Rhaenyra Targaryen’s family tree is the central web of the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, and it branches from King Viserys I Targaryen through his two marriages. She is the first-born child of Viserys I and his first wife, Aemma Arryn, making her the declared heir to the Iron Throne, but her claim is contested by her half-brother Aegon II, born of Viserys’ second marriage to Alicent Hightower.
Parents and Siblings
Rhaenyra’s father, Viserys I Targaryen, was the fifth king of the Seven Kingdoms, ruling from 103 to 129 AC. Her mother, Aemma Arryn, was his cousin and the daughter of Rodrik Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie. Aemma died giving birth to a stillborn son, Baelon, when Rhaenyra was about eight years old. Viserys then remarried Alicent Hightower, the daughter of the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower. With Alicent, Viserys had four children: Aegon II, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron. Rhaenyra therefore had three half-brothers and one half-sister, all of whom played key roles in the civil war.
Husbands and Children
Rhaenyra married twice. Her first husband was her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen, but before that, she was wed at age sixteen to Ser Laenor Velaryon, a match arranged to strengthen ties with the powerful Velaryon fleet. With Laenor she had three sons: Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, though their paternity was widely questioned; many believed their true father was Ser Harwin Strong, a knight in her service. After Laenor’s death, Rhaenyra married Daemon, and they had two sons, Aegon the Younger (later Aegon III) and Viserys (later Viserys II). Daemon also had two daughters from his first marriage to Lady Rhea Royce, but they were not Rhaenyra’s children.
Grandparents and Extended Kin
Rhaenyra’s paternal grandparents were King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his sister-wife Queen Alysanne, who were both pivotal in consolidating Targaryen rule and building the Kingsroad. Her maternal grandfather was Rodrik Arryn, making her part of the Arryn line through her mother. On the Targaryen side, she was also related to the Velaryons through her great-grandmother, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, who married Corlys Velaryon. Rhaenys was known as the “Queen Who Never Was” because her claim was passed over at the Great Council of 101 AC, a precedent that later undermined Rhaenyra’s own claim.
Claim to the Throne and the Dance of the Dragons
Viserys I named Rhaenyra his heir in 105 AC, after the death of his first son, and required his lords to swear fealty to her. However, when Viserys died in 129 AC, Alicent and Otto Hightower moved quickly to crown Aegon II, igniting the Dance of the Dragons. Rhaenyra fought for her claim for over a year, controlling King’s Landing briefly, but she was ultimately betrayed and killed by her half-brother Aegon II, who fed her to his dragon, Sunfyre. Her son Aegon III later became king after the war, restoring her line to the throne.
Legacy and Descendants
Rhaenyra’s legacy is complex. She was the first woman to be named heir to the Iron Throne, but she never ruled as queen in her own right. Her descendants, however, continued the Targaryen dynasty for generations. Her son Aegon III married Jaehaera Targaryen, the daughter of Aegon II, to unite the rival claims. Their children and later descendants include Daeron I, Baelor the Blessed, and eventually Daenerys Targaryen, the famous “Mother of Dragons” from the era of Robert’s Rebellion. Through her daughter-in-law and other lines, Rhaenyra’s blood flows in many later Targaryen and Baratheon rulers.
Common Misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that Rhaenyra’s three sons by Laenor were illegitimate, and that this was the sole reason for the war. In the books, the question of paternity is left ambiguous, but the official line is that they were Laenor’s heirs. The war was more fundamentally about the succession principle: whether a woman could inherit the throne over a younger brother. Another misconception is that Rhaenyra was a cruel or incompetent ruler; while she made mistakes, such as imposing heavy taxes and executing enemies, she was also a capable dragonrider and political figure who inspired loyalty in many.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Rhaenyra’s children with Daemon?
Rhaenyra and Daemon had two sons: Aegon the Younger, who became King Aegon III, and Viserys, who became King Viserys II. Aegon III was only ten when he took the throne, and Viserys served as Hand and later succeeded his brother.
Did Rhaenyra ever sit on the Iron Throne?
Yes, Rhaenyra did sit on the Iron Throne for about six months in 130 AC, after taking King’s Landing from Aegon II. However, she was never crowned in a formal ceremony at the Great Sept, and her reign was not recognized by all the realm. She was forced to flee the city when it was retaken, and she died shortly after.
Why was Rhaenyra’s claim contested?
Rhaenyra’s claim was contested because the Great Council of 101 AC had set a precedent that the Iron Throne passed only through male lines, even if it meant going to a distant male cousin over a closer female heir. Many lords also believed a woman could not rule effectively, and Alicent’s faction used this to push Aegon II’s claim. The Dance of the Dragons was fought over this very issue.
What happened to Rhaenyra’s sons Jacaerys and Lucerys?
Jacaerys, the eldest, died in 130 AC during a skirmish at the Battle of the Gullet, when his dragon was shot down. Lucerys, the second son, was killed earlier in the war by Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar at Storm’s End, an act that escalated the conflict. Their deaths were major blows to Rhaenyra’s cause.
How is Daenerys Targaryen related to Rhaenyra?
Daenerys Targaryen is a direct descendant of Rhaenyra through her son Viserys II. Viserys II’s son Aegon IV fathered Daeron II, and the line continued through many generations down to Aerys II, Daenerys’s father. Thus, Rhaenyra is Daenerys’s great-great-grandmother many times over.
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