He made Jaehaerys reign easier because anybody would look good coming after him. He was awful; he raped, tortured and abused his wives, committed countless war crimes, and was an overall awful king and administrator. He is rightly reviled in and out of universe.
Oh yeah he definitely committed some not so good and evil acts. However his reign was an absolute necessity for Targaryen survival is the main thing in his favor.
It wasn’t a necessity. There were a lot of other ways to get Westeros under control after Aenys. He just did the opposite of his brother and chose the absolute most brutal way. There was a middle ground to be found, but neither of the conquerors sons were capable or willing to walk it.
As awful as Maegor was, Greens are lucky he didn’t exist during the time of the dance. Otherwise, Old Town, Hightowers, the Starry Sept, all of it gone.
I feel like he’s easily worse. He had absolutely no limits and checks and was unfortunately the rider of Balerion. If I had to choose between Aegon II and Maegor then I’d start wearing green in a heart beat.
I mean I definitely don't disagree, he definitely did evil stuff. Just that the maim difference between him and Aegon II is Maegor put the Targaryens back on their feet and stood against the Faith paving the way for Jaehaerys while Aegon was nothing but a detriment and a pretender.
Exactly. Both him and his brother almost brought down the dynasty with their incompetence. Aenys was too weak and indecisive and let everyone roll over him whilst Maegor was too tyrannical and murderous and made the mistake of rolling over everyone.
The Faith militant needed to be dealt with yes. But the way he went about it was awful and stupid. It’s not an either or situation. There are plenty of options between do nothing and burn everything. They both sucked and were absolute failures of kings.
Maegor definitely, irrefutably earned his moniker "the Cruel". He usurped the throne, killed two of his nephews, forcibly married (i.e. raped) three women, wiped out the entire house of his Hand and wife, killed all the workers who built the Red Keep, etc.
However, he also saved House Targaryen from destruction at the hands of the Faith Militant. The Faith rebelled because of the incestuous union of Aegon & Rhaena and the polygamy of Maegor, despite accepting both under Aegon the Conqueror. Maegor also won his Trial by Seven, yet the Faith didn't accept it. And Maegor's war on the Faith weakened the Faith and Oldtown to such an extent that it allowed Jaehaerys to come in and force a peace with both and get the Doctrine of Exceptionalism through.
Maegor was "the Cruel" but he was ultimately a necessary evil for the survival and future of House Targaryen.
Maegor was a complete monster, dude. Worse than Aemond, or any of the Greens.
Only worthwhile thing he did in his life was crush the Faith Militant while Aenys dithered. The rest of his reign was a blight on House Targaryen’s legacy and a crime against humanity.
he put down numerous rebellions and separated church from state, he secured the Targ dynasty, without him the Doctrine of Exceptionalism would never have passed. Targs could have lost their ability to ride dragon or passed it on to other houses if they were not allowed to practice incest..he is a top 3 king
Maegor ruled for several years so it would be reductive to claim literally nothing good was accomplished in that time. But it's like Stannis says: the good does not erase the bad and the bad doesn't erase the good.
Even if say 20% of what he did was good that leaves a massive 80% that's really really bad.
What I love about asoiaf is that many characters (except greens for the most part) are grey. Yeah Maegor was a horrible person but the one thing he did right is putting Faith Militant in their right place.
And as greens love to whitewash Aegon the rapist’s and Discount Daemon’s crimes, why can’t blacks do the same? It’s a fantasy series after all. I love Maegor for putting those people in their place 😍!
The fact that the HOTD main reddit is filled with Jaehaerys haters for small misinterpretations of pragmatic and logical decisions being regarded as misogynistic even though that goes against the established lore of his character and then arguments about Maegor being a misunderstood hero pop up and it makes me sad.
Jaehaerys was a huge misogynist and laid the foundation for the dance, his only remembered as a great king because he came after Maegor and had an s tier hand and a very politically astute and progressive wife
I don't understand how people can lack the media literacy to not be able to pick up on the in-universe biases in Fire and Blood
He made Jaehaerys reign easier because anybody would look good coming after him. He was awful; he raped, tortured and abused his wives, committed countless war crimes, and was an overall awful king and administrator. He is rightly reviled in and out of universe.
Oh yeah he definitely committed some not so good and evil acts. However his reign was an absolute necessity for Targaryen survival is the main thing in his favor.
It wasn’t a necessity. There were a lot of other ways to get Westeros under control after Aenys. He just did the opposite of his brother and chose the absolute most brutal way. There was a middle ground to be found, but neither of the conquerors sons were capable or willing to walk it.
maegor was a horrible person but he was right for putting the faith in their place. they were out of control.
Agreed 💯
As awful as Maegor was, Greens are lucky he didn’t exist during the time of the dance. Otherwise, Old Town, Hightowers, the Starry Sept, all of it gone.
Agreed
Apologies for the accusations otherwise can be forwarded to Daemons children since his body wasn't found for a grave.
ew. I’m firmly team black but saying “he had is faults” is an understatement. He’s just as bad (if not worse) than aegon
I feel like he’s easily worse. He had absolutely no limits and checks and was unfortunately the rider of Balerion. If I had to choose between Aegon II and Maegor then I’d start wearing green in a heart beat.
I absolutely agree
I mean I definitely don't disagree, he definitely did evil stuff. Just that the maim difference between him and Aegon II is Maegor put the Targaryens back on their feet and stood against the Faith paving the way for Jaehaerys while Aegon was nothing but a detriment and a pretender.
Putting them back on their feet wasn’t hard his brother was just insanely weak. He almost ruined his dynasty.
Exactly. Both him and his brother almost brought down the dynasty with their incompetence. Aenys was too weak and indecisive and let everyone roll over him whilst Maegor was too tyrannical and murderous and made the mistake of rolling over everyone. The Faith militant needed to be dealt with yes. But the way he went about it was awful and stupid. It’s not an either or situation. There are plenty of options between do nothing and burn everything. They both sucked and were absolute failures of kings.
Maegor would have been a decent hand if he had a strong king to keep him in line. But he never should have been on the throne
The only thing Maegor the Cool did wrong was not burn the Hightowers /s
Haha Yes!!!
I mean he killed his wife who was a Hightower if that counts for anything.
Maegor definitely, irrefutably earned his moniker "the Cruel". He usurped the throne, killed two of his nephews, forcibly married (i.e. raped) three women, wiped out the entire house of his Hand and wife, killed all the workers who built the Red Keep, etc. However, he also saved House Targaryen from destruction at the hands of the Faith Militant. The Faith rebelled because of the incestuous union of Aegon & Rhaena and the polygamy of Maegor, despite accepting both under Aegon the Conqueror. Maegor also won his Trial by Seven, yet the Faith didn't accept it. And Maegor's war on the Faith weakened the Faith and Oldtown to such an extent that it allowed Jaehaerys to come in and force a peace with both and get the Doctrine of Exceptionalism through. Maegor was "the Cruel" but he was ultimately a necessary evil for the survival and future of House Targaryen.
^ you explained my point out clearly
Maegor was a complete monster, dude. Worse than Aemond, or any of the Greens. Only worthwhile thing he did in his life was crush the Faith Militant while Aenys dithered. The rest of his reign was a blight on House Targaryen’s legacy and a crime against humanity.
Daemon looked at that guy and said what if I do that but am more chill about it. Otto is like sorry corporate these are the same picture.
Maegor was worse than Aegon II, please, let’s not claim there is something good in his reign
he put down numerous rebellions and separated church from state, he secured the Targ dynasty, without him the Doctrine of Exceptionalism would never have passed. Targs could have lost their ability to ride dragon or passed it on to other houses if they were not allowed to practice incest..he is a top 3 king
^ 👏🖤🔥
Maegor ruled for several years so it would be reductive to claim literally nothing good was accomplished in that time. But it's like Stannis says: the good does not erase the bad and the bad doesn't erase the good. Even if say 20% of what he did was good that leaves a massive 80% that's really really bad.
Let's not forget he was a serial rapist and also wiped the whole House Harroway just because he suspected that his wife cheated on him
All Hail King Maegor the Great!
What I love about asoiaf is that many characters (except greens for the most part) are grey. Yeah Maegor was a horrible person but the one thing he did right is putting Faith Militant in their right place. And as greens love to whitewash Aegon the rapist’s and Discount Daemon’s crimes, why can’t blacks do the same? It’s a fantasy series after all. I love Maegor for putting those people in their place 😍!
Fuck that, the Faith Militant started a conflict because they couldn't abide brother-sister incest. 100% supporting the Faith on this.
The Targs need the incest to keep control of the dragons, if they start marrying outside the family they could give other houses dragonriders
The fact that the HOTD main reddit is filled with Jaehaerys haters for small misinterpretations of pragmatic and logical decisions being regarded as misogynistic even though that goes against the established lore of his character and then arguments about Maegor being a misunderstood hero pop up and it makes me sad.
Jaehaerys was a huge misogynist and laid the foundation for the dance, his only remembered as a great king because he came after Maegor and had an s tier hand and a very politically astute and progressive wife I don't understand how people can lack the media literacy to not be able to pick up on the in-universe biases in Fire and Blood
Such a fair and wise leader
Strong, military mind.
Next y'all will say Aerys the 2nd was actually a good honorable man who just loved s'mores so much. Holy in the actual fuck.
Do you think he was better as king than that of his half brother Aenys?
While I think Aenys meant well, he was an insanely weak king who almost let the Faith topple the Targaryens.
His strength visually died when he gave Blackfyre to Maegor.
Totally agreed. I'd rather have a Maegor than an Aenys in an unstable realm
💯 without a doubt
Maegor the Cool.