Targaryen Family Tree: House of The Dragon and Game of Thrones
Fans of Game of Thrones and House of The Dragon are obsessed over the Targaryen Family Tree. Even if you’re a fan of the franchise, you might still find it quite complicated. Let’s be honest, the whole family is pretty complicated. If you are into GoT and HOTD, then you must be quite handy with all the “who’s who” stuff, especially when it is about the powerful house, Targaryen.
Let’s try and un-complicate things here by understanding the significant characters of the Targaryen family tree.
Just start with the House of The Dragon storyline and a few years back.
As we saw, the Game of Thrones spin-off prequel series is named “House of The Dragon,” and the dragons are an iconic symbol of the House Targaryen. So, basically, the series is all about the significant and ruling house. All the characters, incidents, and everything is related to the House Targaryen. They have been ruling the Iron Throne for such a long time, and now is the time of old King Jaehaerys, when the series House of The Dragon starts.
We have been getting so much more about King Aegon “The Conquerer” since the Game of Thrones era. So let’s start with him.
Aegon Targaryen “The Conquerer”
The very first Targaryen monarch conquered the entire continent and got it under the House Targaryen, a.k.a House of The Dragon. After his death, he was then succeeded by his son King Aenys I Targaryen, and later on, King Maegor I Targaryen i.e. Maegor the Cruel.
Both of them were succeeded by Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen. He was the longest reigning King and the most peaceful ruler of the House, Targaryen.
King Jaehaerys I Targaryen
House of The Dragon starts with the old Kind Jaehaerys gathering the council members. It was about declaring who will be succeeding him. He was later onwards known as “The Old King.”
There were two apparent choices, Viserys and Rhaenys. Both are siblings, but because of his gender, Viserys was chosen by the lords of Westeros to be the next heir to the throne. Even though Rhaenys was the firstborn, she was not chosen because of her gender. Unfortunately, the monarch would not allow such things to happen.
King Viserys I Targaryen
He is the grandson of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. His father was Prince Baelon Targaryen. Prince Baelon had three children, including Viserys, Daemon, and Aegon. Aegon died as an infant. Currently, we are seeing both King Viserys and Daemon in the House of The Dragon.
Queen Aemma Arryn
King Viserys I Targaryen was married to queen Aemma and ruled peacefully for the time being. Their firstborn, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, was the legitimate heir to the throne for being the firstborn but wasn’t everyone’s first choice. Aemma died during childbirth, and the child died later after a few hours.
Queen Alicent Hightower
After Queen Aemma died, Ser Otto Hightower told his teenage daughter to comfort the King, which eventually led to King marrying the daughter of his hand.
Alicent was almost of the same age as King’s daughter, the Princess. Not just that, they were best friends before her father, the king, married Alicent. Queen Alicent and the King have three children, Prince Aegon Targaryen, Princess Helaena Targaryen, and Prince Aemond Targaryen.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
The princess, around whom the story of the House of The Dragon revolves, is now the heir to the Iron Throne. It was declared by the King himself.
She married Ser Laenor Velaryon and has three sons. They are Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, Prince Lucerys Velaryon, and Prince Joffrey Velaryon.
Prince Daemon Targaryen
He happens to be the younger brother of King Viserys I himself and Rhaenyra’s uncle. He has been called many names, including “Rogue Prince.” Due to the reckless and irresponsible behavior of Prince Daemon, the king decided to name his firstborn daughter Princess Rhaenyra the hair to the throne.
At first, he was forced to marry Lady Rhea Royce. But they had no children. Then his lover was a prostitute, Mysaria. Later onwards, he marries Lady Laena Velaryon and has two daughters.
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
She is the daughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen, after whom she was supposed to be the successor of King Jaehaerys. But instead, the lords chose King Viserys.
She was the legitimate and legal heir to the throne; afterward, her successors should have been her children. She is also known as “A queen who never was.”
She is married to Lord Corlys and has two children, Lady Laena Velaryon (who married Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Ser Laenor Velaryon (who married Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.)
Queen Daenerys Targaryen
The series House of The Dragon was set around 172 years before Queen Daenerys was born. It is unclear whether she is going to appear in the series or not. There is no official confirmation or denial from the makers of the show.
Technically, if we look into history, Queen Daenerys happens to be the great-great-great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of King Viserys. King Aerys II Targaryen i.e., The Mad King, was her father.
Aegon Targaryen / Jon Snow
Earlier in the series Game of Thrones, Jon Snow appeared as the bastard child of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell. But later on, it was revealed that he also belongs to the Targaryen lineage. He was Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lady Lynna Stark’s legitimate son.