Aegon’s Conquest: how did the Targaryens take Westeros?

How did Aegon Targaryen conquer Westeros three hundred years before Game of Thrones? Will Daenerys take the Throne?

This video contains spoilers for Game of Thrones up to Season 6 and Book 5.

Created with Adobe After Effects and a Blue Yeti USB microphone.

Images and video from Game of Thrones are the property of their creators, used here under fair use.
Images from The World of Ice and Fire used with permission from Random House.

References / further reading:

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[zinkheroofyoutube]

I love Dorne’s response to Aegon’s Conquest was just, “No”

[razaalee]

"She might not wanna remind people, however, that her father was the notoriously cruel and crazy Mad King"
Oh my poor child.

[alicethemad]

I love that Visenya basically just parked right in Sharra’s yard, took her son out for a fun day, and they had a civil chat probably over tea. Shockingly wholesome… I mean aside from the fact that Visenya definitely kidnapped her son and played nice with him to terrify Sharra into submission.

[kochkochkoch]

"From dragon back, Rhaenys saw them coming."
Huh, how curious. You're saying she didn't just forget about the Durrandon army while in flight?

[remyblas]

I would have also mentioned the letter the Martells sent to Aegon after Rhaenys died. The letter he held so tight his hands bleed, and nobody knows what it said but that made Aegon abandon his plans to conquer Dorne.

[loferx]

"Daenerys kinda forgot about the iron fleet"

[shubhambanerjee]

Aegon: Hey I wanna be King.
Other houses: Lol you don't even have a banner.
Aegon: ok. I make banner now. Now me King?
OH: Yay! You're the king.

[LunchThyme]

The way Aegon's described gives big Rhaegar vibes. "Skilled warrior, but took no joy in it ... Commanding presence, yet few close friends." Plus the way he was willing to ascribe to Westerosi culture and customs, leaving his ego at home, it really does feel like both of them were being driven by something more important than personal interests. Aegon's prophecy from HOTD fits the story really well.

[tomatoe]

"Her most important assets are her dragons"


Yeah, about that..

[t.bo.e]

Basically the Targaryen’s with their dragons were playing on easy mode

[lost]

Tyrells: *serves* *the* *Gardeners* *for* *generations* *to* *get* *The* *Reach*
Bronn: *does* *nothing, * *still* *gets* *The* *Reach*
Tyrells: 👁👄👁

[coldorder]

The Conquest pretty much shows how OP the Dragons are and how difficult to kill.
Meanwhile in the show they're getting killed by glorified crossbows.

[facepalmdaily]

The Targaryen origins in Valyria leading up to their escape before the destruction would make an epic prequel series. The rise of the Targaryens. Not mention we'd get a shitload more dragons.

[odin]

Man, it still blows my mind. How did GRRM come up with all this in depth history and lore for each family and each castle for literally every generation going back like 5000 years from the year Game of Thrones is set in... so crazy...

[guilhermearanha]

Nice vid, bro...
Shame Daenerys did EXACTLY what you said she shouldn't do!

[MatthewRobinson-prly]

Probably one of your best videos ever, both visually and informatively. Definitely worth the wait. Well done keep it up and thank you

[godemperorofmankind.]

Aegon the Conqueror is one of my favorites because despite the way he took over, he was still a good and wise king afterwards. He made the Iron Throne not to show off but because he thought a king shouldn't rest easy.

[nabilk]

16:08 "the story would be boring if she doesnt lose at least one" you have no idea how true this is in the show (season 7)

[justjoe]

The amount of detail in these stories are amazing, I'd put my money on a GoT spinoff for sure

[brienneoftarth]

03:40
Lords of Westeros: "we don't want this bro as our king"
~aegon makes a nice banner with dragons~
Lords of Westeros: "damn, this guy is *legit* "