The Targaryen family tree traces the dragon-riding dynasty from Aegon the Conqueror through Daenerys Stormborn, spanning nearly three centuries of rule over the Seven Kingdoms. The line is famously marked by incestuous marriages, civil wars, and the near-extinction of the family during Robert’s Rebellion.
Origins and the Doom of Valyria
The Targaryens were a noble house of the Valyrian Freehold, a powerful empire on the continent of Essos. Unlike most Valyrian dragonlords, the Targaryens left Valyria twelve years before the Doom—a catastrophic volcanic event that destroyed the Freehold and its dragons. They settled on Dragonstone, an island off the coast of Westeros, and were the only dragonlords to survive the Doom. Aenar Targaryen, called Aenar the Exile, is credited with the family’s survival, and his daughter Daenys the Dreamer foresaw the Doom in a prophetic vision.
Aegon’s Conquest and the First Dynasty
Aegon I Targaryen, known as Aegon the Conqueror, launched the conquest of Westeros from Dragonstone with his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys, each riding a dragon. After unifying six of the Seven Kingdoms (Dorne resisted and remained independent for nearly two centuries), Aegon was crowned King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. He established the Iron Throne and built the Red Keep in King’s Landing. Aegon’s reign began the Targaryen dynasty, and his two sons, Aenys and Maegor, were born from his sisters. Maegor the Cruel, born to Visenya, was known for his brutal rule and the construction of the Red Keep, while Aenys’s son Jaehaerys I succeeded Maegor and became one of the most beloved kings.
The Dance of the Dragons and Succession Crises
The Targaryen succession was often contested, leading to the realm’s first major civil war, the Dance of the Dragons (129–131 AC). After King Viserys I died, his daughter Rhaenyra and his son Aegon II both claimed the throne, dividing the realm and causing the deaths of many dragons and Targaryens. Rhaenyra’s son Aegon III eventually became king, but the war left the dynasty weakened. Later, the Blackfyre Rebellions, caused by Aegon IV’s legitimized bastard son Daemon Blackfyre, created a recurring challenge to the main line. These rebellions continued for generations, though the Blackfyres ultimately failed to seize the throne.
The Fall of the Dynasty
The Targaryen dynasty ended with the Mad King Aerys II, whose tyranny sparked Robert’s Rebellion. Aerys’s son Rhaegar, the crown prince, was killed by Robert Baratheon at the Battle of the Trident. Aerys was slain by his own Kingsguard, Jaime Lannister, and Robert took the throne. Aerys’s children—Viserys and Daenerys—were smuggled to Essos, where they lived in exile. The dynasty’s fall was also marked by the death of the last dragons, which had become small and stunted by the time of Aegon III, and the last known dragon died during the reign of Aegon III, earning him the name the Dragonbane.
Key Figures and Their Relationships
Understanding the Targaryen tree requires knowing the major players and how they connect:
- Aegon I (the Conqueror) married both of his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys. His sons were Aenys (by Rhaenys) and Maegor (by Visenya).
- Jaehaerys I (the Conciliator) was Aenys’s son; he married his sister Alysanne and had many children, but his heir Viserys I succeeded him.
- Viserys I named his daughter Rhaenyra as heir, but after his death, his son Aegon II took the throne, sparking the Dance.
- Aegon III (Rhaenyra’s son) married his sister Jaehaera, but she died young; he later married Daenaera Velaryon.
- Daeron II was Aegon IV’s son and married Myriah Martell, peacefully uniting Dorne with the realm.
- Aerys II (the Mad King) married his sister Rhaella; their children were Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys.
Bastard Lines and the Blackfyres
Aegon IV the Unworthy legitimized his bastards on his deathbed, creating the Blackfyre line from his son Daemon Waters, who took the sword Blackfyre as his name. Daemon rebelled against his half-brother Daeron II, but was killed at the Battle of the Redgrass Field. The Blackfyres continued to press their claim in several rebellions, and some believe they survived in exile in Essos. Other notable bastards include Brynden Rivers (Bloodraven), a legitimized son who served as Hand of the King and later became the Three-Eyed Raven in the tales.
Legacy and the Return of Dragons
Daenerys Targaryen, the last of the main line, hatched three dragons from petrified eggs in the Dothraki sea, bringing dragons back to the world after more than a century. She used them to conquer Slaver’s Bay and eventually sailed to Westeros to claim the Iron Throne. Her invasion led to the destruction of King’s Landing and her own death at the hands of Jon Snow, who was secretly her nephew (son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark). With Daenerys’s death, the Targaryen line in the male line ended, though Jon Snow’s parentage made him a Targaryen by blood, but he was exiled to the Night’s Watch. The fate of the Targaryen family remains a central theme in the history of Westeros, illustrating the rise and fall of a dynasty built on dragons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first Targaryen king?
Aegon I Targaryen, known as Aegon the Conqueror, was the first king of the Targaryen dynasty. He conquered six of the seven kingdoms and established the Iron Throne, ruling for 37 years.
Why did Targaryens marry their siblings?
The Targaryens practiced incest to keep the bloodline pure, believing that it preserved their dragon-riding abilities and their Valyrian features. They also took inspiration from the dragonlords of Valyria, who often married within the family to maintain their magical blood.
Who was the last Targaryen king?
Aerys II Targaryen, the Mad King, was the last Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne. He was killed by Jaime Lannister during Robert’s Rebellion, and his death ended the dynasty’s rule.
Did any Targaryens survive after Robert’s Rebellion?
Yes, Aerys’s children Viserys and Daenerys survived in exile in Essos. Viserys was killed later by Khal Drogo, but Daenerys lived and eventually returned to Westeros with dragons. Jon Snow, Rhaegar’s son, also survived and learned of his true parentage.
What happened to the Targaryen dragons?
The dragons began to decline after the Dance of the Dragons, and the last dragon died during the reign of Aegon III. The Targaryens attempted to hatch more eggs, but none succeeded until Daenerys’s dragons were born centuries later.
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