Who Was Aerion Brightflame?
Aerion is one of Egg’s (Aegon V’s) older brothers — and by most in-universe accounts, one of the more genuinely disturbing figures in Targaryen history. Cruel, arrogant, and increasingly obsessed with the family’s lost dragon heritage, he earns the nickname “Brightflame” for reasons that turn out to be darkly literal.
A Dangerous Obsession
Convinced that Targaryens could transform into dragons under the right conditions, Aerion becomes fixated on wildfire — the volatile, alchemical substance capable of burning almost anything. His belief that drinking it would grant him a dragon’s power reflects both his cruelty and a kind of desperate delusion about restoring what his family had lost.
Death and Consequence
That belief kills him. Aerion drinks wildfire and dies in agony — a self-inflicted death that, grim as it is, has a real effect on the succession: it removes one more of Egg’s older brothers from the line, pushing the “unlikely” youngest son one step closer to a throne no one expected him to inherit.
Family Legacy
Aerion’s son, Maegor, later briefly holds the throne as Maegor II — though his reign is short-lived. Aerion’s branch of the family is largely remembered as a cautionary tale rather than a proud lineage, standing in sharp contrast to his younger brother Egg’s eventual reputation as a reform-minded, humble king.
FAQ
How did Aerion Targaryen die?
He drank wildfire, believing it would transform him into a dragon, and died from the resulting injuries.
Is Aerion related to Aegon V (“Egg”)?
Yes — they were brothers, both sons of King Maekar I.
Did Aerion have children?
Yes, a son named Maegor, who briefly ruled as Maegor II Targaryen.