All the Kings and Queens of Westeros
A Complete History of the 21 Kings and 2 Queens That Ruled Westeros
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Known as the "Mad King," Aerys II is the last Targaryen to truly rule over Westeros. Although his reign begins with promise and popularity, he suffers a series of setbacks that send things careening out of control. The loss of several of his children and an uprising and imprisonment cause his mental state to decline significantly. He becomes paranoid and cruel, leading to dissent among the noble Houses and the smallfolk.
The final straw comes when his son and heir, Rhaegar, is accused of kidnapping Lyanna Stark. In fact, the pair eloped together and had a son, but no one knows that. Aerys executes the Starks, who demand justice, leading to a rebellion led by Lyanna's family and that of her betrothed, Robert Baratheon. Robert's Rebellion succeeds, and Aerys is killed by a member of his Kingsguard, Jaime Lannister.