Who is Daeron? House of the Dragon’s missing Targaryen explained
MaxLike many House of the Dragon characters, Daeron plays a major role in the ongoing Targaryen Civil War. It remains a mystery, then, why he hasn’t appeared in the show.
Although non-book readers might not have heard of him, he’s a Prince and even has a dragon of his own. He’s been mentioned more than once in House of the Dragon Season 2, hinting that he’s on the way.
But until now, he’s been absent. As a direct relation to King Aegon, it might seem odd that the adaptation is keeping one of their key players hidden.
Here’s the lowdown on Daeron Targaryen, with details on what happens to him in the books and whether he’ll turn up in the TV show. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)
Daeron Targaryen explained
Prince Daeron Targaryen is the youngest child of Queen Alicent Hightower and King Viserys I Targaryen, also known as Daeron the Daring.
That would make him their third son, under Aegon and Aemond. Much like his family, he was a dragonrider and rode the dragon Tessarion.
He also looked similar to his siblings, boasting the usual “blood of the dragon” coloring (white-blond hair and light eyes). However, unlike his brothers, he was often described as gentle and courteous. Since he grew up under his siblings, he was more of a follower than a leader.
He was born in 114 AC, just a little while after Rhaenyra’s eldest son, Jacaerys Velaryon. (A weird but unavoidable detail: Viserys had Daeron and Jacaerys share a wet nurse, hoping that being “milk brothers” would mend the familial rift caused by Rhaenyra and Alicent’s feud.)
HBOAny efforts to keep Daeron in good stead with his cousins and half-sibling failed since he grew up as a rival to them anyway. When he was twelve, he was sent away to Oldtown to serve as a squire to Lord Ormund Hightower, Alicent’s cousin.
While he was there, the Targaryen Civil War kicked off, and Daeron eventually joined Lord Hightower and his army as they marched from Oldtown. They nearly lost the Battle of the Honeywine, but Daeron showed up with Tessarion, saving their army.
As a result, Daeron was knighted and dubbed “Daeron the Daring.”
Daeron continued to fight for Team Black well into Dance of the Dragons, even after the fall of King’s Landing. He stayed with Ormund Hightower’s army, getting several enemies to submit to him, including Shield Islands, House Oakheart, House Rowan, Hugh Hammer, and Ulf White.
After Aemond was killed in the Battle Above the Gods Eye and Aegon II went missing after the fall of King’s Landing, Daeron was considered next in line for the throne and stood as the only thing to threaten Rhaenyra.
However, Daeron was then killed during the Second Battle of Tumbleton. Accounts vary on how he met his end, but the most common story goes that he stumbled out of a tent with his clothes on fire. There, he was killed by Black Trombo, a Myrish sellsword.
Others say he was unknowingly killed by a man-at-arms, and another story says that he died when his tent caught on fire and collapsed on him.
His death remained an enigma since his body was never identified.
Is Daeron in the show?
Daeron hasn’t physically appeared in the show, but he has been mentioned by name by both Alicent and Otto Hightower.
He was first brought up during a conversation between Otto Hightower and Alicent in Season 2 Episode 2, in which he says: “The Hightowers still have strength and you have a son there who will take more kindly to instruction. Daeron may yet help us in weeks to come.”
In Episode 6, Alicent then discusses Daeron with her brother, Gwayne. When she asks Gwayne what Daeron is like, he tells her that her son is now 16 years old. He also describes him as being clever, good with a sword, and a hit with the ladies.
HBOWhat’s more, he tells her that Daeron is kind. This is clearly a relief for Alicent, since the same cannot be said about her other sons, Aegon and Aemond.
Why isn’t he in House of the Dragon?
Daeron is in House of the Dragon, but he’s away in Oldtown, as confirmed by Otto Hightower in Season 2 Episode 2.
Previously, House of the Dragon viewers assumed he’d been written out of the show altogether since there’s been no sight or mention of him. But with Otto talking about him in Episode 2 and Alicent learning about him via Gwayne in Episode 6, things are looking promising.
This proves Daeron does exist, and that his storyline is following the books. As for why he didn’t appear in the first season, it simply boils down to too much plot. There were already too many characters and storylines to introduce, so he seemed to exist only in the background.
Game of Thrones (and Fire & Blood) creator George R.R. Martin actually explained as such himself.
In a 2022 blog post, he wrote: “Yes, Alicent gave Viserys four children, three sons and a daughter. Their youngest son Daeron is down in Oldtown, we just did not have the time to work him in this [first] season.”
Then, in a 2024 Variety interview, showrunner Ryan Condal confirmed that Daeron does exist in the show, but not in physical form. He said: “Daeron has not been cast yet. I’ve said he’s a character in the show, but at this point in the story, he’s in Oldtown where he was warded off as a young child.
“So we don’t have a point-of-view character in that world yet and there is no dramatic reason to go there.”
So, long story short: Daeron will appear in House of the Dragon. He’s just been MIA in Oldtown, as it was written.
For more explainers, find out whether Criston Cole is Daeron’s real father. We’ve also got a breakdown of the House of the Dragon release schedule. Don’t miss all the other new TV shows coming out this month, too!