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- The Crown Of The Wise King
- The Grandsire’s Crown: Design And Sigils
- Why Didn’t Aegon Second Of His Name Use Viserys’ Crown?
- Ser Erryk Cargyll Smuggles Viserys’ Crown To Dragonstone
The Targaryens, who united Westeros into a single political entity, collectively own a collection of royal objects and coronation regalia. The Valyrian steel dagger, the Conqueror’s Valyrian steel circlet, and his Valyrian steel sword, Blackfyre, and Dark Sister, are among the eye-catching fineries on the show. Through Aegon II, House of the Dragon established the Conqueror’s crown as the centerpiece, but the fact remains that two of his predecessors chose a two-tone crown over it.
The royal regalia that was passed down from Jaehaerys to King Viserys I is a symbol of Targaryen majesty and power. It marks a departure from the Valyrian steel circlet that Aegon, First of His Name, and Maegor the Cruel wore. It is special for many reasons, but more than most, it is a reminder of the stretch of peace Jaehaerys’ reign is synonymous with in House of the Dragon. Here’s why.
The Crown Of The Wise King
As seen in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 1 “The Heirs of the Dragon,” the two-tone geometric crown was passed down from Jaehaerys to his grandson, Viserys. The Pilot episode shows that Viserys wore it for ceremonial purposes such as the Heir’s Tournament, and at Aemma and Baelon’s funeral, but rarely at small council meetings. He also wore it toward the episode’s end when he chose to confront his rogue brother, Daemon Targaryen from the Iron Throne. At that moment, the golden crown, his Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre, and the Iron Throne conveyed his power, authority, and dignity.
Jaehaerys’ crown bore the sigils of the Great Houses of Westeros and therefore symbolized peace and unity in the realm. The Wise King, after all, is the longest-reigning king on the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones lore. His reign firmly established House Targaryen as a formidable sovereign power in Westeros. Jaehaerys ended strife in the realm by reconciling with the Faith of the Seven and working out the Doctrine of Exceptionalism that gave Targaryens the exclusive right to marry two family members, such as brothers and sisters, nieces and uncles, first cousins, and so forth. Jaehaerys himself wed his sister, Alysanne, while Daemon wed his niece Rhaenyra, and his descendants, Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon, were betrothed to their first cousins and step-sisters, Princess Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, respectively.
The Grandsire’s Crown: Design And Sigils
As seen in House of the Dragon, the golden-silver crown is fairly minimalist in design. It bears smaller sigils of Houses namely Tyrell of the Reach, Baratheon of the Stormlands, Lannister of the Westerlands, Tully of the Riverlands, Arryn of the Vale, Stark of the North, and Martell of Dorne. The Targaryen sigil, i.e., the three-headed dragon, is the biggest and is placed at the crown’s front and center. Interestingly, Dorne continued to be out of the realm’s fold even after the eighth Targaryen king, Daeron’s war on the region. The crown, however, bore the Martell sigil because Dorne was considered an integral part of the realm.
Why Didn’t Aegon Second Of His Name Use Viserys’ Crown?
Aegon had little say in choosing his coronation regalia, as Alicent installed him on the Iron Throne with the help of the Greens. She chose his crown and sword:
My son will be anointed tomorrow at dawn. The whole of King’s Landing must witness his ascent. He will assume authority. There will be no more dithering.
Alicent appointed Criston Cole as Lord Commander, and announced to her father:
My son will take the crown of his namesake, the Conqueror, and carry Blackfyre, his sword. Let the people remember the ancient strength of House Targaryen.
Alicent saw fit that Aegon should be crowned with the Conqueror’s crown, while in reality, her wastrel son was a mere namesake. Aegon remains a drunken usurper and, per snippets from House of the Dragon season 2 teaser trailer, will rule with an iron-fist policy. He must deal with step-sister, Rhaenyra’s challenge to his authority, moving forward.
Ser Erryk Cargyll Smuggles Viserys’ Crown To Dragonstone
Jaehaerys’ crown was stolen from the Red Keep by one of the greatest Kingsguards, Ser Erryk Cargyll after Viserys’ passing. He traveled to Dragonstone and presented it to Viserys’s chosen heir, Princess Rhaenyra. He knelt before the soon-to-be Queen and voluntarily took the vows to join her Queensguard:
I swear to ward the Queen with all my strength and give my blood for hers. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall guard her secrets, obey her commands, ride at her side, and defend her name and honor.
Daemon took the crown from Ser Erryk’s hands, examined it briefly, and placed it on his wife’s head, thus making him a royal consort. Rhaenyra is seen wearing her father’s crown in House of the Dragon season 2 teaser trailer. She shares his belief in the basic goodness of humankind, unlike the Greens, and the golden crown is a testament to their commonalities.
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