WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8!House of the Dragon episode 8 reveals that Rhaenyra and Daemon now have two sons, Aegon and Viserys, whose names mean more than just Targaryen tradition. Rhaenyra and Daemon’s blended family currently consists of seven children, although Rhaenyra’s pregnancy sets up another member of their brood. Considering Rhaenyra’s bastard sons were named in connection to Laenor Velaryon, her sons Viserys and Aegon finally allowed her to augment their Targaryen lineage through historic monikers. Aegon was named after the Conqueror while Viserys was named after Rhaenyra’s father and Daemon’s brother, with both paying tribute to important figures in their parents' lives and history. However, the strategic naming of Rhaenyra and Daemon’s sons works on several more advantageous levels.
Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne continues to be contested in House of the Dragon, especially through her bastard children with Harwin Strong. As such, naming her children with Daemon after Aegon the Conqueror and King Viserys I Targaryen increases the perception of her family’s legitimacy in the realm. If Rhaenyra’s Velaryon sons were forced out of the line of succession, she would still have the legitimate Aegon and Viserys Targaryen as her heirs, with names that augment their standing as Targaryens fit for rule. This is certainly how Alicent Hightower perceived it in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, as she felt Rhaenyra naming her son “Aegon” was a slight to her own eldest son. However, the name Aegon is given even more significance in House of the Dragon through Rhaenyra’s connection to Aegon’s Song of Ice and Fire dream, which proves to her father Viserys how deeply she’s committed to carrying the burden of his secret. Similarly, Daemon and Rhaenyra naming their son Viserys is a heartwarming declaration of love to their shared hero, and demonstrates their loyalty to the man who defended them until his dying breath.
How Aegon’s Prophecy Changes The Origins Of Rhaenyra & Daemon’s Son’s Name
In George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the reason behind Rhaenyra and Daemon naming their son Aegon seemed to simply be a tribute to the Conqueror, who is held high in Targaryen lore. It’s a name that represents royalty and power in Westeros, so the Targaryens that name their sons Aegon typically expect them to sit on the Iron Throne. This is why it’s not surprising that the name Aegon is still so important in Game of Thrones, and why it was fitting that Aegon Targaryen is Jon Snow’s real name. Including Jon Snow, there are about 12 known Aegon Targaryens in Game of Thrones history, with House of the Dragon’s twist regarding Aegon's prophecy now truly explaining why so many heirs were given this name.
Since Viserys had a vision about his firstborn son sitting on the Iron Throne and wearing the Conqueror’s crown, his son Aegon II Targaryen was either named simply in tribute to the Song of Ice and Fire dreamer or because Viserys thought there was a possibility he would actually become King if Rhaenyra were disinherited or killed. Similarly, Rhaenyra’s knowledge of Aegon the Conqueror’s prophecy has motivated her fight for the Iron Throne, and she intends to carry on his dream just as her father did. Naming her son Aegon in House of the Dragon not only demonstrates her dedication to the Targaryen prophecy, but reaffirms that she intends for her heirs to carry on Viserys’ wishes as well.
HOTD Makes Rhaenyra & Daemon’s Viserys Tribute Better Than The Book
It was always clear that Rhaenyra and Daemon named their second son as a tribute to King Viserys I Targaryen, but the weights of their bonds are far stronger in House of the Dragon than in the book. Viserys was known to be a doting father to Rhaenyra, but the extent of his deep devotion to her is much more powerful in House of the Dragon, especially with the addition of Viserys' undying love for Rhaenyra’s mother Aemma. Viserys loves his children with Alicent, but not nearly as much or in the same way as he loves Rhaenyra, the daughter of the love of his life. Some of the only occasions that Viserys demonstrated himself to be strong and decisive were when he defended Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne, which wasn’t written with as much of an emotional undertone in the books.
Daemon and Viserys’ brotherly relationship is also more nuanced in House of the Dragon than in Fire & Blood. Daemon’s primary motivation in House of the Dragon was to receive the approval of his brother and make Viserys proud of him, revealing that Viserys truly was his hero despite the King’s weakness. When no one else would defend Daemon and Rhaenyra, Viserys was there for them, with House of the Dragon episode 8 showing them returning the favor as Daemon helps Viserys up the Iron Throne. The least that they could do for Viserys was to name their children in his honor, whether it be his own name or the name of the dragon dreamer he held so highly.
Why Viserys Meeting Rhaenyra & Daemon’s Sons Was So Important To HOTD
Similar to when Viserys met baby Joffrey in House of the Dragon episode 6, his heartwarming introduction to Aegon and Viserys is much deeper than the series lets on. This is because when Viserys looks at Aegon and Viserys, he’s looking at the two Targaryens who will ultimately carry out his legacy. At the end of House of the Dragon’s devastating civil war, Aegon III Targaryen sits on the Iron Throne, with his younger brother Viserys II Targaryen inheriting the crown after the deaths of Aegon’s sons. It’s through Viserys II Targaryen’s line that the Prince That Was Promised is born, which makes his introduction to Rhaenyra’s father all the more significant to Targaryen history.
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