The Children of Aegon and Aenys
Fire & BloodThis thread traces how family rivalry, uncertain succession, and the Faith’s opposition shape the lives of the first Targaryen princes.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Aenys’s Fragile Childhood

The First Heir
A Vulnerable Child
Aenys is born sickly and slow to thrive, prompting rumors about his parentage and fitness.
Quicksilver’s Arrival
Bonding with Quicksilver helps him flourish. The dragon strengthens the image of the heir but cannot guarantee the temperament or resolve needed for rule.
Maegor’s Birth and Rivalry

Two Unequal Princes
A Stronger Younger Son
Maegor is born robust and becomes a formidable swordsman, while Aenys remains less capable in arms.
Divergent Expectations
Aenys is raised as heir; Maegor grows up with Visenya and a reputation for strength. Their different upbringings feed a lasting rivalry.
Aenys Becomes King

Rule Under Pressure
An Inexperienced King
Aenys inherits the throne after Aegon’s death and promises to rule alongside Maegor. His conciliatory manner struggles to contain rebellion.
A Family Crisis
The realm questions Aenys’s authority as his marriage decisions provoke the Faith and Maegor refuses to obey. His personal weakness becomes a political crisis.
Aegon the Uncrowned

The Heir Becomes a Rebel
Marriage and Opposition
Aegon marries Rhaena, angering the Faith. When Maegor takes the throne, the couple becomes a symbol of the displaced succession.
Defeat at the Gods Eye
Aegon rises against Maegor but dies with Quicksilver. His death leaves Rhaena and their daughters exposed to the victor.
Aegon III Survives the Dance

A Younger Heir Endures
The Gullet
Aegon the Younger escapes the battle on Stormcloud while his brother Viserys is captured. His survival does not end his guilt or grief.
A New King
After the deaths of Rhaenyra and Aegon II, he becomes Aegon III. He inherits a title and kingdom shaped by family losses.
7–10 AC, before Rhaenys’s death
12 AC onward, during Aegon I’s reign
37–42 AC, during Aenys’s reign
41–43 AC, from marriage to death
129–131 AC, from the Gullet to the crown