Daemon's relationship with his first wife, Lady Rhea Royce, comes about as an arranged marriage at the behest of his grandmother Queen Alysanne when he is only 16 years old.
He was knighted at sixteen, and King Jaehaerys I Targaryen gave him Dark Sister. Daemon' first marriage was to Lady Rhea Royce, but he disliked both her and the Vale of Arryn. During the Great Council of 101 AC, Daemon supported the claim of Prince Viserys, as it would make Daemon the heir after his brother.
Second marriage
Daemon's wife, Rhea Royce, died from falling from a horse in 115 AC.
After the beginning of Daemon and Rhaenyra's marriage played offscreen, viewers were able to return to the story to see the pair after they'd established their life together. It's obvious that in that time, the two gained an awareness of both themselves and each other.
Daemon's wife, Lady Rhea Royce, was heir to Runestone, the ancient seat of House Royce. Since there was no expectation at that time that Daemon would be close to kingship, marriage to Lady Rhea provided him with a suitable seat. The Royces were also bannermen to the Arryns, who had strong links to the Targaryens.
Turns out, Rhaenyra and Daemon are endgame, meaning they have a sexually tense relationship, eventually hook up, and get married—which is pretty significant from a power play perspective considering (1) they both want the throne and (2) their Targaryen union is almost sure to guarantee that happens—even though Alicent ...
Soon after being widowed, Daemon and Rhaenyra marry each other in secret when he is 39 years old, and she is 23. Their marriage causes a huge scandal at court and another rift between Daemon and Viserys, but it is eventually accepted. The couple has two sons together, Aegon and Viserys.
Although she has married another and had other lovers, she clearly has a crush on her uncle, whom she secretly marries (after becoming a widow and mistress). Initially married to Rhea Royce, whom he kills to be free, he marries Laena Velaryon, with whom he has two daughters and lives well.
There are hints that Daemon actually fell in love with Laena, but also that he may have only wanted to claim her to further his ambition. Either way, he challenges Laena's fiancée to a duel and kills her betrothed. Laena and Daemon marry soon after.
Rhaenyra had to marry Daemon for two reasons. The first is that she genuinely seems to love him, as weird as that is to write. The second more pressing reason is the growing threat of Alicent Hightower and her Greens. The Greens have been in the ascendancy recently.
Rhea dies after an apparent riding accident, and Daemon is unwelcome in her home of the Vale afterward. "House of the Dragon" gives more insight into Rhea's death.
Daemon took several mistresses, even though he had three wives in Rhea Royce, Laena Velaryon and Rhaenyra Targaryen.
According to the accounts of Septon Eustace, prior to her turning sixteen, Rhaenyra lost her virginity to her uncle, Prince Daemon, after he seduced her.
As the schism between Rhaenyra's team and Alicent's team grew, Rhaenyra realized that her claim to throne was vulnerable and her marriage to Laenor was no longer useful. "I cannot face the greens alone," she said to Daemon of the looming war.
The romance that has long been teased in “House of the Dragon” is finally official. The seventh episode of HBO's “Game of Thrones” prequel starts with a funeral and ends with the wedding of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her uncle Daemon.
Daemon Targaryen, who once went on a suicidal mission against Craghas Drahar and the entire Triarchy, calmed himself down and became a loyal husband and father. He tried to be worthy of Laena and their children. It could only be because he loved her and them. Him loving another does not change that.
Daemon strangled Rhaenyra because he felt betrayed by Viserys. “It's a moment that I think is surprising and shocking for Daemon as a character, but I also think it's one of those things that's been set up over the course of the entire season.
During the first few days of 120 AC, Laena went into labor. Following a day and night of labor, she gave birth to a twisted and malformed son, who died within an hour of birth.
Rhaenyra and Daemon's Marriage Has Been Foreshadowed
When Viserys confronts Daemon the next morning, after learning from Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) that the two had sex in a brothel, Daemon doesn't correct his brother, but he asks for Rhaenyra's hand in marriage.
Back in her chambers, Rhaenyra's gaze lands on the handsome Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). After some initial reluctance by Criston, who has much more on the line as a lowborn member of the Kingsguard, Rhaenyra playfully seduces her long-standing crush and they have sex.
In George R.R. Martin's book Fire & Blood, we are told of the incident where Rhaenyra Targaryen's husband Laenor Velaryon dies while attending a fair in Spicetown, on the island of Driftmark. We learn he was “stabbed to death” by a knight in his father's service, his paramour Ser Qarl Quarry.
Why Daemon Cheats On Rhaenyra In HOTD's Future. The unpredictable Daemon has always been someone who seeks excitement, with the character quickly becoming bored in what he may perceive as monotony.
Marriage. When King Viserys I Targaryen and his small council sought a husband for Viserys's heir, Rhaenyra Targaryen, they eventually agreed on Laenor, as such a marriage would unite House Targaryen and House Velaryon once again.