Aerys II Targaryen, the “Mad King” from Game of Thrones and the A Song of Ice and Fire books, was about 39–40 years old when he was killed by Jaime Lannister during the Sack of King’s Landing.

Quick Scoop: Short Answer

  • In the books , Aerys II is born in 244 AC and dies in 283 AC, making him 39 years old at death.
  • Some secondary summaries and wikis round this to 40 years old at the time of his death.
  • In the TV show’s timeline , with slightly shifted dates, he’s described as being around 37 years old when Jaime kills him.

So, depending on whether you follow book canon or show canon, the Mad King dies in his late 30s , typically given as 39 years old in the books and about 37 in the show.