Rhaegar

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Rhaegar Targaryen (雷加)
Alias(es)	Crown Prince; Prince of Dragonstone; “King of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones”; Prince of Lys 91 233 249
Gender	Male
Affiliation	House Targaryen; Lys Governors' Council 249
Occupation/Role	Former heir to the Iron Throne; military commander and claimant in the Stepstones; Lysene governor 194 213 249
Status	Alive; searching the Land of the Long Summer for wild dragons 360 361
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Heir to the Iron Throne

Rhaegar was the eldest son of King Aerys II and initially the heir to the Iron Throne. After marrying Princess Elia Martell, he relocated to Dragonstone; Aerys publicly denounced him as ungrateful and considered stripping his succession rights, while Rhaegar remained unconcerned by the threat. 1

He retained broad support among Westerosi nobles and was regarded as a possible restorer of House Targaryen's glory. His reputation and status allowed him to secure cooperation in recovering royal dragon eggs from House Hightower, though he cautioned Daeren that Lord Hightower had to be treated with due respect. 50

Harrenhal and Lyanna Stark

Rhaegar sailed from Dragonstone to Braavos with Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Oswell Whent, choosing to borrow from the Iron Bank rather than accept Prince Doran Martell's sponsorship for the Harrenhal tourney. 53 The tourney was widely suspected of being a vehicle to gather lords against Aerys, though its precise political purpose remained contested at court. 81

At Harrenhal, Rhaegar won the jousting championship while riding a snow-white unicorn. 91 He became captivated by Lyanna Stark and concealed her identity after pursuing the Knight of the Laughing Tree. 88 91 His subsequent elopement with Lyanna alienated major houses and became a principal reason for his eventual removal from the succession. 103 194

Prophecy and Renunciation

Rhaegar possessed dreamwalking talent and was intensely devoted to the prophecy that “the dragon has three heads.” Believing neither he nor his siblings were the prophesied princes, he sought to produce three children in hopes that the promised figure would arise among his descendants. 83 Elia's inability to bear further children led him to see Lyanna—Stark “ice” joined with Targaryen “fire”—as essential to creating the Prince of Ice and Fire. 97 103

After Daeren's rise and the rebellion's defeat, Rhaegar withdrew to Lys with Lyanna and fell into despair upon learning that Daeren, rather than himself, was connected to prophecy. 156 165 He took Lyanna as a second wife, restored polygamy within his branch of House Targaryen, and formally renounced his claim to the Iron Throne. 185 195

Rhaegar established Elia as his first wife and named their daughter Rhaenys his primary heir. His children by Lyanna were placed behind Daeren and Daeren's younger brothers in the royal succession. 196

Stepstones Campaign

Seeking an independent power base, Rhaegar raised funds, recruited the Second Sons and the Windblown, and assembled a force in the Stepstones with covert Martell support. 175 204 He personally led the assault on Bloodstone Island, fighting through a twelve-hour battle and helping secure victory over its pirate defenders. 213

He later attacked Grey Gallows Island and was crowned by Oberyn Martell as the “King of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones.” The declaration prompted Daeren to denounce him as a challenger to the Iron Throne. 233 Rhaegar's army suffered severe attrition, and Daeren's dragon-backed conquest of the Stepstones ultimately destroyed the realm Rhaegar had spent years building. 233 238

Prince of Lys and the Smoking Sea

Rhaegar negotiated a ceasefire with Lys, joined its Governors' Council, and received the title Prince of Lys. He sent Rhaenys, Visenya, and Aegon to King's Landing, trusting Daeren to provide them a stable Targaryen upbringing. 249 360

Still without a dragon, he pursued a silver dragon egg and entered the Smoking Sea in search of dragons and lost Valyrian opportunities. 250 305 By the time of his expedition into the Land of the Long Summer, he and his companions endured severe hardship while searching for wild dragons; he survived an encounter with Silverwing, who drove off nearby monsters without attacking his party. 360 361

Appearance

Rhaegar is a tall, handsome man with long silver hair, indigo eyes, and a notably melancholic presence. 49

• Long silver hair falling over his shoulders. 49
• Indigo eyes. 49
• Tall, upright build and refined features. 49
• Often wears black steel armor and a red cloak in battle. 213
• His composed elegance remains apparent even when wounded or exhausted. 213

Personality

Rhaegar is decisive, ambitious, and capable of acting quickly once he has chosen a course. He rejected Dornish funding for the Harrenhal tourney in favor of an Iron Bank loan, later raised mercenary forces and pursued his own Stepstones campaign rather than remain politically dependent on Westeros. 53 175

His greatest flaw is his fixation on prophecy. The belief that he had to create the “three heads of the dragon” shaped his pursuit of Lyanna, his marriages, and his descendants' inheritance. 83 97 196 The collapse of his prophetic self-image after Daeren's rise left him despondent and detached. 156 165

Despite his ruthlessness in war, Rhaegar is capable of restraint and personal courtesy. He prevented his followers from attacking a Lysene envoy who was merely delivering a message, and his ability to form close alliances earned him the loyalty of Fredo Rojar. 213

Abilities & Skills

Dreamwalking and Dragon Dreams

Rhaegar has the Targaryen gift of dreamwalking and receives symbolic or prophetic dreams.

• Foresees fragments of the future through dreams and concluded that he and his siblings were not the prophesied princes. 83
• Receives recurring dreams involving Daeren and later dreams of a fallen silver dragon. 305 360
• His interpretations are unreliable and frequently intensify his anxiety or drive reckless decisions. 83 305

Life Seed and Vitality

Rhaegar condensed a Life Seed and can use Life Force to regulate his body.

• Uses Life Force to steady his heartbeat and avoid panicking when confronted by Silverwing. 361
• Endures prolonged combat beyond ordinary limits, though twelve hours of continuous fighting left him near exhaustion. 213

Martial Skill

Rhaegar is an accomplished mounted fighter, swordsman, and battlefield commander.

• Won the Harrenhal jousting tournament while mounted on a snow-white unicorn. 91
• Led assaults personally at Bloodstone Island and Grey Gallows Island. 213 233
• Fought surrounded by multiple pirates, using terrain, swordsmanship, and thrown weapons to defeat them. 213
• Willingly accepted heavy casualties to force victories in the Stepstones. 233

Diplomacy and Political Networking

Rhaegar is skilled at attracting noble and mercenary support despite his unstable political position.

• Maintained significant support among Westerosi lords even after returning from exile. 135 194
• Won the friendship and material backing of Fredo Rojar, who supplied funds, ships, and the Valyrian steel sword Truth. 213
• Negotiated with House Martell for troops, ships, supplies, and marriage arrangements for his children. 227
• Joined the Lysene Governors' Council and cultivated support among its newer faction of merchant and banking families. 249 250

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Truth — A Valyrian steel bastard sword of House Rojar, loaned to Rhaegar by Fredo Rojar; its crossguard is set with rubies and emeralds. 213
• Black steel armor and red cloak — His customary field equipment during the Stepstones campaign. 213
• Valyrian steel dagger — A dagger given by Lyanna, bearing the prophecy of the Prince of Ice and Fire. 97
• Silver dragon egg — A silver egg flecked with gold in Rhaegar's possession during his Smoking Sea expedition. 305
• Snow-white unicorn — His mount during the Harrenhal tourney and the assault on Grey Gallows Island. 91 233

Relationships

• Aerys II Targaryen — Father and political adversary; Aerys resented Rhaegar's marriage to Elia, suspected him of usurpation, and ultimately stripped him of the succession. 1 81 194
• Daeren Targaryen — Younger brother, rival, and occasional collaborator. Rhaegar recognized Daeren's dragons as a threat to his claim, yet later trusted him with the safety of his children. 67 135 249 360
• Elia Martell — First wife and mother of Rhaenys and Visenya. Rhaegar promised to preserve her status and made Rhaenys his primary heir. 76 196
• Lyanna Stark — Second wife and mother of Aegon. Rhaegar's pursuit of her was driven by both personal attraction and his belief in the Prince of Ice and Fire prophecy. 97 185 249
• Rhaenys Targaryen — Eldest daughter and designated primary heir of Rhaegar's Lysene branch. 78 196
• Aegon Targaryen — Son by Lyanna; sent to King's Landing with his sisters for safety and to be raised within the royal family. 196 249
• Arthur Dayne — Kingsguard protector and trusted adviser who assisted Rhaegar's investigations, travels, and military plans. 49 83 139
• Oberyn Martell — Brother-in-law, military ally, and frequent critic. Oberyn confronted Rhaegar over Elia, secured mercenary support, and crowned him King of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones. 166 174 233
• Doran Martell — Political ally whose military aid came with demands for Rhaegar's children to be tied to House Martell by marriage and fostering. 227
• Fredo Rojar — Lysene Valyrian noble, adviser, and close friend who financed Rhaegar's cause and loaned him Truth. 213
• Mith — Loyal companion and soldier who fought beside Rhaegar in the Stepstones and later accompanied him into the Land of the Long Summer. 213 360