'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Explainer: Why Aegon II Targaryen married Helaena
Contains spoilers for 'House of the Dragon'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, a crucial mystery surrounds Aegon II Targaryen's (Tom Glynn-Carney) unexpected marriage to his sister, Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban).
The Targaryens are renowned for their unique tradition of marrying within their family, a practice aimed at preserving their Valyrian bloodline and their mystical bond with dragons.
This practice began with Aegon the Conqueror, who married his sisters Visenya and Rhaenys, establishing a precedent that continued through his descendants.
This tradition continued with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith), who married despite their close familial ties.
Similarly, Aegon II Targaryen followed in his ancestors' footsteps by marrying his sister Helaena Targaryen. But what motivated Aegon II to marry Helaena, and how did this decision come about?
Why did Aegon II Targaryen marry Helaena in 'House of the Dragon'?
In Season 1 of ‘House of the Dragon,’ a significant time jump occurs between Episodes 7 and 8, revealing that Aegon II has married his sister Helaena Targaryen.
While the specifics of their marriage are not depicted, it is evident that the arrangement was purely political.
Rhaenyra Targaryen had proposed that Helaena marry one of her sons to reconcile the rift between their families. However, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) opposed this idea.
One reason behind Aegon and Helaena’s marriage was to prevent Rhaenyra's proposed arrangement from taking place.
Additionally, Otto Hightower and Alicent Hightower sought someone they could easily control as they maneuvered to place Aegon II on the Iron Throne.
Marrying Aegon to someone from another house could have complicated their ability to maintain control over him. Thus, having Aegon marry Helaena was the simplest solution, ensuring their influence remained unchallenged.
This strategic union underscores the intense political machinations within House Targaryen and the broader struggle for power in Westeros.
Was the marriage of Aegon II Targaryen and Helaena a power play?
In 'House of the Dragon,' the marriage between Aegon II and his sister Helaena Targaryen marks a crucial turning point in the dynastic power struggles of Westeros.
Season 1 of 'House of the Dragon' planted seeds of political intrigue when Rhaenyra proposed a matrimonial alliance between Helaena and one of her sons, aiming to solidify her claim to the throne.
The timing of their union, occurring during the time jump between Episodes 7 and 8 while King Viserys I was still alive, suggests calculated maneuvering by Otto and Alicent.
As seasoned schemers within the court, the Hightowers likely orchestrated this marriage to strengthen Aegon II's claim to the throne following Viserys's death, disregarding Rhaenyra's proposed alliances.
For the Targaryens, incestuous marriages have historically preserved their dragonlord heritage, ensuring the purity of their bloodline and bolstering their claim to power.
This practice, while considered abhorrent by many Westerosi houses, is viewed as essential by the Targaryens themselves to preserve their unique lineage and magical affinity with dragons.
On the other hand, Rhaenyra's children with dark hair pose a threat to the purity of the Targaryen bloodline that undermines her claim to the throne among those who prioritize lineage and legitimacy above all else.
'House of the Dragon' Trailer
'House of the Dragon' is available for streaming on HBO.