What does Sobriquet mean? Aemond and Aegon's High Valyrian exchange in House of the Dragon explained

House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4 titled The Red Dragon and the Gold aired on July 7, 2024. The episode was no less than a massacre after the Battle at Rook's Rest, which led to multiple casualties, including the death of a dragon and an important character in the show, while some were severely injured.

At the beginning of the episode, Aemond showcases his High Valerian in front of his brother Aegon and the council and uses the term 'sobriquet.' The term sobriquet means a person's nickname.

In the latest installment, Aemond, the one-eyed Targaryen, also known as Aemond the Kinslayer, was referring to an event that happened at the beginning of House of the Dragon season 2, in the first episode titled A Son for a Son.

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What does 'Sobriquet' mean in House of the Dragon?

Aegon sat on the iron throne in the first episode of Season 2 of House of the Dragon, titled A Son for a Son, and talked about how his victory depends on the victory of the small folk.

He also hears the petitions of the small folks at a crucial time, when he should be attending to important war matters and making strategies instead. Before Aegon enters the room and is about the helm the iron throne, we hear the proclamation and praises for him:

"All Hail King Aegon, Aegon the Magnanimous, Second of his name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm. Hail King Aegon."

In episode 4 of House of the Dragon titled The Red Dragon and the Gold, Aegon Targaryen accuses Aemond Targaryen and Sir Criston Cole of ‘plotting without my (Aegon's) authority.’

To which, Aemond replies in High Valyrian:

"You had more pressing matters to attend to, such as holding a court, choosing your sobriquet, and naming imbecilic lickspittles to our Kingsguard. Do you have a wiser strategy, my King? If so, you should voice it to your council. We all await your answer."

Aegon responds:

"I can have to make a war?"

The term sobriquet, according to Oxford, means:

"an informal name or title that you give somebody/something"

Aemond accuses Aegon the Usurper of neglecting war matters and attending to the small folks. That has Aemond and the council offended because Aegon was busy choosing a nickname for himself at a crucial time, which is the last thing a king should do.

That's the reason, why Aemond, with Sir Cristan Cole, plotted the attack on Rook's Rest without Aegon's knowledge. Originally, they were supposed to move to Harraenhall and capture it.

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Why does Aemond talk to Aegon in Valyrian?

High Valyrian, the language of the old Valyrian freehold, and every Targaryen’s mother tongue, ceased to be a wide-spoken language after the Doom of Valyria.

While the Westerosi and common folk or other members of the Kingsguard don't speak this language, every Targaryen should know and embrace it as part of their culture and bloodline.

In the latest House of the Dragon installment, Aemond talks to his brother Aegon in high/old Valyrian simply to outsmart him or show everyone on the council that he has a fluent hold of Valyrian. Aegon, meanwhile, takes time to reply in the same language.

Many of the Targaryens on the show have been seen using this language to have conversations earlier on the show, beginning with King Viserys I Targaryen.

The mutual advantage between or among the Targaryens to use this language to converse with each other serves as an advantage, as they can talk about personal or pressing matters with each other while other members are presen.

That's because other than the Targaryen on the show, almost no one is familiar with the language.

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House of the Dragon season 2 is now streaming on Max.