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HBO's House of the Dragon features powerful characters with inner conflicts, virtues, and flaws, and Prince Daemon Targaryen checks all the boxes. The younger son of Prince Baelon and Alyssa Targaryen, and brother to King Viserys I Targaryen, Prince Daemon has remarkable fighting prowess and ambition. He is also one of the most skilled warriors in the realm.
Daemon's grandsire, the Old King Jaehaerys I bestowed the ancestral Valyrian steel sword, Dark Sister, upon him because of his martial skills. He rides one of the largest dragons in the Seven Kingdoms, Caraxes. Portrayed by Matt Smith, HBO's House of the Dragon, season 1, episode 1 "The Heirs of the Dragon," is home to Daemon's first on-screen appearance.
Daemon's Introduction In House Of The Dragon
In the ninth year of Viserys' rule, at a small council meeting, Master of Coin, Lord Lyman Beesbury, keeps Viserys abreast of Daemon's engagements:
Hey, Your Grace, at Prince Daemon’s urging, the crown has invested significant capital in the re-training and re-equipping of his City Watch. I thought you might urge your brother to fill his seat on the council and provide an assessment of his progress as Commander of the Watch.
The same day, Daemon arrives inside the Red Keep and Rhaenyra finds him seated on the Iron Throne, eyeing the position. It is evident from Daemon and Rhaenyra's first interaction in House of the Dragon that this uncle-niece duo is attracted to one another. Viserys likes to think because they share the blood of the dragon. As they tease each other about Viserys' unborn child, Daemon places a Valyrian steel necklace around Rhaenyra's neck, saying:
Now you and I both own a small piece of our ancestry
The Many Positions That Daemon Held
Daemon arrives in King's Landing ahead of the Heir's Tournament and makes quite a spectacle by taking the law into his own hands. In a display of childish behavior, he rounds up petty criminals in the capital ahead of the tournament and dismembers them. In the beginning of House of the Dragon's "The Heirs of the Dragon," Viserys has no male heir yet, so, Daemon is confident he will eventually rule the realm. He does have ambition, but he isn't the kind to supplant Viserys' named heir, Rhaenyra. He acts in a way that elicits the king's attention and provokes him from time to time, but deep down, he wants to be close to his brother.
Daemon is a smart alec, always on point with his sharp retorts, and manages to deliver sharp insults if crossed at someone. He knows his brother is surrounded by cunning people such as the Hand, Otto Hightower, whose position he ideally desires:
You've only ever tried to send me away. To the Vale, to the City Watch, anywhere but by your side. Ten years you've been king and yet not once have you asked me to be your Hand!
Daemon has no friends at the council, except Lord Corlys Velaryon, who suggests he be declared heir. Otto and Grand Maester Mellos strongly object to this proposition. House of the Dragon's "The Heirs of the Dragon" also reveals that Daemon was made Commander of the City Watch at Otto's suggestion. Viserys, who defends his brother occasionally, points out:
I named Daemon Master of Laws, but you [Otto] said he was a tyrant. As Master of Coin, you said he was a spendthrift that would beggar the realm.
Otto wants Daemon far away from court, to pave the way for his underhanded schemes. He succeeds at sowing discord between the brothers because of Daemon's proclivities. Otto brings the news of Daemon's recent activities to the king, including him calling Viserys' boy who passed away soon after his birth, "the heir for a day." The brothers have an ugly confrontation in the throne room towards the end of House of the Dragon's "The Heirs of the Dragon," but it's clear that Daemon wants to look out for his brother. Viserys has him banished from the capital and ordered to return to Runestone. At this point, Daemon has a paramour named Mysaria, and they frequent the Street of Silk.
The Question Of Viserys' Heir
House of the Dragon dedicates episode 2 "The Rogue Prince" to Daemon's unruly behavior. He squats on Dragonstone after seizing it for himself with his army of the Gold Cloaks. He also steals Dreamfyre's egg and leaves behind a scroll inviting Viserys to his second wedding to Mysaria, demanding a title for her and claiming she is pregnant. Rhaenyra flies on dragonback and retrieves the egg, and Mysaria backs out, fearing the king's wrath.
Upon Lord Corlys' insistence, Daemon enters into an open war with the Triarchy and smashes their Prince Admiral - Cragas Drayhar. After spending years fighting Drahar and his men, Corlys honors their Stepstones' victory by crowning Daemon as King of the Narrow Sea. Daemon flies to the Red Keep and lays the crown at his brother's feet. Daemon is welcome in the capital, but not long after, he is banished to the Vale as Otto makes the king privy to the rumors of his and Rhaenyra's affair. Before leaving, Daemon expresses the desire to marry Rhaenyra in the tradition of House Targaryen, but the king doesn't have any of that.
Wed her to me. When I offered up my crown, you said I could have anything. I want Rhaenyra.
Daemon's Three Marriages
Daemon's first marriage is to the heir to Runestone, Lady Rhea Royce. They are an estranged couple, and he mocks her as "bronze bi*ch" at a small council meeting held in House of the Dragon. He eventually ends up knocking her off her horse, paralyzing her, and bludgeoning her to death. Daemon reappears in King's Landing at Rhaenyra's wedding to Laenor Velaryon, but he's unwelcome at the high table. By this time, Viserys is already wed to Otto's daughter, Alicent Hightower, and she bears him sons.
House of the Dragon is available to stream on Max
Daemon marries Corlys Velaryon's daughter, Lady Laena Velaryon, with whom he has two daughters, Rhaena and Baela. The marriage ends when Lady Laena undergoes a difficult labor and asks to be burnt by her dragon, Vhagar. Daemon meets Rhaenyra at Driftmark, and the two conclude that they belong together. Their elaborate ruse involves Laenor's fake death, leaving Rhaenyra free to remarry. Daemon privately weds Rhaenyra in a traditional Valyrian ceremony in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7 "Driftmark," in the presence of their children. They know Viserys' end is near, and it is time to face Alicent Hightower's faction for control of the Iron Throne.
Daemon and Rhaenyra have two sons, and a stillborn daughter, Visenya, per House of the Dragon. In episode 10 "The Black Queen," he crowns his wife at Dragonstone after the Greens steal her throne from her. Daemon will play an active role on behalf of the Blacks in the upcoming civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is HBO's prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.
- Release Date
- August 21, 2022
- Creator
- Ryan J. CondalGeorge, R.R. Martin
- Network
- HBO Max
