Everything we know about Jacaerys Velaryon in House of the Dragon

Quick Details

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Who was Jacaerys Velaryon?

Credits: HBO

Jacaerys Velaryon, nicknamed Jace, was the eldest son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon. Despite questions surrounding his parentage, Jace was a loyal and bold leader.

As a prince of the Targaryen dynasty, he played a significant role in the Dance of the Dragons. He was bonded to the dragon Vermax.

Jace worked tirelessly to secure alliances with key houses, including the Starks of Winterfell. His leadership demonstrated his readiness to fight for House Targaryen’s future.

Jace is good-natured, courageous, and deeply loyal to his family. He strives to prove himself as a capable ruler and warrior. Despite rumors surrounding his legitimacy, Jace focuses on fulfilling his duties and defending his family’s honor. He values unity and works to forge alliances, demonstrating his diplomatic skills and dedication.

Jace is compassionate, often comforting his younger siblings and cousins during times of grief. His actions reflect his willingness to take on responsibility, whether through negotiations or leading efforts to strengthen their position in the war. He seeks to balance his role as an heir with his personal relationships.

Jace also shows a desire to learn and grow. His studious nature and respect for tradition highlight his readiness to embrace the challenges of leadership. Despite moments of self-doubt, he remains steadfast in his resolve to protect his family and their legacy, embodying the qualities of a true Targaryen leader.

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Quick Facts

Show

• Jace was portrayed as a determined and bold leader in the Dance of the Dragons.
• He forged alliances with Houses Stark, Arryn, and Frey, strengthening the Blacks’ position.
• Jacaerys bonded with his dragon, Vermax, showcasing his Targaryen lineage.
• Despite whispers about his parentage, his loyalty to Rhaenyra remained unwavering.

Books

• Jace is described as a politically savvy and bold character in Fire & Blood.
• He was instrumental in the Pact of Ice and Fire with House Stark.
• His tragic death in the Battle of the Gullet marked a pivotal moment in the war.
• Rumored to have married Sara Snow to forge the alliance with the North.

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In the show

Credit: Max

Background and early life

Jacaerys Velaryon, nicknamed Jace, is the eldest son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon. He is second in line to the Iron Throne after his mother. Despite being presented as legitimate, Jacaerys and his brothers are fathered by Harwin Strong, not Laenor Velaryon. He is the rider of the dragon Vermax.

Jace trains at the Dragonpit and learns to command Vermax under the guidance of Dragonkeepers. His upbringing involves lessons in history and Valyrian culture. Jacaerys also spends time strengthening bonds with his family, including his brothers and cousins, while striving to fulfill his role as heir to his mother’s throne.

During his youth, Jace faces mockery and challenges regarding his parentage. Despite this, his focus remains on defending his family’s honor and proving himself as a leader. Jace also displays a strong sense of duty and readiness to shoulder responsibility, showcasing maturity beyond his years.

House of the Dragon Season 1

Jace plays with his brothers, Lucerys and Joffrey, under the watchful eye of Harwin Strong. He chooses a dragon egg for Joffrey, demonstrating his bond with his siblings. When Harwin is dismissed and sent to Harrenhal, Jace watches him leave and questions his mother about his true parentage. Rhaenyra reassures him that he is a Targaryen, which is all that matters.

Jace participates in a proposed betrothal between himself and Alicent’s daughter, Helaena, as Rhaenyra attempts to mend family rifts. However, Alicent declines. Later, Jace attends the funeral of Laena Velaryon, where his mother chastises him for suggesting they should mourn Harwin Strong instead. Despite this, Jace comforts his cousins Baela and Rhaena.

When Aemond claims Vhagar, Jace and his siblings confront him. This escalates into a fight where Aemond insults them as bastards. Jace defends his brother Lucerys, who ultimately blinds Aemond in one eye. This incident causes tension within the royal family, with Jace supporting his mother during the fallout.

House of the Dragon Season 2

As war looms, Jace grows into a diligent young man. He secures alliances for Rhaenyra by visiting key houses, including the Vale of Arryn and Winterfell. Lady Jeyne Arryn pledges support in exchange for a dragon. Cregan Stark treats Jace as an honored guest and discusses the importance of unity against the Greens.

Jace returns to Dragonstone after learning of his brother Lucerys’s death. He comforts his mother, Rhaenyra, during her grief and helps organize a memorial service. Jace attends Black Council meetings, where he suggests strategic actions for the war effort. His loyalty to his mother and commitment to their cause remain unwavering.

Jace proposes recruiting dragonseeds to claim riderless dragons and bolster their strength. He also negotiates with House Frey at the Twins, securing their allegiance. Despite his efforts, he struggles with the loss of his brother and the weight of his role as Rhaenyra’s heir, yet he remains determined to protect his family and their claim to the Iron Throne.

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In Fire and Blood

Credits: Jota Saraiva

Jacaerys Velaryon: Early Life and Background

Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, known as Jace, was born in late 114 AC. He was the firstborn son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her husband, Laenor Velaryon. Despite being presented as Laenor’s son, many suspected Harwin Strong was his true father. Jacaerys had two younger brothers, Lucerys and Joffrey.

King Viserys I Targaryen hoped to prevent rivalry between Rhaenyra’s children and Alicent Hightower’s. Jace shared a wet nurse with Alicent’s son, Daeron Targaryen, in an attempt to foster goodwill. However, tensions grew as Jace and his brothers were seen as rivals to Alicent’s children.

Each of Rhaenyra’s sons was presented with a dragon egg in the cradle. Jacaerys’s egg hatched into Vermax, proving his Targaryen heritage despite doubts about his paternity. Vermax became a loyal companion and symbol of Jace’s identity as a dragonrider.

In 118 AC, Rhaenyra betrothed Jace to his cousin Baela Targaryen. This match aimed to strengthen bonds between their families. Jacaerys grew into a responsible and bold young man, preparing for his role as Prince of Dragonstone and Rhaenyra’s heir.

Jacaerys excelled in his training, showing political awareness and a strong sense of duty. His dedication to his family and dragon Vermax made him a key figure in his mother’s claim to the Iron Throne.

Jacaerys During the “Strong Boys” Controversy

In 120 AC, Laenor Velaryon died, leaving six-year-old Jacaerys to face further scrutiny about his paternity. During the funeral at Driftmark, tensions erupted when Prince Aemond Targaryen claimed the dragon Vhagar. Jacaerys and his brothers confronted him, leading to a fight where Lucerys slashed Aemond’s eye with a dagger.

King Viserys decreed that anyone calling Rhaenyra’s sons bastards would lose their tongues. He sent Rhaenyra and her children to Dragonstone, while Alicent and her sons returned to King’s Landing. Despite Viserys’s efforts, the rivalry between the families deepened.

Later that year, Rhaenyra married her uncle, Daemon Targaryen. The marriage united their claims and strengthened their position against the Greens. Rhaenyra gave birth to two more sons, Aegon and Viserys, who resembled their Targaryen lineage, unlike her Velaryon sons.

In 126 AC, Jace’s grandfather, Lord Corlys Velaryon, fell ill. A dispute over Driftmark’s succession arose when Corlys’s nephew, Ser Vaemond Velaryon, claimed that Jace and his brothers were bastards. Rhaenyra had Vaemond executed and his body fed to her dragon Syrax.

The Dance of the Dragons and Jacaerys’s Role

In 129 AC, King Viserys I Targaryen died, triggering the Dance of the Dragons. Jacaerys, at fourteen, became a key figure for the Blacks. Rhaenyra named him Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne during her coronation. Jace swore to support her claim.

Jacaerys and his brother Lucerys volunteered to secure alliances for Rhaenyra. Jace traveled to the Vale, where Lady Jeyne Arryn pledged her support in return for protection. He then visited Winterfell, forming the Pact of Ice and Fire with Lord Cregan Stark, promising marriage between their houses.

Rumors suggested Jace secretly married Sara Snow, Cregan’s half-sister, though historians disputed this claim. Jace’s diplomatic efforts united key allies for Rhaenyra’s cause. He also initiated the recruitment of dragonseeds to claim unbonded dragons on Dragonstone.

Jace ensured the safety of his younger half-brothers by sending them to Pentos. However, during their journey, the Triarchy attacked, leading to the Battle of the Gullet. Jacaerys joined the fight, riding Vermax to defend their fleet.

During the battle, Vermax was struck down, and Jace fell into the sea, killed by Myrish crossbowmen. His death at fifteen was a devastating loss for the Blacks. His bravery and dedication remained a testament to his role in the conflict.

Quotes

“A king should honor the traditions of his forebears.”

“We should bear those messages. Dragons will win the lords over quicker than ravens.” 

Quick Answers

Who was Jacaerys Velaryon?

Jace was the eldest son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon, a prince of the Targaryen dynasty and rider of Vermax.

What role did Jace play in the Dance of the Dragons?

Jace secured key alliances for the Blacks, participated in battles, and proposed strategies like recruiting dragonseeds to strengthen their forces.

How did Jacaerys Velaryon die?

Jace died during the Battle of the Gullet when his dragon, Vermax, was slain, and he was killed by Myrish crossbowmen.