Introduction

Among the numerous rulers of the Targaryen dynasty in A Song of Ice and Fire, two of them have left the darkest chapters in Westerosi history: Maegor Targaryen and Aerys Targaryen II. This article explores the nature and causes of their baneful reigns, ultimately striving to uncover which of the two is more reprehensible in the context of their violent and tyrannical rule.

Maegor Targaryen: Born Evil and Grief-Driven

Maegor, often referred to as Maegor the Cruel, was a figure synonymous with unabashed ruthlessness and unmitigated cruelty. Born to Visenya Targaryen, one of the most fierce and ambitious of the Targaryen sisters, his fate was sealed from birth. The depth of his depravity becomes manifest in various aspects of his reign. Maegor's rule was characterized by a relentless pursuit of power at the expense of moral integrity and the lives of his subjects.

Maegor's reign was punctuated by extreme acts of violence and brutality. Not only did he place his victims' eyes, lips, and genitals on skewers, but he also executed thousands for minor offenses. For Maegor himself, his birth to Visenya was a crucible of evil, setting the stage for his shocking and heartless governance.

Aerys Targaryen II: Madness and Betrayal

In contrast, Aerys Targaryen II, often known as Aerys the Mad, endured a more complex journey to his throne. Unlike Maegor, who was born evil, Aerys initially remained sane and competent. However, his reign crumbled when he was betrayed by his staunchest ally, Tywin Lannister, and imprisoned in Duskendale.

The psychological effects of imprisonment were severe. Aeryrs lost trust in his best friend Tywin and his kin, leading to harsh reprisals. For example, he promoted Jamie Lannister to Knight of the Kingsguard, not out of any regard for Jamie’s merit, but to punish Tywin for his perceived betrayal. Furthermore, Aeryrs had caches of wildfire placed around King's Landing, allowing the pyromancers to set the city ablaze in moments of crisis.

Comparative Analysis and Impact on Westeros

While both rulers are indelibly etched in the history of Westeros, the nature of their cruelty sets them apart. Maegor's evil was rooted in his birth and early upbringing, making his reign an unmitigated nightmare for his subjects. In contrast, Aerys's descent into madness was precipitated by a profound personal crisis. The latter's actions may also have been motivated by a misguided desire to safeguard the realm, but the sheer extremity of his methods renders his rule equally perilous.

Aeryrs' paranoia and eventual madness led to the systematic destruction of the realm. The wildfire caches surrounding King's Landing serve as a poignant reminder of the destructive power of his irrational fears and intense trust issues. The brute force and methodical cruelty of Maegor, on the other hand, was a consistent and relentless pursuit of power and control, devoid of any cause.

Legacy and Impact

Both rulers left profound and far-reaching legacies on Westeros. Maegor's reign shaped the political climate in the years following his death, while Aerys's madness influenced the Greatakhir House Targaryen's ultimate fall. However, the euthanasia of an innocent is often used to gauge the despicability of rulers, and it is argued that Maegor excelled in this field, even when compared to Aerys. The scale and frequency of Maegor's cruel acts highlight the extent to which his evil reproduced like a virus.

The looming shadows of the past still cast long and dark on both Maegor and Aerys, mirroring the darker natures within each of us. Each betrayer and each act of unspeakable cruelty contributes to the complexities of the narrative in A Song of Ice and Fire. Whether Maegor or Aerys, their reigns stand as testament to the fragility of power and the depth to which human nature can sink.