Summary
After the Blood & Cheese incident, there are many questions surrounding King Aegon II’s lineage inHouse of the Dragonseason 2. The season 2 premiere saw Aegon settling into his position as Westeros' latest monarch, bringing his little son Jaehaerys to small council meetings. In classicGame of Thronesfashion,Jaehaerys was brutally murdered by the end of the episode, leaving Aegon with a similar issue to his late father in that he now lacks a son to be his heir.House of the Dragonbook changeshave made the situation even more complicated.
The Dance of the Dragons is built on a situation of questionable succession, as King Viserys I is initially forced to choose between his brother and his daughter after being unlucky and not having a male child. This is a constant issue throughoutGeorge R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firebook universe, as conflicts of noble succession constantly turn violent and lead to war. Now,Aegon II’s lineage finds itself in a similar conflict that doesn’t exist in theFire & Bloodsource material text, which he’ll have to see to at some point during the civil war if he wishes to continue his line.
Aegon & Helaena Have Two Children In House Of The Dragon (But Three In The Book)
Maelor Targaryen Doesn’t Seem To Exist In House Of The Dragon
One of the mainways Blood & Cheese differs inHouse of the Dragonis that an entire child is taken out of the equation.InFire & Blood, Aegon & Helaena have three children. In the show, they only have two, with the younger son, Maelor, seemingly omitted from the plot unless he’s just in hiding and hasn’t been mentioned. Therefore, with the assassins killing little Jaehaerys, Aegon II is left without a direct lineage, presenting him with a similar conflict to his father in the previous season, as his options become his brothers or his daughter.
Aegon’s life is at stake, and it’s strange that episode 2 doesn’t see him demonstrating any concern for the fact that, if he’s killed, his male bloodline is over
Maelor Targaryen is Aegon’s heir in the source material following Jaehaerys' death, meaning Aegon doesn’t have to worry about having a new heir during the Dance of the Dragons. In the show, it’s still not quite as urgent an issue for him as Helaena is still capable of giving birth, but wartime is an awful period to not have a secure line of succession. With the Dance proceeding, Aegon’s life is at stake, and it’s strange that episode 2 doesn’t see him demonstrating any concern for the fact that, if he’s killed, his male bloodline is over.
How Many Children Alicent Has In HOTD (& What Happens To Them)
House of the Dragon’s Queen Alicent Hightower, second wife to King Viserys, bears him children who are key players in the Dance of the Dragons.
Aemond Targaryen Is Now Aegon’s Heir After Jaehaerys' Death
Aegon’s Brother, Aemond Targaryen, Is Next In The Line Of Succession
As would’ve been the case for Daemon with Viserys,Aemond Targaryen is now Aegon’s rightful heir. This creates a fascinating parallel between the two sets of characters, furthering the comparisons between Aemond and Daemon. Aegon doesn’t seem to have any love for his brother and likely wouldn’t want to see him as king, while Aemond would surely love the opportunity to prove his worth, given his mission for validation. It will be riveting to see how the rivalry between Aegon and Aemond continues to heat up now that there’s more at stake.
Following Aemond, the next in line of succession would beAlicent’s fourth child, who hasn’t appeared on the show yet: Daeron Targaryen. Daeron was actually mentioned at the end of season 2, episode 2, by Otto Hightower, and it’s revealed that the prince has been at Oldtown. Daeron is another dragonrider and prominent character inFire & Blood, but he hasn’t been cast, and there’s no news of him appearing in the season. He could become an important character in season 3 and beyond, but for now, Daeron is an off-screen heir behind Aemond.
Aegon Can’t Name Jaehaera His Heir Without Undermining His Own Claim To The Iron Throne
If Jaehaera Becomes Aegon’s Heir, That Would Imply Rhaenyra’s Claim Is Justified
Viserys I’s reign fell into controversy throughout the realm after naming Rhaenyra his heir, eventually leading to the Dance of the Dragons. As cruel and unfair as it is, Westeros isn’t a society that’s prepared to follow a female leader, giving Aegon the opportunity to ascend the throne in the first place. Now,if he hoped to avoid Aemond being next in the line of succession, Aegon would have to name his daughter Jaehaera as his heir, which would undermine his own claim over Rhaenyra.
Aegon’s entire claim to the Iron Throne is that he’s the eldest son of King Viserys, despite the late monarch already naming his daughter his heir. Aegon’s rule relies on Westerosi laws and tradition and provides stability throughout the realm. This leaves him without the choice Viserys made, as even though he doesn’t trust Aemond or want to see him rule, Jaehaera isn’t an option for him. These complexities and changes to source material makeHouse of the Dragonsuch an engaging show, and it’ll be fun to see how it plays out.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
