The Dark Origins of the Mad King Revealed: Unveiling the Chilling Truth behind Game of Thrones

Highlights

Ser Barristan's words about the Mad King's atrocities have a profound impact on Daenerys, leading her to agree to give the Sons of the Harpy a fair trial.

Aerys II Targaryen started his reign successfully; however, over time, he fell victim to the Targaryen madness caused by inbreeding and various other factors.

Despite having ambitious ideas for the kingdom, it is fortunate that Aerys never put them into action. Implementing his plans would have heavily burdened his subjects and led to a major crisis.

Formerly a member of the Kingsguard under Aerys II Targaryen, Ser Barristan Selmy became one of Daenerys Targaryen's most trusted advisors. He would offer guidance in times of difficult decisions. In an episode of Game of Thrones season 5 titled "The House of Black and White," Ser Barristan proposes that Daenerys should ensure a fair trial for the Sons of the Harpy to demonstrate her superiority over those who oppose her. However, Mossador, a freed Meereenese slave, disagrees with this suggestion, leading Daenerys to dismiss her advisors. Ser Barristan, however, remains and asks for a private conversation with Daenerys to discuss her father, the Mad King. He goes on to reveal the heinous acts committed by the Mad King, such as burning towns and castles, killing sons in front of their fathers, and cruelly burning men alive.

Ser Barristan's words profoundly impact Daenerys, ultimately convincing her to abstain from immediately executing the Son of the Harpy without a fair trial. Throughout Game of Thrones, numerous characters share quotes and memories of the Mad King's ruthless reign. The devolution of Aerys II is an unquestionable reality. He suppressed peaceful dissent within the realm and subjected those who spoke against him to unspeakable atrocities.

Aerys II Targaryen Ascends The Throne

Aerys II's reign began positively as he led the powerful Targaryen dynasty in Westeros for a brief period. However, he was unable to escape the mental illnesses resulting from generations of inbreeding within House Targaryen. It is well-known that the Targaryens practiced incestuous marriages for many years to maintain pure bloodlines and consolidate power within the family. Aerys II married his sister, Rhaella, following this tradition, and she bore him three children – Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys – who survived into adulthood.

At the start of his reign, Aerys II replaced old lords at his court with promising young men, including his close friend Lord Hand Tywin Lannister. By the time Aerys II took the throne in 262 AC, Rhaella had already given birth to their firstborn son, Prince Rhaegar. Over time, Aerys II descended into madness, displaying symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. While inbreeding played a significant role in his deteriorating mental state, Rhaella's miscarriages, stillbirths, and the deaths of their children also contributed. Aerys II grew convinced that none of these children were his own and accused his sister-wife of infidelity. He imprisoned Rhaella in Maegor's Holdfast, assigning two Septas to watch over her. Additionally, Aerys II's strained relationship with Tywin and the Defiance of Duskendale incident further exacerbated his mental health problems.

The Mad King's Grandiose Plans

Despite his desire to be remembered as the greatest ruler in the history of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mad King inadvertently contributed to the downfall of House Targaryen. Although initially involved in the political and administrative decisions of the Seven Kingdoms, he eventually abandoned his plans due to a loss of interest.

All of Aerys' plans and schemes were characterized by their whimsical, unconventional, and grandiose nature. However, the realm did not perceive an immediate need to extend the Wall further north or construct a war fleet in an effort to "bring the Titan to its knees" following a dispute with the Iron Bank of Braavos. Some of his other eccentric plans included discussing the invasion of the Stepstones, constructing a white marble city to the south of the Blackwater Rush, and building an underwater canal beneath the deserts of Dorne.

The subjects of Aerys II were fortunate that his ideas and visions for the realm were never carried out, as they would have caused immense suffering. One of the contributing factors to the prosperity in Aerys' realm was his Lord Hand, who successfully resolved the conflict with Braavos and gained the support of the lords, elites, and merchants throughout the Seven Kingdoms. This influential figure took on the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of the realm and was even perceived by many as the true ruler. It goes without saying that Aerys held a deep resentment towards Tywin's capabilities.

Muting A Knight, Burning People, And Paranoia

Aerys' cruel treatment of those who criticized him went to extreme lengths. He ripped out the tongue of Ser Ilyn Payne, the captain of Tywin's guards, as a punishment. Additionally, he unjustly accused Jaehaerys' wet nurse of causing the newborn's death and had her executed. Aerys' paranoia grew so intense that he forbade Viserys' mother from being by his side. The prince was constantly monitored by the Kingsguard, who remained vigilant day and night. Following the Defiance of Duskendale, Aerys secluded himself within the Red Keep for a duration of four years. This event referred to Aerys' imprisonment in the port of Duskendale, where he was held captive by Denys Darklyn due to his disregard for the welfare of his people. It marked a significant turning point in Aerys' life, leaving him forever changed.

By the end, he no longer felt secure in the presence of his Hand, Tywin, and he had doubts about his heir, Rhaegar. He appointed Varys as master of whisperers on the small council because he trusted him. He saw plots to assassinate him everywhere and developed an unhealthy fixation on fire, particularly wildfire. The pyromancers of King's Landing thrived under his rule, and he resorted to using wildfire to execute people. To ensure Tywin's loyalty, he named Tywin's son, Jaime, to the Kingsguard, effectively keeping him as a hostage. The court was divided between those who remained fiercely loyal to Aerys and Prince Rhaegar's faction of more reasonable individuals. The Tourney at Harrenhal deeply disturbed Aerys' subjects. Following his traumatic experience in Duskendale, where he was held captive, he chose to grow out his beard and nails due to his fear of blades. Unclean, unshaven, and disheveled after the Defiance of Duskendale, and plagued by fear and paranoia, Aerys did not appear regal by any means.

Robert's Rebellion

The love story of Lyanna and Rhaegar, coupled with Aerys' brutal executions of Lord Rickard Stark and his heir, Brandon, were the decisive factors. When Brandon and his companions dared to demand the safe return of Lyanna Stark, Aerys wasted no time in labeling it as treason and swiftly arrested them, summoning their fathers to King's Landing. In a bid to save his son, Lord Rickard asked for Trial by Combat, only to have Aerys cruelly choose Wildfire as the champion for House Targaryen. With a heartless act, he burned the Warden of the North alive with Wildfire, while Brandon desperately struggled to free his father, restrained by a noose around his neck. As if that were not enough, Aerys then demanded the execution of Jon Arryn's wards, Ned and Robert, setting the stage for an imminent civil war.

During the final phase of Robert's Rebellion, Aerys, upon the advice of Pycelle, allowed Tywin to enter the city through its gates. As the Lannister soldiers commenced the looting of King's Landing, Aerys commanded Jaime to bring him Tywin's head. Aerys' ultimate tactic to cause widespread devastation involved igniting the hidden Wildfire reserves that he had strategically placed throughout the city. Aerys' last known words, as famously portrayed in Game of Thrones, were: "Burn them all!"

In order to avert the impending catastrophe, Jaime impaled Aerys from behind with his sword, causing him to bleed out and meet his demise. Later, Jaime recounted this event to Brienne of Tarth, revealing that Aerys suspected treachery from all sides, thus leading him to order his pyromancers to hide caches of wildfire beneath various locations across the city. These included beneath the Sept of Baelor and the impoverished district of Flea Bottom, as well as underneath houses, stables, and taverns. Astonishingly, even the Red Keep itself was not spared from Aerys' secret placement of wildfire.