Difference between revisions of "Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)"

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In early {{date|92}}, Rhaenys learned that she was pregnant with her first child.{{ref|fab|The Long Reign — Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
 
In early {{date|92}}, Rhaenys learned that she was pregnant with her first child.{{ref|fab|The Long Reign — Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
  
===Great Council of 101===
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===The Queen Who Never Was===
Because Baelon died in {{date|101}}, a [[Great Council]] was called at [[Harrenhal]] to decide upon Jaehaerys's new heir. Rhaenys's uncle [[Boremund Baratheon|Boremund]], now Lord of [[Storm's End]], and [[Ellard Stark]], Lord of [[Winterfell]], spoke for her, as did Ellard's bannermen, [[House Dustin]] of [[Barrowton]] and [[House Manderly]] of [[White Harbor]].{{ref|TPATQ}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Stormlands: House Baratheon}}
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Rhaenys's father, Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon Targaryen]], died in {{Date|92}}. As Aemon had been the [[Prince of Dragonstone]], King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] had to formally appoint a new heir to the [[Iron Throne]]. The choice was between Rhaenys, Aemon's only child and heir, and Aemon's brother [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon]]. Jaehaerys appointed Baelon as the new [[Prince of Dragonstone]], passing over the pregnant Rhaenys and her unborn child. Rhaenys herself was the first to object to the king's decision, and her husband, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], gave up his position as [[lord admiral]] and his place on the [[small council]]. Following that, Rhaenys and her husband returned to [[Driftmark]]. Others angered by the king's decision included Rhaenys's mother, Lady [[Jocelyn Baratheon]], her uncle, Lord [[Boremund Baratheon]], and her grandmother, King Jaehaerys's wife, Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]].{{Ref|fab|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
  
When the claims of Rhaenys, her daughter [[Laena Velaryon|Laena]], and seven others were eventually dismissed, Boremund and Ellard supported Rhaenys's son, [[Laenor Velaryon|Laenor]], over Baelon's son, Prince [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}  While the tally was kept secret, it was rumored the assembled lords favored Viserys by twenty to one.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}
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Rhaenys gave birth to her first child, a daughter she named [[Laena Velaryon]], in {{Date|93}}. The following year, she give birth to a son, [[Laenor Velaryon]]. Although both [[House Velaryon]] and [[House Baratheon]] insisted that Laenor had the better claim to the throne, Prince Baelon remained King Jaehaerys's heir.{{Ref|fab|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
  
Laena and Laenor both died in {{date|120}}, the Year of the Red Spring. Laena's widower, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]], scandalously married Laenor's widow, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], less than six months after Laenor's passing.{{ref|TRP}}
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When Baelon died in {{date|101}}, King Jaehaerys called the first [[Great Council]] at [[Harrenhal]] to decide the matter of succession. Fourteen claims were considered, including the claims of Rhaenys and her children.{{Ref|fab|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Rhaenys's uncle, Lord [[Boremund Baratheon]], was outspoken in supporting the claims of Rhaenys and her son Laenor during the Great Council,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Stormlands: House Baratheon}} and Lord [[Ellard Stark]] gave his support to Rhaenys and Corlys as well.{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: The Lords of Winterfell}} Other supporters included [[House Dustin]] of [[Barrowton]] and [[House Manderly]] of [[White Harbor]].{{ref|TPATQ}} Yet the claims of Rhaenys and her daughter were rejected on account of their sex. Rhaenys and Corlys used their wealth and influence to persuade the lords present to vote for their son Laenor, one of the two primary claimants. For this they received support from Lord Boremund, Lord Ellard, Lord [[House Manderly|Manderly]], Lord [[House Dustin|Dustin]], Lord [[House Blackwood|Blackwood]], Lord [[House Bar Emmon|Bar Emmon]], Lord [[House Celtigar|Celtigar]], as well as others. However, Laenor was eventually passed over in favor of Baelon's son [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys]].{{Ref|fab|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} While the tally was kept secret, it was rumored the assembled lords favored Viserys by twenty to one.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}
 +
 
 +
For having been passed over in the line of succession, the court jester [[Mushroom]] would name her "The Queen Who Never Was".{{Ref|Fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
 +
 
 +
Following the death of Queen [[Aemma Arryn]], in {{Date|105}}, [[Grand Maester]] [[Runciter]] suggested to King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] that he take Rhaenys's twelve-year-old daughter, Laena, to wife. King Viserys, however, chose [[Alicent Hightower]]. Angered by the third time she and her family had been scorned by [[House Targaryen]], Rhaenys and her family did not attend the wedding in {{Date|106}}.{{Ref|TRP}} In {{Date|113}}, King Viserys I and his [[small council]] began discussions concerning a betrothal for Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], Viserys's heir, they eventually agreed on Rhaenys's son, Laenor. Rhaenyra and Laenor were wed the next year.{{Ref|TRP}}
 +
 
 +
Both of Rhaenys's children died in {{date|120}}; Laena (and her child) died in childbirth during the early days of the year, while Laenor was killed by Ser [[Qarl Correy]] while attending a fair in [[Spicetown]].{{ref|TRP}}
  
 
===The Dance of the Dragons===
 
===The Dance of the Dragons===

Revision as of 17:54, 1 February 2019

House Targaryen.svg
Rhaenys Targaryen
House Velaryon.svg
Bella Bergolts The Queen Who Never Was.jpg

Alias The Queen Who Never Was
Title Princess
Allegiances
Race Valyrian
Culture crownlands
Born In 74 AC[1]
Died In 129 ACRook's Rest[2]
Spouse Corlys Velaryon
Books

Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, known among the smallfolk as the Queen Who Never Was, was the daughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen and Lady Jocelyn Baratheon. She was married to Lord Corlys Velaryon of Driftmark. She was a dragonrider whose dragon was Meleys, the Red Queen.[2]

Appearance and Character

Rhaenys was a traditional Targaryen beauty.[3] She had black hair and pale violet eyes.[4] By the time she was fifty-five, she had a lean lined face and black hair streaked with white.[5]

She was a clever, capable, spirited, proud,[6] fierce and fearless woman.[5]

Rhaenys wore a steel and copper armor which flashed in the sun.[2]

History

Early life

Rhaenys was born in 74 AC on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year. As her father was the Prince of Dragonstone, and she was his firstborn child, many considered her as being next in line for the Iron Throne, after her father Aemon. Queen Alysanne Targaryen, when being presented with her granddaughter, called her "our queen to be.".[7]

In 89 AC}, Rhaenys joined King Jaehaerys I Targaryen for part of his royal progress. She flew on her dragon Meleys to Highgarden to meet up with Jaehaerys, and together they flew to all four of the Shield Islands. On Greenshield she informed the king about her intention to marry Lord Corlys Velaryon, and received her grandfather's blessing.[7]

Rhaenys married Corlys in 90 AC at the age of sixteen. She insisted on arriving at the wedding on the back of Meleys.[7]

In early 92 AC, Rhaenys learned that she was pregnant with her first child.[7]

The Queen Who Never Was

Rhaenys's father, Prince Aemon Targaryen, died in 92 AC. As Aemon had been the Prince of Dragonstone, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen had to formally appoint a new heir to the Iron Throne. The choice was between Rhaenys, Aemon's only child and heir, and Aemon's brother Baelon. Jaehaerys appointed Baelon as the new Prince of Dragonstone, passing over the pregnant Rhaenys and her unborn child. Rhaenys herself was the first to object to the king's decision, and her husband, Lord Corlys Velaryon, gave up his position as lord admiral and his place on the small council. Following that, Rhaenys and her husband returned to Driftmark. Others angered by the king's decision included Rhaenys's mother, Lady Jocelyn Baratheon, her uncle, Lord Boremund Baratheon, and her grandmother, King Jaehaerys's wife, Queen Alysanne Targaryen.[6]

Rhaenys gave birth to her first child, a daughter she named Laena Velaryon, in 93 AC. The following year, she give birth to a son, Laenor Velaryon. Although both House Velaryon and House Baratheon insisted that Laenor had the better claim to the throne, Prince Baelon remained King Jaehaerys's heir.[6]

When Baelon died in 101 AC, King Jaehaerys called the first Great Council at Harrenhal to decide the matter of succession. Fourteen claims were considered, including the claims of Rhaenys and her children.[6] Rhaenys's uncle, Lord Boremund Baratheon, was outspoken in supporting the claims of Rhaenys and her son Laenor during the Great Council,[8] and Lord Ellard Stark gave his support to Rhaenys and Corlys as well.[9] Other supporters included House Dustin of Barrowton and House Manderly of White Harbor.[2] Yet the claims of Rhaenys and her daughter were rejected on account of their sex. Rhaenys and Corlys used their wealth and influence to persuade the lords present to vote for their son Laenor, one of the two primary claimants. For this they received support from Lord Boremund, Lord Ellard, Lord Manderly, Lord Dustin, Lord Blackwood, Lord Bar Emmon, Lord Celtigar, as well as others. However, Laenor was eventually passed over in favor of Baelon's son Viserys.[6] While the tally was kept secret, it was rumored the assembled lords favored Viserys by twenty to one.[10]

For having been passed over in the line of succession, the court jester Mushroom would name her "The Queen Who Never Was".[5]

Following the death of Queen Aemma Arryn, in 105 AC, Grand Maester Runciter suggested to King Viserys I Targaryen that he take Rhaenys's twelve-year-old daughter, Laena, to wife. King Viserys, however, chose Alicent Hightower. Angered by the third time she and her family had been scorned by House Targaryen, Rhaenys and her family did not attend the wedding in 106 AC.[3] In 113 AC, King Viserys I and his small council began discussions concerning a betrothal for Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Viserys's heir, they eventually agreed on Rhaenys's son, Laenor. Rhaenyra and Laenor were wed the next year.[3]

Both of Rhaenys's children died in 120 AC; Laena (and her child) died in childbirth during the early days of the year, while Laenor was killed by Ser Qarl Correy while attending a fair in Spicetown.[3]

The Dance of the Dragons

When the Dance of the Dragons began in 129 AC, Princess Rhaenys sat on the black council of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, daughter of the late King Viserys I Targaryen. When the Velaryon fleet closed off the Gullet, sailing forth from Dragonstone and Driftmark to block all shipping for Blackwater Bay, the blacks' plan was for Rhaenys to fly overhead on Meleys to keep the greens from attacking their ships with dragons.[2]

Nine days after Lord Staunton dispatched a plea for help, Rhaenys and Meleys appeared above Rook's Rest. Rhaenys attacked the soldiers of Ser Criston Cole during the battle at Rook's Rest, but King Aegon II Targaryen upon Sunfyre and Prince Aemond Targaryen upon Vhagar appeared in the skies. Criston had sprung a trap and Rhaenys had snatched the bait. Against Vhagar alone, Meleys may have won but she stood little chance against both dragons. They met a thousand feet above the ground and all three beasts went spinning to the earth. From the ashes, only Vhagar rose unharmed. A body believed to be Rhaenys was later found beside the carcass of her dragon, but so blackened no one could be sure it was her. Her husband, Corlys Velaryon, was enraged that Rhaenyra had sent Rhaenys instead of going herself, and that Rhaenyra had forbidden her sons Jacaerys and Joffrey from aiding Rhaenys.[2]

Quotes

Beloved daughter of Lady Jocelyn Baratheon and Prince Aemon Targaryen, faithful wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon, mother and grandmother, the Queen Who Never Was lived fearlessly, and died amidst blood and fire. She was fifty-five years old.[2]

- Archmaester Gyldayn

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jocelyn
Baratheon
 
Aemon
 
Daella
 
Rodrik
Arryn
 
Baelon
 
Alyssa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corlys
Velaryon
 
Rhaenys
 
 
 
 
 
Aemma
Arryn
 
Viserys I
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alicent
Hightower
 
Daemon
[Note 1]
 
Rhea
Royce
 
Aegon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laena
Velaryon
 
Daemon
[Note 1]
 
Laenor
Velaryon
 
Rhaenyra
 
Daemon
[Note 1]
 
Son
 
Baelon
 
Aegon II
 
Helaena
 
Aemond
 
Daeron
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rhaena
 
Baela
 
Stillborn
son
 
Jacaerys
Velaryon
 
Lucerys
Velaryon
 
Joffrey
Velaryon
 
Viserys II
 
Visenya
 
Aegon III
 
Jaehaera
 
Jaehaerys
 
Maelor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes:
  1. 1.0 1.1 Prince Daemon Targaryen was married to Lady Rhea Royce from 97 AC to 115 AC, to Lady Laena Velaryon from 115 AC to 120 AC, and to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen from 120 AC to 130 AC.


References

  1. See the Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon) calculation.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 The Princess and the Queen.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Rogue Prince.
  4. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign — Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Baratheon.
  9. The World of Ice & Fire, The North: The Lords of Winterfell.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.