1. Jaehaerys the Conciliator
The fourth King of Westeros, Jaehaerys II holds the record for the longest reign of any Westerosi monarch, and was arguably the most successful king to sit the Iron Throne. After inheriting an unstable realm after the chaotic reign of his uncle Maegor the Cruel, Jaehaerys proved to be a wise and competent leader who united the realm and kept peace for the vast majority of his 55 years on the throne.
Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne, who was said to have ruled just as much as her husband did, oversaw a golden age in Westeros. They spearheaded a unified code of laws, invested in infrastructure, worked to reduct debt, tax the rich, and more.
Jaehaerys and Alysanne were truly in love. Despite disapproval from the Faith of the Seven and from the Hand of the King Rogar Baratheon, they married secretly on Dragonstone, despite Alysanne being betrothed to another. Rogar attempted to stop the union by showing up with warriors, but Jaehaerys’ loyal kingsguard warned he Rogar would be the first to die should he try to interfere any further. Unable to break their bond, Rogar was eventually dismissed as Hand.
Despite the couple having 13 children, few of them would live longer than Jaehaerys. His two eldest sons Aemon and Baelon died young, leaving the old king without an experienced heir. This resulted in the Great Council of 101 AC, where Aemon’s daughter Rhaenys was passed over in favor of Baelon’s son Viserys. The creation of this precedent would later be one of the main reasons the Dance of the Dragons broke out. That, of course, is the story we’re experiencing on House of the Dragon.
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