Targaryens are not particularly creative when it comes to naming. There are numerous Aegons. It can certainly get confusing. We currently see the devastating consequences of such a mix-up in the series House of the Dragon. To prevent you from suffering the same fate as Alicent Hohenturm, we have summarized and sorted all Aegons for you in a list.
How was the ranking created? The ultimate Aegon ranking took into account both books and the series Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
- It only concerns Aegons who have Targaryen blood. A total of 12 are known, including 5 kings.
- Questions such as: How good was he for the realm? How educated or skilled in battle was he? What did he achieve? were crucial for the ranking.
Attention Spoiler: Events from Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon (up to season 2 episode 5) are recounted.
Rank 10: Other Aegons
The difficulties of childbirth are well-known in Westeros. The Targaryen family is not protected from this. There are three Aegon Targaryens who did not live to be older than one year: the sons of Jaeherys I, Baelon and Aerys II.
Unfortunately, they never had the opportunity to prove themselves as worthy Aegons.
Rank 9: Aegon IV, the Unworthy
- Lifetime: 135 A.C. to 184 A.C. (after Aegon’s conquest)
- Quote: “Aenys was weak, and Maegor was cruel, and Aegon II was greedy, but no king ever ruled as poorly as Aegon IV.” (from The World of Ice & Fire, George R.R. Martin)
Aegon the Unworthy did not carry this title without reason. His only interests were eating, drinking, and sleeping with as many women as possible.
From these exploits arose numerous bastards, whom Aegon legitimized on his deathbed. This led to the so-called Blackfyre Rebellions, the second great Targaryen civil war.
Aegon IV was thus useless not only during his reign. He also plunged the realm into an unnecessary war beyond his death.
Rank 8: Aegon II, the Elder
- Born: 107 A.C.
- Quote: “Thrones are won with swords, not with feathers. Spill blood, not ink.” (House of the Dragon)
Aegon II is the Aegon we know from House of the Dragon. He is the son of Alicent Hohenturm and Viserys I Targaryen. After his father’s death, he was practically forced to seize the throne, even though it was actually owed to Rhaenyra.
Later, however, he increasingly enjoys the power that the crown gives him. He is impulsive, impatient, and does not care much for prudent politics. Rather, he rushes into battle with his young dragon Sonnfeuer, where he is then burned to disfigurement by his brother Aemond on Vhagar.
