Maekar I Targaryen

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Maekar I
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File:MAEKAR I.jpg
Maekar I by Amoka©
Monarch
Reign 221 AC - 233 AC
Full name Maekar Targaryen the First of His Name
Titles
  • King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men
  • Lord of the Seven Kingdoms
  • Protector of the Realm
  • Prince of Summerhall
Predecessor Aerys I
Heir Daeron, Prince of Summerhall
Successor Aegon V
Personal Information
Born 174 AC [1]
Died 233 AC
Family
Dynasty House Targaryen
Issue Daeron Targaryen
Aerion Targaryen
Aemon Targaryen
Aegon V
Rhae Targaryen
Daella Targaryen
Father Daeron II
Mother Myriah Martell

Maekar I was ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and the fourteenth Targaryen to sit the Iron Throne. He was the fourth son of King Daeron II and was given the Targaryen seat of Summerhall. Maekar was a capable army commander who served in the Blackfyre Rebellion. After a number of unexpected deaths in the royal family, he came to the throne in 221 AC. He ruled until 233 AC, when he fell in battle against a rebel lord.

Appearance

Maekar is powerfully built and wears a beard. His eyes are violet and his hair is such a pale blonde that it is almost white. He had straight hair and a square-cut beard, both being the color of silver with a hint of gold. He was thickly built and powerful looking. Pox scars marred his cheeks.[2]

According to a semi-canon source, Maekar wore a crown of black iron and gold, with sharp points. He has his own personal coat of arms, the three-headed Targaryen dragon, quartered.[3]

Youth

Maekar was the son of Daeron II and Myriah Martell. As a fourth son, he was not expected to rule. He married early and fathered at least four sons and two daughters. He was given the Targaryen summer residence of Summerhall for his own.

Blackfyre Rebellion

During the Blackfyre Rebellion Maekar served as one of the Targaryen force's commanders. It was his shield wall that held against the "mad" attack of his uncle Bittersteel in the Battle of the Redgrass Field. When his brother Baelor Breakspear attacked the rebel army from the rear the battle was won. Later a song was made about the battle named the Hammer and the Anvil, with Baelor the hammer and Maekar the anvil.

Nevertheless, Maekar felt unappreciated. The victory was more attributed to his brother and the errors of Daemon Blackfyre then to his efforts. In other things he also stood in the shadow of his brothers, wounding his pride. Raymun Fossoway said of him:

Not as bold as Prince Baelor, nor as clever as Prince Aerys nor as gentle as Prince Rhaegel, and now he must suffer seeing his own sons overshadowed by his brother's.[4]

Tourney at Ashford

In 208 AC a tournament was held in Ashford. Maekar was there to see his sons Daeron and Aerion compete. His fourth son Aegon was to squire for Daeron. The tournament proved disastrous for Maekar and his sons. Daeron drank himself into a stupor before reaching the tournament, Aegon joined the service of the hedge knight Dunk in a disguise, and Aerion shamed himself during the joust by killing his opponent's horse. When Dunk attacked Aerion and the latter demanded a trial by combat, Maekar support Aerion's call for vengeance as well as Daeron's accusation that Dunk had kidnapped Aegon.

During the trial of seven, Maekar came to blows with his brother Baelor, who fought for Dunk, and delivered a lethal mace blow to Baelor's head. Baelor survived the trial, but died soon after taking off his helmet. Maekar suspected that he would thereafter be held in suspicion as a kinslayer. Dealing with the problems of his sons, Maekar banished Aerion to the Free Cities and offered Dunk a position in his personal guard to serve as a role model for Aegon. After Dunk refused, Maekar allowed Aegon to accompany Dunk as his squire.

Later life

In the Great Spring Sickness, King Daeron and the children of Maekar's brother Baelor died.[5] Maekar's brother Aerys I succeeded to the throne and appointed their bastard uncle Bloodraven as Hand. Maekar had expected to be appointed Hand and could not get along with Bloodraven, so he withdrew from court to his residence at Summerhall.

After Aerys's death, Maekar took the Iron Throne and had Bloodraven imprisoned. For seven years of his reign, a hot summer persisted. Some thought it was the Great Summer come at last. When it broke it was followed by a short autumn and a long, cold winter.[6]

Maekar ruled until 233 AC when he fell in battle against an unknown rebel lord, possibly in one of the later Blackfyre rebellions or possibly against the last Lothston Lord. He was succeeded by his son Aegon.

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daeron II
 
Myriah
Martell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baelor
 
Jena
Dondarrion
 
Aerys I
 
Aelinor
Penrose
 
Rhaegel
 
Alys
Arryn
 
Maekar I
 
Dyanna
Dayne
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Valarr
 
Kiera of
Tyrosh
[N 1]
 
Matarys
 
Aelora
 
Aelor
 
Daenora
 
Aerion
 
Daeron
 
Kiera of
Tyrosh
[N 1]
 
Aemon
 
Daella
 
Aegon V
 
Rhae
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stillborn sons
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maegor
 
 
 
 
 
Vaella
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
descendants
 
House Targaryen.svg
 
Unknown
descendants
 
Notes:
  1. Kiera of Tyrosh was widowed when Valarr Targaryen died from the Great Spring Sickness; some time later she married his cousin Daeron.


References and Notes

  1. See Maekar_I/Theories
  2. The Hedge Knight, Legends, ISBN 0-312-86787-5, pages 483-484 of 457-533.
  3. Targaryen Kings. November 1, 2005 So Spake Martin
  4. The Hedge Knight, Legends, ISBN 0-312-86787-5, page 500 of 457-533.
  5. The Sworn Sword, Legends II, ISBN 0-345-45644-0, page 115 of 73-152.
  6. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.