The wedding of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon occurred in 114 AC at King's Landing. Rhaenyra was the heir of King Viserys I Targaryen, and it was meant to unite House Targaryen and House Velaryon once again.[1]
Background
Having turned sixteen in 113 AC, Rhaenyra took possession of Dragonstone. She had been courted by many lords and nobles who sought her hand and her favor, including the sons of Lords Blackwood and Bracken, who had dueled over her in 112 AC, and the twin knights Jason and Tyland Lannister, who wooed her at Casterly Rock.[1]
King Viserys I Targaryen considered wedding his daughter to Prince Qoren Martell to bring Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms, while Queen Alicent Hightower pondered a marriage between Rhaenyra and her eldest son, Prince Aegon Targaryen, but they eventually agreed on Laenor, as such a marriage would unite House Targaryen and House Velaryon once again. The only objection raised was Laenor's lack of interest in women, as he preferred the company of handsome squires his own age, had never known a woman intimately, and had not fathered any bastards. After Grand Maester Mellos dismissed this concern, the match was agreed upon.[1][2] According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Princess Rhaenyra herself objected to the match as well, but conceded after King Viserys I threatened to replace her as his heir with her half-brother Aegon.[1]
A fortnight before the wedding, Laenor was knighted.
Wedding
.jpg)
Laenor and Rhaenyra were married in 114 AC; the groom was twenty, the bride seventeen, and it was agreed by all that they made a handsome couple. The wedding included seven days of feasting and jousting. During the tourney at King's Landing in honor of Princess Rhaenyra's wedding, Rhaenyra gave her favor to her new champion, Ser Harwin Strong, while Laenor laughed and gave his own favor to his favorite, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth. Ser Criston Cole, champion to Queen Alicent Hightower, went on to defeat Ser Harwin, and then mortally wounded Laenor's closest friend, Ser Joffrey, who died six days later, and according to Mushroom, Laenor spent all that time by Joffrey's bedside and wept bitterly when Joffrey finally died.[1]
Aftermath
Afterwards, Rhaenyra remained at court, while Laenor returned to Driftmark, causing many to wonder whether the marriage had been consummated; at High Tide, Laenor quickly found a new favorite, Ser Qarl Correy. Laenor and Rhaenyra spent much of their time apart from one another, although he did join her at court for important events, where his presence was expected.[1]
Laenor and Rhaenyra had three sons together: Princes Jacaerys 'Jace', Lucerys 'Luke', and Joffrey 'Joff' Velaryon. It was rumored that Rhaenyra's sons were actually fathered by her lover, Harwin Strong, since all three were born with brown hair and brown eyes, while Laenor and Rhaenyra both had the silver-gold hair and purple eyes of Valyria. Despite these rumors, there was no doubt that King Viserys meant for Rhaenyra to succeed him as heir, and for her sons to follow her.[1]
120 AC saw the deaths of both Harwin Strong, in a massive fire in Harrenhal, and Laenor Velaryon, killed in a fight with his companion and rumored lover, Ser Qarl Correy. Less than six months after the deaths of Harwin and Laenor, Rhaenyra secretly married her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen, the most experienced warrior of his time, at Dragonstone. King Viserys angrily declared that a wedding so soon after the deaths of Rhaenyra's husband was an insult to his memory, and it took some time before Viserys and Daemon reconciled.[1]
In 126 AC, Rhaenyra argued her second oldest son, Lucerys, should officially be named heir to Driftmark. Several lesser cousins of House Velaryon, however, unsuccessfully protested to the Iron Throne that her sons were bastards fathered by Harwin Strong and had no claim to Driftmark, so King Viserys issued the order to remove their tongues.[1][3]
Attendees
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
Ser Laenor Velaryon- King Viserys I Targaryen
Queen Alicent Hightower
Ser Criston Cole
Ser Harwin Strong
Ser Joffrey Lonmouth- Ser Gwayne Hightower
Four other sworn brothers of the Kingsguard
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.