HBO is expanding the Game of Thrones universe, and currently, a prequel about Aegon's Conquest is being discussed at the network. It is thus pertinent to trace characters who are named after the Conqueror - Aegon Targaryen in Game of Thrones history. The Targaryens are the blood of Old Valyria and the dragonlord, Aegon I was the founder of the erstwhile ruling Targaryen dynasty of Westeros. He initiated the War of Conquest and united six of the Seven Kingdoms. While Dorne remained out of the realm's fold, Aegon was hailed as the King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, the first Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.
Aegon I Targaryen was aided in the Conquest by his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, and their dragons. Since Aegon's sphere of influence extended over six kingdoms, he became the sovereign on Westerosi soil. Without him, Westeros would have continued to be divided into warring kingdoms, and it was he who thought of it as one unit. The Targaryens, including Viserys and Daemon in House of the Dragon, took great pride in their heritage. As such their descendants were named in the honor of the patriarch. While Aegon is a popular name for Targaryens, the question remains, how many Targaryens were named so?
Tracing Every Aegon From The Conqueror To Viserys And Daemon's Brother
Upon choosing Princess Rhaenyra as his heir, Viserys relayed Aegon I's prophecy to her in House of the Dragon. He told her the Conqueror foresaw the end of the world of the living, just as Daenys the Dreamer had foreseen the Doom of Valyria. Aegon I called his dream "The Song of Ice and Fire" and believed that if the world of the living is to survive, a Targaryen, strong enough to unite the realm against the cold and the dark must be on the Iron Throne. The fact that "The Song of Ice and Fire" was one of the driving factors behind the Conquest reinforced the importance of the name, "Aegon" among Targaryens. As such, a total of eleven known characters are named Aegon Targaryen in the Game of Thrones universe.
The Conqueror, who reached an exalted status in Westeros, was named after his great-great-grandfather. Regardless, Aegon the Conqueror is the starting point for tracing the lineage as he conquered the Seven Kingdoms. After the Conqueror, his son, Aenys I Targaryen sat on the Iron Throne. Aenys' eldest son is the second Aegon Targaryen in Game of Thrones history. He went down as "Aegon the Uncrowned" because his uncle, Maegor usurped the throne from him. The firstborn child of the fourth Targaryen king, Jaehaerys I and his sister-wife, Alysanne was also named Aegon Targaryen. He is inconsequential as he was born prematurely and died three days after his birth. Jaehaerys I convened the Great Council of 101 AC after tragedy claimed both his sons. While fourteen succession claims were heard, only two stood a chance.
The lords of the Seven Kingdoms chose Prince Viserys I Targaryen (portrayed by Paddy Considine on House of the Dragon) as the Prince of Dragonstone. The male line took precedence over the female, and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen became the Queen Who Never Was. The fifth Targaryen king, Viserys I had two brothers - Daemon Targaryen aka the Rogue Prince (portrayed by Matt Smith on House of the Dragon), and Prince Aegon Targaryen. While Daemon plays an important role in the Dance of the Dragons, Viserys' youngest brother, Aegon passed away before reaching the age of one.
Aegon The Elder And Aegon The Younger
After King Viserys' beloved wife, Aemma Arryn died in childbirth, his line of succession turned complicated. He had a daughter with Aemma, named Princess Rhaenyra, and he put a great deal of thought while choosing her as his heir. Viserys also took Alicent Hightower as his second wife, and her firstborn son was named Aegon Targaryen. He was, as his brother, Aemond described on House of the Dragon, "a wastrel." After Viserys' death, Aegon usurped the throne from his older half-sister, Rhaenyra, and became the sixth Targaryen king to sit the Iron Throne. King Aegon II's ascension was challenged, and this dispute culminated in a bloody war that claimed the lives of both siblings. While Aegon the Usurper, aka Aegon the Elder, fed Rhaenyra to his dragon, Sunfyre, he himself died an ungraceful death. He was poisoned, allegedly by Lord Velaryon, Lord Larys Strong, and Ser Perkin the Flea, and found dead in his litter.
At the end of Dance, Rhaenyra, and Daemon Targaryen's son, Aegon the Younger was installed on the Iron Throne in 131 AC. King Aegon III had many aliases such as the Broken King, Aegon the Unhappy, and the Uncrowned King. He married Aegon II's daughter, Princess Jaehaera, and in doing so, united the Green and the Black factions (seen in House of the Dragon). Aegon III was also known as Aegon the Dragonbane because his reign saw the death of the last dragon. Though he managed to keep the realm united, he had become jaded by the time he was installed on the throne. He'd witnessed the death of his mother, and large-scale violence and as a result, felt broken inside. His first wife, Jaehaera died, apparently of suicide two years after their marriage.
The broken king of the broken reign, Aegon III wed Daenaera Velaryon on the last day of the year 133 AC. He died from consumption in 157 AC, and he was succeeded by his and Daenaera's firstborn son, Daeron I Targaryen. Also known as the Boy King and the Young Dragon, Daeron I is known for the bloody invasion of Dorne. Although Jon Snow (played by Kit Harington on Game of Thrones) considered him a hero, Benjen Stark was critical of his invasion. Daeron I was assassinated while meeting the Dornish under a peace banner and his brother, Baelor I Targaryen succeeded him on the Iron Throne. Baelor I aka Baelor the Blessed was made to wed his sister Daena, but they never consummated their marriage.
From Egg To Jon Snow
Baelor the Blessed, who Game of Thrones' Sansa Stark held in high regard, starved himself to death. His uncle, Viserys II, the second-born son of Rhaenyra and Daemon, succeeded him. Viserys II's eldest son, King Aegon IV Targaryen/ Aegon the Unworthy became the eleventh Targaryen king to sit the Iron Throne. He, as his alias suggests, was an incompetent king with nine mistresses, and both trueborn and illegitimate children. Aegon IV legitimized all his bastards on his deathbed and placed them in his line of succession after his trueborn, Daeron II. Aegon IV's move ultimately led to Blackfyre Rebellions that tormented the Targaryens for decades.
The next Targaryen character named Aegon is also nicknamed "Egg" and he becomes squire to the hedge knight, Ser Duncan. The duo is going to take center stage in the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel, titled, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight." Aegon V aka Aegon the Unlikely became the fifteenth Targaryen king after bypassing many candidates in the line of succession. He was a kind and generous king who wanted to improve the conditions of the smallfolk. His desire to bring back dragons to the Seven Kingdoms culminated in the Tragedy at Summerhall and led to his death.
The next Aegon Targaryen was the Mad King, Aerys II's fifth child. He was born premature and died just a year after his birth. The Mad King and his sister-wife, Rhaella had a total of eight children and only three of them, Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys lived to adulthood. Rhaegar died at the Battle of the Trident, Viserys was executed by Khal Drogo, and Daenerys died an undignified death in Game of Thrones. Rhaegar had two children with Elia Martell, Aegon, and Rhaenys, and Gregor Clegane killed them during the Sack of King's Landing. Although absent from HBO's Game of Thrones, in the books, Tyrion travels with a youth named Young Griff. It is later revealed that this boy is apparently Rhaegar and Elia's son, Aegon Targaryen. Rhaegar loved Lyanna Stark and this sparked the war that saw thousands of deaths and nearly decimated House Targaryen. He married Lyanna after annulling his marriage to Elia and after their deaths, Ned Stark raised their son, Aegon as his bastard, Jon Snow. Though Jon/ Aegon did great things for his people, he was banished to the Night's Watch for assassinating his aunt and lover, Queen Daenerys Targaryen in the Game of Thrones finale.