I think we can all agree that Game of Thrones‘ ending was a disappointment. Thankfully, House of the Dragon is making up for that. It has everything fans could want and is packed full of interesting and morally ambiguous characters. However, some may be wondering about the Mad King – a key character in the backstory of Game of Thrones – and asking “who is the Mad King in House of the Dragon?”
Before we get into that, it’s important to explain the context of House of the Dragon within the wider Game of Thrones universe.
House of the Dragon takes place almost 200 years before its predecessor. The prequel series follows the heyday of the House Targaryen, back when they ruled Westeros and sat on the Iron Throne.
The House Targaryen is led by patriarch King Viserys I. The series begins with his ascension to the throne before skipping forward nine years into his reign. As the show explains, this is 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen.
In House of the Dragon, Viserys is shown as being desperate for a male heir. He already has a daughter, Rhaenyra, but he hopes for a son to succeed him to the Iron Throne.
In the first episode, Viserys I’s wife, Queen Aemma, tragically dies in child birth. Their new son passed shortly after, too. This led to Verserys declaring Rhaenyra as his heir and Princess of Dragonstone.
However, Viserys later had a son – Aegon – with his next wife Alicent Hightower. This brings Viserys’ succession into question.
This sets the scene for the eventual Targaryen civil war of succession between Rhaenyra and Aegon.
But what about the Mad King? Does he factor into all of this, given he was mentioned extensively in Game of Thrones? Who is the Mad King in House of the Dragon?
Who is the Mad King in House of the Dragon?
Fans will remember the Mad King as the final member of House Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne prior to its fall. He is mentioned throughout Game of Thrones, however the show starts after his reign has already ended.
This may mean some viewers are expecting him to appear in House of the Dragon, which is a prequel to Game of Thrones.
Who is the Mad King in House of the Dragon? The Mad King is Aerys II Targaryen. He is not in House of the Dragon, which takes place almost 200 years before Daenerys – the Mad King’s daughter – is born.
Aerys II was the son of Aegon V Targaryen. He was the father of Rhaegar, Viserys (not King Viserys I), and Daenerys Targaryen. Aerys II was initially a benevolent King. However, his incestuous lineage eventually resulted in severe mental illness and insanity.
He was deposed during Robert’s Rebellion by Robert Baratheon and murdered by Jaime Lannister, his Kingsguard. Game of Thrones begins after these events have taken place. We know this because Robert Baratheon is already King in the first episode.
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