In the grand narrative of leadership and power, two iconic figures from the fictional world of ‘A Song of Ice And Fire’ stand out: Daenerys Stormborn and Rhaenyra Targaryen. Both women from the noble Targaryen family have stirred the imagination of millions of fans as to who was the ultimate leader.
However, who was a better ruler, is not merely a matter of who dominated power better, but it also involves moral strength and vices that distinguished their rule. In this article, we shall look at five reasons why Daenerys was a better ruler than Rhaenyra Targaryen in her capacity as a leader.
5 Things Daenerys Was Better At:
1. Daenerys’ Visionary Leadership Outshines Rhaenyra’s Traditional Approach
Daenerys Stormborn was a visionary. She wanted to break the wheel and create a new order, which gave her a definite edge. Unlike Rhaenyra, the queen imagined a world that was free of slavery and tyranny, and this was the exact opposite of how the then-existing powers operated.
2. Empathy And Justice Were Daenerys’ Strong Suit
Daenerys was full of love and empathy from the very start and it stayed with her till last, well almost. She always displayed concern for the weak and oppressed and did everything in her power to help them. It attracted a great amount of adoration and love in return from the common folk.
Although Rhaenyra was a tough individual and a great politician, she was not known for her connection to the people she wanted to rule over.
3. Daenerys’ Adaptability Gives Her An Edge Over Rhaenyra
Another arrow in Daenerys’ quiver was her capability to adapt to any situation. Her journey from a timid girl to a powerful queen was not easy. From losing Khal and almost starving to death to getting almost killed by the Sons of Harpy, the only thing that saved her was her ability to adapt and evolve.
On the other side, as resilient as Rhaenyra was, she found it hard to adjust and adapt to new realities and always tried mending everything to her will and ways.
4. Daenerys’ Charismatic Leadership And Loyal Followers
Daenerys had a charismatic personality and her leadership ability is a well-established fact at this point that no one can deny. She did not get the love, loyalty, and admiration of her followers because she was born into royalty or she was a princess, but because she proved herself by her deeds and gave everyone a chance at a better life.
Rhaenyra was the heir to the Iron Throne and the future queen of Westeros but she lacked the ability to inspire loyalty in others. The main reason behind her ignorance was her belief that it was her birthright to be the queen and that’s why she never gave two hoots about trying to earn people’s respect or loyalty for that matter.
5. Daenerys Had A Broad View With A Global Perspective
Daenerys believed in a global outlook and how the world was made up of many people with divergent cultures. She did not only want to rule over Westeros, but she also aimed to make the entire world a better place.
However, Rhaenyra was more concerned with the Iron Throne and politics in Westeros. She only looked to the outer world only if it served her purpose to seize power in Westeros.
However, as the saying goes, every coin has two sides.
5 Things Rhaenyra Was Better At:
1. Political Skills Of Rhaenyra Versus The Innocence Of Daenerys
Rhaenyra displayed her ruthlessness through a mastery of court politics and intrigue. It assisted Rhaenyra in finding her way around multiple aristocratic cliques and their intrigues, which was essential for her to reign over Westeros. On the other hand, Daenerys was somewhat naive in politics as she was more of a direct approach person.
2. Rhaenyra’s Political Savvy Over Daenerys’ Naivety
Rhaenyra was very steadfast in her beliefs and focused more on strategies instead of the unplanned use of brute force. This served her well as a stable and consistent governing body was her hour of need. In Daenerys’ case, her impulsive nature got the better of her on many occasions.
3. Rhaenyra’s Experience In Governance
Unlike Daenerys, Rhaenyra was groomed for leadership from a very young age as she was supposed heir to the throne. This gave her a significant advantage in her reign as the Black Queen.
On the other side, Daenerys had to leave her house at an early age and she spent most of her life in exile. This made it difficult for Daenerys to have a keen understanding of politics and strategy.
4. Rhaenyra’s Strong Focus On Westerosi Affairs
Although Rhaenyra’s inward approach towards Iron Throne politics and limiting herself to Westerosi affairs stopped her from seeing the big picture and a bigger world, this worked in her favor throughout her struggle to seize power as it kept her keenly focused on Westeros and ultimately gave her an upper hand in the Targaryen civil war.
Where Daenerys struggled with a much bigger landmass she had to capture and maintain power over, in her struggle to reach the Iron Throne.
5. Rhaenyra’s Measured Approach Towards Change
Daenerys’ was forced to make some very radical changes as she abolished slavery and made major administrator changes in Essos, and it was the need of the hour and worked immensely in her favor.
But Rhaenyra understood the power of a stable government and less chaotic rule, which is why her measured approach towards change won her many loyal followers in the Dance of Dragons.
In the end, both Daenerys Stormborn and Rhaenyra Targaryen have their distinct strengths and weaknesses as rulers. While Daenerys’ visionary and empathetic leadership set her apart, Rhaenyra’s political acumen and steadiness provided a different kind of strength.
The debate about who was the better ruler might continue, but one thing is clear: both left an indelible mark on the annals of fictional leadership, offering lessons in power, empathy, and the complexities of ruling.
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