All 18 Targaryen monarchs in Game of Thrones history, ranked worst to best
16. The Mad King Aerys II
The infamous Mad King is low on this list for obvious reasons. He was mostly known for his impatience, cruelty and all around nasty behavior during his 21-year rule. In his youth, Aerys was a decent knight and fought in the War of the Ninepenny Kings alongside his future Hand of the King Tywin Lannister. Not long after this, Aerys ascended the throne after his father Jaehaerys II died just three years into his reign.
While Tywin essentially ruled the Seven Kingdoms as Hand, Aerys made unrealistic promises to do things like build a second Wall in the North, or build a marble city on the other side of Blackwater Bay. Over time, Aerys grew paranoid, partially because his wife Rhaella had trouble conceiving more children. For a time, Rhaegar Targaryen was their only child and heir.
At one point, Aerys was captured and held hostage for six months by the lord of Duskendale, a town close to King’s Landing. After Barristan Selmy successfully rescued the king, Aerys became even more unhinged. He did not allow anyone to cut his hair or nails and started to look much older than his 33 years. He also became obsessed with burning people alive after executing the lord of Duskendale with wildfire.
After refusing to marry Rhaegar to Cersei Lannister and naming Jaime Lannister to the Kingsguard, Tywin resigned as Hand and went back to Casterly Rock. Rhaegar then disappeared with Lyanna Stark, which many interpreted as a kidnapping. Brandon and Rickard Stark went to King’s Landing to demand Lyanna be returned, whereupon Aerys had them imprisoned and executed for treason. This led to the North, the Vale, the Riverlands and the Stormlands calling their banners and launching Robert’s Rebellion.
Aerys’ actions led to the overthrow of the Targaryen dynasty and near extinction of his house. If Jaime Lannister did not kill him in time, Aerys would have burned King’s Landing to the ground with wildfire. His daughter Daenerys and possible grandson Jon Snow are seemingly the only Targaryens left alive.