The Dance of Dragons: A True Telling

Shireen Baratheon reading Munkun's book about the Dance of the Dragons.

"It's the story of the fight between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon for control over the Seven Kingdoms."

―Princess Shireen Baratheon

The Dance of Dragons: A True Telling is a history book about the great civil war in the Seven Kingdoms known as the Dance of the Dragons, fought between two rival branches of House Targaryen, one led by Rhaenyra Targaryen and the other by her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen. It was written by Grand Maester Munkun, who lived through the war.

History

Game of Thrones: Season 5

Shireen reads The Dance of Dragons: A True Telling in her tent during her father Stannis's campaign in the North, and talks about it with her father and Davos.

Excerpts

The Dragons of House Targaryen at the time of King Viserys, First of His Name

• Vhagar - Ridden by Prince Aemond. Last of the dragons from the time of Aegon's Conquest.
• Meleys, also known as "The Red Queen" - Ridden by Rhaenys Velaryon, "The Queen Who Never Was."
• Caraxes, also known as "The Blood Wyrm" - Named for its blood-red scales, was the veteran of dozens of battles. Ridden by Prince Daemon Targaryen.
• Sunfyre - Said to be the most beautiful creature to command the airs. Ridden by King Aegon, Second of His Name.
• Dreamfyre - Ridden by Queen Helaena.
• Vermax - A young and powerful creature. Ridden by Jacaerys Velaryon.
• Arrax - A young and powerful creature. Ridden by Lucerys Velaryon.
• Silverwing - The dragon of Good Queen Alysanne.
• Stormcloud - [description not visible]

King Viserys, First of His Name

King Viserys Targaryen, First of His Name, reaped the rewards of the Old King's labors. Westeros was at peace, and House Targaryen's rule over it was largely uncontested, with the obvious exception of Dorne. It must be noted that Viserys did not squander his predecessor's legacy. Although the Dance of Dragons scarred the Seven Kingdoms for generations, it would be difficult to lay the blame for it at the feet of the king. It was his love for his children, and his desire to keep the peace that allowed the tensions to fester as they did.

Alicent Hightower

Queen Alicent ... not to ... Princess [Rhaenyra] ... removal as ... Dragonstone. For [much] ... together at court. [Rhaenyra] ... powerful and popular ... Rhaenyra could ... support of the Vale ... was an Arryn. ... marriage with ... granted her access [to the most powerful] single fleet ... may have been ... that would give ... Her uncle, [Daemon,] was considered [to be the most dangerous] man in Westeros ... Kings and ... learned ... Alicent ...

Blood and Cheese

Blood and Cheese, as the histories now remember them, were only the tools of a much more dangerous mind. When Prince Daemon Targaryen heard of Lucerys's death, it is said he sent a raven to Rhaenyra vowing vengeance - "An eye for an eye. A son for a a son. Lucerys shall be avenged." Even a cursory review of Daemon's history would lead any scholar to assert that he did not make threats lightly or without the fullest intention to follow through. While Daemon Targaryen is largely remember^[sic] for his enemies, he was not a man without friends. Daemon had personally transformed the Gold Cloaks from an unruly band of thugs into a well-trained and well-financed militia. For his efforts, he had many favors owed to him by men who knew the lowliest parts of King's Landing. Still, nothing much more is known about the men who carried out the vengeance. [One was] a former Gold Cloak, while the other [was a ratcatcher] who had done work within the Red Keep [and therefore] knew its cisterns and tunnels ...hoods prior to the Dance, their ... Civil War will forever be remembered ... return for both Green and Black... Orwyle's account, the sun was setting ... when the deed was done.

The Rogue Prince and Harrenhal

When Storm's End had been the end of Lucerys Velaryon, the efforts of his older brother Jacaerys had been just. The Lords of Winterfell and the Eyrie had remembered their pledges to Rhaenyra, and swore to support her claim to the throne. With the North and the Vale finally with the Blacks, Rhaenyra and Daemon turned their eyes toward the Riverlands.

It has been said that Rhaenyra's greatest weapon was not her dragons, but her husband, Daemon. An expert on the battlefield, as well as an accomplished strategist. "The Rogue Prince" as he had been called, was one of the most feared men of his day. His legend was such that when Daemon landed his dragon, Caraxes, upon Kingspyre Tower, Harrenhal immediately surrendered, rather than face a fate similar to the much hated king who was the namesake for the castle.

Daemon's control over Harrenhal, and the loss of the Riverlords were causing Aegon's calculations to fall apart. His grandfather and Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, had made diplomacy the focus of the Greens efforts. While they had not been unsuccessful, Aegon, like many young and powerful men, had no patience for a strategy. The Crown, the Throne, and the Capital were his, and all men who opposed him were traitors to the realm. Ser Otto's final gambit was to enlist the help of the Triarchy across the Narrow Sea - old enemies of Prince Daemon. King Aegon, however, had tired of waiting for others to fight his war for him.

King Aegon ... that had served ... well. Blood by ... the king wait ... houses to pledge ... Aegon's first ... Otto as Hand ... place. King [Aegon] ... Cole - forever ... Kingmaker ... the Owl Cou... King Viserys ...

Ser Criston's ... direct - use ... by House ... example of [the] ... Crownlands ... the knee would ... down, their ... their towns ... His plan ... was well ... sufficient ... full-scale assault on ... However ... safely behind ... it would be ... destroy her ... that if one ... her for ... to show ...

Rook's Rest

... However, ... there was little ... that the Dowager [Queen] ... offering to call a council ... King Jaehaerys ... further negotiations. ... Green forces with ... would finish the war ... over control of ...

for the Blacks, it ... King Aegon, ... at Rook's Rest ... Jaehaera and little ...

Aemond One-Eye

Aemond ... every village and ... and one of the ... from Maidenpool to hunt ... unsuccessful. Day ... horrors - Sweetwillow, burnt to the ground. Worse yet, the ... Vhagar. There was little ... Aemon One-Eyed^[sic] had ... he flew after.

... the news that a new Green ... and was marching north ... These Green forces had ... a Black Stronhold^[sic] ... had held against the ... enough time to send ... however, would prove ...

Hour of the Wolf

... for the Throne. It did ... the Winter Wolves had marched a ... and Lord Cregan Stark had no interest in ... demanded that someone be ... that had reigned over ... Black Riverlords and the ... towards King's Landing as ... unstable as well. As man ... still ruled much of the ... more lords to entreat for ... had few options.

...facing the capital. The ... They begged Aegon to ... to the Wall. King Aegon ... He insisted on sending a ... walls. He gave the order ... and sent to the Black ...

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, The Dance of the Dragons, A True Telling is noted by Tyrion that Munkun's history contains some inaccuracies, such as indicating that the dragon that killed Ser Byron Swann was Vhagar, when in fact it was Syrax. Vhagar was ridden by Prince Aemond Targaryen, a brother and supporter of Aegon II Targaryen, and House Swann was among the supporters of Aegon II; therefore, it is unlikely Ser Byron attempted to kill Prince Aemond's mount. Meanwhile, Syrax was ridden by Aegon II's rival, Rhaenyra Targaryen herself.

Munkun's work was said to be biased in favor of Rhaenyra, in contrast to the history written by Septon Eustace, which was biased in favor of Aegon II.

The World of Ice & Fire reveals that Munkun was a member of the council of seven Regents that ruled the Seven Kingdoms after the death of Aegon II, as his successor, his nephew Aegon III Targaryen, was still a child. Munkun was the only member of the council that held office from 131 AC to 136 AC, when the council was dissolved. Munkun would also hold the office of Hand of the King.

External links

• The Dance of the Dragons, A True Telling on A Wiki of Ice and Fire (potential spoilers for House of the Dragon)