Why Did 'Aemon Targaryen' Join The Night'S Watch?

I'm the sort of reader who loves the messy, human stuff in George R. R. Martin's histories, and when I first ran into the name 'Alyssa' in discussions I paused — the book actually centers on Alysanne Targaryen, and a lot of fans casually shorten or misspell her name. In 'Fire & Blood' she appears as the sister-wife and queen-consort to King Jaehaerys I, a partnership that’s more partnership than shadow-queen. What I love about her portrayal is how she comes across as both warm and politically sharp: she isn’t just a background figure, she helps shape policies, tours the realm alongside the king, and pushes for reforms that touch everyday folk, especially women and children. Reading the chapters about Jaehaerys and Alysanne felt like listening to family stories told at different tables — some chroniclers praise her as compassionate and practical, others gossip about court intrigues. Martin leans into that unreliable-historian vibe, so you get several versions of the same events: tender moments, fierce debates, and the odd rumor. For fans who like the human details, Alysanne’s character is a goldmine — she’s credited with gentle reforms and with being a calming, steady influence on a long and consequential reign. If you’re digging into her, keep an eye out for the anecdotes that show more than policy: her travels, her interactions with smallfolk, and the kind of courtly influence that changes law and custom over time.

Lots of people mix up names in Westeros (I do it all the time when I'm flipping through my scribbled family tree), and when someone says 'Alyssa Targaryen' they usually mean 'Alysanne Targaryen'. Alysanne was the beloved queen who married King Jaehaerys I — she sailed, advised, and reshaped court life centuries before Rhaenyra ever drew breath. So, in plain terms: she isn’t Rhaenyra’s sister or cousin, she’s a much earlier member of the dynasty, a distant ancestor figure rather than an immediate relative. If you want the nerdy genealogy: Rhaenyra is the daughter of King Viserys I, who comes many generations down the Targaryen line after Jaehaerys and Alysanne. The exact number of generations between Alysanne and Rhaenyra varies depending on which branch you trace, but it’s enough generations to call Alysanne an ancestor rather than a close relative. I like to pull out the family tree from 'Fire & Blood' or consult the charts in 'The World of Ice & Fire' to see the names lined up — it makes the gaps feel a little less abstract. If you actually meant some other Alyssa (there are minor characters and fan-made variations), the relationship could be different, but the safest bet is: Alysanne = long-ago queen, Rhaenyra = later claimant to the throne, and Alysanne is an ancestor in the broader Targaryen lineage. Whenever I trace this stuff I end up bookmarking pages and sticking Post-its on my copies of 'House of the Dragon' lore — it’s oddly comforting.

The Mad King did more to unravel House Targaryen than any enemy army ever could. I’ve always been drawn to the messy politics in 'A Song of Ice and Fire', and Aerys II’s reign is a masterclass in how personal madness becomes institutional collapse. He started as a king with fragile legitimacy—Targaryen dragons and centuries of rule—but his paranoia, cruel punishments, and alienation of the great houses stripped that legitimacy away. The executions of Rickard and Brandon Stark, the cruel mockery of his council, and the whispered plots he imagined made every lord around him see the crown as dangerous rather than sacred. What really tipped the balance was how his behavior interacted with succession. Rhaegar was a clear heir, but Rhaegar’s death at the Trident left a vacuum that Aerys couldn’t fill because he’d already burned through the goodwill of his barons. Instead of restoring confidence, Aerys’s orders—like the plan to burn King’s Landing with wildfire—proved he trusted fire more than counsel. Jaime’s murder of Aerys was both the final break of royal continuity and the signal that bloodlines alone couldn’t guarantee the throne. Practically, that meant surviving Targaryens—Viserys and Daenerys—were reduced to claimants in exile, with sparse support and a tarnished dynasty name. Generations later, you can still see the echo: houses remembered the Mad King more than any peaceful tradition, and that memory shaped who would back a claimant. It’s tragic, but also a reminder in fiction and in history that succession is as much about legitimacy and institutions as it is about birthright. I always come away from that era thinking how fragile authority becomes when rulers lose the trust of their people.

Man, Jon Snow's true identity reveal in 'Game of Thrones' was a rollercoaster! It all traces back to Bran's visions through the Three-Eyed Raven. He discovers that Jon isn't Ned Stark's bastard but the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. Lyanna died giving birth to him in the Tower of Joy, and Ned promised to protect him by raising him as his own. The name 'Aegon Targaryen' comes from Rhaegar’s belief that his son would be the prince who was promised. Sam later finds a secret High Septon diary confirming Rhaegar’s annulment of his marriage to Elia Martell, making Jon legitimate. What blows my mind is how this twist recontextualizes Jon’s entire journey—from the Wall to King’s Landing. He’s not just a Stark bastard; he’s the heir to the Targaryen dynasty, though he never wanted it. The irony? He’s more like Ned than anyone: honorable to a fault. The show never really explored his reaction to the name 'Aegon,' though—maybe it felt too grandiose for someone who just wanted to protect his people.

In 'The Merchant Prince Viserys Targaryen SI,' the protagonist takes a refreshingly unconventional path. Instead of charging headfirst into the bloody mess of Westerosi politics, he leverages his knowledge and skills to build economic power. The Iron Throne isn’t his immediate goal—he focuses on trade, alliances, and influence, reshaping the game entirely. While others fight for a chair of swords, he amasses wealth and loyalty, proving power isn’t just about crowns. His approach is subtle, almost revolutionary, making the story stand out in the sea of throne-centric fanfics. Whether he eventually claims the throne remains tantalizingly open, but his journey is far more intriguing than a straightforward conquest.

In 'MCU 1943 I Do Business With Dayanir Targaryen', the blend of history and fantasy feels like stepping into a meticulously crafted alternate reality. The story anchors itself in the gritty, war-torn landscape of 1943, with details like ration cards and jazz-filled speakeasies painting a vivid historical backdrop. Then comes Dayanir Targaryen—a dragonlord displaced from Westeros—her presence igniting the narrative with fantasy. She trades Valyrian steel for wartime resources, her dragons soaring over blitzkrieg skies like living bombers. The clash is electrifying: Nazis recoil at fire-breathing beasts, while her courtly diplomacy baffles cigar-chomping generals. What makes it work is how her magic disrupts but doesn’t erase history. The atomic bomb’s development takes a darker turn when alchemy gets involved, and her dragons become both weapons and symbols of hope in a world desperate for miracles. The story doesn’t just layer fantasy onto history; it lets them collide, creating sparks that illuminate both. The subtle touches elevate it. Dayanir’s struggle with wartime morality mirrors the era’s existential dilemmas—can fire and blood end a war, or only perpetuate it? Her alliances with resistance fighters weave fantasy into real heroism, while her disdain for modern bureaucracy adds humor. The fusion feels organic because the fantasy respects history’s weight, and the history adapts to the fantasy’s audacity. It’s less a blend than a conversation—one where dragons and dictatorships force each other to evolve.

Well, 'Game of Thrones' creates a world that can ensnare any viewer, and the complex relationships are part of the charm! As per the revealed lineage, Daenerys Targaryen and Rhaegar Targaryen are indeed linked. They are siblings. Rhaegar was the elder brother of Daenerys, and both are children of King Aerys II Targaryen, also known as 'The Mad King'. Rhaegar tragically died in 'Robert's Rebellion' before Daenerys was born.

Jon Snow in 'Game of Thrones' is indeed a Targaryen, as both the HBO show and George R.R. Martin's books A Song of Ice and Fire reveal us. His real name, it turns out, is Aegon Targaryen.