In the world of Game of Thrones, there are many important figures acting in the background. One character, who already lived during the time of Egg
and Duncan, still haunts another character in Westeros years later.
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Events from the books are also mentioned.
Which character is it about? Although he has not yet been seen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Brynden Rivers was already born in 175 after Aegon’s Conquest (AC). That is 25 years before the birth of Egg.
Brynden was born as a bastard, an illegitimate child, of the then King Aegon IV. Targaryen and his affair with Melissa Blackwood. Although he was the son of the reigning king, he could not initially lead a good life. As seen with Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, being a bastard son is not easy.
However, nine years later, he was legitimized by his father on his deathbed. This means he was recognized and could enjoy the privileges of his kinship. Thus began his influence on the Targaryens and the world of Westeros.
The Rise to Hand of the King
How did Brynden Rivers’ life unfold? In the year 196 AC, the first Blackfyre Rebellion occurred. This was a civil war ignited by Daemon I. Blackfyre, another bastard of Aegon IV, who wanted the Iron Throne, which had now been occupied by Daeron II. Targaryen.
Brynden sided with the king, even fought with his own archers, the Raven’s Teeth. During this, Aegon and Aemon (the oldest sons of Daemon) died, as did Daemon himself.
Although many rebels fled, a fight occurred between Brynden and his half-brother Aegor (also a son of Daemon). Brynden lost an eye, but Aegor fled with his mother and other brothers.
Later, Daeron II. died, and after Aerys I. Targaryen became king, Brynden was appointed Hand of the King and Master of Whisperers, the spy network. Thus, Aerys decided against his two sons Maekar and Baelor.
His informants became an important tool for Brynden. At the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, at a tournament, he knew beforehand. He went there with a large army.
Daemon II., who wanted to claim the throne this time, could hardly win anyone for the rebellion during the tournament. He challenged Brynden to a duel, but Brynden was indifferent – he captured Daemon II. and executed the other rebels.
Brynden was quite a harsh fellow as Hand. He dealt ruthlessly with the remaining rebels and wanted to have his half-brother Aegor Rivers killed after the Third Blackfyre Rebellion. However, Aerys I. preferred to send him to the Night’s Watch, but Aegor fled.
Brynden went too far, ends up at the Night’s Watch
How did Brynden end up at the Night’s Watch? After Aerys I. died in 221 AC, his youngest son Maekar I. took the throne. Brynden assumed the role of Hand for him as well. However, when Maekar died 12 years later, a great council was convened. They decided to appoint Aegon V. Targaryen as king.
Aenys Blackfyre, another son of Daemon I., also wanted to participate in the council. But despite Brynden promising him safety, he captured him and he was beheaded.
This kind of behavior did not sit well with the new king Aegon V. He had him captured. Brynden, who claimed to only have done what was best for the realm, was given an offer: he could choose the Night’s Watch instead of death.
After only 6 years, Brynden was so popular that he was elected Lord Commander, the head of the Wall.
He held this position for 13 years, until he disappeared during an expedition beyond the Wall in 252 AC. In Game of Thrones, however, we learn that he is still not dead.
Bran Stark and Brynden Rivers
What happened to Brynden? In Game of Thrones, Bran is haunted during and after his coma by a three-eyed raven. Later, it is revealed that a man lives beyond the Wall who is rooted in a tree. This man teaches Bran the ability to see greensights.
It is heavily implied that the man in the tree is Brynden Rivers. When Bran meets him, he tells him that he has seen everything with a thousand and one eyes. This could refer to the eye he lost in the fight against Aegor. In the novel, there is also a poem about him, which states: How many eyes does Lord Bloodraven have? A thousand eyes and one
(Source: A Wiki of Ice and Fire).
The second season of House of the Dragon goes even further. In the last episode of the season, Daemon has a vision. On the one hand, he sees Daenerys with her dragons, but also a white-haired man in a tree. This man has a red birthmark on his face, by which a raven flies.
This is quite likely Brynden Rivers. His title Lord Bloodraven
comes from a red birthmark resembling a raven.
However, even if the man in the tree is Brynden, that does not mean he is also the three-eyed raven. That could be another entity. So far, this is unclear. Learn more about visions of Targaryens here: In the new Game of Thrones series, a Targaryen spoils who dies in the next episode
