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Fallible as it was, the Targaryen dynasty includes trueborn gems such as the Conqueror, Daenerys, and a selfless Great Bastard:Brynden Rivers, aka Lord Bloodraven. The Conqueror established House Targaryen of Westeros, Daenerys restored dragons to the skies of Essos and Westeros, and Bloodraven prevented his House from crumbling. All of these events happened at different times. The Conqueror came first, Bloodraven came in between, and Daenerys was among the last living members of her House.
Unlike the aforementioned trueborn royals, Bloodraven / Brynden Rivers / Lord Bloodraven was born out of wedlock between Aegon the Unworthy and his sixth mistress, Melissa Blackwood. It is well-known within theGame of Thronesuniverse that Aegon IV (aka Aegon the Unworthy) had numerous bastards, and legitimized all of them on his deathbed. A few of Brynden’s half-siblings were sired by highborn women. Daemon Blackfyre, Aegor Rivers, Mya Rivers, and Shiera were the Great Bastards born to noblewomen. Bloodraven’s last-minute appearance inHouse of the Dragonhas fueled expectations, and there’s a decent chance he might make it toA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' future. Here’s how.
Brynden Rivers As A Great Bastard In ASOIAF Lore
Despite being a Great Bastard, Bloodraven gave years of service to the trueborns of House Targaryen. He was legitimized by his father, King Aegon IV, in 184 AC and identified himself with his unique coat of arms: a red-eyed white dragon breathing red flame against a black field. Since Brynden was a royalist and a man of wisdom, he was made Hand by his nephews: the bookish Aerys I, and later, Maekar I. His stint with the Targaryens ended during Aegon V’s reign, and he wassentenced to take the Black. At the Wall, Brynden proved his mettle and was made Lord Commander.
The silver-haired Brynden bore a red birthmark that looked like a raven and went from his throat to his right cheek. This birthmark is where he got the name, “Bloodraven.” His arms werethe Valyrian steel sword Dark Sisterand a weirwood longbow. Brynden wasn’t impressively martial, like his half-siblings Daemon and Aegor. However, he was cunning, knew spells, and employed spies throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
Brynden sided with Daeron II Targaryen in the First Blackfyre Rebellion, and marched to Whitewalls to arrest Daemon II in the Second. He had Aenys Blackfyre dishonorably slain ahead of the Great Council. After Maekar I’s death, Brynden called upon a Great Council in 233 AC to resolve the succession. Aenys Blackfyre wanted to participate, and Brynden had him assassinated despite promising him safe conduct. The Great Council named Aegon V (Egg ofA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) as Maekar’s successor, and he sentenced Brynden for Aenys' murder.
Brynden Rivers, AKA Lord Bloodraven, inHouse of the Dragon
In his later life, the fantastical character Bloodraven is dubbed the Three-Eyed Crow in George R. R. Martin’s works and the Three-Eyed Raven inGame of Thrones. He appears inDaemon’s weirwood tree vision at HarrenhalinHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 8 “The Queen Who Ever Was.” Bloodraven’s appearance in a montage of key scenes (featuring Daenerys hatching dragons) establishes his character’s importance in the greater scheme of things. After bidding goodbye to decades of political career at King’s Landing, Bloodraven makes a name for himself at the Wall.
Duncan Meets Bloodraven InTales of Dunk and Egg
Bloodraven will likely appear inA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. His first interaction with Duncan and Egg occurs in the third novella,The Mystery Knight,published in 2010. It is pertinent to mention thatA Knight of the Seven Kingdomsis an adaptation of Martin’sTales of Dunk and Eggnovella trilogy; the first book,The Hedge Knight, is the basis of season 1.
HBO expects to releaseA Knight of the Seven Kingdomson a year-to-year basis, with Martin’s three Dunk and Egg novellas being expanded into three seasons (viaDeadline).The Hedge Knightbegins afterthe First Blackfyre Rebellion(fought between the royalists of Daeron II and the rebel forces of Daemon Blackfyre) is stamped out. The Ashford Tourney, where Duncan the Tall comes into the limelight, takes place in 209 AC.
Brynden Rivers sides with Daeron II in the First Blackfyre Rebellion. He and his company of archers, the Raven’s Teeth, rain arrows on Daemon’s forces from above the Weeping Ridge that overlooks the battlefield (named Redgrass Field after the battle) near King’s Landing. The unstoppable Blackfyre forces are slaughtered. Brynden kills Daemon’s elder twin, Aegon, and the younger, Aemon. The Targaryen princes Baelor and Maekar also fight in the battle, but another Great Bastard and Daemon Blackfyre’s key ally namedAegor Bittersteel Rivers fights Bryndenand takes out his eye.
Duncan and Egg have already set out on their adventures by the time the Second Blackfyre Rebellion takes place. Duncan traverses the territory of the Seven Kingdoms as a Hedge Knight. Egg (Prince Aegon) serves as his squire, with the blessing of his father, Prince Maekar Targaryen. In 212 AC,the Second Blackfyre Rebellionbreeds at Whitewalls in the Riverlands, as treasonous lords use a Wedding Tourney as a front to gather support for Daemon the Younger, aka Daemon II Blackfyre. The son of Daemon I Blackfyre and Rohanne, Daemon II ends his exile and travels to Westeros to claim the throne. He doesn’t have Aegor’s support, nor the Blackfyre sword, but enters the tourney as a mysterious Hedge Knight named Ser John the Fiddler. Duncan, fresh off from Ashford Tourney of 209 AC, enters under the guise of the Gallows Knight. The tourney sees the theft of the victor’s prize (host Ambrose Butterwell’s dragon egg) and the subsequent framing of Ser Glendon Flowers. Brynden Rivers and his men reach Whitewalls shortly after, arrest Daemon, and nip the rebellion in the bud.
Duncan and Brynden Rivers interact after the events of Whitewalls. Brynden sentences the Butterwells, seizes Whitewalls, and orders the castle’s demolition. He discusses Daemon II’s prophetic dreams withDunk and Eggand pays gold as ransom for Dunk to release his armor. As the threat has been dealt with, he permits the duo to hit the road.
TheGame of Thronesuniverse grows with a third live-action television series,A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,set to air in 2025.
