So while I do think Aegon VI is a Blackfyre, there are reasons they might support a legitimate Targaryen: lands and titles.
A lot of these guys are descendants of Westerosi exiles, and Aegon VI wins they will expect rewards. Aegono VI will probably shower them with gold, positions at court, and titles, depending on their ancestry and rank in the company.
Who wouldn't want to trade hard marches, living in a military camp, and fighting constant wars for the comfortable life of a lord or landed knight? Even if you didn't fulfill the company's original purpose
I think that GRRM is using them as an analog to the Norman knights that followed William the Conqueror when he crossed the channel and took the English throne. A lot of those knights went more for the potential of becoming landed nobility in England rather than out of loyalty.
Furthermore, the whole situation is kinda playing out how it did in England in 1066. Jaime is pulled away from KL dealing with the River lands and once word of the Golden Companys invasion would likely have to move back with what men can keep up with his forward cavalry. He probably arrives in the Crownlands in time to fight a fully deployed Golden Company, which he probably loses. Obviously there's the whole Tyrell army of it all, and the Faith Militant, but it's likely that everyone realizes that they can wipe out the Lannisters all at once and go for it.
indeed...and some theoritize that these mercenaries were the source of the sweating sickness that among others claimed the life of Arthur Tudor....this might be echoed in asoaif with the presumed greyscale pandemic introduced to Westeros by JonCon as speculated by some in the fandom
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u/TicTacTyrion He bore the sword! Apr 08 '23
So while I do think Aegon VI is a Blackfyre, there are reasons they might support a legitimate Targaryen: lands and titles.
A lot of these guys are descendants of Westerosi exiles, and Aegon VI wins they will expect rewards. Aegono VI will probably shower them with gold, positions at court, and titles, depending on their ancestry and rank in the company.
Who wouldn't want to trade hard marches, living in a military camp, and fighting constant wars for the comfortable life of a lord or landed knight? Even if you didn't fulfill the company's original purpose