The history of the Seven Kingdoms is replete with examples of worthy monarchs, but they can’t hold a candle to Aegon I Targaryen. He was born on Dragonstone in 27 BC to Lord Aerion Targaryen and Lady Valaena Velaryon. He was ambitious, wise, and strategic, and therefore able to conquer six of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Aegon’s Conquest took place almost 300 years prior to the events ofGame of Thrones.He landed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush with his two siblings, Visenya and Rhaenys, their three dragons, and a small army in 2 BC. Aegon scored swift victories in the Conquest, defeated the best military commanders, and arrogant kings, and proved he was the blood of Old Valyria, indeed.
Besides Aegon I’s numerous accomplishments (emphasized inGame of Thronesfrom time to time), he also won the respect of Westerosi lords and former kings. While he spearheaded the invasion of the Seven Kingdoms, his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys deserve due credit for the pivotal role that they played in the Targaryen campaign. Thanks to their participation and contribution in the numerous battles of the Conquest, most notably,Field of Fire, Aegon was able to establish the erstwhile ruling Targaryen dynasty of Westeros. He rode Balerion the Black Dread, Visenya rode Vhagar (seen inHouse of the Dragon), and Rhaenys rode Meraxes in the Conquest. Together the three siblings and their dragons were a force to be reckoned with.
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Aegon The Conqueror Took Two Wives
Aegon the Conqueror is undoubtedly the most notable figure inGame of Throneslore, and therefore many characters onThronesandHouse of the Dragonlook up to him. InHouse of the Dragonseason 1, episode 4 “King of the Narrow Sea,” Daemon Targaryen expresses his desire to be wed to his niece, Rhaenyra in the tradition of their house. He believes if Aegon the Conqueror could take a second wife, so could he. Later, inHouse of the Dragonseason 1, episode 7 “Driftmark,” the wastrel, Aegon (whobecomes King Aegon II Targaryen, later) expresses distaste at his and Helaena’s betrothal, noting that the two of them do not share common interests. His younger brother, Aemond chides him, saying he would perform his duty if he were to marry his sister as “It would strengthen the family…” and keep their Valyrian blood pure.
The two examples fromHouse of the Dragondemonstrate how members of the house of the dragon practiced incest to keep power within the family. It is commonly held belief that their patriarch and founder, the dragonlord, Aegon I Targaryen married his older sister, Visenya out of duty and the younger, Rhaenys out of love. These two marriages took place before he invadedthe Seven Kingdoms.As a matter of fact, the three-headed dragon of the Targaryen sigil represents the Conqueror and his sister-wives. Aegon honored his family tradition and married within the family, and took two wives instead of one. Though he needed to marry the elder sister to secure his succession, his marriage to Rhaenys purely was out of love.
Aegon’s marital status drew attention in the earlyphases of the Conquest(a potentialGame of Thronesprequel) and sparked hostilities between him and the last Storm King, Argilac Durrandon. Argilac offered the hand of his heir, Argella to Aegon and the latter declined, saying he didn’t need a third wife. Aegon offered his friend, and rumored bastard half-brother, Orys Baratheon’s hand in marriage instead. This move angered Argilac the Arrogant and snowballed into full-scale war and ended in his defeat. Simply put, only did Aegon bring the kingdoms into subjugation but the Westerosi people accepted his incestuous, and polygamous marriages.
King Aegon Loved His Queen Rhaenys
It’s widely believed that Queen Rhaenys Targaryen was Aegon’s favorite. It is through their marriage that the Targaryen line of succession continued, as she bore him his eldest son, Aenys who became the second Targaryen king to sit on the Iron Throne. After the Six Kingdoms were forged into a realm, Aegon and his sister-wives resided at Aegonfort in King’s Landing. He left them in charge of the day-to-dayaffairs of the realmand Queen Rhaenys took a great many initiatives. It is she who persuaded Aegon to forbid the Ironborn practice of capturing women throughout the Seven Kingdoms (something Daenerys also objected to onGame of Thrones). Rhaenys also helped Aegon in winning the trust and confidence of his vassals and the smallfolk.
It is also believed that for every night Aegon spent with Visenya, he spent ten with Rhaenys. While Cersei Lannister’sGame of Thronesassertion that “The Targaryens wed brothers and sisters for three hundred years to keep bloodlines pure,” is true, Rhaenys was the love of Aegon’s life nonetheless. He was under no obligation to marry her but the fact that he did shows that he wanted her. The circumstances of Rhaenys' death inthe First Dornish Warenraged Aegon and Visenya. Consumed by the loss of his Queen, Aegon used Balerion to set fire to Dorne. The two years, that followed Queen Rhaenys' assassination are known as Dragon’s Wroth, as the Targaryens, in mourning, laid waste to every Dornish stronghold at least once, except for Sunspear and its shadow city.
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