Daemon Targaryen remains one of the most compelling and divisive figures in George R. R. Martin’s Targaryen lore. A warrior, a prince, and a kinslayer, his legend has been shaped as much by his actions as by the rumours surrounding them. Often admired for his bravery and derided for his brutality, Daemon walked the line between loyalty and ambition. His darkest moments reveal the volatile character behind the title of Rogue Prince.
The Butchery in the Stepstones
One of Daemon’s earliest and bloodiest exploits was during the War for the Stepstones. Alongside Corlys Velaryon, he led a brutal campaign against the Triarchy. While his military skill was undeniable, the campaign was marked by extreme violence. Daemon nailed the bodies of defeated foes to wooden spikes, littering the beaches with corpses to send a message. Even allies questioned the savagery, though he was ultimately crowned King of the Narrow Sea in the aftermath.
The Death of Prince Vaemond Velaryon
In the series House of the Dragon, Daemon’s swift and public killing of Vaemond Velaryon is a sharp departure from the more shadowy politicking of Westerosi courts. After Vaemond questioned the legitimacy of Rhaenyra’s sons and defied her claim, Daemon decapitated him in the throne room. The act was not just about family honour. It was an assertion of power through fear, carried out without trial or permission. The silence that followed in Viserys’s court spoke volumes about Daemon’s growing dominance.
The Murky End of Laenor Velaryon
In the show’s adaptation, Laenor Velaryon’s “death” is revealed to be faked, orchestrated by Daemon and Rhaenyra to clear the way for their marriage. While this version allows Laenor to escape with his life, the deception is still ruthless. In the books, the event is far more sinister, with strong implications that Daemon had a hand in Laenor’s actual murder. Whether through misdirection or assassination, Daemon’s ambition was served at the cost of honour and stability.
The Death of Harwin Strong
Though never confirmed, Daemon has long been suspected of involvement in the deaths of Harwin Strong and his father Lyonel. Both died in a fire at Harrenhal not long after rumours swirled about Harwin’s paternity of Rhaenyra’s children. While Larys Strong publicly takes credit, Daemon’s presence and interest in removing political obstacles make his involvement plausible. If true, it would mark another cold move in his pursuit of control.
Blood and Cheese
Among the most horrific chapters of the Dance of the Dragons is the revenge killing known as “Blood and Cheese.” After the death of Daemon and Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys at Storm’s End, Daemon hired two assassins to infiltrate the Red Keep. Their mission ended with the murder of young Prince Jaehaerys, son of King Aegon II. The brutality of the act, targeting a child and forcing Queen Helaena to choose which of her sons would die, left a lasting stain on Daemon’s legacy. Though the assassins acted in his name, and arguably at his command, Daemon never publicly acknowledged the atrocity.
The Killing of Aegon the Elder
In the skies over Harrenhal, Daemon met Aemond Targaryen in what became the most iconic dragon duel in Westerosi history. Daemon’s final act was plunging Dark Sister through Aemond’s eye mid-air as their dragons tore each other apart. It was a moment of legendary vengeance, but also a suicidal strike. Both men and their dragons fell to their deaths, making it a symbolic end to Daemon’s arc of defiance, retribution, and self-destruction.
The Seven Swords takeaway
Daemon Targaryen’s life is a chain of calculated violence, personal vendettas, and unapologetic ambition. Though he fought for Rhaenyra’s claim and was instrumental in shaping the Dance of the Dragons, his darkest moments often crossed into cruelty. Whether viewed as a hero willing to do what others would not or as a villain cloaked in silver and fire, Daemon remains a figure of brutal fascination in Targaryen history. His legacy is not clean, but it is unforgettable.
Watch Daemon Targaryen ‘The Rogue Prince’:
