Who Really Started Roberts Rebellion in Game of Thrones: Rhaegar or Aerys II?

One of the most iconic and complex conflicts in Game of Thrones is the rebellion led by Robert Baratheon, which dethroned Aerys II Targaryen, the Mad King. Many argue that the rebellion was either a direct result of Rhaegar Targaryen's actions or that Aerys II himself was the chief instigator. In this article, we delve into the roles that both Rhaegar and Aerys II played in sparking this pivotal event in Westerosi history.

Key Players Involved

The key figures involved in this saga are Aerys II Targaryen, known as the Mad King, Rhaegar Targaryen, the Prince of Dragonstone, and Robert Baratheon, the eventual King in the North. Aerys II was mentally unstable and portrayed as a tyrant, while Rhaegar was a noble but often impulsive figure, and Robert was a more straightforward and decisive leader.

Rhaegar Targaryen's Role

Rhaegar Targaryen is often accused of starting the rebellion due to his actions at the Tournament of Harrenhal. Some argue that he drew attention to his claim by crowning Lyanna Stark as the Queen of the North. However, this was more a result of Rhaegar's romantic obsession with Lyanna rather than a direct political move aimed at rebellion.

Rhaegar had the opportunity to overthrow his father Aerys II, who was portrayed as a vulnerable and mentally unstable ruler. However, Rhaegar chose not to act, possibly due to his loyalty to his father or his belief that the realm needed a strong, stable ruler. Instead, his actions at Harrenhal were mostly aimed at personal motives rather than political ones.

Aerys II Targaryen's Responsibility

Aerys II, on the other hand, was undoubtedly involved in exacerbating the situation. His madness and paranoia led him to make several catastrophic decisions. One of the most crucial decisions was the Defiance of Duskendale incident, which pushed many lords to rebel against his rule.

Morbidly, Aerys also sought to manipulate his son Rhaegar to take the throne. Varys, his master of whisperers, fed Aerys false information regarding the pressures from other lords to have Rhaegar take the throne instead. Aerys believed these reports and became increasingly unstable and unpredictable.

The Rebellion's Trigger

The rebellion was ultimately triggered by a series of severe actions taken by Aerys II. In the wake of the Defiance of Duskendale, Aerys ordered the execution of several prominent lords, including Rickard Stark, Brandon Stark, and Elbert Arryn. The heads of Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon were also ordered to be delivered, which sealed the rebellion.

If Aerys had taken a more rational approach and imprisoned the accused or Rhaegar, he might have managed to isolate the rebellion. Instead, his rushed and hasty actions caused the situation to spiral out of control. This shows that Aerys' mental instability and lack of leadership ability were major factors in the rebellion.

Role of Varys

It is also crucial to consider the role of Varys, Aerys' master of whisperers. Varys played a significant role in feeding Aerys false information, which fueled his paranoia and erratic behavior. By misleading Aerys, Varys indirectly contributed to the destabilization of the realm.

Additionally, Varys communicated potential political alliances to Aerys, which further complicated the situation. The proposed political marriage of Robert Baratheon to Lyanna Stark was viewed as a threat by Aerys, leading to the Dark Sister execution and the subsequent rebellion.

Conclusion

While both Rhaegar and Aerys II played important roles in the events leading to the rebellion, the ultimate responsibility for starting it lies with Aerys II. Rhaegar's actions were more a result of personal motives, while Aerys's hasty and irrational decisions led to the collapse of the ruling Targaryen Dynasty.

These complex characters and their interconnected actions illustrate the often blurry line between personal desires and political necessities in the world of Game of Thrones. Whether seen as the direct cause of the rebellion or a series of unfortunate events, Aerys II's madness and mismanagement were the primary catalysts for the fall of House Targaryen.