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House Targaryen
House Targaryen

"House Clegane was built upon dead children. I saw them lay Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys before the Iron Throne."
Thoros of Myr[src]

Prince Aegon Targaryen[c] was the second child and firstborn son of the Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, with Elia Martell.

Biography

Background

Slaughter

Aegon is killed by Gregor Clegane in front of his mother.

Aegon Targaryen was the son of Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Princess Elia Martell. He had an older sister, Rhaenys Targaryen,[1] and a younger paternal half-brother also named Aegon but raised under the name Jon Snow.[2][3] For mysterious reasons, Rhaegar allegedly abducted Jon's mother Lyanna Stark, sparking a rebellion that ultimately deposed House Targaryen as the ruling house of Westeros. Rhaegar was killed by Robert Baratheon, who was Lyanna's betrothed, at the Battle of the Trident. Soon afterward, Aegon and Rhaenys were brutally murdered along with their mother by Ser Gregor Clegane during the Sack of King's Landing.[4]

Eventually, it is revealed that the High Septon at the time annulled the marriage of Rhaegar and Elia and officiated the marriage of Rhaegar and Lyanna on the same day.[5] Whether or not the annulment officially delegitimized Aegon and his sister has yet to be confirmed; however, Jon's apparent legitimacy as Rhaegar's last living son makes him "Aegon VI."[6]

Game of Thrones: Season 3

Thoros of Myr comments how he witnessed Gregor Clegane presenting the bodies of Aegon and Rhaenys before the Iron Throne.[7]

Game of Thrones: Season 4

Aegon is mentioned many times, along with his mother and sister, by his maternal uncle Oberyn Martell, who makes it quite clear that he wants justice for their deaths.[8][9] He gets his chance to confront Gregor when Tyrion demands a trial by combat, to prove his innocence of Joffrey's death. Oberyn volunteers to be Tyrion's champion after learning that Gregor will be fighting for the crown.[10]

During the duel, Oberyn repeatedly accuses the Mountain of killing Elia and her children." Oberyn manages to cut down the Mountain, but is caught off guard when the Mountain suddenly trips him up. The Mountain pins Oberyn to the ground and proceeds to gouge out his eyeballs, making him scream in agony, as he roars for all to hear, "Elia Martell! I killed her children! Then I raped her! Then I smashed her head... in like this!" He then crushes Oberyn's skull, effectively confirming the long-standing rumor of arguably his most infamous war crime.[11]

Game of Thrones: Season 8

The deaths of Aegon, his mother and sister are finally avenged by the Hound, as he kills (and gets killed by) the Mountain.[12]

Family

Paternal

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Daeron
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AerionTargaryen
Aerion
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-MaesterAemon
Aemon
Targaryen
Order of MaestersNight's Watch
Deceased
 
Famtree-AegonVTargaryen
Aegon V
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Blackwood-Square
Betha
Blackwood[d]
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Duncan
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AerysIITargaryen
Aerys II
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-RhaellaTargaryen
Rhaella
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Daeron
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-OrmundBaratheon
Ormund
Baratheon
House Baratheon
Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Rhaelle
Targaryen

Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-EliaMartell
Elia
Martell
House Martell
Deceased
 
Famtree-RhaegarTargaryen
Rhaegar
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-LyannaStark
Lyanna
Stark
House Stark
Deceased
 
Famtree-ViserysTargaryen
Viserys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-Drogo
Drogo

Deceased
 
Famtree-DaenerysTargaryen
Daenerys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Baratheon-Main-Square
Descendants


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-RhaenysTargaryenOfRhaegar
Rhaenys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-PrinceAegon
Aegon
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-JonSnow
Jon
Snow
Night's Watch

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Rhaego

Stillborn
 
 

Maternal

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Martell-heraldry
Husband

Deceased
 
House-Martell-heraldry
Princess
Martell
Deceased
 
Famtree-LewynMartell
Lewyn
Martell
Kingsguard
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-DoranMartell
Doran
Martell

Deceased
 
House-Martell-heraldry
Mellario
of Norvos[e]

 
Famtree-EliaMartell
Elia
Martell

Deceased
 
Famtree-RhaegarTargaryen
Rhaegar
Targaryen
House Targaryen
Deceased
 
 
 
Famtree-Unknown
Women


 
Famtree-OberynMartell
Oberyn
Martell

Deceased
 
Famtree-EllariaSand
Ellaria
Sand

Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-TrystaneMartell
Trystane
Martell

Deceased
 
Famtree-RhaenysTargaryenOfRhaegar
Rhaenys
Targaryen
House Targaryen
Deceased
 
Famtree-PrinceAegon
Aegon
Targaryen
House Targaryen
Deceased
 
Famtree-ObaraSand
Obara
Sand

Deceased
 
Famtree-NymeriaSand
Nymeria
Sand

Deceased
 
Famtree-Unknown
Two Sand
Snakes


 
Famtree-TyeneSand
Tyene
Sand

Deceased
 
Famtree-Unknown
Three Sand
Snakes


In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Aegon is the infant son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell. He was allegedly killed by Gregor Clegane bashing his head in against a wall - then while still covered in the gore of the baby's blood and brains, Gregor raped Aegon's mother and killed her (some say he cut her in half with his sword). In the books, Amory Lorch separately killed Aegon's sister Rhaenys, but the TV series condensed this with Gregor killing both.

One of the visions Daenerys sees in the House of the Undying is of her brother Rhaegar, his wife and a baby: Rhaegar decides on the name "Aegon" for his newborn son, as he thinks the name fit for a king; Elia asks whether Rhaegar will make a song for their son, and he replies that Aegon, the prince that was promised, already has the Song of Ice and Fire. Rhaegar then says enigmatically that there must be "one more", since "the dragon has three heads."

Later, Daenerys tells Jorah Mormont about her vision. Jorah confirms that the people she saw matched the description of Rhaegar and Elia, and the baby was their heir Aegon; he comments that if Aegon was the prince that was promised, then the promise was broken when he was killed.

In the fifth novel, Daenerys muses about Aegon, who would have been the sixth of his name to sit on the Iron Throne. She believes that, had Aegon lived, she might have married him, as he would have been closer to her in age than Viserys.

Unbeknownst to Daenerys, Aegon is alive: Varys switched him with another baby (the one whom the Mountain killed), smuggled him across the Narrow Sea, and entrusted him to Illyrio Mopatis. Currently, he is in the custody of Jon Connington, who is determined to do everything in his power to make Aegon ascend the Iron Throne.

Quaithe enigmatically warns Daenerys of several people, among them the "griffin" and the "mummer's dragon"; Daenerys has no idea who are these people, but to the readers it is obvious Quaithe refers to Connington and Aegon respectively. In contrast to the other people mentioned in Quaithe's obscure prophecy (Tyrion, Quentyn Martell, Victarion Greyjoy and the Red Priest Moqorro), Aegon and Connington do not get involved in the current events at Slaver's Bay.

According to Varys, Aegon has been shaped for rule before he could walk; he has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be; he has been taught to read and write and to speak several languages; he has studied history and law and poetry; a septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith; he has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need; he can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. While Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right, Aegon knows kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them.

When Aegon makes his first appearance in the books (before his true identity is revealed to the readers), he is described as a handsome, lithe and well-made youth, with a lanky build and a shock of dark blue hair (his hair is dyed as a part of his disguise) and dark blue eyes, about fifteen or sixteen years old.[13][f]

Aegon is not a POV character. His actions are witnessed and interpreted through the POV of Tyrion (till he is kidnapped by Jorah Mormont) and Connington.

Tyrion travels for a while with Aegon, Connington and their servants. They introduce themselves as Griff and his son, but Tyrion soon figures out their true identities.[14] While Connington acts hostilely toward Tyrion, Aegon befriends him.

Aegon is certain that once he meets Daenerys, she will marry him and give him her armies and dragons, then they will travel to Westeros and conquer it; he sees nothing wrong of the idea of marrying his aunt, according to the Targaryens' custom of marrying their kin (in sharp contrast to Jon Snow, who keeps distance from Daenerys once he is told about his true identity in the show). Hearing that, Tyrion scoffs at Aegon; he explains to the overconfident youth that his aunt is not some timid little girl who does whatever she is told, but a powerful queen, who has crossed deserts, survived assassins, rallied armies and conquered cities. Tyrion concludes that if Aegon appears before her like that (even with the Golden Company), he'll look like a beggar; he advises Aegon to travel to Westeros instead, raise his banners, rally supporters, and then Daenerys will come and meet him as equals.[15]

When Aegon and Connington arrive at Volantis (without Tyrion, who has been kidnapped by Jorah at Selhorys) and join the Golden Company, they find out that Daenerys is still in Meereen, and due to the siege - they cannot reach her. Whether Aegon is aware or not of the severity of his aunt's predicament, he does not intend to assist her. He suggests what Tyrion advised him earlier - that they should sail to Westeros instead; nearly all the officers agree. Harry Strickland, coward and hesitant as ever, objects, but no one listen to him.[16]

Soon after Aegon and Connington arrive at Westeros, the Golden Company seizes Griffin's Roost and several more castles in the Stormlands; Connington's next target is Storm's End. Aegon, who starts acting arrogantly since his arrival at Westeros, announces that he wants to lead the attack on Storm's End.[17]

Connington starts rallying supporters and allies; first of all, he sends a letter to Doran Martell, informing him that his presumed-dead nephew is alive, and offering an alliance. Doran, cautious as ever, regards the contents of the letter dubiously; since he prefers not to act till he knows for a certainty what is happening, he sends his daughter Arianne to find out whether Aegon and Connington are really the people whom they claim to be.

Soon, as Connington expected, news about the landing reach King's Landing. Mace Tyrell and Randyll Tarly regard the reports rather flippantly; even the report about the alleged fall of Storm's End does not worry them. Kevan, however, believes that Aegon and Connington (whether they are the people they claim to be or just pretenders) pose a serious threat, which must be dealt without delay, otherwise - as soon as Daenerys arrives at Westeros and joins forces with them, the Lannisters and their allies will not stand a chance.[18]

Since the marriage of Rhaegar and Elia has never been annulled (it is an invention of the TV show), according to the Westerosi inheritance laws Aegon has a stronger claim than Daenerys for the Iron Throne, but it is unclear whether he is ahead of Jon too, since it has not been revealed yet in the books whether Rhaegar married Lyanna or not.

There are fan speculations that the aforementioned youth who claims to be Aegon - is an impostor, whom Varys and Illyrio intend to use as a puppet king in order to gain power. According to these speculations, he could be a Blackfyre descendant, Illyrio's son, or just someone with the right age and look (in the Free Cities, there are people who descend from Valyria, and have the Targaryen physical features). The fact that Quaithe refers to him as "the mummer's dragon" may imply (but not confirm) that he is indeed an impostor.

It should be noted that Aegon's book character has not been merged with Jon's show character; Aegon is considered dead in the show.

Appearances

References

  1. Game of Thrones Viewer's Guide. HBO. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  2. Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 10: "The Winds of Winter" (2016).
  3. Game of Thrones: Season 7, Episode 7: "The Dragon and the Wolf" (2017).
  4. Histories & Lore: Season 1, Short 18: "The Sack of King's Landing - House Stark" (2012).
  5. Game of Thrones: Season 7, Episode 5: "Eastwatch" (2017).
  6. Game of Thrones: Season 8, Episode 1: "Winterfell" (2019).
  7. Game of Thrones: Season 3, Episode 4: "And Now His Watch Is Ended" (2013).
  8. Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 1: "Two Swords" (2014).
  9. Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 3: "Breaker of Chains" (2014).
  10. Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 7: "Mockingbird" (2014).
  11. Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 8: "The Mountain and the Viper" (2014).
  12. Game of Thrones: Season 8, Episode 5: "The Bells" (2019).
  13. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III (2011).
  14. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 18, Tyrion V (2011).
  15. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion VI (2011).
  16. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 24, The Lost Lord (2011).
  17. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn (2011).
  18. A Dance with Dragons, Epilogue (2011).

Notes

  1. In "Robert's Rebellion - Oberyn Martell," Oberyn Martell refers to Aegon Targaryen as an "infant" and a "baby." The Sack of King's Landing occurs at the end of Robert's Rebellion, and the war lasts for almost a year; therefore, he must have been born in 281 AC.
  2. In "The Kingsroad," which takes place in 298 AC, Catelyn Stark states that Eddard Stark went to war with Robert Baratheon "17 years ago;" therefore, Robert's Rebellion occurred in 281 AC.
  3. High Valyrian: Āegon Targārien
  4. Conjecture based on information from The World of Ice & Fire; may be subject to change.
  5. Conjecture based on information from A Song of Ice and Fire; may be subject to change.
  6. Aegon is actually 18 years old when introduced, since he was born in 282 AC.

External links


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