Fire & Blood Vol. 1 | Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession (Chapter 12)

Previously simply known as Heirs of the Dragon: Detailing the succession crisis Jaehaerys faced in 92 AC and again in 101 AC, and continuing with the reign of Viserys I Targaryen. An abridged version, The Rogue Prince, was previously published in the anthology Rogues in 2014, uses the majority of this text, detailing the reign of Viserys I.

After Aemon died in battle, Jaehaerys named his brother Baelon successor rather than his daughter, Rhaenys, by Jocelyn. But in 101 AC, Baelon’s stomach burst open during a hunting trip. In order to determine the line of succession, Jaehaerys determined to hold a Great Council at Harrenhal in order to decide on the next ruler. The council discarded bastards and females and came down to Viserys, son of Baelon, and Laenor, son of Rhaenys and Corlys Velaryon. The council decided on Viserys in a landslide that seemed to suggest succession would never pass through a female.

In 103 AC, Jaehaerys died and Viserys ascended to the Iron Throne. Viserys was 26 and had married Aemma, who he shared a daughter, Rhaenyra, with. He made his wild younger brother, Daemon, Commander of the City Watch.