Dflashbacks and King Aerys I Targaryen, also known as. The Madking, stood large Game of Thrones. His enemies were set ablaze by his cruel ways. Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj CosterWaldau), one of his Kingsguards, eventually killed him. The tale of the Mad King is often used as a warning story, particularly when it comes to Daenerys’s growing ambitions (Emilia Clarke).
Although it’s clear the Aerys is a monster, there are some things that might explain his penchant for burning people to the ground. Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon.
Aegon the Conquerer’s A Song of Ice and Fire Prophecy
In the initial episode, House of the DragonPaddy Considine, King Viserys Targaryen tells Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen that Aegon The Conqueror was their ancestor. Viserys only shares that vision with Princess Rhaenyra after he names Rhaenyra his successor, despite it not being inherited by a woman.
Continue reading: Targaryen Dreams are So Important House of the Dragon
Targaryens are known for their ability to predict the future. This began with Daenys, the Dreamer who prophesied the fall of Valyria. It seems Aegon had also dreamt of a dragon.
Viserys says that Aegon dreamt of a threat from the North descending upon King’s Landing—a prophecy he called A Song of Ice and Fire. (Sound familiar? Well, it’s the name of George R.R. Martin’s series of books upon which Game of ThronesBased.
“Ambition alone is not what drove him to conquest. It was only a dream. Aegon saw the end for the men’s world just as Daenys did. The terrible North winds will bring it to an abrupt halt. Aegon witnessed absolute darkness riding upon those winds and what dwells therein will bring down the world of living. Rhaenyra and all Westeros have to stand up against the coming great winter. A Targaryen is required to sit at the Iron Throne. This Targaryen will be a king/queen strong enough to unify the kingdom against the darkness and cold. Aegon called Aegon’s dream the song made of fire and water. This secret has been passed from king to heir since Aegon’s time. And now you must promise to carry it and protect it.”
The Prophecy Connection Game of Thrones—or Doesn’t
At first blush, name dropping “A Song of Ice and Fire” in House of the DragonIt may seem pointless to try to link the two series together. Game of Thrones. Everybody who watched Game of Thrones knows exactly what happens when that “great winter” comes: Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow (Kit Harington)must face down the White Walkers at the Battle of Winterfell. This revelation about the prophecy being fulfilled at Winterfell for hundreds of years is not enough to create dramatic tension.
It also confuses the end of Game of Thrones since it doesn’t exactly come true. Though Jon and Daenerys—both descendants of Aegon the Conqueror—are key to rallying the North to stand up against the Night King and his army, Cersei Lannister is actually the one ruling from King’s Landing when the Battle of Winterfell takes place. The war is not won by Jon or Dany. It’s Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), carrying the dagger that Viserys wears prominently on his belt while talking to Rhaenyra in House of the DragonThat ultimately killed the Night King.
Continue reading: The definitive guide to the Game of ThronesFamily Tree
Prophecies in the majority Song of Ice and FireAnd Game of ThronesTrue stories do often come to pass, though not in the manner that the characters expected. No doubt, George R.R. Martin who was extensively consulted on House of the DragonThis Song of Ice and Fire Prophecy was introduced by. He plans to address this in his two books unfinished in the Fire and Ice Son series, Winter windsAnd Dream of Spring. Martin has stated that his books won’t end the same as the series finale, which is much maligned. Game of Thrones)
The Mad King’s Motivations
Dreams can also change in the end. Game of Thronesespecially when it concerns Targaryen figures such as Aegon, the Conqueror or the Mad King.
Until now, neither book readers nor show watchers knew Aegon’s true motivations for uniting the Seven Kingdoms. Most people attribute Aegon’s decision to conquer Westeros primarily to his bloodlust and ambition. It seems now that Aegon had another noble motive: To save Westeros and the White Walkers, he made sure that a Targaryen was sitting on the throne at their arrival.
Continue reading: The Iron Throne Cuts the King: Why it Matters House of the Dragon
And we can perhaps better understand the Mad King’s preoccupation with fire. Aerys had already taken the throne when the dragons died. There would not been an effective strategy to combat the ice zombie army if the White Walkers arrived during Aerys’ reign. Aerys fell in love with fire but more specifically wildfire. This was akin to dragon fire. Aerys’ obsession with developing a fire-based weapon to take down an army is made more sense when he considers that the North would require dragon fire in order for the kingdom to be victorious. Of course, the paranoid ruler didn’t use the wildfire against the wights but against the lords of Westeros, like Ned Stark’s father and older brother.
There’s some evidence that Mad King was aware of the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy and even passed it down to his son, Rhaegar Targaryen. Rhaegar incessantly spoke of another similar prophecy that’s often referred to as the Prince That Was Promised or Azor Ahai. Azor Ahai was a legendary hero believed to bring light into the dark world. He was supposed to wield a flaming sword called Lightbringer and be associated with the “Song of Ice and Fire.”
The Targaryens talked about several prophecies that pointed to someone who could defeat a dark threat and represents fire and ice. Rhaegar was a believer that he would be that prince. It was later suggested that Jon Snow might be the prince. Perhaps that’s why Jon Snow’s Targaryen name is Aegon. (He wasn’t wrong: Jon ultimately is the driving force behind the effort to defeat the Night King.)
Continue reading: The Meaning Behind Jon Snow’s Real Name in Game of Thrones
Jon probably never heard about Aegon’s dream since his parents died shortly after he was born, and his identity was hidden from him for most of his life. It’s unclear if Daenerys would have known about it either, but probably not. Her older brothers were to be king. And Daenerys wasn’t even born until after the Mad King’s death.
One is enough Game of Thrones character who may have heard about Aegon’s vision: Maester Aemon Targaryen (Peter Vaughan). Aemon was the child of a king. He could have had a claim on the Iron Throne, even though he became a maester. But he turned it down and left King’s Landing so his presence wouldn’t undermine his younger brother King Aegon V’s rule. The secret might have been revealed to him prior to he set off for the Wall. Indeed, hearing about the fabled threat from the North could theoretically have factored into his motivation to serve the Night’s Watch.
In the end, the revelation of that Aegon foresaw the Battle of Winterfell doesn’t have a huge impact on either Game of ThronesThe future or House of the Dragon. But perhaps it will play some important role in Martin’s books—if he ever gets around to finishing them.
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