Viserys Targaryen: A King's Legacy & House Of The Dragon's Impact

Did a king's well-intentioned reign inadvertently pave the way for devastating conflict? Viserys I Targaryen, remembered as Viserys the Peaceful, undeniably left an indelible mark on the history of Westeros, both in life and in death.

Viserys I Targaryen, the fifth Targaryen king to rule the Seven Kingdoms, ascended to the Iron Throne in 103 AC, reigning until his death in 129 AC. His reign, initially marked by peace and prosperity, is tragically remembered as the calm before a storm, the storm being the Dance of the Dragons. Viserys I was the grandson of Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the "Old King," and the son of Baelon Targaryen. His legacy is inextricably linked to his children: Rhaenyra Targaryen, his chosen heir, and Aegon II Targaryen, whose claim to the throne sparked a brutal civil war. Upon his ascension, he was known as the "Young King" to differentiate him from his predecessor.

Viserys I Targaryen's reign was marked by a commitment to maintaining the peace and prosperity inherited from his grandfather, Jaehaerys I. However, despite his good intentions, decisions made during his rule sowed the seeds of the devastating civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. The central issue was the succession. Viserys named his daughter, Rhaenyra Targaryen, as his heir, a decision that challenged the traditional Andal laws of inheritance, which favored male heirs. This decision was met with resistance from factions within the court who supported the claim of Aegon II, Viserys's eldest son from his second marriage to Alicent Hightower. The conflict over the Iron Throne was not merely a power struggle, but a clash of traditions, ambitions, and personal loyalties.

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The circumstances surrounding Viserys's ascension to the throne were pivotal. King Jaehaerys I Targaryen initially named Viseryss father, Baelon, as his heir in 92 AC. However, Baelon's untimely death in 101 AC necessitated a Great Council to determine the succession. Viserys, at the age of 26, was ultimately chosen as Jaehaerys's heir, favored over his cousin, Rhaenys Velaryon, despite her being older. This decision, while seemingly straightforward at the time, highlighted the existing tensions surrounding male preference in succession. Had Rhaenys been chosen, the Dance of the Dragons might have been averted entirely.

Rhaenyra Targaryen, daughter of Viserys I Targaryen and his first wife, Queen Aemma Arryn, is a central figure in the Targaryen family saga. Her father's decision to name her as his heir, bypassing his cousin Rhaenys Targaryen and later his own son Aegon II, set the stage for the Dance of the Dragons. Aemma Arryn's death in childbirth, along with their infant son, profoundly impacted Viserys and his decision-making regarding the succession. This personal tragedy likely solidified his determination to name Rhaenyra as his heir, further complicating the already fraught political landscape.

The actions and decisions of Viserys I Targaryen are open to interpretation. Some view him as a benevolent ruler who genuinely sought to maintain peace and prosperity, while others criticize his indecisiveness and failure to foresee the consequences of his choices regarding the succession. He is, perhaps, a tragic figure, a king who inherited a realm at peace but whose well-intentioned actions ultimately unleashed a catastrophic civil war. His inability to reconcile the differing factions within his court, particularly the supporters of Rhaenyra and Aegon, proved to be his ultimate undoing.

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Viserys II Targaryen, the second son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen, was named after Rhaenyras father and Daemons brother, Viserys I. This namesake would also become king in the later history depicted in the "Song of Ice and Fire" books. The existence of Viserys II further complicates the legacy of Viserys I, highlighting the complex and often tragic interconnectedness of the Targaryen dynasty.

The prequel series "House of the Dragon" begins with the reign of King Viserys I, the fifth Targaryen king, while "Game of Thrones" starts approximately 200 years after the Dance of the Dragons, following the death of King Aerys II Targaryen, also known as the Mad King. This temporal distance underscores the significance of Viserys I's reign and the devastating impact of the civil war that followed. The events set in motion during his reign reverberate through generations of Targaryens, shaping the political landscape of Westeros for centuries to come.

In HBOs "House of the Dragon," the television adaptation of George R.R. Martins prequel novellas and novelettes, Paddy Considine portrays Viserys I Targaryen, the father of Rhaenyra, the protagonist of the first season. Considines portrayal captures the king's inherent goodness, his struggles with difficult decisions, and his declining health. His performance adds depth and nuance to a character who is often viewed solely through the lens of his controversial succession decision.

Viserys was born the eldest son of Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen, both children of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. This close familial connection to the ruling dynasty positioned Viserys as a potential heir from an early age. While Baelon was not Jaehaeryss firstborn son, he was named heir after the death of his elder brother, Aemon. This succession drama within the royal family foreshadows the later conflict between Rhaenyra and Aegon.

Aegon II Targaryen became the sixth Targaryen king of Westeros after the death of his father, Viserys I. His ascension to the throne, in defiance of Viserys's declared heir, Rhaenyra, triggered the Dance of the Dragons. The ensuing civil war decimated the Targaryen dynasty, weakened the dragons, and forever altered the political landscape of Westeros.

In one particularly poignant scene in "House of the Dragon," as Viserys loses lucidity, he speaks of Aegon I and the importance of a Targaryen sitting on the Iron Throne. The show subtly suggests that Viserys believes he is speaking to Rhaenyra, not Alicent, highlighting the confusion and disorientation that plagued his final days. This scene underscores the tragic irony of his reign his desire to secure the Targaryen dynasty ultimately led to its near destruction.

Viserys briefly rode Balerion the Black Dread, the largest and most fearsome dragon in Targaryen history. While his time riding Balerion was short, it underscores his Targaryen heritage and connection to the dragons, creatures of immense power that played a crucial role in the Targaryen dynasty's dominance. However, its worth noting that he was not a particularly skilled or enthusiastic dragonrider, further highlighting his differences from other Targaryen kings.

King Viserys's father was Baelon Targaryen, who was heir to the throne until his death from appendicitis, which explains why Viserys in episode 1 named his newborn son Baelor. This act reveals Viseryss deep respect for his father and his desire to honor his memory. However, the death of his newborn son, Baelor, further fueled his determination to secure the succession for his daughter, Rhaenyra.

Viserys Targaryen was also the name of the second son of Aerys II Targaryen, the Mad King. Following Robert's Rebellion, this Viserys and his sister Daenerys Targaryen were the remnants of the exiled House Targaryen. This Viserys claimed the Iron Throne as King Viserys III, but was killed before he could make any attempt to take the throne. The existence of another Viserys Targaryen vying for the throne highlights the Targaryen dynasty's turbulent history and the constant struggle for power.

The portrayal of Viserys as a father is complex and often criticized. Some viewers argue that he clearly favored his eldest daughter, Rhaenyra, over his other children, particularly those from his second marriage to Alicent Hightower. His interactions with his children, particularly Aemond, are sometimes interpreted as interrogations rather than expressions of paternal love. This perceived favoritism further fueled the rivalry between Rhaenyra and Aegon and contributed to the overall instability of the realm.

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon had three children, although their biological father was rumored to be Harwin Strong: Lucerys (deceased), Joffrey Velaryon, and two half-siblings, Aegon III and Viserys II. This complex family dynamic further complicates the succession issue and contributes to the overall drama and intrigue of the Targaryen saga.

The reign of Viserys I Targaryen, while initially prosperous, is ultimately remembered as a period of growing instability that culminated in the Dance of the Dragons. His well-intentioned but ultimately flawed decisions regarding the succession had devastating consequences for the Targaryen dynasty and the entire realm of Westeros. He stands as a cautionary tale of a king who sought peace but inadvertently unleashed a storm of fire and blood.