Targaryen madness

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House Targaryen carries the trait for insanity in its bloodline, often referred to as madness.

About

Some Targaryens appear to be born mad. Others may not display madness when they are younger but can develop it as the years go by, especially when circumstances encourage it, such the Defiance of Duskendale which affected Aerys II very deeply. Madness may also skip a generation.

Ser Barristan was well aware of this trait and chose to observe Daenerys in the guise of Arstan Whitebeard to make sure she did not display any madness before revealing himself and pledging his sword to her.

When he says that he can see no taint in her Dany bristles. Ser Barristan tries to explain diplomatically what he means by saying to Daenerys:

I am no maester to quite history at you, Your Grace. Swords have been my life, not books. But every child knows that the Targaryens have always danced too close to madness. Your father was not the first. King Jaehaerys once told me that madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born, he said, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.”

Up until this point Daenerys was aware that her father was called The Mad King - but she thought that it was a lie. She had no idea the extent of her father’s insanity or that this trait ran in House Targaryen.

Dreams and dragons

The Targaryen's prophetic dragon dreams could also try the sanity of the dreamer. Also the yearning for bringing dragons back to life. Aerion Targaryen died drinking a cup of wildfire, believing it would transform him into a dragon.

Mad Targaryens

References and Notes