This article contains spoilers for Season 1 of HBO’s House of the Dragon.The house of Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon has found itself and its allies split down the middle, with civil war all but certain to scorch the land of Westeros. On the side of The Greens is the one-eyed Prince Aemond Targaryen, a fierce young warrior eager to consolidate power for his family and himself. On the side of The Blacks, in support of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen is the battle-hardened manipulator Prince Daemon Targaryen, Aemond’s uncle.
With their family conflict boiling over into war, it is a distinct possibility these two may find themselves facing one another in battle. If this were to happen, would the one-eyed prince be able to outmatch his uncle and defeat him? Could he supplant Daemon’s position as the Targaryen family’s finest warrior?
Daemon Targaryen’s Strength
Daemon Targaryen is no stranger to direct combat. Unlike many ranking noblemen, Daemon Targaryen does not shy away from conflict — he openly welcomes it. When he fell out of favor with his brother, King I Viserys, Daemon was quick to regain the favor by allying with Lord Corlys and his men to rid Westeros of The Crabfeeder, a wild cult leader whose army stalked the shores and attacked ships, pinning survivors to driftwood and letting them be picked apart by crabs for weeks on end as they suffered.
Positioning himself as bait, Daemon drew the Crabfeeder’s men out of hiding and allowed them to swarm him as he stood alone, giving Corlys and his men time to rush a counter-offensive onto the shore-bound cultists. Wading through a sea of bodies, ship debris, and death, Daemon saw the Crabfeeder making his retreat and followed after him alone into the caverns of the beach shoreline. As the dust began to settle, Daemon emerged victorious, carrying the bisected Crabfeeder’s corpse to the water so he himself may be fed to the crustaceans, and brought home peace, victory and glory to himself, his family, and Westeros.
Armed with this great feat, the accolades of those who witnessed his bravery, and a humbling apology to his brother, Daemon regained favor with King Viserys and the public at large.
Aside from this level of self-assurance and skill on the battlefield, Daemon is no stranger to killing close associates and loved ones. Daemon was married to his cousin, Rhea, but the marriage was soured, and they had become estranged and bitter to one another. Eager to be rid of her and to guarantee his inheritance of her land and offices, Daemon killed her horse while she rode it, crushing it beneath her and breaking her back.
He approached her and grabbed a large rock to beat her to death, her undoing being labeled a horse-riding accident over treacherous terrain. If Daemon is so willing and able to murder his wife and cousin for inheritance, he’d have no issue cutting down a treasonous nephew seeking glory and power at the cost of Daemon and his family’s status and lives.
Aemond Targaryen’s Youth & Anger
Aemond Targaryen is entering his physical prime in his 20s, while Daemon is bowing out of his as he enters his 50s. Aemond’s tall stature and broad frame is complimented with a strong physique and a natural talent with the sword, making him the best fighter of his immediate peers and siblings. His two greatest weaknesses regarding a fight will be his explosive temper and his one eye. The one-eyed prince lost his eye in a scuffle with his siblings and peers when they were children, Lucerys Velaryon slashing his eye with a knife to protect himself and his older brother, Jacaerys Velaryon.
Even years later, his anger over this incident blinds his judgment, and he accidentally killed Lucerys with a dragon he himself could not sufficiently control when the son of Rhaenyra Targaryen had arrived to negotiate alliances with a neighboring house. This moment of blind rage over a long-past incident has all but guaranteed open civil war between The Greens and Blacks across the realm of Westeros, and Aemond himself is to blame.
Aemond has not been depicted in any major armed conflicts yet, meaning his training and youthful energy will have to compensate for his lack of experience and gut instinct. Should he face his uncle in a fight, be it a major clash among armies or a more secure one-on-one fight, Aemond will be facing the greatest feat of his life against an uncaring, unimpressed, and extremely annoyed Daemon Targaryen eager to be rid of troublesome relatives.
What’s To Come In Season 2
With the death of Lucerys Velaryon during a non-violent messenger mission, Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen are all but certain to wage open war against the treasonous houses and family members that have installed Aegon II, son of Queen Alicent Hightower, as the new king of Westeros instead of Rhaenyra. Whether the two combative princes will find themselves in a situation to face one another has yet to be seen.
If it does come to pass, the outcome will be anyone’s guess and will certainly keep fans on the edge of their seats. Fans will have to wait and see the fates of Daemon and Aemond Targaryen, as filming for Season 2 of House of the Dragon is set to begin in early 2023, meaning the premiere is likely set for late 2023 or early 2024. Until then, the fate of Westeros, the Iron Throne, and House Targaryen hang in limbo.
