Rhaella Targaryen

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House Targaryen crest.PNG
Rhaella Targaryen
House Targaryen crest.PNG
Rhaella Targaryen.jpg

Title Queen
Allegiance House Targaryen
Died 284 AC
Dragonstone
Spouse Aerys II Targaryen
Books

Rhaella Targaryen was the sister, wife, and queen of King Aerys II Targaryen and the daughter of King Jaehaerys II Targaryen. Her grandfather was Aegon V Targaryen. Rhaella had three children, Prince Rhaegar, Prince Viserys, and Princess Daenerys. She died shortly after giving birth to the princess.[1]

Rhaella and Aerys' unhappy wedding

History

Ser Barristan Selmy claimed that in her youth Rhaella was in love with Ser Bonifer Hasty, who wore her favor and won a tournament where he named Rhaella queen of love and beauty. The pair had a passionate but ultimately doomed relationship, as Bonifer was of too low birth to be seriously considered as a suitor for a Targaryen princess. When Rhaella was a princess, her ladies-in-waiting included Lady Joanna Lannister and the mother of Prince Doran Martell.[2]

Later in her life, at the command of her father, King Jaehaerys II, Rhaella married her brother Aerys at some time before 259 AC. Jaehaerys was influenced by a woods witch brought to court by Jenny of Oldstones, who prophesied that the prince that was promised would be born from their line. According to Barristan, there was no fondness between Aerys and Rhaella on the day of their wedding.[3]

On the same day her grandfather and his eldest son perished in the Tragedy at Summerhall, Aerys became crown prince and Rhaella gave birth to their first child, Rhaegar.[4]

In later years, as Aerys's insanity began to set in, he grew sexually abusive toward Rhaella. He developed a sexual fetish for fire and death, only sleeping with Rhaella after he had executed someone by burning. The final time, just before the queen was sent to Dragonstone to escape the coming siege of King's Landing by rebels during the War of the Usurper, Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard recalls listening to Rhaella cry as the king raped her; when Jaime protested that the Kingsguard were sworn to defend the queen as well, Ser Jon Darry replied, "We are, but not from him". In the morning, the queen's maids reported seeing scratches, bruises and bite marks all over her body.[5]

According to Ser Barristan Selmy, Rhaella did her best to protect her younger son, Viserys, from the worst of Aerys's excesses, keeping her child oblivious to the fact his father was sliding deeper into madness.[6]

When the Sack of King's Landing occurred two weeks later, Rahella and Viserys became the last known surviving members of House Targaryen. Rhaella spent the duration of her pregnancy on Dragonstone, where she delivered her third child, Daenerys. She died shortly thereafter from the stress of giving birth.[1]

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aegon V
 
Betha
Blackwood
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duncan
 
Jenny
of Oldstones
 
Jaehaerys II
 
Shaera
 
Daeron
 
Rhaelle
 
Ormund
Baratheon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aerys II
 
Rhaella
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Baratheon.svg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rhaegar
 
Elia
Martell
 
Shaena
 
 
Stillborn
child
 
 
Jaehaerys
 
 
Drogo
 
Daenerys
 
Hizdahr
zo Loraq
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rhaenys
 
Aegon
 
 
 
Daeron
 
Aegon
 
Viserys
 
Rhaego
 

References and Notes