to the fall of the capital. Rhaenyra was in desperate need of coin, Lord Bartimos Celtigar, her new master of coin placed new taxes on the populace that increased day by day. The smallfolk slowly started to turn against her, and eventually named her "King Maegor with teats." The term Maegor's Teats became a common curse in King's Landing for a hundred years thereafter.[9]

After hearing of the Two Betrayers, Rhaenyra grew paranoid and declared the two remaining dragonseeds, Ser Addam Velaryon and the girl Nettles both traitors, a decision with disastrous consequences. Rhaenyra's Hand, Lord Corlys Velaryon, who had named Addam his heir, alerted Addam in time for the knight to flee upon the back of the dragon Seasmoke. This led to the arrest of Corlys, which caused the fleet of House Velaryon to abandon Rhaenyra's cause.[9][20]

In order to have the girl Nettles killed, Queen Rhaenyra had sent a letter to Lord Manfryd Mooton, commanding him to kill the girl. Lord Mooton refused, as Nettles was under the protection of guest right. He feared Prince Daemon would kill them if they followed Rhaenyra's orders, but saw there was no winning option, since refusing to obey Rhaenyra's order would make him a traitor to the crown. Insisting that kings Viserys I and Jaehaerys I would never have asked such a thing, Manfryd decided to change his allegiance to Aegon II, after Nettles and Daemon had left his roof.[9]

A massive riot soon sprang up in King's Landing, after the suicide of Helaena Targaryen who was beloved of the small folk. Many said, she was killed on Rhaenyra's orders. The fact that this story was so easily believed, showed how much the city had turned against Rhaenyra. The riots soon escalated to the storming of the Dragonpit, and the death of her son Joffrey Velaryon.[20]

After this, Rhaenyra fled King's Landing, in the aftermath of the deaths of all her other children she refused to let Aegon out of her sight. Terrorized and despairing, she grew grey and haggard as she traveled past Rosby, Stokeworth, and Duskendale. Rhaenyra was forced to sell her crown to raise the coin to buy passage on a Braavosi merchant ship, the Violande. Once she reached Dragonstone, Rhaenyra was betrayed by Ser Alfred Broome, whose men slew the remainder of her Queensguard. Her half-brother Aegon II then had her fed to his own dragon, Sunfyre, at Dragonstone.[7][N 3]

Legacy

Rhaenyra's three eldest sons all died fighting during the Dance of the Dragons, but her two youngest sons, the sons by her second husband, Prince Daemon, survived the civil war. The war ended when Aegon II died in 131 AC with no male issue, and was succeeded by Rhaenyra's and Daemon's elder son, the boy Aegon III, who had seen his mother's death by dragon.[21] Rhaenyra's second son with Prince Daemon would also later rule as King Viserys II Targaryen, as both sons of his brother Aegon III, Daeron I and Baelor I, later died without issue.[1]

The memory of Rhaenyra's life is controversial: to some she was a traitor who tried to usurp her brother's crown,[11] while to others she was the rightful heir of King Viserys I.[16]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Stannis Baratheon mentions Rhaenyra to Davos Seaworth while listing historical figures killed for treason.[11]

A Feast for Crows

Arianne Martell cites Rhaenyra as justification for her plan to crown Myrcella Baratheon.[16]

A Dance with Dragons

Daenerys Targaryen recalls the Dance of the Dragons, and how Aegon III had seen his mother devoured by his uncle's dragon.[22]

Quotes by Rhaenyra

Rhaenyra: Dear brother. I had hoped that you were dead.
Aegon: After you. You are the elder.[7]

—Rhaenyra and Aegon II Targaryen in the writings of Gyldayn

Quotes about Rhaenyra

I offered her an honorable peace, and the whore spat in my face. What happens now is on her own head.[7]

Aegon II Targaryen in the writings of Gyldayn

Daemon Blackfyre, the brothers Toyne, the Vulture King, Grand Maester Hareth... traitors have always paid with their lives... even Rhaenyra Targaryen. She was daughter to one king and mother to two more, yet she died a traitor's death for trying to usurp her brother's crown.[11]

The first Viserys intended his daughter Rhaenyra to follow him, do you deny it? But as the king lay dying the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard decided that it should be otherwise.[16]

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.


Behind the Scenes

In earlier drafts of the family tree George R. R. Martin created for House Targaryen, Rhaenyra had several different husbands. The first draft had her married to a Lannister, with whom she had no children.[23] A new draft, with details given in the A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying game produced by Green Ronin Publishing, stated her husband was Lyonel Strong, Lord of Harrenhal and Hand of the King, by whom she had three unnamed sons. The RPG further states that House Strong was among Rhaenyra's greatest supporters during the Dance, and her three sons all died in the war.[24][25] The final draft, as featured in The Rogue Prince,The World of Ice & Fire, and Fire & Blood, has Rhaenyra married first to Laenor Velaryon, by whom she had three sons, (Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon) who were all rumored to have been fathered by Ser Harwin Strong.[10][2] In that same final version, Harwin's father is called Lord Lyonel Strong, who is Lord of Harrenhal and Hand of the King.[10][15] Additionally, after the deaths of Laenor and Harwin, both in 120 AC, Rhaenyra married her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen, by whom she had three more children (two sons and a stillborn daughter).[10][7][2]

Notes

  1. While not listed in the Targaryen succession except for disputing the claim of Aegon II Targaryen,[1][2][3] Rhaenyra was crowned and acclaimed by the blacks faction, who fought in her name as queen.[4][5]
  2. As Rhaenyra had an Arryn mother, and Laenor a Baratheon grandmother, there is a possibility Jace, Luke, and Joff inherited their looks from more distant relatives, instead of their parents.
  3. According to The Princess and the Queen, King Aegon II decreed that Rhaenyra was never a queen, and that she be referred to only as "princess" in all chronicles and court records. No such decree is mentioned in Fire & Blood, though.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The World of Ice & Fire, Appendix: Targaryen Lineage.
  3. Fire & Blood, The Targaryen Succession.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 The Princess and the Queen.
  8. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 The Rogue Prince.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  12. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  13. HBO.com: House of the Dragon Cast & Characters
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 So Spake Martin: Good Queen Alysanne and Rhaenyra (June 18, 2006)
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
  17. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.
  18. asoiaf.westeros.org: [Spoilers] The Princess and the Queen, complete spoilers discussion - Ran discussing Eustace (November 28, 2013)
  19. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
  21. The Hedge Knight.
  22. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
  23. asoiaf.westeros.org: FIRE AND BLOOD Volume 1 (July 21, 2018)
  24. A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying.
  25. asoiaf.westeros.org: Comment by Ran regarding the canonicity of the Green Ronin RPG (November 23, 2019)
Preceded by 5th Princess of Dragonstone
105129 AC
Succeeded by
Titles in pretence
Preceded by — TITULAR —
Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men
129130 AC
Reason for succession failure:
Throne usurped by Aegon II
Succeeded by