Difference between revisions of "Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)"

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==Appearance and Character==
 
==Appearance and Character==
Rhaena was born with lilac eyes and hair that shined like silver, she was small like her father was at his birth, but a healthy and happy child. At eighteen, Rhaena was a beautiful woman, with silver-gold hair, and had many a suitor. She was brave, fierce and willful.{{Ref|fab|The Sons of the Dragon}} Due to numerous betrayals and tragedies in later life, she became withdrawn and detached. In her last years her hair had turned completely white.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
+
Rhaena was born with lilac eyes and hair that shined like silver, she was small like her father was at his birth, but a healthy. She was described as a shy, dreamy child who was more comfortable with animals than other children. At eighteen, Rhaena was a beautiful woman, with silver-gold hair, and had many a suitor. She was brave, fierce and willful.{{Ref|fab|The Sons of the Dragon}} Due to numerous betrayals and tragedies in later life, she became withdrawn and detached. In her last years her hair had turned completely white.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==

Revision as of 12:30, 14 January 2019

House Targaryen.svg
Rhaena Targaryen
House Targaryen.svg
Rhaena Targaryen 23.jpg
Rhaena Targaryen, as depicted by Magali Villeneuve in The World of Ice & Fire.

Aliases
Titles
  • Princess
  • Queen
Allegiance House Targaryen
Race Valyrian
Culture Crownlands
Born 23 AC[3]
Died 73 AC[2]
Harrenhal[2]
Spouses
Books

Princess Rhaena Targaryen, one of the Black Brides[4][5] of King Maegor I Targaryen, was the eldest of the six children of King Aenys I Targaryen and Queen Alyssa Velaryon.[6][7] She was a dragonrider and rode the dragon Dreamfyre.[8]

Appearance and Character

Rhaena was born with lilac eyes and hair that shined like silver, she was small like her father was at his birth, but a healthy. She was described as a shy, dreamy child who was more comfortable with animals than other children. At eighteen, Rhaena was a beautiful woman, with silver-gold hair, and had many a suitor. She was brave, fierce and willful.[9] Due to numerous betrayals and tragedies in later life, she became withdrawn and detached. In her last years her hair had turned completely white.[10]

History

Early life

Rhaena was born in 23 AC to Prince Aenys Targaryen and Lady Alyssa Velaryon she was named in honor of Aenys late mother, Rhaenys Targaryen, Rhaena was Aegon the Conquerors first grandchild and he was said to have wept when first holding her. Following Rhaena's birth, people suggested that her uncle Maegor would fall behind her in the line of succession, as she was the eldest (and at the time only) child of Aenys, the heir to the throne. The next year, Queen Visenya Targaryen suggested a betrothal between her son Maegor and Rhaena in order to settle the succession issue. Both Rhaena's parents and the High Septon protested the match. The High Septon instead suggested his niece, Ceryse Hightower, as a bride.[6][5][3]

Rhaena's father inherited the Iron Throne in 37 AC. In 41 AC, Rhaena spent much of her time with her siblings, cats, dogs and with her friends such as Alayne Royce, her current favorite. Rhaena's main joy was to fly; she and her dragon Dreamfyre were sighted all over the realm, and sometimes Rhaena would even take her companions with her on the dragon's back.[9] King Aenys I arranged the marriage of Rhaena to her eldest brother, Prince Aegon. The Faith of the Seven did not accept this incestuous match, and wrote the king that any children born of such a union would be considered abominations in the eyes of the gods. Aenys, though normally indecisive, decided to go ahead with the ceremony anyway. After the wedding, he decided to send his children on a royal progress, remembering the cheers of his own progress when he ascended the throne. Rhaena, wiser than her father, asked his leave to bring her dragon Dreamfyre with her, but Aenys forbade it. As Aegon had not yet claimed a dragon, the king feared that the lords and commons might think his son unmanly if they saw his wife on dragonback and him on a palfrey. The moment they set off, their escort was jeered by crowds and even pelted with dirt. The High Septon later declared Aenys a tyrant who had no right to rule. The faithful were listening and an uprising against the Iron Throne began.[6][9]

The marriage of Rhaena and her brother would last only a few years, during which time she gave birth to twin daughters, Aerea and Rhaella.[3][7]

In 42 AC Rhaena and Aegon found themselves besieged at Crakehall by members of the Faith. Upon learning of this news, Rhaena's father, King Aenys I, collapsed, and died soon after on Dragonstone. Dowager Queen Visenya brought Prince Maegor back from his exile in Pentos.[6][9]

Reign of Maegor I

With Aegon and Rhaena away from Dragonstone, Maegor seized the crown.[5][3] When the Poor Fellows who had besieged Crakehall finally departed for a march on King's Landing, Rhaena and Aegon were able to leave. They found refuge at Casterly Rock, where Lord Lyman Lannister protected them by extending guest right. There, Rhaena discovered she was pregnant. Her twin daughters, Princess Aerea and Princess Rhaella, were born at Casterly Rock the following year, in 43 AC.[7]

Although Lord Lyman refused all of Maegor's demands to turn Aegon and Rhaena over, he also refused to pledge his swords to Aegon's cause.[11][3] While Maegor was in Oldtown, Rhaena and Aegon took note of his absence from the capital. They managed to successfully infiltrate King's Landing with the help of several collaborators within the city, though they knew they dare not seize the throne as they lacked the strength to hold it. They had come for dragons - Rhaena was reunited with Dreamfyre and Aegon finally claimed a dragon, his late father's mount Quicksilver.[9]

Aegon fought Maegor for the throne during the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye in 43 AC, but was slain by his uncle, leaving Rhaena a widow. It was unknown why Rhaena did not join her husband with his host on Dreamfyre. Some suspect Aegon ordered her not to, as he wished her to remain with their children to keep them safe. Many also pointed out Dreamfyre was younger and smaller than Quicksilver, so likely would have been little threat to Balerion. Rhaena received the news that her husband, Aegon and her loyal friend Lady Melony Piper were dead in stony silence.[9][5]

Rhaena disguised her daughters and sent them away with allies, even herself unaware of where her daughters went. However, she could not disguise herself because of her dragon Dreamfyre. She went to Fair Isle where she grew fond of Lord Marq Farman and more than fond of his second son Androw, but it was his daughter Elissa who she became closest with. Lord Marq offered her safety on the island and beneath his roof. In 47 AC King Maegor finally sent Rhaena a summons. She immediately acquiesced, for she knew refusing would bring Maegor's wroth upon Fair Isle and after all House Farman had done for her, she would not repay their kindness with fire and blood.[9]

As Rhaena had proven to be fertile by giving birth, Maegor had summoned her to King's Landing to wed him, hoping to father an heir while weakening any claim Rhaena's last surviving brother Jaehaerys might make in the future.[5][3] Although many present for the wedding believed that Rhaena was going to give a show of defiance, Queen Tyanna had found Rhaena's disguised daughters, and presented them at the wedding to ensure Rhaena would cooperate. Rhaena wed Maegor in a triple ceremony, together with Jeyne Westerling and Elinor Costayne, women who had given birth earlier as well. Together, they became known as Maegor's Black Brides.[4][5][3]

Rhaena's daughter Rhaella was sent to Oldtown as a ward of House Hightower, while her other daughter Aerea remained at court to ensure her mother's good behavior. When Rhaena learned that her youngest brother, Prince Jaehaerys, had announced his claim to the Iron Throne, she fled King's Landing on Dreamfyre to join Jaehaerys's cause, taking her daughter Aerea and the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre with her. Enraged, Maegor sent a rider to Oldtown commanding Lord Martyn Hightower to behead Rhaella as punishment for her mother's betrayal. Lord Hightower refused, instead imprisoning the messenger.[5][3] Following Maegor's death in 48 AC, Rhaena accompanied her siblings Jaehaerys and Alysanne to King's Landing upon her dragon to claim the throne for Jaehaerys.[3]

Reign of Jaehaerys I

On Fair Isle, just a fortnight into the new year of 49 AC (later recorded in history as the Year of the Three Brides), Rhaena shocked the realm by wedding Androw Farman, the second son of Marq Farman, the Lord of Fair Isle. The ceremony was swift and under the sky. Though she was only twenty-six, it was Rhaena's third wedding; the groom, who was but seventeen, his first. Rhaena's mother, Queen Regent Alyssa Velaryon, was deeply offended that she was neither informed of nor invited to the wedding. This caused a huge rift to develop between the pair. Many were equally puzzled by her choice of an unpromising second son as her new husband. Some suspect she married Androw as a way of showing gratitude to his father, Lord Marq (who was also a second son), who had sheltered Rhaena and whose own father and eldest brother had died fighting for her first husband Aegon. Lord Farman's maester, Smike, speculated that the princess had married Androw not because she loved him, but instead because of her love for Elissa. Due to remaining in the Westerlands, the realm began to refer to Rhaena as the Queen in the West.[1][12]

Rhaena did not attend the wedding of her mother and Rogar Baratheon that occurred later that year. Though she honored Lord Rogar, grudgingly, for supporting her brother against Maegor, his inaction when her husband Aegon had fought Maegor was something she could not forget or forgive. With the passage of time, Rhaena grew resentful that her own claim to the Iron Throne and the claims of her daughters had been discarded in favor of "my baby brother", as she was known to refer to Jaehaerys in the company of her friends. She also begrudged her mother in part for helping Jaehaerys ascend the Throne ahead of her.[1]

When Lord Marq died in 50 AC, Franklyn Farman became the new Lord of Fair Isle. He ordered Rhaena to leave the island, allowing her to bring Androw with her, but forbidding her to take Elissa. Rhaena would not stay where she was not welcome, but ignored Lord Franklyn's second demand and took Elissa with her. Rhaena left on dragonback, while Elissa and the rest of Rhaena's companions departed the isle on Elissa's ship, the Maiden's Fancy, for Lannisport.[1]

Rhaena and her court toured the westerlands for a time, even being guests of House Lannister at Casterly Rock but Rhaena became increasingly unwelcome and realized that most of the lords wanted to take advantage of her, were afraid of her, or worse, that they desired her dragon Dreamfyre or Dreamfyre's clutch of eggs so they could have dragons of their own. Rhaena and her friends briefly stayed at Casterly Rock, Ashemark, Castamere, the Golden Tooth, Wayfarer's Rest, and Pinkmaiden Castle. Upon hearing in 50 AC of her brother's second marriage, she and her court departed for King's Landing.[2]

Although newly married, her brother King Jaehaerys still had no children of his own body, and as such had his niece, Rhaena's eldest daughter Aerea, named his heir when coming to the throne. Aerea lived in the Red Keep at King's Landing and loved the court life, along with the attention she received as the king's heir. Rhaena arrived to join the celebrations of Jaehaerys's second wedding. Afterwards, she confronted her brother about her own troubles. Rhaena had no desire to stay in King's Landing, with its memories of her time as Maegor's forced wife, so she made two requests from Jaehaerys, which he granted: Dragonstone as her own seat, and her daughter Aerea, the king's heir, returned to her care.[2]

On Dragonstone

On Dragonstone, Rhaena came to be called the Queen in the East, in reference to both her previous moniker and her new location.[2] Though Rhaena was content on Dragonstone, her friend Elissa and Rhaena's daughter, Princess Aerea, were unhappy with their lives on the island, and the pair grew close due to their mutual discontent. Elissa often spoke of returning to the western seas with the young princess. As Elissa was denied any incomes from Fair Isle by Lord Franklyn Farman, she petitioned Rhaena for gold sufficient to build a ship that could sail the sunset sea. Rhaena denied her request, stating she couldn't bear to see Elissa go, and a rift thus opened in Elissa and Rhaena's relationship. In 54 AC, Elissa petitioned Rhaena to leave once more. This time Rhaena permitted her request stone-faced, while Aerea wept for Elissa. Neither Targaryen princess knew of Elissa's destination, and she discreetly stole three dragon eggs from Dreamfyre's clutch. Furious at the betrayal, Rhaena summoned her husband Androw and demanded to know if he knew anything. His tearful denials only enraged Rhaena further. The marriage between the two, though never passionate, became loveless. Rhaena, suspicious of everyone, dismissed Ser Merrell Bullock, who had been commander of the castle garrison. Once Elissa's trail had grown cold, Rhaena informed King Jaehaerys in King's Landing. Jaehaerys was alarmed by the news; if the eggs were to hatch, there would be a dragonlord in the world that was not a Targaryen. That was just the beginning of Rhaena's woes that year.[13]

News later came that her pregnant mother Alyssa was on her deathbed. Rhaena arrived too late to see her mother one last time before her death. The princess was livid, blaming her mother's death on Lord Rogar Baratheon and threatening that if he ever married again, she'd kill him herself, before returning to Dragonstone.[13]

Later that year, which would become known as the Year of the Stranger, Rhaena's maester on Dragonstone, Culiper, died suddenly and mysteriously. Many suspected Culiper had died from an unknown illness, until one by one, Rhaena's close friends died also: Cassella Staunton, Septa Maryam, Alayne Royce, Samantha Stokeworth and finally Lianna Velaryon who died in Rhaena's arms. When Rego Draz recognized the described symptoms as the result of the poison known as the tears of Lys, an urgent raven was dispatched. Maester Anselm was found killed in the rookery with a dagger in his back. When Rhaena read the message, she knew at once who was responsible. She and the garrison found her husband Androw in the Chamber of the Painted Table, where he confessed all. Rhaena ordered him gelded, but instructed the guards to keep him alive. His private parts were to be cooked, and only when he consumed every bite would he be allowed to die. Androw jumped from a castle window, denying her revenge against him. Rhaena ordered his body recovered so it could be hacked apart and fed to her dragons.[13]

Her sister, Queen Alysanne, arrived on Dragonstone to try and comfort Rhaena, who had become numb due to betrayal and grief and was unresponsive. Her daughter Aerea, feeling more and more isolated on the island, begged her aunt to take her with her back to King's Landing. Rhaena coldly refused, stating that Alysanne had everything and would not have her daughter too. Yet before the year ended, Aerea disappeared from Dragonstone, as did Balerion the Black Dread. Mounting Dreamfyre, Rhaena flew to the Red Keep, sure Aerea had gone there, but the court had seen no sign of her. Many believe Aerea had become a dragonrider in order to escape the isle and had chosen Balerion, the most powerful living dragon, as her mount so her mother could not force her to return. Rhaena despaired and traveled all over Westeros searching for her daughter, even flying to Fair Isle, where Lord Franklyn received her coldly. Rhaena left, but not before telling him how Balerion had enjoyed eating his brother, Androw.[13]

In 56 AC Princess Aerea finally returned to King's Landing on Balerion. She had been infected with an insidious disease that killed her that same day. Septon Barth believed Balerion had involuntarily taken her to his birthplace, Valyria, where the Doom now ruled. Rhaena arrived just after her daughter's death, and after Aerea was cremated, Rhaena flew high on Dreamfyre and released her ashes into the wind.[10]

Harrenhal

After her daughter's death, Rhaena did not wish to return to King's Landing or Dragonstone, as both places were now filled with bitter memories to her. Instead she went into self-imposed isolation at Harrenhal as a guest of House Towers. She made her residence in the Widow's Tower of the castle, and befriended the sickly and impoverished Lord Maegor Towers, who was the last of his line. She even took care of his household after he passed away in 61 AC. Rhaena became in effect the Lady of Harrenhal in all but name. Though travelers arriving at the castle were given shelter, they were denied being in Rhaena's presence, as she wished to be left alone. Though she still flew on Dreamfyre, she was rarely seen in person and some of the ignorant smallfolk began to spread the tale she was a witch. Rhaena remained at Harrenhal until her own death in 73 AC, her body was cremated at Harrenhal and her ashes interred there.[10]

Quotes by Rhaena

I do not have time for tears.[9]

—Rhaena after hearing the news of the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye[9]

Quotes about Rhaena

My brother Aegon died at the hands of our uncle in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye. His wife, my sister Rhaena, was not with him at the battle, but she died that day as well.

Jaehaerys I Targaryen at Rhaena's funeral pyre[10]

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Valaena
Velaryon
 
Aerion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Visenya
 
Aegon I
 
Rhaenys
 
 
Orys
Baratheon
 
Argella
Durrandon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceryse
Hightower
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aenys I
 
Alyssa
Velaryon
 
 
House Baratheon.svg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elinor
Costayne
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alys
Harroway
 
 
Maegor I
 
Rhaena
 
Aegon
 
Viserys
 
Jaehaerys I
 
Alysanne
 
Vaella
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeyne
Westerling
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tyanna of
the Tower
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rhaella
 
Aerea
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Fire & Blood, A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 The Sons of the Dragon.
  4. 4.0 4.1 The Rogue Prince.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 The World of Ice & Fire, Appendix: Targaryen Lineage.
  8. The Princess and the Queen.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  11. The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons.
  12. Fire & Blood, The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.