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| “ | Baelor the Blessed was holy, and pious. He built this Sept. He also named a six year-old boy High Septon because he thought the boy could work miracles. He ended up fasting himself into an early grave because food was of this world, and this world is sinful. | „ |
| ~ Tywin Lannister |
| “ | He was a rare spirit, pure and brave and innocent, untouched by all the evils of the world. I am a sinner, with much and more to atone for. | „ |
| ~ Lancel Lannister |
King Baelor I Targaryen, also known as Baelor the Blessed, Baelor the Beloved, and The Septon King (he was a septon in addition to being king), and also mockingly known as Baelor the Befuddled, is a supporting character in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series.
He was the second child of King Aegon III Targaryen and Queen Daenaera Velaryon, and the ninth member of the Targaryen dynasty to sit on the Iron Throne. He was by far the most pious of the Targaryen kings and was also the most beloved.
Baelor was not overtly evil and was actually a kind-hearted gentleman, but he was also a fanatical zealot and made many questionable decisions during his reign as king (such as imprisoning his own sisters), alienating many of his subjects.
Baelor was the nephew and predecessor of King Viserys II Targaryen, the younger brother and heir of King Daeron I Targaryen, and the older brother of Princesses Daena, Rhaena and Elaena Targaryen. He was married to his sister Daena (mother of Daemon I Blackfyre), but never consummated the marriage. During his early reign, he convinced the High Septon to dissolve his unconsummated marriage.
Personality[]
Baelor was a peaceful, devoted, and pious man. He was a pacifist and believed in words and faith rather than swords and threats. He could be fervent, occasionally passionate in his beliefs, and also stubborn to the point of recklessness, such as on the occasion that saw him lose his life. He despised his own weaknesses and punished himself for his carnal and lustful thoughts. However, he was beloved by the Faith and by the smallfolk, who were inspired by his holiness.
Baelor was handsome, but also very thin (due to repeated fasts). He smiled a lot and had long hair and a beard. He disdained royal clothing, instead preferring a simple septon's white robe. He rarely traveled anywhere without a copy of The Seven-Pointed Star and other holy books of learning to hand. He disdained any of the ormental Targaryen crowns, preferring to wear a simple circlet woven out of flowers and vines.
Biography[]
| “ | Tyrion: Someone had to save the realm from Baelor's follies. Sansa: But Baelor the Blessed was a great king. He walked the Boneway barefoot to make peace with Dorne, and rescued the Dragonknight from a snakepit. The vipers refused to strike him because he was so pure and holy. Oberyn: If you were a viper, my lady, would you want to bite a bloodless stick like Baelor the Blessed? |
„ |
| ~ Tyrion Lannister, Sansa Stark, and Oberyn Martell discussing Baelor. |
Baelor was the youngest son of King Aegon III and the brother of Daeron I. Baelor was quiet, bookish, and strong in the Faith of the Seven. He wished to become a septon, but his father refused to indulge this whim, instead insisting that he marry his sister Daena in the traditional Targaryen manner. Baelor obeyed, but extremely reluctantly, and refused to consummate the marriage.
When Daeron was killed on a campaign in Dorne, Baelor was crowned king. Baelor began his reign by walking the Boneway barefoot and going into a viper's nest to rescue his cousin Aemon, who had been captured by the Martells during the war. The vipers would not bite him because he was so holy. However, according to some sources, this is actually a parable for Baelor simply going to Sunspear (a nest of enemies) and negotiating his cousin's release. Other sources say the story is true, but the vipers did bite Baelor and drove him insane for the rest of his reign.
Whatever the truth, Baelor returned home having made a strong peace with Dorne and ensuring peace between Dorne and the Seven Kingdoms. Baelor had secured the release of his brother and an alliance with Dorne by marrying his grand-nephew Daeron to Princess Myriah Martell. With his newfound authority, Baelor dissolved his marriage to his sister-wife, Daena, but was still troubled by the lustful thoughts of his sisters. To ensure he was free of temptation, he locked not just Daena but also his younger sisters Rhaena and Elaena in a chamber in the Red Keep, which became known as the Maidenvault, and they became the Princesses in the Tower. They were only 16, 14, and 11 at this time, respectively.
The remainder of Baelor's reign was spent in prayer and piety. His uncle Viserys continued to order and run the realm as the King's Hand. Baelor was indeed named a septon by the Faith, but their hopes that he would rearm them and restore the holy warrior orders were dashed as he believed that faith and piety alone were weapons enough and in fact wished to disarm all of Westeros. His uncle prevented this and other outlandish notions from getting too far. Baelor spent a long time praying over the last three dragon eggs, hoping they would hatch, to no avail. Baelor was embarrassed when Daena escaped from the Maidenvault and returned pregnant (with Daemon Blackfyre), refusing to say who the father was, though most were convinced that Prince Aegon (who would become Aegon IV) was the father. For this, she became known as 'Daena the Defiant'.
The last year of Baelor's life saw his religious fervour increase markedly, and he started to fast to purge himself of lustful thoughts. He went too far and starved himself to death, though some believed he was poisoned by his small council. He was succeeded by his uncle, Viserys. For his piety and devotion to the Faith, he was named 'Baelor the Blessed', and the Great Sept of King's Landing was renamed the Great Sept of Baelor in his honor.
Quotes[]
| “ | Ser Axell turned to Davos, with a look on his face much like the look that proud Lord Belgrave must have worn, the day King Baelor the Blessed had commanded him to wash the beggar's ulcerous feet. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Davos Seaworth. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Baelor is similar to the High Sparrow in that he appears to be kind-hearted and benevolent but is in actuality a religious fanatic and makes many questionable decisions for that faith.
- The difference between Baelor and the High Sparrow is that the latter is aggressive in enforcing the authority of the Faith over the Crown, while Baelor was a man of peace all his life.
- The Great Sept of Baelor is named after him.
- It is rumored by some Westerosi (and thus readers as well) that King Baelor was poisoned, rather than died by starving himself to death. If Baelor was murdered, the identity of the culprit and possible reasons are unknown and suspects vary.
- One of the suspected candidate culprits is Baelor's uncle and Hand Viserys, who is rumored by Westerosi historians and people to have taken the drastic decision to commit kinslaying to prevent Baelor from putting his wish to convert all of Westeros to the Faith of the Seven into action, as this would've caused an inevitable religious war with the Old Gods-following North and the Drowned God-worshipping Iron Islands. However, Baelor being murdered remains only a in-universe and fandom theory that has no evidence, and it's possible Baelor really died by fasting.
External Link[]
- Baelor I Targaryen on the A Wiki of Ice and Fire.
- Baelor I Targaryen on the Wiki of Westeros.
