Aegon II Targaryen

ABOUT

Aegon II Targaryen was the sixth Targaryen king to sit on the Iron Throne, succeeding his father, Viserys I. His accession was disputed with his elder half-sister, Rhaenyra Targaryen, and both perished in the war they fought, the Dance of the Dragons. Aegon was married to his younger sister, Helaena, and they had three children together, although none would survive to adulthood. His dragon was Sunfyre, known as "the Golden". During the civil war, Aegon took as his personal banner a three-headed golden dragon instead of the traditional Targaryen symbol, in honor of his mount. Aegon's supporters used his personal heraldry as their battle flag. In the television adaptation House of the Dragon, adult Aegon is played by English actor Tom Glynn-Carney.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Reign: 129 AD to 131 AD Full name: Aegon II Targaryen, the Second of His Name Pseudonym(s): Aegon the Elder Aegon the Usurper Titles: King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men Lord of the Seven Kingdoms Territory Protector Born: 107 AD, in King's Landing Death: 131 AD, in King's Landing Origin: King's Landing, Crown Lands Culture: Valyrian Religion: Faith of the Seven Father {Viserys I Targaryen} Mother: {Alicent Hoghtower} Conjugate; {Helaena Targaryen} Children: {Jaehaerys Targaryen} {Jaehaera Targaryen} { Maelor Targaryen } Brothers: Half-siblings: {Rhaenyra Targaryen} {Baelon Targaryen} Blood brothers: {Helaena Targaryen} {Aemond Targaryen}

FAMILY

Casa Real: Casa Targaryen Predecessor: Viserys I Herdeiro(s): 1º: Jaehaerys Targaryen 2º: Maelor Targaryen Successor: Aegon III Queen: Helaena Targaryen Filhos: Jaehaerys Targaryen Jaehaera Targaryen Maelor Targaryen Blame: Viserys I Mother: Alice Hightower

HISTORY- YOUTH

Aegon was born in 106 AC to King Viserys I Targaryen and his second wife, Lady Alicent Hightower. Aegon had three older siblings: two sons, who died young, and his sister, Rhaenyra, who had been named as Viserys's heir around 105 AC, when hundreds of landed lords and knights had bowed to her and sworn to uphold her rights. Aegon was named after Aegon the Conqueror at his mother's insistence. He had three younger siblings: two sons, Aemond and Daeron, and a sister, Helaena. Although King Viserys now had three sons, he refused to alter the line of succession and kept Rhaenyra as his heir, a decision he enshrined in his will. Prince Daemon Targaryen, the king's younger brother, did not care much for Aegon and Aemond, who had pushed him further down the line of succession. Aegon's mother, Queen Alicent, disagreed with her husband's decision to name Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne instead of Aegon. When her father, Ser Otto Hightower, continued to encourage Viserys to name Aegon his successor, the king dismissed him from his position as Hand of the King. Eventually, Alicent tried to convince her husband to marry Rhaenyra and Aegon. Viserys did not want this, as there was a ten-year age difference between them and the two brothers did not get along well. King Viserys knew that Alicent's proposal was intended to place Aegon on the throne, and so he ensured that Rhaenyra was married soon, to Ser Laenor Velaryon, the heir to Driftmark.

HISTORY- TENSIONS AT COURT

Relations between the lords at the royal court began to deteriorate as the nobles of the realm began to divide over whether to support Alicent or Rhaenyra. Although many lords respected the king's wish to appoint his own successor, many nobles favored the precedent set at the Great Council of 101, whereby the male heir was favored to succeed to the Iron Throne over a female. The two sides split into two factions, the "Greens" and the "Blacks", consisting of those who supported Aegon or Rhaenyra, respectively. The enmity between Alicent and Rhaenyra passed on to their children; Aegon and his brothers disliked their Velaryon nephews and resented the three boys for stealing their birthright. Prince Aegon was convinced that Rhaenyra's three sons were actually born of adultery with Ser Harwin Strong, Rhaenyra's beloved. The six attended the same banquets, balls, and parties, sometimes trained under the same master-at-arms and studied with the same maesters. Archmaester Gyldayn believed that forcing Aegon and his brothers into close proximity with Rhaenyra's children only created more distaste between them. When he was thirteen, Prince Aegon became a dragonrider by bonding with the beast Sunfyre. In the meantime, the now widowed Rhaenyra and Daemon were married. In 120 AC, Rhaenyra gave birth to a son, named Aegon, who was probably named as an indirect insult to Prince Aegon, much to the dismay of Queen Alicent. In 122 AC, in keeping with the traditions of House Targaryen, Prince Aegon married his sister, Princess Helaena Targaryen, at King's Landing. The couple's first children, twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, were born a year later. Aegon also fathered two bastard children, a son by a maiden he won at an auction on the Street of Silk and a daughter by one of his mother's maids.

HISTORY- TENSIONS AT COURT

In 127 AD, Helaena gave birth to a son, Prince Maelor. King Viserys continued to try to get Aegon, his brothers, and the Velaryon nephews to become friends, but Aegon continued to dislike Rhaenyra's children. At a feast held on the first day of AD 127, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon asked Princess Helaena for a dance, something Aegon took as an insult. They fought and perhaps would have fought, but the Royal Guard intervened.

THE DANCE OF THE DRAGONS - BEGINNING OF THEIR REIGN

When King Viserys I Targaryen passed away in 129 AC, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was still his heir presumptive to the Iron Throne. She was, at that moment, in Pedra do Dragão, pregnant, and was not informed of her father's death. The Red Keep in King's Landing was under the control of the Greens and they ensured that, at first, no information of the king's death leaked out, keeping his body still for seven days in their chambers, until preparations for Aegon's coronation were completed. . With the exception of Lord Lyman Beesbury, the entire small council agreed to Aegon's accession to the throne. According to Mushroom, the prince was with a prostitute from Flea Bottom, although Septon Eustace said he was actually with a mistress, a merchant's daughter. According to Eustace, Aegon at first refused to be part of his mother's plot to crown him, insisting that Rhaenyra was the heir in suit. However, Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, convinced him that if Rhaenyra took the throne, Aegon and his brothers could be executed. Eustace insists that it was this argument that convinced the prince. The Green Council began making preparations to convince the leaders of the Great Houses to support Aegon, but the prince was growing tired of the machinations and secrets, demanding to be crowned immediately. On the tenth day of the third moon in 129 AD, the death of King Viserys I was officially announced by the bells of the capital King's Landing and the news was sent to the four corners of the Seven Kingdoms and Prince Aegon was proclaimed Aegon, Second in His Name , King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men. The coronation would take place in the Dragonpit. On the appointed day, Ser Criston, the Kingmaker, placed the Conqueror's crown on the head of Aegon II. With the elderly High Septon away in Oldtown, it fell to Septon Eustace to anoint and bless King Aegon II.

THE DANCE OF THE DRAGONS - BEGINNING OF THEIR REIGN

However, Ser Steffon Darklyn of the Kingsguard remained loyal to Rhaenyra and fled to Dragonstone with the crown of the late Viserys I. Rhaenyra refused to accept having her throne and rights usurped, contesting her brother's accession. Aegon II controlled the riches of King's Landing, Oldtown and Lannisport, in addition to the support of Houses Hightower, Lannister and Baratheon. He maintained appearances of legality, wearing the crown of Aegon the Conqueror, the family's Valyrian steel sword, the Blackfyre, and the Iron Throne. After being informed that Rhaenyra had also crowned herself, a furious Aegon demanded her head and that of her husband, Prince Daemon, although Grand Maester Orwyle eventually convinced him to send peace terms to Rhaenyra. The princess, however, refused to accept any terms that did not involve her ascension to the crown, which made King Aegon even angrier. The kingdom split into two, with those who supported Rhaenyra's rights to the throne (they were known as Blacks) and those who defended the rise of Aegon II (called Greens). It wasn't long before battles broke out across the kingdom and the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons began violent and bloody. Early in the war, Prince Aemond killed Prince Lucerys Velaryon, son of Rhaenyra, at Storm's End. Then, Lord Borros Baratheon, Lord of the Stormlands, declared support for Aegon II. When Aemond returned, an exultant Aegon welcomed him with a feast, although the dowager queen Alicent and her father, Ser Otto Hightower, Hand of the King, were concerned about the repercussions of the prince's death. And revenge didn't take long, with Prince Daemon sending two assassins, Blood and Cheese, to kill little Jaehaerys, in the Red Keep. Aegon's sister-wife, Queen Helaena Targaryen, was shocked and spiraled into depression and grief over the loss of her eldest son.

THE DANCE OF THE DRAGONS - BEGINNING OF THEIR REIGN

While Blood was captured and tortured to death, Cheese was never found. In a rage, Aegon ordered all ratcatchers in the city to be hanged (Cheese's profession). Aegon and his wife slept in different rooms for the rest of their lives, while the king drank himself drunk. The war began badly for the greens, suffering a series of defeats in the Riverlands. Ser Otto tried to rally allies by sending letters and hiring sellswords. Aegon, however, believed his grandfather was too slow and saw his caution as cowardice. To make matters worse, Houses Velaryon, Stark, Arryn, and most of the River Lords declared their support for Rhaenyra, complicating matters further. Aegon began to drown his fears in strong wine. With Corlys Velaryon, the Lord of the Tides, beginning a naval blockade of King's Landing, closing off Blackwater Bay, Ser Otto contacted the Triarchy and Dalton Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, for help. With his grandfather hesitant, Aegon stripped Otto of his position as Hand of the King and gave it to Ser Criston Cole. The new Hand chose to administer the King's Justice to those imprisoned in the capital who were accused of sympathizing with Rhaenyra. Those who refused to switch allegiance and support Aegon were executed. The king wanted to attack Dragonstone, but as he did not have nearly as large a navy as the Velaryons, he was eventually persuaded to desist. Ser Criston, however, agreed that it was necessary to go on the offensive. Aegon II accompanied him to Rook's Rest, where they engaged the blacks, with him and Aemond slaying Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon Meleys, giving the greens a solid victory. However, Sunfyre was seriously wounded in the fighting, and Aegon himself suffered burns over half his body, a fractured pelvis, and several broken ribs.

THE DANCE OF THE DRAGONS - BEGINNING OF THEIR REIGN

His armor melted from his left arm, and it took him nearly a year to recover, receiving large doses of milk of the poppy, which made him drugged and drowsy. He remained in bed for the rest of the year. Only his mother, the Dowager Queen Alicent, and his Hand, Ser Criston, were allowed to disturb his rest. Prince Aemond took his place as Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm. Aegon remained twisted and crippled for the rest of his life, with much of his body covered in severe burns.

DRAGON STONE

Rhaenyra's forces moved quickly and captured King's Landing, securing control of the Iron Throne, in 130 AC. Princes Aemond and Daemon, on opposing sides, subsequently killed each other in the Battle above the Gods Eye, and Ser Criston perished at the Butchers' Ball, his army being routed, and these were serious setbacks for the greens. Aegon II, however, managed to evade capture by Rhaenyra's agents, and he and his sons fled the capital. Princes Maelor and Jaehaera were spirited away to safety by Larys Strong, and Aegon disguised himself as a smallfolk and escaped on a fishing boat to Dragonstone, where he convinced several blacks to switch sides and help him take the island. Defending Dragonstone was Princess Baela Targaryen (daughter of Daemon), and Aegon II set out to confront her, both of whom had dragons. Over the island, Sunfyre and Moondancer clashed and fell to the ground, with Aegon attempting to jump from his dragon's back, breaking both of his legs. The aftermath of this combat would cause him lifelong pain, but he refused milk of the poppy offered to him by Maester Gerardys, as he did not want a repeat of what had happened at Rook's Rest. He no longer trusted Gerardys and ordered him fed to his dragon. Having been protected by Ser Marston Waters on his journey to Dragonstone, Aegon named the bastard knight to his Kingsguard. Meanwhile, Aegon's wife, Queen Helaena, overcome with grief over the death of her son, Prince Maelor, at the hands of a mob at Bitterbridge, committed suicide in the capital. Having lost control of King's Landing in the midst of a popular revolt that culminated in the Storming of the Dragonpit, Rhaenyra fled to Dragonstone in 130 AC, unaware that the island was under Aegon II's control. When she arrived, she was imprisoned and brought before her brother, where she was tried as a traitor.

DRAGON STONE

After an exchange of insults, Aegon decided to feed Rhaenyra to his dragon Sunfyre, while Prince Aegon the Young watched in horror. Ser Alfred Broome argued for killing the boy Aegon as well, but the king would not allow it. Rhaenyra's supporters were undeterred and continued the war on behalf of her son, Aegon the Young, though the boy remained a captive of his uncle, King Aegon II. Even with Rhaenyra's death, the king had no way to return to King's Landing due to the blockade imposed by the Velaryon Fleet.

RESTORATION

Although Rhaenyra was dead, the Dance of Dragons was not finished. Aegon II offered House Velaryon pardon if Ser Alyn Velaryon, the heir of Lord Corlys, would swear loyalty to him and allow the king to cross Blackwater Bay. Meanwhile, on Dragonstone, Sunfyre died from his wounds and Aegon mourned him. Although Aegon first ordered the execution of Princess Baela Targaryen, he ended up just threatening her with execution if Alyn did not appear before the king. When Lord Borros Baratheon finally arrived in King's Landing, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower orchestrated a marriage agreement between Aegon II and Lady Cassandra Baratheon, Lord Borros' eldest daughter. In the meantime, Corlys agreed to swear loyalty to Aegon and was appointed master of ships. As Aegon prepared once again to behead Baela, with Alyn planning an attack on Dragonstone, news that House Velaryon had switched sides spread across the kingdom. Aegon then returned to King's Landing aboard the ship Rat, captained by Alyn's mother, Marilda de Casco. According to Mushroom, the choice of this ship for transport was made with the intention of insulting the king. Once in King's Landing, Aegon II was still too weak to climb the steps of the Iron Throne. A small padded wooden throne was then placed for him, with a blanket to keep his distorted legs from being exposed. Although in great pain, he refused to drink dream wine or poppy milk, preferring to focus his undivided attention on the three false kings of King's Landing. Aegon allowed Trystane Truefyre to be knighted before he was executed. The king spared Gaemon Fairhair due to his youth, but ordered his followers to be hanged. After arresting the Shepherd, Aegon ordered his tongue removed and then burned him alive along with his followers.

RESTORATION

With Lord Velaryon urging Aegon to pardon the lords who had supported Rhaenyra, the king ordered the lords and nobles of the Crownlands to be brought to him in chains and to pay a heavy ransom and provide hostages lest they rebel against him. Meanwhile, the riverlords began amassing a new army and marched on King's Landing, while a large force from the Vale of Arryn hired ships to take them to the capital and dethrone Aegon. The king then sought to hatch dragon eggs, but to no avail. Corlys begged the king to marry his daughter, Jaehaera Targaryen, to the captive Aegon the Younger, though Aegon II desired to end his sister's line; Aegon decreed that the prince must join the Night's Watch or serve as a eunuch.

DEATH

With the opposing armies closing in on the capital and their lords arguing and plotting, Aegon II remained aloof, taking pleasure only in contemplation of his marriage to Lady Cassandra Baratheon. The king ordered the rebuilding of the Dragonpit and commissioned two statues depicting his brothers, Daeron the Bold and Aemond One-Eye. However, Kermit Tully, Lord of Riverrun, and his army had defeated the forces of Lord Borros Baratheon at the Battle of the Kingsroad (mid-131 AC). With no green army to protect the capital, the Boys marching on King's Landing, and with black reinforcements from the Vale and the North (the latter led by Cregan Stark), Lord Corlys Velaryon knew that defeat was imminent. He advised King Aegon to abdicate and join the Night's Watch, though Queen Alicent Hightower reminded him that they still had hostages. The king stated that he would refuse to accept any form of surrender. He then gave orders for Prince Aegon the Younger's ears to be cut off and the pieces sent to Lord Tully as a warning. After meeting with his small council, the weary Aegon staggered into his litter and asked to be taken to the royal sept in the Red Keep. The king was given his customary bottle of Arbor red wine to ease his pain. When his escort arrived and Ser Gyles Belgrave of the Kingsguard raised the litter's curtains, Aegon II was found dead with blood on his lips. With Aegon II dead, Lord Corlys and the uninjured young Aegon set out to meet Kermit Tully's army, claiming that the king was dead. Meanwhile, Lord Leowyn Corbray, commander of the Arryn host, witnessed the Velaryon Fleet lowering Aegon II's banners.

DEATH

The late king had no direct male heirs, so his nephew Aegon the Younger ascended the Iron Throne by marrying Aegon II's daughter, Princess Jaehaera Targaryen, thus uniting the two branches of House Targaryen. Following Targaryen tradition, Aegon II was cremated, with some hoping that the evils and hatred of his reign would be burned along with his remains. Exactly who poisoned the king remains unknown, though suspects were arrested during the Hour of the Wolf. The chief conspirators in Aegon II's death were Lord Velaryon, Lord Larys Strong, and Ser Perkin the Flea, who feared that if Aegon II remained alive with the crown, the war would continue. When Lord Stark arrived in King's Landing, he ordered them all arrested. Grand Maester Orwyle was sentenced to death for supplying the poison, Ser Gyles was executed for "allowing his king to die", and twenty-two minor characters were also tried as accomplices, most of whom were under Perkin's command. While Corlys confessed to his part in the murder, Cregan was persuaded by Alysanne Blackwood to spare him. Larys was executed, while Perkin was sent to the Wall. The Dragonpit began to be repaired, but the statues commissioned by Aegon II were never built.

LEGACY

Despite being considered part of the Targaryen dynasty and being recognized as one of the official line of kings, history would not be kind to King Aegon II, although his perception among the people was almost as bad as that of his half-sister, Rhaenyra. In Grand Maester Kaeth's Lives of Four Kings, Aegon is described as "greedy" and is compared to some of the worst Targaryen kings: the weak-willed Aenys and the tyrannical Maegor the Cruel.

DRAGON - SUNFYRE

Sunfyre, also known as Sunfyre the Golden, was a dragon and the mount of King Aegon II Targaryen. According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Sunfyre was the most beautiful dragon ever seen on Earth. Sunfyre had golden scales shining like gold beaten in sunlight and pale pink webbed wings. Its flames were golden as well. Huge and heavy, Sunfyre was a formidable and fierce fighter despite his youth. Sunfyre's dragon egg collided with Dragonstone. Although Sunfyre's exact year of birth was never stated, he was described as being a "young" dragon in 120 CE and 129 CE. It is known that Sunfyre was older than Tessarion. Although it is not precisely known when exactly Prince Aegon took Sunfyre as his mount, we do know that by 120 AD Aegon was already riding Sunfyre. At some unknown time, Grand Maester Gerardys was devoured by Sunfyre.

APPEARANCE AND PERSONALITY

Aegon II resembled his father in appearance, though not in personality. He was a handsome young man, but he did not look like a warrior. He had a thin mustache and a sullen countenance. He was lazy, dull, and gluttonous, and was also very promiscuous, having fathered several bastards. Grand Maester Kaeth described him as greedy. During his reign, Aegon knew neither joy nor peace. He wore the crown of Aegon the Conqueror and carried his sword, Blackfyre. Because he tamed the dragon Sunfyre "the Golden", Aegon adopted a golden dragon as his personal symbol. During the Dance of the Dragons, his supporters wore this emblem. As a baby, Prince Aegon was often praised by the nobles as being graceful and a worthy successor to Viserys I. In his youth, he had grown long, silvery hair, and his face was lean and fine-featured. His eyes were a light blue. Aegon II was a strong man with a handsome face. However, after the battle at Rook's Rest, Aegon was left burned and broken, with deep wounds and a severely swollen face due to excessive consumption of milk of the poppy. His appearance was moribund and grotesque near his death. Aegon II was quick to anger and slow to forgive. By the age of fifteen, he was known to be a lazy and somewhat ill-tempered boy, prone to gluttony at the table and given to drinking ale and strong wine, traits he carried into adulthood. Aegon's favourite vintage was a sweet Arbor red. During the Dance, after a series of defeats and setbacks, Aegon's drinking became more frequent, as he used strong wine to drown his fears. He would later use wine to dull the pain of the wounds and burns he had suffered. Grand Maester Kaeth described him as greedy. During his reign, Aegon knew neither joy nor peace.

APPEARANCE AND PERSONALITY

It was widely known that the promiscuous Aegon had fathered several bastards. Even at a young age, he was known to pinch or fondle any serving girl who strayed from his reach. After his injuries left him incapable of sexual intercourse, the court jester Mushroom claims that Aegon would watch as one of his favourites joined a serving girl or court lady, though he later wept and summoned Septon Eustace to grant him absolution.