House Of The Dragon: The Life Of Aemond Targaryen, Explained

By House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10 “The Black Queen,” Ewan Mitchell’s Aemond Targaryen devolves into the show’s finest villain backed by a compelling backstory. Aemond Targaryen makes his first appearance in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6 “The Princess and the Queen.” He is the secondborn son of Alicent Hightower and King Viserys I Targaryen, and overall, their third and final child, per the show’s canon.

Alicent and Viserys’ fourth child, Prince Daeron Targaryen, is cut entirely from the show. Aemond throws his weight behind his elder brother Aegon while still open to the idea of sitting the Iron Throne, should the opportunity arise. Aemond’s character rests on strong writing and features interesting elements from lore. As House of the Dragon is an adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, key events in lore help understand how Aemond Targaryen’s character will change throughout the Dance of the Dragons.

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Who Is Aemond Targaryen?

Aemond Targaryen is the pride and joy of Alicent Hightower, and House Hightower, in general. He is fiercely loyal to his mother, but no particular affection exists between him and his father, Viserys. His character grows up to be the most shrewd Hightower-Targaryen, and he shines in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7 “Driftmark.” Aemond stands alongside Rhaenyra’s sons at the Dragonpit in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6 “The Princess and the Queen.” The “Velaryon” boys, led by Aegon Targaryen, give Aemond a hard time about being the only one of them without a dragon. They give him a pig for a dragon, and angered, he ventures deep into the lairs of the Dragonpit where he has a narrow escape with Dreamfyre. Aemond is retrieved from the pits and brought before Alicent Hightower, who assures him that he will have a dragon soon. In the backdrop of the same scene, Aemond’s sister, Helaena Targaryen, foretells that he will claim a dragon but lose an eye:

He’ll have to close an eye.

Helaena’s prophecy comes true in the following episode as he claims the late Lady Laena Velaryon’s she-dragon, Vhagar. Following this, a melee breaks out between him and Rhaenyra’s sons, Jacaerys and Lucerys, and Daemon’s daughters, Baela and Rhaena. Lucerys slashes his dagger and takes out Aemond’s eye. King Viserys’ Kingsguards break up the fight, and the court is convened in the Hall of Nine. Aemond’s mother, Queen Alicent, wants Lucerys’ eye for an eye, but Viserys orders both parties to bury the hatchet. Aemond nurses a grudge against Lucerys, while Alicent’s paranoia is higher than ever. Just as Viserys dismisses everyone, Aemond calms his hysteric mother by pointing out he paid with an eye for the largest dragon in the Seven Kingdoms:

Do not mourn me, mother. It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye, but I gained a dragon.

As fate would have it, Lucerys and his half-uncle, Aemond, meet at Lord Borros Baratheon’s court at Storm’s End. The Baratheons declare for the Greens as Aemond offers himself in a marriage pact with one of his daughters. Borros rushes Lucerys out of his castle but Aemond chases him on dragonback and causes the deaths of him and his dragon, Arrax. By the end of the fight above Shipbreaker Bay, Aemond loses control of Vhagar and ignites the Dance of the Dragons. This event earns him the derogatory nickname Kinslayer from his enemies.

Why Is Aemond Targaryen Popular?

Aemond starts House of the Dragon as a powerful, charismatic, and ambitious character. He’s quite the opposite of his wastrel brother but similar to his uncle, Daemon. Aemond and Daemon are mirror characters, in that, they share the same personality traits, values, and goals. They style their hair the same way, carry themselves with poise and grace, and speak eloquently. They have a similar lust for power; the younger iteration of Daemon wanted to see himself on the Iron Throne but not at the cost of his brother. Aemond lobbies for Aegon at Storm’s End, but earlier, when Aegon was unwilling to be coronated, he was willing to take his spot as King.

All this Aemond and Daemon build-up will pay off in House of the Dragon‘s future, when the two battle atop Vhagar and Caraxes, above the Gods Eye lake near Harrenhal. The Targaryen men and their dragons perish in this fight, per lore.

Will Aemond Targaryen Die In House Of The Dragon?

In the Dance of the Dragons, Aemond (and Aegon II) ambush their aunt, Princess Rhaenys, atop Meleys, at Rook’s Rest, culminating in a battle in the skies. Aegon II and his dragon, Sunfyre, are injured in the battle, while Aemond and Vhagar rise unharmed. The Battle at Rook’s Rest is a major victory for the Greens and Aemond and Vhagar deserve praise. The Greens eliminate one of the largest dragons and the strongest player in the Dance of the Dragons. As Aegon II recuperates, Aemond sits the throne for a year as Prince Reagent and Protector of the Realm. He wears the Conqueror’s crown while serving the realm as a reagent.

Aemond Targaryen And Alys Rivers’ Relationship

Aemond Targaryen, Criston Cole, and their host effectively end the Blacks’ occupation of Harrenhal by taking back the castle. However, since the duo is absent from King’s Landing, Daemon, Rhaenyra, and the Blacks rapidly capture the capital. Aemond demands Harrenhal’s previous in charge, Ser Simon Strong’s head, but spares Lyonel Strong’s rumored bastard, and the wet nurse, Alys Rivers. A few accounts in the lore say Alys is a woods witch, while some say she is “a serving wench with an interest in potions,” and that she uses potions to attract Aemond. She evolves from Aemond’s bedmate to paramour through the Dance. Alys, supposedly pregnant with Aemond’s child, kisses him a passionate goodbye as he leaves her to fight Daemon in the skies. She watches them clash atop their dragons above the Gods Eye Lake.

Prince Aemond and Vhagar’s losses deal a blow to the Greens. Aemond was that particular prince of the Hightower-Targaryen line who’d acquired unique skill sets throughout his life. He showed remarkable stoicism and fortitude when he lost his eye as a child. He rode the largest dragon in the world and was educated in the histories. It’s a shame that, during Aemond’s time, House Targaryen was split between Aegon II and Queen Rhaenyra because he was a promising prince of the great empire.

House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres June 16 at 9/8c on HBO and Max.

House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon is HBO’s prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.

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