Who is Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon? Matt Smith character explained
A coin is tossed when a Targaryen is born...
With House of the Dragon season 2 comes the return of House Targaryen, including the fiery Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith.
The brother of the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine), Daemon is now married to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), fortifying her claim to the throne. But currently, Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), the son of Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and the late King Viserys, sits the Iron Throne.
But, following the death of Rhaenyra's son, Lucerys Velaryon at the hands of Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) at the end of season 1, Daemon is most keen on revenge.
Showrunner Ryan Condal recently teased that big things are ahead for Daemon and actor Smith, telling RadioTimes.com: "I warned him early on, ‘You did such a great job in season 1, now we're gonna throw a lot at you and really challenge your range as an actor, and also what makes Daemon as a character.’
"I think Daemon is the character a lot of people hook into with this series, because it's the sort of stereotypical heroic male lead. And we wanted to kind of turn that on its ear, beginning with episode 1 of season 1 and carrying all the way through the rest of his arc through the series."
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Read on for everything you need to know about Prince Daemon Targaryen.
Who is Prince Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon?
Doctor Who and The Crown star Matt Smith takes on the role of Prince Daemon Targaryen, arguably one of the more complex characters in House of the Dragon.
He's the brother of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), second son of Prince Baelon Targaryen, and the grandson of the Old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
A talented warrior, Daemon was knighted by his grandfather when he was just 16, when he was given one of two ancestral swords of House Targaryen, Dark Sister.
Daemon was initially supportive of Viserys and his accession to the Throne, but he soon sours to the idea when his own ambitions are ruined.
The Rogue Prince was married to Lady Rhea Royce of Runestone in the Vale of Arryn, but the marriage was an unhappy one and he refers to her as his "Bronze B***h".
Serving initially as Master of Coin and Master of Laws, Daemon found more happiness as Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing – but being in charge of an army was a potentially dangerous situation for a man who could flip at any moment.
Daemon always considered himself the heir to the Iron Throne following Viserys's reign as his little brother – especially given the fact that the King failed to father a son with his wife Queen Aemma (Sian Brooke).
But the Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), was sure to make his position known, telling Viserys that his daughter, Princess Rhaenrya Targaryen (Milly Alcock, Emma D'Arcy), should be the next leader of the Seven Kingdoms instead.
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After the death of Queen Aemma in childbirth, Daemon's mocking of the infant led to him being exiled and Princess Rhaenyra being named the heir to the Iron Throne.
After this, Daemon pursued war alongside Lord Corlys Velaryon in the Stepstones against the Crabfeeder of the Triarchy.
Throughout season 1, Daemon and Rhaenyra had a close bond, which led to their marriage towards the end of the season.
Now, however, he has to help her face an inevitable civil war, and avenge her son Lucerys against the Greens.
Who has Daemon been married to?
Daemon has had three different marriages in House of the Dragon. First of all, he was married to Rhea Royce, and then married Laena Velaryon.
He and Laena had two daughters, Baela (Bethany Antonia) and Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) Targaryen. During episode 6 of season 1, Laena is pregnant with the pair's third child, but the pregnancy is unable to be brought to full term and Laena dies.
Currently, Daemon is married to his niece, Queen Rhaenyra Targyaren. The pair share a close bond and Daemon is left enraged following the death of Rhaenyra's son Lucerys.
Why did George R R Martin choose Prince Daemon as his favourite Targaryen?
George R R Martin chose Prince Daemon Targaryen as his favourite in the dynasty in an interview hosted on the YouTube account Aegon Targaryen.
"I’m notorious for my love of grey characters and one of the greyest characters in the entire history of Westeros is Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue Prince," he said.
Martin called him a "notorious bad boy" and a "rogue in every sense of the word" who is a "very colourful" character.
What is Dark Sister?
In House of the Dragon, Daemon Targaryen wields the Valyrian steel sword, Dark Sister. It is one of two ancestral swords tied to House Targaryen.
Slender in design, Dark Sister is thought to have been made for a female warrior initially, and has had a fair few owners before it reached Daemon.
Queen Visenya Targaryen is the first known Targaryen owner of Dark Sister, having used the sword in training alongside her brother King Aegon I Targaryen. She would go on to establish the Kingsguard.
She gave the sword to her 13-year-old son, Maegor Targaryen, but he chose to fight with the other Valyian sword, Blackfyre. The sword was stolen by Queen Alyssa Velaryon and gifted to Jaehaerys, the Old King, when he pronounced his claim to the Throne.
Daemon's father, Baelon the Brave, wielded the sword while avenging his brother's death before it was gifted to Daemon by King Jaehaerys.
House of the Dragon season 2 will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK from 17th June – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.
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