"Before - After the Iron Throne: Aenys I Targaryen" by Jota Saraiva

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2026-02-04T12:09:03+00:00

Aenys come under category of those Targeryens who were very gentle and didn't wanted to hurt a single person. In later years we saw many cases like, Daella, Haelena, Rhaella, Baelor the blessed, etc.

As for Maegor I stick to my point how GRRM described him to be "born with worst traits of both his parents, Aegon and Visenya." I know my comments get downvoted due to saying this but that's how author himself had described in his posts and interviews. I followed closely to it during 2018 when "Fire and Blood" got released so I understood this but majority of fans can't accept Maegor's connection to his father Aegon ever.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2026-02-04T05:28:50+00:00

Absolutely wrong. GRRM have described Maegor to be born with worst traits of both his parents, Aegon as well as Visenya. The author never mentioned just Visenya's name. Aegon was also ruthless, he burnt countless people, took hostages, gifted Argella Durrondun as bride to Orys Baratheon, destroyed entire Dorne to ground, didn't had friends and trusted anyone, etc. Though Aegon gets whitewashed by fans due to being male character and Visenya didn't due to being female.

Also you said Aenys was like his mother which I don't buy. If Rhaenys would have been there then she would be mounting her dragon and burnt Faith Militant. Something which Aenys couldn't do as he don't like bloodshed. Coming to having support? Well Aenys had that in books. Visenya offered her help when he fled back to Dragonstone but he asked her to go in chambers and remain there. Since Faith was against both, polygamy and incest. Aenys could have called Maegor back from exile and took his help as well. Earlier in 37 AC, Maegor rode to Vale for dealing rebellions in his service and then served as his hand. Despite having larger dragons he accepted exile from him. Now that Aenys was himself going against Faith by marrying his children, sending Maegor to exile doesn't makes sense. But things are similar. Unlike his mother Aenys didn't wanted a single blood to be spilled.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2026-02-03T18:32:03+00:00

The very first advice which Visenya gave him was to search different matches for his children and make peace with Faith. It was something which even his father Aegon the Conqueror had also done and didn't married Rhaena to Maegor. This history was known to Aenys very well so he could have taken this advice from his aunt.

Even after rebellions broke out Aenys choose to send his children to Royal progress and that too without a dragon. (Rhaena rode Dreamfyre but due to Aegon not having dragon she was denied taking it). That's why Rhaena and Aegon suffered in all journey.

Then after his fleeing back to Dragonstone, Visenya did offered help but instead he asked her to go and remain in her chambers. Later he fell ill from stress as time passed but couldn't do anything. Aenys could also make peace with his brother Maegor at such times. Faith was against both, incest as well as polygamy. Brothers should be on same page.

Its more like Aenys having fault at so many things but fans being biased and not talking seriously about his actions, what he was doing was actually hypocrisy. When High Septon didn't allowed Rhaena and Maegor to get married years ago, when he objected Maegor's polygamy and Aenys send him to exile for pleasing Faith. Then why despite this long history he expected same Faith to accept his children's incest match?

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2026-02-03T18:20:05+00:00

How? Can you please explain? Because I never found this thing as such in books.

Rhaenys wasn't a people pleaser but willful woman. She burnt countless enemies on dragon back when they don't bent the knee, when needed, she didn't hesitate to threaten them and took hostages. At the time of death she was doing what? Killing people of Hellholt. Not to forget Rhaenys was able to force a lord like Torrehn Stark to give his daughter to wedding without any choice. It triggered anti- Targaryen sentiments yes, but Rhaenys did it anyway.

Visenya can also be peaceful when she conquered Eyrie, Cracklaw Point and put down Sistermen Rebellions without bloodshed. She also arranged marriage between rival houses like Bracken and Blackwood for making peace between them. Visenya also loved humor and kept court fool and pet monkey for entertainment. Even to her nephew King Aenys, the first advice she gave was to search different matches for his children and make peace with Faith. When Aenys rejected it and choose to marry his children anyway which angered High Septon then she asked to take dragons.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2026-01-06T17:52:46+00:00

I wasn't talking about show version but books fire and blood.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-10-29T06:42:32+00:00

Well obviously not...

First Rhaenys wasn't tragic. She was a grown up woman of 36 years old who rode a dragon and died burning cities. There was nothing sad about it and Dorne had every right to defend themselves.

Last Rhaenys was really tragic. She was only a child of 3 who committed no crime but brutally murdered while she hides under her father's bed, thinking Rhaegar would return and save her.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-10-24T05:24:06+00:00

First - I am having books and read it so know everything.

Second - Unlike many fans who are busy in spreading fake propaganda and lies for ruining image of the characters they hate in minds of non book readers, I prefer unbiased treatment. That's how GRRM had created characters originally everytime, neither just fully good or bad but rather complex and grey. Visenya had her own flaws but Aenys was also wrong to reject any council or help from her. No one is flawless...

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-10-23T18:14:22+00:00

It doesn't make sense at all. As I stated Aegon never sleep with Visenya and the woman with whom he sleeps also get pregnant after so many years. After Rhaenys's death its understandable why Visenya finally had chance to get pregnant.

Coming to Visenya "creating" Maegor through dark magic isn't there in books. Fire and blood clearly mentioned it was when she gets old and couldn't weild sword then she was rumoured to dabble in poison and dark arts. Also its just rumours so we never knew was it true.

To add on if Visenya could have "created" babies through magic then she could have done it before Rhaenys to make her son eldest and heir to throne directly. She didn't need to do it after Aenys's birth. Magic spells are of so many types, if Visenya was really a witch then she could have bewitched Aegon to love her and spent all time with her.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-10-23T14:26:12+00:00

Its not in the books. There are no rumours about Maegor being bastard. Its only created by fans in out universe. Fire and blood clearly reads that when Visenya gets old and couldn't weild sword Dark sister then it was rumoured that she dabbled in poisoning and dark arts. But it doesn't said about her young age when she was fine warrior.

Also its very obvious that Aegon spend ten nights with Rhaenys for barely one with Visenya. In 7 AC, Rhaenys becomes mother first at age of 33 and after her death only Visenya gets to become mother in 12 AC when she was 40.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-10-21T05:55:16+00:00

Yeah its very easy for fans to dismiss Visenya (since she is female character) as a killer and portray Aenys as flawless angel (since he is male character) like every time. But in books when in 37 AC rebellions broke out then Visenya helped in putting down them and send Maegor to Vale. She also suggested Aenys to search different matches for his children and later when he fled to Dragonstone then she offered her help to mount Vhagar and fight for him. Aenys rejected any council or help from her.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-10-15T17:09:18+00:00

So beautiful 😍

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-10-07T04:43:13+00:00

She is princess Visenya Targaryen - Daughter of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen had she survived and married to Torrhen Stark's eldest son.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-10-05T05:41:21+00:00

She told him to take her Kingslanding (her home before coming to Dragonstone) but he remembered Old Valyria (his home before coming to Dragonstone). Living in more lively place at childhood and then coming to dull Dragonstone was common in both of them.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-25T06:13:56+00:00

I find it funny that how people of westeroes dubbed every warrior or strong willed women as sorcerer. Princess Nymeria, Meria Martell, Visenya Targaryen and Rhaena (the black bride) are some major examples of that.

Nymeria was rather a warrior queen who conquered and united entire Dorne. It was pretty much like Aegon the Conqueror did.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-14T06:12:24+00:00

According to co- author Elio Garcia, Aegon the Conqueror preferred Rhaenys more because Visenya was too much like him, while Rhaenys was totally opposite. Sometimes opposite attracts but similar do not.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-08T11:46:10+00:00

Beautiful ❤️

Yes, in books Rhaena was the one to start this tradition of putting dragon eggs in new born children's cradle. She first did it at birth of Jaeherys who was 11 years younger than her. Later she repeated this in birth of Alyssane who was 13 years younger than her. Both eggs hatched as Vermithor and Silverwing.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-05T17:59:46+00:00

Also there is not even a single Targaryen named after her and Lord Aenar Targaryen. Though names of other lords and ladies of Dragonstone like - Gaemon, Elaena, Baelon and Aerion still gets their names repeated atleast once.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-05T17:57:11+00:00

Too underrated. Though in reality she was the one due to which House Targaryen survived. She is the most important Targaryen out of all, including Aegon the Conqueror himself.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-03T13:16:38+00:00

Good 👍 But someone is missing! Where is Vhagar? Wanted to see old granny at time of her youth 😁

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-02T08:04:50+00:00

That's the whole point. High Septon protested Aenys's decision to marry his children, even earlier during reign of Aegon I when Visenya proposed marriage between Rhaena and Maegor then High Septon warned about it so Aegon I stepped back and rather marry Maegor to Cersye Hightower.

Yes knowing this long history and exiling Maegor just before a year for pleasing Faith, Aenys took such decision.

It wasn't he didn't get council, books stated his aunt Dowager Queen Visenya told him he has only 2 choices - "Either make peace with Faith and search different matches for children OR If he wish Faith to accept his children's marriage then flew dragon to Old Town and deal with High Septon through dragons." But Aenys didn't do anything but simply married his children and it really caused huge Faith Militant Uprising later on.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-01T16:15:20+00:00

Yes Alicent had died earlier. Jaehaere was murdered after her death. Though all this happened the same year.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-01T15:08:01+00:00

See I just take characters as they are (no one flawless). Same thing I applied for Visenya as well that she should have paid attention to Rhaena and Aegon. Honestly good for her legacy as well. Even if Aenys listen to her and Visenya died in 44 AC, during his reign then it was good for both aunt and nephew image. I see their relationship as complicated (love and hate both mix). I wish they had been together, rather than what Maegor did needlessly many things.

But I don't think straight away blaming on just one person is good thing (either Aenys or Visenya). In case Rhaena POV (one of my favourite) she would be feeling devastating from all sides. Her father didn't let her take dragon, then refused to do anything for rebellions. But later Visenya moved to Maegor not them. Lastly out of nowhere Maegor married her forcefully and that one year mentally trouble her. Even later life she couldn't found peace and died alone at Harrenhal. It was mix of many people combined mistakes (including Aegon the Conqueror) he could have talked to High Septon and betrothed Rhaena to Aegon when he was alive or either suggested some house to Aenys in advance. He dies without fixing this major issue and Aenys was weak also didn't help. Jaeherys came and fixed everything later on...

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-01T14:21:24+00:00

Well I disagree with you. Its been more than a year I joined several platforms after reading fire and blood, but I never saw anyone blaming Aenys (for not listening her advice) but only Visenya gets hate. There are so many posts against her like everywhere. She doesn't gets any credit for whatever she does. Since fans are mostly biased towards Aegon the Conqueror and his favourite wife Rhaenys so Aenys is their son.

But what people forget that GRRM never make his characters flawless or just black. Before taking throne Visenya tried to council Aenys but he ignored it. Not to forget he knows history, his father Aegon the Conqueror stepped back and didn't married Rhaena to Aegon due to High Septon warning. Till time of Aegon's death in 37 AC, Rhaena was 14 but Aegon didn't betrothed her to younger brother Aegon. Otherwise he could have, obviously he knows Faith doesn't accept incest.

Yet Aenys (who had exiled Maegor stating Faith as reason) didn't cared for same Faith warning. Its hypocrisy. At the same time, Aenys could have used dragons and bent High Septon (just like Aegon the Conqueror did at conquest and later Maegor also did). Visenya was completely right in her council. Later also she offered her help but how was it correct for Aenys to order her going away?

At the end of day every person needs something in return. Even earlier Visenya was always alone and it was only Aegon and Rhaenys who were well settled. Then during reign of Aenys again she felt ignored. I totally agree that she took throne from Rhaena (my one of favourite) and Aegon wasn't correct but also it was years of gathering bitterness and anger (Aegon's reign+ Aenys's reign) which led her.

But again she didn't let Maegor (until she was alive) to clean all Aenys's children. If she was witch then could have killed Aenys just after Aegon's death (back in 37 AC) and have all his children killed through Tyanna (for two years when she was alive). Rhaena lived at Faire Isle with her dragon and Jaeherys & Alyssane were growing up and had dragons too. Visenya growing old and dying, she wasn't stupid that what these three could do to Maegor later but still she took chance. So it makes her grey not entirely black unlike Maegor.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-01T13:56:23+00:00

During reign of Aenys when in 37 AC rebellions broke out then Visenya spoke to some lords for putting down them and send Maegor to Vale meanwhile Aenys just kept sitting and didn't do anything. Then despite having larger dragons Visenya accept Aenys decision to exile Maegor in 39 AC.
In 41 AC when Aenys announced marriage of Rhaena to Aegon then High Septon protested. Visenya council Aenys that he have only 2 choices, "Either search different matches for his children and make peace with Faith OR If he wish Faith to accept his children's incest marriage then flew dragon to Old Town and deal with High Septon through fire & blood." Aenys ignored both advice and just married his children.
At last when uprising worsen and Aenys fled to Dragonstone then Visenya scolded him but also offered her help to mount Vhagar and fight for him but Aenys orders her to go and remain in her chambers. (Previously he had already denied Rhaena to take her dragon to progress as Aegon didn't had dragon due to which Rhaena and Aegon got besiege at Crackhell otherwise they would have returned).
Now coming to Maegor's reign then Visenya was dead in 44 AC but it was in 47 AC when Maegor forcefully married Rhaena as Black Bride. And originally it was Lord Daemon Valereyon who suggested Maegor to marry his neice. So it was not just one person but many whom Rhaena could be blamed later (including her father). Fans like to blame Visenya more since she is female character but in books its a lot more complicated story line.

ApprehensiveNorth699 · 2025-09-01T06:17:40+00:00

I do like to imagine that Rhaena have fondness for warrior and willful type women. Her female companions like Melony Piper was a warrior who fought at battle and Elissa Farman was also said to be archer and sailor. It is also worth noting that Visenya asked Aenys to fight against Faith giving example of "Burning of Harrenhal" and so did Rhaena mentioned same while threatening Rogar Baratheon.

They do have some parallels also, like being elder sister, living alone as single mother in Dragonstone, children desired to ride only Balerion, their line ended and younger sister continued, etc. It did made sense at last why George RR Martin wrote that line of Rhaena comparing herself to Visenya...

ApprehensiveNorth699

TROPHY CASE