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Summary
The Targaryens, sans their dragons, are at the helm of the Seven Kingdoms when the adventures of Dunk and Egg begin. Dunk, who styles himself as Ser Duncan the Tall, and Egg, titled Prince Aegon (and later Aegon V) in lore, will be the key characters inA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.The storytelling will be supported by an ensemble of Targaryens, nobles, and smallfolk from across the realm.
As depicted inGame of Thrones, House Targaryen ruled Westeros for roughly 300 years. Aegon and his sister-wives consolidated the rule of Westeros from 1 AC, after the end of Aegon’s Conquest. Successive generations of Targaryens came and went, butRobert’s Rebellion, which began in 281 AC,overthrew them. The Targaryens were ousted in a bloody war led in the name of Robert Baratheon and supported by Lord Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn, and Lord Hoster Tully. Against this dynamic backdrop, which Targaryens lived to see the tales ofSer Duncan the Tall and Eggbecome popular?
House Targaryen During The Time Of Ser Duncan The Tall
A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsis based on a series of novellas called “The Tales of Dunk and Egg,” set on the continent of Westeros. Three novellas by author George R. R. Martin have been released, and the first season ofA Knight of the Seven Kingdomsis adapted from the first short story, “The Hedge Knight.”
In the story, Duncan makes a name for himself at the historically significant tourney atAshford Meadow, hosted by House Ashfordin 209 AC. This tourney marks a change in the order of succession, as the Prince of Dragonstone and the heir apparent to the Iron Throne, Baelor, dies inthe Trial of Seven. But before this trial marks a regime change, here are the Targaryen figureheads, and here is who ruled the Iron Throne.
King Daeron II Targaryen
Children: Baelor Targaryen, Aerys I Targaryen, Rhaegel Targaryen, Maekar I Targaryen
King Daeron II Targaryen ruled from 184 to 209 AC. He came to be known as Daeron the Good for his numerous achievements. AfterAegon the Unworthy’s death, Daeron left for King’s Landing to take his seat as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. He immediately set about correcting the deficiencies and prevented the near collapse of all organs of the government, brought about by his father, Aegon IV’s, misrule.
Daeron II had to deal with the Realm’s main issue: the Blackfyre Rebellions that broke out when his father legitimized all his bastard children before dying. Earlier, Aegon IV had publicly knighted his then twelve-year-old bastard, Daemon Waters (later Daemon Blackfyre) with the noble Targaryen regalia —the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre. This act staked Daemon to the legitimacy he required to lay claim to the Iron Throne.
Out of the five generations of strife againstthe Blackfyre Pretenders, King Daeron II oversaw and quelled the first in 195 AC. He wed Myriah Martell, with whom he had four sons: Baelor, Aerys I, Rhaegel, and Maekar I. To commemorate the official proclamation of Dorne’s admission to the Seven Kingdoms (by having his sister Daenerys wed Maron Martell), Daeron built Summerhall in the Dornish Marches. He ensured the City Watch of King’s Landing acted in the interests of the public and repaired numerous fractures within the monarchy.
Daeron II’s heir, the Prince of Dragonstone, Baelor, is one of the core Targaryens as the Dunk and Egg lore starts. Baelor dies accidentally at the hands of his brother, Maekar, in the Trial of Seven in 209 AC. King Daeron II dies the following year in the Great Spring Sickness, along with his first and second heirs (Baelor’s sons), Princes Valarr and Matarys.
Prince Baelor Targaryen
Children: Valarr Targaryen, Matarys Targaryen
The eldest of Daeron’s sons, Baelor was known as Baelor Breakspear for unhorsing Ser Daemon Blackfyre at the tourney held in honor of Princess Daenerys' wedding to Prince Maron Martell of Dorne. Besides being martial, Prince Baelor was gallant, wise, and kind. He was present at Ashford, when the central figure ofA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,Ser Duncan the Tall, showed up to participate.
Lord Ashford’s steward banned Ser Duncan from participating in the tourney because he couldn’t produce anyone to vouch for his knighthood. The Hedge Knight Ser Duncan maintained that he had squired for and eventually been knighted by Ser Arlan of Pennytree. Dismissed, but not dejected, Ser Duncan the Tall ran into Princes Baelor and Maekar Targaryen. Baelor vouched for Duncan and eventually championed for him when accused of treason and whatnot byhis nephews, Princes Aerionand Daeron Targaryen.
Maekar fought on the opposite side in this Trial of Seven, and accidentally dealt Baelor a deadly blow. Baelor the Breakspear’s two sons, Valarr and Matarys, died in the Great Spring Sickness, thereby ending his line.
Prince Aerys Targaryen
No Issue
After the deaths of Baelor, King Daeron II, Valarr, and Matarys, the Iron Throne went to Aerys I Targaryen, Daeron II’s second son. Aerys always had his nose in a book. He sat on the throne from 209 to 221 AC, during which he let his Hand anduncle, Brynden Rivers, known as Bloodraven, rule in his stead. The Second Blackfyre Rebellion was quelled during his rule, with little to no insight from him. Bloodraven and Ser Duncan the Tall are credited with the Targaryen victory against the Blackfyres at the Whitewalls Tourney.
King Aerys I had four different heirs, starting with his brother Rhaegel, who choked on a lamprey pie. His nephew, Rhaegel’s son Aelor, died in an accident. Aerys' third heir was Rhaegel’s wife, Aelora, who died by suicide. Lastly, there was his youngest brother, Maekar. When Aerys died in 221 AC, Maekar succeeded him.
Prince Maekar Targaryen
Children: Daeron Targaryen, Aerion Targaryen, Aemon Targaryen, Daella Targaryen, Aegon V Targaryen, Rhae Targaryen
Maekar I Targaryen was the next king on the Iron Throne. Like his older brother, Baelor, he played a crucial role inA Knight of the Seven Kingdomslore. His station wasthe Targaryen castle of Summerhall, and he was just as martial as Baelor. Maekar attended Ashford to see his sons Daeron and Aerion compete, but they ended up disgracing him. Aerion killed his opponent’s horse in a joust, while Daeron was a drunkard of no value. Aerion also attacked an innocent Dornish puppeteer named Tanselle, forcing Ser Duncan the Tall to come to her defense, culminating in the Trial of Seven.
Maekar’s youngest son, Aegon V (also known as Egg), had willingly enrolled in the service ofthe Hedge Knight Ser Duncan the Tall, but his eldest, Daeron, gave this a kidnapping slant. Maekar bitterly regretted listening to Daeron and Aerion’s half-truths about the Puppeteer incident and forcing Baelor to call for a Trial of Seven. He also regretted fighting against his brother and championing the wrong side. Aerion was exiled to the Free Cities while Daeron apologized. Maekar’s third son, Aemon Targaryen, became a Maester, while the youngest squired for Duncan.
Maekar ascended the throne in 221 AC, after Aerys I. His heir,Daeron the Drunken, died from pox, leaving behind an unsure line of succession. After Maekar died in the Peake Uprising of 233 AC, his Hand, Lord Brynden Rivers, called a Great Council to resolve the matter of succession.
In the Great Council of 233 AC, Aegon the Unlikely, or Egg, was named Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. He served the realm well with his companion, Ser Duncan the Tall, by his side.
