Daemon

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Daemon Targaryen (戴蒙)
Alias(es)	“Rogue Prince”; “King of the Narrow Sea”; “King of the Stepstones” 21 39 90
Species/Race	Human; House Targaryen
Gender	Male
Affiliation	House Targaryen; the Blacks 77 79 153 206
Occupation/Role	Targaryen prince, dragonrider, military commander, and leading advocate for Rhaenyra's cause 12 90 153 192
Status	Alive 153 206
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Background / History

Daemon is King Viserys I's younger brother. In his youth, he coveted the Iron Throne and even considered murdering Viserys, but their brotherly bond ultimately restrained him 12.

He married Laena Targaryen after the pair secretly betrothed themselves and fled east on dragonback. After Laena's death, he married his niece Rhaenyra Targaryen and became a central figure among the Blacks 5 40.

During the dispute over Rhaenyra's elder sons, Daemon advocated removing them from the succession—including a proposal that they voluntarily join the Night's Watch—to resolve the legitimacy crisis and preserve the wider dynasty 50 57. At Storm's End, he privately told Aemond that if the Blacks failed, he preferred the Greens to prevail and urged his nephew to eliminate the Velaryon brothers if doing so became necessary to preserve the Targaryen bloodline 60.

He later agreed to relinquish his and Rhaenyra's claim to the Iron Throne in exchange for an eastern campaign and the opportunity to establish Targaryen power on the Eastern Continent 90. The ensuing conflict with the Greens nevertheless rendered that settlement impossible, returning Daemon to open war in Westeros 153 191.

Appearance

Daemon is a silver-gold-haired Targaryen with violet eyes. He commonly wears black-and-red leather riding armor and carries the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister 12 45.

• Silver-gold hair, often left loose in flight 12 88
• Violet eyes 77
• Black and red riding attire bearing the three-headed dragon 45 130
• Usually armed with Dark Sister 5 47

Personality

Daemon is proud, volatile, and deeply convinced that dragons place Targaryens above ordinary law. He regards blood, dragonfire, and strength as the foundations of Targaryen legitimacy 21 49.

He is also politically adaptable. Though initially committed to Rhaenyra's claim, he accepts a division of Targaryen power when it offers a path toward conquest in Essos and reduces the immediate threat of civil war 90.

His ruthlessness coexists with genuine attachment to his family. He remains bitter toward Viserys, yet agrees to the king's request to abandon the throne; later, he wishes to return to Rhaenyra after news of her deteriorating condition, but remains in the Riverlands because the war requires him there 90 153.

Daemon is capable of extending respect even to enemies who demonstrate resolve. He offers Lord Humfrey Bracken mercy during the siege of Stone Hedge and acknowledges the lord's dignity after Humfrey chooses death rather than capitulation 157. He also responds favorably to Nettles's refusal to slaughter innocents, adopting her after she swears to fight only for justice 122.

Abilities & Skills

Dragonriding

Daemon rides Coraxes, the red-and-black Blood Wyrm. He is an experienced aerial rider and uses Coraxes both for reconnaissance and direct warfare 12 77.

• Followed Aemond and Vhagar during the flight from Storm's End, prepared to intervene if Vhagar became uncontrollable 12
• Led the dragon assault on Tyrosh's harbor and walls 98
• Uses Coraxes to travel rapidly between political and military fronts, including Braavos, Winterfell, and the Riverlands 77 130 153
• Besieged Stone Hedge from Coraxes's back, using repeated dragonfire attacks to break House Bracken's defenses 157
• Flew Coraxes over Riverrun as an overt warning to House Tully and the Riverlords 177

Swordsmanship

Daemon wields the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister and favors decisive, lethal action in close combat 5 47.

• Attempted to kill Vaemond Velaryon with a strike at the neck during the succession dispute 47
• Keeps Dark Sister at hand during hostile negotiations and confrontations 5 131

Political and Military Strategy

Daemon combines dynastic ambition with long-term planning, repeatedly pursuing alliances, financing, and territorial expansion for the Blacks 79 90 123.

• Negotiated a Braavosi loan to finance Rhaenyra's war effort 77 79
• Proposed dividing Targaryen rule between Aegon's Westeros and a Black-led eastern conquest 90
• Developed options for a counteroffensive after the losses at Dragonstone and Tidepool Island 123
• Sought Northern support from Cregan Stark and organized Black-aligned houses in the Riverlands 130 131 153
• Used threats of dragonfire alongside offers of clemency to force Riverlands houses into neutrality or support for the Blacks 153 157
• Proposed an alliance with the Ironborn to counter the Greens' naval coalition, accepting the political cost of promising them the Westerlands after the war 192

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dark Sister — Valyrian steel sword carried at his side 5 47
• Black-and-red riding armor — leather armor marked with the Targaryen three-headed dragon 45 130
• Coraxes — his dragon, known as the Blood Wyrm 12 77

Relationships

• Viserys I Targaryen — Younger brother. Daemon resents Viserys's failures as king but still accepts his final wish that Daemon relinquish the Iron Throne. Viserys's later death hardens Daemon's determination to protect Rhaenyra and expose the circumstances surrounding the king's poisoning 12 90 153.
• Rhaenyra Targaryen — Wife and political partner. Daemon supports her claim before agreeing to build a new Targaryen realm with her in the East. Following the collapse of that settlement, he acts as one of her foremost commanders while attempting to secure her position amid her grief and deteriorating mental state 40 90 153 191.
• Laena Targaryen — Former wife. They secretly betrothed themselves and eloped east on dragonback 5.
• Aemond Targaryen — Nephew and major adversary. Daemon closely watches Aemond's growing power and later denounces him as dangerously extreme. Earlier, Daemon privately urged Aemond to eliminate the Velaryon brothers if the survival of the Targaryen bloodline required it 12 60 131.
• Coraxes — Dragon and mount. Their shared aggressive temperament is repeatedly emphasized in flight and war 12 77.
• Corlys Velaryon — Black ally and partner in Rhaenyra's eastern strategy, though Daemon often clashes with him over legitimacy and dragonblood 90 121 123.
• Rhaenys Targaryen — Cousin and Black ally. Daemon regretted failing to reinforce Dragonstone before the earlier dragon battle, then arrived too late at Rook's Rest to prevent Rhaenys's death 121 188 191.
• Cregan Stark — Northern lord whose support Daemon seeks against Aemond's rule. Though Cregan refuses immediate allegiance, he agrees to investigate the situation in King's Landing 130 131.
• Nettles — Dragonseed rider of Sheepstealer whom Daemon adopts as his daughter after she vows never to use a dragon to slaughter innocents 122.
• Benjicot Blackwood — Loyal Riverlands supporter who delivers Daemon the purported letter and crown from Archmaester Orvel and assists his effort to rally the Blacks 153.
• Alysanne “Black Aly” Blackwood — Young Blackwood archer and Black supporter. Daemon presents her with House Bracken's banner after tearing it down during the siege of Stone Hedge 157.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Dragonpit and the Velaryon Succession Crisis

Daemon observes Aemond's claim of Vhagar with suspicion and follows him on Coraxes, prepared to stop him if the younger prince loses control 12. During Vaemond Velaryon's public accusation against Rhaenyra, Daemon attempts to execute Vaemond before Aemond intercepts his strike 47.

The Black Political Settlement

Seeking to avoid a direct succession war, Daemon pressures Rhaenyra to remove her elder sons from contention. He ultimately agrees that Aegon should rule Westeros while he and Rhaenyra pursue conquest across the Narrow Sea 57 90.

During Aemond's confrontation with the Blacks in King's Landing, Daemon refuses to compromise over the dragons and departs with Rhaenyra on Coraxes while her elder sons are forced to leave their dragons behind 68.

Braavos and the Eastern Campaign

Daemon accompanies Rhaenyra to Braavos to secure war financing from the Iron Bank. Although the final loan burdens the Blacks with severe terms, he views Braavos as a future enemy and intends to use the conflict with the Triarchy and Valyria to reshape the East 77 79.

War Against the Greens

Daemon leads the dragon assault on Tyrosh and later advocates a rapid return to Westeros after Aemond captures Tidepool Island and Dragonstone. His proposed counteroffensive relies on the Blacks' remaining dragon advantage 98 123.

After the Battle of Dragonstone, Daemon regrets that he and Rhaenys did not return early enough to reinforce the island and possibly kill Aemond and Vhagar 121. He rejects Sara's request to secure dragonriding rights for her unborn child, but adopts Nettles after she declares that she will not use Sheepstealer to kill innocent people 121 122.

Northern and Riverlands Diplomacy

Daemon travels to Winterfell to seek Cregan Stark's support against King Aemond. Though Cregan refuses immediate allegiance, he agrees to send representatives to investigate conditions in King's Landing 130 131. Daemon subsequently remains in the Riverlands to coordinate Black-supporting houses despite his desire to return to Rhaenyra's side 153.

Following Viserys's reported poisoning, Daemon uses the questionable letter and crown sent in Archmaester Orvel's name to rally Riverlands support. He then turns his attention to House Bracken, intending to compel its neutrality or allegiance 153.

Siege of Stone Hedge

Daemon besieges Stone Hedge on Coraxes, breaking House Bracken's defenses with dragonfire over four days. Though he offers Lord Humfrey Bracken mercy for his family, Humfrey refuses surrender and dies amid the burning castle; his son Amos kneels to preserve House Bracken 157.

Daemon tears down the Bracken banner during the siege and presents it to Alysanne Blackwood as a trophy, strengthening his ties with the Blackwoods amid the ancient Bracken-Blackwood feud 157.

Rook's Rest and the Expanding War

Daemon arrives too late at the Battle of Rook's Rest to prevent Rhaenys's death on Meleys, a failure that leaves him frustrated and Corlys devastated 188 191. From Dragonstone, he helps Rhaenyra confront the worsening strategic situation: the approaching Hightower army, the weakness of the Blacks' land forces, and the shifting naval balance in favor of the Greens 191.

When Braavos and Dorne threaten the Black position at sea, Daemon advocates seeking the Ironborn as allies. Rhaenyra accepts the proposal and promises the Ironborn the Westerlands should they secure victory for the Blacks 192.

Notable Quotes

“We Targaryens have dragons.” 49

“I want the Eastern Continent.” 90

“Some Targaryens truly are like that. Proud, hot-tempered, mad, treating rules as though they were nothing. Maegor the Cruel was like that. I am like that. And Aemond is even more so now.” 131