Maekar I Targaryen

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Maekar I
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File:MAEKAR I.jpg
Maekar I by Amok©
Monarch
Reign 221 AC - 233 AC
Full name Maekar Targaryen the First of His Name
Titles
Predecessor Aerys I Targaryen
Heirs
Successor Aegon V Targaryen
Personal Information
Alias The Anvil
Born In or between 174 AC and 178 AC[1], at King's Landing
Died In 233 AC, at Starpike
Family
Dynasty House Targaryen
Spouse Dyanna Dayne
Issue Daeron Targaryen
Aerion Targaryen
Aemon Targaryen
Aegon V Targaryen
Rhae Targaryen
Daella Targaryen
Father Daeron II Targaryen
Mother Mariah Martell
References
Books
Maekar Targaryen by Oznerol-1516©

King Maekar I Targaryen was king of the Seven Kingdoms and the fourteenth Targaryen to sit the Iron Throne.[2] He was the fourth son of King Daeron II Targaryen and was given the Targaryen seat of Summerhall, and was thus known as the Prince of Summerhall. Maekar was a capable army commander who served in two of the Blackfyre Rebellions. After a number of unexpected deaths in the royal family, he came to the throne in 221 AC.

Appearance

See also: Images of Maekar I Targaryen

Maekar was powerfully built and wore a beard. His eyes were violet and his hair was such a pale blonde that it was almost white. He had straight hair and a square-cut beard, both being the color of silver with a hint of gold. He was thickly built and powerful looking. Pox scars marred his cheeks.[3]

According to a semi-canon source, Maekar wore a crown of black iron and gold, with sharp points. He has his own personal coat of arms, the three-headed Targaryen dragon, quartered.[4]

Biography

Youth

Maekar was the son of King Daeron II Targaryen and Queen Mariah Martell. As a fourth son, he was not expected to rule. He married young, to Lady Dyanna Dayne, and had four sons and two daughters. He was given the Targaryen summer residence of Summerhall for his own seat.

Blackfyre Rebellion

During the First Blackfyre Rebellion Maekar served as one of the Targaryen force's commanders. It was his shield wall that held against the "mad" attack of his uncle Bittersteel in the Battle of the Redgrass Field. When his brother Baelor Breakspear attacked the rebel army from the rear the battle was won. Later a song was made about the battle, "The Hammer and Anvil", with Baelor the hammer and Maekar the anvil.

Nevertheless, Maekar felt unappreciated. The victory was more attributed to his brother and the errors of Daemon Blackfyre, then to his efforts. In other things he also stood in the shadow of his brothers, wounding his pride. Raymun Fossoway said of him: "Not as bold as Prince Baelor, nor as clever as Prince Aerys nor as gentle as Prince Rhaegel, and now he must suffer seeing his own sons overshadowed by his brother's."[3]

Tourney at Ashford

In 209 AC a tournament was held in Ashford. Maekar was there to see his sons Daeron and Aerion compete. His fourth son Aegon was to squire for Daeron. The tourney at Ashford Meadow proved disastrous for Maekar and his sons. Daeron drank himself into a stupor before reaching the tournament, Aegon joined the service of the hedge knight Duncan the Tall in a disguise as "Egg", and Aerion shamed himself during the joust by killing his opponent's horse. When Dunk attacked Aerion to defend an innocent puppeteer and Aerion demanded a trial by combat, Maekar supported Aerion's call for vengeance as well as Daeron's accusation that Dunk had kidnapped Aegon.[3]

During the trial of seven, Maekar came to blows with his brother Baelor, who fought for Dunk, and delivered a lethal mace blow to Baelor's head. Baelor survived the trial, but died soon after taking off his helmet. Maekar suspected that he would thereafter be held in suspicion as a kinslayer. Dealing with the problems of his sons, Maekar banished Aerion to the Free Cities and offered Dunk a position in his personal guard to serve as a role model for Aegon. After Dunk refused, Maekar allowed Aegon to accompany Dunk as his squire.[3]

Later life

In the Great Spring Sickness, King Daeron and the children of Maekar's brother Baelor died.[5] Maekar's brother succeeded to the throne as Aerys I Targaryen and appointed their bastard uncle Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers as Hand. Maekar had expected to be appointed Hand and could not get along with Lord Bloodraven, so he withdrew from court to his residence at Summerhall.

During the Third Blackfyre Rebellion he was recognised for his leadership. His son; Aerion, and uncle Bloodraven urged that Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers be executed, but Aerys was merciful and allowed him to join the Night's Watch, a fate he managed to escape, Maekar's opinion on Bittersteel's punishment is unknown.

Reign

After Aerys's death, Maekar took the Iron Throne, since Daeron's third son Rhaegel, and his son Aelor, had both died several years before. Such was Maekar's desire to split from the past that upon his coronation he had a new crown forged, more warlike than previous crowns since the crown of Aegon the Conqueror had been lost in Dorne upon Daeron the Young Dragon's death.[6] For seven years of his reign, a hot summer persisted. Some thought it was the Great Summer come at last. When it broke it was followed by a short autumn and a long, cold winter.[7] Reigning between two Blackfyre Rebellions, his reign is generally regarded as peaceful.

Maekar ruled until 233 AC, when he fell in battle fighting a rebellious lord on the Dornish Marches[6] during the Peake Uprising.[8] According to a semi-canon source, he was crushed to death by a rock hurled from the battlements of Starpike.[9] He was succeeded by his son, Aegon V Targaryen.

Quotes by Maekar I

I did not come here to take counsel from a hedge knight.[3]

- Prince Maekar to his eldest brother, Prince Baelor, at Ashford, about Duncan the Tall

Quotes about Maekar I

Prince Maekar was a hard man, proud and full of scorn.[10]

- Duncan the Tall's thoughts about Maekar


And my father...he never thought the throne would pass to him, and yet it did. He used to say that was his punishment for the blow that slew his brother. I pray he found the peace in death that he never knew in life.[11]

- Maester Aemon, to Samwell Tarly

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daeron II
 
Myriah
Martell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baelor
 
Jena
Dondarrion
 
Aerys I
 
Aelinor
Penrose
 
Rhaegel
 
Alys
Arryn
 
Maekar I
 
Dyanna
Dayne
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Valarr
 
Kiera of
Tyrosh
[N 1]
 
Matarys
 
Aelora
 
Aelor
 
Daenora
 
Aerion
 
Daeron
 
Kiera of
Tyrosh
[N 1]
 
Aemon
 
Daella
 
Aegon V
 
Rhae
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stillborn sons
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maegor
 
 
 
 
 
Vaella
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
descendants
 
House Targaryen.svg
 
Unknown
descendants
 
Notes:
  1. Kiera of Tyrosh was widowed when Valarr Targaryen died from the Great Spring Sickness; some time later she married his cousin Daeron.


References and Notes

  1. See the Maekar I Targaryen calculation.
  2. A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Hedge Knight.
  4. Targaryen Kings. November 1, 2005 So Spake Martin
  5. The Sworn Sword.
  6. 6.0 6.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Maekar I.
  7. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, House Lannister Under the Dragons.
  9. HistoryOfWesteros.org: ConCarolinas Westerlands Reading
  10. The Mystery Knight.
  11. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 26, Samwell III.