What is a Sobriquet? How Aemond Ruthlessly Dragged Aegon in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Episode 4

House of the Dragon is an undeniably bleak show. Every week, a new atrocity visits the Targaryens, and House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4 is no exception. However this week’s all new installment of the HBO fantasy series also comes with a bit of humor, thanks to none other than Aemond “One-Eye” Targaryen ( Ewan Mitchell ). When his older brother Aegon ( Tom Glynn-Carney ) calls the eye-patched schemer out on plotting military strategy with Ser Criston Cole ( Fabien Frankel ) behind his back, Aemond turns the tables in the most sassy way.

**Mild spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4, now streaming on Max**

About twenty minutes into House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4, Aemond breaks out the good old High Valyrian. It’s an ancient language, spoken across the Narrow Sea, in Essos, but few Westerosi take the time to study or master it. However, it’s an integral part of Targaryen tradition. Game of Thrones fans will recall that when Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) tricked the skeevy slave master in Astapor, she revealed that “Valyrian is my mother tongue.” We’ve watched multiple Targaryens conducting private conversations in Valyrian in House of the Dragon ‘s two seasons, with this week’s episode even opening with Daemon (Matt Smith) hallucinating a young Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) taunting him in the language.

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But it seems Aegon II has not bothered with learning his family’s cultural heritage.

So what does Aemond say to mock Aegon and what the heck does a “sobriquet” mean?

When Aemond reveals in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4 that he and Cole have been sharing secret battle plans behind Aegon’s back, the young king is furious. “The two of you have been plotting without my authority?”

Aemond then switches to High Valyrian. “You had more pressing matters to attend to. Such as holding court, choosing your sobriquet, and naming imbecilic lickspittles to our Kingsguard,” Aemond says.

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“Hmm. Do you have a wiser strategy, my king? If so, you should voice it to your council. We all await your answer.”

After Aemond concludes this elegant speech in a foreign language, everyone looks to Aegon. He strings together the following, hilarious sentence: “I can have to…make a…war?”

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Aemond smirks and simply goes, “Mmm.”

Even if the other members of the Small Council aren’t fluent in High Valyrian, they most certainly can piece together that Aemond has bested the king. But what Aemond says is so damning that it’s even more hurtful.

When Aemond says that Aegon was more concerned with holding court with his “lickspittles” and choosing a “sobriquet,” he’s referring to how Aegon’s primary concerns upon becoming king seemed to be partying with his bros and figuring out branding.

You see, a sobriquet is a nickname. Back in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 1 “A Son for a Son,” Aegon’s friends toyed with calling him “Aegon the Magnanimous.” That didn’t fit, a) because Aegon is not magnanimous and b) because it’s a big vocab word for generous. However, Aemond is whipping out the big words in Valyrian to show how much smarter he is than his brother.

Aegon might be the king, but he’s more concerned with shallow topics than studying history, governing the realm, figuring out strategy, or, indeed, learning High Valyrian. All qualities good Targaryen monarchs are known for.

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