For the most part, Rhaegar Targaryen is talked about sparingly, with people who knew him offering brief insights into his character. From being called the last real dragon to being accused of raping Lyanna Stark (by Robert Baratheon), opinions on who Rhaegar really was differs with each character who talks about him. However, house politics aside, Rhaegar’s role in instigating Robert’s Rebellion and the problems that followed is undeniable. Though he set out to save the world, he ended up destroying quite a bit of it.
But, with Game of Thrones, isn’t that true with most heroes?
Ned Stark, the picture of chivalry, kindness and fairness, destroys the lives of his family while trying to do something good for the sake of the kingdom. Robb Stark, as honorable as his father, insists on marrying Talisa Maegyr on impregnating her, which leads to Walder Frey wiping out every living Stark. Rhaegar Targaryen, believing he was to sire the Prince That Was Promised, abandoned his wife and children to run off with Lyanna Stark. This lead to a full-blown war, the death of countless people, the end of the Targaryen rule, and even his own death. All this to save the world. So, can we still consider him a hero?
Yes, if we think he is Azor Ahai (and not Jon Snow).
However, in order to explore this theory, we must first look at how weapons are used in Westeros (I promise, it all ties in at the end!)
Weapons in Westeros: Closer to their wielders than we think!
In Westeros, it is not uncommon for a man’s weapon to be considered as heroic as the man himself. NedStark’s Ice, which was a legendary sword made from Valyrian steel, had as daunting a reputation as theStark patriarch who wielded it. When Ice was melted to form Oathkeeper and Widow’s Wail, the two swords had their own aura attached to them too. Similarly, Arya’s Needle, like Arya, is sharp, and prone to being underestimated. Azor Ahai’s Lightbringer, the destroyer of the night, is as crucial as Azor Ahai. In fact, we can even say that without Lightbringer, Azor Ahai would have failed to save the world.
Thus, the nature of many weapons in Westeros is that they are interchangeable with those who wield it. This does not only hold true when talking about inanimate objects. When considering the Stark children, each Direwolf mirrors the qualities of the stark child it protects. Similarly, each of Dany’s dragons have qualities that mirror their namesake (for instance, Drogon is wild and uncontrollable like Khal Drogo, Viseryon is prone to snapping and bursts of anger like Viserys, and Rhaeghal, like Rhaegar, is comparatively quieter).
If we are to consider heroes and their weapons interlinked, then this bodes the question – who is the real hero, Rhaegar Targaryen or Jon Snow? The answer to this lies centuries ago, when Azor Ahai first
tried to save the world by making Lightbringer.
How was Lightbringer made?
Azor Ahai worked on Lightbringer for 30 days and nights, believing it would be the weapon to end darkness. However, when he tried tempering it in water, the sword broke apart. He then worked on it for 50 days and nights, and tried tempering it by putting it through the heart of a lion. This failed as well. Finally, after working for 100 days and nights, he tempered the sword through his wife’s chest, and her soul is what led to the creation of Lightbringer. Remember this for later!
Rhaegar Targaryen’s Role in the Prophecy of Azor Ahai
Rhaegar was born during a fire at Summerhall, amidst great grief and death. Studious, bright, and extremely skilled at everything he tried, Rhaegar was an extensive reader and eventually came upon the prophecy of Azor Ahai, which changed his destiny.
“It is written in prophecy as well. When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone.”
On reading this prophecy, he believed that he was the Prince That Was Promised (who is sometimes also called Azor Ahai, but this writer believes that the two entities are separate and not interchangeable – making it possible for two characters to play this role). So, in that sense, he saw himself as the weapon to defeat darkness. After the birth of Aegon, his first born son from Ellia Martel, Rhaegar changed his
mind and believed Aegon was the true Prince That Was Promised. This was supposedly because a red comet had appeared in the sky the night his son was conceived. Finally, something causes Rhaegar to believe that his third child, Jon Snow, is the one who the prophecy is talking about. He believes that Jon is the weapon.
Rhaegar Targaryen: The True Hero?
If we are to look at each ‘weapons’ arc, we see that Rhaegar dies in water at the Battle of Trident (like the first sword tempered by water), Baby Aegon is killed by the Lannister Army (like the second sword tempered through a lion’s heart) and Jon’s birth kills Lyanna Stark (like the third sword that killed Azor Ahai’s wife). The parallels of their stories indicate that it is Rhaegar who is Azor Ahai, and Jon is the weapon and the Prince That Was Promised that will stop winter from taking over. In that sense, Rhaegar does emerge as a true hero, in spite of the fact that his actions led to the death of many.
It is Rhaegar’s choices that ultimately will lead to the revival of the Targaryen clan (waking dragons from stone), with Jon and Dany at the head. Because, remember, the Targaryen’s were already at the tail end of their rule with Mad King Aerys being known only for his cruelty and many houses already planning rebellions against the Targaryen rule.
But even then, Rhaegar’s preoccupation with the dragon having three heads does not really fit into this last bit. Unless, the third dragon turns out to be Jon and Dany’s offspring that is born after the reshaping of the world (mountains blowing away like sand, etc). Of course, there are multiple Tyrion theories that suggest he’s a half-Targaryen too, so he might be the third head. Although, knowing the way GRRM’s prophecies often have double meanings, the third head may not be as obvious as we think.
