   PrinceAerion Targaryen the Monstrous | |
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 Aerion Targaryen, by Mathia Arkoniel © | |
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| Aliases | |
| Titles | |
| Allegiances | |
| Culture | Crownlands |
| Born | 191–194 AC[7] |
| Died | 232 AC[4] |
| Father | Maekar I Targaryen |
| Mother | Dyanna Dayne |
| Spouse | Princess Daenora Targaryen |
| Issue | Maegor Targaryen |
| Coat of arms |
A dragon of three heads, orange, yellow and red, breathing golden flames on black (Sable, a dragon thrice-headed or, tenné, and gules flammant or) |
| Books |
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| Played by | Finn Bennett |
| TV series | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Season 1 |
Prince Aerion Targaryen, also known as Aerion the Monstrous,[1] or Aerion Brightflame as he liked to call himself,[1] was the second son of King Maekar I Targaryen.[1]
In the television adaptation A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Aerion is portrayed by Finn Bennett.
Appearance and Character
In his youth, Aerion was slim and of average height.[8] He was the perfect image of a Targaryen: beautiful,[9] with curly silver-gold hair, deep violet eyes, and pale unblemished skin. Aerion's face was sculptured and imperious, with a high brow, sharp cheekbones, and a straight nose.[8]
Aerion frequently wore clothing as bright as fire, in red and yellow and gold, and a black cloak bordered in scarlet satin. One of his doublets was made of red velvet, with long dagged sleeves.[8] In tourneys, Aerion wore a surcoat woven with a swirling pattern of smoke and fire, and his black helm had a crest of red enamel flames. His lance was gold-tipped, and painted in stripes of red, orange, and yellow. Even his horse was caparisoned in slashed orange and red fabric to look like flames.[8]
Aerion was one of the most outstanding examples of the madness that can affect the members of House Targaryen.[4] Although he was a skilled[9] and puissant knight, Aerion was capricious,[4] cruel, and arrogant, even thinking he was a dragon in human form.[8][1] According to Maester Yandel, Aerion was a dabbler in the black arts.[4]
Aerion was despised by his younger brother Aegon, who was a target of much of his cruelty and considered Aerion an inveterate liar. Aegon went so far as to shave his head so as not to look like Aerion.[8] According to Raymun Fossoway, Aerion was all smiles and courtesy in front of his father, Maekar Targaryen, but the vain and cruel Aerion's true nature showed in front of others. Prince Daeron Targaryen thought of his brother as "quite the monster".[8] Some at court considered Aerion to be a fright.[4]
History
Aerion was born the second son to Prince Maekar Targaryen and his wife, Lady Dyanna Dayne. He had one older brother, Daeron, two younger brothers, Aemon and Aegon, and two younger sisters, Daella and Rhae.[10]
Aerion owned a dragon egg that was gold and silver.[11]
Aerion threw Aegon's pet cat down a well, though he claimed otherwise. Aerion once visited Aegon in his bedroom during the dead of night, and put a knife to Aegon's privates and joked about removing his genitals so Aegon would become a sister he could marry.[8]
Ashford Tourney
In 209 AC Aerion traveled to Ashford for the tourney at Ashford Meadow, where he initially mistook Ser Duncan the Tall for a stable boy, ordering him to take his horse, and scoffing at him when Dunk said he was a knight. During the tourney itself, once Aerion entered the field he seemed about to challenge his cousin Prince Valarr Targaryen to a joust, but instead challenged Ser Humfrey Hardyng. Dunk was surprised to hear his squire, Egg (secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen), shout at Humfrey to kill Aerion. However, Aerion lowered his lance and instead of striking Humfrey's shield, impaled his horse, causing it to crash and fall atop Humfrey. The horse died in agony, and Humfrey's leg was injured. Though Aerion's actions were called an accident, Egg was certain it was intentional, but Dunk found it difficult to believe that a knight and a Targaryen prince could be so unchivalrous. Lord Ashford awarded Aerion's charger to Humfrey as payment for the death of his horse, which infuriated Aerion.[8]
On the tourney grounds that night, a puppet show portraying a knight slaying a dragon offended Aerion, as the prince felt he was a dragon. Aerion had his men-at-arms destroy the puppeteers' stall and puppets, and he deliberately broke the fingers of one of the puppeteers, a girl named Tanselle. Duncan, who Egg had called for help when the commotion started, then attacked Aerion, punching him and kicking him in the stomach and teeth. Aerion's men apprehended Dunk, and Aerion ordered them to break his teeth with a hammer and cut open his belly. Egg then arrived and revealed himself as Prince Aegon, ordering them to stop. They obeyed, but Duncan was arrested for striking a prince of the blood.[8]
Prince Baelor Targaryen, crown prince and Hand of the King, visited Duncan in his cell, and told him that his nephew Aerion had been telling his father Prince Maekar that the puppet show was treason against House Targaryen, an incitement to revolt. As Aegon's other brother Prince Daeron had been telling his father a falsehood that Aegon had been kidnapped by a robber knight, Duncan's situation was particularly dire. Aerion was demanding his head, which Prince Baelor would not allow, but could not deny Aerion a trial. Baelor reminded Duncan that the last time a man was found guilty of striking one of royal blood, his hand was cut off. Baelor further reminded Duncan that a knight could request a trial by combat instead of one by judgement.[8]
However, upon hearing Duncan's request, Aerion demanded a trial of seven instead, which Prince Baelor could not deny. Aerion knew that the hedge knight Duncan would find it difficult to find six other knights to fight with him, whereas he would have the Kingsguard and two Targaryen princes on his side. Aerion bribed Ser Steffon Fossoway, one of Duncan's few acquaintances at Ashford, to join his side of the trial by promising him lordship. In total, Aerion's side consisted of his brother Prince Daeron, his father Prince Maekar, Steffon Fossoway, and three knights of the Kingsguard, Willem Wylde, Donnel of Duskendale, and Roland Crakehall. Aerion's uncle, Prince Baelor, joined Duncan's side, as did Ser Humfrey Hardyng, Ser Humfrey Beesbury (Hardyng's brother-in-law), Ser Robyn Rhysling (an acquaintance of Aegon), Ser Raymun Fossoway (Steffon's cousin), and Ser Lyonel Baratheon.[8]
During the trial, Aerion put his lance through Duncan's side, and struck him from the saddle with a morningstar. However, Duncan refused to yield, and used his skills as a brawler from Flea Bottom to beat the prince down, hitting him in the head with his shield until the crest of his helm broke off. When Duncan threatened his eye with a dagger, Aerion yielded, and withdrew his accusation. Duncan forced Aerion to repeat his submission before Lord Ashford, ending the threat to Dunk's other champions. However, Baelor died from injuries sustained in the trial, as did the two Humfreys.[8]
After the conclusion of the tournament, Maekar sent Aerion to Lys, in hopes that a few years in the Free Cities would change him for the better.[8]
Later Life
Aerion stayed in Lys for a few years. According to a semi-canon source, he may have fathered some bastard children while living there, and his descendants may still be living in Lys.[12] Aerion served with the Second Sons for a time while in exile.[3]
Aerion returned to Westeros at some point, and he fought in the Third Blackfyre Rebellion in 219 AC. Aerion performed some actions there that are "known well". After Ser Aegor Rivers was captured, Aerion and the Hand of the King, Lord Brynden Rivers, urged King Aerys I Targaryen to put Aegor to death, but Aerys decided to send Bittersteel to the Night's Watch instead.[13] According to a semi-canon source, at some point after Prince Daeron's death, Aerion was appointed as Prince of Dragonstone by his father, King Maekar I Targaryen.[5]
Aerion was married to his cousin, Daenora Targaryen.[10] Together, they had one child, a son ominously named Maegor, born in 232 AC.[4] The same year as his son's birth, a drunken Aerion died screaming after drinking a cup of wildfire, believing it would transform him into a dragon.[4][14] A year later, King Maekar died, and in the Great Council Aerion's son Maegor was passed over in the succession as it was feared that the boy might have inherited his father's cruelty and madness.[4][1]
Legacy
Aerion is remembered as having been monstrous.[1][2] Bran Stark enjoyed Old Nan's gruesome tale about the "The Prince Who Thought He Was a Dragon".[1]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
At Castle Black, Jon Snow and Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, discuss why Maester Aemon chose to come to the Wall. Jeor mentions Aemon's brother, Aerion, and how he died.[1]
A Storm of Swords
In King's Landing, Olenna Tyrell mentions Aerion when asking Sansa Stark about the personality of King Joffrey I Baratheon.[2]
At Dragonstone, Alester Florent mentions to Davos Seaworth the tragedies that have come from those who sought to bring back dragons, including Aerion.[15] Later, Stannis Baratheon tells his wife, Selyse Florent, of more such tragedies, again including Aerion's death.[14]
In Harrenhal, Jaime Lannister tells Brienne of Tarth that he thinks King Aerys II Targaryen believed his wildfire plot would transform him into a dragon, like Aerion also believed.[16]
A Feast for Crows
Nearing death and seeing dragons in his dreams, Maester Aemon recalls how all three of his brothers dreamed of dragons and how the dreams killed each of them.[17]
A Dance with Dragons
Outside Meereen, Inkpots shows Tyrion Lannister the book of the Second Sons and mentions some of the famous men who have been members of that sellsword company, including Aerion.[3]
Quotes by Aerion
Duncan: I am not a stableboy, m'lord.
Aerion: Not clever enough? If you cannot manage a horse, fetch me some wine and a pretty wench.
Aerion: Knighthood has fallen on sad days.[8]
Duncan: I ... m'lord, pardons, I'm no serving man either. I have the honor to be a knight.
—Duncan the Tall and Aerion
—Aerion to Humfrey Hardyng
Why did you throw your life away? For this whore? She's scarcely worth it. A traitor. The dragon ought never lose.[8]
—Aerion to Duncan the Tall
Aerion: Impudent little wretch. What happened to your hair?
Aegon: I cut it off, brother. I didn't want to look like you.[8]—Aerion and Aegon Targaryen
Quotes about Aerion
Raymun: It is no secret that Aerion is a bad piece of work. Thank the gods that he is well down in the order of succession.
Duncan: You truly believe he meant to kill the horse?
Raymun: Is there any doubt of it? If Prince Maekar had been here, it would have gone differently, I promise you. Aerion is all smiles and chivalry so long as his father is watching, if the tales be true, but when he's not ...[8]
Jon: Aerion the Monstrous?
Jeor: The very one, though he named himself Aerion Brightflame. One night, in his cups, he drank a jar of wildfire, after telling his friends it would transform him into a dragon, but the gods were kind and it transformed him into a corpse.[1]—Jon Snow and Jeor Mormont
Family
| Daeron II | Myriah Martell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baelor | Jena Dondarrion | Aerys I | Aelinor Penrose | Rhaegel | Alys Arryn | Maekar I | Dyanna Dayne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valarr | Kiera of Tyrosh [Note 1] | Matarys | Aelora | Aelor | Daenora | Aerion | Daeron | Kiera of Tyrosh [Note 1] | Aemon | Daella | Aegon V | Rhae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stillborn sons | Maegor | Vaella | Unknown descendants |  | Unknown descendants | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes: |
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References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 6, Jon I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 6, Sansa I.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 66, Tyrion XII.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 asoiaf.westeros.org: The ASOIAF wiki thread, Comment by Ran (February 5, 2026)
- ↑ The Hedge Knight, Graphic Novel.
- ↑ See the Aerion Targaryen calculation.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 The Hedge Knight.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Aerion Targaryen.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Appendix: Targaryen Lineage.
- ↑ The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Many Questions (October 14, 1998)
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 25, Davos III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 26, Samwell III.
- House Targaryen
- 190s AC births
- 232 AC deaths
- Characters from the Crownlands
- Characters with fair skin
- Characters with purple eyes
- Characters with silver hair
- Characters with straight nose
- Deaths by fire
- Dreamers
- Exiles
- Knights
- Mad characters
- Members of Daeron II Targaryen's court
- Members of Aerys I Targaryen's court
- Members of Maekar I Targaryen's court
- Mercenaries
- Nobles
- Princes of Dragonstone
- Second Sons
- Veterans of the Third Blackfyre Rebellion