Warning: Contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 9, "The Green Council," and George R.R. Martin's book, Fire & Blood.Aegon Targaryen becomes King in King Viserys' death in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8, "The Lord of the Tides," the greens - led by Otto and Alicent Hightower - were always going to move swiftly to solidify their hold on the Iron Throne. That's particularly true after Viserys' dying words led Alicent to believe he wanted their son, Aegon, to replace him, which leads directly to his coronation in episode 9.
Aegon may be a reluctant ruler at first, rightly believing that he's completely ill-suited to it, but embraces it by the end, seemingly loving the crowd's joyous reaction to his crowning. Officially crowned as King Aegon II Targaryen, his claiming the Iron Throne is a major coup for the greens, re-establishing their grip on King's Landing and, ultimately, the realm. But it's also very much going to provoke a reaction from Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, both of whom were missing in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 9. From the rule of Jaehaerys I and then Viserys I, Westeros has enjoyed an era of relative peace stretching back decades. That's all going to change with Aegon becoming King, and Dance of the Dragons can truly begin.
Why The Catspaw Dagger Changes Aegon's Mind About Becoming King
Although Aegon is initially reluctant to become King, he is swayed by one key factor: the catspaw dagger. The dagger has largely been important for its connection to Aegon the Conqueror's dream and the Prince That Was Promised prophecy engraved upon it, but that's not something this Aegon is aware of (as Viserys never told him, and Alicent misunderstood the talk of prophecy). Instead, though, he sees it as a sign his father truly wanted him to be his heir. The catspaw dagger was among Viserys' most prized possessions, always carried upon his person: if he has ed it to Aegon, then that's a clear sign (to his son) of him being chosen ahead of Rhaenyra.
This is an interesting deviation from Fire & Blood, which established the primary reason for Aegon being convinced to be crowned is that he's told Rhaenyra will have him and his brothers killed if she becomes Queen. This was something Otto Hightower warned of earlier in the season, and Alicent also told Aegon of the threat to himself and their family if Rhaenyra were to become Queen, but it didn't fully sway him. In part, that fits with the more sympathetic portrayal of Rhaenyra, where it's perhaps less believable she'd pose such a threat. But it's also keeping with how important the catspaw dagger has been made, with House of the Dragon building so much around Aegon's dream, the Prince That Was Promised, and how it's been misunderstood.
Does Rhaenyra Become Queen? What Aegon's Coronation Means For Her Claim
Aegon becoming King will, inevitably, provoke a response from Rhaenyra and Daemon, but also means the greens strike the first blow in the Dance of the Dragons, and a decisive one at that. Rhaenyra may well be the rightful Queen, but, as Mysaria notes in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 9, "there is no power but what the people allow you to take." Aegon has the Iron Throne, has been proclaimed King by the Faith of the Seven, and been welcomed by the people of King's Landing. Combined with Rhaenyra being a woman and the rumors of her children being bastards, then there's a lot working in Aegon's favor now.
Like how Game of Thrones had the War of the Five Kings, with different people declaring themselves as such, House of the Dragon will now have a battle of a King and a Queen. Rhaenyra will be crowned on Dragonstone, and there is no way she will accept any from the greens that involve her renouncing her claim to the Iron Throne. She has spent around 20 years as Viserys' heir, was his favorite child, and is the one who carries the weight of Aegon's A Song of Ice and Fire, meaning she will be even more driven to take the Iron Throne from her half-brother.
There will be an unfortunate, rather immediate impact of Aegon becoming King for Rhaenyra as well. House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8 established Rhaenyra is pregnant with her and Daemon's third child together. In the book, news of Viserys' death and Aegon II's coronation sends her into an early labor, where she has a stillborn daughter. It's likely this will play out in similar fashion in House of the Dragon's season 1 finale, ensuring beyond doubt Rhaenyra and Daemon will want revenge on Aegon, Alicent, and the rest of the greens.
Why King Aegon II Gets The Conqueror's Crown, Not Viserys'
Though he's given Viserys' catspaw dagger (which itself once belonged to Aegon the Conqueror), Aegon II does not take his father's crown, which had belonged to both Viserys and Jaehaerys I. The crown is still there, but is placed with Viserys' body, with the intent seemingly that it'll be burned with him. Aegon being given the Conqueror's crown, as well as his Valyrian steel sword, Blackfyre, is an effort to further cement his own legitimacy: it's a connection to the person who established the entire Targaryen family dynasty in Westeros and united the Seven Kingdoms under one rule that Rhaenyra simply cannot match.
Why King Aegon II Has A Different Targaryen Sigil
At Aegon's coronation, he doesn't have the traditional red dragon on black sigil of House Targaryen, but instead a gold dragon. This change is a nod towards Aegon's dragon, Sunfyre, who is golden and said to be the most beautiful dragon in all of Westeros. It also serves a more practical purpose, though. House Targaryen is on the precipice of war, but the rival factions cannot oppose one another with the exact same sigil. As Renly Baratheon said when facing his own brother, Stannis, "I suppose if we used the same banners the battle would be terribly confusing." Rhaenyra will reveal her own sigil too, if it follows the book, which will be the red Targaryen dragon quartered with the falcon of House Arryn (in honor of her mother, Aemma Arryn), and the seahorse of House Velaryon (in honor of her "dead" husband, Laenor Velaryon).
Does Aemond Become King At Any Point? He Really Wants To Be
Aemond Targaryen very much thinks he should be King rather than Aegon, thinking he is far more suited to rule. There's a particularly pointed moment when the crown is placed upon Aegon's head, with the focus on Aemond staring at his brother, angry at what he sees. Aemond is wrong on a lot of counts, though: given his violent tendencies, he would not be a good King but likely a tyrannical one; he also isn't, despite what he says, next in line for the Iron Throne after Aegon. House of the Dragon season 1, episode 9 establishes Aegon and Helaena have children, including their firstborn son, Jaehaerys: going by Aegon's claim, he would then be heir.
Despite Aemond thinking he should be King and agreeing Aegon is unfit for rule, he will loyally serve his brother. Aemond has long insisted he would always do his duty, and with his dragon, Vhagar, being the most powerful in Westeros, he'll become a key part of the war waged by the greens and its most fierce warrior. Aemond does not become King, but he will rule in his brother's stead for a time after an injury in battle confines him to bed rest for a year. Aemond serves as Prince Regent, but will actually wear the crown of Aegon the Conqueror.
What Happens To Aegon II After Becoming King
In the book, Aegon is as a King as he was before the crown was placed upon his head: more interested in women and wine than his duties. It's not unreasonable to assume that will carry over into the show, meaning Aegon won't be a good King for Westeros, but that would be true regardless given his entire reign will be consumed by the Dance of the Dragons. Aegon becoming King leads into the civil war properly starting, a series of bloody, fiery battles with massive casualties on both sides, tearing the realm in two.
Aegon himself will enter the fray on occasion, and suffer major injuries as a result. In the Battle of Rook's Rest, a key event that saw the greens more actively pursuing the blacks, Aegon, with Sunfyre, and Aemond with Vhagar fight against Rhaenys and her dragon, Meleys; the two overwhelm the one, with Rhaenys and Meleys dying. However, Aegon suffers severe burns to his entire body as well as broken limbs, leading him to spend a year abed, never fully recovering from the injuries and being permanently scarred.
Even worse would come to Aegon after Rhaenyra takes control of King's Landing. He is smuggled safely out of the city by Larys Strong, and as retaliation goes on to lead a coup to take command of Dragonstone. During the Fall of Dragonstone, Aegon fought Baela Tagaryen on dragonback; during the battle, Aegon fell from Sunfyre, breaking both of his legs so bad he would never be able to walk again. Still, it is on Dragonstone where he will meet again with Rhaenyra, who returns there after being forced to flee King's Landing herself due to riots (and is unaware of Aegon's coup). Rhaenyra will be imprisoned and, eventually, fed to Sunfyre.
Aegon will return to King's Landing, though unable to climb the stairs to sit on the Iron Throne. Aegon becomes increasingly obstinate and arrogant, refusing to consider any notions of peace with those remaining Rhaenyra loyalists, instead only enraging them further. Armies from the Riverlands, the North, and the Vale of Arryn all march upon the city, with Aegon warned that defeat was impossible to avoid, even being encouraged by his Small Council to leave the city and take the black. Aegon refused to listen, and in the end was fatally poisoned by his own council.
Who Is King After Aegon II Targaryen
After Aegon II's death during the Dance of the Dragons - which also sees his brothers and sons die as well - the Iron Throne es back to Rhaenyra's bloodline: her and Daemon's son Aegon replaces Aegon II, becoming the third of his name. Aegon III is married to Princess Jaehaera, daughter of Aegon II and Helaena, properly uniting the different factions of House Targaryen once again. Aegon III himself is eventually replaced by his own son, Daeron, and then another of Rhaenyra's sons, Viserys (as Daeron died childless), with all future Targaryen Kings coming from her line.
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