Should Aegon Targaryen be authentic or a mummer dragon in the story Dragonlord?
Added 2024-11-12 05:54:40 +0000 UTCBefore you decide to go with the popular trope that Aegon in the books is a Blackfyre, the whole theory hinges on Quaithe's warning to Daenerys not to trust the mummer's dragon.
Most fans have interpreted this as Aegon Targaryen being a fake and a Blackfyre connecting the kid to Serra, the deceased wife of Illyrio Mopatis.
But this theory has several holes in it. Prophecy itself is a fickle thing, and words can have very different meanings.
In this instance, Quaithe told Daenerys not to trust the Mummer's Dragon. The Dragon, in this context, could mean Aegon. But Mummer's Dragon doesn't mean fake dragon. The literal meaning would mean Varys' Dragon since Varys was once a juggler and worked as a mummer. So, Aegon could be an authentic Targaryen.
Also, the timeline of Serra's death is in dispute. Illyrio says that his wife died a few years before Robert's death during an outbreak of grey plague in Pentos. This implies that Serra was alive and well during Robert's reign. This actually increases Aegon's authenticity because the grey plague never affected Aegon. If he were Serra's (who is supposedly a secret Blackfyre herself, according to fans, even though Maelys the Monstrous killed all the other Blackfyres) son, he'd have been affected, and he'd have been younger than the current Aegon Targaryen.
Also, Aegon was raised by Jon Connington, who was best friends with Rhaegar. Even Jon Con thinks Aegon looks like a good copy of Rhaegar. That adds more authenticity.
Therefore, I believe Aegon is the real deal and is the son of Rhaegar and Elia.
The mental gymnastics some fans try to make the kid into a Blackfyre is amusing. The easier approach would've been to declare the kid a Brightflame. That would've been more believable as the Brightflame line was never declared extinct.
But I understand the general trend and appreciate the secret Blackfyre plot. It gives some closure to House Blackfyre and the resurgence or final settling of the Targaryen civil strife.
So, vote your pick.
PS: Brightflame is the name assigned to the bastard children of Aerion Targaryen, otherwise known as Aerion Brightflame. He is rumoured to have fathered many in Lys during his stay in the city before the third Blackfyre Rebellion forced him to return home.
Comments
I’m confused, didn’t Varys save aegon? How could he do that but then aegon become a blackfyre? Unless you are suggesting aegon somehow died when young and connington switch it up?
omiguh
2025-05-11 18:18:40 +0000 UTCIt’s not that I find the blackfyre theory the most plausible for Aegons existence. It could just as much be that young Griff is just a random boy with Valyrian features prompt up as Aegon Targaryen for the sake of others political gain. My apprehension stems more from the fact that there are already too many supposed secret Targaryen theories out there in the fandom already that another one would be too much to suspend one’s disbelief. Then, there is also the historical precedent. There have been so many supposed rebel leaders that have posed as dead kings and princes that allegedly escaped their previously known fates throughout history and they have never turned out to be the geniune articles.
Simon Grund
2024-12-24 09:46:41 +0000 UTCI don't think it matters, it just depends on how you need him for the story's plot
Isai Navarro
2024-11-13 02:16:14 +0000 UTCI get the blackfyre trope and have read good stories involving it. Just haven't seen a story where Aegon is actually a Targaryen or one that was well done. Regardless of the votes I think you should do what's best for your story and how you wanna take it
Shadowfield
2024-11-12 13:53:36 +0000 UTCThis idea that Jon Con lost face is not accurate. In the books, Kevan Lannister and the Small Council think Aegon is legitimate solely because of Jon Con’s presence beside Aegon. Some Fanfiction authors have manufactured this subtle hate for Jon Con for some strange reason. This is not the ground reality in Westeros. The same goes for House Martell. If they claim Aegon is a Targaryen, that’s a solid confirmation. The one thing to keep in mind is that the people of Westeros are not reading the books written by GRRM. Most fanfiction authors assume that the people of Westeros have some nominal knowledge about everything that is happening or has happened in the past. This is not the case. They don't collectively hate, love, adore or distrust someone. There are many sweeping assumptions about many characters and their standing in Westeros, which realistically have no bearing.
Dragonspectre
2024-11-12 08:01:05 +0000 UTCKeep in mind that everything is written in 1st POV. So you cant put too much credence into what is said. People lie. Look at people’s motives for doing what they do. You make valid points about the Golden company. However the leader is someone known as Homeless Harry. Someone who is known for wanting to go back home to Westeros. Previous leaders maybe cared more about being mercenaries. Varys and Illyrio’s actions make a lot more sense if you go with the blackfyre idea. Varys whole “I serve the realm” schtick is nonsense. Nobody builds a spy organization out of benevolence. Illyrio is an extremely wealthy Magister. That he’s a secret die hard Targaryen Loyalist makes even less sense. Magisters care about making money not about Westerosi politics, who they generally have a very low opinion of anyways.
Richard Alvarez
2024-11-12 07:48:01 +0000 UTCThank you, For clarification
Leery Falcon
2024-11-12 07:33:57 +0000 UTCThat’s plausible. I’m not saying the Blackfyre idea does not have merit. I’m just saying GRRM has left the plot wide open for anything to happen. It could go either way and I’m leaning towards Aegon being a Targaryen because of the timeline of Serra’s death mentioned by Illyrio and Jon Con’s authentication. As for the Golden Company, they already showed their contract is not entirely about blood. They never supported Daemon II in the Second Blackfyre Rebellion. Also, Maelys Blackfyre eradicated the entire Blackfyre line before he launched the War of the Ninepenny Kings. This means, Aegon is not even a legitimate Blackfyre. He could only be a descendant of a bastard son or daughter of Maelys.
Dragonspectre
2024-11-12 07:24:00 +0000 UTCAerion Brightflame was the second son of Maekar I. He was a cruel dude. It's one of the classic Mad Targaryen tropes out there. He was most likely a psychopath and had grand delusions about himself. In short, he could be considered a less powerful version of the Mad King. The guy sired many bastards in Lys. But he returned to help his family during the third Blackfyre Rebellion. He fought in the war and made a name for himself. Unlike Aerys, the guy was supposedly a good warrior. But like Aerys, he was bat-shit crazy. He drank Wildfire, hoping the alchemical potion would make him a dragon. He died screaming as Wildfire burned him from the inside. Aerion Brightflame will make an appearance in HBO’s new show A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Dragonspectre
2024-11-12 07:17:54 +0000 UTCWho is brightflame, can you explain briefly?
Leery Falcon
2024-11-12 06:39:41 +0000 UTCWell, it's more along the lines of no one will care he's not the actual targ as long as he has an army backing him. The army's the more important thing practically. In terms of politics, it's more of a case of the martells believing and being unable to see the farce in their lust for revenge and "justice". Aegon either ways is a sad story. He's either a boy torn from his mother and sister at infancy, made to grow in exile with rando mercs and a shady "Honourable" Lord like Jon Connington. Or he's a duped little boy, who's been made the perfect piece for a much larger scheme by a group of shady men like Varys and Illyrio who are also out lusting for power and revenge against targaryens. The realm, should there be no army, would never believe the polite fiction of Aegon being a targ regardless of Martells or Jon Connington claiming it to be so. Jon Connington lost all face in the rebellion, and every lord worth a damn knows that the Martells would do anything to see a piece of Elia survive, even if it is as a bid to make a "legitimate" claim for power to the throne.
OrangePanther01
2024-11-12 06:26:07 +0000 UTC“Some contracts are writ in ink and some in blood. I say no more.” -Varys to Tyrion on why the golden company broke their contract. The golden Company was founded for the sole purpose of putting a Blackfyre on the throne. I agree that the Golden Company certainly are still mercenaries. They aren’t going to take a bad contract. The last Targaryen male living as the beggar king is more amusing than killing him. Plus if you start killing people who come looking to hire you…well that’s a bad business model
Richard Alvarez
2024-11-12 06:17:38 +0000 UTCThe Golden Comapny will support a Targaryen if he pays. If the Golden Company hated the Targaryens they’d have easily slit the throat of Viserys when he tried to hire them. Instead, they laughed him off and sent him packing. The Golden Company has in the past not supported Blackgyre rebellion. Did you know that? During the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, they sat that one out and never supported Daemon II Blackfyre. They take contracts like any other mercenary company in Essos. They don't have a lifelong contract with House Blackfyre. Even Maelys had to kill his brother and gain the allegiance of pirate lords to extract a contract from the Golden Company. As I said, the mental gymnastics involved in the Blackfyre plot is amusing.
Dragonspectre
2024-11-12 06:16:21 +0000 UTCIn Canon it’s obvious he’s a Blackfyre. Theres far more evidence to it than just a single line. The Golden company would never support a Targaryen. They certainly would never break a contract to do it. They are famous for never breaking a contract. Connington was all alone in the world hating himself for all his failures attempting to drink himself to death when he was presented with a chance at redemption. Hope is a dangerous thing. Connington sees what he wants to see. It also explains everything about Varys and Illyrio. It literally makes zero sense to ever have Aegon be a real Targaryen.
Richard Alvarez
2024-11-12 06:10:15 +0000 UTCWith House Martell and Jon Con's backing, no amount of propaganda will convince the majority that Aegon is a Blackfyre. No one will care about it so long as Aegon has an army and the strength to topple the Baratheons. The only one who’ll take this seriously is Viserys. He stands to lose his claim with Aegon in the picture. But again, Viserys cannot do anything yet since they have a common enemy in Stannis.
Dragonspectre
2024-11-12 06:09:02 +0000 UTCMore chaos and fun if it comes out he's a Blackfyre and Varys was responsible for all kinds of crazy plots. Give everyone a reason to hate Essos and those from there even more than they generally do.
Kasikan
2024-11-12 06:03:22 +0000 UTC
