Aerys I Targaryen
 Aerys I by Amoka© | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Reign | 209 AC - 221 AC |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Aerys Targaryen First of His Name |
| Other Titles | King of the Seven Kingdoms |
| Born in | 171 AC [1] |
| Died in | 221 AC |
| Family | |
| Royal House | House Targaryen |
| Predecessor | Daeron II |
| Heir | Prince Rhaegel Targaryen Maekar I |
| Successor | Maekar I |
| Queen | Aelinor Targaryen |
| Issue | None |
| Father | Daeron II |
| Mother | Myriah Martell |
Aerys I was the King of the Seven Kingdoms and the thirteenth Targaryen to sit the Iron Throne. He succeeded his father, Daeron II.
Biography
Aerys Targaryen was the second son of Daeron II and Myriah Martell. He was very much interested in books like his father. After the death of his father and his nephews Valarr and Matarys (sons of his elder brother Baelor Breakspear) in the Great Spring Sickness, Aerys became king. The plague continued some time under his rule.
He appointed his uncle Brynden Rivers as Hand and let him rule while he occupied himself with the study of books and lore. He was a bookish man who preferred reading to ruling and it was even said in the seven kingdoms that "Aerys would sooner bring a book to his bed rather then his wife".[2] Due to the fact that his marriage with his sister Aelinor was childless, he was succeeded in 221 AC by his brother Maekar I.
During the reign of Aerys I, the realm suffered a great drought. It was widely held that travel was less safe during the reign of Aerys than under his father Daeron's.[3] In addition, the Iron Islands under Dagon Greyjoy took advantage of the chaos of the spring sickness and the Iron Throne's preoccupation with the Blackfyre rebels under Bittersteel, and raided Fair Isle, the Arbor, and even the North.
Victarion Greyjoy, a descendent of Aerys's enemy Dagon Greyjoy, recalled Aerys as "a weak king" whose "rheumy eyes fixed across the narrow sea where bastards and exiles plotted rebellion."[4]
Appearance
According to semi-canon sources, Aerys was bookish. He was spindly and stooped, with long, straight hair. He had a long, thin face, a long, thin mustache and a long pointed beard. He wore the crown of Aegon IV. [5] On his coinage, he was depicted with a beard.[6]
Family
| Daeron II | Mariah Martell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baelor | Jena Dondarrion | Aerys I | Aelinor Penrose | Rhaegel | Alys Arryn | Maekar I | Dyanna Dayne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valarr | Kiera of Tyrosh[7] | Matarys | Aelora | Aelor | Daenora | Aerion | Daeron | Kiera of Tyrosh[7] | Aemon | Daella | Aegon V | Rhae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons | Maegor | Vaella | Unknown descendants | House Targaryen | Unknown descendants | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References and Notes
- ↑ See Maekar I/Theories
- ↑ The Sworn Sword, page 59
- ↑ The Mystery Knight
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, page 832
- ↑ Targaryen Kings. November 1, 2005 So Spake Martin
- ↑ The Mystery Knight
- ↑ Kiera of Tyrosh was widowed when Valarr Targaryen died from the Great Spring Sickness; some time later she married his cousin Daeron.