Editing Aerys II Targaryen (section)

===Robert's Rebellion===
:{{Main|Robert's Rebellion}}
[[File:Mad King AerysJake Murray.png|thumb|350px|Mad King Aerys, by Jake Murray © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Aerys's acts triggered a chain of events that would become known as the War of the Usurper to [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] loyalists and [[Robert's Rebellion]] to those who fought on the rebel side. Houses [[House Arryn|Arryn]],{{ref|ADWD|9}} [[House Stark|Stark]],{{Ref|AGOT|12}} and [[House Baratheon|Baratheon]],{{ref|AGOT|12}} and later on in the war also Houses [[House Tully|Tully]]{{ref|ASOS|29}} and [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]],{{ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}} united in rebellion against the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} Houses [[House Tyrell|Tyrell]]{{ref|AGOT|27}} and [[House Martell|Martell]] remained loyal to Aerys,{{ref|ASOS|37}} however, and [[House Lannister]] stayed neutral for most of the conflict.{{ref|AGOT|12}}

Aerys's [[Hand of the King|Hand]] at the start of the rebellion was still Lord [[Owen Merryweather]], but he was quickly replaced for his failure to act to contain the unrest in its early stages. Aerys next turned to Lord [[Jon Connington]] of [[Griffin's Roost]], a close friend of Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. Jon promised to deliver Robert's head, but he was exiled by Aerys after losing to rebel forces at [[Stoney Sept]] in the [[Battle of the Bells]].{{ref|AFFC|27}}

As his next Hand, Aerys chose Lord [[Qarlton Chelsted]].{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}} By this point, the king was becoming fearful of a rebel victory, and he hatched the [[wildfire plot]], a plan to gain a final revenge against his enemies in the event that they took the capital. He ordered [[pyromancer]]s to create a massive reserve of [[wildfire]] and secret it around [[King's Landing]], plotting to burn down the entire city and kill all its inhabitants rather than allow Robert to have it intact. Upon discovering the plot, Lord Chelsted confronted Aerys and, when he realized the king could not be dissuaded, resigned his position in disgust, flinging his chain of office at the king's feet. Aerys had him burned alive. The [[Alchemists' Guild]] had enjoyed royal favor ever since the Defiance of Duskendale owing to the king's obsession with wildfire, and Aerys appointed the head of the guild, [[Rossart]], his final Hand.{{ref|ASOS|37}}

After the [[Battle of the Trident]], in which Prince Rhaegar was slain by Robert and the royal army defeated, a rebel victory was all but certain.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} Aerys sent Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]] (then newly pregnant with Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]]) and Prince [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] to [[Dragonstone]] for their own safety. However, he kept Rhaegar's widow, Princess [[Elia Martell]], and her young children, Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]] and Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]], with him at the Red Keep, believing they were necessary as hostages to ensure the loyalty of House Martell and [[Dorne]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: The End}}