Aelora Targaryen

Princess Aelora Targaryen
Aelora Targaryen, by Riotarttherite ©
Titles	Princess Princess of Dragonstone
Allegiance	House Targaryen
Culture	Crownlands
Born	195–209 AC
Died	217–221 AC
Father	Prince Rhaegel Targaryen
Mother	Alys Arryn
Spouse	Prince Aelor Targaryen
Books	The World of Ice & Fire (mentioned) The Sworn Sword (mentioned) The Mystery Knight (mentioned)

Princess Aelora Targaryen was the daughter of Prince Rhaegel Targaryen and Lady Alys Arryn. She had a twin brother, Aelor, to whom she was married, and a younger sister, Daenora.

History

Aelora was married to her twin brother, Prince Aelor Targaryen. When their father, Prince Rhaegel Targaryen, died in 215 AC, Aelor was named Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne by their uncle, King Aerys I Targaryen. As Rhaegel was often disregarded on account of his mental fragility, both he and his children were sometimes forgotten as heirs to Aerys who came ahead of Aelora's uncle, Prince Maekar Targaryen. Those more knowledgeable of the true line of succession were quick to point out that Rhaegel and his children all preceded Maekar.

During the reign of Aerys I, his Hand of the King, Lord Brynden Rivers, was the subject of much mistrust. Bloodraven's detractors worried that nobody in House Targaryen was fit to stand up to him This anti-Bloodraven sentiment ran so deep that some even suggested Rhaegel and his children might be killed by his magic. Even Prince Maekar was not free of such suspicions, though his youngest son, Aegon Targaryen, was quick to protest that Maekar loved his brother and would never harm him or his children.

In 217 AC, Aelora accidentally caused Aelor's death in a "grotesque mishap", which left her mad with grief. Following Aelor's death, King Aerys recognized Aelora as his new heir to the throne. Some time later, three men known as the Rat, the Hawk, and the Pig attacked Aelora at a masked ball, after which she committed suicide.

Quotes

Aelor and Aelora, by lilith-kruger ©

Kyle: Aerys is weak, and when he dies it will be bloody war between Lord Rivers and Prince Maekar for the crown, the Hand against the heir.
Maynard: You have forgotten Prince Rhaegel, my friend. He comes next in line to Aerys, not Maekar, and his children after him.

—Kyle the Cat and Maynard Plumm

Kyle: Rhaegel is feeble-minded. Why, I bear him no ill will, but the man is good as dead, and those twins of his as well, though whether they will die of Maekar's mace or Bloodraven's spells…
Aegon: Prince Maekar is Prince Rhaegel's brother. He loves him well. He'd never do harm to him or his.

—Kyle the Cat and Aegon Targaryen

Sadly, Aelora eventually took her own life after being attacked at a masked ball by three men known to history as the Rat, the Hawk, and the Pig.

—writings of Yandel

Family

Daeron II

Myriah Martell

Baelor

Jena Dondarrion

Aerys I

Aelinor Penrose

Rhaegel

Alys Arryn

Maekar I

Dyanna Dayne

Valarr

Kiera of Tyrosh

Matarys

Aelora

Aelor

Daenora

Aerion

Daeron

Kiera of Tyrosh

Aemon

Daella

Aegon V

Rhae

Stillborn sons

Maegor

Vaella

Unknown descendants

Unknown descendants

Notes:

Behind the scenes

Although The World of Ice & Fire did not explicitly name Aelora as one of Aerys I's heirs, co-author Elio Garcia confirmed that Martin's notes did have her as an heir, something previously implied by Maynard Plumm's comments in The Mystery Knight that Rhaegel's children were next in line after him. According to another user who read an earlier version of The World of Ice & Fire before final edits, Aelora's position as heir was once stated more explicitly, but the text was adjusted before final publication, possibly due to the confusion that could be caused by Aelora's younger sister Daenora being passed over after her, which Martin did not wish to address in The World of Ice & Fire.