To get an idea of the kind of king Daemon Targaryen could be in House of the Dragon, here's Maegor the Cruel, the person some are afraid he will be.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon has given fans a more in-depth look at the Targaryen dynasty than Game of Thrones ever did. The series takes place at the height of the dragon-crested family’s power nine years after the reign of King Jaehaerys I, a five-decade period of peace and prosperity. His named successor, Viserys I, continued the peace, but tension is brewing over his succession. The king has no natural-born sons to name as his heir. The only living male Targaryen who can be called to succeed him is his younger brother Daemon. However, not everyone is keen on the fierce dragon rider's claim. Daemon doesn’t have many friends as his reputation for being impulsive and violent has made him cause for concern. To many, he’s far too similar to a certain family ancestor.
Indeed, before King Jaehaerys, there was Maegor the Cruel. Long before the Mad King, the third king of the Seven Kingdoms stole the throne and waged a bloody war against all who opposed him. No one was safe from his wrath, not even his wives or his family. His reign was short, but his legacy left a lasting impression many decades after. With Daemon’s reputation, and based on what has already been seen of his candor and character in House of the Dragon, it’s for good reason that his ascension would be feared. To get an idea of the kind of king Daemon could be, it’s best to look back at the man who made Westeros fear the beating of dragon wings in the sky. Who was Maegor the Cruel, and what is it about him that should make others fear Daemon's possible ascension to the Iron Throne?
When Aegon the Conqueror died, he was succeeded by his eldest son Aenys by Westerosi custom. However, Aenys would only be king for a short five years. His heir, Aegon, was supposed to replace him, but the throne was stolen from him by Aenys' half-brother, Maegor, who according to George R.R. Martin's history book The World of Ice & Fire, had been exiled years prior by Aenys for taking a second wife under old Valyrian custom. There was opposition to his taking of the crown, but Maegor met it with bloodshed, putting any who dared to challenge his claim to the sword. One of those who opposed him was Aegon, but when the two met on the battlefield, the younger Targaryen was killed by Maegor, earning him the title of "kinslayer." The rest of his reign was just as brutal. He spent much of it warring with the Faith Militant, who had first turned against the throne during the reign of King Aenys for the Targaryen practice of marrying brother to sister.
Maegor the Cruel would bring fire and blood to the Militant and any lords who dared to challenge his claim. He would burn keeps and land on the back of Balerion the Black Dread. He tortured his enemies and had their families executed in times of war, and even took souvenirs of their bones, although many of the skeletons collected were said to have been the remains of innocent civilians caught in his crossfire. By the end of his reign, the entire kingdom was against him, much like The Mad King Aerys. Everyone from the noble houses to his own King's Guard had abandoned him in favor of the rightful heir to the Seven Kingdoms, Jaehaerys. By the end, he felt the walls closing in on him, knowing he would soon be overthrown. This would never happen as he was found impaled on the Iron Throne. No one ever discovered who killed him, but it was said to be the Iron Throne itself that ended his bloody reign. Keep in mind the legend that the throne chooses its own king. The unworthy find themselves cut upon the chair's jagged blades.
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Despite having been dead for many years, Maegor's presence continues to loom over the Seven Kingdoms, which is why he was, as outlined by Paste Magazine, referenced twice in the series premiere. His reign, per Screen Rant, is one of the key events to have taken place before the series, and it will likely continue to loom as House of the Dragon goes on. In discussing Viserys' successor, some are strongly opposed to Daemon being named heir due to his violent and impulsive characteristics. He's already proven himself to be a villain fans love to hate, and they got their first look at his cruelty when he led the Gold Cloaks in rounding up the city's criminals for harsh maiming, an act that greatly alarmed the Small Council. When Otto Hightower calls a meeting after the death of Queen Aemma, it's in the hopes of preventing Daemon from becoming another Maegor, although not everyone believes the assumption.
However, Daemon has already begun showing similar characteristics. He desires the throne, despite not showing the grace and temperament expected of a ruler like his brother or Jaehaerys, he celebrated the death of Viserys' first son, showing he cares little for the lives of his own kin, and he's also found himself banished. This was just from the first episode of House of the Dragon. In the second, he seems to imitate Maegor once again, antagonizing his brother by taking a second wife under Valyrian customs, even going so far as to try and draw Viserys out into conflict at Dragonstone. It remains to be seen how he will display himself in the coming weeks, but so far, Otto may have been right to be worried.
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If it wasn't clear already, war is coming to Westeros. Fans can expect bloody battles, more political scheming, and, of course, a lot more dragons as they reignite their love for the world of George R.R. Martin in House of the Dragon. Daemon continues to provoke his brother in vying for his right to the throne, while Rhaenyra has already found opposition to her appointment as heir. As things stand, both parties are given reason to have lost faith in King Viserys for one reason or another. Daemon has found a new ally in Corlys Velaryon, and Rhaenyra has found herself blindsided when her best friend Alicent Hightower is announced to be Viserys' new wife. Episode three jumped forward three years, and showed Alicent having birthed Viserys' son, so Rhaenyra's claim is in serious jeopardy. What could happen is that both Daemon and Rhaenyra will face Viserys over his son's claim to the thrown. However, it's entirely possible that Rhaenyra and Daemon could marry and fight for the thrown together. It is Targaryen custom to marry in-house, after all. Fans will have to wait and see what comes from the growing tensions and whether Daemon does end up like Maegor the Cruel.