What are the shortest reigns on the Iron Throne?

Warning: This article contains spoilers for George RR Martin’s books.

House of the Dragon is about succession and legacy. The show begins with the election of Viserys Targaryen as the new king after Jaehaerys Targaryen. Both kings led long and peaceful reigns. But not everyone was so lucky. So here we have a list of the shortest reigns on the Iron Throne.

Baelor I Targaryen

King Baelor I Targaryen was the second son of King Aegon III Targaryen and Queen Daenaera Velaryon. He reigned for ten years and was known as Baelor the Blessed for his piety. In fact, he died because he prolonged his fast and thus starved to death.

Maegor I Targaryen

King Maegor I Targaryen was born to conqueror Aegon I Targaryen and Visenya Targaryen. He was called Maegor The Cruel due to his barbaric reign which lasted a very disturbing six years and sixty-six days. He died after being impaled by a spike from one of the Iron Throne swords. The common people said that the throne had rejected him.

Aenys I Targaryen

King Aenys I Targaryen was born to King Aegon I Targaryen and Queen Rhaenys Targaryen. He was a weak and sickly person. Aenys I reigned for only 5 years and died at the age of thirty-five after being assassinated by Maegor I Targaryen.

Daeron I Targaryen

King Daeron I Targaryen was born to King Aegon III Targaryen and Queen Daenaera Velaryon. He was called Young Dragon and reigned for only 4 years. He died aged just eighteen in a battle of Blackfyre after the Dornishmen attacked his retinue.

Jaehaerys II Targaryen

King Jaehaerys II Targaryen was the second son of King Aegon V Targaryen and Queen Betha Blackwood. He was a physically weak king who often complained of being ill. Jaehaerys II died after barely sitting on the throne for three years. He died aged thirty-seven from a suspected respiratory illness that caused him to complain of sudden shortness of breath.

Aegon II Targaryen

King Aegon II Targaryen was the eldest son of King Viserys Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower. He was locked in a war with his half-sister Rhaenyra Targaryen for the succession to the Iron Throne. He reigned for less than two years and fed Rhaenyra to her dragon Sunfyre. But he didn’t live long after that because Larys Strong and presumably Corlys Velaryon poisoned him.

Joffrey I Baratheon

King Joffrey I Baratheon is the first son of King Robert Baratheon and Queen Cersei Lannister. But in reality, it is the queen’s brother, Jaime Lannister, who is her father. He was a cruel king who was often called a false king. He reigned for less than two years and was poisoned by Lady Olenna Tyrell and Lord Petyr Baelish.

Viserys II Targaryen

King Viserys II Targaryen was the second son of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. He reigned for only one year as king after the death of his nephew Baelon I Targaryen. But it is said that he actually reigned for fifteen years as the Main.

This is because his older brother Aegon III Targaryen named him Main. And he remained in that position for his nephews Daeron I and Baelon I. So when his nephew, King Daeron I Targaryen went to war with Dorne (and died), and the next King Baelor I was more focused on the prayers, he was the real ruler of the kingdom.

He died of a sudden illness. But several historians suggest he was killed by his son Aegon IV Targaryen for the throne.

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen was the only child of King Viserys Targaryen and Queen Aemma Targaryen. She was locked in a succession battle with her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen. During the War for the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra was only able to sit on the throne for about six months. Ruthless decisions made when the tide was in her favor led to her ultimately being burned to death by Aegon II. Sun Fire Dragon. His death was also announced in the series.

Do you think we forgot any? Let us know.