Difference between revisions of "Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)"

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Despite Aegon's feelings of disrespect and hate towards Aemon{{ref|awoiaf| Aegon IV Targaryen}} and Aegon's provocations, Aemon died honorably, defending his brother and king against two brothers of [[House Toyne]] who sought to assassinate the King in retribution for the execution of their brother, Ser [[Terrence Toyne]].{{Ref|aSoS|67}}{{ref|awoiaf| Aemon Targaryen}} Queen Naerys grieved his death and died in childbirth a year later {{date|179}} giving birth to a daughter named [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Aegon IV)|Daenerys]].
 
Despite Aegon's feelings of disrespect and hate towards Aemon{{ref|awoiaf| Aegon IV Targaryen}} and Aegon's provocations, Aemon died honorably, defending his brother and king against two brothers of [[House Toyne]] who sought to assassinate the King in retribution for the execution of their brother, Ser [[Terrence Toyne]].{{Ref|aSoS|67}}{{ref|awoiaf| Aemon Targaryen}} Queen Naerys grieved his death and died in childbirth a year later {{date|179}} giving birth to a daughter named [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Aegon IV)|Daenerys]].
  
Despite Aemon's honorably keeping to his [[Kingsguard]] oath and sacrificing his life to protect Aegon, his brother did little to honor his memory. In fact after the death of both his siblings, Aegon began to make barely veiled references to his son's alleged illegitimacy - something he now only dared now because both his wife and the Dragonknight were dead. {{ref|twoiaf| Aegon IV}}
+
Despite Aemon's honorably keeping to his [[Kingsguard]] oath and sacrificing his life to protect Aegon, his brother did little to honor his memory. In fact after the death of both his siblings, Aegon began to make barely veiled references to his son's alleged illegitimacy - something he now only dared now because both his wife and the Dragonknight were dead. {{ref|twoiaf| Aegon IV}} Aemons memory however is largely remembered positively and greatly respected throughout [[Westeros]], the same can not be said of [[Aegon IV Targaryen|King Aegon IV]].
  
  

Revision as of 16:18, 10 December 2014

House Targaryen crest.PNG
Aemon Targaryen
Kingsguard.PNG
Aemon the Dragonknight.jpg
Aemon the Dragonknight by Robert O'Leary

Aliases
  • The Dragonknight
  • The Knight of Tears
Titles
Allegiances
Culture Valyrian
Born 136 AC[1]
King's Landing
Died 178 AC[2]
Westeros
Books
For other characters named "Aemon Targaryen", see here.

Aemon Targaryen, called the Dragonknight, was the second son of King Viserys II Targaryen and a member of the Kingsguard.

History

Early Life

Aemon was knighted young and joined the Kingsguard at the age of seventeen.[3][4] He served under four kings: Daeron I Targaryen, Baelor I Targaryen, his father Viserys II Targaryen, and lastly his brother, 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 lowborn in songs, stories and fables. He bore the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister, previously wielded by Aegon the Conqueror's sister-wife Visenya, and Aemon's grandfather, Prince Daemon Targaryen.[5]

Songs speak of his doomed love for his brother's queen, his own sister, Queen Naerys. According to the singers, Aemon loved Naerys, and Naerys loved him. He supposedly cried when Naerys married their brother,[6] and joined the Kingsguard shortly afterwards. After his brother Aegon became a king, rumors started about Aemon being the actual father of Aegon's son and heir, Prince Daeron.[7] This caused several people to look at one of Aegon's bastards, Daemon Blackfyre, as the new heir to the throne. The truth of these rumours have never been proven or disproven. There are no known rumours about the parentage of Daenerys, only about Daeron.

According to the writings of Maester Kaeth in the Lives of Four Kings, it was in fact King Aegon the Unworthy who secretly started the rumors of Naerys adultery and used the knight, Ser Morgil to instigate this tale, though at the time Aegon denied this. These accusations coincidentally started when Aegon and his heir Prince Daeron were quarreling. Daeron opposed Aegons plan for an unprovoked war on Dorne. And if the tale was readily believed it would give King Aegon a legit reason to set aside his heir in favor of his bastard.[2]

Aemon once fought Cregan Stark. Prince Aemon claimed he never faced a finer swordsman.

Conquest of Dorne

Aemon took part in the invasion of Dorne, led by his cousin and King Daeron I. Aemon won great fame by defeating a Dornish champion, and was present after the rebellion in Dorne undid Daeron's conquest, and Daeron I himself died. Aemon was taken captive by the Dornish, and put in a crow cage, placed above a pit filled with vipers. He was eventually rescued by his cousin Baelor, his new king.[7]

Reign of Aegon IV

After Kings Baelor I and Viserys II died, Aemon's elder brother Aegon became king. During Aegon's reign, Aemon remained the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, a position he held until his death.

When Queen Naerys was accused of adultery and treason by the knight Ser Morgil Hastwyck, Prince Aemon defended his sisters honor in trial by combat and slew Ser Morgil. [8] This event became famous and inspired many songs, stories and fables by bards, furthering Prince Aemons renown much to King Aegons annoyance.

Aemon once won a tournament, disguised as a mystery knight, 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. Aemon secretly took part anyway, disguised as a mystery knight known only as the Knight of Tears. The Knight of Tears won the tournament, and Aemon was thus able to name his sister, Naerys, the Queen of Love and Beauty in place of the king's mistress.

Despite Aegon's feelings of disrespect and hate towards Aemon[9] and Aegon's provocations, Aemon died honorably, defending his brother and king against two brothers of House Toyne who sought to assassinate the King in retribution for the execution of their brother, Ser Terrence Toyne.[10][7] Queen Naerys grieved his death and died in childbirth a year later 179 AC giving birth to a daughter named Daenerys.

Despite Aemon's honorably keeping to his Kingsguard oath and sacrificing his life to protect Aegon, his brother did little to honor his memory. In fact after the death of both his siblings, Aegon began to make barely veiled references to his son's alleged illegitimacy - something he now only dared now because both his wife and the Dragonknight were dead. [2] Aemons memory however is largely remembered positively and greatly respected throughout Westeros, the same can not be said of King Aegon IV.


Daeron II, Aemon's nephew (or son, according to the rumors), named his grandson Aemon in honor of the Dragonknight.[7][11]

Quotes

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 favour of his bastard. Aegon was not called the Unworthy without cause. [12]

– Ser Arys Oakheart


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 ... [11]

Aemon, to Jon Snow


Every child in Westeros knows how Prince Aemon the Dragonknight championed his sister Queen Naerys against Ser Morghil’s accusations.[13]

Cersei Lannister

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rodrik
Arryn
 
Daella
 
 
 
 
 
Baelon
 
Alyssa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aemma Arryn
 
 
 
 
 
Viserys I
 
 
 
 
 
Alicent Hightower
 
Daemon*
 
Aegon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
unknown son
 
Baelon
 
Rhaenyra
 
Daemon*
 
Aegon II
 
Helaena
 
Aemond
 
Daeron
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aegon III
 
Viserys II
 
Visenya
 
Jaehaerys
 
Jaehaera
 
Maelor
 

See also

References and Notes

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at House Targaryen. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of House Targaryen. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.