The Targaryen family tree in House of the Dragon traces the ruling dynasty of Westeros from Aegon the Conqueror through the Dance of the Dragons, focusing on King Viserys I Targaryen and his two children, Rhaenyra and Aegon II, whose rivalry split the realm. The show, set roughly 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, adapts the lineage from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, with the family tree serving as the central engine of the civil war plot.
Origins of the Targaryen Dynasty
The Targaryens were a noble family from the Valyrian Freehold, a powerful empire on the continent of Essos. They escaped the Doom of Valyria, a catastrophic volcanic event that destroyed their homeland, by relocating to Dragonstone, an island off the coast of Westeros. A century later, Aegon I Targaryen—known as Aegon the Conqueror—landed on the shores of Westeros with his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys, riding their dragons Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes. Through conquest and submission, Aegon unified six of the Seven Kingdoms into a single realm, with the Targaryens ruling from the Iron Throne in King’s Landing. The family’s practice of marrying brother to sister, a tradition rooted in Valyrian blood purity, kept their dragonriding bloodline strong but also led to the internal conflicts that would later tear them apart.
The Family Tree of Viserys I
King Viserys I Targaryen, the fifth Targaryen king to sit the Iron Throne, is the patriarch at the center of House of the Dragon. He was the grandson of Jaehaerys I, known as the Old King, who had a long and peaceful reign. Viserys married twice. His first wife, Aemma Arryn, gave him a daughter, Rhaenyra, and a stillborn son, Baelon, whose death left Viserys without a male heir. After Aemma’s death, Viserys married Alicent Hightower, the daughter of his Hand, Otto Hightower. Alicent bore him four children: Aegon II, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron. This second marriage created a rivalry between Rhaenyra and her younger half-brother Aegon, as both claimed the right to inherit the throne.
Rhaenyra’s Claim and Her Children
Rhaenyra Targaryen, Viserys’s eldest child, was named heir to the Iron Throne, a decision that broke with the tradition of male primogeniture. She married Laenor Velaryon, a cousin from a powerful seafaring house, but their marriage produced no trueborn children. Rhaenyra’s three sons—Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon—were widely believed to be fathered by her lover, Ser Harwin Strong, though they bore the Velaryon name. After Laenor’s death, Rhaenyra married her uncle, Daemon Targaryen, with whom she had two sons, Aegon the Younger and Viserys, as well as twins named Aegon and Viserys in some accounts. Her children’s contested legitimacy became a key point of contention, as the Hightower faction used it to argue that Rhaenyra’s sons had no right to the throne.
The Children of Alicent Hightower
Alicent Hightower’s children were the rivals to Rhaenyra’s line. Aegon II, the eldest, was crowned king by the small council after Viserys’s death, despite Rhaenyra’s earlier designation as heir. Aegon II married his sister Helaena, who bore him twin sons, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and a third child, Maelor. Aemond, the second son, was a skilled swordsman who rode the dragon Vhagar, the largest living dragon at the time. Daeron, the youngest, was sent to Oldtown as a ward and later fought in the war, riding the dragon Tessarion. The rivalry between the two factions—the Blacks (Rhaenyra’s supporters) and the Greens (Aegon II’s supporters)—escalated into the Dance of the Dragons, a brutal civil war that decimated both branches of the family.
The Dance of the Dragons and Its Aftermath
The Dance of the Dragons was a war of succession fought between Rhaenyra and Aegon II, lasting from 129 to 131 AC. Both sides suffered heavy losses, including the deaths of many dragons, which marked the beginning of the dragons’ decline in Westeros. Key events included the death of Lucerys at the hands of Aemond and Vhagar, the fall of King’s Landing to Rhaenyra’s forces, and the eventual assassination of Rhaenyra by Aegon II’s dragon, Sunfyre. Aegon II himself was later poisoned by his own supporters. The war ended with the accession of Rhaenyra’s son, Aegon III, who married Jaehaera, the daughter of Aegon II, to unite the two claims. Aegon III, known as the Dragonbane, was the last Targaryen king to see a dragon hatch during his reign, as the dragons slowly died out.
Key Targaryen Figures in the Show
Beyond the immediate family, several other Targaryens appear in House of the Dragon. Daemon Targaryen, Viserys’s younger brother, is a complex figure—a warrior, a rogue, and a claimant to the throne in his own right. He married Rhea Royce, then later Rhaenyra, and his actions often put him at odds with his brother. Rhaenys Targaryen, known as the Queen Who Never Was, was the daughter of Jaehaerys’s eldest son, Aemon. She was passed over for the throne in favor of Viserys at the Great Council of 101 AC, a decision that set a precedent for male succession. Her husband, Corlys Velaryon, was the wealthiest man in Westeros, and their children, Laena and Laenor, were central to the early plot. Viserys’s own mother, Alyssa Targaryen, and his father, Baelon the Brave, are mentioned in the show’s history, though they do not appear on screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the rightful heir in House of the Dragon?
In the show, Viserys I names his daughter Rhaenyra as his heir, but after his death, the small council crowns his son Aegon II, citing the Great Council’s precedent and the belief that a woman cannot sit the Iron Throne. The question of rightful succession is the central conflict, and both sides have legitimate arguments based on different interpretations of the law.
Why do Targaryens marry their siblings?
Targaryens practiced incestuous marriage to keep their bloodline pure, believing it preserved their connection to dragons and maintained their Valyrian heritage. This tradition was modeled on the customs of ancient Valyria, where dragonlords married within their families to keep their magical abilities strong.
Are the Targaryens in House of the Dragon related to Daenerys?
Yes, Daenerys Targaryen is a direct descendant of Rhaenyra’s line. She is the daughter of Aerys II, the Mad King, and her lineage traces back through Aegon III, Rhaenyra’s son, to the characters in House of the Dragon. The show is a prequel set about 172 years before Daenerys’s birth.
What happened to the dragons after the Dance?
The Dance of the Dragons caused the deaths of most of the Targaryen dragons, and many of those that survived died in the years that followed. By the time of Aegon III’s reign, the dragons had stopped hatching from eggs, and the last dragon, a small stunted creature, died during his reign. This decline led to the near-extinction of dragons in Westeros.
Who is the Queen Who Never Was?
Rhaenys Targaryen, the daughter of Prince Aemon, was passed over for the throne at the Great Council of 101 AC because she was a woman. Her claim was set aside in favor of Viserys I, and she later became known as the Queen Who Never Was. Her story highlights the sexist succession laws that also affected Rhaenyra.
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