Baelon Targaryen

Baelon Targaryen, sometimes called the Burner or the Bloody, was the son of King Aegon VI Targaryen and Queen Daenerys I Targaryen, brother to King Rhaegar I. He styled himself the Prince of Lys, and his ambition would lead to war across the Disputed Lands, eventually drawing the Seven Kingdoms into the War in the Narrows.

History
A pleasant but envious youth, Baelon spent much of his young life adored and doted upon. His parents, the king and queen, were oft more lenient with their second son than they were with the first, and when he revealed his marriage to Eireni of Lys, they reluctantly decided to allow it.

After Aegon's death in 325AC, and Daenerys' depature in 330, the only rival to Baelon's power in both Westeros and the Free Cities was his elder brother, Rhaegar. With the aid of his wife Baelon saw rapid advancement within the city of Lys, and through pride or hubris he quickly came to over estimate his own ability. Arousing the anger of Volantis with his conquests, Baelon also made the fatal decision to provoke his brother in the west; burning Estermont on a black and terrible eve, before returning to his holdings in the east.

The War in the Narrows
Main Article: The War in the Narrows

The War in the Narrows saw Rhaegar Targaryen rise to meet his brother across the sea. The burning of Estermont was a challenge none could ignore, and indeed roused outrage and fury so great that they could scarcely be contained. A short, bloody conflict, it would end with Baelon's death; the younger brother once more outshone by the elder.

Legacy
Though Baelon's conquests would not survive long after his death, the effect of his reign would be felt across both continents for some years to come. The early days of the Red God Revival were spurred on by the chaos left in the wake of his collapse, the Disputed Lands and the three daughters of Valyria writhing in terrible power struggles.

Additionally, Baelon did not die without issue; his offspring would continue in the form of Saera the Siren. His blood still lives on in Lys, where silver hair and violet eyes are not uncommon.

The burning of Estermont galvanized many against the recently returned Targaryens and their dragons; most especially one septon in particular who would, years later, ascend to the office of High Septon. His preachings against the royal family would see the man murdered, which in turn sparked a series of events that would lead to the Southern Schism.