"House of the Dragon" Depicts Daemon's Complicated Relationship History

The first relationship we see Daemon have is with Mysaria, his "commoner" mistress. In the book, Mysaria does become pregnant, and Daemon attempts to steal a dragon egg for the child, but is forced to return it — an episode which is also depicted on screen in "House of the Dragon." During a rough sea voyage back to the Free City of Lys, Mysaria miscarries.

Later on, Mysaria becomes a spymaster, and during the Dance of the Dragons, she sides with Daemon and Rhaenyra, even becoming the unofficial spymaster for Rhaenyra's cause. She reportedly carries on an affair with Daemon, rumoured to even have Rhaenyra's approval at one point, and does not survive the war.

Daemon's first wife, Lady Rhea Royce, comes about as an arranged marriage at the behest of his grandmother, Queen Alysanne, when he is only 16 years old. Although the marriage is a good fit in terms of rank, with Rhea serving as the heiress of House Royce at the time, "Fire and Blood" describes the marriage as not a happy one.

The couple have no children together, and they are soon bitterly estranged, but remain married for nearly 20 years. Rhea dies after a riding accident, and Daemon is unwelcome in her home of the Vale afterward.

Daemon's second marriage is likewise to a lady of a noble house, though it causes a scandal because it takes place without the consent of his brother, King Viserys. This time, he marries Laena Velaryon, the daughter of his old ally Corlys Velaryon and the sister of his niece Rhaenyra's husband, Laenor. In the book, the couple flee to Essos and the Free Cities after their marriage, and Laena gives birth to twin daughters, Baela and Rhaena.

The marriage appears happy enough, and when they finally return to Westeros, Laena befriends Rhaenyra, and they even agree to betroth Laena's daughters to Rhaenyra's sons. However, just a few years later, Laena dies in childbirth, and Daemon is widowed with two young children.

In the book "Fire and Blood," rumours abound for many years about the exact nature of the relationship between Daemon and his niece Rhaenyra. Some believe that he was Rhaenyra's first lover, while others suggest that he simply taught her the art of seduction so she could pursue Ser Criston Cole.

"House of the Dragon" offers the "real" story behind it all, which combines a little bit of both major rumours. Daemon takes Rhaenyra to a brothel and kisses her, but stops the encounter before they actually have sex. A frustrated Rhaenyra then returns home and sleeps with Criston, and when rumours about her and Daemon spread, Daemon offers to marry her but is instead banished by Viserys.

In any case, their relationship goes on the back burner for many years, as both marry other people and have children with them. After the death of Laena, as well as Rhaenyra's husband Laenor, Rhaenyra and Daemon quickly begin a relationship and marry just six months later. Once again, the marriage causes a scandal since it is performed without King Viserys's knowledge and approval. The couple have two sons, Aegon and Viserys, and Daemon becomes Rhaenyra's supporter during the Dance of the Dragons.

Although neither Daemon nor Rhaenyra survive the civil war, their legacy lives on in their descendants, who remain on the throne until the end of the Targaryen dynasty centuries later.