Baelon I Targaryen

## King Baelon I Targaryen

**Baelon I Targaryen**, also known as **Baelon the Burned,** was the nth Targaryen king to sit the Iron Throne. He was the only child of Prince Viserys Targaryen and Princess Baera Targaryen that survived infancy. King Daegor I Targaryen made young Baelon his heir after he renounced the legitimacy of his son, Prince Daeron, and thus Baelon ascended to the throne at the age of nine. He is famous for playing a role in the [war], during which he rode upon his dragon, Bloodwing.

## History

### Early Life

Baelon was the first son and third child of Prince Viserys Targaryen and his sister-wife, Princess Baera Targaryen. He was born during the seventh moon of 190 AC in King's Landing, and had an elder sister, Rhaella. Baelon was surprisngly healthy at birth compared to Princess Baera's other pregnancies, and the maesters were confident that he would survive through infancy. In 192 AC, Rhaella died, leaving Baelon the only child of Viserys and Baera.

In 194 AC, Viserys was killed in an angry mob on the Street of Sisters. Baera, now pregnant, took Baelon to Dragonstone. Not long after, King Daegor Targaryen, Prince Baelon's uncle, renounced the legitimacy of his only son, Prince Daeron, and named Baelon his heir instead. King Daegor ordered four-year-old Baelon and his mother back to King's Landing, but Baera decided to stay due to her pregnancy. In early 195 AC, Baelon's brother Daemion was born, but he did not survive the night. Queen Bryeana Celtigar moved to Dragonstone along with her three children to comfort Princess Baera and Baelon quickly became best friends with Prince Daeron.

In 197 AC, Princess Baera, Prince Baelon, the Queen and her children moved back to King's Landing. Queen Bryeana confronted King Daegor publically in the throne room about Prince Daeron's legitimacy. The king, enraged by his wife's words, threatened to have their children moved to Riverrun to be fostered by Lord Edwyn Tully. When the Queen presisted, Daegor stayed true to his word and Baelon watched from his window as Daemion and his sisters were carted off to the Riverlands.

Prince Baelon became lonely after losing his friends. His mother, Princess Baera, still drowned in her grief for her lost children and the Queen disliked Baelon intensely. On one occassion, Queen Bryeana confonted King Daegor again during an evening meal and Daegor had her locked in her rooms.

### Ascension and Early Reign

On the twelfth day of the ninth moon of 199 AC, King Daegor Targaryen died in his sleep. Following the late king's wishes, Prince Baelon was crowned two days later at the Starry Sept in Oldtown. His mother, Baera, became Queen Regent for the first six years of his reign, with Lord Rodwell Stark serving as his Hand of the King. Baelon allowed Prince Daeron and his sisters to return to King's Landing.

In 205 AC, Lord Rodwell was dismissed from his position so that he could care for his sickly wife back in Winterfell. King Baelon's regency ended shortly after and, despite his mother's protests, Baelon named Prince Daeron as his Hand. In 206 AC, King Baelon, Prince Daeron and Princesses Rhaena and Naera toured Westeros in search of betrothals. Baelon was offered the hand of Ellah Karstark by her uncle and former Hand of the King, Lord Rodwell Stark. Although Baelon didn't particularly like the girl, he agreed to the marriage in order to strengthen his alliance with the North. At Storm's End, Baelon arranged a marriage between Princess Naera and the firstborn son of Lord Matthos Baratheon, Orys Baratheon, although Orys was not present at the time. Naera protested to the match and begged Baelon to void the agreement, but the king refused.

King Baelon's marriage to Ellah Karstark occured in early 207 AC. The couple appeared to be aimable for a time, but Baelon quickly lost an interest in Ellah. He often made fun of her with his friends, calling her the "Whore of the North".

In 208 AC, Baelon attended the marriage of Princess Naera Targaryen and Lord Orys Baratheon, whose father had recently passed. Upon seeing that Naera looked unhappy, he had her pet raven killed and threatened to steal her dragon egg if she ruined the wedding. Around the same time, Baelon's interest turned to his cousin, Rhaena, and it was said that they shared a bed on Naera's wedding night. Upon returning to King's Landing, Baelon bonded with his mother's former dragon, Bloodwing.