Lucerys Velaryon’s Family and Lineage
Lucerys Velaryon, the second son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Laenor Velaryon, is a pivotal figure in the ‘House of the Dragon’ narrative. His birthright and lineage hold immense significance in the complex web of power struggles within the Seven Kingdoms.
Lucerys’s claim to the Iron Throne stems from his maternal lineage. As the grandson of King Viserys I Targaryen, he is a direct descendant of the Targaryen dynasty. However, his legitimacy is clouded by the rumors surrounding his true parentage. Whispers suggest that he, along with his elder brother Jacaerys, was fathered by Ser Harwin Strong, Rhaenyra’s sworn protector.
Despite these uncertainties, Lucerys’s claim to the throne is bolstered by his strong Velaryon bloodline. The Velaryons are one of the oldest and most powerful houses in Westeros, renowned for their naval prowess and wealth. Through his mother, Lucerys inherits the Velaryon’s formidable fleet, which plays a crucial role in the upcoming Dance of the Dragons.
Lucerys’s upbringing was heavily influenced by his father, Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s uncle. Daemon, a skilled warrior and ambitious prince, instilled in Lucerys a sense of Targaryen pride and a thirst for adventure. Under Daemon’s tutelage, Lucerys became a formidable dragonrider, bonding with the young dragon Arrax.
Family Tree, Lucerys velaryon
The following family tree Artikels Lucerys Velaryon’s relations to the Targaryens and Velaryons:
- King Jaehaerys I Targaryen (great-grandfather)
- King Viserys I Targaryen (grandfather)
- Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (mother)
- Ser Laenor Velaryon (father)
- Daemon Targaryen (uncle)
- Jacaerys Velaryon (elder brother)
- Joffrey Velaryon (younger brother)
Lucerys Velaryon’s Role in the Dance of the Dragons
Lucerys Velaryon played a significant role in the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war that tore Westeros apart. As the son of Rhaenyra Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne, Lucerys was a key figure in the conflict between the Greens, who supported Aegon II Targaryen, and the Blacks, who supported Rhaenyra.
Mission to Storm’s End
One of Lucerys’ most important missions during the Dance of the Dragons was his journey to Storm’s End to secure the support of Lord Borros Baratheon for Rhaenyra’s cause. However, this mission ended in tragedy when Lucerys was intercepted by his half-brother, Aemond Targaryen, who was flying Vhagar, the largest and most fearsome dragon in Westeros. Aemond pursued Lucerys and his dragon, Arrax, and eventually killed them both.
Rivalry with Aemond Targaryen
Lucerys’ death at the hands of Aemond Targaryen further escalated the rivalry between the Greens and the Blacks. Lucerys and Aemond had a long-standing rivalry, which stemmed from their different mothers and their fathers’ political ambitions. Aemond was the son of Alicent Hightower, the second wife of Viserys I Targaryen, while Lucerys was the son of Rhaenyra, Viserys’ first wife. The rivalry between their mothers spilled over into the relationship between Lucerys and Aemond, and Aemond’s killing of Lucerys was seen as a major act of aggression by the Blacks.
Lucerys Velaryon’s Character and Legacy
Lucerys Velaryon, the second son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon, was a young man of great promise and tragedy. His life and death played a pivotal role in shaping the course of the Dance of the Dragons, and his legacy continues to be debated by historians to this day.
Lucerys was a skilled warrior and a loyal son. He was also headstrong and impulsive, a trait that would ultimately lead to his downfall. In the early days of the Dance, Lucerys was sent on a diplomatic mission to Storm’s End to secure the support of Lord Borros Baratheon. However, he was ambushed by Aemond Targaryen, his uncle and one of the most formidable dragonriders in Westeros. In a fierce battle, Lucerys and his dragon, Arrax, were both slain.
Lucerys’s Death and its Significance
Lucerys’s death was a turning point in the Dance of the Dragons. It shattered the fragile peace that had existed between the two factions and plunged the realm into a bloody civil war. The death of a child, especially one as innocent as Lucerys, shocked and horrified the people of Westeros. It also served to galvanize Rhaenyra’s supporters and fueled their determination to avenge his death.
Lucerys’s legacy is one of both tragedy and heroism. He was a young man who died in the service of his family and his cause. His death helped to shape the course of the Dance of the Dragons and to ensure that Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne would not be forgotten.
