Only Ulf White and Hugh Hammer succeeded in claiming dragons, but plenty of Targaryen bastards from King’s Landing answered Rhaenyra’s call. It makes sense for there to be several Targaryen bastards at the capital, even though it can be difficult to trace their lineages. House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7 killed off a lot of these alleged bastards, but one key character with silver hair from Fire & Blood was not addressed.
Who Is Gaemon Palehair? Aegon II’s Alleged Bastard Explained
Gaemon Palehair Was One Of The “Three Kings”
After Rhaenyra takes over King’s Landing, Fire & Blood spends quite a while at the capital and discusses how the new queen was received by the smallfolk. While George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood is an in-universe historical book and rarely has a definitive answer for the questions it brings up, this portion of the story mentions an alleged bastard of Aegon II Targaryen. According to his mother, Essie, the four-year-old child with silver hair was the son of Aegon. Gaemon Palehair’s potential heritage comes into play following the Riot of King’s Landing, after which Rhaenyra fled the capital.
After the end of the war, Gaemon was raised in the court of and became friends with Aegon III Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s son, who sat on the Iron Throne after Aegon II was poisoned.
With Aegon missing since the was taken by Rhaenyra and Aemond dead, King’s Landing saw itself in chaos. Amidst all the riots and looting, some people began to proclaim themselves as kings. The “Moon of the Three Kings” saw a preacher called Shepherd, a squire named Trystane Truefyre, and Gaemon Palehair all being proclaimed as kings and “ruling” different portions of King’s Landing. This period ended once Aegon II Targaryen returned following the death of Rhaenyra in Dragonstone. Most of the pretenders were killed, but the child was spared. Gaemon’s mother would later confess he was not Aegon’s son.
Where Is Gaemon In House Of The Dragon & Did He Already Appear?
Gaemon May Have Been Introduced In House Of The Dragon Season 1
House of the Dragon season 1, episode 9 saw the Kingsguard looking for Aegon in King’s Landing ahead of his coronation. When investigating a bizarre location where people would watch fighting against each other, Ser Erryk noticed a young boy with silver hair. Considering his apparent age, the color of his hair, and the fact he was living in poverty, many assumed that this child was Gaemon Palehair. However, this character was never revisited, not even after Rhaenyra summoned potential Targaryen bastards and offered them glory if they could claim a dragon.
It is unclear whether the child in season 1 was Gaemon Palehair, or even if the show will adapt this story at all. Ser Erryk running into a potential bastard of Aegon while searching for the missing prince in the worst establishments of King’s Landing could have been just a way of showing how unprepared Aegon was for such an important role. House of the Dragon season 1 also revealed that Aegon raped Dyana, who was then threatened and given moon tea If House of the Dragon does adapt Gaemon’s story, it will happen toward the end of the show.
