How did Viserys become king? This question often arises among fans of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, as it delves into the intricate political and familial dynamics of the fictional world of Westeros. Viserys Targaryen, the second son of King Aerys II Targaryen and Rhaella Targaryen, ascended to the Iron Throne following a tumultuous series of events that reshaped the course of history in the Seven Kingdoms.
Viserys’ rise to power began with the events of the Mad King’s reign. King Aerys II, known as the Mad King, was a tyrant who ruled with an iron fist and a penchant for erratic behavior. His reign was marked by the destruction of the Great Council, the execution of his own children, and the unleashing of the dragons that had been kept in stasis for centuries. The Mad King’s actions had led to widespread discontent among the people of Westeros, and the realm was ripe for a change.
The first significant event in Viserys’ path to the throne was the death of his older brother, Rhaegar Targaryen, the Prince of Dragonstone. Rhaegar, the heir apparent, was killed in the mysterious events surrounding the Tourney at Harrenhal. With Rhaegar’s death, the line of succession became unclear, and Viserys, as the next in line, found himself in a position of power.
However, Viserys’ claim to the throne was not without opposition. The Lannister family, led by Lord Tywin Lannister, supported Rhaegar’s younger brother, Viscount詹姆·兰尼斯特，as the legitimate heir. The Lannisters’ support was crucial, as they controlled the largest army in the Seven Kingdoms. Despite this, Viserys was crowned king by the Great Council, which was then dominated by the Targaryen loyalists.
The Lannisters, however, were not willing to accept Viserys as their king. Lord Tywin’s daughter, Cersei Lannister, was betrothed to Rhaegar, and the marriage was never consummated. Following Rhaegar’s death, Cersei’s sister, Lysa Arryn, married Tyrion Lannister, Viserys’ younger brother. This union further complicated the political landscape, as Lysa’s family, the Arryns, were also rivals to the Targaryens.
The tension between the Targaryens and the Lannisters reached a boiling point when Viserys ordered the assassination of his sister, Princess Daenerys, who had fled Westeros and sought refuge with the Dothraki, a nomadic people from the East. The Lannisters, now allied with the Baratheons, responded by launching a rebellion against Viserys, leading to the War of the Five Kings.
In the midst of the war, Viserys was captured by the Dothraki and was eventually executed by Khal Drogo, the leader of the Dothraki. Thus, Viserys’ reign as king was short-lived and ended with his own death. His rise to power was a product of the chaotic political climate of the time, and his reign served as a prelude to the even greater conflicts that would follow in the series.
