Who is Viserys II Targaryen in House of the Dragon?

In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Game of Thrones, and through the words of George R. R. Martin, the Targaryen family’s complex history unfolds. The show gave us our first glimpse at Viserys II Targaryen, one of the lesser known monarchs of the Targaryen dynasty. Viserys II was only a child during the Dance of the Dragons, and suffered a great ordeal during the civil war. He would go on to ascend the throne under unusual circumstances. Though not widely celebrated, he was one of the wisest rulers of Westeros. This article explores the life and legacy of Viserys II.

Quick Details

Who was Viserys II Targaryen?

Credits: chillyravenart

Viserys II was the second son of Prince Daemon and Princess Rhaenyra. Named after his grandfather, King Viserys I, he lived through the turbulent era known as the Dance of the Dragons. Clever and ambitious, he later served as Hand of the King before ruling as king himself.

He married Larra Rogare, a noble from Lys, and had three children: Aegon IV, Aemon, and Naerys. His short reign was marked by reforms and increased trade across Westeros.

Quick Facts

Show

• Appears as a child in flashbacks in House of the Dragon.
• Meets his grandfather King Viserys I along with his mother Rhaenyra.
• Sent to the Vale with his half-sister Rhaena and his brother Aegon the Younger.

Books

• Born in 122 AC, to Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen.
• Survived the Dance of the Dragons and lived in Lys for years.
• Married Larra Rogare, forming alliances in Essos.
• Became king in 171 AC after Baelor’s death.
• Died suddenly in 172 AC, leading to rumors of foul play.

In the Show

Credits: HBO

House of the Dragon Season 1

In Season 1 of House of the Dragon, young Viserys arrives in King’s Landing with his family. They visit to support Lucerys Velaryon’s claim to Driftmark. He meets his grandfather, King Viserys I Targaryen, who humorously notes that the name is “fit for a king.”

His half-brother Aegon II’s ascension brings chaos. Otto Hightower’s terms offer a minor court role to Viserys, but his family rejects them. This tension shapes Viserys’s early years.

House of the Dragon Season 2

Viserys grows up amidst family conflicts. After an assassination attempt on Rhaenyra, she sends him and his siblings to safety at the Eyrie. There, he plays with his brothers and listens as Lady Jeyne Arryn informs them of their departure to Essos. He later departs from the Eyrie to Lys, aboard the ship The Gay Abandon.

In the Books

Credits: Jota Saraiva

Viserys II during the Dance of the Dragons

In 129 AC, Viserys and his older brother Aegon went to Essos. Their half-brother, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, sent them there for safety. They were to stay with a prince in Pentos until their mother, Rhaenyra, secured the Iron Throne.

The Triarchy’s fleet, allied with the Greens, captured their ship, the Gay Abandon. Aegon escaped on his dragon, Stormcloud, but Viserys had only a dragon egg. To avoid capture, he hid the egg and disguised himself as a common ship’s boy.

The crew eventually discovered his identity and took him to Sharako Lohar, the Triarchy’s admiral. Viserys’s family thought he died in the battle and didn’t know his fate for the rest of the war.

In Lys, Viserys stayed with Magister Bambarro Bazanne. After Bazanne died, Viserys became the ward of the wealthy Rogare family. Despite a seven-year age difference, he married Larra, the youngest Rogare daughter.

Viserys’s family remained unaware of his situation during the remainder of the Dance of the Dragons. His life was largely a mystery to them during this time.

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Viserys II during the reign of King Aegon III

In Aegon III’s early rule, news spread that Viserys had survived. Alyn Velaryon found him in 134 AC and paid a high ransom to the Lys merchants. Viserys returned to King’s Landing.

Aegon III, haunted by guilt over abandoning his brother, found comfort in Viserys’s return. Viserys became Aegon’s most trusted person for the rest of his life.

Viserys arrived with his wife, Larra Rogare, and her relatives. During the Lysene Spring, the Rogares were involved in conflicts during Aegon’s regency. Their rivals accused them of many crimes.

In 135 AC, Lord Thaddeus Rowan was tortured for evidence against the Rogares. Ser Marston Waters, the Hand of the King, tried to arrest Larra. Aegon and Viserys protected her, leading to the secret siege of Maegor’s Holdfast. The charges against the Rogares eventually fell apart.

Viserys and Larra had three children: Aegon, Aemon, and Naerys. In 139 AC, Larra left him and their children, causing Viserys to become stricter.

Read More: Paddy Considine cast as Viserys Targaryen for Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon

Viserys II as Hand of the King

Viserys served as Hand of the King during the reigns of Aegon III, Daeron I, and Baelor I. He maintained stability in the realm, handling affairs while Aegon brooded, Daeron fought, and Baelor prayed.

Rumors claimed Viserys poisoned a stonemason whom Baelor named High Septon. People believed he did this to avoid embarrassment for the realm.

The reign of King Viserys II

Viserys became king in 171 AC, after his nephew Baelor I died. He was 49 years old. Some believed the throne should have gone to Daena, Baelor’s eldest sister, but the court disagreed.

Daena had been in the Maidenvault for ten years with her sisters. She lacked strong supporters, and Rhaenyra’s past struggles made a female ruler less appealing. The court viewed Daena, known as Daena the Defiant, as unruly. Her recent birth of a son, Daemon, to her cousin Aegon, reinforced this.

The court ignored Baelor’s sisters’ claims, following past decisions like the Great Council of 101 AC. Viserys took the crown. His reign lasted just over a year. He reformed the royal household, established a new mint, and boosted trade across the Narrow Sea.

Viserys improved the progressive laws set by Jaehaerys I. Many thought he could have been as wise as Jaehaerys if he had reigned longer.

The Death and Legacy of Viserys II

Viserys died in 172 AC from a sudden illness. His son, Aegon IV Targaryen, succeeded him. Some believe Aegon might have poisoned him.

Viserys has a mixed legacy in Westeros. Some accuse him of poisoning Baelor to seize the throne and criticize his actions as king. Yet, he served as Hand of the King for years, ensuring stability. Without his influence, the reigns of Aegon, Daeron, and Baelor might have faced more troubles.

Despite divided opinions, Viserys’s efforts helped keep the realm stable and secure.

Quotes

“Ah… Viserys. Now that is a name fit for a king.” ―Viserys I Targaryen

“Viserys might have only reigned a year, but he ruled for fifteen, while Daeron warred and Baelor prayed.” —Tyrion Lannister to Oberyn Martell

Quick Answers

Was Viserys II portrayed in the Game of Thrones TV series?

No, Viserys II did not appear in Game of Thrones. His story is only referenced in historical context. His role is more prominent in House of the Dragon and the books.

Did Viserys II Targaryen have any children?

Yes, Viserys II had three children: Aegon IV, Aemon, and Naerys. These descendants played significant roles in both the books and the show.

Read More: Paddy Considine cast as Viserys Targaryen for Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon

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01/01/2025 12:17 pm GMT