They should have taken Rhaegar captive

[Canon Claude]

Rhaegar alive was worth far more than Rhaegar dead. He was the beloved prince, and it’s safe to say that he would have made a better ruler than his father. His being a hostage wouldn’t necessarily cause the war to end immediately, nor would it make the Mad King surrender, but any forces loyal to him would follow his lead if he was persuaded by the rebels to help them depose his insane father once and for all, in exchange for the lives of the rest of his family and peace throughout the realm. Rhaegar seems to have been a rational man for the most part, and I think he would agree that his father had gone too far. 

This means no sack of King’s Landing, and no slaughtering of Rhaegar’s children, since Tywin wouldn’t dare offend Rhaegar if he knew that the man was going to take the Iron Throne. And Jaime would still murder Aerys to save king’s Landing from being burned into ash. Rhaegar thus assumes the throne, everyone is reconciled, the Targaryens continue to rule, and the realm doesn’t bleed. 

Of course there’s a few issues with this setup, namely Robert and Lyanna. Robert would never forgive Rhaegar for the insult done to him, and he would never get over Lyanna’s abandonment of him (assuming that truth comes out). So Robert needs to die for this to work, whether on the battlefield or of his wounds. Stannis assumes rule of the Stormlands, Jon and Ned go back home, Rhaegar does whatever he has to do to make amends to the rebels’ families, and he lives with a furious Elia Martell for the rest of his life while raising his half-Stark bastard.

[Floki of the Ironborn]

That would have been without a doubt the most awkward reign that any Targaryen king would ever have. With all the people who died, the rebels and loyalists had a lot of grudges to sit on, but it would have been even worse if the war had suddenly proved all for nothing except getting the Mad King off of his throne. Rhaegar might have made for a more peaceful transition than Robert Baratheon, but it would have just opened up a whole new can of worms. And how do you do away with Robert without pissing off everyone on his side? The man was virtually unkillable in battle, it would have required a maester or an assassin to make it look like he died of his wounds. 

[Sanny Oliveira]

This doesn't make sense. Why keep captive the heir of the King you are trying to depose? It was Aerys and Rhaegar's actions that led to rebellion, infamous actions in the eyes of the whole kingdom. The rebelion's purpose  was to overthrow these men of power because of what they did, it makes no sense to keep Rhaegar captive and let him rule after all. 

[Canon Claude]

Just now, Floki of the Ironborn said:

That would have been without a doubt the most awkward reign that any Targaryen king would ever have. With all the people who died, the rebels and loyalists had a lot of grudges to sit on, but it would have been even worse if the war had suddenly proved all for nothing except getting the Mad King off of his throne. Rhaegar might have made for a more peaceful transition than Robert Baratheon, but it would have just opened up a whole new can of worms. And how do you do away with Robert without pissing off everyone on his side? The man was virtually unkillable in battle, it would have required a maester or an assassin to make it look like he died of his wounds. 

But think of how many issues would have been resolved! No exiled Targaryens wreaking havoc in Essos, Viserys doesn’t go quite so crazy, no War of the five kings, all the men with Ned don’t die, meaning that Barbrey Dustin doesn’t hold a grudge. Stannis becomes Lord of the Stormlands and marries someone other than Selyse Florent, Ned and Cat have a happy marriage, Jon Snow gets to live with his biological dad in the Capital (and Elia presumably doesn’t mind him as much as Catelyn did). Petyr Baelish might still rise to power, but it’s not as easy with Jon Arryn back in the Vale (unless Rhaegar makes him hand but anyway).

[Canon Claude]

5 minutes ago, Sanny Oliveira said:

This doesn't make sense. Why keep captive the heir of the King you are trying to depose? It was Aerys and Rhaegar's actions that led to rebellion, infamous actions in the eyes of the whole kingdom. The rebelion's purpose  was to overthrow these men of power because of what they did, it makes no sense to keep Rhaegar captive and let him rule after all. 

Maybe Rhaegar makes a deal that he goes to the Wall for his crimes then, and Viserys or Aegon gets crowned.

 

also to be fair, the rebels only declared war because of Aerys’ actions, not Rhaegar’s.

[Floki of the Ironborn]

2 minutes ago, Canon Claude said:

But think of how many issues would have been resolved! No exiled Targaryens wreaking havoc in Essos, Viserys doesn’t go quite so crazy, no War of the five kings, all the men with Ned don’t die, meaning that Barbrey Dustin doesn’t hold a grudge. Stannis becomes Lord of the Stormlands and marries someone other than Selyse Florent, Ned and Cat have a happy marriage, Jon Snow gets to live with his biological dad in the Capital (and Elia presumably doesn’t mind him as much as Catelyn did). Petyr Baelish might still rise to power, but it’s not as easy with Jon Arryn back in the Vale (unless Rhaegar makes him hand but anyway).

For every issue resolved, another one is begun. Rhaegar kidnapped and raped Lyanna Stark in the eyes of the Seven Kingdoms, and Lyanna still dies in childbirth so she can't refute that. That is a very bad precedent, especially after half your kingdom revolted against you and your father.

[Bernie Mac]

27 minutes ago, Canon Claude said:

Rhaegar alive was worth far more than Rhaegar dead. He was the beloved prince,

that is exactly why they had to kill him. once in power he could have chosen at any time to get his revenge on all the vassals who betrayed House Targaryen for fear that they would do so again. None of the rebels would be in favor of the Targs staying in power. 

[Angel Eyes]

I could imagine Ned interrogating Rhaegar about what he did to Lyanna and where she was.

[Sanny Oliveira]

The Rebellion began when Aerys burned Brandon and Rickard Stark, but this only happened because Rhaegar, apparently, abducted Lyanna Stark. Of course he was to blame, even if it was not kidnapping, people didn't knew so they took him as a raper. The rebels, Robert especially, weren't opened to dialoge. As you write, Robert anger would be a big problem. He hated Targaryen since the moment Rhaegar took Lyanna, and even fiften years later he still did. He was indiferent to murder of Rhaegar's childdren, he would have killed Daenerys. Robert would never let another Targaryen sit on the Iron Throne. The whole plot of his rebelion it was take them out of power, so of course the rebels couldn't left any Targaeryen alive. And they really shouldn't, it would be dangerous.

 

Ps: I'm sorry if I wrote somethig wrong, English is not my first language.

 

[HoodedCrow]

It was decided, unfortunately, by Roberts skill with a hammer.

[Boarsbane]

No, Robert was right to kill him, his mistake was he didn't wipe out the Targaryens entirely.

[BRANDON GREYSTARK]

3 hours ago, Canon Claude said:

Rhaegar alive was worth far more than Rhaegar dead. He was the beloved prince, and it’s safe to say that he would have made a better ruler than his father. His being a hostage wouldn’t necessarily cause the war to end immediately, nor would it make the Mad King surrender, but any forces loyal to him would follow his lead if he was persuaded by the rebels to help them depose his insane father once and for all, in exchange for the lives of the rest of his family and peace throughout the realm. Rhaegar seems to have been a rational man for the most part, and I think he would agree that his father had gone too far. 

This means no sack of King’s Landing, and no slaughtering of Rhaegar’s children, since Tywin wouldn’t dare offend Rhaegar if he knew that the man was going to take the Iron Throne. And Jaime would still murder Aerys to save king’s Landing from being burned into ash. Rhaegar thus assumes the throne, everyone is reconciled, the Targaryens continue to rule, and the realm doesn’t bleed. 

Of course there’s a few issues with this setup, namely Robert and Lyanna. Robert would never forgive Rhaegar for the insult done to him, and he would never get over Lyanna’s abandonment of him (assuming that truth comes out). So Robert needs to die for this to work, whether on the battlefield or of his wounds. Stannis assumes rule of the Stormlands, Jon and Ned go back home, Rhaegar does whatever he has to do to make amends to the rebels’ families, and he lives with a furious Elia Martell for the rest of his life while raising his half-Stark bastard.

That is wishful thinking . Rhaegar was going to the Trident to WIN a war . Rhaegar was not assassinated while trying to make peace or while he was asking for mercy . He was killed battling Robert .

[StarkofWinterfell]

There are problems associated with taking him captive but I do agree it would have been better in a way. 

By taking Rhaegar captive, Aerys probably loses his shit and ignites the wildfire before Jaime knows what's going on. You're left with a wasteland that used to be King's Landing.

However, by taking Rhaegar captive, you give yourself the opportunity to do a very public execution and solidify your reign.

This is all just speculation though. Naturally, many events would play out differently.

[PrinceHenryris]

Not likely.  Rhaeghar wasn't making a comeback from getting his chest caved in by a warhammer.

[Valyrian Blade]

He died in single combat, he didn't yield. Pretty much impossible to take him hostage.

[Lee-Sensei]

10 hours ago, Boarsbane said:

No, Robert was right to kill him, his mistake was he didn't wipe out the Targaryens entirely.

Agreed. Rhaegar shouldn't have started something he couldn't finish.

[Aline de Gavrillac]

13 hours ago, Canon Claude said:

Rhaegar alive was worth far more than Rhaegar dead. He was the beloved prince, and it’s safe to say that he would have made a better ruler than his father. His being a hostage wouldn’t necessarily cause the war to end immediately, nor would it make the Mad King surrender, but any forces loyal to him would follow his lead if he was persuaded by the rebels to help them depose his insane father once and for all, in exchange for the lives of the rest of his family and peace throughout the realm. Rhaegar seems to have been a rational man for the most part, and I think he would agree that his father had gone too far. 

This means no sack of King’s Landing, and no slaughtering of Rhaegar’s children, since Tywin wouldn’t dare offend Rhaegar if he knew that the man was going to take the Iron Throne. And Jaime would still murder Aerys to save king’s Landing from being burned into ash. Rhaegar thus assumes the throne, everyone is reconciled, the Targaryens continue to rule, and the realm doesn’t bleed. 

Of course there’s a few issues with this setup, namely Robert and Lyanna. Robert would never forgive Rhaegar for the insult done to him, and he would never get over Lyanna’s abandonment of him (assuming that truth comes out). So Robert needs to die for this to work, whether on the battlefield or of his wounds. Stannis assumes rule of the Stormlands, Jon and Ned go back home, Rhaegar does whatever he has to do to make amends to the rebels’ families, and he lives with a furious Elia Martell for the rest of his life while raising his half-Stark bastard.

Rhaegar would never reign, whether the rebels won or lost.  King Aerys chose his second son, Prince Viserys to inherit the throne.  

[Dorian Martell's son]

16 hours ago, Canon Claude said:

Rhaegar alive was worth far more than Rhaegar dead. He was the beloved prince, and it’s safe to say that he would have made a better ruler than his father. His being a hostage wouldn’t necessarily cause the war to end immediately, nor would it make the Mad King surrender, but any forces loyal to him would follow his lead if he was persuaded by the rebels to help them depose his insane father once and for all, in exchange for the lives of the rest of his family and peace throughout the realm. Rhaegar seems to have been a rational man for the most part, and I think he would agree that his father had gone too far. 

This means no sack of King’s Landing, and no slaughtering of Rhaegar’s children, since Tywin wouldn’t dare offend Rhaegar if he knew that the man was going to take the Iron Throne. And Jaime would still murder Aerys to save king’s Landing from being burned into ash. Rhaegar thus assumes the throne, everyone is reconciled, the Targaryens continue to rule, and the realm doesn’t bleed. 

Of course there’s a few issues with this setup, namely Robert and Lyanna. Robert would never forgive Rhaegar for the insult done to him, and he would never get over Lyanna’s abandonment of him (assuming that truth comes out). So Robert needs to die for this to work, whether on the battlefield or of his wounds. Stannis assumes rule of the Stormlands, Jon and Ned go back home, Rhaegar does whatever he has to do to make amends to the rebels’ families, and he lives with a furious Elia Martell for the rest of his life while raising his half-Stark bastard.

have you considered writing your own story instead of rewriting someone else's? 

[FictionIsntReal]

On 6/2/2018 at 7:59 PM, Canon Claude said:

But think of how many issues would have been resolved! No exiled Targaryens wreaking havoc in Essos, Viserys doesn’t go quite so crazy, no War of the five kings, all the men with Ned don’t die, meaning that Barbrey Dustin doesn’t hold a grudge. Stannis becomes Lord of the Stormlands and marries someone other than Selyse Florent, Ned and Cat have a happy marriage, Jon Snow gets to live with his biological dad in the Capital (and Elia presumably doesn’t mind him as much as Catelyn did). Petyr Baelish might still rise to power, but it’s not as easy with Jon Arryn back in the Vale (unless Rhaegar makes him hand but anyway).

Virtually none of those consequences would have been predicted in advance, and thus the rebels would not have taken them into account. They were fighting against the Targaryen dynasty, Rhaegar for it. They're not going to put him on the throne after winning. If he surrendered to make himself a hostage, that would be awkward since many loyalists might consider him the rightful king once Aerys is out of the picture (Aerys is still likely to send his wife & younger son abroad when the city is sacked).

Also, we've go no reason to believe that Elia "doesn't mind" as much as Catelyn. She was publicly humiliated by Rhaegar at Harrenhall, having a reminder of that fact and the war that resulted won't be easy.

[Frey Kings]

If Rhaegar married a Frey instead, he wouldn't have had all these problems...