Larra Rogare

Lady Larra Rogare was a member of House Rogare of Lys. She married Prince Viserys Targaryen, the younger brother of King Aegon III Targaryen. With Viserys, Larra had three children: King Aegon IV, Prince Aemon, and Queen Naerys Targaryen. She eventually abandoned Viserys and returned to Lys

Larra was born in 115 AC, the youngest daughter of Lysandro Rogare, the head of the wealthy and influential banking family in Lys. When Lysandro came into the possession of the captive Prince Viserys Targaryen, he quickly married him to his daughter Larra, despite her being seven years his senior.[1] Not long thereafter, Larra's uncle, Drazenko Rogare, approached Lord Alyn Velaryon at Sunspear, informing him where Viserys could be found. Lysandro Rogare's ransom terms included that Velaryon had to swear upon his honor that Larra's marriage to Viserys would not be set aide, for whatever reason. When Velaryon agreed to Lysandro's terms, he brought Viserys back to King's Landing in 134 AC. Larra accompanied him, with three of her brothers, Moredo, Lotho, and Roggerio.

King Aegon III Targaryen, his court, and the city celebrated Prince Viserys's return, as he had been believed dead for five years. The king's brother's "revival", along with the fact that Larra was of childbearing age, helped resolve the question of succession to the Iron Throne, open since the end of the Dance of the Dragons, and particularly since King Aegon III had married the young Daenaera Velaryon. The king's regents quickly confirmed the legitimacy of Larra's marriage to Viserys. Viserys also confided to Grand Maester Munkun that he had consummated his marriage.

Larra moved into the Red Keep with her husband, but did not manage to adapt to the customs of the Seven Kingdoms. All her clothing came from Lys, even her smallclothes; Rogare ships delivered the latest Lysene fashions to her three times a year. She made no attempt to learn the Common Tongue, and instead used translators. She kept only Lysene servants, and even her protectors were Lysene, under the command of her brother Moredo and Sandoq the Shadow. Larra also had no interest in the Faith of the Seven or the Old Gods of the North, but continued to worship Lysene gods, to whom she did obeisances.

Though the people of King's Landing rejoiced when Prince Viserys announced to the royal court that Larra was pregnant, they soon came to dislike and mistrust her. Cats were frequently seen coming and going from Larra's chambers, and people began to whisper that they were her spies. Some even claimed that Larra was able to transform herself into a cat, and darker rumors followed soon after. Her worship of the god Yndros caused men to whisper that Larra would transform herself into a man to visit the brothels on the Street of Silk. Because of her worship of Saagael, she was blamed every time a child went missing. Larra's brothers were also greatly disliked, as they were proud, grasping, and ambitious, and their foreign origin and practices led to suspicion and mistrust. By late 134 AC, some of King's Landing began to fear that the Rogares would soon rule the Seven Kingdoms, with Larra holding the strings.

Larra gave birth during the third month of 135 AC to a son whom Viserys named Aegon, after his brother, King Aegon III. Prince Aegon was anointed with the seven oils of the Faith of the Seven, but when it became known that Larra wished to have Aegon blessed by her own gods as well, people began to whisper about obscene ceremonies and blood sacrifices.

Following the sudden deaths of Larra's father Lysandro and her uncle Drazenko, Larra's eldest brother Lysaro drained the gold held by the Rogare Bank. When rumors began to spread that the Rogare Bank was unsound, House Rogare fell from power in Lys. The consequences extended to Westeros, where lords and merchants realized that the coin they had entrusted to the Rogare Bank was lost, and Lotho and Roggerio were arrested. Ser Marston Waters of the Kingsguard, the new Hand of the King, also ordered Larra's arrest, but when Ser Amaury Peake arrived at Maegor's Holdfast to arrest her, he found himself denied entrance by Larra's husband Viserys, and Viserys's brother, King Aegon III. During the secret siege, Larra, Viserys, Aegon III, Queen Daenaera Velaryon, and several servants were trapped in Maegor's Holdfast for eighteen days. According to Marston Waters, Lord Thaddeus Rowan, the previous Hand, had confessed to having plotted with Larra's three brothers to poison King Aegon III and Queen Daenaera in order to crown Viserys king, with Larra as his queen. When Rowan was brought before Maegor's Holdfast to confirm his confessions, Viserys was quick to reveal Rowan had been tortured into giving a false confession. Six days after Marston fulfilled his king's command to arrest those who had falsely implicated Lord Rowan and the Rogares, the siege came to an end. After his arrest, the conspirator Septon Bernard confessed that he had been motivated by his religion, as he felt that Larra and her foreign gods had no place in Westeros. He claimed that it had been intended for Larra to die, so Viserys could ascend the throne and take a "proper Westerosi queen.

In 136 AC, when trials were held for those implicated in the siege and turmoil that had gone before, Larra was pregnant with her second child. She attended the trials together with her husband Viserys, her young son Aegon, and his wet nurse. Larra was also present when Lord Torrhen Manderly passed his judgment on Lotho and Roggerio, and wept when the sentences were proclaimed.

On the eve of Smith's Day in 136 AC, Larra gave birth to her second son, Aemon.[2] When Aegon struck the infant Aemon with the dragon egg that had been placed in his cradle, she rushed to separate them. Two years later, Larra gave birth to a daughter, Naerys.

Larra never felt part of the court at King's Landing, and was never truly happy in Westeros. In 139 AC, a year after having given birth to Naerys, Larra returned to Lys. Viserys, an otherwise charming man, grew stern after Larra left him and their children. Larra eventually died in 145 AC of unknown causes.

Larra was considered a great beauty. She had pale skin, and the silver-gold hair and purple eyes of Valyria. She was tall and willowy. She only dressed in Lysene fashion, even during her time in King's Landing.

Larra was fluent in High Valyrian and the dialects of Lys, Myr, Tyrosh, and Old Volantis, but not the Common Tongue. She worshiped several Lysene deities, including Pantera, Yndros of the Twilight, Bakkalon, and Saagael.

According to Mushroom, Larra liked to hear the music played by Sandoq, her guardsman, on a large stringed instrument, although it always made her cry. Mushroom also claimed that he could occasionally make Larra laugh, despite her not understanding the Common Tongue. He said that she preferred crying to Sandoq's music over laughing at his japes.

Cultural Background and Language Proficiency: Larra is fluent in High Valyrian and several dialects from Essos, including those of Lys, Myr, Tyrosh, and Old Volantis. However, she does not speak the Common Tongue of Westeros. This linguistic barrier reflects her strong ties to her Lysene heritage and indicates a certain level of isolation from the broader society in which she finds herself. Her inability or unwillingness to learn the Common Tongue suggests a reluctance to fully integrate into the culture of King’s Landing.

Religious Beliefs: Her worship of multiple deities from Lysene religion—such as Pantera, Yndros of the Twilight, Bakkalon, and Saagael—highlights her deep-rooted cultural identity. This devotion is significant because it sets her apart from the predominant Faith of the Seven in Westeros. Eventually converting to Valyrian paganism further emphasizes her connection to her origins and her desire to maintain her cultural practices despite being in a foreign land.

Emotional Depth: Larra’s emotional landscape is marked by sensitivity; she has an affinity for music that evokes strong feelings—specifically noted is her reaction to Sandoq’s playing on a large stringed instrument, which often brings her to tears. This aspect of her personality suggests that she possesses a profound emotional depth but may also indicate vulnerability or sadness stemming from her circumstances.

Social Dynamics and Isolation: Despite marrying into the Targaryen family and becoming part of the royal court, Larra never truly felt at home in King’s Landing. Her continued adherence to Lysene customs—including dressing exclusively in Lysene fashion—reinforces this sense of alienation. The whispers surrounding her character—rumors about cats being spies or accusations related to dark practices due to her religious beliefs—further isolate her socially. These rumors reflect how others perceive her as an outsider rather than as a member of the court.

Ambition and Influence: Larra’s marriage into royalty could suggest ambition; however, she seems more focused on maintaining her identity rather than seeking power within Westerosi politics. The mistrust directed toward her family due to their foreign origins exacerbates this tension between ambition and acceptance.