Maegor

Maegor I Targaryen, known as Maegor the Cruel, was the third Targaryen king of the Seven Kingdoms in the world of Westeros. He came to power in 106 Afterconquest (AC) following the death of his brothers, Mandon Targaryen and Jaehaerys I, under circumstances that remain disputed among historians of the realm. Maegor seized the Iron Throne with little opposition, and he was quickly recognized as a decisive, if ruthless, ruler.

During his reign, Maegor implemented a strict policy of centralization that reinforced the authority of the crown over the provincial lords. He reordered the Arryn and Arryn holdings, restructured coastal trade to secure revenue, and popularized the use of iron-based armor. His tenure was also notable for the suppression of dissent, most famously the execution of the many noble families of Harrenhal who had previously formed a coalition against Targaryen rule.

Maegor’s reign was short and fraught with violence. He was known for his brutality, his use of iron fists to crush opposition, and his preference for brutal legal judgments. He died in 114 AC, the circumstances of his demise being attributed to a storm that caused a collapse of the Great Hall of King's Landing, but early chroniclers hint at a possible assassination.

The legacy of Maegor endures in the stories around Westeros, where his policies and violent reputation are cited as a cautionary tale for subsequent rulers in the Targaryen dynasty. In the epic narrative of the A Song of Ice and Fire, Maegor's rule offers a context for the complicated succession questions that shape later historical and political developments.