House of the Dragon: Daemon Targaryen’s quest for the Iron Throne – this is what you need to know about the cunning royal brother

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The HBO series “House of the Dragon” is a spin-off of George RR Martin’s “Game of Thrones”. The show tells the story of the House Targaryen, which ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros for over 300 years. The focus is, among other things, on the unscrupulous Prince Daemon Targaryen. We’ll tell you what awaits him over the course of the series.

Daemon Targaryen is after the Iron Throne

Daemon Targaryen is the second son of Prince Baelon Targaryen and his sister wife Alyssa Targaryen. His brother Viserys I was crowned King of the Seven Kingdoms after his father’s death. As the eldest male prince, Daemon sees himself as the rightful heir to his brother’s throne.

However, Viserys I names his firstborn daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, as his rightful heir to the throne. However, Daemon was not entirely uninvolved in this decision. When his sister-in-law Aemma Arryn and his nephew Baelor die during his birth, Daemon makes a joke at their expense. He refers to the deceased boy as an “heir for a day”, which draws his brother’s wrath.

The prince of the city

As commander of King’s Landing’s city guard, Daemon is feared. With his sword “Dark Sister” he is considered a great warrior and gifted fighter. In his position, he deals ruthlessly with lawbreakers. He cuts off the arms of pickpockets and castrates rapists.

He turns the then unorganized city guard into a unit that follows him and, thanks to him, becomes a serious authority in King’s Landing. He equips the knights with uniform weapons and armor and he gives them golden cloaks, giving them the name “gold cloaks”.

When Daemon once again incurs his brother’s wrath, he is dismissed from his position. Many of his Knights of the City Watch follow him and then fight with Daemon in the Battle of the Stepping Stones. The Targaryen prince, together with Corlys Velaryon, can win this over and strike down the crab eater. After the war, Daemon crowns himself King of the Stepping Stones.

Demon and the women

At the age of 16, Daemon is married to Rhea Rois. She is the Lady of Rune City and heir to the Vale. But the young Targaryen prince is not particularly impressed by this connection. He is bored and calls his wife a “bronze bitch”. When rumors arise that he is having an affair with his niece Rhaenyra, he suggests that his brother marry her.

However, Viserys I rejects this union because Daemon is already married. In order to follow his plans and get rid of his hated wife, Daemon fakes his wife’s accidental death. He kills Rhea and claims the Vale for himself.

When he returns to King’s Landing, Rhaenyra’s wedding to her cousin Laenor Velaryon is coming up. At the wedding he meets the young daughter of Corlys Velaryon and sister Laenor. Against his brother’s wishes, he marries Laena Velaryon and flees with her to the Free Cities.

Together with Laena he has twin daughters Rhaena and Baela. Complications arise during the birth of her third child, and when the maesters neither give her nor the child a chance, Laena decides to commit suicide. She drags herself to the stand of Pentos and lets her dragon Vhagar burn her.

Marriage to Rhaenyra Targaryen

At his wife’s funeral he meets Rhaenyra again after years. Even though his niece is still married, they begin an affair shortly afterwards. Together they make a plan to fight as a married couple against the Greens, who are questioning Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne.

Daemon, Rhaenyra, Laenor and his lover Qarl Gorge fake Laenor’s death so that the two men can go into hiding. So Rhaenyra is free to marry Daemon. Together with his wife he fathers two sons: Aegon III. and Viserys II Targaryen.

Dance of the Dragons

When Rhaenyra is in labor, heavily pregnant with her third child, her father dies. The Greens, who want to prevent Rhaenyra’s accession to the throne, initially cover this up and convene the Small Council. In this, Otto and Alicent Hightower argue against Rhaenyra’s inheritance and claim that Daemon would take over and judge the people cruelly.

So they crown Aegon II Targaryen, Viserys I’s eldest son, as the new king. When Rhaenyra finds out, she suffers a stillbirth. Rhaenyra then convenes the Black Council, in which Daemon holds a high position. Daemon then crowns his wife as the rightful Queen of Westeros. The dance of the dragons breaks out.

To convince the houses that have not yet bowed to Aegon II, Daemon flies to Harrenhal. There he takes the fortress for himself. At first the lords behave hesitantly, but they soon join the blacks.

Meanwhile, Lucerys, Rhaenyra’s second eldest son, is sent as a messenger. He is murdered by his uncle Aemond Targaryen. Daemon swears revenge and sends the two crooks blood and cheese into the Red Keep. They kill Aegon II’s eldest son in front of his mother and grandmother.

Daemon’s downfall

During the Dance of the Dragons, Daemon fights numerous other battles. His stepson Jacaerys dies. Through his contacts he learns that Aemond Targaryen plans to retake Harrenhal. He then spreads word throughout the Riverlands that he is waiting for his nephew in Harrenhal.

After 14 days of waiting, it appears there. A fight breaks out between the men on their dragons over the sea. As the animals are tightly embraced, Daemon Aemond manages to push his sword into the eye socket. The warriors fall into the water together with their dragons. Daemon’s body is not found, but he cannot have survived the impact.

How the series implements this fight and whether Daemon actually dies in the process remains to be seen. Maybe we’ll see how the duel is resolved in “House of the Dragon” Season 2.