Aegon V Targaryen, nicknamed “Egg,” dies in the mysterious fire known as the Tragedy of Summerhall , burned to death while trying to hatch dragon eggs with powerful, unstable magic and wildfire.

Who “Egg” Targaryen Is

  • “Egg” is the childhood nickname of Aegon V Targaryen, the unlikely prince who later becomes King Aegon V of Westeros.
  • His story is told in the Dunk and Egg tales, where he travels as the squire of Ser Duncan the Tall before ever dreaming of a crown.
  • As king, he is remembered as a reformer who genuinely tried to help the common people and curb the power of the great lords.

How Egg Targaryen Died

  • Aegon V dies in 259 AC at Summerhall, a Targaryen royal residence in the Dornish Marches, during a catastrophic fire.
  • The fire starts during a secretive, desperate attempt to use magic, ritual, and wildfire to hatch a clutch of dragon eggs and “bring back” dragons to strengthen the crown.
  • The blaze gets out of control, destroying much of Summerhall and killing Aegon V along with many members of the royal family and household.

Who Else Died With Him

  • His beloved friend and former traveling companion Ser Duncan the Tall, now Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, also dies in the fire, likely trying to save others.
  • His son Prince Duncan the Small (who had given up his claim to the throne for love) is recorded among those who perish at Summerhall.
  • Several other Targaryens and attendants are implied or stated to die, though sources keep some names vague, adding to the tragedy’s mystique.

What Exactly Happened at Summerhall? (The Mystery)

  • The exact details of how the ritual was performed, who lit what, and how the inferno spread are never fully spelled out in the in‑world histories.
  • It is heavily suggested that wildfire was used to “awaken” the eggs, and that this volatile substance is what turned a ritual into a disaster.
  • Different accounts and fan discussions debate whether prophecy, sorcery, or sheer hubris was most to blame, but all agree: the attempt to reclaim dragonfire cost Egg his life.

Why His Death Matters for the Story

  • Egg’s failed dragon-hatching and death at Summerhall further weaken House Targaryen, contributing to the long decline that eventually leads to Robert’s Rebellion and the fall of the dynasty.
  • On the very same night as the tragedy, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen is born at Summerhall—tying Egg’s doomed dream of dragons directly to the future “last” Targaryen prince.
  • Maester Aemon’s haunting final words in the Game of Thrones TV show (“Egg… Egg…”) are him calling out for his brother Aegon V, showing how deeply that bond and that tragedy marked him.

Forum / “Latest News” Style Take

In current forum discussions, “how did Egg Targaryen die” usually leads back to one core idea: a well-meaning king whose obsession with saving his house and his people pushed him into a deadly magical gamble at Summerhall.

  • Fans often frame Egg’s end as the perfect Westerosi cautionary tale:
    • Good heart, dangerous magic.
* A desire to help the smallfolk, but a method (wildfire and sorcery) that spirals out of control.
  • Discussions today also connect Summerhall to other fiery Targaryen moments in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones , seeing a pattern of dragons, fire, and tragic consequences.

TL;DR: Egg Targaryen (King Aegon V) dies in the Tragedy of Summerhall, burned to death when a wildfire‑fueled attempt to hatch dragon eggs erupts into an uncontrollable inferno that kills him, Ser Duncan the Tall, Prince Duncan, and others.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.