Daemon Targaryen

Daemon Targaryen, also known as "The Rogue Prince" was a member of House Targaryen. He is widely believed to have died 168 years before the series begins. He is a major character in George Martin's works "The Rogue Prince" and "The Princess and the Queen", which are presented as in-universe histories by Archmaester Gyldayn.

Daemon Targaryen was the younger brother of Viserys I Targaryen. His dragon was Caraxes. He was an amoral, reckless character. The Great Council of 101 AC declared Viserys his grandfathers' over his female cousin Rhaenys (via Viserys' father's older brother) and her son Laenor Velaryon. When King Jaehaerys died in 103, Viserys became King. It was thought this decision by the Great Council meant right to the Iron Throne could not pass to a woman, or through a woman. Daemon thus considered himself his brother's heir, as his brother's only child at the time was a daughter, Rhaenyra. This worried many of the King's councilors, who did not wish Daemon to succeed. After Viserys' wife Aemma died in 105 birthing a son, that son died a day later. When Daemon was heard japing in a brothel about the heir for a day, Viserys declared his daughter heir.

Viserys married again to Alicent Hightower, daughter of his Hand Ser Otto Hightower. Despite having sons by her, Viserys continued to declare Rhaenyra his heir.

After the death of Rhaenyra's first husband Laenor Velaryon, she married her uncle Daemon. Laenor was murdered by Ser Qarl Correy (possibly his lover), who was never found. It is suspected Daemon paid Qarl to perform the murder, then murdered Qarl, leaving Rhaenyra available to marry.

After Viserys died in his sleep in 129, his eldest son Aegon II claimed the Iron Throne. His half-sister disputed this, leading to the war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Viserys and Alicent's second son, Aemond Targaryen, murdered Rhaenyra's second son from her first marriage, Lucerys Velaryon, when he came to Storm's End as an envoy. For this Daemon sent the assassins Blood and Cheese who murdered Aegon's eldest son Jaehaerys, a six-year old.

Daemon helped Rhaenyra take King's Landing. He went to Maidenpool to protect it, as Aemond was riding his dragon Vhagar round the Riverlands, burning it. Daemon's lover, the Dragonrider Nettles, fled when Rhaenyra sent orders to Lord Mooton of Maidenpool to kill her. Daemon then flew his dragon to Harrenhal and awaited his nephew Aemond. On their dragons they dueled over the God's Eye. As Caraxes fought Vhagar, Daemon leapt from his dragon and drove his sword, Dark Sister, through Aemond's blind eye, before the dragons hit the water. His body was never found, though the singers like to say he lived with Nettles. The Maesters disagree.

The current line of Targaryens are descended from him, as both his sons became Kings, Aegon III and Viserys II.