How Aegon & Rhaenyra Tore Westeros Apart

[@Marfy_]

the dance isnt about who the rightful heir is, its about who your favorite war criminal is

[@iamkonner4813]

Bloody Ben fans stand up

[@pewpewgtc]

In this case, Aemond is my King

[@bintangyudha4777]

Uooogh red kraken based

[@christinerobbins9376]

Daemon!!!😂

[@farnesetbh8487]

Except Rhaenyra is the rightful heir

[@angryyoungman66]

Actually spoilers only makes me more excited to see how they gonna adapt it in the show 23:00 "If they search the seven hells , mayhaps" Aegon is a bad @$$ 😎 such a sigma line

[@jiebolJ]

“It turns out that a chair made of pointy sharp swords, is pointy and sharp.” 😂😂😂

[@captainziggy82]

Always cracks me up haha, same chair that cut Aegon the dragon

[@lekhikalekhak]

Hatred so strong, family killed family... even the dragons couldn't escape... saddest thing.

[@JohnnyDominion]

In the end nobody won, the Greens won the war but lost the prize, the Iron Throne. While the Black's lost the war eventually gained the prize the fragile pieces of what was left of it. Aegon III, son of Rhaenyra lived the rest of his life as a broken man.

[@rexblade504]

I like how Corlys multiple times attempted to convince both Aegon and Rhaneyra to end the war in very effective solutions that would make everyone happy but both had gone power hungry and refused. Unlike the show the book really shows that neither were good or deserved to rule.

[@7eddiii]

why would rhaeynera end the war when she didnt start it thats like saying israel should call a ceasefire like what they didnt start this shit they are just defending themselves

[@BobPantsSpongeSquare97]

The book does though seem to lean that Rhaenyra was most deserving of it before the war actually began but that goes away by the time the war gets out of control. So hopefully season 2 does highlight the downward spiral of Rhaenyra who was more level headed in season 1

[@christiedenham1265]

She was more level headed in season 1 bc she had family and her kids and so on in season 2 she's lost everyone just about that she loved and it happened all bc of her ex best friend wanted her son/sons on the iron throne that was given rightfully by the king to his daughter and that's it period

[@enakorac7759]

​@@BobPantsSpongeSquare97 well you somehow see how all the Targaryens have no control over their dragon blood once it takes over filled by hate and fury... The same can be seen in the Game of Thrones, Deni was happy being a Kalisi. Haven't they feared so much for her return and claim to the iron throne, she probably wouldn't push Drogo to promise her the throne, he would have never gone crazy on attacking every single village, in need of having enough to be able to trade for ships to get the Horde overseas, he wouldn't be poisoned by the priestess that was raped inside her temple that was burned afterwards, Deni would give birth to a healthy baby boy and had no time to think about the iron throne. Also, afterwards she always tried to go for a less bloody solution and to spare as many lives as possible, before riding into a war... But every single time either the agreement she made wasn't held up or she was betrayed. The false queen Cersei, that sacrificed everything just to be able to sit on the Iron throne, also betrayed Deni... Not only didn't she send anyone to help defend the living from the dead army, but she attacked Deni's troops while they were returning tired from the battle, killing one Dragon, that was already wounded. She loved them like her children... One was taken by the Dark King, even turned into an undead dragon.. and after she lost so many troops, defending the whole kingdom from the darkness and fall of all living things, she lost the 2nd one, because Cersei wasn't true to her word. Cersei even went so far, to kill her friend (and Grey worm's love), by beheading her in front of everyone and even using all people that are around as a living shield, holding them between the outer gates and the gates of the red castle. The people were all terrified when they saw the Dragon, even though it flew several times over them, only attacking the walls, Cersei's armies, not one person was aware of how much she already helped the entire kingdom by helping the united North win against the darkness, not one single person knew she was there to help them have a better life. Even before the last battle, Cesei could have spared all those people in the city, by only giving up the throne. As the last of the Lannister heirs, she and Sir Jamie, could have accepted Deni as the legitimate queen and promised to answer if called upon to defend the kingdom, go home and take the Lannister castle, living their remaining lives in peace with their child (probably even children), she still would be Queen and people would have at least respect for her. But no... She saw it more important to sit on the iron throne and every single life she can sacrifice, should be sacrificed for her blind ambition. She never cared about people, she actually never cared about how anyone feels as long as she has it her own way. ( Killing her son's wife in the crypt,even though she knew exactly how much he loved her. She couldn't stand that the people loved and appreciated her as their Queen, more than they have ever Cersei.) Even though this is a fictional tale, all the greed, blind ambition, the hunger for a higher position, always wanting more is embedded in our history and was the downfall for many of the greatest civilizations, probably of many more we don't even know that ever existed.

[@raven7978]

​@@BobPantsSpongeSquare97her son and dragon are dead they stole her crown wtf you think ppl do have a limit

[@Argos-xb8ek]

The foolishness of this war cost House Targaryen and technically House Velaryon everything.

[@lemonadelemon1960]

Yep.

[@jjs1300000]

Pretty much

[@concept5631]

By the time of the War of the Five Kings House Velaryon was a two-bit, backwater version of what it once was. Corlys is shaking furiously in the heavens.

[@jjs1300000]

@@concept5631 They lost all of their wealth and prestige.

[@justicedunham4088]

@@concept5631House Velaryon was only powerful under Corlys. They were “technically” Valyrian, but had no dragons and were by no means wealthy. Corey’s in one lifetime built their wealth and their seat of power, but it collapsed still within his lifetime.

[@madambutterfly1997]

It's pretty fucking pathetic how easily and quick the targaryens were turned against each other. Less than 150 years into their Rule and they've already lost their greatest asset

[@pg1448]

Agreed! And it's so absurd that they did sacrifice the dragons, the ancient source of their power and glory, in a war over the iron throne, the hollow symbol of power the conqueror created just 130 years ago. Like was it really worth it to sacrifice the dragons over the question of wether a brother or a sister sits on that damned chair? Did nobody in the midst of the slaughter come to their senses and realize what an idiotic self destruction this actually is?

[@madambutterfly1997]

@@pg1448 my question is a marriage between Aegon and Rhaenyra would have resolved everything. Better yet, Jaehaerys should've just put Rhaenys on the throne. Has the grandchild of his first born the throne should have passed her regardless of what tradition demands. Agnatic succession is utterly stupid.

[@cambr3lla]

@@madambutterfly1997unfortunately jaeherys would never have done that. he was too set in his ways. but it was on viserys to set rhaenyra up for the throne better. the books said he considered having rhaenyra or daemon as his hand after strong died, but he didn’t want to cause conflict with the hightowers. he should have been less passive and had one of them and then that side of the family could prove that they were prepared to take control of the realm, rather than sitting on dragon stone waiting for the king to die

[@UnfazedPhoenix]

Yep. Thanks a lot, Otto Hightower. And Viserys the Pathetic.

[@williamhermann6635]

Direct result of having the arrogance to think they could rule a kingdom as wild as Westeros.

[@randomgirl2282]

Aegon and Rhaenyra’s face off was literally Clown to Clown Communication, Clown to Clown Conversation

[@kikima258]

😂😂for real jace and daeron would have made far better rulers than the both of them combined

[@KaiHung-wv3ul]

@@kikima258 Yeah they were the most likeable on both sides. BTW, in some versions both died by a rain of crossbow bolts in battle, Jace at the Gullet and Daeron at Tumbleton, coincidence?

[@ilbb7055]

​@@kikima258 Jace good ruler? Jace's actions directly lead to the worst failures of the Blacks by handing dragons over to smallfolk with no reason to be loyal to the Black cause. He made his team lost. Addam,the lads,ect... Were the true MPV

[@ilbb7055]

Aemond and Rhaenyra* you meant. Book!Aegon II was smart and had brains which resulted on him winning the Battle of Dragonstone, decisive victory for the Greens

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

Aegon roasted her though.

[@ahallofgaming802]

From the standpoint of family, this is one of the saddest stories of all time.

[@wradBrad]

I want to be team black for daemon but rhaenyra ticks me off.. she spent her entire life doing whatever she wanted, not taking her position seriously, giving birth to strong children, then just expects to sit on the iron throne?? Like yo you don't deserve it homegirl. But i despise more people on green than i do black. Its weird. I dislike rhaenyra, but love everyone else on the black roster. But i think aegon should rule, and despise everyone on green, except aemond. He so cool.

[@axolotl1777]

Fr she wants the freedom to do whatever she wants and the privileges of being royal

[@howdidmynamechange945]

Damn jace knows how to take charge

[@christhegh0st708]

It’s hard to tell who would be a better ruler. Aegon didn’t truly want the throne and wasn’t fit to rule. And while Rhanerya was those two things: the decisions she made was riddled in grief, rage and hatred: she wasn’t in her prime as an ruler. We never truly seen them govern to an high enough degree to choose who would be a better ruler.

[@ideozublake8036]

daemon would’ve been the perfect ruler. smart, was a warrior and commanded respect

[@Drpavel564]

@@ideozublake8036 Daemon wouldve been assassinated the very first day he becomes king.

[@youknownothingjonsnow4821]

​@@Drpavel564I think ALL the lords would have banned together to hire the assassin.

[@Moompl]

@@youknownothingjonsnow4821 Julius Caesar style 😂

[@terrius1252]

@@ideozublake8036bro he would have been the worse he is only military smart any other move is off impulse😂

[@edwardmortimer8643]

Naming Rhaenyra as Hand would have been a good move…..nice idea

[@debamlyabanerjee4067]

Naming aegon as heir would be better because rhaneyra can't rule a son inherents over a daughter

[@dionaulmer9326]

@@debamlyabanerjee4067 why shouldnt a woman rule?

[@debamlyabanerjee4067]

@@dionaulmer9326 because it is the westeosi tradition

[@dionaulmer9326]

@@debamlyabanerjee4067 tradition is not law

[@debamlyabanerjee4067]

@@dionaulmer9326 then why male heirs get everything

[@lasloapollo4312]

Daemon is the true winner with all of his 4 childeren surviving.

[@alessiodandolo1460]

But ended up marrying his former enemies: a lyseni, the granddaughter of Vaemond Velaryon and a Hightower... And I have a theory that Alyn Velaryon could be Vaemond's bastard, protected by Corlys... But Daemon with Hightower grandchildren, that makes me laugh.

[@lasloapollo4312]

@@alessiodandolo1460 i guess it was an acceptable pay off when you consider both his sons were kings

[@gooby214]

@@alessiodandolo1460 The Lysene people are superior.

[@fightingmedialounge519]

​@@lasloapollo4312 not when one of them rejects dragons.

[@lasloapollo4312]

@@fightingmedialounge519 well the dragons were all dead. So i dont think it matters that much to him.

[@giacomoromano8842]

After reading about the Dance, all of a sudden going the High Sparrow rout of "fuck the nobles, let's have a theocracy of the people!" Doesn't sound so bad...

[@BIGluisluis]

Well, Iran is a sensational country

[@justicedunham4088]

If only the seven were not the only Gods to probably not exist in Westeros. It’s debatable if any of the other Gods exist, and GRRM is an atheist, but their followers perform magic. The question is if that magic is natural to the world or comes from a God

[@williamruth7586]

​@@justicedunham4088the seven is basically a fake religion, never seen a septon raise someone from the dead.

[@BrotherKevinHunter]

It makes more sense to me that the rightful heir was Rhaenyra, as much as I like the greens. Clearly her father wanted her on the throne, and took obvious steps to solidify her succession, it’s as simple as that.

[@CrusaderChris]

Viserys took steps to solidify her succession very early on, and then naively believed his wishes would hold. He could have made it a lot easier for Rhaenyra by naming her Hand first, by codifying a royal inheritance law, by forcing the Greens to publicly swear fealty to her later in life, etc. Instead, his inaction directly led to the Dance. I think Viserys was great at keeping the peace, but very bad at maneuvering for peace in the future.

[@angryyoungman66]

And it would've been even better if Viserys the dumb , never married Alicent , and never had children with her

[@lilliesinthegard32]

If he took obvious steps, he would have at least taught her enough politics and decorum and how to gain the respect of the other houses because she is quite bad at it

[@ashleygolden1994]

I think in hindsight, Viserys was not fit to be a king to begin with. But since the realm was not ready for a queen ruling, he should’ve left Damon as his heir and should NOT have married again. Then when the time came, should’ve married rhaenyra to Damon to reinforce that his child will be queen and his brother king. I don’t think too many ppl would’ve contested this. But Viserys not being formally fit to rule in the beginning and every decision he made afterwards lead to this bloodfest.

[@debamlyabanerjee4067]

First of Daemon would be a terrible ruler he is good warrior but not a good ruler here are some terrible political decisions he made he tried to give rossby and stokeworth to hugh and ulf by wed them to those lords daughtets and another thing he did he wanted to give stroms end to ulf a drunk fool and casterly rock to hugh a blacksmith viserys should named aegon his heir and should have trained him for running because a son can do better job the a daughter and a brother making aegon heir would have solved everything if he named aegon his heir the war would have never happened

[@leomagnusson5254]

Daemon would be a paranoid and sadistic king he would make Aerys II look like Santa claus by comparison

[@kwabenamoe7740]

❤ I love your suggestion

[@AncientChi]

Daemon and rhaneaya would have made perfect rulers

[@debamlyabanerjee4067]

@@AncientChi Daemon and rhaneyra are the worst rulers

[@kofiopoku8847]

There's this phenomena that Grr Martin creates with his writings such that he creates a scenario where each opposing character (which in this case Aegon and rhaenyra) are both right on who deserves to sit the iron throne aswell as giving the reader a chance to choose a side. But the trick here is None of them ( Aegon and rhaenyra) are in the right to rule westeros. Grr Martin knows this so its easier to kill off characters we've grown to like by progressing the plot.I think Martin has fallen into his own trap with the winds of winter. He's grown to understand the characters he's made and logically speaking, none of them are easier to kill making it harder to progress with the plot no matter how hard he tries to control their destinies. This is why it's taking so long. He writes an arc of a character then later questions himself wether it's what the character would do or not, then ends up throwing the sheet away or rewriting as he said himself.

[@thatoneblackdude3333]

To suggest both Aegon and rheanyra are equally right is factually wrong rheanyra was chosen by the king who's word is law and goes above all else her cause is objectively correct , Aegon being perferd by precedent isn't right nor equal to rheanyra because all that is , is personal preference aka a opinion not law nor just or right .

[@Lumistrocity]

​@thatoneblackdude3333 this is blatantly incorrect, jahaerys set a precident to name your own heir when he named his second son heir instead of rhaenys, but then the great council set a precident of male's before females, so by precident set during jahaerys reign they both had "valid" claims in theory

[@merbearlorelei]

I've been thinking for a while that GRRM has written himself into a corner, and it was made worse by the last season of the show and how poorly it was received. I think there's a snow dragon's chance in the 14 flames that he'll finish it.

[@yusufraage8554]

@@Lumistrocity If the greens were in the right why didnt they order another council of 101 or atleast make that an option for Rheanyra she wouldnt go for it but atleast the greens would let the realm know that they tried to make peace. Why did the greens steal the treasury when they are in the right. Why crown the Usurper before the last king was cremated. There are many more reasons why the greens were in the wrong but I got no time for that.

[@thatoneblackdude3333]

@@Lumistrocity no they didn't the great council was ment to be a one time thing for emergencies , rheanyra was chosen by the king and his ruling goes above everything it was just an excuse for the greens to justify usurping her .

[@Mellieboo]

The incest in this show is sickening

[@angryyoungman66]

Without the incest they can't ride dragons , because dragons smell the purity of valerian blood of the rider

[@sirfijoe450]

It’s based on history. Most historical monarchs practiced forms of incest. The Hapsburgs for example probably partially inspired house Targaryen for their heavy practices of incest.

[@limbobilbo8743]

Its certainly interesting how rhaneyra wasnt going to just execute her half siblings (considering what she said when she got crowned) and that Aegon didnt actually want to usurp his sister actively Another example that shit could have gone a lot better under different circumstances

[@Kg_707_g]

She had to , or her bastrds sons would never inherit the throne . If rhaenyra didn't, daemon 100% would have killed alicent's kids even aegon's kids

[@BostonsF1nest]

I didn’t realize until rewatching HOTD for the third time that Aegon married his sister. They mention it very briefly in the show. That’s why I was totally confused when Halaena got up and gave that toast at the final dinner

[@endor8witch]

you mean how viserys and his daughter rhaenyra tore the kingdom apart because of their incompetent and unplanned reign handover...

[@vanillatwilight5291]

what's crazy is that aegon and rhaenyra only directly interacted once before he killed rhaenyra lol....

[@FillerAccount818]

Keep up the great work Chris!

[@slayer3805]

“This was not cool beans for the blacks” is a wild statement 😂

[@Mjh213199]

Absolutely loving your Targaryen King series!!!

[@CrusaderChris]

Thank you, more to come!

[@Rorington]

In reference to 20:40, they didn't necessarily all die. Daemon might of survived, it wasn't known if he did or not.

[@Kg_707_g]

Good story for fanfic but no, This isnt anime , not even dragons survived that fall , how could a 50 yr old human would have survived it. His body wasn't recovered because it drowned, i doubt anyone would go to the depths of God's eye for a dead body , aemond's was recovered because it was intact with is dragon ( finding a dragon is would be easy in water than a human corpse)

[@RapaxGuardian]

I'm team 'Everybody Sucks' but also I love all the Dragons and Helaena. Vhagar is best girl.

[@CrusaderChris]

Team Smallfolk 💪

[@yusufraage8554]

Team black all the way, let the killing begin. I cant wait to see Otto losing his head, the gold cloaks turning on the greens, the hour of the wolf and Alicent going insane after her whole bloodline is extinguished and she is the only one left. All the pain and sorrow they put Rheanyra through is gonna come back on her a million times worse. Rheanyra is gonna die thinking she lost all her kids but Alicent she is gonna die knowing every one of her kids and grandkids are dead.

[@gooby214]

@@yusufraage8554 Nobody cares about your fanaticism for the black political party. You sound like a puppet. Smart people know that both sides are garbage and don't deserve to win, and the final fates of these whiny rich people are worthless. Who cares what happens to Rhaenyra, Otto, and blah blah blah? They all should've been whiped out anyway.

[@TheTrollingMaster-xr9el]

@@yusufraage8554actually Alicent dies of winter fever plague a few months before her granddaughters assassination.

[@yusufraage8554]

@@TheTrollingMaster-xr9el source

[@stiltmansstilt1014]

Aegon literally didnt want to rule

[@leroydsouza69]

The Crusader telling it how it is. Fans will die on each of the factions hills spouting their virtues. Truth is both of them left the realm and their families in a ruined state. None of them were fit to be monarchs.

[@kap2652]

⁠@@LauraGS564she was why wrose at ruling then aegon she had no sense of duty she had kingslanding and left it to rats and let 5 dragons be slaughtered like sheep had bastards and lied had alicent and Helena raped took money from the poor to throw parties tried to have her own allies killed out of jealousy aegon was better at ruler his Council been ruling for years in peace and in fire and blood Aegon demand to be crowned she was called maegor with teats for a reason

[@thatoneblackdude3333]

@@kap2652 Aegon barely ruled so not really , nether did Aegon , that was show only the video is about the book , alicent and halaina were not raped that was just a dumb story from mushroom which has no actual basis , only some of the money was used to throw a party and Aegon 2 did the same thing after aemond killed luke , no out of fear of betrayal that was vary much real given w of her allies betrayed her , she's called that for raising taxes its a unfair and unjustified nickname given to her due to misogyny.

[@kap2652]

@@thatoneblackdude3333 but was team black soooo I think he telling the truth he was always by her side the aegon in the child pits had no basis and hotd went with it did you really just say only some of the money was used people was starving and she increased taxes 3x it’s said no even the whores was safe when aegon throw his party people wasn’t staving and he didn’t increase taxes she was executing people daily and feed them to dragons then when the people needed leading she abandon them it’s not misogyny if you think so your just a fool she took king landing and ruled as a tyrant that’s just facts

[@Voidwurm1701]

​@@LauraGS564 Both were terrible.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

​@thatoneblackdude3333 Misogyny has nothing to do with the nickname, it was the cruelty that she exhibited to the small folk which INITIALLY welcomed her as a savior. Aegon kept his purges to the upper class, Rhaenyra extended it to the lower class. So they feared her like Maegor.

[@subrahmanya9020]

I wonder how dragon eggs were hatching before the dotd but after they stopped hatching despite the fact that 3 missing dragon could've lived a fue decade keeping magic alive in the world.

[@wingy200]

Preston Jacobs did a four part series 7 years ago about dragon hatching called Genetics of the Dragon on his channel. It's not super exciting, but it's informative.

[@kikima258]

yes it's realy weird how they stoped hatching and literaly needed blood magic to hatch again when they would do so without it before. my best gess is that they were poisoned by the maesters or aegon the third and the ones that got to danny were healthy ones

[@christinerobbins9376]

GRRM did a companion book that kind of touches on this; it goes back to the blood mages of old Valyeria using blood magic to originally bind the dragons to humans and after the Doom of Valeryia that magic kind of ebbed out of this universe over time. When Dany sees the red comet (dragon's tail) in the sky (in the Red Waste) it is a heralding of the return of that magic and once again requires blood magic (this time from from Mirri Mazz Duur) in order to bring her petrified dragon eggs to life. Prior to this, her eggs were simply pretty stones.

[@DustinZubor]

​@@kikima258I think they hatched because dragons were thriving. I think there was like 18 at one point. So when most of the dragons died at the dance I believe the eggs would no longer hatch.

[@PatchesNjose]

I think you need an adult dragon to warm up the eggs or something.

[@alexiospeverell]

Honestly, I think that during the Dance Jacaerys was the best suited, followed by Baela and Rhaena.

[@nerdelf3704]

Great vids man

[@deenman23]

gotta love how george wrote this story just to pass the time between the major books,and it ended up better than the main story

[@Lucas-pg2lo]

There’s no way you actually think this is better than the main story

[@deenman23]

@@Lucas-pg2lo the main story is a bloated mess with 80% storythreads going literaly nowhere lol,george is a bit of a hack writer,but this story is atleast half decent

[@MrLamont1975]

Rhaenyra nor Aegon II were fit to rule. They both had their faults that disqualified them. The kingdom was doomed regardless. Neither had the ability to lead properly. Both their councils ran amuck behind their backs due to their lack of leadership and control.

[@zo7034]

The algorithm as blessed me with your video.

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

I always felt that G.R.R.M wrote The Greens to be too powerful once Ulf and Hugh and their dragons joined them, and then just kinda asspulled the way Addam managed to kill not just them and their dragons, but Daeron the Daring and his dragon on top of it. That never made a lick of sense. Daeron alone should've been way too much considering how experienced a fighter and dragonrider he was at this point.

[@Rengokuo4o6]

I'm guessing Addams had the bigger dragon?

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

@@Rengokuo4o6 Nope. Seasmoke (Addam's dragon) was about the same size as Tessarion (Daeron's dragon), but less battle tested and less agile. Vermithor (Hugh's dragon) was also three times Seasmoke's size. Add Silverwing (Ulf's dragon) to the mix, and there's just no fucking way that Seasmoke wins this. It's ridiculous. Smaller dragons have stalemated or killed bigger ones at times, but those are rare cases like Caraxes fighting Vhagar, which Caraxes only managed due to the experience of his rider and the fact that Vhagar had gotten old and slow despite her vast size. So how Addam on Seasmoke managed to kill the two strongest dragons present and even the rider of the last is just baffling. Daemon himself wouldn't have managed that realistically.

[@JiixBooks]

Wish Baelas final fight with aegon wouldve been here

[@dionysius-germanicus_digna3740]

Can’t blame Aegon II for being bitter by the end, there’s no way he would have accepted taking black after going through it all. Larys and Corlys set him up to look unreasonable for their benefit. Corlys should have been executed for his part in the Dance, he didn’t even try and do justice for his mutilated nephews and instead favoured his bastard.

[@Khetsisal33]

Nearly sead Aegon being carried up to the throne is gonna be a funny juxtaposition to his father (also nearly dead) still being able to climb the throne.😂

[@KwandaM-f7n]

Great video

[@alondramorelos1978]

Such awesome quality videos. Subscribed for sure

[@dasauce9147]

I love how people will look at this and the rest of lore and conclude that Otto Anti Christ is responsible for everything despite the bad choices made by everyone😂

[@eevee3168]

They're like Renly and Stannis.

[@bluey8302]

Yea, None was truly meant to rule because even during war, they could have made peace but insisted on the death of their enemies which led to more suffering and war.

[@fkaluis]

ty sm again for using my art 😢❤ great video like always, chris !

[@CrusaderChris]

Appreciate you as always! Such amazing art

[@KwandaM-f7n]

More facts clarified

[@Alejojojo6]

The Throne NEVER cut Aegon the Conqueror. That image is from the letter the Dornish sent him when her wife and Meraxes were killed. He grapped the letter so tightly he began to bleed from that hand.

[@HubertHumphreyWasHere]

If you think squeezing a piece of paper can make your hand bleed like that then I have a beachfront property on Jupiter to sell you.

[@NihilTruth]

​@@HubertHumphreyWasHereWho said the paper cut him? Nails dug deep into one's hand can pierce far enough to bleed.

[@Alejojojo6]

@@HubertHumphreyWasHere You have never cut yourself with a piece of paper? Wow... They can be very sharp. Maybe you'll be the one needing that property in Jupiter after all 😅🤣, and perhaps I can sell you one in Mars too...

[@xxkatanyaxx]

I think it was Alicent and Viserys fault, also Otto's. The Hightower was reaching too much for that throne, and Viserys, like you said, could have given the throne to his daughter when he was deathly ill. But you know, greed only kills stupidity.

[@marksjoga]

Daemon mouth sync was pure gold bro

[@Heavens-Humanaterian-Army]

Well dam thanks for the heads up..its depressing..and everyone I likded is dead..not so excitded for season 2 now.😢

[@stalwartteakettlepotato9879]

7:10 just imagine a stark warg dragon rider king. That would be something to see. And mybe we will get to see it soon enough.

[@jancecharlesaustin3733]

Great video, dood.

[@DarkKing009]

House Hightower: Machiavellian merchant princes vs House Targaryen: eugenics sorcerer-kings.

[@Stopthecapmedia]

Neither the greens nor the blacks were right, but viserys did name Rhaenyra his heir. No matter how she chose to live or what she chose to do she was the rightful heir to the crown per the king. That said viserys could have prevented just about all of this if dealt with the usurpers when they were obviously plotting against the crown. Particularly otto Hightower. Otto should have been beheaded to make an example. Viserys 💯 set his daughter up for failure. He allowed it to happen and deserves quite a bit of the blame for the dance.

[@Sleepyboi2]

I agree completely. However you also gotta say that Rhaenyra didn’t do much for herself either. She left the Capitol and her father behind and kept a distance from politics which was basically an open door for dissenters

[@stargirl5037]

Yes, the heir who wants to pass the throne to a bastard. War would be inevitable because of that. If Viserys were smart, he would have disinherited her, and then everything would be alright. And btw there are laws that even kings must obey

[@malcolmferguson4869]

"The House that puts family first will always triumph over the House that puts the whims and wishes of its sons & daughters first." - Tywin Lannister

[@felipebattisti8507]

Your videos are so cool. Westeros nerds are served

[@RS-bn1ty]

As stupid all this was, I’m still glad the blacks made it through with R’s son Aegon

[@ivanln1684]

Team green

[@7deuc2e38]

I never thought about this but it made no sense for Jace to send Aegon and Viserys overseas to an unknown situation that was undoubtedly far more dangerous than just sending them to the north when he had such a bond with the Starks. They would have been isolated and almost guaranteed to be safe

[@margaretconnor5623]

It might have been the winter that prevented him from doing so. Winter had come and it was why the Starks said they came to die for the dragon queen. There wasn't enough food so they rode south with the intention of dying to give their families a better chance at making it through the winter. It's possible Jace didn't want to risk his brothers being killed by the harsh northern conditions in winter

[@7deuc2e38]

@@margaretconnor5623 that's a good point though if that's the case then just send them to the Vale, they wanted a dragon rider and Aegon had Stormcloud. Seems a safer bet than just hoping they'll make it overseas

[@olafharoldsonnii4713]

Is Viserys dead?

[@ShadedSage]

I blame the hightowers honestly

[@velvetalex4766]

Aegon II was a horrible King. He didn’t even want it. Cole the hole convinced him.

[@christophertracy7136]

At least Rhaynera was the the true Queen. He didn't want to be King!

[@umiumes]

It is pretty wild to think Targaryens ruled longer without dragons than with…

[@Some_Call_Me_Pietro]

I'd say the Battle of the Gullet wasn't lost by the Black, but it was certainly a pyrrhic victory.

[@debamlyabanerjee4067]

it was lost because the blacks lost there only source of wealth greens have the hightowers who controlled old Town, both house lannisters who controlled casterly rock and lannisport, redwynes who controlled Arbor and geens Also holds Kingslanding treasure blacks only had valeryons wealth with hightide burned all the wealth gone with it

[@Thrawn23.]

They lost Jace and a large portion of the Velaryon Navy. The greens specificly Aemond made some questionable moves afterword but this was a green victory

[@jay-1800]

Both of them probably would’ve went on to become unremarkable rulers. I do think Rhaenyra would make the better ruler if her ascension was uncontested. Mainly down to Aegon being so unlikable. I really want to see how season 2 handles Aemond’s return to Kingslanding following the Lucerys incident. Otto scorns him and his mom prays for the mothers mercy but Aegon celebrates. Also based on the way they’ve treated Aemonds character in the show I think there will be more malicious intent behind Aemond and Vhagar’s actions at Rooks Rest

[@yusufraage8554]

He is gonna brag that killing his 12 year old cousin was a win because he took out a dragon rider or else he will look weak, Aemond is stupid but not stupid enough to tell people that he couldnt control his dragon. Remember he was the last dragon rider to connect with a dragon he is still insecure out that.

[@thalmoragent9344]

​@yusufraage8554 Yeah, it'll be an accident, no one will believe him, so he will do what Tyrion told to Jon. "Wear it like armor"

[@thalmoragent9344]

Aegon may not celebrate, maybe he just believes Aemond's explanation when no one else does

[@michaelnkomphela8231]

@@yusufraage8554 lol. Loser.

[@Shannon-vv6rr]

but him killing Luke and Arrax was toned-down for the show so how will he be more malicious than the books? In the books he wanted to kill Luke, he made no mistake, Vhagar wasn't out of control, she was following exactly what he wanted, and Aemond even found Lukes body after him and Vhagar chomped him and carved Luke's eyes out after to 'present them as a gift'

[@-_--qn4mu]

So aegon winsin the end , but what cost and and sunfere is so loyal to him poor baby boy 😢

[@mattavery7581]

In the dance it wasn't about who won but who's left afterwards.

[@RayGainbows]

Havent read the books but i love spoilers. They tend to make me actually want to read them. Im obsessed with ASOIAF

[@ChaosLierLen]

Aemond should have been king.

[@Thevitz623]

How Otto Hightower tore Westeros apart

[@jamiswamp]

I’ve always pondered on who would’ve made the better monarch, should each of them reign in peactime. I’ve leaned towards Rhaenyra, but both of them had very bad education in this specific matter. Also they did some crimes and treasons in their youth, so I’d say there is like a 51% versus a 49% each of them would be a good ruler. It all comes circling back to Viserys I, in the end.

[@myasuniverse1327]

I think Rhaenyra was raised for the throne, like her whole life she was at the small council as a cupbearer or a member. I'm not trying to say she would have been a perfect ruler, but I would say she would've been well prepared and educated and had the right temperament for it. What I also like about the show is from the first episode. It was titled " Heirs of the Dragon" and in that episode without actual titles or war we see Rhaenyra and Daemon (potential heirs of the time) as they are, naturally. The scenes that stand out to me for Rhaenyra to be a good ruler. Rhaenyra's scene with Alicent and at the tournament. Rhaenyra could've been an amazing queen and though her bad choices in her youth, they still aren't morally unforgivable. However, it is known. Targaryen don't do well with loss, and I think it is sad to say that The Great Rhaenyra we could've had, died with her sons.

[@bailey316]

Saying this under the video with the quote about aegon casually watching young kids fighting and pleasuring him is kinda crazy ngl 😭😭 Rhaenyra might not have been the best queen ever but she loved her sons and wouldn’t cause harm for enjoyment

[@yasmina3999]

​@@bailey316 1. It was stupid to canonize this testimony, since Mushroom is known for his dirty rumours. I'm sure they won't canonize what he says about Rhaenyra wanting to send Alicent and Helaena to brothers to be raped till they give births to bastards 2. Even though, Aegon has a better small council and his own good qualities.

[@maxpotapenko4632]

I'd say Aegon actually. Viserys didn't care to educate Rhaenyra on how to actually rule prob bc he didn't know that himself. So to me it all comes down to who surrounds the monarch: Aegon would have Otto and Alicent whispering to his ear. Alicent is a fool and Otto is a practical man, sure, he's unlikable, but he actually wants what's good for the realm, he tried to prevent the Dance, but nobody listened. Rhaenyra on the other hand has Daemon who's just a bloodthirsty maniac however sexy and cool he is. Sure, she also has Corlys, but Daemon would undoubtedly have a strong say in Rhaenyra's decisions. Viserys' best decision was to actually listen to Otto and keep his maniac brother as far away from the throne as possible. EDIT: also on the side note, Aegon did not exactly yearn for the throne. Yes he was the second child and understood that he likely wouldn't be king, so it's possible that's why, however a fact is a fact. Aegon could as well have just kicked back and let the Small Council run the country, which wouldn't be terrible tbh bc again, Otto wants what's best for the country

[@ezzo77]

​@maxpotapenko4632 I don't think Otto cares for the country that much. He only cares for his own interests. It would work as long as the country's interests aligned with his but as soon as they don't he will push for his interests above the country's.

[@Mizmoon2020]

Great video. You earned my sub.

[@hclw3589]

Aemond really fucked them by trying to get daemon coles army would never have been ambushed if he didn’t decide to stay in the river lands.

[@Darth_Nox13]

Doesn't matter, both sides lost in the end

[@soyusmaximus7176]

I blame Viserys. He had so many opportunities to prevent what was coming, but insisted on sticking his head in the sand and ensuring war.

[@TheShadowcomet]

I really pity Rhaenyra and Aegon, they were put up against each other and they paid a high price in their children. When they were young none of them wanted to rule. Rheanyra wanted to ride and fight with her Dragon, the cool stuff and Aegon did not saw himself fit for the role (in a sense he was really mature in his self jugdment) and never wanted the responsibility. And giving Rheanyra grew in the responsibility if Vyseris simply let Deamon become King or letting him marry Rhaenyra from the start there would be no discussion and if Otto and Alicent would not have put Aegon in a role he did not wanted or was fit for to begin with. They could have been great siblings. Both of them made mistakes while Rhaenyra should have been more understanding of what happend between Luke and Aemond and not been only about the badmouthing of her sons maybe Aemond would never grew to hate Luke like that. Aegon should have never been celebrating Lukes death. He learnt what it meant to lose a child.

[@t-rizzle0509]

💯 agree. Aegon knew he would suck as a king and Rhaenyra, while not wanting the crown initially, grew to accept the responsibility in honor of her father. If Viserys wasn’t so spiteful towards Daemon and kept him as heir, he could’ve simply allowed him and Rhaenyra to marry. PROBLEM SOLVED.

[@Thrawn23.]

Even if Rhaenyra was more understanding of the Luke/Aemond incident, Aemond would want vengence. That's part of the reason why I consider their fight to be the true start of the Dance since that wasn't suppose to happen

[@Alucard-1-level]

Correction the Valyrians had dragons just like Targaryens those were the remaining Houses of Old Valyria.

[@domonation1]

Ummmmm what happened to sheep stealer and Nettles?

[@jankameier9677]

If I remember correctly they just left, because of all the senseless dieing.

[@velvetalex4766]

In the show? Rhaena will claim Sheepstealer.

[@kingkongchief1177]

Rhaenyra was the rightful heir. She was chosen by the king to be the heir and made all the lords of Westeros swear fealty to her. The kings words are law. Otto and Alicent caused the dance of the dragons to happen. All they had to do was send a raven to Rhaenyra and tell her that her Father is dead and to come to kings landing as the new ruler of Westeros. But no they chose treason and power instead. And if Rhaenyra truly saw Aegon and her other siblings as a threat and wanted them dead she would’ve pulled a Cersei and killed them already. But she didn’t because he she didn’t wanna kill her own siblings. She even tried to wed her eldest son to her half sister Halaena to show Alicent and Otto that she wanted peace and love between their families and that she was sick of the fighting between them.

[@xytech7432]

Rhaenyra wasn't the rightful heir, that was Daemon. She became the heir when her father chose her and MADE all the lords swear fealty. If they didn't they probably would of been branded as traitors. The king was dead, his words mean squat and many of the lords that did swear fealty are dead. Plus there's Aegon now who is the kings oldest son. Rhaenyra has proven time and time again not to be good at politics, insulting potential allies, birthing bastards and passing them as legitimate. So take a female ruler, make them not so bright, and have there closet confidante and later husband be someone as unstable as Daemon. And you can see why many lords aren't really OK with this.

[@bluebay1031]

@@xytech7432 She *was* though? Like if you wanna talk in terms of political norms and the standard line of succession? Sure, it was Daemon. But at the end of the day, the current ruler (if capable) has final say on who the heir is. If he chose Rhaenyra before his death and ailing mind, then yes, she is the rightful heir. Especially considering there’s no actual law that prevents a woman from ascending the iron throne, just social tradition and perceived inferiority of the sex. Pretty much every king that chose their heir before they died in GOT had that choice accepted, regardless of how others felt about the aforementioned choice. Rhaenyra’s no different. Viserys said she was his rightful heir, so that’s what she is. (This is also ignoring the fact that Aegon wasn’t particularly skilled as a ruler either, both due to his only ambition to ascend being the falsified threat of death, he never actually wanted to rule or had any interest in it until Alicent convinced him he’d literally fucking die if he didn’t due to manipulations by her pos father, and due to having someone like Otto hissing in his ear)

[@xytech7432]

@bluebay1031 When Viserys was alive, Rhaenrya was the rightful heir. The moment your dead however, your words and wants don't matter. You're dead you get no say. And the kings job is to look out for the kingdom. The moment you stop doing that, you stop being the king and you lose credibility. Him choosing Rhaenrya broke a very important and closely followed tradition. Traditions especially in medieval world were more important then laws. The inherentance and succession traditions were inspired by real life ones. Traditions valued above laws. Aegon didn't really want to rule, he was nothing but a puppet to 2 strong politically smart proven rulers. Rhaenrya wasn't a good ruler. She multiple times made horrible decisions and actively hurt her rule. And her right hand is Daemon, a hot headed sadistic killer.

[@mackmitchell94]

@@xytech7432yes I guess Rhaenyra has proven herself bad at all those things. Aegon has proven himself great at raping women, fathering way more bastards than Rhaenyra ever did, getting wasted off wine, jacking off out of windows, and putting his own children into fighting rings where they fight til the death . As bad as I guess Rhaenyra is at politics, she’s still 1000 times better than Aegon lmao, that’s where the argument goes out the window . So why is it that the Hightowers want Aegon on the throne if he’s so shit? Because he’s a Hightower, and because the fools thought that sorry POS would actually listen to them once he became king lmao. “It’s hard to put a leash on a dog, after you’ve put a crown on its head”. Otto Hightower plotted all those years just to be dismissed by that shitty king and then get beheaded by Daemon (which was long overdue) when Rhaenyra took kings landing anyways . Alicent groomed her sons all those years to be POS just to die alone locked in Maegors holdfast missing her children she helped get dead and hating the color green .

[@xytech7432]

@mackmitchell94 Aegon has never pissed off powerful peoole she needs to be allies, he has never slept with a person as important as a king guard, he has never tried to pass his bastards as true born, what he does have is competent people in his corner who will be the ones leading. Aegon is weak, easy to please, and has stated that they don't want to be king. He is a puppet. Rhaenrya wants to rule, wants to be in control even when she has proven to be bad at it. She wants to put bastards on the 2 most powerful seats in the kingdom. Both are horrible people. But only one has people who can and will lead while also potentially teaching him.

[@queenxx1690]

They made Aegon so lame whitewash Rhaenyra and Alicent, we did not even get to see Sunfyre or Dreamfyre

[@heyitzaimee]

nobody really cares about them being whitewash we just wanna the dragons at this point 😂

[@queenxx1690]

@@heyitzaimee who are we ? Without good story and character you will not enjoy cgi dragons. Also this one episode 7 which was so dark you could not see anything not even faces of actors they need to work on their night episodes because it was long night 2.0

[@heyitzaimee]

@@queenxx1690 most of the fandom want to see aegon and healena dragons now

[@queenxx1690]

@@heyitzaimee You will see Sunfyre but Dreamfyre I would not be so sure

[@Spooooderman183]

Since when has aegon been not lame lmao

[@shi.budgets]

Once Viserys had a son he should have named a new heir. The guilt he felt over Aemma clouded his judgement when it came to Rhaenyra.

[@captainahab9602]

Facts

[@kareemelrefaay5300]

It's a miracle that all the targeryans didn't have tails and were mostly healthy and normal looking and while a lot of them were crazy but not enough as hundreds or maybe thousands of years and generations of incest would completely destroy any bloodline no matter how healthy or strong it originally was

[@nerdelf3704]

Otto is the main villain here

[@chronicallygilliann]

Otto, Alicent and Viserys*

[@DavidCarradinesBelt]

Much like it was Bobby Bs fault for getting in bed with the Lannisters, it was Viserys fault for getting in bed with Otto Hightower, the Hightowers werent fundamentally rotten from what I remember so I wont put Otto on the rest of them.

[@nimitzgamingmodernwarships9980]

Just think this all could have been avoided if the king father stepped down and let his duster reign in his lifetime.

[@BlakeR207]

why doesn't anyone talk about how Rhaenyra children are actually bastards....

[@033MMAFiend]

In hindsight, Rhaenyra’s demise was not giving Rosby & Stokeworth to her dragonriders (HH & UW). Lesson : Inspire loyalty amongst supporters through generosity, lavish gifts, and rewards lest they withdraw their support, or worse, support your rivals.

[@iamkonner4813]

Considering what she gave Hugh and Ulf I’d say she did that exactly. I think her bigger fault was underestimating their ambitions, it’s not mentioned in the video but Rhaenyra also considered giving them the Westerlands and Stormlands but I think it was Corlys who talked her out of it. If she thought about them correctly she would’ve done that and won the war.

[@danika9411]

​@@iamkonner4813 I think one problem was also not checking the personality and background properly before sending them to claim dragons, especially dragons that are stronger than your own. They just let everyone try to claim dragons 😅

[@iamkonner4813]

@@danika9411 Jace was pretty desperate so I’d agree, I think the bigger issue with the handling of the Dragonseeds though was underestimating Hugh and Ulf’s ambition.

[@danika9411]

@@iamkonner4813 Yeah, they didn't think they would be that bad.

[@iamkonner4813]

@@danika9411 Yeah, they sort of just saw two people born in Dragonstone as bastards so of course getting knighted and granted some small lands would be enough.

[@mtnk096]

The biggest mistake was Viserys marrying Alicent.. that was already a tragedy foreboding 😂 their father always kept making bad decisions...what to expect with this outcome it was already inevitable. He should just let Rhaenyra marry Daemon and gave him the iron throne.

[@debamlyabanerjee4067]

Viserys should have named his son as his heir because women can't took the iron throne and daemon would be a terrible ruler 😁 if viserys named his son as heir then war would have never happened

[@andorea11]

Daemon NEVER should've been an opción, terrible ruler

[@leannewilson6042]

​@@andorea11In those times LOYALTY was everything, it kept people alive or got people killed...the 2 most loyal people to Viserys was Daemon and Rhaenyra..yet they were the furtherest from him.

[@yoonkook5222]

Honestly are you serious? Daemon would be a bad king, he doesn't care about the smallfolks, he only likes blood and war.

[@jenniferjames3354]

​@@debamlyabanerjee4067 should have betrothed Aegon to rhaenyra

[@spicypineapple2778]

Aegon the conqueror didn’t cut himself on the throne. That was him gripping the letter BUT it’s never verified why his hand was bleeding. Could it have been the letter being poisoned or something? Could it have been him gripping it so hard he cut into his hand? We don’t know but the passage doesn’t say he was gripping the throne when that event went down.

[@CrusaderChris]

I’m all for tin foil, but i don’t see the purpose it serves here. It’s heavily implied the throne cuts Aegon. He is seated on the throne, reads the letter, and only when he stands up from the throne do the people of the court notice blood dripping from his hand. If it was a paper cut, it wouldn’t have been a remarkable about of blood. If it was poison, that’d be insane for Nymor/Deria to do, and Aegon would not have let that slide, even if they did have Rhaenys captive like some theories suggest. The letter itself was enough of a threat; poison wasn’t needed to get the message across. There are zero clues that anything but the throne caused the cut, and it’s implied that it was the throne. No reason for it not to be the throne. Tin foil has to have a reason.

[@naleybaby]

Even if Viserys didn’t marry Alicent there would still be war as the realm didn’t want a female ruler.

[@PZY.Studios]

I was just about to search this I'm rewatching right now and was wondering some details

[@k1e1v23]

oh shit your videos are sick

[@bbtfan7957]

A war between two spoiled children.

[@walkerlamebrain]

Rhaenyra would've been a great queen IF only the greens didn't collude to usurp her throne.

[@lonemotheo1964]

Corlys was a horrible hand

[@debater452]

Rhaenyra was a terrible ruler

[@McLawvin]

Can't wait for season 2

[@ivelinaivanova3334]

Hey man, great video! Thanks for using my Rhaenyra art in your video!

[@dbcooper4917]

I blame Otto Hightower

[@alexander_marvelon]

4:02 what a legend😂

[@garrisonjones1827]

Small voice in the background: perhaps this dance could have been avoided if everyone just sat down at the table, talked and expressed their grievances to one another, then none of this would have happened

[@CrusaderChris]

It’s too bad Westeros hasn’t invented family therapists yet

[@garrisonjones1827]

@@CrusaderChris Even with therapy, is there any psychologist willing or mentally prepared to handle that family