Editing Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)

{{Hatnote|For other characters with the same name, see [[Aemon (disambiguation)]].}}

{{Infobox character
| firstname = Aemon
| lastname = Targaryen
| arms = Targaryen
| arms2 = Kingsguard
| title = Prince
| epithet = the Dragonknight
| image = [[File:Aemon the Dragonknight Chillyraven.png|300px]]
| image_caption	= Prince Aemon Targaryen, the Dragonknight,<br>by Chillyravenart ©
| Alias	= The Dragonknight<br>The Knight of Tears
| Title	= [[Prince]]<br>[[Knight|Ser]]<br>[[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]]
| Allegiance = [[House Targaryen]]<br>[[Kingsguard]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = [[Viserys II Targaryen]]
| Mother = [[Larra Rogare]]
| Spouse =
| Lover = [[Naerys Targaryen]] <small>(rumored)</small>{{Ref|AWOIAF|Aemon Targaryen}}
| Issue = [[Daeron II Targaryen]] <small>(rumored)</small>
| Place_of_Birth = [[Red Keep]], [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
| Date_of_Birth	= {{Date|136}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death	= {{Date|178|183}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)|Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)]] calculation.''</ref>
| Books	= ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Sworn Sword]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (mentioned)
}}

Prince '''Aemon Targaryen''', also known as '''the Dragonknight''', was the second son of King [[Viserys II Targaryen]] and his wife, Lady [[Larra Rogare]]. Aemon joined the [[Kingsguard]] during the reign of his uncle, King [[Aegon III Targaryen]], at the age of seventeen,{{Ref|ASOS|67}} and eventually rose to become [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]]. After Aegon III, Aemon served four other kings. He died saving the life of his brother, King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]].

Prince Aemon has been referred to as the noblest knight who ever lived, and his skill with a sword is legendary throughout the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. Even over a hundred years after his death, he is a popular figure among the highborn and [[smallfolk]] in songs, stories, and fables.

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)|l1=Images of Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)}}

As an infant, Aemon was large, lusty and strong, and just as beautiful as his brother [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]] was.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}

Aemon possessed some piety, making him more alike to his younger sister [[Naerys Targaryen|Naerys]] than to his older brother Aegon.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}} He became a great jouster and swordsman later in life. It is said that Aemon considered [[Cregan Stark]] to have been the best swordsman he ever faced.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} He is considered by some to have been the noblest knight to have ever lived.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

Aemon became known as the Dragonknight because the crest on his helm was a three-headed dragon of [[House Targaryen]] wrought in white gold.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

==History==
===Early life===
[[File:Aemon_Targaryen_by_novembermorgon.png|left|thumb|200px|Young Aemon by novembermorgon]]
Aemon was born to Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] and Lady [[Larra Rogare]] on the eve of [[Smith's Day]] in {{Date|136}}. A [[dragon's egg]] was placed in his cradle.{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}} All rejoiced at his birth, except his older brother [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon]], who was found by their mother hitting the newborn Aemon with Aemon's egg.{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}

Aemon was inseparable from his sister [[Naerys Targaryen|Naerys]] when they were young.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Stories speak of Aemon's doomed love for his sister.{{Ref|agot|51}} Aemon and Naerys supposedly loved each other.{{Ref|AGOT|44}}{{Ref|ACOK|60}} According to the singers, both Aemon and Naerys cried the day Naerys married Aegon in {{Date|153}}, although historians report that Naerys had only cried during the [[bedding]], while Aemon had quarreled with Aegon at the [[marriage|wedding]] feast.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}} Aemon grew to be so accomplished in the lists and with the sword that he was deemed worthy of carrying the [[Valyrian steel]] sword [[Dark Sister]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}} Shortly after Naerys and Aegon's wedding,<ref>asoiaf.westeros.org: [https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/153070-small-questions-v-10106/&do=findComment&comment=8318159 Small Questions v. 10106 (March 21, 2019)]</ref> Aemon joined the [[Kingsguard]], taking his vows at the age of seventeen during the reign of his uncle, King [[Aegon III Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Aemon Targaryen}}{{Ref|aSoS|12}} During his life, Aemon would serve under five kings: his uncle Aegon III, his cousins [[Daeron I Targaryen|Daeron I]] and [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor I]], his father [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]], and lastly his brother [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon IV]].

Aemon once fought Lord [[Cregan Stark]] of [[Winterfell]] and claimed he never faced a finer swordsman.{{Ref|AGOT|66}}

===Conquest of Dorne===
Aemon took part in the [[Conquest of Dorne|invasion of Dorne]], led by his cousin and king, [[Daeron I Targaryen]]. Aemon prevented an assassination attempt on Daeron by throwing himself in the path of a [[poison]]ed arrow meant for his king. Aemon survived the poison and was sent back to [[King's Landing]] to recover.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I}}

Upon his recovery Aemon returned to [[Dorne]] to protect his king and won great fame by defeating a Dornish champion. A rebellion in Dorne undid Daeron's conquest, however. Aemon was with Daeron when he met the [[Dornishmen]] under a peace banner in {{Date|161}}, together with four other knights of the [[Kingsguard]]. Three of those Kingsguard knights died defending Daeron, one shamefully yielded, and Aemon was captured after slaying two of the betrayers.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I}} [[Lord Wyl (conquest of Dorne)|Lord Wyl]] of [[Wyl (castle)|Wyl]] eventually put Aemon naked in a [[crow cage]] placed above a pit filled with [[Snake|vipers]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}

===Reign of Baelor===
[[File:Viper pit.png|thumb|250px|Prince Aemon pulls up [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor]] from the viper pit in [[Dorne]], as depicted by Arthur Bozonnet in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
The new king, [[Baelor I Targaryen]], made peace with the [[Prince of Dorne]]. On his return trip from [[Sunspear]], Baelor tried to free his cousin Aemon. [[House Wyl]] was told to release Aemon into Baelor's custody, but instead they gave Baelor the key to the cage and an invitation to use it. The Dragonknight, fearing for his cousin and new king's safety, begged Baelor to leave him, but Baelor refused and walked into the pit.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}

Singers say the snakes bowed their heads and refused to bite Baelor due to protection from [[Faith of the Seven|the gods]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} However, some [[maesters]] believe Baelor was bitten six times before reaching Aemon's cage,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} while [[Dornishmen]] claim the king was bitten half a hundred times before using the key.{{Ref|ASOS|59}} The freed Aemon carried Baelor upon his back, while the Wyls wagered on how long they would last.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}

The venom put Baelor in a coma, so Aemon carried the comatose king north. A [[septon]] in a village located on the [[Boneway]] in the [[Red Mountains]] gave Aemon clothing and an ass to carry Baelor. The cousins arrived at [[Blackhaven]], where the castle's maester treated Baelor. The king eventually awoke upon the journey to [[Storm's End]], but it was half a year more before he was fit to travel to [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}

===Reign of Viserys II===
Aemon served during the brief reign of his father [[Viserys II Targaryen]], king from {{Date|171}} to {{Date|172}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

===Reign of Aegon IV===
Aemon's elder brother, [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon IV]], succeeded their father, Viserys II. During Aegon's reign, Aemon remained the [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]],{{Ref|AWOIAF|Aemon Targaryen}} a position he held until his death.

When Naerys was accused of adultery and treason by Ser [[Morgil Hastwyck]], Prince Aemon defended his sister's honor in [[trial by combat]] and slew Morgil.{{Ref|aGoT|15}} This inspired many songs and furthered Aemon's renown, much to King Aegon's annoyance.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}

Rumors remained about Aemon being the actual father of Aegon's son and heir, Prince [[Daeron II Targaryen|Daeron]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Aemon Targaryen}} This caused several people to look at one of Aegon's bastards, [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon Blackfyre]], as the new heir to the throne. The truth of these rumors have never been proven or disproven. According to the writings of [[Maester]] [[Kaeth]] in ''[[Lives of Four Kings]]'', Aegon IV secretly started the rumors of Naerys's adultery and used Morgil to instigate this tale, though at the time Aegon denied this. These accusations coincidentally started when Aegon and his heir, Prince Daeron, were quarreling. Daeron opposed Aegon's plan for an unprovoked war on [[Dorne]], and the prince being Aemon's son would give King Aegon a legitimate reason to set aside his heir in favor of his bastard, Daemon.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}

[[File:Queen Naerys and Aemon the Dragonknight by Jota Saraiva.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Aemon and Naerys, by Jota Saraiva]]

Queen [[Naerys Targaryen]] was near death after the birth of [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Aegon IV)|Daenerys]] and a stillborn son. There were no known rumors about the parentage of Princess Daenerys.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Aegon's [[Hand of the King]], [[Lord Bracken]], hoped the king would marry his daughter [[Barba Bracken|Barba]], the mother of Aegon's bastard [[Aegor Rivers]] if the queen died. Naerys recovered, however, and Prince Daeron and the Dragonknight forced Barba to leave with the infant Aegor for [[Stone Hedge]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} In contrast to Barba, Aegon's next mistress, [[Melissa Blackwood]], was befriended by Aemon, Daeron, and Naerys.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}

Disguised as a [[mystery knight]], Prince Aemon once won a [[tourney]] after his brother Aegon had forbidden him to take part, because Aegon wanted to crown his mistress of that time as the [[queen of love and beauty]]. After winning as the "Knight of Tears", Aemon crowned Naerys as queen of love and beauty instead.{{Ref|ASOS|24}}

Despite Aegon's feelings of disrespect and hatred towards Aemon and Aegon's provocations, Aemon died honorably, defending his brother and king against the assassination attempt by two [[Brothers Toyne|brothers]] of [[House Toyne]] who sought revenge for the torture and execution of their brother, Ser [[Terrence Toyne]].{{Ref|aSoS|67}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Aegon IV Targaryen}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Aemon Targaryen}} Queen Naerys grieved Aemon's death and died in childbirth a year later.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}

==Legacy==
[[File:Aemon the Dragonknight.jpg|thumb|250px|Aemon the Dragonknight, by [http://dragonman14x.deviantart.com/art/Aemon-the-Dragonknight-409564860 Robert O'Leary] ©]]
King Aegon IV did little to honor the Dragonknight's memory. Aegon began to make barely-veiled references to his son Daeron's alleged illegitimacy, something he only dared to do because both Naerys and Aemon were dead.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Aegon's attempts to blacken his brother's name failed, as Aemon is remembered as a heroic figure on par with legends of the [[Age of Heroes]] and his memory greatly respected throughout [[Westeros]], while the king was posthumously dubbed Aegon the Unworthy. 

Daeron II, Aemon's nephew (or son, according to the rumors), named his grandson [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon Targaryen]] in honor of the Dragonknight.{{Ref|AWOIAF|Aemon Targaryen}}{{Ref|aGoT|60}} [[Tyrion Lannister]] uses Aemon as comparison when describing the fame of [[Barristan Selmy]] among [[smallfolk]].{{Ref|ACOK|3}}

==Quotes about Aemon==
{{Quote|The days when men like [[Ryam Redwyne]] and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight wore the white cloak are gone to dust and song.{{Ref|aGoT|30}}|[[Varys]] to [[Eddard Stark]] regarding [[Robert I Baratheon]]'s [[Kingsguard]]}}

{{Quote|[[Daeron II Targaryen|My grandfather]] named me for Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, who was his uncle, or his father, depending on which tale you believe. Aemon, he called me ...{{Ref|AGOT|60}}|[[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] to [[Jon Snow]]}}

{{Quote|'''Arianne:''' And the Dragonknight? The noblest [[knight]] who ever lived, you said, and he took his queen to bed and got her with child.<br>
'''Arys:''' I will not believe that. The tale of Prince Aemon's treason with Queen [[Naerys Targaryen|Naerys]] was only that, a tale, a lie [[Aegon IV Targaryen|his brother]] told when he wished to set [[Daeron II Targaryen|his trueborn son]] aside in favor of [[Daemon I Blackfyre|his bastard]]. Aegon was not called the Unworthy without cause.{{Ref|AFFC|13}}|[[Arianne Martell]] and [[Arys Oakheart]]}}

{{Quote|When he was born they named him for a hero who had died too young.{{Ref|aFfC|35}}|[[Samwell Tarly]] recalling [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon's]] namesake}}

{{Quote|Why, every child in [[Westeros]] knows how Prince Aemon the Dragonknight championed his sister Queen [[Naerys]] against Ser [[Morgil Hastwyck|Morghil's]] accusations.{{Ref|aFfC|43}}|[[Cersei Lannister]] to [[Taena of Myr]]}}

{{Quote|Not every man has it in him to be Prince Aemon the Dragonknight or [[Symeon Star-Eyes]]...{{Ref|ADWD|29}}|[[Wyman Manderly]] to [[Davos Seaworth]]}}

==Family==
{{Targaryen tree Aegon III}}

==References==
{{References}}

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{{S-ttl|title=[[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]]|under=[[Viserys II Targaryen]]<br>[[Aegon IV Targaryen]]}}
{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after|unknnext=[[Duncan the Tall]]}}
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{{Kingsguard of Aegon III}}
{{Kingsguard of Daeron I}}
{{Kingsguard of Baelor I}}
{{Kingsguard of Viserys II}}
{{Kingsguard of Aegon IV}}
{{Lords Commander of the Kingsguard}}
{{Aegon IV small council}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Targaryen, Aemon}}
[[Category:House Targaryen|Aemon Targaryen]]
[[Category:136 AC births]]
[[Category:2nd century AC deaths]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:Lords Commander of the Kingsguard]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon III Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Daeron I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Baelor I Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Viserys II Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of Aegon IV Targaryen's court]]
[[Category:Members of the Kingsguard]]
[[Category:Mystery knights]]
[[Category:Nobles]]
[[Category:Veterans of the Conquest of Dorne]]
[[Category:Wielders of Dark Sister]]

[[es:Aemon Targaryen]]
[[fr:Aemon Targaryen]]
[[nl:Aemon Targaryen (Drakenridder)]]
[[pt:Aemon Targaryen]]
[[ru:Эймон Рыцарь-Дракон]]
[[zh:伊蒙·坦格利安(韦赛里斯二世之子)]]