A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: What Happens to Daeron? Fate Breakdown

Reflecting on the fate of Daeron Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, what happens to him, and how it shapes the Targaryen legacy.

Credit:- Steffan Hill/HBO
The new HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, brings more Targaryens into focus, including Daeron Targaryen, Maekar’s eldest son, infamously known as ‘Daeron the Drunken.’

More interested in wine and brothels than royal duty, Daeron is portrayed by Henry Ashton. The actor described the character as “wonderfully flawed,” as he told Radio Times,

I think he’s he’s a really important character because he bridges the gap from the Targaryens to Dunk and Egg a little bit, and he sort of shows what it’s like to grow up in such a brutal family.

He first appears during Dunk’s journey to Ashford, claiming he had dreamt of Dunk. It’s later revealed that young Aegon (Egg) was meant to squire for Daeron, but Daeron shirked his responsibilities, hiding in an inn to avoid the tourney. It caused Egg to seek out Dunk instead, setting the story in motion.

When discovered, Daeron lies to the Kingsguard, worsening Dunk’s predicament after his clash with Aerion. His actions indirectly contribute to the tragic chain of events leading to Prince Baelor’s death. Daeron’s arc continues beyond this point, ultimately ending in tragedy, with lasting consequences for the Targaryen lineage.

What Happens to Daeron Targaryen After The Hedge Knight?

After the events of The Hedge Knight, Daeron Targaryen largely fades into the background of George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg. In The Sworn Sword, he does not physically appear, but is referenced in conversations between Dunk and Egg.

Daeron Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | Credit: HBO Max

By the time of The Mystery Knight, Daeron remains absent, yet his presence lingers through prophecy. Aegon reveals that his brother continues to have dragon dreams, similar to the vision that foreshadowed Baelor Breakspear’s death, when Daeron told Dunk he saw a dragon falling on him.

It is in The World of Ice and Fire that Daeron’s fate becomes clear. After King Aerys I dies and Maekar I ascends the Iron Throne, Daeron becomes heir but prefers the title of Prince of Summerhall.

He fathers a daughter, Vaella, in 222 AC, though she is described as simple-minded. Ultimately, Daeron dies of a pox. However, Maester Aemon later suggested that the weight of his dragon dreams contributed to his death.

His death, followed closely by those of Aerion and King Maekar, destabilizes the royal line, placing Daeron at the center of the succession crisis.

Did Daeron Targaryen’s Death Trigger the 233 AC Succession Crisis?

Daeron Targaryen’s death did not single-handedly cause the 233 AC succession crisis, but it played a key role in creating it. As the eldest son of King Maekar I, Daeron was originally first in line to the Iron Throne. However, he died before his father.

 
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Daeron Targaryen was already seen as an unfit ruler by many due to his habits and lack of interest in responsibility. Still, his position mattered. When he died, his only child, Vaella, became his heir, but she was widely considered unfit to rule due to being simple-minded.

The situation worsened because Daeron’s younger brother, Aerion Brightflame, also died before Maekar, leaving behind only an infant son, Maegor. By the time King Maekar died in 233 AC, the throne had no clear, strong successor.

The remaining potential heirs were Aerion Brightflame’s son, Maegor, and Prince Aegon, the youngest son of Maekar. After a Great Council was called to avoid conflict, many feared a long regency and worried Maegor might inherit his father’s cruelty and instability.

That left Prince Aegon. Though he had royal blood and experience, some nobles looked down on him for spending his youth traveling with a hedge knight. There was even a brief discussion about releasing Maester Aemon from his vows so he could claim the throne, but he refused.

In the end, Aegon was chosen as king by the Great Council. Despite doubts, he was seen as the most stable and capable contender among the remaining heirs. He was crowned Aegon V, later known as Aegon the Unlikely, because he had once seemed so far removed from the line of succession.

What do you think Daeron Targaryen’s fate? Was Aegon V the right choice, or should Maegor have been given the throne despite the potential risks? Share your thoughts with us.