Prince of Dragonstone

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Dragonstone castle, seat of the Princes of Dragonstone

Prince of Dragonstone or, in some cases, Princess of Dragonstone, was the title of the heir apparent to the Iron Throne during the Targaryen dynasty. The heir apparent's seat was the castle of Dragonstone located on the island of the same name.

History

Targaryen Dynasty

After Aegon I Targaryen conquered the Seven Kingdoms, he decided to construct a new capital city, King's Landing, in the new town growing around his newly constructed seat, the Aegonfort, which was torn down in 35 AC in preparation for the construction of the Red Keep. The seat of Dragonstone remained in possession of House Targaryen. Aegon I had two children: Aenys, born in 7 AC, and Maegor, born in 12 AC. Despite being Aegon I's eldest son and heir for many years, Aenys never held the title "Prince of Dragonstone".[N 1] Aenys was raised by Aegon I at King's Landing, and accompanied his father on royal progressions. Meanwhile Maegor was raised by his mother, Queen Visenya Targaryen, at Dragonstone and in time became known as the "Prince of Dragonstone".[1] Maegor continued to hold the title during the earlier years of Aenys's own reign. It was only in 41 AC, a year after Maegor had left the Seven Kingdoms in exile, that Aenys established "Prince of Dragonstone" as a formal title by appointing it to his own heir, Prince Aegon.[2][1]

Upon Aenys's own death, Maegor returned from exile and claimed the Iron Throne. He had three wives already, but in 47 AC, still lacking an heir, married three widowed women known to be fertile. One of these was his niece, Princess Rhaena, who had born twin girls to her late brother, Prince Aegon. Maegor named one of the girls, Aerea, as his heir until he had children of his own.[3] However, she has not been confirmed to have been appointed the title "Princess of Dragonstone".

Not every Targaryen monarch held the title "Prince of Dragonstone" before coming to the throne, such as in times when there were several deaths in rapid succession so a younger son instantly succeeded to the throne (such as Aerys I and Aegon V).

Baratheon Dynasty

After Robert's Rebellion, the Targaryen dynasty was at an end. The title "Prince of Dragonstone" has not been used by the new royal house, House Baratheon of King's Landing. Instead, Dragonstone was granted to Lord Stannis Baratheon as his personal seat. He now rules Dragonstone as the Lord of Dragonstone, a title which had also been used by the Targaryens prior to Aegon's Conquest.

However, two children of King Aerys II still remain. Viserys Targaryen, who had been crowned on Dragonstone prior to its fall,[4] named his young sister Daenerys Targaryen, as his sole heir, the Princess of Dragonstone.[5] After Viserys' death, Daenerys declared herself Queen. She has not yet named a new heir.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

From her birth until the death of her brother, Daenerys Targaryen uses the title Princess of Dragonstone, as heir of Viserys Targaryen, who is the claimant to the Iron Throne.[5]

Known Princes and Princesses of Dragonstone

During the reign of King Prince(ss) of Dragonstone Period Notes
Aegon I
(137 AC)
Maegor Targaryen (unofficial) Unknown - 37 AC Though he was not Aegon I's heir, his residence at Dragonstone led to Maegor becoming known as the "Prince of Dragonstone".[1]
Aenys I
(3742 AC)
Maegor Targaryen[2] (unofficial) 37 AC - 41 AC Maegor held his moniker during the early years of his brother's reign, despite not being Aenys's heir.[1]
Aegon Targaryen[2] 41 AC - 43 AC The first person to formally hold the title "Prince of Dragonstone" upon its creation. In 41 AC at his wedding feast, Aegon was granted the title by his father, a year after Prince Maegor had left Westeros in exile. Aegon's uncle Maegor claimed the throne upon Aenys's death. Aegon continued to hold the title until his death in 43 AC.[6]
Maegor I
(4248 AC)
None 43 AC - 48 AC Despite his six marriages, Maegor had no living children of his own. Upon his marriage to Princess Rhaena Targaryen in 47 AC, he named Rhaena's eldest daughter Aerea as his heir, until he had sons of his own.[1] It is unknown whether Aerea was also appointed the title Princess of Dragonstone.
Jaehaerys I
(48103 AC)
Aemon Targaryen[7][8] 62 AC[9] - 92 AC Aemon was formally anointed Prince of Dragonstone at the age of seven.[10][9]
Baelon Targaryen[7][8] 92 AC - 101 AC[9] Prince Baelon, Jaehaerys's next eldest son, became heir upon the death of his brother Aemon, having been chosen over Aemon's daughter, Princess Rhaenys.
Viserys Targaryen[7][8] 101 AC - 103 AC Prince Viserys, Prince Baelon's eldest son, was proclaimed Jaehaerys's heir by a Great Council, instead of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Prince Aemon's daughter, or Laenor Velaryon or Laena Velaryon, the children of Princess Rhaenys.
Viserys I
(103129 AC)
Rhaenyra Targaryen 105 AC[8][9] - 129 AC Rhaenyra's position as Princess of Dragonstone was ignored upon the death of her father, King Viserys I Targaryen. Her younger half-brother, Aegon, was crowned King instead.
Rhaenyra I
(129130 AC)
Jacaerys Velaryon[11] 129 AC - 130 AC Despite Rhaenyra's rule never being officially recognized, Rhaenyra did possess Dragonstone, and upon her own coronation, named her eldest son, Prince Jacaerys, Prince of Dragonstone.
Joffrey Velaryon[11][12] 130 AC Joffrey was named the Prince of Dragonstone after the death of Jacaerys in the Battle of the Gullet.[12][13]
Aegon II
(129131 AC)
None 129 AC - 131 AC It is not clear whether Aegon's eldest son Jaehaerys Targaryen was officially named Prince of Dragonstone, but he was considered Aegon's heir, and next in line for the Iron Throne.[14] After Jaehaerys's death in 129 AC, neither of Aegon's other two children nor two brothers were officially named the Prince of Dragonstone. Since during most of that time period Dragonstone was held by Rhaenyra Targaryen, it may be that Aegon II did not feel he could declare a Prince or Princess of Dragonstone until the castle was conquered. However, after the deaths of Aegon's son Maelor and brother Aemond's death in 130 AC, there were some who wished to name Aegon's next brother Daeron Prince of Dragonstone.[15] Dragonstone was taken by Aegon II in late 130 AC.[15] In 131 AC, at the behest of Lord Corlys Velaryon, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower betrothed her only remaining grandchild, Princess Jaehaera Targaryen, to Rhaenyra's eldest surviving son, Aegon the Younger, and jointly named them Aegon II's heirs.[16] Whether either Jaehaera or Aegon the Younger were given the title Princess or Prince of Dragonstone after this is currently unknown.
Aegon III
(131157 AC)
Daeron Targaryen[17] 143 AC - 157 AC Prince Viserys Targaryen was Aegon's acknowledged heir from his return to King's Landing in 134 AC,[18] until the birth of Aegon's son Daeron. However, it is not yet clear whether Viserys was officially named Prince of Dragonstone. Prior to Viserys's return, Aegon's half-sisters Baela and Rhaena Targaryen were his de facto heirs.[19]
Daeron I
(157161 AC)
Baelor Targaryen 157 AC - 161 AC
Baelor I
(161171 AC)
None 161 AC - 171 AC Despite the fact that Baelor had his marriage set aside as soon as he was able to do so, he had not named an heir. Upon his death, without issue of his own, the lords of the realm eventually decided to give the crown to Prince Viserys, Baelor's uncle and Hand, instead of Princess Daena, Baelor's eldest sister, and once his wife.
Viserys II
(171172 AC)
Aegon Targaryen[20] 171 AC - 172 AC
Aegon IV
(172184 AC)
Daeron Targaryen[21] 172 AC - 184 AC
Daeron II
(184209 AC)
Baelor Targaryen[22][21] 184 AC - 209 AC
Valarr Targaryen 209 AC Valarr, and his younger brother Matarys, both died during the Great Spring Sickness, as did King Daeron II.
Aerys I
(209221 AC)
Rhaegel Targaryen[23] 209 AC - 215 AC
Aelor Targaryen[23] 215 AC - 217 AC
Aelora Targaryen[24] 217 AC - Unknown
Maekar Targaryen[23] Unknown - 221 AC Despite the fact that Rhaegel's third child, Daenora, was still alive, Maekar was named Aerys's heir after Aelora's death.
Maekar I
(221233 AC)
Daeron Targaryen 221 AC - Unknown Daeron died in an unknown year due to pox. He preferred to be styled as "Prince of Summerhall".[25]
Aerion Targaryen Unknown - 232 AC Aerion drank himself to death with a cup of wildfire in 232 AC. Maekar failed to name a new Prince of Dragonstone before his own death in 233 AC, leading to the Great Coucil to eventually decide on Maekar's successor in 233 AC.
Aegon V
(233259 AC)
Duncan Targaryen[26] 233 AC - 239 AC Duncan renounced his rights to the throne when he married Jenny of Oldstones.
Jaehaerys Targaryen[26] 239 AC - 259 AC
Jaehaerys II
(259262 AC)
Aerys Targaryen[27] 259 AC - 262 AC
Aerys II
(262283 AC)
Rhaegar Targaryen[28] 262 AC - 283 AC
Viserys Targaryen[29] 283 AC When Rhaegar was killed at the Battle of the Trident, Viserys was named his father's heir, passing over Rhaegar's infant son Aegon.[29]
Viserys Targaryen Daenerys Targaryen[5] 284 AC - 298 AC Viserys was proclaimed king after news of the death of Aerys reached Dowager Queen Rhaella Targaryen on Dragonstone. Though Dragonstone was lost to House Targaryen following Robert's Rebellion and the fall of Dragonstone in 284 AC, the exiled king Viserys granted the title to his sister, and sole heir.

Notes

  1. A first-run print of The World of Ice and Fire includes a mention of Aenys I as "the Prince of Dragonstone" during Aegon I's reign in The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I, but this was confirmed to be a print error and corrected in subsequent versions.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The Sons of the Dragon.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
  3. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  4. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Rhaella Targaryen.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  6. Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 The Rogue Prince.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  10. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  11. 11.0 11.1 The Princess and the Queen.
  12. 12.0 12.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  13. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
  14. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
  16. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
  17. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  18. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist.
  19. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  20. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  21. 21.0 21.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  22. The Hedge Knight.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
  24. asoiaf.westeros.org: R+L=J v. 164 – Comment by Ran (December 12, 2017)
  25. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I.
  26. 26.0 26.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
  27. The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons.
  28. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  29. 29.0 29.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: The End.