Daemon Targaryen

Daemon Targaryen, nicknamed The Rogue Prince, is a fictional character in American author George R. R. Martin's the A Song of Ice and Fire series of epic fantasy novels, appearing in the 2013 novella The Princess and the Queen, the 2014 novella The Rogue Prince and the 2018 novel Fire & Blood. In the HBO television adaptation House of the Dragon, he is portrayed by English actor Matt Smith. A central figure in the Westerosi succession war known as the Dance of the Dragons, Daemon is a prince of the ruling Targaryen dynasty. He is the younger brother of King Viserys I Targaryen, uncle and second husband of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, and father to Baela, Rhaena, Aegon III, and Viserys II Targaryen respectively. Considered one of the most formidable warriors of his time, Daemon rides the fearsome red dragon Caraxes and wields the Valyrian steel blade Dark Sister. He served as Commander of the City Watch during Viserys' reign in King's Landing, along with brief stints in the small council as Master of Coin and Master of Laws. After leaving King's Landing, he led a successful war effort with House Velaryon in the Stepstones, styling himself King of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea. Long after returning to court, Daemon became a prominent supporter of his niece and wife Rhaenrya's claim to the Iron Throne as the proclaimed heir of Viserys, following the installation of her half-brother (Viserys' eldest son) Aegon II to the throne as orchestrated by the "Green Council" faction after Viserys' passing. Smith's performance as Daemon has received widespread critical acclaim, as he was nominated in supporting actor categories at the Critics' Choice Awards and Astra Awards in 2023, and for the Saturn Awards in 2024 and 2025.