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Aemma Arryn

Aemma Arryn actress Game of Thrones


Published 2023-01-01, by ,

Aemma Arryn Tven Serie

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Character history

Aemma Arryn is a character from the universe created by American writer George Martin. The character appears in the early days of House Targaryen and dies after a short reign, but leaves numerous descendants familiar to moviegoers from Game of Thrones.

History of the creation of the character

Lady Aemma Arryn's biography is mentioned in the book Flames and Blood. The novel covers a century and a half of the Targaryen bloodline from the conquest of Westeros by Aegon I to the regency of Aegon III Targaryen.

Aimma Arryn's biography

Aemma was born in 82 A.D. at Eagle's Nest, the ancestral castle of the Arryns. The girl was the only child of Lord Rodrik Arryn and his second wife, daughter of the reigning King Jaheyris I Targaryen Deila. The baby girl's mother died in a long and difficult premature birth and was cremated.

The future Consort Queen grew up with two brothers and two sisters, children of Rodrik from his first marriage. At the age of 11, the granddaughter of Jaerys I Targaryen married her 16-year-old cousin, who after his grandfather's death inherited the Iron Throne and went down in the history of the Seven Kingdoms as Viserys I Targaryen. Because of Aemma's age, the marriage was not consummated until two years later.

The young couple lived in harmony, regularly hosting balls, tournaments, and feasts at court. Only one factor marred the happiness of the royal couple - their lack of heirs. Viserys I Targaryen's first wife suffered a series of miscarriages and gave birth to a boy who died in infancy.

Finally in 97 CE a healthy daughter was born to the family, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. The parents loved their only heiress and hailed her as a joy to the realm. She became her father's cupbearer at the age of 8, and has been at Viserys' side ever since.

Meanwhile, the Iron Throne was claimed by the ruler's younger brother Damon Targaryen. Viserys hoped that Aemma could still bear him a son, thus resolving the issue of the succession. Damon's implacable rival, the King's Hand Otto Hightower, recommended that the monarch appoint Rhaenyra as his successor, but he refused for the same reason.

To Viserys' delight, the queen became pregnant again. Prince Baelon Targaryen was born in late 105 AC, but 23-year-old Aemma repeated her mother's fate and died in childbirth. The baby died the next day.

While the ruler of Westeros mourned the death of his wife and son, Damon made drunken jokes about "an heir for a day". On learning of this, Viserys became enraged, declared Rhaenyra the Crown Princess at the end of her mourning period and began training his daughter in the wisdom of ruling the kingdom. This put the brothers at loggerheads with each other.

Aimma's appearance and character

Like many Targaryens, Princess Rhaenyra's mother inherited a typical Valyrian appearance. Lady Aemma Arryn had silver hair and pale blue eyes.

Aimee Arryn in the Dragon House series

The multi-part adaptation of the second half of the novel "Flame and Blood" was called "House of the Dragon" and was released in the summer of 2022. The role of Queen Emma Arryn was played by British theatre and film actress Shan Brooke.

Interesting Facts

  • A year after Amma's death the King Dowager married Alicente Hightower. The second wife gave birth to three sons and a daughter and planned to put one of them on the Iron Throne rather than Rhaenyra. This led to a power struggle after Viserys' death and a civil war, preserved in the chronicles of Westeros as the Dance of the Dragons. Victory in the feud went to Rhaenyra's heirs, so Lady Arryn's descendants can be traced back to Robert Baratheon and Daenerys Targaryen.
  • Baelon Targaryen was named after his grandfather, the fourth child of King Jaerys I Baelon the Brave. Viserys was the eldest of his three sons. Baelon the Brave had seven grandchildren, but only Rhaenyra caught his eye during his lifetime.
  • In 2015, Shan Brooke and Benedict Cumberbatch starred in the play Hamlet, based on William Shakespeare's tragedy. Two years later, the colleagues met on the set of the fourth season of the TV series Sherlock. The British performer appeared as Ever, the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes.