Rhaegar Targaryen was the firstborn son of King Aerys II Targaryen, known as “the Mad King,” and Queen Rhaella Targaryen. As Prince of Dragonstone and the heir apparent to the Iron Throne, he was a figure of immense promise and tragic fate. His life, though relatively short, served as the catalyst for Robert’s Rebellion, the war that reshaped the political landscape of Westeros and set the stage for the central conflicts of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Unlike many of his dynasty, Rhaegar was not a flamboyant tyrant. He was described as scholarly, melancholy, and musically gifted, deeply interested in the prophecies of his bloodline. His growing obsession with the “Prince That Was Promised” drove him to make choices—particularly involving Lyanna Stark—that would ultimately lead to his downfall and the fall of House Targaryen.
This comprehensive guide explores Rhaegar Targaryen’s biography, his complex family tree, the details of his death at the Battle of the Trident, his lack of a dragon, his appearances in the HBO television series, and the enduring debate over whether he was a hero, a villain, or something in between.
Who Was Rhaegar Targaryen?
Key Insights About Rhaegar Targaryen
- Rhaegar Targaryen is a pivotal off-screen figure whose actions triggered Robert’s Rebellion.
- He was a skilled swordsman and scholar, obsessed with the prophecy of the Prince That Was Promised.
- His relationship with Lyanna Stark remains one of the most debated mysteries in the series (abduction vs. elopement).
- Rhaegar did not have a dragon; the last Targaryen dragon died before his birth.
- In the TV show, Rhaegar appears only in flashbacks (Season 6) and a vision (Season 7).
- He was called “The Last Dragon” for his melancholy, intelligence, and martial skill.
- His death at the Trident led directly to the fall of House Targaryen.
Rhaegar Targaryen Snapshot Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rhaegar Targaryen |
| Title | Prince of Dragonstone, Crown Prince of the Seven Kingdoms |
| Born | 259 AC (After Conquest) |
| Died | 283 AC at the Battle of the Trident |
| Parents | Aerys II Targaryen and Rhaella Targaryen |
| Siblings | Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen |
| Spouse | Elia Martell (married); Lyanna Stark (paramour/secret wife) |
| Children | Rhaenys, Aegon (with Elia); Jon Snow/Aegon Targaryen (with Lyanna) |
| House | Targaryen |
| Actor (TV) | Wilf Scolding |
Who Was Rhaegar Targaryen’s Family? A Complete Family Tree
Rhaegar’s lineage is the core of the Targaryen dynasty’s last generation before its fall. A detailed exploration of his family reveals the complex web of politics, prophecy, and conflict.
Father: Aerys II Targaryen (the Mad King)
Rhaegar’s father was King Aerys II, whose severe paranoia and brutality defined the later years of his reign. Aerys’s madness created widespread discontent among the great houses, making the realm ripe for rebellion.
Mother: Rhaella Targaryen
Queen Rhaella was both Aerys’s wife and sister. She endured a difficult life under the shadow of her husband’s instability and died shortly after giving birth to Daenerys.
Siblings: Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen
Rhaegar had two younger siblings. Viserys grew into a bitter and cruel man, shaped by his exile. Daenerys, born after Rhaegar’s death, became a central figure in the main series, seeking to reclaim her family’s throne.
Children: Rhaenys, Aegon, and Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen)
With his lawful wife, Elia Martell, Rhaegar had two children: a daughter named Rhaenys and a son named Aegon. With Lyanna Stark, he fathered a third child, a son raised as Jon Snow but born Aegon Targaryen, as revealed in the television series. This secret son is a central figure in the story’s prophecy of ice and fire.
Wife and Paramour: Elia Martell and Lyanna Stark
Rhaegar’s marriage to Elia Martell of Dorne was a political union that produced two heirs. His relationship with Lyanna Stark is far more controversial. Whether he abducted her or she eloped with him is a central ambiguity of the story, though the television adaptation depicts a consensual secret marriage.
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark are shown entering a secret marriage, making Jon Snow the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne. In George R.R. Martin’s novels, this marriage has not been confirmed, and the circumstances of Jon’s birth remain legally ambiguous. For a complete visual guide, refer to our House Targaryen Family Tree Explained.
How Did Rhaegar Targaryen Die?
The Battle of the Trident
The final conflict of Robert’s Rebellion was the Battle of the Trident. Rhaegar commanded the royalist army against the rebel forces led by Robert Baratheon. They fought near a crossing on the Trident River.
Rhaegar vs. Robert Baratheon
During the battle, Rhaegar and Robert engaged in single combat. According to the chronicles, Robert struck Rhaegar in the chest with his warhammer, shattering the rubies in his armor. The gems scattered into the river, giving the crossing the name Ruby Ford. Rhaegar died in the river.
Aftermath of Rhaegar’s Death
Rhaegar’s death marked the end of any realistic hope for the royalists. King’s Landing was sacked shortly after, Aerys II was killed by Jaime Lannister, and Robert Baratheon seized the Iron Throne. Rhaegar’s wife Elia and his children Rhaenys and Aegon were also killed during the sack of the city.
Did Rhaegar Targaryen Have a Dragon?
Rhaegar’s Dragon: The Missing Link
Rhaegar Targaryen never rode a dragon. Despite being a dragon rider by blood and title, no living dragon bonded with him. His nickname “The Last Dragon” referred to his personal mystique, not a literal mount.
Dragons in Rhaegar’s Lifetime
The Targaryen dragons had been dying out for decades before Rhaegar’s birth. The last true dragon lived during the reign of King Aegon III, over a century before Rhaegar was born. By the time of Robert’s Rebellion, dragons were considered creatures of legend.
Rhaegar and the Eggs
It is possible that Rhaegar possessed dragon eggs, as was traditional for Targaryen princes. Some fans speculate that he placed an egg in Lyanna’s tomb or that Daenerys’s eggs originally belonged to him. However, none of these theories are confirmed in the published novels.
The last Targaryen dragon died during the reign of King Aegon III, over a century before Rhaegar was born. Although Rhaegar was known as “The Last Dragon,” this was a poetic reference to his Targaryen mystique and skill, not an indication that he ever rode or bonded with a dragon.
Which Episode Features Rhaegar Targaryen? (Actor and Appearances)
Rhaegar’s Flashback in Season 6
Rhaegar Targaryen appears on screen for the first time in Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 6, titled “Blood of My Blood.” In a flashback sequence, he is shown marrying Lyanna Stark in a secret ceremony.
Actor Wilf Scolding as Rhaegar
The character was portrayed by British actor Wilf Scolding. His casting was part of the show’s effort to bring the long-debated backstory of Jon Snow’s parents to life.
Rhaegar in Season 7’s Dragonstone Scene
Rhaegar makes a second appearance in Season 7, Episode 4, “The Spoils of War.” In a vision experienced by Jon Snow at Dragonstone, Rhaegar is seen with Lyanna Stark and their newborn son, explicitly naming him Aegon. This scene confirms the parentage central to the series’ prophecy.
Was Rhaegar Targaryen a Hero or a Villain?
The Abduction vs. Elopement Debate
The central moral question of Rhaegar’s life revolves around his relationship with Lyanna Stark. The novels leave it ambiguous whether she was kidnapped or fled with him willingly. The television series clearly depicts an elopement. This ambiguity heavily colors how readers judge his character.
Rhaegar’s Motivations: Prophecy or Love?
Rhaegar was deeply driven by prophecy. He believed that the “Prince That Was Promised” would come from the union of ice (Stark) and fire (Targaryen). It remains unclear whether his pursuit of Lyanna was an act of love or a cold, calculated effort to fulfill a prophecy he felt was his destiny to secure.
Conflicting Accounts from Characters
Characters in the series offer different views of Rhaegar. Jorah Mormont famously calls him a valiant man who fought honorably. Others, like Robert Baratheon, harbor a deep hatred for him, viewing him as a rapist and a thief. The reader must piece together the truth from these biased perspectives.
Rhaegar’s Legacy in Westeros
Regardless of his intentions, Rhaegar’s actions directly caused a devastating civil war. His choices led to the deaths of his family, the fall of House Targaryen, and decades of instability in Westeros.
George R.R. Martin has deliberately avoided providing a clear answer on Rhaegar’s morality. The narrative purposefully filters Rhaegar through the memories and biases of other characters, making it impossible for readers to fully separate the man from the myth. This is supported by the author’s own interviews on the subject.
Timeline of Rhaegar Targaryen’s Life
- 259 AC: Rhaegar is born to Aerys II and Rhaella during the Tragedy of Summerhall.
- ~270 AC: Rhaegar becomes a skilled warrior and knight; begins reading prophecies.
- 280 AC: Marries Elia Martell of Dorne.
- 281 AC: Birth of daughter Rhaenys.
- 282 AC: Birth of son Aegon. Rhaegar becomes convinced Aegon is the Prince That Was Promised.
- 282 AC: At the Tourney of Harrenhal, Rhaegar names Lyanna Stark the Queen of Love and Beauty, sparking rumors.
- 282 AC: Rhaegar disappears with Lyanna Stark, triggering Robert’s Rebellion.
- 283 AC: Battle of the Trident: Rhaegar is killed by Robert Baratheon.
- 2016 (TV): Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 6: Flashback of Rhaegar and Lyanna’s wedding.
- 2017 (TV): Season 7, Episode 4: Visions of Rhaegar and the birth of Jon Snow.
What Is Clearly Known and What Remains Unclear About Rhaegar?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| He was the firstborn son of Aerys II and Rhaella. | Whether Lyanna went with him willingly or was abducted. |
| He married Elia Martell and had two children with her. | Whether he and Lyanna actually married in the novels. |
| He was killed by Robert Baratheon at the Trident. | Whether he truly loved Lyanna or was solely motivated by prophecy. |
| He did not ride a dragon or have a dragon mount. | The full extent of his prophetic knowledge. |
| He was a highly skilled swordsman and scholar. | His true feelings about his father’s madness and the state of the realm. |
Why Is Rhaegar Targaryen Important to the Story?
Rhaegar’s obsession with the prophecy of the Prince That Was Promised is the foundational event for the entire magical narrative of A Song of Ice and Fire. His belief that his child would be a messianic figure to save the world from a coming darkness directly led to the union with Lyanna Stark and the birth of Jon Snow. This prophecy is the engine driving the conflict against the White Walkers.
His role in Robert’s Rebellion is equally critical. The war caused by his actions reveals the fragility of the Targaryen dynasty. The subsequent power vacuum and the ascension of Robert Baratheon set the political stage for the War of the Five Kings and the schemes of houses like the Lannisters.
Rhaegar’s legacy is ultimately personified in Jon Snow. As the living embodiment of “ice and fire,” Jon represents the hope for a peaceful future and the continuation of a line destined to lead. Rhaegar’s choices, made for love and prophecy, echo throughout the entire series.
Notable Quotes and Sources on Rhaegar Targaryen
“He was the last dragon.”
— Multiple characters, A Game of Thrones
“Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought honorably. And Rhaegar died.”
— Jorah Mormont, Game of Thrones, Season 5
“He could have been a king, but he chose to be a poet.”
— George R.R. Martin (interview), So Spake Martin
Summary: The Dragon Prince Who Changed Westeros
Rhaegar Targaryen remains one of the most fascinating and debated figures in the series. A man of contradictions—a scholar who was also a formidable warrior, a husband who fell in love with another, a prince whose actions destroyed his family. His story is essential to understanding the deep history and magic of Westeros. For more on the season where his story is revealed, check out our Game of Thrones Season 6 Character Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rhaegar Targaryen
What was Rhaegar Targaryen’s dragon called?
Rhaegar did not have a dragon. Dragons were extinct in Westeros for over 150 years before his birth.
How old was Rhaegar when he died?
Rhaegar was approximately 23-24 years old at the time of his death at the Battle of the Trident.
Did Rhaegar Targaryen appear in Game of Thrones?
Yes, he appeared in flashbacks in Season 6 (Episode 6) and in a vision in Season 7 (Episode 4).
Who played Rhaegar Targaryen in Game of Thrones?
Rhaegar Targaryen was portrayed by British actor Wilf Scolding.
How many children did Rhaegar Targaryen have?
Rhaegar had three children: Rhaenys, Aegon (both with Elia Martell), and Jon Snow (with Lyanna Stark, named Aegon Targaryen in the show).
Was Rhaegar Targaryen the Mad King’s son?
Yes, Rhaegar was the firstborn son of King Aerys II Targaryen (the Mad King) and Queen Rhaella.
Henry Wallace is Managing Editor at RegionalReport.co.uk, running the daily news list, the regional publishing schedule and newsroom workflow.