Rhaegar Targaryen

Rhaegar Targaryen is a character who is deceased when the events of Game of Thrones commence. It is unknown if the character will appear in flashback during the series.

Prince Rhaegar Targaryen was the son and heir to the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen. He sparked off the war known as Robert's Rebellion when he kidnapped Lyanna Stark of Winterfell for reasons unknown. Lyanna's brother, Eddard Stark, and her betrothed, Robert Baratheon, joined forces with several other houses to destroy the Targaryen dynasty. Rhaegar himself met Robert in combat at a ford during the Battle of the Trident, and was slain by him there.

His father was killed shortly afterwards by Ser Jaime Lannister during the Sack of King's Landing. His younger brother Viserys and sister Daenerys (who was born after Rhaegar's death) survived in exile in the Free Cities across the sea.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, Rhaegar is depicted as a chivalrous, honourable and just warrior, albeit one often distracted by other concerns and apparently unable or unwilling to restrain the worst excesses of his father. He was married to Princess Elia Martell of Dorne, with whom he had two children, Rhaenys and Aegon. His reasons for kidnapping Lyanna Stark are unclear, with some claiming she went with him willingly. It is known that they had met at a great tourney at the castle of Harrenhal a year before the 'kidnapping'.

When Rhaegar was killed, he was struck down with a massive blow from Robert's warhammer, which scattered the rubies encrusted in Rhaegar's armour under the water. That location was named the 'ruby ford' thereafter.