#Maegor executing the builders of the red keep

[hacked-wtsdz]

Each one of the great houses of Westeros has such dignified, descriptive words. “Winter is coming” of the Starks, I think it represents the core of the house, the core of the North. Winter is coming, winter is always coming. Death is always coming, so we must live and prepare. It’s not a bragging, it’s a warning. Nothing about house stark itself but everything about their existence. “Hear me roar” on the other hand, is full of Lannister pride. Hear me! Hear me, for you probably won’t have a choice. The Castameres tried to ignore the golden mane and the fangs, now look what happened. It’s not a warning, it’s but an almost certain fact. “Unbowed, unbent, unbroken” of house Martell, “Family, duty, honour” of house Tully; isn’t it interesting how the Tullys state what’s crucial to them, while the Martells describe themselves. “Unbowed, unbent, unbroken” isn’t only said about house Martell, it’s a description of Dorne itself. Conquered, perhaps, but unbowed and unbent and unbroken. “As high as honour” is a clever pun on the high seat of house Arryn (also Lysa of house Tully married Jon Arryn, her words “Family, duty, honour” turned into “As high as honour”, and yet out of the three, the only thing she lacks is the latter). “Growing strong” is another pun, probably based on the nature of house Tyrell that is set in the south and doesn’t waste itself on the dangers of the North or the unending remembering of a formerly independent past. And then there are the words of house Targaryen. “Fire and blood”. What’s interesting is that they are unlike any other; it’s not a warning, it’s not a suggestion, it doesn’t state the importance of the house, it isn’t even as prideful or noble as the rest of them. It’s simply two words: fire and blood. And in them everything is contained: a warning, a statement, a description. But most importantly the whisper: “the dragons will not save you. Dragons plant no trees”. There will be fire and blood. Beware. Rejoice. The dragons do not care.

[witchthewriter]

𝐌𝐚𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐞𝐧

ESTJ

Slytherin

Neutral/Chaotic Evil

King of Swords Reversed

Scorpio Sun, Aries Moon, Capricorn Rising

Better known as Maegor the Cruel, he was the only son and offspring between Aegon I and his sister-wife Visenya Targaryen. The two conquorers were married out of tradition, not love, and bedding Visenya was out of duty for Aegon. Therefore, conceiving was much more difficult for Visenya, as every night Aegon spent with her, he then spent ten with Rhaenys. 

  However, Rhaenys was only able to produce one babe as well, Aenys I Targaryen - the older brother of Maegor. Who was the complete opposite of him. It was Aenys’ line that continued the Targaryen dynasty. 

 There is a lot to be said about Maegor, as he did a lot in his lifetime. Most of it was awful, as he was a man who was quick to anger and slow to forgive. When Aenys died, Maegor decided that the Iron Throne was his, and so he took it. 

   Raised on Dragonstone with his mother, away from his brother, father and step-mother/aunt, Maegor was soon known as the Prince of Dragonstone. Born large, as he grew he was described as ‘bull-like.’ Even in his youth, Maegor had a love for violence. 

  It was rumoured that Maegor killed animals while young. He had received his first sword at age three, and took to swordplay with ease. On his thirteenth name day, his mother gave him the ancestoral sword, Dark Sister. 

   Even though there were several hatchling dragons, Maegor never bonded with one. And when his sister in law, Alyssa Velaryon teased him about being dragon-less, Maegor replied that there was only one dragon worthy of him. 

  His was the fearsome and battle-ready Balerion, the Black Dread. His father’s dragon.

When Aegon died, and Aenys was crowned as King, he gave Maegor the other ancestoral sword, Blackfyre, and said they would rule together. And therefore, Aenys named Maegor as Hand of the King. 

  Maegor remained unmarried until the birth of his niece Rhaena. Visenya proposed that Maegor be betrothed to her, however, many disapproved and the High Septon put forward his daughter, Ceryse Hightower, as his bride. 

 Maegor and Ceryse married, and the day after his wedding night, Maegor boasted about conveiving an heir. He in fact, did not. And try as he did, Maegor never made an heir, even though he had six wives; Ceryse Hightower, Alys Harroway, Tyanna of the Tower, Elinor Costayne, Jeyne Westerling, and his niece Rhaena Targaryen, the last three of whom are known as the Black Brides.

  However, he did not marry all of them at once. Well, not the first three anyway. His marriage to Alys Harroway caused a lot of uproar and Aenys gave Maegor a choice - set Alys aside or go into exile for five years. Maegor chose the latter and left with Alys on the back of Balerion to Pentos. He took both ancestoral swords with him, even though Aenys told him not to. Septon Murmison replaced Maegor as Hand. And in 41 AC, Aenys named his eldest son, Prince Aegon, Prince of Dragonstone.

  There were positives to Maegor’s actions, especially during his ruling. He thwarted the ever-growing power of the Faith of the Seven (claiming that the strictures of the Faith did not rule the blood of the dragon), and created the Red Keep (although he had all the builders executed so the hidden tunnels would remain a secret). 

He also squashed any and every rebelliion in the other Houses, making everyone fall into line. 

 When Aenys died, Maegor came back from exile and claimed the throne. He killed Aegon, Aenys’ son, and his dragon Quicksilver. Afterwards Maegor was known as "Maegor the Cruel" and a kinslayer throughout the realm.

  Before his death, Maegor had done some horrible things to his kin. The majority of which was so the line of succession would stay true to him and his children (although no babe survived). 

   Maegor ruled for six years and sixty-six days and died without an heir. He had three stillborn children by his six queens, all malformed. He was succeeded by his nephew, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the youngest son of the late King Aenys I.

[dead-gay-wizards-society]

the secret passageways of the red keep

correct me if i'm wrong, but I've come to the conclusion, that rhaenyra and daemon are the only targaryens alive in season one, who know about the secret passageways of the red keep, and here's why:

- there's only rumours of them existing, but no proof, bc maegor had the builders executed after they completed the construction of the red keep

- idk if viserys knew, but i think he would've told rhaenyra about them if he did

- rhaenyra only knows about them, bc daemon told her

- maybe she told alicent, but i doubt it, bc then otto would know and they would probably be sealed, but that's never mentioned so who knows

- i'm pretty sure rhaenyra and daemon are the only people shown using the passageways

- maybe she told laenor so he could go out and be gay and harwin to sneak in or sth, but they're both dead so doesn't really matter

- rhaenyra doesn't really talk to her half-siblings in the show, neither do daemon or viserys, so there's no way they told any of them

- rhaenyra might have told her children, but i doubt she would've done it while they were still living in the red keep bc at that point they were too young and she would've probably not wanted them to get lost or end up god knows where, or bc she didn't want them to tell literally everyone in the red keep bc they're so exited about them

- that also means that aegon, helaena, aemond and daeron couldn't have found out from their nephews

- if they did, there's a big chance at least one of them would've told alicent

- i don't think rhaenys knows, bc otherwise she would've definitely used them to escape, but she didn't

- larys is a bit sus, but idk

in conclusion:

rhaenyra and daemon are the only two (main) characters to know about the secret passageways

(i know there's a lot of "maybe" and "probably" and again, correct me if i'm wrong, i only watched the show once so i might have missed something)

edit: i posted an addition to this post, about how i think the targaryen kids found/use the secret passageways if they'd known about them

[violet-moonstone]

Ohh he's a horrible person but a fascinating villain. He's one of the sons of Aegon the Conqueror, one of Dany's ancestors who conquered Westeros and started the Targaryen royal dynasty. Maegor's like the boogeyman of the Targs -- everyone looks back on him with a sense of fear and remembers his cruelty.

He had the builders of the Red Keep executed after building was complete so no one else would know where all of the secret passageways are

he was a big fan of torture, and because of how unhinged/paranoid he got at times, I see him being very similar to Dagur as well

I can see Viggo stopping short of doing some of Maegor's more extreme acts of cruelty because he'd see some of them as ineffective or bad for ruling. Maegor seemed like the kind of person who assumes brutal torture is automatically the best route -- that or "behead first, ask questions later" - which helped to get him in power, but also led to him making some pretty terrible decisions that weren't even helpful to this reign. I think Viggo would probably be more moderate (at least in public) -- if not because of morality, then just to be more strategic.

He also usurped his brother's kids which I can definitely see Viggo doing to Ryker.

Idk how familiar you are with Tagaryens from before GoT and HotD but I just had an idea I thought you'd appreciate and I need to share it:

Viggo as Maegor the Cruel and the dragon riders as his 6 brides

I could also see this with Dagur tbh. I think Maegor is somewhere between the two of them

(also apologies if you don't know who maegor is in which case this won't make a ton of sense lol)

No idea who Maegor the Cruel is, but I love the idea of the Dragon Riders as the 6 brides. It's just evil. 😈

[westerosims]

After two generations, construction at the Red Keep is finally complete. Maegor hosts a resplendent feast for his builders to celebrate. However, to keep the castle’s secrets well and truly buried, the workers are slaughtered after the feast. Those that manage to avoid execution flee King’s Landing to escape Maegor’s wrath, thereby leaving the King to draw upon foreign builders and smallfolk for his future endeavors. The fortress at the center of the Red Keep’s layout is named Maegor’s Holdfast in honor of the King responsible for the castle’s completion.