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Dear my honoured colleagues at the Citadel,

Yandel’s recent discovery of Gyldayn’s writings among the possessions of our recently departed Archmaester Gerold is nothing short of miraculous. As a holder of a copper link, I have taken it upon myself to scour the archives, and have discovered even more of Gyldayn’s writings in Gerold’s personal archive. It seems like Gyldayn completed his great history on House Targaryen and sent it to the Citadel just before his death at Summerhall. With the Targaryens now deposed, I have decided it is the proper time to complete his work.

Enclosed are the complete collections of all of Gyldayn’s writings, organized in chronological order, with my own commentaries placed in brackets. Furthermore, I have also organized a history of the realm from Summerhall to the Rebellion, with the aid of Maester Yandel, and inserted it at the end. Together, they form a great work I have decided to call Chronicles of Dragons, a history of the Targaryen kings of Westeros. With your permission, this undertaking will be added to the archives.

Best Regards,
Archmaester Perestan

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No history of House Targaryen can be complete without talking about their origins. In his "Unnatural History", Barth posited that dragons were created by fire wyrm and wyvern stock, and didn’t emerge until after the Third Ghiscari War, when Valyria seized the Ghiscari colony of Gogossos and came into contact with wyverns with the first time. Barth cited the fact that dragons didn’t appear in records until the Fourth Ghiscari War as his proof, and suggested a major cause of both the Fourth and Fifth Wars was the Valyrian hunger for wyvern stock to create dragons. Furthermore, he claimed that the dragonlords arose from the bloodmages who bred the creatures, binding them to their blood to give each mage sole control. As with most of Barth’s work, his theories are poorly supported and can be safely discounted. {Recently, Archmaester Marwyn has suggested that the bloodmage control over the dragons ensured they seized power in Valyria, toppling the fragile system in the Freehold where the elected Assembly of Four Hundred held power. With all due respect to the archmaester, there is very little evidence of such, and even if such theories are in fact truthful and are recorded in Galandro’s "Fires of the Freehold" as he claims, those twenty seven volumes covering the early history of the Freehold are lost and cannot prove such}.

The Targaryens, from what records we could gather from Dragonstone and the Free Cities, made rather sporadic appearances in history, to the point where we know more about Valyrian governance than the early Targaryens. The Valyrian Freehold was governed by the Assembly of Four Hundred, a vast body composed of the various magisters, archons, and other peoples of note that deserved a seat {the Assembly was appointed instead of elected- indeed, any electoral processes happened in Valyria’s daughters rather than in the Freehold itself, of which there are no records of holding an elected system- another reason to dismiss Marwyn’s claims}. While domestic governance was exercised by the Assembly, true power lay in the Council of Forty, composed of the Forty Families of dragonlords, known as the freeholders. The Council of Forty had to approve any law passed by the Assembly, while also retaining the ability to pass their own laws without outside approval. Initially an advisory body made up of the heads of the Forty Families, civil strife in Valyria that had manifested itself in brutal civil wars alongside the inability to reach a consensus during times of crisis caused the freeholders to elect the three Triarchs. Multiple executive powers were afforded to the Triarchs, who were elected to one year terms. This was meant to make governance more efficient while preventing a wholesale centralization of power. The Targaryens were the only family to never throw a Triarch up from their number, and for this reason they were considered the lowest of the Forty. It is no surprise that when Aenar Targaryen, a cousin to the head of the family, claimed his maiden daughter Daenys had dragon dreams of Valyria’s doom, he was laughed away by the dragonlords- for Valyria couldn’t fall, they said, and if it could, why would such provenance be bestowed upon a minor cousin of a minor family? Aenar took his daughter’s warnings seriously enough, and sold off his estates and lands in the peninsula in favor of buying the position of Archon of Westeros, which oversaw Dragonstone, Driftmark and Claw Isle.

Our records of the Lords of Dragonstone come primarily from visiting scholars serving the Targaryens, for maesters wouldn’t come to the island until the reign of Aerion. Aenar passed during the long winter brought about by the Doom, and his son Gaemon ascended to the Archonate as spring arrived and the Century of Blood began in earnest. Gaemon and Daenys ruled Dragonstone jointly, and were rather cautious- they bent to Aurion Qobarys when he demanded their fealty as Emperor {the person that governed Valyria during triarch elections, or during any period without triarchs}, but refused to send troops to Valyria. When his army vanished in Valyria, it spelled a dark fate for the other surviving dragonlords of Houses Velaryon and Celtigar. The vast majority of their wealth had been lost in the Doom, and the survivors, ruling as Archons in Lys and Tyrosh, could only call on their personal wealth and armies- and the latter had vanished with Aurion. The peoples of Lys and Tyrosh killed the dragons and their masters, and the tattered remnants fled to Dragonstone, beseeching the protection of House Targaryen, whom they once saw as their lesser. Gaemon accepted them, but for a price- they could no longer tame dragons, an honor that would be reserved for House Targaryen only. At the time, the Dragonmont only played host to five dragons, all of whom were claimed- the mighty scarlet Andraxes by Gaemon, the snow white Sonaxes by Daenys, purple Onyxia by their eldest Aegon, the pink wyrm Daria by their eldest daughter Elaena, and little Balerion by their youngest Daenerys. Gaemon sweetened the pot, promising them Lys and Tyrosh restored to them as their personal domains. Jaehaerys Celtigar and Aerys Velaryon didn’t like the terms, but lacking other options they chose to bend the knee- as later events showed, it was simply likely them deciding to wait in order to claim new dragons. For his part, Gaemon flew east on Andraxes and forced Lys, Tyrosh and even Myr into submission. The magisters recognized him as Grand Archon, establishing what most maesters refer to as the Targaryen Empire, earning him the epithet of Gaemon the Glorious.

Gaemon’s designs for a new Freehold with the Targaryens at the helm would not outlast him. Before I go into details, I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss the famed Valyrian legions. Forming the backbone of Valyria’s military, they were stationed in each of Valyria’s provinces. With the freehold’s fall, they either stayed loyal to the new governments or sold their swords. The Westeros Legion, serving the eponymous province, was the smallest of the major legions, but were quickly combined with the much larger legions of Myr, Lys and Tyrosh to form Gaemon’s great Targaryen Legion. Like all other legions, the Targaryen legion found itself prone to infighting. When Gaemon died, he was succeeded by Aegon and Elaena, whose authority was immediately challenged by the former dragonlord houses. Jaehaerys Celtigar snuck into Dragonstone with the goal of claiming the riderless Andraxes- however, the Lady Daenys had a dream about his attempt, and as such there were legionaries waiting at the entrance to Andraxes’s nest. Jaehaerys fled to Driftmark seeking refuge with his Velaryon cousins. However, Daeron Velaryon saw the writing on the wall, and turned Jaehaerys in. The act showered him with much praise, and as a reward he was given the Celtigar domains in Tyrosh and the hand of Daenerys Targaryen in marriage. While some legionaries rebelled in Celtigar’s favor, they were quickly put down- however, these events were just a prelude to what followed.

Aegon’s reign was also wrought with domestic issues. Daenys passed away, and with her his main source of prophecy (Daenys wrote down a list of her dreams in Signs and Portents, though Aegon did not find them useful). He and Elaena had two sons, Maegon and Aerys, the first Targaryens to be born after the Doom. Maegon was obsessed with the idea of Old Valyria- on the day he turned six and ten, Maegon claimed Andraxes and set off towards Valyria. No one ever saw the duo again, and Aegon and Elaena were unwilling to countenance a expedition to Valyria to recover their son’s body. Elaena died of grief for her lost son, and Aegon prepared Aerys for his ascension. Yet the biggest challenge to Aegon came from the Velaryons- his sister Daenerys was unwilling to countenance the idea of her children, Rhaegar, Shaena and Rhaenyra not getting dragons. When Elaena died, her husband Daeron claimed the she dragon Daria, alongside requisitioning her eggs. A furious Aegon declared Daeron a traitor, but some of the legion in Essos rose for him. The ensuing “Battle Over The Narrow Sea,” as the singers called it, ended with both dragons and their riders falling into the sea, and it wasn’t until years later that their corpses would be recovered. Daenerys herself had been laid ill, a fact that allowed her husband to claim Daria over their children, and she passed away once news of the battle came. With no dragon riders left on their side, the Velaryons bent to Aerys, who stripped them of their power and prestige. The original Celtigars had been left landless and penniless, and now found their fortunes restored as Aemond Celtigar married Rhaenyra Velaryon, and inherited much of the Velaryon fortunes. Shaena Velaryon married Aerys to bind the two families together, and Rhaegar was left to rebuild his family’s holdings, having lost the archonate and various properties. The rebellious legions either burned or fled.

Aerys had a long and largely peaceful reign. While his neighbors in Essos sought to take advantage of the revolt, they were quickly reminded of the power of dragons when Sonaxes burned their legions on the ground. Furthermore, the dragon Meraxes hatched, relieving the Targaryens for no new dragon had ever been hatched on Dragonstone until her. {There was no functioning hatchery on Dragonstone until the Targaryens arrived. At the same time, the lack of dragons was a mystery. Smallfolk traditions point to the mysterious disappearances on the island, claiming that the bodies were used to kill dragons. While likely false, it is worth noting that the mysterious disappearances were a strange feature of life at Dragonstone and gave the island an infamous reputation, for even travelers and merchants could disappear. The dangers disappeared with the Dance, though talk of them were never allowed at court, and no Targaryen monarch would countenance discussion of what they called “supposed” disappearances.} His relationship with his children was more fraught- his daughter Jaenara refused to marry any of her brothers, culminating in her becoming pregnant by a traveling singer she patroned. A furious Aerys fed her moon tea and married her off to the aged Aemond Celtigar. Within the year Aemond and his sons were dead, and Jaenara had given birth to Colloquo and Valaena Celtigar (Valaena would later wed Aerion Targaryen and be the mother of Aegon and his sisters). For the rest of her life people would whisper that the twins were not Aemond’s get. Aelyx, Aerys’s eldest son, would marry his younger sister Rhaella, a sweet and silent girl (Rhaella would outlive both her husbands and her son, dying shortly after Aegon’s victory against Volantis.)

When Aerys died, his son Aelyx was left facing a new war. The Free Cities were determined to boot the dragonlords from Essos entirely. The Targaryens had raised tolls in the Stepstones to unimaginable heights, strangling the Narrow Sea trade. Volantis had grown to become the most powerful city in Near Essos, and at the ruined city of Chroyane formed an alliance known as the Alliance of the Rhoyne with the other Free Cities. The ensuing war was known as the War of Wrath for the devastation wreaked upon Essos by dragonfire. The Targaryens only had three dragons available to them- Sonaxes, Balerion and Meraxes. Ironically, both Aelyx and Baelon’s deaths came about because they had chosen to lead the ground troops rather than fly their dragons- Aelyx was slain in the Battle for Myr, while Baelon was poisoned in Tyrosh. At Dragonstone, their younger brother Daemion married his sister Rhaella, staying long enough to ensure her belly grew round with child before setting off on Sonaxes. The fall of Myr had allowed the alliance’s armies to link up near the critical trade town of Volrosh, and that was where Daemion intended to destroy their armies. Confident in his victory, Daemion did not take precautions for scorpions and other dragon killing methods that would inevitably be employed. It was his greatest mistake- when Daemon descended upon the Pentoshi, Sonaxes was struck down by a scorpion bolt. In the fall Daemon’s legs had been crushed underfoot, and he would be crippled for the rest of his days. The Pentoshi took him captive, but rather than killing him like the other Free Cities wanted, they ransomed him back to Dragonstone, with Jaenara and Rhaella agreeing to pay the near ruinous ransom demanded. While in captivity, Daemion signed the Treaty of Qohor, ending Targaryen ambitions in Essos. Daemion spent most of his reign trying to rebuild the archonate- it was under him that the Velaryons and Celtigars received Driftmark and Claw Isle as their own hereditary fiefs in recognition of their loyalty. During the darkest time of House Targaryen before the Rebellion, it can be said the only light was the hatching of the dragon Vhagar. The strain would take Lord Daemion away early, shortly after his son Aerion reached his age of majority.

It was under Aerion that the Targaryens turned their eyes west. “Essos has proven to be nothing other than the land of the past,” he is said to have proclaimed. “Let us turn our gazes to the future!” The first septs were constructed, a maester was brought in to serve the castle {Galandro, who would pen Fires of the Freehold from the now lost scrolls of Dragonstone’s archives}, and closer bonds were forged with the houses of the Blackwater Bay. Aerion even held a tourney, inviting both Riverlords and Stormlords to attend. He even sent his children on a tour of Westeros, dispatching them to Oldtown, the Arbor and Lannisport among other places. Despite this, he still held to the faith and practices of his ancestors. Per tradition, he married his two eldest children, Aegon and Visenya, together in a Valyrian ceremony. Galandro wrote that the match was not liked by his children- Aegon sought to marry Rhaenys, and Visenya didn’t want to be married at all. As Galandro wrote, no one defied Aerion Targaryen, and he famously misliked his own children. It is telling that Aegon and Rhaenys waited until after his death to marry. Prior to that, Rhaenys had been betrothed to Aethan Velaryon of Driftmark- when his father Daemon protested the marriage, Rhaenys claimed Meraxes and flew to Driftmark atop her dragon, convincing Daemon to back down. However, she arranged for Aegon to give them heavy financial compensation and granted the Velaryons honoured positions in court(it also helped that reportedly Aethan was pleased with the broken betrothal). Aerion was known to come to blows with his son, and sometimes even his daughters (it was rumoured Lady Valaena had died during one of these confrontations).

Soon after his father’s death in 11 BC, Aegon found his attention drawn east once more. Volantis had only grown more powerful since the Battle of Volrosh, holding land up to Dagger Lake. They secured complete control over the Stepstones, buying off Dornish neutrality with lowered fees. In the year 10 BC, Volantis sent envoys to Pentos, demanding their submission. Pentos refused, and together with Braavos, Norvos and Qohor formed the Pentoshi Pact against Volantene aggression. Myr, Lys and Tyrosh erupted in revolt, and when a Volantene army marched on Myr they were defeated by Argilac Durrandon in the Disputed Lands. The Braavosi fleet awaited the Volantenes just outside the Stepstones, where the Volantene fleet found itself trapped in a chokepoint and methodically destroyed. At Dagger Lake, Qohor and Norvos secured a crucial victory, allowing them to raid down the Rhoyne with impunity, even threatening Volantis itself. Desperate, the Triarchs requested Aegon for an alliance- they offered him the position of Emperor, and one of the Triarch positions would be permanently held by his family. However, it seemed Aegon was fully set on Westeros at this point- in 8 BC, he struck a deal with the Pentoshi Pact, and under the cover of darkness burned the Volantene fleet at anchor in Lys. The Old Blood barely had time to process their defeat before the Dothraki under the feared Khal Mokhoro descended on the city and broke the gates, sacking and looting everything in sight except for the Black Walls. The Treaty of Volon Therys saw Volantis surrender all territorial claims, and pay heavy reparations. Aegon returned to Dragonstone richer than his father and grandfather, and could now turn his eyes westward.

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During Aegon’s day, Westeros was divided into seven kingdoms. The vast cold lands north of the Neck were ruled by Torrhen IV Stark, who had come to the throne young yet ruled with a firm hand, marrying Sarra Bolton to keep the peace and having three strong children by her. The Martells held sway in the deserts of Dorne, showing more interest in Essos than their neighbors north of the Red Mountains. Meria Martell, the Yellow Toad of Dorne, had ruled for the better part of a century, brokering no dissent while she navigated Dorne through the Century of Blood. With Volantis defeated, there was no threat to Dorne from Essos, and she was free to look northward. Roland VII Arryn was a man of grandeur, leading a massive expedition against the mountain clans to root them from the Vale permanently- not one man returned, and his widow Sharra Corbray took over the regency, opposed by nobles who were disgruntled by her husbands’ actions. Loren Lannister grew up in a realm surrounded by ironborn on three sides. While his father Tybolt VI had fought Halleck Hoare’s incursions to a draw, Harren had sent raiding parties to test Lannister resolve. Both Tybolt and Loren turned south to the Gardeners, desperate to secure an ally and their exposed southern border. The King of the Reach at the time was Mern VI, who had succeeded his father Garse VII after his death at the Battle of Summerfield. Garse had seen the defeat of the Stormlands as an opportunity to retake some of the old territories lost centuries past, such as Nightsong and Harvest Hall. His defeat had shaken the Reach. Garse had rejected any offers of alliance, not wanting to ally with his ancient enemy- Mern had no such compunctions, worried about the Hoares designs on the Reach. Under Old Oak, he and Loren signed a treaty of friendship and alliance.

Yet no king was more powerful than Harren Hoare, known as Harren the Black for his cruelty. Harren’s was the only domain that stretched from coast to coast, and he was ever ambitious for more land. Tiring of Fairmarket, he began the construction of Harrenhal on the God’s Eye, the largest castle in Westeros. Harrenhal would not only be impervious to rebellions, but also serve as a base from which Harren could plan future conquests, chiefly that of the Stormlands. Ever since the loss of the Riverlands to the ironborn under Arrec Durrandon, the Stormlands had been a realm in decline. Arrec’s grandson Argilac had arrested that for a time, winning a pyrrhic victory against Garse VII Gardener in the Battle of Summerfield. However, after four marriages Argilac only had a daughter, Argella to his name. The martial Stormlords were not eager to follow a woman, and there were rumors of civil war following his death. All around Argilac, his neighbors eyed the Stormlands greedily- Harren Hoare, Mern Gardener and Meria Martell all knew that Argilac’s death would allow them to expand their territory. Argilac needed to ensure his daughter became queen unopposed to avoid the very real threat of the kingdom being partitioned among its neighbors.

Needing an external ally to secure his daughter’s ascension, Argilac turned to Aegon. Argilac’s reasoning was not unsound- he had fought alongside Aegon in the Disputed Lands, seeing the power of dragons firsthand. He offered Aegon Argella’s hand in marriage, and Harren’s kingdom as her dowry. Furthermore, their child would also eventually inherit the Stormlands, making them the most powerful king in Westeros. Aegon refused the offer, and instead gave a counteroffer- Argella’s dowry would include the lands on the southern shores of Blackwater Bay, and Argella would marry his bastard brother Orys Baratheon. Infuriated by the insult, Argilac cut off the envoy’s hands and sent him back to Dragonstone.

Upon receiving the mutilated envoy, Aegon called his banners. Among the spoils Aegon had seized from Volantis was the Rhoynish Legion. The Century of Blood had slowly destroyed the old Valyrian legions until the Rhoynish Legion was the only one left. Responsible for guarding Chroyane and protecting traffic down the Rhoyne from coming into contact with the Sorrows, they fell under Volantene control alongside the Legion of Volantis. After Dagger Lake, they switched sides, and a combination of money and ancestral loyalty to the dragonlords caused them to follow Aegon. With the legion in place, Aegon had no reason to depend on a Westerosi army. However, Aegon had not eschewed making relationships with the local nobility- the Masseys and Bar Emmons rallied to him, among other lords of the future Crownlands. Aegon sent out letters to the monarchs of Westeros, demanding their submission. Sharra Arryn demanded an alliance sealed with the Vale gaining territory up to the Green Fork, and Ronnel being named Aegon’s heir. Meria Martell demanded an alliance, not submission, and wanted control of the Dornish Marches. Argilac Durrandon simply raged. Mern Gardener, Loren Lannister, and Torrhen Stark ignored the letter entirely.

Aegon landed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush. Under the Storm Kings, a thriving city had sprung up among the three hills, but now as a borderland between Harrenhal and Storm’s End, the city had been abandoned, and its structures had been used to raise the Ironfort on the highest hill. Command of the Ironfort was considered a mark of trust by Harren, and so when his youngest son Harlan was granted command, it was met with shock and fear from the court. His eldest son and heir Harras feared being stripped of his position. Certainly Aegon’s landing was considered a miracle to them- for the ever confident Harlan refused to bend, and died when Balerion’s flames turned upon him and his garrison. Aegon requisitioned the fort as his own, naming it the Aegonfort.

Harren and his sons didn't consider Aegon a true threat. However, even he could not let his son’s death go unanswered. When word of the Ironfort’s fall came, he sent word to his vassals near Blackwater Bay, offering great honors and riches to those who would bring him Aegon’s head. “The Valyrian’s head will adorn my gatehouse,” he is said to have boasted, “and his sisters will warm my bed.” Lords Durran Darklyn and Darnold Mooton called their banners and marched south. By this point, Lords Ronard Rosby and Josua Stokeworth had already submitted to Aegon under threat of dragonfire. Upon hearing of the army approaching, Aegon upon Balerion led his army under Orys to meet them just west of Duskendale. This battle, known as Aegon’s First Test, ended in a resounding victory as both lords and their armies burned. The new lords, Durran’s son Geremy and Darnold’s brother Jon, bent the knee and surrendered their swords to Aegon. Returning to the Aegonfort, Aegon had Balerion weld the swords together with dragonflame, forging the Iron Throne. It was there Rhaenys and Visenya crowned him in front of the assorted lords as King of the Andals, Rhoynar and First Men.

The three siblings split up, each marching their forces against a different enemy. Aegon marched against Black Harren. Harren called his banners to march against the dragonlord. However, the Riverlords had grown bitter and tired, and saw their chance to rebel. Lord Edmyn Tully was the most powerful of the Riverlords after his rivals- Blackwood, Bracken, Darry, Mallister, Mooton, Frey and Vance of Atranta- had lost land and men in various failed revolts against Harren, or in the case of Mooton fighting for Harren. He was the first to declare for Aegon, followed by his former rivals. Harren’s situation was further complicated by the ironborn- he had largely neglected the Iron Islands, and the nobility considered him more greenlander than ironborn. When Lord Arrec Mallister of Seagard declared for Aegon, he barred the gates and his men prepared for the Iron Fleet’s inevitable assault. Instead, Lord Quellon Drumm ordered the fleet to sail back to the Islands in defiance. Having effectively lost his kingdom overnight, Harren was left with Harrenhal as his last domain. He sent Qhorwyn and his younger son Torwyn to raid Aegon’s camp on the southern shores of the God’s Eye, with the hope of assassinating the dragonlord, but it only ended in his sons’ deaths at the hands of the guards. When Aegon flew to Harrenhal, offering Harren lordship of the Iron Islands in exchange for surrender, Harren was said to have spit at his feet, declaring that "stone does not burn.” That night, Aegon descended on the castle under the cover of darkness and burned Harrenhal’s five towers, slaying Harren, his last son, and their household. The last Hoare left was Harragad Hoare, Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch whose thoughts on the matter have been unfortunately lost to history. Edmyn Tully was named Lord Paramount of the Trident in recognition of his loyalty.

Rhaenys and Orys marched their forces into the Stormlands. At the crossing of the Wendwater, Lords Buckler, Fell and Errol ambushed them, only to disperse when Meraxes lit the Kingswood on fire, killing Lord Errol. Being familiar with the power of dragons, Argilac intended to wait out the war in Storm’s End, knowing that the castle had enough provisions to sustain them for years. However, when word of Harrenhal reached, his lords urged him to march. His position was worsened by the fact Aegon’s privateers raided the coasts and the Dornish pushed into the marches, forcing him to keep the strength of the marcher lords, Tarth, Wylde and Estermont at home. Argilac chose his battlefield well- he fortified his troops on a hill overlooking Bronzegate, and took advantage of a storm that blocked visibility for Rhaenys. In the battle known as the Last Storm, Argilac seemed to be winning against Orys's troops, which were faced with having to attack up a hill- until the storm broke, and Meraxes lit the hill aflame. Argilac led a mad charge down the hill, where Orys slew him in single combat. When word reached Storm’s End, many urged Argella to surrender and hope for good terms, but she refused and declared herself Storm Queen, declaring that Storm’s End’s protections would guard against dragonfire. Her men weren’t so devout, and stripped, chained and gagged her before opening the gates for Orys. To their surprise, Orys was furious with the attack on Argella’s honor, ordering the men who betrayed her banished to the Wall, before cloaking and marrying her. Adopting her family’s words, sigil and colors, Orys was proclaimed the new Lord of Storm’s End, founding House Baratheon.

Visenya led the Velaryon Fleet against the Vale, but the Valemen were prepared. While the Valemen were never known for their navy, the Grafton Fleet was still a formidable one. Lord Lucas Grafton won a significant victory, luring the overconfident Lord Daemon Velaryon into a trap and slaying him aboard his flagship. However, Visenya descended upon the battle and burned the Grafton Fleet, killing Lord Grafton. Leaving the broken Velaryon fleet to sail back home, Visenya flew to the Eyrie. Sharra Arryn had fortified the approach to the Eyrie, resting secure in the knowledge it couldn’t be taken by storm- from the land. The Eyrie proved had no defense against a dragon landing in its courtyard. The young king Ronnel V of the Mountain and Vale proved quite taken by the dragon, and requested the queen for a ride. When Sharra saw her son in Visenya’s arms, she quickly surrendered his crown for his safety. For the Lords of the Vale, the idea of Hugor of the Hill’s last descendants submitting to the same Valyrians who conquered Old Andalos was a betrayal, and they turned on Queen Sharra. Under Sharra’s regency, her relatives of House Corbray had filled in the administrative apparatus of the Eyrie, and many a fool japed the Falcon’s Nest was now a roost for ravens. Growing angry with this state of affairs, now the Lords of the Vale took action- Lord Allard Royce of Runestone led an army to the Eyrie, forcing Sharra to name him Regent. Lord Royce took custody of young lord Ronnel, and expelled the Corbrays and their allies from the Eyrie. Wanting to maintain peace with the Corbrays, he allowed Lord Gerold to foster Ronnel’s younger brother Jonos. As for Queen Sharra, the rather healthy queen passed away within the year, and it was whispered throughout the Vale that Allard had her poisoned. Allard quashed those rumors, but they survived in Heart’s Home, where in time they reached the ears of Lord Jonos.

Aegon, Visenya and Rhaenys united their forces just in time, as Mern Gardener and Loren Lannister had gathered their hosts and united them in the greatest army Westeros had ever seen. The singers claim the army was the “flower of the south” filled with the best knights and warriors known to man. Orys had the legion fortify on a hill overlooking what is now the Goldroad in the northern Reach, taking advantage of the fact that the massive army was very slow. Despite their pace, the kings seemed rather confident in their victory- Prince Edmund Gardener, Mern’s son and heir, boasted that “they would wipe the last of Old Valyria from this world.” The army charged forth, until the dragons emerged from the cloudy sky and loosed their flame. The battle was no true battle, for the army broke under the flame- the legion took no casualties, and indeed simply picked off the survivors fleeing the battlefield. Fittingly, the singers call it the Field of Fire, which had wiped out the male lines of many noble houses, among them House Gardener itself- King Mern, his sons, grandsons and nephews had all perished. Loren Lannister survived and fled only to be captured by the legion before he could retreat to Casterly Rock, the one fortress which the Targaryens were not sure could even burn. On that field, Loren knelt and offered up his crown. Aegon flew to Highgarden, where word of the Field of Fire had already reached, and found the gates thrown open, for Steward Harlan Tyrell had no desire to follow his former overlord into the Seven Heavens. Aegon named him his new Lord of Highgarden, Lord Paramount of the Mander and Warden of the South- much to the fury of various Reach nobles. The Oakhearts, Redwynes and Tarlys among others could all boast closer blood relations to House Gardener than House Tyrell, but it was House Florent who had the best claim, for Lord Alester had married Mern’s niece Vevienne. However, Alester had perished, and Lady Vevienne was not keen to see herself and her son follow their family in death, and with gritted teeth reluctantly agreed to kneel to the man she once knew as a simple steward on his behalf. Aegon then flew to Oldtown- Lord Manfred Hightower requested the Starry Septon for advice on what to do, and after praying for seven days and seven nights the Starry Septon counseled Manfred to open the gates, declaring he had a vision of Oldtown and the Starry Sept burning. In Oldtown, Aegon knelt before the High Septon, who crowned him king.

Aegon turned his attention to dealing with the other monarchs, even as autumn appeared. Torrhen Stark had led his army across the Neck, and faced Aegon on the opposite bank of the Trident at the Inn at the Crossroads. Brandon Snow supposedly claimed he could kill Aegon’s dragons with his weirwood arrows, but Torrhen refused the idea. Knowing of the Field of Fire, Torrhen crossed the river and submitted peacefully, being permitted to retain his titles and position. In the Iron Islands, Quellon Drumm’s push for the kingship was opposed by Qhorin Volmark, whose mother was a Hoare, and by blood had the better claim. Yet another king was Lodos, the self proclaimed son of the Drowned God, who denounced the ironborn nobility and called upon the smallfolk to overthrow them, for Aegon was a weapon sent by the Drowned God to punish the unworthy. When Aegon refused his entreaties in favor of keeping the nobility, Lodos declared that Aegon was actually sent by the Storm God to destroy the ironborn, and went into the sea to commune with his father about this supposed deception, followed by hundreds of his followers. Qhorin Volmark burned alive in Hoare Castle, the Hoares’ ancestral seat, which was given Harrenhal’s fate. Quellon Drumm was slain by an alliance of ship captains. Despite calls from his lords to partition the islands, Aegon instead called a kingsmoot. There, Vickon Greyjoy of Pyke was elected as the new Lord of the Iron Islands. Rhaenys flew to Dorne, demanding Meria’s submission. Meria refused, declaring that the Targaryens would only face doom should they come to Dorne. With winter approaching, Aegon elected to put the conquest of Dorne on hold until it passed.

When winter abated in 4 AC, Aegon had the legion gather in the Red Mountains for the invasion of Dorne. The Dornish however had prepared for his arrival- the spring melt filled the Boneway with mud, and the Dornish triggered rockslides to render the Boneway impassable. Aegon was forced to gather his forces entirely in the Prince’s Pass instead. Furthermore, Meria sought to tie the ever rebellious marcher lords to House Martell, with the marriage of her granddaughter Deria and Lord Ferenc Yronwood’s second son Alester. Aegon’s army marched for Skyreach, only to be ambushed and routed by the Dornish. Despite the Dornish taking heavy casualties, the legion was shattered, with Lords Garland Tyrell and Jon Rosby being among the slain. Many more, including Orys Baratheon, were captured. Aegon ordered a retreat to Nightsong. Even more bad news came when Aegon learned a storm had sunk the invasion fleet in the Sea of Dorne, forcing him to call off the invasion.

The survivors of the legion deserted Aegon, returning to Essos. From our records it seems the legion vanished soon after, having been hit so hard there were too few soldiers to keep it alive. With their disappearance, the last legion of Old Valyria was no more. The desertion further harmed Aegon’s cause, as the grand standing army he planned to use against threats of rebellion was no more. He was forced to send out ravens calling for his banners to raise their armies to begin a new campaign. “The Martells have sacrificed their army,” Visenya declared, according to Maester Kybold of Stonedance, “They will not be able to resist a second army.” As it was, Meria had no intention of meeting the Targaryens in open battle. The next year, Meria launched a brutal series of raids over the border. The Dornish fleet set Cape Wrath on fire, and Lord Mors Fowler sacked Nightsong, slaying Lord Benedict Caron and his son Robert and taking Basil’s wife Myrielle and their daughters Ellyn and Jena captive. Joffrey Dayne led the Dornish cavalry in a series of lightning raids in the southwestern Reach, slaying Garmund Hightower, second son of Lord Manfred. Manfred died soon after, and his son Addam cried for vengeance. Furthermore, the Redwyne fleet was also taken by surprise and burned. The most infamous raid occurred when the Wyl of Wyl attacked Fawnton, during the wedding of Jon Oakheart and Alys Cafferen. The Wyls slew Lord Devyn Oakheart and most of the wedding guests, before gelding Ser Jon and kidnapping Alys and her handmaidens. A furious Aegon visited fire and blood upon Dorne, burning Skyreach, Wyl, Starfall and Yronwood. The Dornish fleet scattered to avoid burning.

In Essos, the Free Cities looked upon Aegon’s Conquest with dread. Many still remembered the Alliance of the Rhoyne against House Targaryen’s campaigns in Essos. For many, it was only a matter of time before Aegon sought to restore the dominion of his grandfather Daemion. To that end, in 6 AC the Pentoshi Pact sent coin, food and supplies to the Dornish, and sent ambassadors to the Aegonfort to negotiate a peace. Aegon was wroth when he heard of Essosi involvement, and decided on a new strategy. Seeking to target the core of Meria’s support- the nobility- Aegon burned all of the Dornish castles, and placed bounties on the heads of the marcher lords and the Martells. Lord Mors Fowler, Lord Emerick Jordayne, Lord Edric Manwoody and four successive Lords Yronwood were all assassinated. However, the Dornish took revenge- Lord Morrec Connington was killed while hunting, Lord Manfryd Mertyns poisoned with a cask of Dornish wine, and Lord Triston Massey killed in a brothel. Even the Targaryens themselves were targeted, with two of his guards giving their lives to protect Aegon, while Visenya was attacked in her bed and another tried to kill Prince Aenys. After the scare, Visenya convinced Aegon to form the Kingsguard, an elite set of seven warriors sworn to protect the king- Ser Corlys Velaryon was named the first Lord Commander, and was joined by Ser Robin Darklyn, Addison Hill(the bastard of Cornfield), Michael Bar Emmon(The Mummer), Arrec Gaunt, and the brothers Gaemon and Jaehaerys Celtigar.

It was in 7 AC that Meria Martell finally died, though whether of assasination or old age no one could say. Rhaenys pushed for a new offensive, thinking that her successor, the more pliable Prince Nymor, would agree to bend. Rhaenys tracked down the Dornish fleet off the coast of Dorne, where she set fire to it and the accompanying Essosi ships, only for her and Meraxes to be shot down by a scorpion. In a rage, Aegon and Visenya burned every castle in Dorne, including Sunspear. However, the other kingdoms were shocked by the fact they could take down a dragon, and the lords made various excuses as they withdrew their banners from the marches. Realizing the danger, Aegon realized he had no choice but to sue for peace with Prince Nymor. The Treaty of Pentos ended the First Dornish War, with Dornish independence being recognized in exchange for the Dornish releasing their prisoners and paying reparations.

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Aegon’s key policy was solidifying Targaryen rule. To that end, he let the former kings continue on as they had before, as long as they paid their dues to the Targaryens. He also sought to remind the lords of Westeros who they served, and continuously went on royal progresses all throughout his reign. It is said that even the richest lord, seeking to impress, found himself impoverished and his serving girls pregnant with bastards. Aegon would hold court at his vassals' castles, passing judgement according to their local laws. Aegon made visits to the great capitals of the Lords Paramount at least twice, with Winterfell getting a rare third visit upon the death of Torrhen and ascension of his son Roderick. The lords, both great and small, were encouraged to send relatives to court to serve as pages, squires and ladies in waiting. Rhaenys played a key role in this diplomatic policy, brokering marriages to bind the realm together- Torrhen Stark’s daughter Branda was married to Ronnel Arryn, Loren Lannister was wed to a Redwyne, and a double marriage was held between the Blackwoods and Brackens, healing the feud for a time. Of Edmyn Tully’s three daughters, the eldest Sedianna was wed to Quenton Qoherys’s eldest son Daemon, Cerelle was wed to Theo Tyrell, and the youngest Myranda to Addam Florent, Heir to Brightwater Keep, to tie Tyrell and Florent together.

When Aegon was not on progress, he held court at the Ironfort, which was renamed the Aegonfort. The capital of King’s Landing had sprung up around the keep, as an ever growing collection of shops and houses as more and more people moved to the new city. To aid him in the governance of the realm, he established the Small Council- Aethan Velaryon as Master of Ships, Colloquo Celtigar as Master of Coin, Triston Massey as Master of Laws, and Orys as Hand of the King. The Hand of the King was considered subject to no one but the King. Following his freedom from Dorne, Orys chose to resign in shame and returned to Storm’s End. Edmyn Tully served until 9 AC, when his wife Marilda Vance died in childbirth with their only son Prentys, and he begged leave to be with his children. Tully was replaced by Aemond Celtigar, son of Lord Crispian and Lord of Claw Isle. Celtigar’s death of a chill in 17 AC saw him succeeded by the able Osmund Strong. Aegon also sought the advice of the learned maesters of the Citadel, requesting an Archmaester to serve on his council as Grand Maester. The first two Grand Maesters, Ollidar and Lyonce, died quickly, and as a result, the Citadel selected a much younger Grand Maester in the form of Gawen. Under Celtigar, the customs, taxes and duties of the kingdoms were standardized, and Aegon dispatched tax collectors to ensure collection proceeded as normal. Aegon’s queens, to the surprise of many, were also involved in governance, oftentimes sitting the Iron Throne themselves. Ironically, Visenya would spend more time in King’s Landing than Aegon, who preferred Dragonstone to the rather basic Aegonfort.

Aegon also made sure to keep good relations with the Faith, making regular visits to Oldtown and raising the Sept of Remembrance on Rhaenys’s Hill. However, his relations with the Starry Sept were complicated by the fact that in those days, the Faith was not a unified power. The Faithful were split in two- between the Starry Sept of Oldtown and the Blue Sept of Gulltown. Both largely agreed on doctrine, but differed in leadership- the Blue Sept held the Arryns as the rightful rulers of the Faithful, based on their descent from Hugor of the Hill, while the Starry Sept held that leadership should be an elected tradition, like it was in the days when the Seven walked the earth. To appease the Blue Sept, Aegon raised the Sept of Colors on Visenya’s Hill, while to appease the Starry Sept he raised the Sept of Remembrance on Rhaenys’s Hill. However, the Blue Sept was angered over what they saw as Aegon’s patronage of the Starry Sept, and the Starry Sept was angered at Aegon’s religious tolerance(and rumoured impiety, for many whispered his conversion was not true). These religious conflicts would follow Aegon for the rest of his reign, and culminate during that of his sons’.

Aegon declared that all lords would bring their conflicts before the king, rather than engaging in local conflicts. This was put to the test in 8 AC. Loren Lannister had turned bitter and sullen after his submission, handing the functions of government over to his council and living just long enough to sire an heir and a spare on his Redwyne wife. Lord Alton Reyne immediately challenged Florys Redwyne for control over the regency of young Lord Tywin, while also challenging Targaryen authority in the wake of the First Dornish War. Ser Tywell Tarbeck, Knight of Tarbeck Hall, gathered Florys’s supporters to confront Alton. Aegon flew to Castamere on Balerion and forced Alton to recognize Florys’s authority. In thanks for Tywell’s aid, Florys elevated the Tarbecks to lordship and betrothed Tywin to Tywell’s daughter Jocasta.

Similar to Loren, Argella Baratheon was said to have remained sullen and bitter for the rest of her life, avoiding the public eye. Her death in 38 AC was not accompanied by rebellion, for the Stormlords were too wary of Aegon to try usurping power from his favored lord. For its part, the Vale was too embroiled in internal conflict to ever think of putting up a resistance to Aegon. When Ronnel Arryn came of age, he faced opposition from many lords and septons, who sought to replace him with Jonos. Aegon himself had to intervene to remind the Valemen of their place. Ronnel, fearing a harsh punishment would engender more opposition, granted amnesty, a decision that would damn him. His Northern wife did nothing to earn him goodwill, for the ancient wars between the North and Vale were still remembered, especially in the Three Sisters. The North never forgot the marriage either- Torrhen Stark died bitterly in 32 AC, leaving his sons Roderick and Brandon to govern. Aegon, finding the effects of age catching up to him, went on his last progress to the Iron Islands, where he attended the funeral of Vickon Greyjoy and secured fealty from his son Goren.

Aegon created a dynasty that lasted for close to 300 years. However, the Targaryens would nearly be undone in their infancy by the actions of Aegon’s sons.

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Aegon took both his sisters to wife. It is commonly said that he wed Visenya for duty, and Rhaenys for love. The match was ordered by his father Aerion, who wed his two eldest children together in the traditional manner of Valyrians. Aerion was known to keep a strict household- only after his death did Aegon take Rhaenys to wife and bring Orys, up to then unacknowledged, to his court. Despite being wed last, it was Rhaenys who bore Aegon’s heir, and Aenys was born in 4 AC. Being born so soon after the coming of spring, his birth was seen as a sign of prosperity.

Any joy quickly faded, as Aenys was born frail and sickly. Some dared to suggest that Aegon was not the boy’s true sire, and instead was born of one of Rhaenys’s favorites. When the queen died in Dorne, the boy was inconsolable- he had stopped eating and even forgot how to crawl. He only came back into full health when he was presented with the hatchling Quicksilver. Nonetheless, pressure was placed on Visenya to produce a spare for the Iron Throne, and it was thought that Aegon might put her aside for lack of a son.

All speculation ended when Visenya produced a son, Maegor, in 11 AC. The sudden pregnancy made people whisper the boy wasn’t Aegon's, and others went as far as to say Maegor was conceived by some foul dark magic. Aegon himself didn’t spend much time with the boy, focusing his attention on his heir Aenys. The rearing of Maegor was left to his mother Visenya. Maegor took to the sword at once, quickly becoming a master swordsman- at 13, Visenya bestowed upon him Dark Sister. This was in comparison to Aenys, who was never particularly notable in the training yard and favored his books over the sword. However, Maegor also proved well read in some aspects, being knowledgeable about theology and philosophy, and was exposed to esoteric texts on Valyrian blood magic.

Lacking sisters for him to marry, Aenys was wed to his cousin Alyssa Celtigar, daughter of Alton and Alarra Massey, in 22 AC. The marriage proved fruitful, as the couple’s first child, Rhaena, was born the following year. Queen Visenya was also pleased with the birth, publicly proposing that Maegor marry Rhaena once she came of age, and that the marriage would be followed by Aenys recognizing Maegor as his heir. However, Visenya’s ambitions were ruined by the Starry Septon, who criticized the incestous betrothal, and proposed Maegor wed his niece Ceryse Hightower, daughter of Lord Manfred(not to be confused with his grandfather and namesake). Aegon, who prioritized keeping good relations with the Faith, accepted, and Maegor wed his bride in the Sept of Remembrance in 25 AC. Despite being ten years his senior, it seems Maegor was quite taken with his wife, boasting that he had given her a hundred sons on their wedding night. For her part, Ceryse also seemed happy, speaking well of her husband’s interest in philosophy and theology. The Arryns were angered about the seeming favoritism, and the Blue Sept withdrew their representatives from the capital in protest.

Any questions about the succession were ended by the birth of Prince Aegon in 26 AC, to the joy of everyone but Visenya. Despite being pushed from the throne, Maegor didn’t seem to mind, declaring that Aegon would make a worthy husband for any daughters he might have. In 29 AC, Alyssa bore a second son, Viserys, and Maegor, in a marriage of four years with no children to show for it, had slowly lost his luster for his wife. Increasingly, he became distant and took separate chambers. When Ceryse announced her pregnancy in 34 AC, Maegor seemed to love her anew, spending all his time with her and boasting he would soon have a strong heir and future king… only to be presented with a daughter, Alysanne. Despite this, both Maegor and Visenya were taken with the girl, something that soon faded after Alyssa had a third son, Jaehaerys, later that year.

While Maegor certainly did not despise his daughter, he did not spend much time with her, instead choosing to focus on fighting in tourneys or other martial activities. Maegor’s relationship with Alysanne was complicated further by the lack of a dragon- Maegor had failed to claim any of the drakes in the Dragonmont, and his cradle egg, a traditional Valyrian practice, had failed to hatch. In comparison, Rhaena claimed Dreamfyre and Jaehaerys's cradle egg hatched into Vermithor. The final straw came when Alysanne's cradle egg hatched into Silverwing- it seems like the humiliation of his daughter claiming a dragon before him was too much for Maegor, who threw himself into martial pursuits instead. As such, Alysanne’s rearing was left to her mother and grandmother, who had very different ideas on who Alysanne should be. Certainly, Ceryse’s iron will and piousness, which she wielded like a man did his sword, clashed with Visenya’s general apathy towards the gods. Visenya herself was considered a woman to be avoided, and many a servant feared catching her ire. In that sense, Ceryse’s seeming fearlessness of her domineering goodmother made many jape that Ceryse “was born a man until Lord Manfred prayed to the Seven for a girl” and that “to avoid the wrath of Queen Visenya, one must simply hide behind Lady Ceryse’s skirts.”

Little is known of what the Conqueror thought of this, for he had increasingly withdrawn from his family in favor of governing the realm. Once Aenys came of age, he started joining his father on progresses, even accompanying him to Sunspear for the twenty year anniversary of the Treaty of Pentos in 27 AC. The invitation had been sent by Princess Deria, who had her own motivations for peace. Never giving up on his dream of conquering Dorne, Aegon imposed an economic blockade, banning all trade with Dorne. All the luxury goods traditionally imported from Dorne were now imported from the Free Cities, and to avoid unrest over higher prices Aegon had the Iron Throne subsidize the goods, so that it cost the same as it would have cost if imported from Dorne. Dorne, which had been hit hard by the war, found its economy in tatters as it now was dependent on the Free Cities for trade, which allowed them to impose punishingly high tariffs on Dornish goods, something the Martells had no choice but to accept. Deria sought to convince Aegon to lift the blockade, which she failed to do. For the next century and a half, Dorne would remain impoverished, and the Martells would face the price of independence.

Aegon went on his final progress in 33 AC, after which he retired to Dragonstone and let Aenys and Alyssa take on his duties. He turned his attention to the Aegonfort- by that point, King’s Landing had grown into the third largest city in Westeros, and the Aegonfort no longer served as a seat fit for a king. In 35 AC, Aegon ordered the keep torn down and began the construction of the Red Keep, built from stone. Queen Visenya and Hand of the King, Alyn Stokeworth(who replaced Lord Strong following the latter’s death on the Stepstones in 31 AC), were ordered to oversee its construction, while Aegon retired to Dragonstone(it was rumoured that he sought to avoid Visenya’s presence). Aegon passed away in 37 AC surrounded by his grandchildren. Aenys was quickly recalled from King’s Landing for the funeral. Grand Maester Gawen handed Aenys’s Aegon’s crown and proclaimed him King of the Andals, Rhoynar, and the First Men. The lords present said their farewells to the late king, and when Maegor completed his eulogy, Aenys presented him with Blackfyre, saying “You are the warrior, brother, and I am the scholar. Let it be you that wields Blackfyre in my name.” As later events would prove, this bequest would prove unwise. Aenys would fly to Oldtown and be anointed by the Starry Septon. All along his routes, crowds would come out to see their new king. “It is a sign of a new age,” Aenys is said to have proclaimed to Lord Theo Tyrell while at Highgarden. However, the events that would follow would almost see Aegon’s legacy undone by his sons.

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Aenys started off his reign with a grand progress, marching through the Reach and into the Riverlands. However, the realm was filled with sons who had grown up on their father’s stories of a Westeros filled with seven kingdoms, and resented the Targaryens. With Aegon’s death, the time was ripe for an uprising.

The first of these was at Harrenhal, when an outlaw known as Harren the Red, claiming to be Harren Hoare’s bastard grandson, led his men into the keep to kill Gargon “The Guest” Qoherys, who was infamous for making liberal use of the Right to First Night. Gargon was gelded and left to die and Red Harren put his servants and garrison to the sword. Lord Prentys Tully was understandably terrified of the outlaw and urged the king to burn Harren. Aenys, remembering his mother’s death, chose instead to order the banners to gather at Riverrun. By the time the army reached Harrenhal, Red Harren had fled with his men.

When Aenys reached King’s Landing, the news had become worse. Tensions in the Vale had boiled over- Jonos Arryn led a coup, overthrowing his brother Ronnel and declaring himself King of the Mountain and Vale with the support of the Blue Sept. In the Iron Islands, a man claimed to be Lodos reborn, walking out of the sea, having returned from visiting his father. In the Red Mountains, a Dornish rebel named the Vulture King rallied a massive army to avenge the destruction wrought on Dorne by the Conqueror. Though Princess Deria denounced him, it was suspected that she was secretly aiding him, trying to force Aenys into lifting the blockade, which had impoverished the Red Mountains especially. Lord Harmon Dondarrion wrote to the king that a “smallfolk army can be put down in one night” only for that same army to storm Blackhaven and cut out his eye.

In the capital, Aenys struggled with the best way to defeat the rebels. Believing the smallfolk loved him, he initially sought to send out messengers to forge a peace, but this was opposed by the council, who like Lord Tully, advocated the use of force. In his notes, Grand Maester Gawen wrote that the king was confused about what was happening. Aenys then commanded his hand, Lord Alyn, to sail to the Eyrie to put down Jonos, only to rescind the order in fear of Red Harren attacking King’s Landing. He then resolved to call a Great Council to decide what to do.

While Aenys was left to indecision, the Westerosi lords took action. Lord Goren Greyjoy marshalled a hundred longships and sailed on Old Wyk, putting Lodos and his followers to the sword. Lodos’s pickled head was sent to King’s Landing. Prince Maegor sailed to Dragonstone and claimed Balerion, proceeding to fly to the Vale and rally Ronnel’s supporters, chief among them Lord Allard Royce. Besieged in the Eyrie, Jonos resorted to violence, throwing Ronnel, his wife Branda Stark, and their children through the Moon Door. However, all this vile act of kinslaying did was cause his supporters, including his uncle Leowyn Corbray, to abandon him and open the gates for Maegor. However, Maegor denied them the clemency they sought and had them executed, with Jonos and his noble supporters hung by noose like common brigands. Matters turned to succession, with Lord Royce suggesting Hubert Arryn. Hubert was the cousin of Ronnel and Jonos, sharing the same grandfather- he also happened to be married to Lord Allard’s daughter Alayne, with whom he had six sons. Having been at Runestone with his goodfamily when the coup took place, Maegor named him Lord Paramount of the Vale.

The largest of the revolts was undoubtedly the Vulture King’s. The king’s host had swelled massively, to the point where the Vulture King chose to split the host in half- one half was sent to take Nightsong, and the other was sent towards Stonehelm. Lord Orys Baratheon rode out of Storm’s End for the last time, smashing the Dornish beneath the walls of Stonehelm. Lord Baratheon died of his wounds on the way back, but his son and successor Davos said that he died quite content, holding his sword that had gone red with Dornish blood. The Vulture King himself found no luck at Nightsong. During the First Dornish War, Lord Gerold Fowler had slain Lord Garth Caron and his sons, and taken his wife and daughters captive. The eldest of those daughters, Ellyn, was the Lady of Nightsong, and was eager for vengeance. Joining with Lord Samwell Tarly of Horn Hill and the mutilated Lord Harmon Dondarrion, their combined hosts smashed the Vulture King’s in battle, with Lady Ellyn riding out in armor and loosing the arrow that killed the king.

The first of the rebels was ironically the last to be defeated. Aenys finally ordered Lord Alyn Stokeworth to attack Harren’s position in a village on the east bank of the God’s Eye. Harren slew Lord Alyn and Lord Commander Corlys Velaryon, only to be slain in turn by Alyn’s squire Bernarr Harroway. A grateful Aenys named Bernarr a knight, and Harrenhal and its incomes were given to Bernarr’s father Lord Lucas Harroway. Lord Davos Baratheon, Lady Ellyn Caron, Lord Goren Greyjoy, Lord Samwell Tarly and Lord Harmon Dondarrion were given gold and honors. Ser Raymont Baratheon was named to the Kingsguard, and Addison Hill was named Lord Commander. For Prince Maegor, Aenys reserved the greatest honor of all- he was named Hand of the King, and Alysanne betrothed to Aegon.

It can be said that conflict between the two brothers was inevitable- Aenys was weak willed and eager to please, seeking to resolve conflicts with diplomacy, while Maegor was a talented knight and favored steel over words. However, no one could have expected where the conflict would erupt. In 39 AC, Queen Alyssa gave birth to a daughter, Vaella, who died in the cradle. Perhaps angered by the queen’s continued fertility while his own wife had only given him a daughter in close to 15 years of marriage, Maegor announced he had taken a second wife in Alys Harroway, Lord Lucas's daughter, marrying her in a Valyrian ceremony presided over by Queen Visenya. It was impossible to tell who was more angry- Aenys or the Faith. Aenys offered his brother a choice- put Alys Harroway aside, or lose all titles and suffer exile. Maegor chose the latter, departing for Pentos in 40 AC, taking the sword Blackfyre with him. Alysanne’s betrothal with Aegon was broken, and Ceryse took her daughter back to Oldtown in humiliation. The king named his goodbrother and Master of Ships Lord Edwell Celtigar his Hand, and Aegon Prince of Dragonstone- this last decision caused Visenya to depart the hall and retire to Dragonstone for the rest of Aenys’s reign.

Even despite Maegor’s exile, there were many who still spoke ill of the king, and of House Targaryen’s queer practices. Aenys remained ignorant of the discontent, focusing on the construction of the Red Keep. It was his wish that the red sandstone castle be a worthy seat for his descendants. Needing a new bride for Aegon after Alysanne was rejected, in 41 AC he announced the marriage of Aegon and Rhaena.

Prince Aegon was known to be charming, and his years of squiring for Lord Orys Baratheon had sharpened him into one of the best jousters of the realm. His attention was very eagerly received by the serving girls, and Grand Maester Gawen worried over the possibility of bastards challenging the royal succession. Rhaena was free spirited, taking long rides on Dreamfyre, often accompanied by Samantha Stokeworth. Out of all her ladies, Samantha was the first of many favorites, and was dearly saddened to part with Rhaena later in life upon her marriage to Endehar Darklyn. There were also more unseemly whispers about the pair, and these whispers might have encouraged Aenys to wed her off. The two siblings were rather similar in temperament, and Gawen wrote that they were quite pleased about the marriage. However, the Faith and the common people were not- both septs condemned the marriage, declaring that the people had no obligation to kneel to abominations. While Lord Arryn stayed quiet, Lord Hightower had no such qualms, demanding that Aenys marry Aegon to Alysanne. Faced with such fury, the normally indecisive king was surprisingly firm. Queen Alyssa arranged to have the marriage held in the Red Keep for fear of the erupting riots- on the wedding day, the castle guards had to join the City Watch to put down the riots, leaving the keep dangerously vulnerable. For his part, Aenys did not seem to comprehend that the realm had risen against him, and sent his children on a progress in the hopes that their generosity would reconcile the smallfolk to the marriage- hoping to appeal to them, he banned Rhaena from taking Dreamfyre. The progress went poorly- Maidenpool and Pinkmaiden barred their gates, and Lord Harroway barred his unless they recognized Alys as Maegor’s lawful wife.

Upon the coming of the new year, the High Septon excommunicated Septon Murmison for performing the marriage. When Aenys begged for them to reinstate him, the High Septon responded by calling for the faithful to “rise up against the demons.” The people listened, and a fortnight the Poor Fellows later tore apart Murmison while his litter crossed the streets. The Riverlander Chapter of the Warrior’s Sons seized the Sept of Remembrance, and the Poor Fellows stormed the Red Keep, nearly slaying the king in his bed. It was only the sacrifice of Ser Raymont that saved the king from death. The royal family, the Kingsguard and their Small Council fled that same night to Dragonstone. Visenya was famously cold to the king upon his arrival, all but demanding the king send her out to burn the militants. Aenys called her a “mindless dragon” and sent her to the Sea Dragon Tower. The militants took control of King’s Landing, and the Captain of the Riverlands Chapter, Lyle Bracken, called on the various chapters to form a massive army to oppose the Targaryens. The Captain of the Westerlands Chapter, Joffrey Doggett, led his army to besiege Aegon and Rhaena in Casterly Rock. Elsewhere, men of the Warrior’s Sons roamed the roads and killed any traveler, nobleborn or not, that declared their fealty to the Targaryens. In this way did Lord Davos Baratheon and his wife Teora Swann meet their end, torn from their carriage and slain personally by Gyles Morrigen, Captain of the Stormlands Chapter, while visiting Stonehelm.

Aenys had no answer to the problems. The Faith Militant could not be divided- it had been formed as a union between the Blue and Starry Septs, to defend the Faith from outsiders no matter one's doctrinal differences. Attempting to inflame interfaith tensions was grounds for expulsion. Aenys could not use words to defeat this enemy. Upon hearing of the siege, he collapsed and died three days later. His funeral was held in the private courtyard of Dragonstone, and his body was burned by Vermithor, Jaehaerys’s dragon. As the body burned, the realm was in open revolt against the Targaryens. Less than a day later, Visenya flew to Pentos to recall her son, and Maegor’s return to Dragonstone heralded a new period of conflict that would see the continent burn.