Rhaegar Targaryen muses, “Aegon. What better name for a king?” This line appears in a vision Daenerys Targaryen has in A Clash of Kings, the second book in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. Though it wasn’t included in the Game of Thrones TV show, it’s a significant moment filled with subtle clues about the future, and it points out something notable: many Targaryen kings throughout history have been named Aegon.
As a longtime fan of the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ universe, I’ve noticed a fascinating pattern with the name ‘Aegon.’ It turns out the Targaryens didn’t start using it with their arrival in Westeros – Aegon the Conqueror’s ancestor actually bore the name! But it was he who really popularized it among the family. It’s no shock, considering he was the first Targaryen king. Over the course of the lore, we’ve encountered around fifteen Aegons, even popping up in different noble houses. Of those, five have actually claimed the Iron Throne and ruled the Seven Kingdoms, and honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if we meet at least one more before it’s all said and done.
Please be aware that this contains spoilers for both Fire & Blood, the source material for House of the Dragon, and characters from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Aegon I Targaryen
Reign: 1-37 AC (After Conquest)
Aegon Targaryen, later called Aegon the Conqueror, dramatically reshaped Westeros. Along with his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, and their three dragons – Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes – he invaded from Dragonstone and conquered most of the continent. This united the previously separate kingdoms under Targaryen rule, establishing their dynasty. However, Dorne successfully avoided conquest by retreating into the mountains and fighting a guerilla war.
Aegon the Conqueror, the first king to unite Westeros, established many traditions that lasted for centuries, even until the events of Game of Thrones. He chose King’s Landing – originally his landing site – as the capital city. Famously, he melted down the swords of his defeated enemies and had them reforged into the Iron Throne. He also created the first Small Council. While his reign was mostly peaceful, he attempted to conquer Dorne but settled for a peace agreement. Aegon died at the age of 63 in the year 37 AC, and his eldest son, Aenys, became king after him.
The series House of the Dragon has changed how we understand Aegon’s Conquest. Previously viewed as simply a grab for power, the show revealed that Aegon was driven by a prophetic dream—a vision of a devastating winter and the threat of the White Walkers. He believed that only a Targaryen king could unite the realm and save everyone.
Aegon II Targaryen
Reign: 129-131 AC
Although Aegon was a fairly common name, it had been nearly a century since another King Aegon ruled, until Viserys Targaryen and Alicent Hightower’s son came of age. Despite Viserys naming his daughter, Rhaenyra, as his heir, the Green faction—including Alicent and Otto Hightower—maneuvered to have Aegon take the throne, as shown at the end of House of the Dragon Season 1.
Aegon II’s time as king is brief and marked by intense conflict, unlike his ancestor the Conqueror. His reign is entirely consumed by a brutal civil war called the Dance of the Dragons, which splits the kingdom between those who support him (the Greens) and those who support Rhaenyra (the Blacks). Both sides suffer enormous losses, and as seen in the final episodes of House of the Dragon Season 2, a wounded Aegon is forced to escape King’s Landing. Ultimately, he defeats Rhaenyra on Dragonstone in a shocking act – he feeds her to his dragon, Sunfyre.
Despite all of this, it wasn’t enough to secure victory. As enemy armies surrounded King’s Landing, Aegon II’s advisors were compelled to take extreme measures, as the king stubbornly refused to face reality. Ultimately, Aegon II was poisoned by his own followers, and his son, Aegon the Younger, took the Iron Throne.
Aegon III Targaryen
Reign: 131-157 AC
Aegon III, the son of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, ruled for a significantly longer time than the previous king. Although he was named heir and promised in marriage to Jaehaera, the daughter of Aegon II, to unite the feuding Targaryen family, he was only ten years old when he became king. Because of his age, the realm was governed by the Hand of the King and the royal council until he was old enough to rule on his own.
Aegon’s time as king was sadly marked by hardship. In the beginning, his rule suffered from constant arguments and power struggles among his advisors and lords. Although he managed to keep the kingdom together once he came of age, he was often sad and preferred to stay within the Red Keep. He is best known as ‘Aegon the Dragonbane’ because the last dragon died during his reign.
Aegon IV Targaryen
Reign: 172–184 AC
Following Aegon III, his sons Daeron and then Baelor each took the Iron Throne. Since neither of them had sons, the crown eventually passed to Aegon’s brother, Viserys II. When Viserys II died, his son became king, taking the name Aegon – the fourth Targaryen king with that name – and many consider him to be the most terrible ruler of them all.
Aegon IV was a deeply flawed king – greedy, selfish, and corrupt. His rule was marked by self-indulgence and poor choices. He openly had many affairs and acted with little regard for the good of the realm. His most damaging act was declaring his illegitimate children – known as the Great Bastards – legitimate on his deathbed. He also gifted one of them, Daemon Waters, with Blackfyre, a Valyrian steel sword originally belonging to the first king, effectively presenting Daemon as a potential heir.
Daeron II, the legitimate son of Aegon IV, inherited the Iron Throne, but his reign was challenged by Daemon, who launched a rebellion. This conflict, known as the Blackfyre Rebellion—named after the sword Daemon claimed as his own—was a brutal year-long war. Daeron II ultimately won, and he is still king when the story begins in Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Aegon V Targaryen
Reign: 233-259 AC
As a huge fan, I’ve always been fascinated by the mystery surrounding Egg. It’s incredible to think he’s secretly Aegon Targaryen, and his shaved head was a clever way to hide that! Even after the revelations in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, though, his path to the throne feels incredibly distant. Considering he’s the fourth son of a fourth son, he should realistically only be aiming for a position in the Kingsguard, not the Iron Throne itself. But somehow, against all odds, he does end up ruling. It’s a fantastic twist!
After King Daeron II passed away, both his sons had already died, leading to his second son, Aerys, becoming king. Aerys also lost several potential heirs – his own children and another brother – which ultimately resulted in Maekar taking the throne. When Maekar died, his two oldest sons were also gone, and his third son, Aemon, had become a Maester. This led to a Great Council being called, and they chose Egg to be the new king.
His time as king wasn’t easy, as he constantly faced rebellions. While the common people loved him and the changes he made – a fondness stemming from his earlier travels with Dunk – the lords disliked him, feeling he weakened their authority. Eventually, he becomes convinced that restoring dragons is the key to securing his rule, which leads to trouble. Throughout it all, Ser Duncan the Tall remains a steadfast companion, rising through the ranks to become Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
Aegon VI Targaryen?
In George R.R. Martin’s fifth book, A Dance with Dragons, a character named Young Griff appears, claiming to be Aegon Targaryen – the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell, and the true heir to the Iron Throne. This is complicated by the fact that Aegon was believed to have died as a baby during Robert’s Rebellion. However, the story suggests he was secretly replaced with another infant and hidden away in Essos, where he was raised as a prince.
Fans are buzzing with theories about Young Griff, who claims to be Aegon Targaryen, and whether he’s the real deal. Regardless, he’s determined to become king. He’s arrived in Westeros with a powerful army – the Golden Company, renowned as the best sellswords around – and intends to claim the Iron Throne. This could mean that when Daenerys Targaryen finally arrives, she’ll be surprised to find another Targaryen has already made a move for the crown. The TV show Game of Thrones left Aegon out completely, likely to simplify the story and avoid confusing him with Jon Snow, who was also revealed to be named Aegon Targaryen.
You can watch new episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on Sundays at 10 pm Eastern Time on both HBO and HBO Max. Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are also available for streaming on HBO Max.
Okay, fellow fans, I’m dying to know – who’s your favorite Aegon? Seriously, I need to hear all your takes! Let’s chat about it over in the ComicBook Forum – come join the discussion now!
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2026-02-06 15:15