The Impact of Rhaella Targaryen's Death on King's Landing: An Alternate History
In the graphically vivid and complex world of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, the life and death of Rhaella Targaryen, the mother of Daenerys and Viserys, has significant implications for the dynastic and personal relationships of King’s Landing. This article explores how a different outcome at Summerhall, where she dies along with her husband Rhaegar, might have changed the course of the story.
Aerys Targaryen's Potential Behavior
Firstly, examining Aerys Targaryen's potential actions at King's Landing, it is improbable that he would have expressed similar feelings towards Joanna Lannister as he did to her when she was Queen Dowager. Aerys, known for his erratic behavior and disdain for Lannister piety and politics, was not one to form personal attachments that led to grandiose declarations of love. He would likely have recognized her beauty, but the union between a lion and a dragon was beyond the realm of possibility for Aerys. Instead, Aerys may have considered her a political asset or a target for greater extraction of wealth and power.
In addition, Tywin Lannister would have seen this opportunity to consolidate his grip on King's Landing. Given Tywin's complex and often ruthless nature, he would likely have seized this chance to wed his sister to Aerys, seeing it as a way to further secure his own position and isolate his father from a potential threat. Despite these desires, the prospect of a union between Aerys and Joanna would have been complicated by her established position and the expectations from other dynastic alliances within the realm.
The Aftermath of Summerhall
The loss of Rhaella and Rhaegar at Summerhall would have transformed the political landscape of Westeros. King's Landing without the stability provided by a Targaryen queen mother would have seen Aerys's rule destabilized. While Aerys was already beginning to descend into madness after the deaths of his family, the absence of Rhaella would likely have exacerbated his psychological decline, making him even more unpredictable and dangerous.
After this significant loss, it is unlikely that Aerys would have sought to remarry. His grief and fear of losing the last Targaryen heirs might have made him wary of another marriage. Instead, he would have leaned more heavily on the counsel of Tywin and his own advisor, Steffon Baratheon, to maintain control. The political unity that Rhaella had helped to foster would have been replaced by a more fractured leadership, with Aerys closely scrutinizing his courtiers for any signs of disloyalty.
The Contingencies of Marriages in Westeros
Speculatively, forced to seek an alliance with the Lannisters, Aerys’s next potential wife would likely come from the House Lannister. Joanna, having given birth to Aerys’s last surviving heir, Viserys, would remain a valuable asset. The only two viable candidates for Aerys’s next marriage might be Joanna's younger sister, Margot, or potentially another sister of the Lannisters. Given the known storylines, Margot Lannister, wife of Titus Peake, would be a compelling option. Aerys’s marriage to Margot would have served to solidify Lannister power but would have also created pawn-like marriages, where the children are used as assets for political and dynastic claims.
In this hypothetical scenario, Aerys and Margot might have given birth to a child early in their marriage, a subtle symbol of their political union, known as baby Rhaena. Rhaena would be destined to marry Rhaegar even before her own birth, further entangling House Targaryen in the politics of House Lannister.
The fate of such a marriage, however, would be uncertain. Rhaena might not survive infancy, as the security and strategic marriages in Westeros often came at a cost to the children's lives. This added layer of complexity would have made the Targaryen line more fragile, with significant implications for the future of Westeros.
The Conclusion and the Creation of Fan Art
In summary, while the death of Rhaella Targaryen would have caused a significant shift in the political dynamics of Westeros, the storylines of King's Landing and beyond might have remained largely unaltered in terms of the Targaryen dungeon. It is a testament to Martin’s intricate world-building that even such a dramatic change would only ripple subtly across the narrative. This hypothetical scenario also proves the immense creative power of fan art and the enduring fascination with Westeros, even as we gaze into alternate realities.
Credit: ChillyRavenArt
Image: A poignant and vivid depiction of Rhaella and King's Landing following her tragic loss. ChillyRavenArt captures the sorrow and the political upheaval in a single frame, highlighting the complex interplay between emotions, power, and destiny.