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“ | The war will end when the heads of the traitors are mounted on spikes above the King's Gate, and not before. | „ |
~ Daemon to Corlys Velaryon. |
“ | Dreams didn't make us kings. Dragons did. | „ |
~ Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. |
Prince Daemon Targaryen, also known as the Rogue Prince, is a major character in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and the deuteragonist of the television adaptation House of the Dragon.
He was a member of House Targaryen who supported the claim of his niece and third wife, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, throughout the Dance of the Dragons.
In House of the Dragon, he is portrayed by Matt Smith, who also played Patrick Bateman in the musical adaptation of American Psycho, T-5000 and Skynet in Terminator Genisys, Mr. Clever in Doctor Who, Jack in Last Night in Soho, and Milo Morbius in Morbius.
Biography[]
Prince Daemon Targaryen was born in the year 81 AC to Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen, both of whom were children of the reigning King of the Seven Kingdoms, Jaehaerys I Targaryen. House Targaryen were the only remaining family in the world that had command over dragons, and as such, they had held dominion over the Seven Kingdoms on the continent of Westeros for generations. Daemon had an elder brother named Viserys Targaryen, a kind yet weak boy who was four years his senior. Within two weeks of his birth, Alyssa took Daemon out flying on her dragon, Meleys.
In the year 84 AC, Alyssa died giving birth to a third son, Aegon Targaryen, who himself died less than a year later. His dragon was Caraxes. He was an amoral, reckless character. The Great Council of 101 AC declared Viserys his grandfathers' heir over his female cousin Rhaenys (via Viserys' father's older brother) and her seven-year-old son Laenor Velaryon. When King Jaehaerys died in 103, Viserys became King. It was thought this decision by the Great Council meant right to the Iron Throne could not pass to a woman, or through a woman. Daemon thus considered himself his brother's heir, as his brother's only child at the time was a daughter, Rhaenyra. This worried many of the King's councillors, who did not wish Daemon to succeed. Daemon served as Master of Coin, then Master of Laws for his brother, but grew bored with the role, and was disliked by this brother's Hand Ser Otto Hightower. Daemon was later made Commander of the City Watch and gave the Watch their signature uniform that led to them being known as the Gold Cloaks. After Viserys' wife Aemma Arryn died in 105 birthing a son, that son died a day later. When Daemon was heard japing in a brothel about the heir for a day, Viserys declared his daughter heir.
Daemon was married to Rhea Royce, heir to Runestone, but showed no affection for her, referring to her as his "bronze bitch", and spending much time away from her. When she died childless in a hawking accident (in House of the Dragon, she was killed by Daemon himself), Daemon returned to the Vale to try claiming her lands and castles. However Runestone passed to her nephew, and the Royces' liege, Lady Jeyne Arryn, made it clear that Daemon was not welcome in the Vale.
Viserys married again to Alicent Hightower, daughter of Otto Hightower. Despite having sons by her, Viserys continued to declare Rhaenyra his heir.
Daemon, with the aid of Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark, and the wealthiest man in Westeros, began a war in the Stepstones, which had been seized control of by the forces of the Triarchy. Corlys finally crowned Daemon King of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea. However, Daemon eventually grew bored with his new Kingdom and returned to Westeros.
Later Daemon married Laena Velaryon, daughter of Corlys Velaryon. She bore Daemon twin daughters, Rhaena and Baela Targaryen. However, when she gave birth to her son the child was malformed and died shortly after, Laena dying three days later.
After the death of Rhaenyra's first husband Laenor Velaryon, Corlys' son, she married her uncle Daemon. Laenor was murdered by Ser Qarl Correy (possibly his lover), who was never found. It is suspected Daemon paid Qarl to perform the murder, then murdered Qarl, leaving Rhaenyra available to marry.
After Viserys died in his sleep in 129, his eldest son Prince Aegon claimed the Iron Throne. His half-sister disputed this, leading to the war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Daemon placed the crown on Rhaenyra's head and styled himself Protector of the Realm. Viserys and Alicent's second son, Prince Aemond Targaryen, murdered Rhaenyra's second son from her first marriage, Lucerys Velaryon, when he came to Storm's End as an envoy. For this Daemon sent the assassins Blood and Cheese who murdered Aegon's eldest son Jaehaerys, a six-year old.
Daemon helped Rhaenyra take King's Landing. He went to Maidenpool to protect it, as Aemond was riding his dragon Vhagar round the Riverlands, burning it. The Dragonrider Nettles (possibly Daemon's lover), fled when Rhaenyra sent orders to Lord Mooton of Maidenpool to kill her. Daemon helped her escape. Then, Daemon flew his dragon to Harrenhal and awaited his nephew Aemond. On their dragons they dueled over the God's Eye. As Caraxes fought Vhagar, Daemon leapt from his dragon and drove his sword, Dark Sister, through Aemond's blind eye, before the dragons hit the water. His body was never found, though the singers like to say he lived with Nettles. The Maesters disagree.
In the end, though Aegon II ultimately won the war by having Sunfyre eat Rhaenyra, though he was poisoned soon after by unknown parties. With Aegon II dying without heirs, it was Daemon's sons Aegon III and later Viserys II and his heirs became King, making Daemon and Rhaenyra the posthumous winners of the Dance of the Dragons.
In 170 AC, forty years after Daemon's death, his granddaughter Daena Targaryen named her bastard son Daemon Waters in his honor.
Quotes[]
“ | Daemon Targaryen: I heard your father was hosting a tournament in my honor. Rhaenyra Targaryen: The tournament is for his heir. Daemon Targaryen: Just as I said. |
„ |
~ Daemon and Rhaenyra in the first episode. |
“ | When I took command of the Watch, you were stray mongrels, starving and undisciplined. Now, you're a pack of hounds. You're sated and honed for the hunt. My brother's city has fallen into squalor. Crime of every breed has been allowed to thrive. No longer. Beginning tonight, King's Landing will learn to fear the color gold. | „ |
~ Daemon to the City Watch. |
“ | In the Vale, men are said to fuck sheep instead of women. I can assure you, the sheep are prettier. | „ |
~ Daemon to Otto on his wife Rhea Royce. |
“ | King and council have long rued my position as next in line for the throne. But dream and pray as they all might, it seems I'm not so easily replaced. | „ |
~ Daemon. |
“ | Who gives a f-ck what some lord thinks! You are the dragon. Your word is truth and law. | „ |
~ Daemon to Viserys. |
“ | ... Say it. | „ |
~ Daemon to Vaemond on calling Rhaenyra's children bastards. |
“ | He can keep his tongue. | „ |
~ Daemon upon decapitating Vaemond. |
External Links[]
- Daemon Targaryen on the Heroes Wiki
- Daemon Targaryen on the Game of Thrones Wiki
- Daemon Targaryen on the A Wiki of Ice and Fire.