House of the Dragon Season 1 aired in 2022, and the HBO Max dark fantasy series certainly introduced us to several ambitious characters, including Aemond Targaryen. The Targaryen prince appeared in his pure evil form in episode 10 and killed his nephew Lucerys. Well, that was just a trailer, as the Dance of the Dragons in Season 2 will see the character’s darker side at every turn. So, before the anticipated second season of HOTD arrives, let’s delve deeper and find out more about the Hightower-Targaryen product.
Who Is Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon?
Aemond Targaryen was born to King Viserys and his second wife, Alicent Hightower. Rhaenyra and the prince’s mother were once the closest friends, but things changed between them after Alicent got married to King Viserys. Aemond has been a foul-mouthed and bold individual since childhood. Though he is the younger brother of Aegon Targaryen, he doesn’t boast any of his traits; instead, Aemond’s personality makes him resemble his uncle, Daemon Targaryen. From the loose hair to the body language, everything about him makes him look like the daring Daemon Targaryen.
Which is Aemond Targaryen’s Dragon?
Aemond was dragonless for many years, and that’s why Jacaerys, Lucerys, and, at times, Aegon never missed the opportunity to humiliate him. In fact, once, the trio brought a pig and asked Aemond to ride it, as he doesn’t own a dragon. However, following the funeral of Laena Velaryon, the prince showed courage in claiming the most dangerous dragon, Vhagar. Learning about the ordeal, Laena’s daughter, Rhaena, who was supposed to get Vhagar as her ride, got upset. So, a duel between them starts, and as Jacaerys, alongside Lucerys, backs up Rhaena, Aemond ends up losing an eye to Lucerys. Since then, he developed a strong hatred towards the sons of his half-sister, Rhaenyra.
Years later, when Aemond and Lucerys head out to ask for House Baratheons’ support for the Civil War, the latter gets killed by the former’s dragon on their way back home.
How Does Aemond Targaryen Die in the Books?
When Aemond kills Lucerys, Daemon promises Rhaenyra that he will not spare him. He also says that he will claim a son to avenge his son, which means he will kill Aegon II’s son to avenge Lucerys’s death. However, Aemond Targaryen had the strongest 200-year-old dragon, Vhagar, so it wasn’t easy to capture him. In fact, the dragon allowed the Greens to get the upper hand over the Blacks in the Dance of the Dragons.
During the conflict at the Rook’s Rest, when Aegon gets severely injured, Aemond takes responsibility for the Iron Throne until his brother fully recovers. The prince always wanted to sit on the throne, so he started making brutal decisions. For instance, when he invades Harrenhal, he orders the army to kill Ser Simon Strong and his closest relations. Meanwhile, Daemon reaches Harrenhal with his dragon, Caraxes. However, the fierce fight between the two takes place several days after Daemon’s arrival at Harrenhal.
The fight started Above God’s Eye, and it was indeed a marvel to behold. Both the warriors and their dragons were equally potent. However, Daemon was definitely someone whose fighting abilities shouldn’t be questioned. He pummeled Aemond with several attacks, and on the other side, their rides were good enough to handle one another.
Not stretching the fight longer, Daemon pierced Aemond’s skull with his sword, Dark Sister. After that, the Targaryen warriors, along with their dragons, fall into the lake. Vhagar and Aemond died on the spot, and the Caraxes managed to come to the shore and died. Daemon’s body was never recovered from the lake, and as per several theories, the prince might have been devoured by the underwater creatures or washed away by the waves.
