A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Blackfyre Rise up, Defined

This publish accommodates spoilers for “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” and its supply materials.

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” has reached an important turning level. Dunk’s (Peter Claffey) resolution to take part within the Ashford tourney was pushed by survival, however he is compelled to participate within the Trial of the Seven with no choice to again out. After Dunk learns that Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) is definitely Aegon V Targaryen (and subsequently associated to some main “Recreation of Thrones” characters), he feels betrayed and questions his intentions. However Egg’s id is the least of his considerations, as Dunk faces trial after stepping into an altercation with Egg’s conceited older brother, Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett).

Episode 5 opens with the Trial of the Seven, however it weaves this visceral joust with flashback sequences that reveal extra about Dunk’s childhood in Flea Backside. We meet his childhood buddy Rafe (Chloe Lea), and the 2 reference the primary Blackfyre riot greater than as soon as, name-dropping Daemon I Blackfyre. Because the episode does not have time to supply us with extra sociopolitical context, its significance is perhaps misplaced on these not acquainted with George R.R. Martin’s “Dunk & Egg” novellas.

Whereas “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is a big departure from the “Recreation of Thrones” franchise, it’s rooted in the identical Westerosi historical past that has seen violent successions to the throne. As such, we have to take a look at a specific battle among the many Targaryens, which began with Baelor I locking his three sisters (Daena, Rhaena, and Elaena) inside the Crimson Preserve in an try to manage them. What occurs subsequent is a snowball impact that units the stage for the primary Blackfyre riot, so let’s dive into it. 

Choosing proper the place we left off, Daena secretly gave delivery to a bastard little one together with her cousin, Aegon (son of Viserys II), and named him Daemon Waters (it will change into necessary later). Baelor, displeased with Daena’s autonomy, held a 40-day quick that brought on his dying in 171 AC. Whereas Daena’s uncle, Viserys II, was king for a yr, his dying led to his son, Aegon, ascending the throne in 172 AC. Now dubbed Aegon IV, the brand new king married his sister Naerys and had a son named Daeron together with her in 153 AC. 

Battle arose on all fronts: Aegon despised his sister-wife for some motive, whereas his trueborn Daeron did not approve of his corrupt method of ruling. Issues obtained so noxious that Aegon threatened Daeron’s legitimacy as his inheritor, resulting in the formation of two factions — one in favor of the impulsive king and the opposite that supported Daeron’s measured method.

You is perhaps questioning what occurred to Daemon, Aegon’s bastard little one with Daena? Nicely, Daemon was knighted by his father in 182 AC after the child received a squire’s tourney and was gifted a shocking Valyrian metal sword named Blackfyre. As this was publicly bestowed, it basically legitimized Daemon’s declare to the throne, because the sword was a generational image of standing and monarchy. Some sources declare that Blackfyre belonged to Aegon the Conqueror himself, including gasoline to the hearth. 

Issues obtained actually bizarre after Aegon legitimized all of his bastard kids on his deathbed proper earlier than Daeron — now Daeron II — ascended the throne. 

Daeron’s scholarly method to ruling did not sit nicely with everybody, as rumors about his legitimacy (regardless of being Aegon’s trueborn) plagued his fame. In the meantime, Baelor Breakspear (performed by Bertie Carvel within the present), Daeron’s eldest son, formed as much as be a valiant warrior, however his Dornish ancestry (from his mom’s facet) triggered mistrust within the royal court docket. 

Daemon — now referred to as Daemon I Blackfyre — emerged as an amazing warrior as nicely, and his resemblance to Aegon (who sported immediately recognizable silver-gold hair,in distinction to Baelor’s jet black hair) helped him garner well-liked assist. All the pieces that occurred over time sowed the seeds for the primary Blackfyre Rise up, with Daemon lastly declaring his declare to the throne. This led to an all-out civil conflict that divided the Seven Kingdoms.

Daemon inverted the colours of the Targaryen banner, calling himself the black dragon, whereas Daeron II got here to be referred to as the pink dragon. Daemon had a stunning variety of supporters, though some homes have been diplomatic or eager to make use of the scenario to their benefit. Messy battles have been fought between the rebels and loyalists, affecting the Vale, the westerlands, the riverlands, and the Attain. The Battle of the Redgrass Subject occurred in 196 AC as the ultimate battle after Daemon managed to method King’s Touchdown. Lengthy story quick, Baelor arrived with Dornish spearmen and stormlanders alongside his brother Maekar (Sam Spruell), who crushed the insurgent forces. Daemon died throughout this occasion.

Daemon supporters have been promptly punished after, however the first Blackfyre Rise up modified Westerosi historical past by exposing the fragility of the throne. One other Blackfyre riot will brew in Dunk and Egg’s distant future, however it’s price noting that the primary one was over earlier than Dunk’s childhood flashback scenes within the episode.