Difference between revisions of "Blackfyre Pretenders"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
(Touch up)
m (History)
Line 11: Line 11:
 
Maron had won a few concessions for Dorne during the negotiations, and the lords of Dorne held significant rights and privileges that the other greater houses in the Seven Kingdoms did not. In addition, Daeron brought many Dornishmen to his court, who held important offices, causing others to believe that Dorne held too much influence over the King.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}
 
Maron had won a few concessions for Dorne during the negotiations, and the lords of Dorne held significant rights and privileges that the other greater houses in the Seven Kingdoms did not. In addition, Daeron brought many Dornishmen to his court, who held important offices, causing others to believe that Dorne held too much influence over the King.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}
  
Lords in the Dornish Marches came to mistrust Daeron II, as well as his heir, Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor]], who looked more like a Martell than a Targaryen. They began to miss the times of old, when, instead of 'fighting' the Dornishmen for their King's attention, the Dornish were the enemy to fight. People began to look at Daemon Blackfyre - a warrior, powerful, described as 'half a god amongst mortal men', and in possession of the sword of Aegon the Conqueror - and they began to wonder. King Aegon IV had hated the Dornish and fought against them, and those lords who desired those days looked with dismay on the peace of Daeron II's reign, so they began to seek Daemon out. In total, it took eight years before the rebellion bloomed. In {{Date|196}}, Daemon Blackfyre, son of Princess Daena and King Aegon IV, began his rebellion, which would last nigh on a year.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}} Four more rebellions would follow, until {{Date|260}}, when the last male of [[House Blackfyre]] was slain on the [[Stepstones]].{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II}}
+
Lords in the Dornish Marches came to mistrust Daeron II, as well as his heir, Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor]], who looked more like a Martell than a Targaryen. They began to miss the times of old, when, instead of 'fighting' the Dornishmen for their King's attention, the Dornish were the enemy to fight. People began to look at Daemon Blackfyre - a warrior, powerful, described as 'half a god amongst mortal men', and in possession of the sword of Aegon the Conqueror - and they began to wonder. King Aegon IV had hated the Dornish and fought against them, and those lords who desired those days looked with dismay on the peace of Daeron II's reign, so they began to seek Daemon out. In total, it took eight years before the rebellion bloomed. In {{Date|196}}, Daemon Blackfyre, son of Princess Daena and King Aegon IV, began his rebellion, which would last nigh on a year.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}} Four more rebellions would follow, until {{Date|260}}, when the last male of [[House Blackfyre]] was slain on the [[Stepstones]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II}}
  
 
===First Blackfyre Rebellion===
 
===First Blackfyre Rebellion===

Revision as of 18:25, 29 August 2015

The Blackfyre Pretenders were a series of claimants to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, flying the banner of House Blackfyre in several Blackfyre Rebellions. The Blackfyres opposed the reign of House Targaryen from the reign of King Daeron II until they were eliminated during the reign of King Jaehaerys II.[1][2][3]

History

Background

King Aegon IV Targaryen legitimized all of his bastard children on his deathbed, most notably his noble Great Bastards, most famous of whom were Ser Daemon Blackfyre, Ser Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers, Ser Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers, and Shiera Seastar. After Aegon's death he was succeeded by his legitimate son, Daeron II. However, there were those who claimed that Daeron's true father was Aegon's brother, Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, a rumor brought into the world years before, by King Aegon IV himself.[4]

As the bastard son of King Aegon IV Targaryen and Princess Daena Targaryen, he had taken for his sigil the Targaryen sigil with the colors reversed, a black dragon on red.[2] Two years prior, he had been given the valyrian steel sword Blackfyre by King Aegon IV, who had at the same time acknowledged the boy as his bastard. Daemon called himself Daemon Blackfyre thereafter.[4]

King Aegon IV's reign had been corrupt, and when Daeron II ascended the throne in 184 AC, court was reformed. All the members of the small council were dismissed, and replaced by men of Daeron's choosing. The City Watch was likewise "repaired", though it took more than a year to do so. Most importantly, Daeron sought to unify all of the Kingsdoms, by bringing Dorne into the peace of the Iron Throne. It took two years of negotiations before Prince Maron Martell, Daeron II's good-brother and the Prince of Dorne, agreed to be betrothed to Princess Daenerys Targaryen, the wedding which would unite Dorne with the other Kingdoms under Targaryen rule; They were wed in 187 AC.[2]

Maron had won a few concessions for Dorne during the negotiations, and the lords of Dorne held significant rights and privileges that the other greater houses in the Seven Kingdoms did not. In addition, Daeron brought many Dornishmen to his court, who held important offices, causing others to believe that Dorne held too much influence over the King.[2]

Lords in the Dornish Marches came to mistrust Daeron II, as well as his heir, Prince Baelor, who looked more like a Martell than a Targaryen. They began to miss the times of old, when, instead of 'fighting' the Dornishmen for their King's attention, the Dornish were the enemy to fight. People began to look at Daemon Blackfyre - a warrior, powerful, described as 'half a god amongst mortal men', and in possession of the sword of Aegon the Conqueror - and they began to wonder. King Aegon IV had hated the Dornish and fought against them, and those lords who desired those days looked with dismay on the peace of Daeron II's reign, so they began to seek Daemon out. In total, it took eight years before the rebellion bloomed. In 196 AC, Daemon Blackfyre, son of Princess Daena and King Aegon IV, began his rebellion, which would last nigh on a year.[2] Four more rebellions would follow, until 260 AC, when the last male of House Blackfyre was slain on the Stepstones.[3]

First Blackfyre Rebellion

In 196 AC, Daemon Blackfyre, the bastard son of the late King Aegon IV Targaryen and his cousin, Princess Daena Targaryen, attempted to usurp the throne from King Daeron II Targaryen, the legitimate son of King Aegon IV Targaryen and his sister-Queen, Naerys. This caused the the second major civil war in the history of the Targaryen reign. The war lasted nigh on a year. At the end of the war, Daemon and his two eldest sons, Aegon and Aemon, were killed, and his allies defeated. However, five of Daemon's sons and several daughters survived and were carried into exile to the Free Cities by Aegor Rivers, known as "Bittersteel", Daemon's halfbrother, who had been one of Daemon's biggest supporters, and who continued plotting.[2][1][5]

Second Blackfyre Rebellion

In 211 AC, Daemon II Blackfyre, disguised as "Ser John the Fiddler", and other Blackfyre loyalists attempted to launch a second rebellion under the pretense of gathering for the Whitewalls tourney. They were exposed by Hand of the King Brynden Rivers, who ended the rebellion before it began, by arresting Daemon, and either executing or punishing those lords who had been willing to support him. Daemon was kept alive and imprisoned to prevent Bittersteel from crowning Daemon's younger brother, Haegon, as his successor.[5][6]King Aerys'

Third Blackfyre Rebellion

In 219 AC, Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers launched a new invasion, after crowning Haegon I Blackfyre. Prince Maekar Targaryen, as well as two of his sons, Princes Aegon and Aerion, fought in this conflict. Bloodraven and Bittersteel faced each other during battle, fighting their second duel. The Rebellion ended with the death of Haegon I, and the arrest of Bittersteel. While Bittersteel was send to the Wall, to join the Night's Watch, the ship which was transporting him north was attacked by the Golden Company, which had been founded by Bittersteel a year after the Second Blackfyre Rebellion had failed. Bittersteel escaped, and before the year had ended, had crowned Haegon's eldest son, Daemon, Daemon III Blackfyre.[6]

Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion

In 236 AC, Daemon III Blackfyre and Aegor Rivers launched the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion. Their army landed at Massey's Hook. While Daemon had the support of the Golden Company, there were only few lords who flocked to their banners. The Rebellion ended with Daemon's death during the Battle of the Wendwater Bridge, where Ser Duncan the Tall of the Kingsguard slew him. Bittersteel retreated across the Narrow Sea once more.[7]

Fifth Blackfyre Rebellion: the War of the Ninepenny Kings

In 260 AC, a descendant of Daemon I, the captain-general of the Golden Company, Maelys I Blackfyre, also known as "Maelys the Monstrous", tried to gain power in the east with the Band of Nine, and invade Westeros. King Jaehaerys II Targaryen responded swiftly, dispatching an army to the Stepstones, meeting them in battle, instead of waiting for the threat to reach Westeros. The ensuing conflict was dubbed the War of the Ninepenny Kings. The threat to Targaryen rule was ended when Ser Barristan Selmy slew Maelys the Monstrous in single combat. Together with Maelys, the male line of House Blackfyre died.[3]

Aftermath

After five generations, the Blackfyre Pretenders were all killed. The Golden Company, raised in 212 AC by Aegor Rivers, still remains, fighting as a mercenary force in Essos.[8] It is considered to be one of the finest sellsword companies, consisting out of exiles and sons of exiles, all formidable fighters[9] who dream of gold and home.[8]

The Pretenders

History records five Blackfyre Pretenders:[3]


Despite not being a Blackfyre Pretender, the fifth son of Daemon I, Aenys Blackfyre, put his name forward in the Great Council of 233 AC. Invited to King's Landing to present his claim, he was dishonorably killed by Bloodraven, despite promise of safe passage.[10]

House Blackfyre


 
 
 
Daena
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
Aegon IV
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barba
Bracken
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daemon I
 
Rohanne
of Tyrosh
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aegon
 
 
Daemon II
 
 
Aenys
 
Two sons
 
 
Calla
 
Aegor
Rivers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aemon
 
Haegon
 
Unknown
wife
 
Daughter(s)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daemon III
 
Son(s)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daemon
 
Maelys
 

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Sworn Sword.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II.
  4. 4.0 4.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  5. 5.0 5.1 The Mystery Knight.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
  7. 7.0 7.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
  9. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I.