Daemon Targaryen’s family tree is defined by his position as the younger brother of King Viserys I Targaryen, his two marriages (to Rhea Royce and Rhaenyra Targaryen), and his children, who continue the Targaryen bloodline through the Dance of the Dragons and beyond. He is a central figure in the Targaryen dynasty, and his descendants include future kings and queens of Westeros.
Background and Parentage
Daemon was born in 81 AC (After the Conquest) to Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen, who were siblings. Baelon was the son of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen, making Daemon a grandson of the Old King. Alyssa was Baelon’s sister, so Daemon’s parents were both Targaryens, a common practice to keep the “blood of the dragon” pure. Daemon had two older siblings: Viserys (who would become king) and a sister named Alyssa who died in infancy. His uncle was Prince Aemon, who died before Daemon was born, and his cousin Rhaenys was the “Queen Who Never Was.”
The Dance of the Dragons and the Succession Crisis
Daemon’s family tree becomes central to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons (129–131 AC). When King Viserys I died, his daughter Rhaenyra (Daemon’s wife) and his son Aegon II (from his first marriage to Alicent Hightower) both claimed the Iron Throne. Daemon supported Rhaenyra, his wife, and became her main military commander. The war split the Targaryen family, with Daemon’s own children from Rhaenyra fighting against their half-uncle Aegon II. Daemon himself died in 130 AC during the Battle Above the God’s Eye, fighting Prince Aemond and his dragon Vhagar. His death did not end the war, but it removed the most experienced Targaryen warrior from the conflict.
Daemon’s First Marriage: Rhea Royce
Daemon’s first wife was Rhea Royce, a noblewoman from Runestone in the Vale. The marriage was arranged by King Jaehaerys I to temper Daemon’s ambition and to tie the Targaryens to the Vale. The union was unhappy and childless; Daemon reportedly despised Rhea and spent much of his time away from her. Rhea died in 115 AC after a fall from her horse, and Daemon was freed to remarry. Some accounts suggest he did not mourn her, and he soon sought a new bride.
Daemon’s Second Marriage: Rhaenyra Targaryen
In 115 AC, Daemon married his niece Rhaenyra Targaryen, the daughter of King Viserys I and his first wife Aemma Arryn. Rhaenyra was named heir to the Iron Throne by her father, but her succession was contested by her half-brother Aegon II. Daemon and Rhaenyra had three children: Aegon the Younger (later King Aegon III), Viserys (later King Viserys II), and a daughter named Visenya who was stillborn. The marriage was both political and personal; Daemon was fiercely loyal to Rhaenyra and fought for her claim until his death.
Children and Descendants
Daemon’s children from his marriage to Rhaenyra carried the Targaryen line forward after the Dance. His eldest son, Aegon III, became king after the war, but his reign was troubled by the regency and the aftermath of the conflict. Viserys II served as hand to his nephew Baelor I and later became king himself. Daemon’s descendants through Viserys II include generations of Targaryen monarchs, such as Aerys I, Maekar I, and eventually the Mad King Aerys II, who was the father of Rhaella and the grandfather of Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys Targaryen. Thus, Daemon’s bloodline connects to the main Targaryen line that survives into the era of Robert’s Rebellion and beyond.
Legacy and Portrayal in Fire & Blood
Daemon is a controversial figure in Targaryen history. He is remembered as a skilled warrior, a dragonrider (his dragon was Caraxes), and a charismatic but reckless prince. In Fire & Blood, the fictional history by Archmaester Gyldayn, Daemon is described as both a hero and a rogue. He was known for his cruelty in war, such as the sacking of Harrenhal, but also for his loyalty to Rhaenyra. His death is one of the most dramatic moments of the Dance, as he deliberately plunged his dragon into Vhagar, killing both himself and Aemond. His legacy is mixed: he is celebrated by some as a dragonrider who died for his queen, and condemned by others for his ambition and violence.
Common Misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that Daemon was the father of Rhaenyra’s first three children (Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon). In fact, their father was Ser Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s first husband, though it is widely rumored that the biological father was Ser Harwin Strong. Daemon was not involved in their upbringing until after Laenor’s death and his marriage to Rhaenyra. Another misconception is that Daemon was the rightful heir to the Iron Throne after Viserys I; in fact, Viserys named Rhaenyra as his heir, and Daemon accepted this, though he had earlier been considered a possible successor before Rhaenyra’s birth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Daemon Targaryen’s parents? Daemon’s parents were Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen, who were siblings. Baelon was the son of King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne, making Daemon a grandson of the Old King.
Did Daemon Targaryen have children with Rhea Royce? No, his marriage to Rhea Royce was childless. Rhea died in 115 AC, and Daemon later married Rhaenyra Targaryen, with whom he had three children: Aegon III, Viserys II, and a stillborn daughter named Visenya.
How is Daemon Targaryen related to Daenerys Targaryen? Daemon is Daenerys’s great-great-great-grandfather. His son Viserys II was the father of Aegon IV, who was the father of Daeron II, and so on down to Aerys II, Daenerys’s father.
What dragon did Daemon Targaryen ride? Daemon rode the dragon Caraxes, known as the Blood Wyrm. Caraxes was a large and fierce dragon, and Daemon died with him in the Battle Above the God’s Eye against Vhagar.
Did Daemon Targaryen ever sit on the Iron Throne? No, Daemon never became king. He supported Rhaenyra’s claim, but he died in 130 AC before the war ended, and Rhaenyra’s son Aegon III eventually took the throne.
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