At the heart of the succession war for the throne, the character of the young woman, played by Milly Alcock, captured the attention of viewers during the first episode of the prequel to “Game of Thrones”, but who is she really? ?
A Targaryen Princess
Rhaenyra Targaryen is the eldest daughter of King Vyseris I and Queen Aemma Arryn and was born in the year 97. Although named by her father as heir to the Iron Throne, as a woman her right of succession was challenged by part of the court.
During her childhood, Rhaenyra was nicknamed “the joy of the kingdom”. Her mother suffered several miscarriages and the death of an infant. Rhaenyra is in good health; she is an unexpected miracle in the eyes of her parents and the entire kingdom. After the death of his mother, who dies giving birth to a son, Baelon, who dies the next day, King Viserys Ier Targaryen decides to settle the question of his succession: he designates his daughter Rhaenyra as the legitimate heiress to the throne. A ceremony is organized and hundreds of lords come to recognize Rhaenyra as heiress. She then receives their oaths to honor and defend her right of succession.
His role in “dragon dance”
Beware of possible spoilers!!!
Rhaenyra Targaryen occupied a central role in the war of succession which took place after the death of King Viserys 1st. This opposed the clan of “blacks” who supported his cause, to the clan of “greens” who supported that of his half-brother Aegon. Despite her heiress status acquired before the birth of her half-brothers and later confirmed by her father, the Restricted Council, dominated by Queen Alicent’s party, dismisses Rhaenyra and crowns her half-brother Aegon as Aegon. II.
Rhaenyra enjoys a lot of support at court and therefore decides to do everything to achieve her ends. The ensuing war of succession is now known as the Dragon Dance. Princess Rhaenyra initially composed her own council, the black council, made up of her husband Daemon, her sons Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey Velaryon, Lord Corlys Velaryon and his wife Rhaenys. She is later crowned queen.
After dozens of battles between the two camps and which notably lead to the disappearance of the majority of the dragons of the Targaryen clan, Rhaenyra is defeated. Her first three sons died like her husband Daemon, defeated in a terrible duel between him and Prince Aemond. The queen then returns to Dragonstone but she does not know that the fortress is already invested by the greens led by her half-brother. Finally, a prisoner, the queen is taken before King Aegon II who feeds her to his dragon Fires of the Sun.
A charming story!
It remains to be seen if the Rhaenyra of the TV series will suffer the same fate! The second episode of House of the Dragon is found on August 29 on OCS.
