I’m A Certified Rhaegar Hater But Blaming Him For Elia And Their Children’s Death Feels… Off. Like

I’m a certified Rhaegar hater but blaming him for Elia and their children’s death feels… off. Like in the big picture sure, Rhaegar’s actions kicked off the rebellion that resulted in their deaths.

The murder is treated as an act of UNNECESSARY cruelty and spite, even in universe. People say that Tywin ordered it in revenge for Cersei not being chosen as Rhaegar’s wife. Robert’s endorsement of it is a black mark on his reign. I genuinely think that Rhaegar believed if he lost, not unreasonably, at the very least Elia and Rhaenys would’ve been safe. And I realized as I thought about it, and the reason I made this post, is that politically? It’s really fucking stupid.

Elia is a complete non-threat. She’s not Targaryen. She presents no threat to Robert’s reign. All her death does is sate Tywin’s wounded pride, and anger Dorne.

Keeping Rhaenys alive is, if anything, a boon? If she’s kept alive, she can be eventually married to Robert’s heir, further strengthening his claim.

Now Aegon, as a boy, is a sticky situation. But not “murdering an infant is the only solution” sticky. He could’ve been kept as a ward until he was of age to join the Faith, the maesters, or the Watch. Keep a close eye on him, and you’re fine. If you’ve been listening to Tywin too much, maybe you could geld him for extra insurance.

Murdering Elia and her children is bad optics at a time when the realm’s stability is in question and you’re overthrowing a guy for cruel and unjust killings. If Robert had any moral fiber and a functioning brain cell, Gregor and Lorch would’ve been executed or forced to take the black, he would’ve distanced himself from the Lannisters, and tried to marry a Martell cousin or ally.

TDLR; Robert’s really fucking lucky Doran’s revenge plan took like, almost two decades to materialize