Rhaegar I Targaryen

Protector of the Realm

Viserys I Targaryen

Daeron Targaryen

**Rhaegar I Targaryen**, also known as the **Stern Dragon**, was the fourth king to sit on the Iron Throne, having ascended to the position after the death of his father, Maegor, in the same year he was born. Loved by few, disliked by more, and respected by all, Rhaegar was widely known to be a serious, and cold man, ruling what was left of his dominion with an iron fist.

Though the North's succession was mostly out of the young King's control, by the time he came of age he was bent on keeping the Seven Kingdoms standing. Yet, he never mounted any war for conquest against the other Westerosi sovereign, instead preferring to keep his remaining vassals in line with a firm rule.

Rhaegar eventually succumbed to the dragon sickness in 93 AC, after spending much time around Balerion. Despite his best efforts, his ill-prepared and unkingly son, Viserys, provided the final spark that started a civil war after his death.

## Appearance and Character

Even from a young age, Rhaegar gained a reputation as a firm, unrelenting, stubborn man. His constant cold facial expression and large, strong build made Rhaegar quite the intimidating King. His silver hair started to grey shortly after his 25th nameday, and was completely grey by his 35th. The dragonblight that had ravaged the realm spared Rhaegar no expense, and his body had started to degrade later in his life and until his death.

Rhaegar was known to be an incredibly firm, but pragmatic King, and he expected nothing but absolute loyalty from the bannermen under his domain. It was his approach to ruling that kept the realm from fracturing further after he came of age.

After the death of his firstborn son, Aenar, in 77 to Dragonblight, what little warmth that existed in Rhaegar dissipated, and he became evermore detatched and cold from his family. In his later years, the stress brought on from dragonblight and his inability to properly rear his son, Viserys, into a proper ruler soured him. By the time of his death in 93, he was a very unhappy man.

## History

### Early Life, 48 AC - 64 AC

Rhaegar was born as the son of King Maegor I Targaryen and Queen Rhaena Targaryen on the 26th of the 2nd Moon, 48 AC. Though initially the heir to the throne, he would inherit the throne only a short few months later, when his father was found dead. His mother would die the next year, leaving Rhaegar in the care of his older cousin, Jaehaerys, who would serve as his regent until he came of age.

Rhaegar's childhood was notably unhappy for him. He personally felt like an outcast, both by virtue of being King, and thus, like nobody else at court, and by virtue of being Maegor's son. Though Jaehaerys tried to hide what he could from the young king regarding his father, Rhaegar learned early on in his childhood the kind of man his father was, and vowed to not repeat history. He had nobody he considered a friend among his peers, and even with Jaehaerys, he felt distant. The only actual connection he felt he had was with the knight he squired under, Ser Gyles Morrigen, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

Throughout the entirety of his reign, but especially in his youth, Rhaegar would be surrounded by death, thanks to several outbreaks of dragonblight, large and small. In 59 AC, Rhaegar would get to see his kingdom for himself when he went on a royal progress, at the behest of Jaehaerys and his wife, Alysanne. Seeing his subjects for himself, in addition to his tutelage under Jaehaerys, would instill a desire for justice that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

### Coming of Age, and Marriage, 64 AC - 71 AC

For his sixteenth nameday, Jaehaerys insisted on holding a tourney to celebrate, believing it would give the realm a reason for happiness, in a time where there was little of it. The tourney was a grand affair, drawing knights and nobles from all over the realm. The joust would be won by a mystery knight, simply known as the Knight of Seven Oaks, who would disappear from King's Landing not long after. The melee, on the other hand, would be claimed by Ser Gyles Morrigen. Rhaegar insisted on fighting in the melee, and put up a valiant effort, only to be bested by his mentor in the end. For his evident skill, Ser Gyles knighted the king in front of all. It was said that this tourney was one of few occaisons where Rhaegar was seen smiling, and enjoying himself.

His happiness would fade away a few months later, as the Duskendale Incident occured, which saw a rogue Justiciar falsely imprisoning nobles and stealing their posessions as "restitution" for framed crimes. This culminated in the eventual execution of Orson Darklyn, the Heir to Duskendale, on false charges of high treason, after he kicked the Justiciar out of Duskendale and left to speak to the King. After intercepting the Justiciar himself and executing him, Rhaegar made reparations to House Darklyn via a betrothal of Mereya Darklyn and Prince Aemon, Jaehaerys' son. With the first bump to his rule out of the way, it became clear that Rhaegar was not as soft as Aenys, but not as cruel as his late father.

A little over three years later would Rhaegar wed Saerys Velaryon, reaffirming House Targaryen's alliance with House Velaryon and keeping Valyrian blood running pure in Maegor's line. Their marriage was initially rather unhappy, and Rhaegar felt just as detatched with his new queen as he did with anybody else, up until the birth of their first child.

Rhaegar's rule would only grow more stressful with the Dragonblight outbreak of 69 AC, during which the Riot in Fishmonger's Square occurred, and Prince Jaehaerys, who had been serving as Hand since the end of the regency, died of the disease. The loss of his mentor surprisingly affected Rhaegar deeply, but like the rest of the kingdom, he endured.

### Family, Maegor's Breath, and Hook Uprising, 71 AC - 78 AC

In 71 AC, Queen Saerys gave birth to a healthy boy named Aenar. Rhaegar's demeanor was noticably more pleasant after the birth of his son, and he found himself quite content and happy for once. Even from a young age, Aenar had the makings of a good ruler. He was bright, strong, and curious of everything. Only a couple years after this was a girl born of Rhaegar and Saerys, named Jaehaera.

When Maegor's Breath hit Westeros from 75-78, and a massive dragonblight outbreak hit in 77, all suffered, the royal family included, for Aenar would succumb to the illness shortly after it began spreading. The birth of Viserys a few months after did nothing to offset the grief Rhaegar felt, but he had much bigger problems. With little food left, Rhaegar had to raise taxes, and nobles and smallfolk alike felt it's impact. Many smallfolk turned to banditry, which would plague the Crownlands throughout 77 just as much as the Curse of Maegor did. Rhaegar was able to lend what aid he could to houses close to him, but many of the distant houses did not recieve the same treatment, instead having to solve the problems themselves.

Matters worsened in 78, when the crown's gold had run dangerously low. Left with little other choice, Rhaegar borrowed a sum of gold from the Iron Bank to keep the kingdom afloat. He was going to need every bit of gold he could get though, as the Hook Uprising started shortly after spring's come. Several disenfranchised and angry Crownlander lords rose up against the crown, spearheaded by Lord Massey. The conflict was bloody on both sides, but in time, the rebels were beat back and defeated, with the last battle having been the Battle of Falling Stones at Stonedance. Lord Massey and other surviving rebellious lords were tried and hanged in a single day, Justiciar presence was increased, and House Rambton, for their loyalty, were named the overlords of House Sunglass. Rhaegar's treatment of the rebel lords sent a message to the rest of the realm, one that was heard loud and clearly.

### Fourth Dornish War and Later Reign, 78 AC - 93 AC

The realm was battered and bruised by the time spring's thaw came. With spring came the birth of another royal baby, named Daeron, though like Viserys, he did little to bring a smile to Rhaegar's face. The grief of losing a child was something he shared with his wife, however, and it turned out to be something that drew them closer together.

With the Justiciars having collapsed during the Hook Uprising, Rhaegar named Harry Darry as Lord Justiciar, and together they began to rebuild. At the same time, Rhaegar began to work on repairing the crown's economy with the new Hand of the King, Prince Aemon. For a while, they were even doing quite well, until the Fourth Dornish war in 83 AC.

With Prince Aemon and Prince Baelon, King Rhaegar led the royal host south to reinforce the Stormlanders. While proceeding through the Boneway however, they were beset with several obstacles, and severe casualties were inflicted. During all of this, Prince Baelon lost his life, dying in Aemon's arms. Rhaegar was furious over the war having been started at the first place, but he accepted the terms put fourth by Prince Nymor, desiring an end to the bloodshed.

In the decade after the Fourth Dornish War, Rhaegar once more turned his focus to building up the realm's economy, and to grooming his now oldest son, Viserys, for his eventual kingship. Viserys, however, was just as stubborn as his father, and wanted nothing to do with ruling, butting heads with his father quite often. In his last years, the relationship Rhaegar held with his son was very poor, which wasn't helped when Rhaegar caught Viserys laying with his cousin. Viserys felt as though his father was too harsh on him, and did not see things from his perspective, while Rhaegar secretly felt as though Viserys was a disappointment.

Rhaegar eventually died of the dragonblight that had long been lying in his body in 93 AC, leaving his ill-prepared son, Viserys, as King.