Game of Thrones: Every Targaryen who should appear in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Baelor Targaryen, aka Baelor Breakspear

Unlike his father Daeron, Baelor Breakspear plays a pivotal role in the first Dunk and Egg novella. As Daeron’s eldest son, Baelor was a capable warrior and politician, serving as his father’s Hand of the King for 13 years. Although some mistrusted Baelor because he had the dark hair and skin complexion of his Dornish mother, he won respect with his honor and likable nature.

During a tourney at Ashford Meadow, Baelor joins Dunk in a trial of seven, a massive seven-vs-seven duel. The trial is prompted when Dunk stopped Baelor’s nephew Aerion from assaulting a peasant woman, and Baelor sides with Dunk against members of his own family simply because Dunk acted as an honorable and chivalrous knight. When it looks like the fighting is over, Baelor stumbles and removes his helmet only for part of his head to come off with it. It turns out his younger brother Maekar had accidently struck him in the head with a mace and dealt a fatal blow to the king’s heir.

Although his role is brief, Baelor is a great character. He’s one of the few high-born people in this world to take the word of a low-born knight over that of his own royal family members. That says a lot in a world where drunken princes ruin lives for fun. His brief but important role in this story will undoubtedly be compared to Ned Stark in season 1 of Game of Thrones.