Difference between revisions of "Viserys II Targaryen"
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==Reign== | ==Reign== | ||
− | Viserys II ascended to throne | + | Viserys II ascended to throne after the death of his nephew, [[Baelor I Targaryen]], also known as Baelor the Blessed, in {{Date|171}}. There were some amongst the smallfolk — and even some lords — who felt that the Iron Throne should have rightfully passed to Baelor's sister [[Daena Targaryen|Daena]], as she was Aegon III's eldest daughter. However, a decade of isolation in the Maidenvault had left Daena and her sisters without powerful allies, and memories of [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] and the [[Dance of the Dragons]] had left many leery of the idea of a woman on the Iron Throne. Also, Daena the Defiant was seen by many as being wild, unmanageable, and wanton (as a year earlier she had given birth to her bastard son [[Daemon Blackfyre|Daemon]]). The precedents of the [[Great Council of 101]] and the Dance of the Dragons were therefore cited, the claims of Baelor's sisters were set aside, and the crown passed to Viserys.{{Ref|twoiaf| Viserys II}} |
− | Although his reign lasted little longer then a year Viserys issued reforms of the royal household and its functions, established a new royal mint, made efforts to increase trade across the narrow sea, and made positive revisions to the already progressive code of laws established by the Old King, [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]]. Viserys had it in him to be another Jaehaerys the Wise, as he was just as wise and shrewd. Unfortunately, a sudden illness | + | Although his reign lasted only a little longer then a year, Viserys issued reforms of the royal household and its functions, established a new royal mint, made efforts to increase trade across the narrow sea, and made positive revisions to the already progressive code of laws established by the Old King, [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]]. It is believed that Viserys had it in him to be another Jaehaerys the Wise, as he was just as wise and shrewd. Unfortunately, a sudden illness led to his death in {{Date|172}}. |
Viserys was succeeded by his eldest son, [[Aegon IV Targaryen]], who had been married to [[Naerys Targaryen]], Viserys's only daughter. Some historians suspect that Viserys's death was [[Kinslaying|not natural]] and that Aegon IV had poisoned him.{{ref|twoiaf| Viserys II}} | Viserys was succeeded by his eldest son, [[Aegon IV Targaryen]], who had been married to [[Naerys Targaryen]], Viserys's only daughter. Some historians suspect that Viserys's death was [[Kinslaying|not natural]] and that Aegon IV had poisoned him.{{ref|twoiaf| Viserys II}} | ||
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+ | ==Legacy== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Viserys is not remembered fondly in Westeros, as some accuse him of poisoning Baelor to gain the throne and doing nothing once he gained it. Still, Viserys may have reigned for only a year, but in his previous role as [[Hand of the King]] he had ruled and preserved the land for much longer. The reigns and follies of Aegon, Daeron, and Baelor would have been much worse if not for his tenure as [[Hand of the King]]. {{ref|ASOS|59}} {{ref|twoiaf| Viserys II}} | ||
==Family== | ==Family== |
Revision as of 06:54, 10 September 2015
Viserys II | |
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Viserys II by Amok© | |
Monarch | |
Reign | 171 AC - 172 AC |
Full name | Viserys Targaryen the Second of His Name |
Titles |
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Predecessor | Baelor I Targaryen |
Heir | Aegon IV Targaryen |
Successor | Aegon IV Targaryen |
Personal Information | |
Born |
122 AC[1] Dragonstone[2] |
Died |
172 AC[3] King's Landing[2] |
Family | |
Dynasty | House Targaryen |
Spouse | Larra Rogare |
Issue |
Aegon IV Targaryen Aemon Targaryen Naerys Targaryen |
Father | Daemon Targaryen |
Mother | Rhaenyra Targaryen |
References | |
Books |
|
Viserys II was the tenth king from House Targaryen to sit the Iron Throne as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. He was the brother of Aegon III Targaryen and was the son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen, and the father of King Aegon IV Targaryen, Queen Naerys Targaryen, and Prince Aemon "the Dragonknight".
Contents
Appearance
According to a semi-canon source, Viserys II was clean-shaven with long hair. He had a prominent nose, bushy eyebrows and a shrewd, calculating look to him. He wore the simple crown of Aegon III.[4]
Viserys was frailer than his brother Aegon, but was more mature than him and his other Velaryon half brothers.[1]
History
Youth
Born in 122 AC, Viserys was the second born son of his father, Prince Daemon Targaryen, and the fifth born son of his mother, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. As per Targaryen tradition, a dragon egg was placed in his cradle.[5] Viserys was named after his grandfather, King Viserys I Targaryen.
Viserys had four older brothers. Three half-brothers from his mother's first marriage, Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey Velaryon, and one full-blood brother, Aegon. He also had two older half-sisers, Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, from his father's second marriage.[5].
Viserys lived with his mother, father, brothers, and sisters on Dragonstone, his mother's seat as the Princess of Dragonstone. When his grandfather died in early 129 AC, Viserys and his family were thus away from the capital, since Rhaenyra was pregnant for the sixth time. This pregnancy led to the birth of Viserys's younger sister, Visenya. The girl was still born, however.
The death of his grandfather sparked a war of succession between Viserys's mother, Rhaenyra, and his half-uncle, Prince Aegon, who was crowned King Aegon II Targaryen, despite Rhaenyra having been the heir to the throne.
The Dance of the Dragons
In late 129 AC, at the behest of their half-brother Jacaerys Velaryon, Viserys and his older brother Aegon were sent to Essos aboard the Gay Abandon to be fostered by a prince of Pentos until their mother, Rhaenyra, secured the Iron Throne. However, the fleet of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, who were allied with the greens and Aegon II Targaryen, captured the Gay Abandon during the voyage. Aegon flew away atop his dragon, Stormcloud, but Viserys had only a dragon egg. Remaining behind, the clever Viserys hid his egg and disguised himself as a common ship's boy, but his identity was revealed by one of the crew. A Tyroshi captain brought Viserys to Sharako Lohar, the Triarchy's admiral. Viserys's fate through the remainder of the Dance of the Dragons is as yet unknown,[5] though it is known he survived the war.
Later Life
Viserys eventually ended up in Lys under the stewardship of the wealthy Rogare family whose bank at the time was as powerful as the Iron Bank of Braavos. Viserys was eventually wed to the families eldest daughter Larra Rogare despite her being nine years his senior.
During the early reign of Viserys's younger brother, Aegon III, it became known in Westeros that Viserys had survived. After a huge ransom was paid, he returned to King's Landing with his new wife and several of her kin. The ambitious Rogare family soon became embroiled in the conflicts of the regency of Aegon III. Viserys's wife eventually ran out on him and their three children and fled back to Lys, an experience that made Viserys stern. [6]
Viserys later served as Hand of the King to his brother Aegon and his two nephews, Daeron I and Baelor I. He was instrumental in keeping the realm intact while Aegon brooded, Daeron warred, Baelor prayed. It was rumored that to spare the realm embarrassment, Viserys used his position as Hand to order the poisoning of a stonemason whom Baelor had appointed as High Septon.[7][6]
Viserys had three children: Aegon, Aemon and Naerys. Whilst Aegon and Naerys were wed to one another, Aemon became a knight of the Kingsguard late in the reign of his uncle King Aegon the Third and later served under King Daeron I Targaryen, then under King Baelor I Targaryen, and later still when Viserys himself became king.
Reign
Viserys II ascended to throne after the death of his nephew, Baelor I Targaryen, also known as Baelor the Blessed, in 171 AC. There were some amongst the smallfolk — and even some lords — who felt that the Iron Throne should have rightfully passed to Baelor's sister Daena, as she was Aegon III's eldest daughter. However, a decade of isolation in the Maidenvault had left Daena and her sisters without powerful allies, and memories of Rhaenyra Targaryen and the Dance of the Dragons had left many leery of the idea of a woman on the Iron Throne. Also, Daena the Defiant was seen by many as being wild, unmanageable, and wanton (as a year earlier she had given birth to her bastard son Daemon). The precedents of the Great Council of 101 and the Dance of the Dragons were therefore cited, the claims of Baelor's sisters were set aside, and the crown passed to Viserys.[8]
Although his reign lasted only a little longer then a year, Viserys issued reforms of the royal household and its functions, established a new royal mint, made efforts to increase trade across the narrow sea, and made positive revisions to the already progressive code of laws established by the Old King, Jaehaerys I. It is believed that Viserys had it in him to be another Jaehaerys the Wise, as he was just as wise and shrewd. Unfortunately, a sudden illness led to his death in 172 AC.
Viserys was succeeded by his eldest son, Aegon IV Targaryen, who had been married to Naerys Targaryen, Viserys's only daughter. Some historians suspect that Viserys's death was not natural and that Aegon IV had poisoned him.[8]
Legacy
Viserys is not remembered fondly in Westeros, as some accuse him of poisoning Baelor to gain the throne and doing nothing once he gained it. Still, Viserys may have reigned for only a year, but in his previous role as Hand of the King he had ruled and preserved the land for much longer. The reigns and follies of Aegon, Daeron, and Baelor would have been much worse if not for his tenure as Hand of the King. [9] [8]
Family
Ancestors
Notes: |
Descendants
References and Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Rogue Prince.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Targaryen Kings, November 1, 2005
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Princess and the Queen.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Aegon III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The World of Ice & Fire, Viserys II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 59, Sansa IV.
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