Viserys III Targaryen
Biographical Information
Born	276 AL
Died	298 AL
Title	King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. The Beggar King
Family
Father	Aerys II Targaryen
Mother	Rhaella Targaryen
Children	Daenerys I Targaryen
Books

Viserys III Targaryen was the eighteenth member of the Targaryen dynasty to claim the Iron Throne of Westeros, but his claim was not recognised within Westeros, and he never saw the Iron Throne.

Early lifeEdit

Viserys was born in 276 AL, and was only seven years old when Robert Baratheon smashed his brother Rhaegar's army on the Trident and his father, Aerys II, was killed by Jaime Lannister. Viserys and his pregnant mother had been sent to safety on Dragonstone, where, eight months later, she died giving birth to a daughter, Daenerys. Viserys and Daenerys were taken to safety in the Free Cities beyond the Narrow Sea by loyal Targaryen retainers led by Ser Willem Darry.

In exileEdit

Viserys and Daenerys had to stay on the run, ahead of the assassins they had presumed that Robert the Usurper had send after him. They settled in Braavos for a time and knew peace, since Robert was unwilling to risk offending the most powerful of the Free Cities by killing guests of theirs, but after Ser Willem's death they found themselves robbed by servants. They lost the house they had been staying in and had to resume a life of wandering.

They were given a new home by Magister Ilyrio Mopatis of Pentos. Ilyrio was a canny politican and merchant, and suggested an audacious plan to Viserys: they could marry Daenerys to the leader of a Dothraki khalasar, who was looking for a wife of royal blood. The Dothraki were always looking for lands to plunder, and if they could overcome their traditional fear of ships for the short crossing to Westeros, they would relish the chance to plunder the Seven Kingdoms. Viserys could reclaim his throne at the same time. Viserys readily agreed and the marriage was carried out.

DeathEdit

Unfortunately, Viserys soon found that his status counted for less than nothing among the Dothraki, and his constant demands and entreaties that they set sail for Westeros immediately fell on deaf ears. Khal Drogo insisted on going to Vaes Dothrak first to let the Dosh Khalleen give prophesies about his marriage, and then he would wait for the birth of his heir. Magister Illyrio had told Viserys to wait in his manse in Pentos, but, Viserys had refused and insisted on staying with the khalasar until Drogo fulfilled his promises. Eventually, Viserys loses patience and threatens Daenerys' life. Khal Drogo upended a pot of molten gold over Viserys' head, killing him and leaving his sister Daenerys as the rightful heir of the Targaryen dynasty.

Character and appearanceEdit

Viserys was impatient and hot-tempered, prone to outbursts of anger he somewhat over-dramatically referred to as 'waking the dragon'. He could occasionally be charming or friendly, but most of the time he expected obedience and respect simply due to his title, unaware that people called him the 'Beggar King' behind his back. Due to a lack of funds, he had no crown and dressed modestly, sometimes niggardly when resources were especially low. He was frequently unkind to Daenerys, she believes he blames her for their mothers death. Viserys talks of how he will defeat his enemies in battle, but he has never seriously trained in arms nor lead soldiers. He has always looked at Daenerys as his property, he tried to sneak into her bedroom the night before her marriage to deny Drogo her virginity, but Illyrio had posted guards who stopped him.

Appearances in the seriesEdit

Viserys is a major character in A Game of Thrones and appears in several of his sister Daenerys' POV chapters.