Daenaera Velaryon

Daenaera Velaryon

Daenaera Velaryon, by Rae Lavergne©
Title	Queen
Allegiance	House Velaryon House Targaryen
Race	Valyrian
Culture	crownlands
Born	In 127 ᴀᴄ[1]
Spouse	Aegon III Targaryen
Book(s)	The World of Ice & Fire (mentioned)

Lady Daenaera Velaryon was the queen consort and second wife of King Aegon III Targaryen, and a member of House Velaryon.^[2] Daenaera was the daughter of Daeron Velaryon, who was a cousin of Lord Alyn Velaryon.^[2]

Appearance

Daenaera was a "surpassingly beautiful" child, and was also called beautiful when she came to adulthood.^[2]

History

Young King Aegon III Targaryen's first marriage to Princess Jaehaera Targaryen had ended tragically in 133 ᴀᴄ with Jaehaera's apparent suicide. The Hand of the King, Lord Unwin Peake, attempted to betroth his own daughter to the 13-year-old king, but was prevented in this by Aegon's regents. However, Lord Peake did not give up his attempts, and declared a great ball in 133 ᴀᴄ to find a new wife for the king. Daenaera was only six years old when Aegon's half-sisters, the princesses Rhaena and Baela Targaryen, presented her to him, the last of a thousand maidens.^[2]

Lord Peake was greatly frustrated by Aegon's choice of Daenaera. His efforts to have the marriage put aside were opposed by both Aegon and the other regents, and resulted in his resignation as Hand in 134 ᴀᴄ. Later, an attempted poisoning was made on Aegon and Daenaera, which resulted in the death of Aegon's friend and food taster Gaemon Palehair.^[2]

While Aegon and Daenaera were married young, the marriage was not consummated until long after Daenaera had flowered. Aegon was very melancholy, and had come to dislike being touched, even by the hand of his beautiful queen.^[2] But eventually Aegon called Daenaera to his bed, and they had five children in their marriage: Daeron (born 143 ᴀᴄ), Baelor (born 144 ᴀᴄ), Daena (born 145 ᴀᴄ), Rhaena (born 147 ᴀᴄ), and Elaena (born 150 ᴀᴄ). King Aegon III died in 157 ᴀᴄ.^[3]

Legacy

Daenaera's two sons reigned after her husband's death. Daeron I Targaryen, the Young Dragon, became famous for his conquest of Dorne, though his conquest lasted only for four years.^[3]

When Daeron died childless, his younger brother was crowned Baelor I Targaryen in 161 ᴀᴄ. Baelor, who had been married to Daenaera's eldest daughter Daena, had his marriage undone, and locked his three sisters in what would become known as the Maidenvault. Baelor the Blessed was known for being pious, and fasted often, and long. One such fast eventually killed him.^[4]

During her captivity in the Maidenvault, Daena had an affair with her cousin, Prince Aegon. She gave birth to a bastard son, named Daemon, in the end of Baelor's reign. In 182 ᴀᴄ King Aegon IV gave Daemon the Targaryen sword Blackfyre, and Daemon choose the name Blackfyre for himself.^[5] Daemon was legitimized on Aegon's deathbed in 184 ᴀᴄ, and House Blackfyre eventually caused several wars that threatened the Targaryen dynasty.

Daenaera's second daughter, Rhaena, joined the Faith and became a septa.^[4]

The youngest girl, Elaena, was married three times, and gave birth to seven children.^[4] Her first two children were illegitimate, fathered by Lord Alyn Velaryon: Jon and Jeyne Waters. Descendants of Jon live until this day, under the name Longwaters. Subsequently she married Lord Ossifer Plumm, by whom she had one child, Viserys Plumm (though he is rumoured to have actually been fathered by King Aegon IV); and Lord Ronnel Penrose, by whom she had four children (Robin Penrose, Laena Penrose, Jocelyn Penrose, and Joy Penrose). Her final marriage to Ser Michael Manwoody was childless.

Family

Ancestors

Descendants

References