Editing Viserys II Targaryen (section)

==History==
===Youth===
[[File:Daemon and Rhaenyra with their sons by Jota Saraiva.jpg|thumb|left|350px|[[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] and [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] with their sons: [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] and Viserys, by [https://www.instagram.com/jota.saraiva.art/ Jota Saraiva] ]]
Born in {{Date|122}}, 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.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Viserys was [[named after]] his grandfather, King [[Viserys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Viserys had four older brothers; three half-brothers from his mother's first marriage, [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]], [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]] and [[Joffrey Velaryon]], and one full-blood brother, [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]]. He also had two older half-sisers, [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]], from his father's second marriage.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

Viserys lived with his mother, father, brothers, and sisters on [[Dragonstone]], his mother's seat as the [[Prince of Dragonstone|Princess of Dragonstone]]. When his grandfather died in early {{Date|129}}, 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 stillborn younger sister, [[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Visenya]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

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.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}

===The Dance of the Dragons===
In late {{Date|129}}, at the behest of their half-brother Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]], Viserys and his older brother [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]] were sent to [[Essos]] aboard the ''[[Gay Abandon]]'' to be [[Fosterage|fostered]] by a [[Prince of Pentos|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 [[Tyrosh]]i captain brought Viserys to [[Sharako Lohar]], the Triarchy's admiral. Viserys's fate through the remainder of the [[Dance of the Dragons]] was unknown to his family, who believed he had died in [[Battle in the Gullet|the battle]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Viserys ended up in [[Lys]] at the [[manse]] of [[Bambarro Bazanne]] in {{Date|132}}. After the [[magister]] died in debt, his manse and property were seized by creditors. All of Bazanne's valuables, including the captive Viserys, passed into the custody of the wealthy [[Lysandro Rogare]] of the [[Rogare family]], whose [[Rogare Bank|bank]] at the time was as powerful as the [[Iron Bank of Braavos]]. Initially, Lysandro considered putting him to work as a courtesan on account of his striking beauty, but quickly{{Refn|group="N"|According the ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'', [[Larra Rogare]] was nineteen when she married Viserys, which would place their marriage in {{Date|134}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}} However, ''[[Fire & Blood]]'', which says [[Lysandro Rogare]] quickly changed plans after learning the identity of Viserys, implies a faster timeline.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}} Elio Garcia has clarified<ref>asoiaf.westeros.org: [https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/34958-the-asoiaf-wiki-thread/page/191/#comment-9194208 The ASOIAF wiki thread &ndash; Comment by Ran], March 10, 2026</ref> that ''The World of Ice & Fire'' is incorrect and a more accurate date for Viserys and Larra's wedding would be {{Date|132}} or {{Date|133}}.}} changed his plans when the prince revealed his identity. Viserys was wed to the family's youngest daughter, [[Larra Rogare|Larra]], despite her being seven years his senior.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}

===Reign of Aegon III===
[[File:Larra Rogare.png|thumb|350px|right|Viserys and [[Larra Rogare]] hold their child, [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]], as depicted by Magali Villeneuve in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]''.]]
During the early reign of Viserys's older brother, [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]], it became known in [[Westeros]] that Viserys had survived. He was recovered by Lord [[Alyn Velaryon]] in {{Date|134}}, and after a huge ransom was paid to the merchant princes of Lys, Viserys returned to [[King's Landing]] with Alyn Oakenfist. Aegon had never forgiven himself for abandoning his brother during the [[Battle in the Gullet]], and so Viserys's return was the only true joy he had in his reign. For the rest of Aegon's life, Viserys was the only person Aegon ever fully trusted.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}

Viserys came to King's Landing with his new wife Larra Rogare and several of her kin. During the [[Lysene Spring]], the ambitious Rogare family became embroiled in the conflicts of the [[regency of Aegon III]]. Although the Rogares at the [[Red Keep]] were apparently guilty of some crimes, their rivals in [[King's Landing]] blamed them for many more. In {{Date|135}}, Lord [[Thaddeus Rowan]] was tortured in an attempt to find evidence against the Rogares, and Ser [[Marston Waters]], the [[Hand of the King]], sent men to capture Larra after arresting her brothers. Aegon and Viserys refused to surrender Larra, however, and defiantly protected her in [[Maegor's Holdfast]] in what would later become known as the [[secret siege]]. Eventually the case against the Rogares collapsed.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}

Viserys and Larra had three children: [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]] (born {{Date|135}}), [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)|Aemon]] (born {{Date|136}}), and [[Naerys Targaryen|Naerys]] (born {{Date|138}}). Larra never felt happy at court,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}} and in {{Date|139}},<ref name=AMA>[http://www.westeros.org/BoD/Transcripts/Entry/The_World_of_Ice_and_Fire_AMA The World of Ice and Fire AMA]</ref> she left Viserys and their three children and returned to Lys, an experience that made the charming Viserys grow stern. Viserys had Aegon and Naerys wed to one another in {{Date|153}}, with Aegon III's blessing, while Aemon became a knight of the [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

===Hand of the King===
Eventually,<ref group="N">Ser [[Tywin Lannister]] was the youngest ever to be appointed [[Hand of the King]] at the age of twenty in {{Date|262}} (''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]'', "The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II"). Therefore Viserys, born in {{Date|122}} (''[[Fire & Blood]]'', "Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession"), cannot have been named Hand earlier than {{Date|143}}. As Viserys was Aegon III's Hand during the final years of his reign, which ended in {{Date|157}} (''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]'', "The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III"), Viserys can not have been named Hand later than {{Date|155}}. Thus, Viserys was appointed Hand of the King in or between {{Date|143}} and {{Date|155}}.</ref> Viserys served as [[Hand of the King]] during the last years of [[Aegon III Targaryen]]'s reign. They capably dealt with [[pretenders claiming to be Prince Daeron the Daring]]. A reluctant Aegon was convinced by Viserys that they needed to bring back [[dragon]]s to restore [[House Targaryen]]'s authority. [[Nine mages]] were thus summoned from [[Essos]], but their efforts to hatch [[dragon egg]]s failed. {{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} Viserys's efforts to help his brother rule were ultimately hampered by the Broken King's disinterest in gaining the support of his subjects.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

After Aegon III's death, Viserys remained as Hand during the reign of [[Daeron I Targaryen]], his elder nephew; Viserys did not insist upon a [[regency]]. Daeron the Young Dragon achieved glory through his [[conquest of Dorne]]. After Daeron was killed by rebellious [[Dornishmen]] while meeting under a peace banner,{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Adaeron I}} Viserys ordered that Dornish hostages in [[King's Landing]] be taken to the dungeon to await hanging.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}

Viserys remained as Hand for the next king, his younger nephew [[Baelor I Targaryen]], whose first act was to pardon the Dornish hostages in the capital.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} Viserys shrewdly managed the realm during King Baelor's barefoot journey to [[Sunspear]] to make peace with [[Dorne]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} Viserys objected when the pious Baelor dissolved his marriage with his sister, [[Daena Targaryen]], and imprisoned her in the [[Maidenvault]] with her younger sisters, [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aegon III)|Rhaena]] and [[Elaena Targaryen|Elaena]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} It was rumored that to spare the realm embarrassment, Viserys used his position as Hand to order the [[poison]]ing of [[High Septon (stonemason)|a stonemason]] whom Baelor had appointed as [[High Septon]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|AFFC|28}}

===Reign===
[[File:Viserys_II_Targaryen_by_Joto_Saraiva.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Viserys before and after his reign, by Joto Saraiva]]
Viserys II ascended the [[Iron Throne]] at age 49, after the death of his nephew, [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor the Blessed]], from prolonged fasting in {{Date|171}}. Lady [[Maia Stokeworth]], however, was among those who believed that Viserys, having grown tired of waiting for the throne, had [[poison]]ed Baelor.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} Another rumor was that Viserys had poisoned his nephew to save the realm from potential civil war, as Baelor allegedly intended to convert the [[north]] and the [[Iron Islands]] to the [[Faith of the Seven]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}

There were some amongst the [[smallfolk]]—and even some [[lord]]s—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 I Blackfyre|Daemon]]). The precedents of the [[Great Council of 101 AC]] 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|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

Although his reign lasted only a little longer than 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 [[Books of Law|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}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

Viserys was succeeded by his eldest son, [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]. Some historians suspect that Viserys's death was [[Kingslaying|not natural]] and that Aegon had poisoned his father.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

===Legacy===
Viserys is not remembered fondly in [[Westeros]], as some accuse him of poisoning [[Baelor I Targaryen]] 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 III Targaryen|Aegon the Dragonbane]], [[Daeron I Targaryen|Daeron the Young Dragon]], and Baelor the Blessed would arguably have been much worse if not for his tenure as Hand.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}{{Ref|ASOS|59}}