Who is King Viserys Targaryen in House of the Dragon?

Quick Details

Who was Viserys Targaryen?

Credits: HBO

Viserys I Targaryen served as King of Westeros during a pivotal era in the history of the realm. Born in 77 AC, Viserys was chosen as heir by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen at the Great Council of 101 AC. His reign saw prosperity, but his inability to resolve succession disputes led to conflict.

Viserys married twice—first to Aemma Arryn, with whom he had Rhaenyra Targaryen, and later to Alicent Hightower, who bore him four children. His decisions on succession created divisions between the Blacks, supporting Rhaenyra, and the Greens, backing Alicent’s son Aegon II.

Viserys struggled to balance personal desires with his duty to the realm. His reign is remembered for its peace, but his failure to address growing tensions led to the catastrophic Dance of the Dragons.

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Quick Facts

Show

• Viserys is played by Paddy Considine in House of the Dragon.
• The series portrays his struggles with succession and family dynamics.
• He ruled for over two decades, maintaining peace despite underlying tensions.

Books

• Viserys is featured in Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin.
• He is described as kind but indecisive, often avoiding confrontation.
• His death in 129 AC marks the beginning of the Dance of the Dragons.

In the show

Credits: HBO

Viserys I Targaryen’s Rise to Power

Viserys I Targaryen was the son of Prince Baelon and Princess Alyssa Targaryen and the grandson of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He inherited the Iron Throne after sixty years of peace and prosperity under his grandfather. This era was a golden age that Viserys sought to uphold.

When Prince Baelon died, the succession became unclear. Viserys’s cousin Rhaenys was the daughter of Jaehaerys’s first son, while Viserys was the eldest son of his second son. The Targaryen dynasty lacked established succession laws. A Great Council convened at Harrenhal, where the lords of Westeros elected Viserys as the new Prince of Dragonstone. Rhaenys accepted the result reluctantly. King Jaehaerys passed away in 103 AC, and Viserys became king.

At the start of his reign, Viserys and his wife, Queen Aemma Arryn, had no male heirs. Their only surviving child was Princess Rhaenyra. According to the Harrenhal precedent, the heir should be the closest male relative, his brother Daemon. However, many lords considered Daemon unsuitable due to his volatile nature.

Viserys struggled with balancing tradition and personal judgment in naming an heir. While Daemon was his closest male relative, he was viewed as reckless. Despite this, Viserys initially kept Daemon in important positions. This decision would later lead to tensions in the royal family.

Viserys’s reign marked the beginning of growing divisions within House Targaryen. These tensions would shape the conflicts that emerged later in his rule and the eventual Dance of the Dragons.

Early Reign and Challenges

Nine years into his reign, Viserys attended a Small Council meeting. Lord Corlys Velaryon warned about the Triarchy threatening Westerosi trade by conquering the Stepstones. Viserys dismissed these concerns, focusing instead on preparations for a tournament celebrating the birth of his second child. He believed the child would be a boy, based on a prophetic dream.

During this time, Viserys suffered an infected wound from the Iron Throne. The maesters treated him with cauterization. Despite his confidence in his dream, his wife Aemma expressed reluctance to have more children after years of miscarriages and stillbirths. She insisted that this child would be her last.

The Small Council raised concerns about Daemon’s violent actions as Commander of the City Watch. Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, criticized Daemon’s methods. Viserys defended his brother but warned him against excessive brutality. Tensions between Otto and Daemon grew, reflecting broader divisions in the court.

When Queen Aemma went into labor, complications arose. The maesters informed Viserys that saving the child required sacrificing Aemma’s life. Despite his grief, Viserys consented. The child, named Baelon, died shortly after birth. A devastated Viserys attended the funeral of Aemma and Baelon, mourning deeply.

These events marked a turning point in Viserys’s reign. His personal losses and the court’s divisions foreshadowed future conflicts that would challenge his ability to maintain peace.

Succession Crisis and Family Struggles

After Aemma’s death, the Small Council convened to discuss succession. Otto Hightower pushed for Viserys to name Princess Rhaenyra as heir, while others feared Daemon’s ambitions. Viserys, still grieving, refused to choose between his brother and daughter. He rebuked the council for their disputes and stormed out of the meeting.

Viserys ultimately decided to name Rhaenyra his heir. He summoned her to Balerion’s shrine and warned her about the dangers of power. He shared a secret prophecy passed down by Targaryen kings, emphasizing their duty to unite Westeros against future threats. This decision formally named Rhaenyra Princess of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne.

The nobility swore fealty to Rhaenyra. Despite this, divisions over her legitimacy as heir persisted. These tensions worsened with the growing influence of Otto Hightower and his daughter Alicent, who began spending more time with Viserys following Aemma’s death.

Viserys’s decision to name Rhaenyra as heir brought temporary clarity but left unresolved tensions. The rivalries within his court continued to grow, setting the stage for future conflict over the succession.

Viserys’s declining health and personal grief shaped his reign. His efforts to balance his responsibilities as king with his love for his family often led to difficult choices and unforeseen consequences.

Read More: Who is Lord Boremund Baratheon in House of the Dragon?

In the books

Credits: Douglas Wheatley

Appearance and Personality

Viserys I Targaryen was plump, with a round face and a bushy silver-gold mustache. He often dressed in dark purple silk brocade and wore a gold-and-gemstone circlet that belonged to his grandfather, Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He was known as a peaceful man who disliked conflict and sought to maintain harmony.

Viserys was amiable, generous, and eager to please. Although he was not considered strong-willed, he stood firmly by his decisions once made. His reign was marked by lavish celebrations, including numerous balls, feasts, and tournaments. These events made him beloved by lords and smallfolk. However, his lifestyle led to health problems, including gout, aching joints, and respiratory issues, which worsened in his later years.

Despite his generous nature, Viserys had little interest in activities like jousting, hunting, or swordplay. His declining health eventually made it difficult for him to ascend the steps to the Iron Throne. Nevertheless, he remained dedicated to his role as king and his family until the end of his reign.

Youth and Early Life

Viserys was born in 77 AC to Prince Baelon and Princess Alyssa Targaryen. Septon Barth described him as a cheerful and lively infant. When he was nine days old, his mother took him for a flight on her dragon, Meleys, claiming he laughed throughout the ride. Viserys had two younger brothers, Daemon and Aegon. His mother, Alyssa, died shortly after Aegon’s birth in 84 AC, leaving their father devastated.

At 16, Viserys claimed the dragon Balerion in 93 AC. Balerion, though old, allowed Viserys to ride him around King’s Landing. However, Viserys sensed Balerion was too weak for a longer journey. Less than a year later, Balerion died. Viserys never claimed another dragon after losing the Black Dread.

In 93 AC, Viserys married his cousin, Aemma Arryn, who was 11 at the time. The marriage was consummated two years later, after Aemma came of age. The couple faced difficulties in having children, but in 97 AC, they welcomed a healthy daughter, Rhaenyra. Both parents adored her deeply.

Succession and Early Reign

King Jaehaerys I Targaryen named Viserys’s father, Baelon, as his heir in 92 AC. However, Baelon died in 101 AC, prompting the Great Council to decide the succession. Viserys was chosen as Jaehaerys’s heir at the age of 26, favored over his cousin, Rhaenys Velaryon. He ascended the throne in 103 AC after Jaehaerys’s death.

Viserys inherited a stable realm with a strong treasury and a legacy of goodwill. Known as the Young King, he was popular among the smallfolk for his approachable nature. He married Queen Aemma Arryn, and their daughter Rhaenyra became a beloved figure at court. At eight, Rhaenyra became her father’s cupbearer, often accompanying him at royal events.

Despite his love for his younger brother Daemon, Viserys did not wish for him to be his heir. To manage Daemon’s ambitions, Viserys appointed him to the Small Council and later made him Commander of the City Watch. However, the rivalry between Daemon and Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, created tensions at court.

The Death of Aemma Arryn

In 105 AC, Queen Aemma died during childbirth. Her son, Baelon, lived only one day. Devastated, Viserys grieved deeply. Meanwhile, Daemon was overheard mocking the tragedy, referring to the infant as the “heir for a day.” Enraged, Viserys exiled his brother from court.

After mourning, Viserys declared Rhaenyra his heir and Princess of Dragonstone. In a grand ceremony, lords swore fealty to her. Viserys began grooming Rhaenyra for queenship, including involving her in Small Council meetings. His decision solidified her position but created factions at court. These divisions would later contribute to conflict within the Targaryen family.

Viserys’s attempts to maintain peace between Rhaenyra and other claimants reflected his desire to uphold stability. However, tensions over succession persisted, overshadowing the later years of his reign.

Second Marriage and Growing Divisions

After Queen Aemma’s death, Viserys was urged to remarry. Grand Maester Runciter suggested Laena Velaryon to mend ties with House Velaryon, but Viserys chose Alicent Hightower, daughter of Otto Hightower, his Hand. The two married in 106 AC. At the wedding, Alicent named Princess Rhaenyra her “daughter,” signaling initial harmony between them.

However, tensions arose when Alicent bore several children, starting with Prince Aegon in 107 AC, followed by Helaena in 109 AC and Aemond in 110 AC. Despite these male heirs, Viserys maintained Rhaenyra as his heir. Otto Hightower pressed Viserys to name Aegon instead, leading to Otto’s dismissal as Hand in favor of Lyonel Strong.

The court divided into two factions: Alicent’s “greens,” supporting Aegon’s claim, and Rhaenyra’s “blacks,” loyal to her. This division became apparent at a 111 AC tourney, where Alicent wore green and Rhaenyra wore black and red. These colors became symbols of their respective factions.

Marriage of Rhaenyra Targaryen

In 113 AC, Viserys decided Rhaenyra should marry. Alicent suggested her eldest son Aegon, but Viserys refused due to their age difference and animosity. Instead, Viserys chose Laenor Velaryon, strengthening ties with House Velaryon. Rhaenyra initially protested but relented under Viserys’s insistence.

The marriage took place in 114 AC, but rumors circulated that Rhaenyra’s children, including Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, were fathered by Ser Harwin Strong, her sworn shield. These suspicions caused further strife at court. To quell tensions, Viserys ordered his grandsons Jacaerys and Daeron, Alicent’s youngest son, to share a wet nurse to foster unity.

By 120 AC, the factions at court had hardened. Rhaenyra’s children and Alicent’s children became dragonriders, but their dragons displayed hostility toward one another. These tensions foreshadowed the coming conflict between the blacks and greens.

Later Reign and Health Decline

Viserys’s health declined significantly in his later years. In 126 AC, he cut his hand on the Iron Throne and developed a severe infection. After ineffective treatments, two of his fingers were amputated. He increasingly relied on others, including Princess Rhaenyra, for governance.

At court, Otto Hightower regained influence, filling key positions with allies. The Small Council became dominated by the greens, with only Lord Lyman Beesbury openly opposing them. Meanwhile, Viserys struggled to mediate disputes between Rhaenyra and Alicent’s factions. He issued decrees to silence rumors about Rhaenyra’s children but could not quell the animosity.

Despite his efforts, Viserys’s declining health and inability to fully manage court politics allowed divisions to deepen. By 129 AC, he rarely attended public matters and left much of the realm’s governance to his council.

Death and Succession Crisis

Viserys died peacefully in his sleep in 129 AC. Before his death, he entertained his grandchildren with tales of their ancestors. Afterward, Queen Alicent concealed his passing to prepare for her son Aegon’s ascension. Otto Hightower summoned the Small Council, setting the greens’ plans into motion.

A week after his death, the greens publicly declared Aegon II king. The blacks, led by Rhaenyra at Dragonstone, rejected Aegon’s claim. This dispute over Viserys’s succession sparked the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. The conflict divided the realm and marked the beginning of a bloody struggle for the Iron Throne.

Viserys’s death symbolized the end of an era of relative peace. His efforts to balance familial love and political duty left a fragile legacy, ultimately overshadowed by the war that followed.

Read More: Who is Viserys II Targaryen in House of the Dragon?

Quotes

“Tongues will not change the succession. Let them wag.” — Viserys to Otto Hightower

“The idea that we control the dragons is an illusion. They’re a power man should never have trifled with. One that brought Valyria its doom. If we don’t mind our own histories, it will do the same to us.”

Quick Answers

Who was Viserys Targaryen?

Viserys I Targaryen ruled Westeros during a peaceful but divisive era. He is central to Fire and Blood and House of the Dragon.

What caused the Dance of the Dragons?

Viserys’s death and unresolved succession disputes led to the Dance of the Dragons. Both the Blacks and Greens claimed the throne.

Who played Viserys in House of the Dragon?

Paddy Considine portrayed Viserys I in the series. His performance received critical acclaim for its depth and emotion.

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01/07/2025 12:47 pm GMT