Daemon Targaryen

Prince Daemon Targaryen is a prince of the Targaryen dynasty, and the younger brother of King Viserys I Targaryen. He is the uncle and royal consort of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Daemon is a renowned warrior and a dragonrider, wielding the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister and riding the dragon Caraxes into battle.
==Biography==
===Background===
Daemon is the grandson of Jaehaerys I Targaryen, younger brother of King Viserys, and to the Iron Throne. Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, considers Daemon the greatest threat to the realm.House of the Dragon | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com He is the rider of the dragon Caraxes, an older dragon known as the Blood Wyrm. An experienced and skilled fighter, he wields Dark Sister, the Valyrian steel sword of his grandfather's great aunt Visenya Targaryen. Unlike his older brother, Daemon is - despite his great cunning - an unpredictable and impulsive rogue.
At the Great Council of 101 AC, Viserys was chosen by the lords of Westeros as the successor to King Jaehaerys, whose health had begun to fail and who had lost both his sons. During the first nine years of his brother's reign, Daemon served on the Small Council, both as Master of Laws and later as Master of Coin. However, he was removed from those offices, both times at the insistence of Otto Hightower. The rivalry between Daemon and Otto continued, as the Hand saw the prince as a threat if he were to ever become king, possibly a second Maegor the Cruel. Daemon in turn saw Otto as a dishonorable leech who wanted to rise as high as he could get, since his status as a second son would not allow him to inherit anything of his own. Most of the council sided with Otto in this conflict, but Daemon was always defended by his brother.
At some point King Viserys arranged a marriage for his younger brother, wedding him to Rhea Royce, the Lady of Runestone. Neither party was happy with this match, with Daemon disparagingly referring to his wife as his "bronze bitch".
Daemon's personal coat of arms features the three-headed red dragon of House Targaryen, adorned with golden scales and within a border of golden fire. His helmet, forged from Valyrian steel, is adorned with the head and wings of a dragon.
===House of the Dragon: Season 1===
Daemon returns to King's Landing following a journey and his niece Rhaenyra greets him in the Red Keep's throne room while he is sitting on the Iron Throne. As a gift from his travels, he presents her with a necklace made of Valyrian steel and fastens it upon her. With Daemon wielding the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister, he claims that they now both own a small piece of their heritage.
That night, he leads the City Watch of King's Landing in a ruthless show of force, rounding up the city's criminals and administering brutal summary justice; Daemon himself personally beheads an accused murderer with Dark Sister. In a Small Council meeting the next day, Daemon is accosted by Otto for the mass violence he has inflicted, to which Daemon defends his actions as necessary measures to ensure safety both for the nobility arriving for Viserys's tournament and King's Landing's smallfolk who are at the mercy of the city's lawlessness. When Corlys Velaryon speaks up in favor of Daemon's actions, Otto insinuates that Daemon could perhaps show the same dedication he showed to the City Watch towards his wife, leading Daemon to insult both his own and Otto's late wife in retaliation. Before the argument can escalate further, Viserys defuses the tension, admonishing Otto for responding to Daemon's provocation, while warning Daemon that another similar show of force will not be tolerated.
While making love to his mistress Mysaria, Daemon grows frustrated at the treatment he is being given by Viserys and the members of the Small Council. Mysaria soothes his irritation and reminds him that given his power and reputation, Viserys cannot easily replace him.
During the Heir's Tournament, Daemon competes to represent House Targaryen, where he quickly proves his worth as a skilled fighter, even taking the chance to mock Otto further by defeating his son Gwayne and earning his daughter Alicent's favor. However, he is defeated in a joust by Ser Criston of the minor House Cole. Enraged, he demands his squire deliver Dark Sister to him to continues the battle in a duel. Though he initially gains the upper hand, Criston defeats Daemon when he turns his back on him, leading Daemon to storm off.
When Queen Aemma dies after in an attempt to save her child Baelon, as well as the child's death shortly after, Daemon is present during their funeral. Though he can plainly see Rhaenyra's anger towards Viserys, Daemon urges her to support him nonetheless, believing he needs her more than ever. In a Small Council meeting later on, Daemon watches the council unseen in the shadows, hearing Otto's insistence that he cannot be heir to the Iron Throne, lest he become a second Maegor the Cruel. Some time later he hosts officers of the City Watch at a brothel, where he raises a toast to his late nephew Baelon.
Daemon is later summoned by Viserys to the throne room, where his brother questions him on his naming of Baelon as the "Heir for a Day." Seeing his brother's anger, Daemon insists that it was his own way of showing grief. When Viserys becomes furious at how Daemon chose to celebrate his restored status with his cronies, rather than comfort Viserys and Rhaenyra during their family's tragedy, Daemon retaliates by stating that he had only ever tried to cast him away, such as sending him to the Vale and making him commander of the City Watch, instead of being Hand of the King. Viserys grows angrier at the notion but Daemon believes he should inherently become his Hand as his brother. Viserys says that Otto is a better Hand that he could ever be, leading Daemon to call his brother weak and insult the Small Council as leeches who plainly know it as well. Viserys then disinherits Daemon as his heir and orders him to return to the Vale; Daemon tries to approach him but is stopped by the Kingsguard ready to defend Viserys, leading him to walk away in silent fury.
As Viserys names Rhaenyra the new heir to the Iron Throne, Daemon is instead at the Dragonpit with Mysaria and his dragon Caraxes. Angered at Viserys denying him his right to the throne, he leaves King's Landing with his mistress atop the Blood Wyrm, making his way to Dragonstone.
For half a year, Daemon takes control of Dragonstone, with the City Watch as his personal army. It is also revealed that he has stolen a dragon egg from the Dragonpit, intending to place it in the cradle of the child he has with Mysaria. When Otto is dispatched by Viserys to confront him on Dragonstone, along with several Kingsguard and Otto's own guards, Daemon refuses to back down, insulting both Otto and Criston Cole, before drawing Dark Sister on the Hand when Otto indirectly threatens Mysaria, prompting both sides to draw their weapons. As tensions rise, Caraxes appears from behind to defend his master, forcing Otto to command his guards to sheathe their swords.
Daemon is personally confronted by Rhaenyra, who has defied her father's orders to stay and ridden Syrax to Dragonstone. Knowing he is angry at being denied his place as Viserys' heir, she goads him into killing her in order to get what he desires. Unwilling to harm his niece, Daemon relinquishes the dragon egg to her and walks back to the castle with Mysaria and his men. Inside, she chastises Daemon for lying about their marriage and her supposed pregnancy, as well as relaying her fear that she will be punished for his actions since he is safe as the prince, but she is a common whore.
Following Viserys's refusal to marry his daughter and his unwillingness to confront the threat of the Triarchy, Corlys Velaryon approaches Daemon and invites him to Driftmark. Corlys speaks of House Velaryon's ancient history and relations to Old Valyria like House Targaryen, as well as how they are both alike in the sense of them both being seen as lesser than their older brothers. Bored with his discussion about families, Daemon questions him for the true reason he is at Driftmark. The former Master of Ships talks about the looming threat of the Crabfeeder, how he has grown powerful thanks to aid from the Free Cities and how his House could be crippled when the shipping lanes of the Stepstones falls, speaking about Viserys's weakness.
Daemon makes it clear that only he is allowed to speak freely about the king, and him alone. Corlys says that if he were to help him with this conflict, he could prove his worth in the eyes of those still seeing him as less than his brother. Hearing Corlys state that their worth is not given but made, Daemon agrees to aid his house with the Crabfeeder.
The next three years come as a fruitless struggle for Daemon, Corlys, and their men, as the Crabfeeder, Craghas Drahar, and his Triarchy forces continue to hold the Stepstones in their control. Even Caraxes is not a weapon they could use to turn the conflict in their favor, as the numerous caves of the Stepstones allow Drahar and his men to avoid the dragonfire. News of their rising defeat spread far and wide, leading many to wonder if Viserys should send his own armies to win his brother's seemingly lost war.
Even amongst their own forces, trust looms thin: Vaemond Velaryon, brother of Corlys, only sees Daemon as the reason to why they are losing and openly questions why they should serve him, just as the prince arrives at the war council. As Daemon stares quietly at his men, who all wonder who, for their newest plan, will offer themselves as bait at a strategic point on Bloodstone, a messenger from King's Landing appears. Daemon is handed a letter by the young man, and he reads its contents: Viserys plans to send 10 ships and 2,000 men in order to help win the war. He only sees this as his brother bailing him out of his own fight and furiously attacks the messenger with his helmet, needing to be restrained by Vaemond, Joffrey Lonmouth, and Corlys's son Laenor.
Using a small rowboat, Daemon rows across from their position to Bloodstone, walks through the war-torn beach, fashions a crude white flag, and waves it in front of the caves. Drahar emerges from his cave and sees him; looking to the sky and seeing no dragon for an ambush, he sends his men out to investigate if they have truly surrendered. Daemon draws Dark Sister and offers it to them on one knee. One soldier takes up the sword and inspects it, only for Daemon to suddenly draw his dagger, cut down the man, and reclaim his weapon. He proceeds to kill all of the approaching soldiers and simultaneously dodges a volley of arrows from above, as he makes his way closer and closer to the edge of the caves, causing Drahar to send out more men.
Though he gets close, Daemon is hit by three arrows and forced to halt his charge. Still not seeing a dragon above, Drahar orders the rest of his men to surround Daemon. Before he can be killed by the overwhelming number of soldiers, Laenor arrives and burns away the soldiers with his dragon Seasmoke, saving Daemon and further allowing the Velaryon forces to charge in and cut down the remaining soldiers. As Seasmoke blasts away the cliffside archers and the last of the Triarchy soldiers are locked in battle, Daemon spots Drahar fleeing into his cave and pursues him inside. Moments later, he emerges from the cave, holding the bisected corpse of the Crabfeeder.
After the war, Daemon flies back to King's Landing on Caraxes, inadvertently rocking a ship Rhaenyra is aboard, returning from Storm's End. Once he reaches the throne room, he haughtily makes his way to Viserys, holding Drahar's hammer and wearing a crown fashioned from bone and driftwood. He offers the hammer of his foe to be added to the Iron Throne. Viserys sees his crown and asks if he styles himself king as well, to which Daemon responds that he was named "King of the Narrow Sea" following their victory against the Triarchy. Nonetheless, he announces that there is only one true king: his brother. Daemon offers the crown on one knee; Viserys takes it and commands him to rise, before hugging his younger brother, welcoming him back.
At a celebration in honor of his return, Daemon playfully argues with Viserys over who was the favorite of their mother, to which Viserys states it has always been Daemon for his rebellious attitude and skill as a warrior. Rhaenyra approaches them and congratulates her uncle on his victory, while Alicent asks if Daemon would like a tour to see new tapestries, causing Viserys and Daemon to laugh uproariously at the silly notion.
At the end of the celebration, Daemon meets with Rhaenyra, who asks him the real reason he has returned. Daemon answers that he had returned for the comforts of home, though she remains unsure if he truly finds comfort in King's Landing. Their conversation's attention turns to Rhaenyra's growing ire at her father for trying to force her into marriage. In High Valyrian, they talk about marriage being nothing but a political arrangement, though Rhaenyra notes it is also a death sentence for women, revealing her worry that she will end up like her mother. Daemon states Aemma's death was simply a tragedy, and in a tragic world, Rhaenyra cannot allow fear to control her life.
In the evening, he has an outfit and the plan of a secret passage in his niece's apartments deposited. She joins him dressed as a page and they walk around town. They attend a theatrical performance mocking the royal family during which he watches his niece's reaction. Daemon points out to her that the common people prefer her half-brother to her as heir because of his gender, and tells her that the people's opinion matters. Rhaenyra steals food from a merchant. Daemon follows her through the city and catches up with her, when Ser Harwin Strong intercepts the princess. He takes her to a brothel to show her the pleasures of the flesh. Tension builds between them and they end up kissing. Daemon begins to undress her and Rhaenyra urges him to go further, but Daemon grows increasingly reluctant and stops, abandoning his niece in the middle of the night.
The next morning, Daemon is awakened by Mysaria, who offers him a drink to help with his green-sickness, which he refuses and rejects her protection. Mysaria informs him that she is no longer a prostitute. She tells him to pay for his room when he leaves and leaves him.
As Daemon stumbles through the gates of the Red Keep, Ser Harrold Westerling and two other knights of Viserys's Kingsguard intercept and drag a protesting Daemon to the throne room, leaving him on the floor. A furious Viserys enters and demands Daemon say if he defiled his daughter. When Daemon doesn't deny the accusation, a furious Viserys vents his anger against his younger brother, because Rhaenyra can no longer be his heiress if she is no longer "intact." Daemon asks Viserys to wed Rhaenyra to him, and reminds him that Viserys promised him everything he wanted after his return. Viserys retorts that he is already married. Daemon argues that he can do what their ancestor Aegon the Conqueror did and have two wives. Viserys flatly refuses, believing that his brother desires his throne. Viserys orders him to return to his legitimate wife in the Vale and never to appear before him again.
Daemon, back at Runestone, surprises his wife hunting. She provokes him, and Daemon approaches her horse. Rhea, believing her husband means to kill her so he can marry Rhaenyra, tries to draw her bow, but her horse arches, causing her to fall and lie paralyzed on the ground. Daemon starts walking away. Rhea taunts him one last time, calling him a "craven." Daemon picks up a stone and walks towards her.
Uninvited, Daemon shows up at Rhaenyra's wedding and claims a seat at the royal table. Soon after, Gerold Royce confronts him and accuses him of Rhea's murder. Daemon warns him that he will have to prove his charges, and that he intends to go to the Vale to petition Lady Jeyne Arryn for his wife's inheritance of Runestone. He meets Laena Velaryon's gaze and joins her on the dance floor, where she flatters and entices him. Daemon heads off with his niece and tries to convince her not to marry Laenor, as he believes she would be bored senseless in her sham marriage, prompting Rhaenyra to challenge him to take her to Dragonstone and marry her. They are observed by a concerned Viserys from the high table, but before he can intervene, the ceremony is interrupted by Criston Cole's assault and murder of Laenor's lover, Joffrey Lonmouth. Daemon is not in attendance when Rhaenyra and Laenor get married in a grim ceremony hours after the incident.
Ten years later, Daemon now lives in Pentos with his new family: his second wife Laena Velaryon and their two daughters Baela and Rhaena. Daemon and Laena demonstrate the power of their dragons, Caraxes and Vhagar, to a Pentoshi audience. In the evening, they dine with Reggio Haratis, the Prince of Pentos, who toasts Aegon the Conqueror and offers them permanent residence in Pentos and land in exchange for their support against the Triarchy. When Laena is about to refuse, Daemon grabs her hand and informs the prince that they will think about it.
After the meal, Daemon teaches Baela the High Valyrian language. Laena joins him and asks him if he intends to accept the proposal. The prince wants to accept as he is content with his life in Pentos, free from the ruthless politicking of the Seven Kingdoms. Laena replies that they are glorified guests; she refuses to be a pawn of a foreign prince and tells him of her wish to return to Driftmark to give birth, that their daughters receive the education they deserve with their family, and that she wishes to die as a dragonrider, instead of dying like a fat country lord.
The next evening, Laena brings Daemon the news from King's Landing and tells him that Rhaenyra has given birth to a third son; Daemon is aware of the rumors surrounding the legitimacy of Rhaenyra's children. She tries to convince him again to return to Westeros, by pointing out that he does not go out in the city and is content to read books to the glory of his house, to Daemon's chagrin. Laena assures Daemon that she knows he has faced hardships throughout his life, and that she believes that she is not the woman he truly desired and he did not have the life he wanted, which he tries to wave aside. Laena tells him that she got used to this idea and that Daemon is better than the life he has in Pentos.
A few days later, Laena goes into labor, but the surgeons are unable to get her baby out. A surgeon informs Daemon that he can not do anything except cut the infant from the womb. Daemon asks if the mother will survive, to which the surgeon replies "no." Daemon does not make a decision and realizes that his wife has disappeared. He follows her to the beach and sees her being immolated by Vhagar at her own command. The next day, he shows Laena's remains to their daughters from the ramparts.
Following Laena's death, her body is brought back to Driftmark where her funeral takes place, with Daemon's family, Rhaenyra's family, and the royal court in attendance. Vaemond is in charge of the funeral speech, making pointed remarks about true Velaryon blood, and that it must not thin, causing Daemon to laugh incredulously at Vaemond's decision to attack Rhaenyra during the eulogy. During the gathering that follows, Daemon stays away from the others, but exchanges glances with Rhaenyra and Viserys. Visrys approaches him. Daemon sees the damage of the disease on his brother. Viserys offers him to return with him to King's Landing but Daemon declines, considering Pentos as his new home. Viserys insists but Daemon refuses, stating he needs nothing from Viserys, and leaves his brother and the courtyard. As he passes Otto Hightower, the Hand (sincerely or otherwise) offers Daemon his condolences over his wife's passing; Daemon, furiously assuming Otto is mocking him, hatefully calls his old rival a leech whose hunger for power will never be satiated and storms off. 
After the funeral, Daemon takes a moonlit walk on the beach with Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra tells him about her situation with Laenor, which is spiraling out of control. Rhaenyra explains to him that they tried to conceive a child, but without joy or success. She confirms that Ser Harwin Strong is indeed the father of her three children. Rhaenyra confides that she trusted him and regrets letting him return to Harrenhal. Daemon expresses his belief that the Hightowers are responsible for the Strongs' deaths, but Rhaenyra does not agree. She blames Daemon for having abandoned her and that her life has become a "droll tragedy." Daemon retorts that he spared her because she was just a child. She questions him about his relationship with Laena. Daemon tells her they were "happy enough" and Rhaenyra offers her condolences, which Daemon rejects, as he is allowed to openly mourn his losses whereas Rhaenyra is not. Rhaenyra kisses him, telling him that she is no longer a child. The two go to take refuge in an abandoned wooden wreck on the beach and make love for the first time. Afterwards, they observe suspiciously as Aemond rides Vhagar, Laena's former mount, for the first time.
Soon after, Daemon and Rhaenyra enter the Hall of Nine after a confrontation between Daemon's daughters, Rhaenyra's sons, and Aemond. They listen to the children. Alicent and Rhaenyra argue until Viserys asks for peace. When Alicent attempts to attack Luke and his mother protects him, Daemon stops Criston Cole who is heading towards the queen. After Alicent wounds Rhaenyra with the king's Valyrian steel dagger, Daemon closes in on Rhaenyra and faces Alicent.
The day after, Daemon reunites with Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra proposes marriage to Daemon, in the tradition of Old Valyria, in order to consolidate her place as heir to the throne, which is under threat by the Greens, but Daemon states that they could not marry unless Laenor were dead. Daemon tells Rhaenyra that if she wishes to rule the Seven Kingdoms, she must inspire fear throughout the land, as well as cultivating love and respect, and that she must "set Laenor free" if she truly loves him. Daemon conspires with Ser Qarl Correy to remove Laenor from the equation, killing a servant at High Tide, while Qarl and Laenor pretend to duel in the Hall of Nine until a witness leaves them, and throw the deceased servant's body on the fire and escape. Daemon and Rhaenyra surmise that the plan is necessary, as the realm will fear what else they might be capable of. After the plot, Daemon and Rhaenyra marry at Dragonstone in front of their children and Maester Gerardys according to Targaryen customs.
Six years later, Daemon retrieves three of Syrax's eggs from the Dragonmont, delivering them to the Dragonkeepers, who in turn deliver a message from his daughter, Baela, on behalf of Maester Gerardys. Baela informs her father that Corlys Velaryon has been wounded in battle, that Vaemond will question the legitimacy of Lucerys, and that she and Rhaenys are heading to King's Landing for the petitions for the succession of Driftmark. Daemon transmits these news to Rhaenyra, and argues that Rhaenys is not going to support Vaemond. Rhaenyra is not convinced due to the rumors surrounding her sons' legitimacy and Laenor's death, and worries about the power of the Hightowers ever since her father's health went into decline. They decide to go to King's Landing.
At King's Landing, Daemon, Rhaenyra, and their children are frigidly welcomed. Daemon and Rhaenyra go to Viserys's bedchambers; they discover that the king's apartments are poorly maintained and that Viserys is bedridden and weak. Daemon tells his brother that Corlys has been injured in the Stepstones and that they are in King's Landing because of a meeting to appoint Driftmark's heir. Daemon confides in his brother that he must impose Lucerys as heir, but Viserys is too delirious and pained to understand. Rhaenyra introduces their sons, Aegon and Viserys. After succumbing to a sudden onset of pain, Viserys asks for his tea, which Daemon inspects suspiciously.
Later, Alicent confronts Daemon and Rhaenyra. Daemon is sarcastic over the absence of a welcome party and challenges the claim that Alicent and Otto are mere stewards of the king's will and wisdom, when Viserys's mind is clearly shot, and his will could scarcely be expressed in "blinks and wheezes." Daemon questions Alicent on her stupefying the king with milk of the poppy, the removal of Targaryen heraldry, and the installation of the iconography of the Faith of the Seven. Alicent justifies herself by claiming that they are there to remind the Red Keep of a higher authority, smugly informing them that she and her father will be the authority in judgement of Lucerys's claim on his inheritance of Driftmark.
Daemon stands with his family during the petitions, with Rhaenyra championing Luke's claim. During Rhaenyra's petition, Viserys makes a surprise entrance, in support of Rhaenyra. When Viserys struggles to climb the steps of the Iron Throne, Daemon helps him to sit down on the throne and puts his crown back on his head. After Luke is confirmed as the heir to Driftmark, Vaemond gets angry at the king's judgment and furiously rants about him being the true heir to Driftmark. Vaemond stops himself before he goes too far, but Daemon coldly challenges him to continue. Vaemond smirks at Daemon, before screaming on the top of his lungs that Rhaenyra's children are bastards and calling her a whore. Viserys declares that he will have his tongue for that, but Daemon promptly beheads Vaemond, quipping that "he can keep his tongue." Otto shouts for the guards to disarm Daemon, but he wipes his sword and sheathes it rather than escalate the situation any further.
In the evening, Daemon and Rhaenyra's family dines with Viserys and Alicent's family, celebrating the betrothals of Rhaenyra's sons Jace and Luke to Daemon's daughters Baela and Rhaena. Viserys uses this moment to make a despondent speech to his family about the fragmented state of House Targaryen that has worsened over the last 20 years, and calls for an end to the infighting, for him if not for the sake of the Crown. Daemon laughs at Helaena's toast to Baela and Rhaena, and her remark about Aegon being a drunk. During the supper, the Targaryen family finds itself in a state of happiness and serenity for the first time in twenty years. Daemon laughs with his wife and serves her, but worries about his brother's state of health. After the king leaves, a fight breaks out between his nephews and stepsons. Daemon steps in and eyes Aemond, forcing his nephew to grudgingly back down, before following his daughters and stepsons out of the room. He returns to Dragonstone with his family and Rhaenyra after this incident.
The day after Daemon's family's departure from King's Landing, Viserys passes away, finally succumbing to his illnesses. As a result, the Greens stage a coup in King's Landing, during which captains of the Gold Cloaks loyal to Daemon are replaced, and a plot to kill Daemon and Rhaenyra arises before it is thwarted by Alicent. At the end of the coup, Aegon II is crowned, usurping Rhaenyra.
Rhaenys meets with Daemon and Rhaenyra after the coup, informing them of Viserys's passing and the Greens' usurpation of the Iron Throne. Daemon inquires how Viserys died, to which Rhaenys replies that she does not know. Daemon speculates that Viserys was murdered by Alicent and Otto. He furiously interrogates Rhaenys as to why she didn't take the chance to burn the Greens after Viserys's death; she says that the ensuing war is not hers to begin. Rhaenyra doubles over in pain, reaching beneath her dress. Her fingers come away bloody, and she realized that the shock of the news has sent her into a premature labor.
Daemon convenes a war council, during which Rhaenyra painfully calls for Daemon's assistance. He is informed by Lord Bartimos Celtigar that Corlys's blood fever has broken, and that he has departed Evenfall, with his destination unclear. Daemon commands ravens be sent to rally their closest allies: Houses Celtigar, Massey, Darklyn, Staunton, and Bar Emmon, declaring his intention to fly to Riverrun to secure House Tully's allegiance and rally the riverlords. Jace enters and relays his mother's command that nothing is to be done without her leave. Daemon disregards Jace, commands Gerardys to send the ravens, and instructs Jace and the Kingsguard to follow him to the Dragonmont. On the slopes, Daemon questions Lorent Marbrand and Steffon Darklyn as to where their allegiances lie, compelling them to swear oaths of loyalty to Rhaenyra as queen and Jace as her heir, having Caraxes loom over the two knights to warn them of the price of treason. Rhaenyra gives birth to a deformed, stillborn daughter (that they planned to name Visenya), just before Daemon's arrival to her bedchambers. Daemon proceeds to the beaches of Dragonstone to grieve the loss of his daughter.
A funeral is held the next day for Visenya, with Daemon and Rhaenyra standing in front of the burning corpse. The funeral is interrupted by the arrival of Ser Erryk Cargyll who swears allegiance to Rhaenyra as his queen, and offers the crown of Jaehaerys and Viserys, stolen from the Red Keep during the confusion of the Green coup. Daemon places the crown on Rhaenyra's head, kneeling before her as his queen, and is joined by the congregation at the funeral (save Princess Rhaenys).
The Black Council is convened for the first time after the coronation, and Daemon formally introduces Rhaenyra as "Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." Daemon begins the proceedings by informing Rhaenyra of their standing: Dragonstone's garrison stands at 30 knights, 100 crossbowmen, and 300 men-at-arms; sufficient to defend the island, but not to conquer Westeros, and word has been sent to his loyalists within the City Watch, though Daemon admits he cannot be certain how many will answer. The loyalties of Houses Celtigar, Massey, Darklyn, Staunton, and Bar Emmon have been secured, with Rhaenyra adding that House Arryn will also declare loyalty due to their shared kinship through Rhaenyra's mother, Aemma Arryn. The loyalties of Houses Tully, Baratheon, and Stark are brought into question; whereas the Starks are staunchly loyal oathkeepers, Lord Borros Baratheon will need to be reminded of his late father's oath. Rhaenyra turns her attention to Rhaenys, and asks for news from Driftmark. Rhaenys says that Corlys sails for Dragonstone, though his loyalty to Rhaenyra and the Blacks is still in the air. Rhaenyra and Daemon surmise that House Lannister will not support them due to Ser Tyland Lannister's servitude to Otto, and that with the Westerlands will follow the Lannisters, so the Riverlands are essential to the Blacks' cause. Bartimos Celtigar interrupts, arguing that talk of men is irrelevant, when Rhaenyra's forces command dragons in numbers not wielded since the days of Old Valyria. Rhaenyra points out that the Greens also command dragons, but Daemon points out that they only have three adult dragons, compared to the Blacks' command of Syrax, Caraxes, Meleys, Vermax, Arrax, Tyraxes, and Moondancer. He also notes that there are several unclaimed dragons in need of riders, all of whom nest in regions that the Blacks control. Daemon proposes seizing Harrenhal as a base of operations in the Riverlands, before using their dragons to lay waste to King's Landing, but before further discussion can be had, Ser Erryk interrupts to inform them a galleon is approaching Dragonstone, flying the banner of a three-headed green dragon. Daemon grabs Dark Sister and orders the garrison to battle positions.
Daemon confronts the negotiation party as it arrives on the bridge leading to Dragonstone headed by Ser Otto Hightower, with Otto stating that the terms will only be delivered to Rhaenyra. Otto greets Rhaenyra as "Princess," but Rhaenyra icily retorts that she is Queen Rhaenyra now, labeling Otto and his companions as traitors to the realm. Otto presents Aegon II's peace terms to Daemon and Rhaenyra in return for their allegiance and acknowledgement of Aegon being king: Rhaenyra will keep Dragonstone, and the castle will pass to Jace upon her death; Luke will be confirmed as the legitimate heir to Driftmark, and all the lands and holdings of House Velaryon; Rhaenyra and Daemon's sons will be given places of honor at court (Aegon the Younger as the king's squire and Viserys as his cupbearer); and Aegon II will pardon any knight or lord who conspired against his ascent to the Iron Throne. Daemon immediately rejects the offer, venomously calling Aegon II a "drunken, usurper cunt of a king." Otto states that Aegon's claim is far more legitimate than Rhaenyra's as he was crowned by a septon of the Faith before the masses of King's Landing, and carries Aegon the Conqueror's crown, sword, and name. Rhaenyra asserts that Houses Baratheon, Stark, and Tully all swore allegiance to her when Viserys I named her his heir, to which Otto smugly replies that stale oaths will not put Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne, and that the succession changed the day Aegon was born. Rhaenyra rips Otto's badge of office from his cloak, denouncing him as a "fucking traitor." Otto gives Rhaenyra a sheaf of parchment, which is revealed to be a page torn from Ten Thousand Ships, a book she and Alicent read when they were teenagers in the godswood twenty years ago, and beseeches Rhaenyra to accept the terms in recognition of her and Alicent's childhood friendship and the sake of peace in the realm. Daemon, enraged at Otto's attempts to manipulate his wife, calls to end this farce, stating Alicent can have Rhaenyra's response stuffed in Otto's mouth along with his "withered cock." He draws Dark Sister and orders Ser Erryk to seize Otto so he can personally execute the Hand, but he is stopped by Rhaenyra, who declares that King's Landing shall have her answer to their terms on the morrow, to Daemon's chagrin.
Daemon rebukes Rhaenyra's desire not to go to war against the Greens, stating that the Greens have already declared war and raises his voice at Rhaenyra's inaction. Rhaenyra and Daemon talk privately, with Daemon insisting that she cannot submit to the Hightowers, who have stolen her birthright, and that it is her duty as queen to crush rebellion. Rhaenyra protests that they are bound by more than personal ambition, reminding Daemon of what Viserys told them about the "Song of Ice and Fire," and Aegon the Conqueror's goal to keep the realm united against the coming great evil in the north, only for Daemon to seize her by the throat. Daemon angrily hisses that Viserys was obsessed with omens and prophecies to give meaning to his feckless reign and that dragons, not dreams, made the Targaryens kings. Daemon releases Rhaenyra, who is taken aback by his violence against her, but quickly comes to the realization that Viserys never told Daemon about Aegon's dream, indicating Viserys never once truly viewed Daemon as his heir. Shaken at raising a hand to his wife and the realization that Viserys never truly trusted him, Daemon withdraws.
While Corlys joins the Black Council, and plans are made to secure the allegiances of Houses Arryn, Stark, and Baratheon, Daemon heads into the caverns beneath the Dragonmont, singing the High Valyrian song "Hāros Bartossi." He enters the pitch darkness of a large cavern, from which a dragon growls, before with a gout of fire, the beast reveals itself: Vermithor, the dragon once ridden by King Jaehaerys I, unclaimed since the old King's death. Angered by the intruder in his lair, Vermithor snarls and advances on Daemon, but as the latter locks eyes with Vermithor and stands his ground, Vermithor becomes more subdued.
Daemon is informed of Lucerys's death at the hands of Aemond, and whispers the news to Rhaenyra.
==Personality==
In many aspects, Daemon is the opposite of his kind and peaceful brother: he is fierce, unpredictable, and brave. Much like Jaime Lannister (prior to his maiming) and Oberyn Martell, he is rash, arrogant, aggressive, and quarrelsome, wouldn't miss a chance for war, and is not above committing a cold-blooded murder if it suits his interests. He prefers to resolve conflicts by force rather than diplomacy. However, Daemon is very loyal to his family as he loves his brother, Rhaenyra, and his children above all else.
==Quotes==
===Spoken by Daemon===
===Spoken about Daemon===
==Family==
==Behind the scenes==
Daemon Targaryen was revealed to be a lead character in House of the Dragon on August 17, 2020. On December 11, 2020, HBO announced that Matt Smith had been cast in the role for the series. His character description reads as follows:
:"Younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne. A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon. But it is said that whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air…"
==In the books==
Daemon was a controversial man in his lifetime, an audacious rogue prince and adventurer who seemed composed of good and evil in equal measure. There was never a man simultaneously so loved and so reviled as he was. To some he was a hero, to others the blackest of villains. 
Younger son of Baelon Targaryen, Daemon became one of the most experienced warriors of his generation with his constant fighting and was knighted at the age of sixteen. His grandfather King Jaehaerys I Targaryen gave him the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister. Daemon rode the dragon Caraxes, a powerful beast who he flew in his constant campaigns in the Stepstones, soon becoming the most battle-hardened of the Targaryen dragons. Caraxes's might in battle was enough to match even the mighty Vhagar, the largest of the dragons and the last of the three that had been brought to Westeros by Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters.
Daemon served on his brother Viserys I's Small Council for a time, as Master of Coin and Master of Laws, but grew bored of such administrative work, and became the new Lord Commander of the City Watch. He reorganized the Watch from a loosely assembled and poorly equipped group of street toughs into the formal institution they were known as ever since, giving them their trademark gold cloaks. Daemon vigorously enforced order in the alleys of the city, but was also a well-known rabble-rouser, socializing with the city's dregs as long as they played by his rules. His face became known to every cut-purse, whore, and gambler in Flea Bottom. 
On several major occasions Daemon clashed with his brother over the matter of succession, only to reconcile with him later. At the beginning of Viserys I's reign, Daemon wanted to be named as heir ahead of his brother's only child, his daughter Rhaenyra. The Great Council of 101 AC that had put Viserys on the throne ahead of his cousin Rhaenys favored male proximity over primogeniture, so Daemon assumed he would be named heir ahead of his niece Rhaenyra, much as his father Baelon had been named heir ahead of his niece Rhaenys. Daemon's behavior was so wild and unpredictable, however, that while Viserys still loved his brother, he hesitated to formally name him as the official heir to the throne.
==Appearances==
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==References==
===Notes===
==External links==
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Category:Black Council
Category:Commanders of the City Watch
Category:Crownlanders
Category:Dragonriders
Category:Exiles
Category:Individuals appearing in House of the Dragon
Category:Individuals from Histories & Lore
Category:Individuals from The Dance of Dragons
Category:Kings
Category:Knights
Category:Masters of Coin
Category:Masters of Laws
Daemon Targaryen
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