Daemon

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Daemon Targaryen (戴蒙)
Alias(es)	The Rogue Prince; “Pirate King” 47 166
Gender	Male
Affiliation	House Targaryen; his Stepstones forces; recurring alliance with Corlys Velaryon 1 18 170
Occupation/Role	Prince, dragonrider, military commander, and Aegon’s combat mentor; former commander of the City Watch 96 157 165
Titles	Self-styled King of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones; seeks recognition as Prince of the Stepstones with hereditary rights 4 5
Father	Prince Baelon Targaryen 49
Spouse	Rhea Royce, Countess of Runestone 170
Children	Twins Rheyana and Vaegon Jobart Targaryen; an earlier child with Mysaria was lost to miscarriage 96 171
Dragon	Caraxes, the scarlet “Blood Wyrm” 47
Status	Alive; later travels toward Runestone with Rhea and Laenor 187
First Appearance	Mentioned in the opening chapter; directly appears in the supplied fleet encounter 1 47

Background / History

Succession Dispute and Exile

Daemon considered himself Viserys’s heir while his elder brother had no surviving son. After Queen Aemma and the infant Prince Baelon died, Daemon celebrated in a brothel and mocked the child as the “heir for a day.” Viserys responded by announcing Rhaenyra as his heir 1.

Resenting that decision, Daemon took Mysaria to Dragonstone and gave her a dragon egg intended for their unborn child. Rhaenyra recovered the egg, and Viserys ordered Daemon back to his lawful wife at Runestone. The child with Mysaria was subsequently lost; the egg eventually hatched as Aegon’s dragon, Sunfyre 1 48 96.

Establishing Power in the Stepstones

With Corlys Velaryon’s support, Daemon attacked the Stepstones without royal permission. His charisma attracted younger sons of noble houses and landless knights, giving him a growing force independent of the crown 1 2.

After capturing several islands, he requested recognition as Prince of the Stepstones and a hereditary grant for his descendants. His victories divided the Small Council: some regarded him as a threat to royal authority, while Lyonel Strong emphasized the reduction in piracy and restoration of trade 5 6.

Daemon killed Craghas Drahar, the Crabfeeder, in single combat and displayed his head on Bloodstone. His independent kingdom later faced a combined Triarchy–Dornish offensive: Gallowsgrey fell, his stronghold was surrounded, and the defenders lacked men. Viserys eventually agreed to send reinforcements and a warning 6 18 19.

Reunion with the Royal Family

Daemon encountered Rhaenyra’s fleet while riding Caraxes. After Caraxes challenged Syrax and drew Sunfyre into the confrontation, Daemon recognized Aegon, ordered his dragon to stop, and leapt onto the flagship’s deck 47.

The reunion turned painful when Rhaenyra identified Sunfyre as the hatchling from his stolen egg. Looking at the dragon and Aegon brought back grief that years of warfare had not erased 48 49.

He then advised Rhaenyra to return to King’s Landing rather than deepen her quarrel with Viserys. He stressed royal obligations, family ties, and care for herself and Aegon before departing with another airborne stunt 50.

Daemon later returned during the royal tourney. Viserys welcomed him warmly and seated him beside himself at the banquet. The brothers privately planned a public presentation in which Daemon appeared wearing his rough Stepstones crown and carrying the Crabfeeder’s axe 62 64 66.

The Flea Bottom Scheme

Following the Blacks–Greens confrontation and Aegon’s independent display of support, Daemon abandoned his brief attempt to behave as Viserys’s compliant younger brother. He entered Rhaenyra’s room through a secret passage and offered a clandestine outing, taking both her and Aegon to Mysaria’s establishment in Flea Bottom 70 72.

The outing concealed an attempt to use Rhaenyra in his political maneuvering. Aegon anticipated his route, arranged surveillance, and prepared assistance. A fire disrupted the scheme, and Rhaenyra and Aegon were removed from the establishment 72 76 80 96.

Daemon emerged soaked, singed, and humiliated. He wrongly suspected Viserys had arranged the fire. Mysaria rejected his attempt to resume their intimacy, ordered him out, and demanded payment; on his return to the Red Keep, Kingsguard waited to bring him before the furious king 78 96 97.

Driftmark and His Changing Loyalty

At Driftmark, Daemon and Caraxes became targets of Aegon’s coordinated dragon ambush. Cannibal’s fire scorched his cloak and hair, Grey Ghost burned his shoulder, and Cannibal later bit Caraxes at the wing root. Daemon’s experience helped them survive until Aegon called off the attack 108 109.

Corlys subsequently accused Daemon of failing to honor their agreement and allowing Aegon’s dragons to injure Laenor. Daemon repudiated the supposed alliance and warned against threatening Aegon, whom he now considered as good as his own son. He announced plans to return to the Stepstones with his nephew 155.

Aegon’s Stepstones Expedition

Daemon became Aegon’s practical instructor during their joint campaign. He warned him about arrows before demonstrating an attack on pirates, fought alongside him against a concealed scorpion, and taught him to eliminate remaining threats rather than assume victory was secure 157 158 159.

Their raids also freed enslaved people. Daemon offered settlement and work in his Stepstones outposts, arranged supplies and lodging, and protected their recovered goods from unauthorized seizure 162 164 165.

He allowed Aegon to keep Nightfall, gave him a rare dragonbone bow, and promised continued instruction in dragonriding and swordsmanship. After three months, their campaign had driven away most local pirates while generating profits through captured cargo and attacks on Triarchy shipping 163 165 166.

Marriage, Children, and Later Voyages

Daemon’s marriage to Rhea unexpectedly improved. He brought her bronze jewelry after the Stepstones expedition, and she accepted it. They later had a daughter and a son, but reconciliation did not end their quarrels 166 170.

A dispute over the twins’ names prompted Daemon to leave Runestone and resume campaigning with Corlys. His absence and Rhea’s neglect led Viserys to bring the children to the Red Keep, place them in Alicent’s care, and name them Rheyana and Vaegon Jobart 170 171.

Daemon and Corlys continued raiding pirates and Ironborn and sent Aegon a share of the spoils. Later, Daemon traveled toward Runestone with Rhea and Laenor; Aegon suspected he was secretly carrying gifts to make peace with his wife 170 187.

Appearance

Daemon is tall and lean, with long silver-gold hair and deep-purple eyes. His clothing regularly combines black with dark red or crimson 107 126 155.

• Hair: Usually tied loosely behind his head; singed by Grey Ghost during the Driftmark attack and subsequently trimmed 108 126.
• Build and scars: A muscular chest and scars crossing his arms are visible after the Flea Bottom fire 96.
• Signature clothing: Black leathers beneath a crimson silk cloak; formal outfits carry dragon or dragon-scale embroidery 66 107 126.
• Stepstones crown: A crude crown woven from driftwood and withered vines, representing his military achievements 66.

Personality

Daemon combines charisma with calculated intimidation. His ability to attract followers strengthens his Stepstones campaign, while his former command of the City Watch gives weight to threats made on the streets of King’s Landing. He enjoys theatrical entrances and dangerous displays that leave witnesses unsure whether to admire him or regard him as mad 2 47 73.

His tenderness does not erase his ambition. He offers Rhaenyra thoughtful advice about preserving her relationship with Viserys, then later exploits her trust in a political scheme. Recognition of Sunfyre’s origins also exposes unresolved grief beneath his practiced swagger 48 50 72 96.

His bond with Aegon becomes a stronger source of purpose than his grievances against Viserys. As a mentor, he mixes teasing with practical concern; in battle, threats to his nephew provoke a furious and merciless response. That protective attachment contrasts with his later withdrawal from responsibility for his own twins 155 158 165 171.

Abilities & Skills

Dragonriding

Daemon’s partnership with Caraxes relies on years of shared combat experience and instinctive coordination 108.

• Commands Caraxes to disengage during the confrontation over Rhaenyra’s fleet 47.
• Reacts quickly to aerial ambushes and uses Caraxes’s flexibility to survive Cannibal’s attack 108 109.
• Coordinates attacks with Aegon, including striking a concealed pirate vessel from opposite sides 158.
• Performs extreme maneuvers: landing unaided from nearly thirty feet above a deck and jumping toward the sea to be caught by Caraxes 48 50.

Swordsmanship

Daemon wields Dark Sister in battle and includes swordsmanship among the disciplines he intends to teach Aegon 66 165.

• Kills the Crabfeeder in single combat with Dark Sister 6 66.
• Splits the Crabfeeder’s mask and skull with the blade 142.
• Is not unbeatable: Criston Cole previously defeated him in a tournament 14.

Command and Administration

Daemon builds forces and administers outposts while maintaining an uncertain relationship with royal authority 2 18 162.

• Recruits landless knights and younger noble sons through personal charisma 2.
• Provides places for freed captives to live and work in the Stepstones 162.
• Orders food, water, lodging, and assistance for rescued passengers and ships 164.
• Enforces control over spoils with threats backed by Caraxes’s dragonfire 165.

Mentorship

Daemon teaches Aegon through battlefield demonstrations, direct warnings, and shared responsibility 157 159.

• Explains the danger of scorpions and checks whether Aegon was endangered during an attack 159.
• Reinforces thoroughness when pursuing surviving enemies 159.
• Admits archery is not his strength and recommends Riverlands bowmen, particularly the Blackwoods, as instructors 165.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dark Sister — His Valyrian steel sword; used to kill the Crabfeeder and carried at his waist during formal appearances 66 126 155.
• Dragonriding safety strap — Removed before his leap from Caraxes onto the flagship 47.
• Driftwood crown — Worn during his public Stepstones presentation 66.
• Crabfeeder’s double-bladed axe — Carried as a bloodstained trophy during the same presentation 66.
• Dragonbone bow — Received from Marlon Velaryon and given to Aegon 165.
• Dragon pendant — A gift to Aegon after Daemon’s return to court 68.

Relationships

• Viserys I Targaryen — Elder brother. Their affection survives repeated disputes over succession, unauthorized campaigns, and Daemon’s treatment of Rhaenyra 1 18 64 97 155.
• Aegon Targaryen — Nephew, former target of suspicion, and later pupil and cherished companion. Daemon comes to regard him as a son and prioritizes his safety over Corlys’s plans 72 155 157 165.
• Rhaenyra Targaryen — Niece who admired him from childhood. He encouraged her early dragonriding, but his Flea Bottom scheme damages the trust she placed in him 47 75 80.
• Caraxes — Dragon and battle partner. Their close coordination enables rapid evasive maneuvers and coordinated attacks 108 158.
• Rhea Royce — Lawful wife. Their hostile marriage softens enough for gift-giving and children, but naming disputes lead to renewed separation 170 171.
• Mysaria — Former lover and mother of their lost child. Their reunion is marked by grief, distrust, and her refusal to resume their former relationship 48 96.
• Corlys Velaryon — Recurring military partner. Daemon rejects his expectations at Driftmark but later resumes raiding alongside him 1 155 170.
• Rhaenys Targaryen — Cousin. He exempts her from his warning against the Velaryons, even while arguing with Corlys in her presence 155.
• Rheyana and Vaegon Jobart Targaryen — His twins with Rhea. Viserys names them and arranges their upbringing at the Red Keep after their parents fail to care for them adequately 171.

Notable Quotes

“Who said anything about ‘we’?” 155

“Whatever else Viserys may be, he is still my own elder brother. His son Aegon is as good as my son.” 155

Trivia

• Sunfyre links Daemon’s past and Aegon’s present: the dragon hatched from the egg Daemon stole for his unborn child with Mysaria 48.
• Unlike the original-story twins recalled by Aegon, Daemon’s twins here are a daughter and a son, born to Rhea Royce 170.
• Aegon and Mysaria’s child, called “little Daemon,” is a separate character from the Rogue Prince 173.