Baelor I Targaryen

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Baelor I
House Targaryen.PNG
BAELOR I.jpg
Baelor I by Amoka©
Monarch
Reign 161 AC - 171 AC
Full name Baelor Targaryen First of His Name
Title King of the Seven Kingdoms
Predecessor Daeron I
Successor Viserys II
Personal Information
Aliases
  • Baelor the Beloved
  • Baelor the Blessed
Born 143 AC
Died 171 AC
Family
Dynasty House Targaryen
Queen Daena the Defiant
Issue None
Father Aegon III
Mother Unknown of House Velaryon


Baelor I, known as the Beloved and the Blessed, was the ninth Targaryen king to reign on the Iron Throne. Known for his piety, Baelor was a septon as well as a king.[1] He was the second son of Aegon III and ruled after the death of his brother Daeron I. The Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing features a statue of him.

Biography

Some remember Baelor as a great and holy man, given to deep prayer and fasting to experience religious visions, and honor him for his contributions to the Faith, including the construction of the Great Sept in King's Landing. Others regard him as a weak, simpering fool, prone to hallucinations and bad decisions brought about by excessive zealotry.

Upon his brother Daeron's death, Baelor is said to have walked the Boneway barefoot to make peace with Dorne. It is also said that he saved his cousin Aemon the Dragonknight from a snake pit, where he was bitten many times by the vipers whose venom could not kill him because of his faith in the Seven; this tale may simply be a metaphorical version of his visit to Dorne, referring to Dorne itself as a "snake pit," and the Dornish, "vipers." While he prayed, his uncle, Viserys, ruled as his Hand of the King.[2]

Baelor earned the contempt of his nobles by forcing Lord Belgrave to wash the feet of a leper.[3] He tried to replace all the ravens that delivered messages with doves, and confined his sisters, Daena Targaryen (to whom he was married), Rhaena, and Elaena in the Maidenvault so they did not tempt him with carnal thoughts.[4][5] He attempted to birth new dragons by praying over the dragon eggs but his prayers went unanswered.[6] Baelor once banished all the whores and sex workers from King's Landing. He prayed for them but did not look at them. Baelor decided not to re-arm the faith, as Baelor was a man of peace who believed the only weapon the faithful should have is prayer.

During his reign he had a stonemason named as the High Septon, a man that could carve stonework so beautifully that Baelor believed him to be the Smith in human form. While a fantastic stonecarver, the new High Septon could not read, write or recite any prayers. Rumor spread that Baelor's Hand had him poisoned to end the embarrassment to the realm. Baelor then raised a boy of eight years to High Septon, who Baelor claimed worked miracles, although the boy could not save the king's life on his deathbed.[7] Baelor starved himself to death by prolonged fasting to cleanse himself of lust.

Family

Template:Targaryen tree Visery

Appearance

According to a semi-canon source, he was very thin from his repeated fasts. He wore a beard and long hair of silver-gold. His crown was made of flowers and vines.[8]

References and Notes