House of the Dragon
This article contains spoilers for season 1 of The House of the Dragon . Despite all the tension and outlet within the Targaryen household , King Viserys I Targaryen did what he thought was expert for the future of Westeros inHouse of the Dragon . There was meritoriousness to many of his decisions as the realm remained more often than not peaceful and did n’t descend into state of war during his reign .
However , despite his best intentions , Viserys also made legion costly mistakes during his reign , many of which hurt those he loved and hurt Westeros . From his marriage to Alicent Hightower to attain Otto the Hand of the King again , his decisions further set off the Targaryen Civil War known as the Dance of the Dragons .
Marrying Alicent Hightower
In the aftermath of Aemma ’s end , Viserys was pressured to remarry to further strengthen the royal line , with many encouraging him to marry Laena Velaryon . In the end , Viserys chose to marry Alicent Hightower , and this decision alienated both Rhaenyra Targaryen and the Velaryons .
Rhaenyra was understandably disordered that her founder was marry her good supporter since she feel betrayed by their secretiveness , whichcomplicated Viserys and Rhaenyra ’s relationship . Meanwhile , Viserys angered and disaffect Corlys Velaryon by not accept the proposal to marry Laena . Viserys decide to remarry out of a sense of duty , yet he choose to marry someone he liked rather of splice the individual that would well avail his home or the land .
Should’ve Offered To Send Aid To The Stepstones Sooner
Daemon Targaryen and the Velaryons push against the Crabfeeder and the Triarchy in the Stepstones for three twelvemonth until Viserys finally decide to direct reinforcement and aid .
The extensive absence of the formidable Daemon leave House Targaryen to become more vulnerable and allow their foeman to grow bolder . In terms of the state of war itself , Viserys ' offer is what gave Daemon ( with help from the Velaryons ) the drift take to last cease the war . Sending help earlier could ’ve given Daemon the impulse he needed earlier on and earmark him to retrovert home much sooner .
Forcing Rhaenyra To Marry Laenor
After years of Rhaenyra refusing to marry the ten thousand of suitors throw her way , Viserys forced his daughter to marry Laenor Velaryon . WhileRhaenyra and Laenor were likable characterswho knew and relish each other , it was a marriage neither of them wanted . The marriage was all about the power and political advantages it would bring to Viserys and Corlys .
Viserys get to remarry the person of his choice , yet he forced his girl to espouse someone against her will , largely to forge an alliance with the Velaryons and to make up for eliminate the proposal to marry Laena years ago . Forcing the marriage ceremony between Rhaenyra and Laenor was also knotty as it was well - eff that Laenor was gay , gain it harder for either to meet their responsibility . She was expected to produce heirs that looked like him , which did n’t go on and caused many problem down the line .
Not Dismissing Criston Cole From The Kingsguard
Even though Criston Cole beat a man to death during the festivities for Rhaenyra and Laenor ’s marriage , Viserys did n’t dismiss Criston from the Kingsguard . Viserys did n’t have the full story surround Criston ’s actions , but at the very least , he should ’ve recognize how dangerous Criston was and that he no longer deserve to wear off the white cloak of the Kingsguard .
rather , Criston became Alicent ’s lapdog and was only loyal to her and her children , and no longer had any loyalty to King Viserys or his prefer heir Rhaenyra . leave Criston in this posture leave to Lord Beesbury ’s death , the only Small Council member after Viserys ' death who refused to install Aegon on the throne over Rhaenyra . Moreover , Criston became the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in the backwash of Viserys ' death , becoming a greater threat to Rhaenyra .
Not Sending Forces To Hold The Stepstones
Despite Daemon and the Velaryons ' firmly - fought triumph , the Triarchy rose again and reclaimed the Stepstones . This was able to pass off because Viserys did n’t send forces to hold the Stepstones after the initial succeeder .
This mistake sent Corlys back into combat for the Stepstones . The grievous injury he confirm in the fighting led to the future Velaryon heir and Lord of the Tides being contested , further adding to the schism in the house of the Draco . Losing the Stepstones will also be a costly mistake that will play a role in the Dance of Dragons .
Making Otto Hightower Hand Of The King Again
Rhaenyra agreed to her father ’s wish that she marry Laenor Velaryon , but only on the condition that Viserys expel Otto Hightower fromhis sinewy position as Hand of the King . Viserys did this and made Lyonel Strong Hand of the King instead . After Lyonel was kill at the mitt of his boy Larys a X later , Viserys name Otto Hand of the King again .
This was a vital fault as Viserys knew how conniving and self - serving Otto was , yet he renamed Otto as one of the most powerful human race in Westeros . This permit Otto and Alicent to govern the realm as they liked when Viserys was too ill to do so and allowed Otto to be in a salutary posture to put Aegon on the commode instead of Rhaenyra .
Should’ve Pushed Harder For A Jacaerys And Helaena Marriage
Recognizing the struggle between her family and Alicent ’s folk , Rhaenyra suggested that her firstborn Word and heir Jacaerysmarry Alicent ’s girl Helaena Targaryen . Rhaenyra even offer that if her dragon Syrax produced more testis , Alicent ’s boy Aemond could pick out one of them for his own ( this was before Aemond claimed Vhagar ) .
Viserys liked this proposal of marriage and how it would make the families closer , but Alicent refused the marriage offer , and Viserys did n’t crusade heavily enough for it . alternatively , Helaena was married to her brother Aegon , a paltry wedlock that made neither of them well-chosen . Helaena ’s dance with Jacaerys in " The Lord of the Tides " proved how happy they could ’ve been together , a marriage that would ’ve been good for them personally and a marriage ceremony that could ’ve salve the kingdom from state of war .
Not Raising His Children Well
Much like Robert Baratheon and the children he had with Cersei Lannister , Viserys never take much sake disbursement fourth dimension with or playing an active role in raise the kid he had with Alicent . In " The Green Council , " Aegon even shared that he was under the impression his don never liked him .
Viserys never loved or saw them as his children in the same way he loved and saw Rhaenyra as his shaver . Nevertheless , Viserys should ’ve played a more active part as a parent and farm them better . This might ’ve forestall Aegon and Aemond from becoming such cruel and entitled person and prevented Helaena from feeling like a captive in her own family .
His Last Words To Alicent
sooner in " The Lord of the Tides , " Viserys and Rhaenyra spoke about Aegon ’s aspiration and the Song of Ice and Fire . At the remnant of the installment , the dying Viserys remember he was proceed the conversation with Rhaenyra , only now he was talk to Alicent . Alicent assume Viserys ' word to mean that he want their Word Aegon on the crapper , even though Viserys did n’t require this and was actually talking about the dreaming of Aegon the Conqueror .
Alicent used the final password Viserys share with her to strengthen her boy Aegon ’s claim and that it was Viserys ' last indirect request that his son be on the Iron Throne instead of Rhaenyra . The super acid would ’ve judge to crown Aegon regardless of what Viserys say , but Alicent ’s interpretation of his terminal words only made the situation bad .
NEXT : King Viserys ’ 10 Major Transformations ( In Pictures )
