Even the loveable rogue Prince Daemon Targaryen isn't without his faults. The character from House of the Dragon has quickly become a fan favorite across the entire Game of Thrones franchise thanks to a greatly written character and performance from Matt Smith. House of the Dragon's Daemon Targaryen may be loved by audiences, but he's certainly not without many faults.
Daemon Targaryen has done some pretty awful things across the first season of House of the Dragon and gives some of the cruelest Game of Thrones characters a run for their money. In the show, he has committed evil acts for selfish reasons, through manipulation and murder. However, it is hard to deny his charisma.
8 Seduced His Niece
The Targaryens rule over the Seven Kingdoms for a reason. They are a powerful dynasty, and their blood is infused with the power to commune with dragons. Targaryens are natural dragon riders, and it gives them great power, and reason to seat the Iron Throne. This is why many of them indulge in incest and marry each other so that no outside source can claim their power.
However, Daemon’s desire to marry his niece is not to keep their blood gated, but for her future power. Daemon seduced his niece to take the Iron Throne and even brought her to a brothel when she was just a child. It shows the manipulation that Daemon Targaryen will do in its sharpest form.
7 “Heir For A Day”
King Viserys and Queen Aemma had been struggling for children. Aemma had many stillborns and always struggled during the pregnancies. She was set to give birth to a boy, and Baelon Targaryen was born. However, Aemma succumbed to her wounds during childbirth, and Baelon died later that day. What made matters worse, is that Viserys’ in mourning his beloved wife and newborn son, had the words “Heir for a day” echo in his halls from his brother.
Daemon Targaryen uttered the foul words “Heir for a day”, mocking Baelon’s birth and death on the same day. For Baelon would have been the heir to the Iron Throne. It’s an awful way to treat the dead son of his brother and shows how he does not seem to care for Viserys’ grief.
6 Distant To His Children
Daemon had two children with Laena Velaryon, Baela, and Rhaena. These two young girls were the pride and joy of Laena, who was pregnant with a third. However, the pains of childbirth were too much, and instead of letting herself be cut open, she had her dragon burn her to death. In the resulting grief of a loss of a wife and child, Daemon barely acknowledged his children.
Daemon sat by, wallowing in his grief as he let Baela and Rhaena cry together, and console each other. Daemon was always an absent father, and the last thing Baela and Rhaena wanted was to be left under his care, which makes the loss of their mother even harder.
5 Killed His First Wife
Daemon was married to Rhea Royce, a member of House Royce and the heir to Runestone. Daemon was estranged from Rhea, and it seems that the feeling is mutual. Rhea seemed a lot happier without Daemon and was merrily hunting and doing her own thing without the curse of her husband around.
Considering divorce is a big no in Westeros, Daemon thought that the only logical choice to end his marriage is to kill Rhea. He finds her alone on her horse, and startles the beast to make it fall on its back, and break Rhea’s neck. From here, he bludgeons her to death with a rock. It further solidifies Daemon’s selfish allegiance.
4 Adds To Viserys Stresses
Family is supposed to look out for one another, and support each other in times of crisis. However, Daemon seems to enjoy Viserys’ suffering and takes great pride in being the biggest thorn in his backside. Daemon has from time and time again annoyed his brother, through betrayal and ill-fitted comments.
Daemon’s cruelty and resentment of his brother is truly the last thing that he needs, as the poor king has lost a wife and a son, and now his health is waning due to the illness of the Iron Throne. Daemon’s behavior towards Viserys further weakens him, as it adds to the needless stress on his back.
3 Attacked The Messenger
In a war against the Triarchy, Daemon seemed to be on the losing side. It had been a war raging for years, and King Viserys refused to help from the start. Just as Daemon and his commanders were planning another attack, a messenger approached with word from the King. This letter enraged Daemon, and he relentlessly beat him.
The letter was addressed to Daemon and told of ships and men coming to the aid of Daemon. This letter seemed like Viserys saw Daemon as incompetent, so he beat the messenger in a fit of rage. However, the messenger did not do anything to warrant such cruel punishment, and it just makes Daemon seem rash and short-tempered.
2 Abuses Authority
Daemon Targaryen led the City Watch in King’s Landing for a time. In that time, he rewarded the most violent members, and soon, had them all wearing gold cloaks. Daemon’s goal was to have the people of King’s Landing fear the color gold, as he likened his City Watch members to a pack of hounds. Together, they took to the streets, and anything they saw as an atrocity, they saw required violent ends.
Daemon’s cruelty came out in full force during this time, as he and his fellow City Watch crusaders would kill, mutilate, and torture people through severe punishments. It’s certainly one of the worst things that audiences have seen Daemon do, especially since it was so graphical.
1 Choked Rhaenyra
The defining moment of what kind of character Daemon is when he put his own hands on his wife. Sure, Daemon murdered his first wife, but it was extra bad when he decided to strangle his niece-wife. Daemon’s actions come out of aggression, grief, and rage. He has just lost a child to the Dragon/Targaryen curse, and now his brother, the king.
The moment is indefensible but goes to show how little Daemon knows of his lineage. Daemon was never trusted with the prophecy and has no idea what Rhaenyra is talking about when it comes to uniting the realm for the dark and cold. It gives Rhaenyra power over him but remains one of his darkest moments.