Warning: spoilers through Episode 10 of House of the Dragon Season 1.
House of the Dragon is expanding on much of the lore that viewers were only introduced to in Game of Thrones, and the complex Targaryen family tree is only getting more and more complicated. So, with the hit show just finishing Season 1 with a deadly finale, already renewed for Season 2, and plenty of source material to fuel the rest of the series, let’s look at the Targaryens of House of the Dragon, how they’re related, and how important their predecessors were.
The main Targaryens of House of the Dragon so far have been Viserys, Rhaenyra, Daemon, and their various children, but the show picked up about a century into the dynasty’s hold on Westeros. Aegon became a major player in one fell swoop after his father's death, and Aemond may have just started a war with his actions in Episode 10. So, using lore from George R.R. Martin in his Fire & Blood and The World of Ice & Fire books as well as the HBO show, let’s start by going back to the beginning and the era of Aegon Targaryen, a.k.a. Aegon the Conqueror.
Note: all dates come from George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood (which has some great moments that need to be included in Season 2) and refer to years after Aegon's Conquest (AC).
The Reign Of Aegon The Conqueror And His Sister Queens (1-37 AC)
The Targaryens survived the destruction of Valyria after Daenys the Dreamer foresaw what was going to happen. Nearly a century later, Aegon Targaryen set his sights on Westeros along with his two sister-wives. He was said to have married older warrior sister Visenya out of duty, and younger sister Rhaenys out of love. With their dragons, they conquered Westeros and brought the many nations together as the Seven Kingdoms.
Aegon’s children:
- Aenys, son with Rhaenys
- Maegor, son with Visenya
Dragons controlled:
- Balerion the Black Dread, ridden by Aegon (dead by House of the Dragon)
- Vhagar, ridden by Visenya (claimed by Laena and then Aemond in HOTD)
- Meraxes, ridden by Rhaenys (dead by HOTD)
Aegon wielded the Valyrian steel sword Darkfyre (carried by King Viserys in HOTD) and Visenya wielded Dark Sister (carried by Daemon). Although Rhaenys died when she and Meraxes were shot down in Dorne, Aegon was survived by Visenya and his two sons from his two queens, which would create some major problems in the next generation.
Aenys I, The Second Targaryen King (37-42 AC)
As Aenys was Aegon’s firstborn son, he was crowned king following his father’s death, but his rule was challenged within his own family. Visenya argued her nephew was unfit, and he unwisely gave the second of the family’s two Valyrian swords to his brother. After Maegor scandalously took a second wife in a Valyrian ceremony on Dragonstone (similarly to what Rhaenyra and Daemon did on HOTD) and was exiled for it, Aenys married his son to his daughter, the Faith of the Seven rose up against the incest in a religious conflict that wouldn't be fully resolved for many years and another two kings.
King Aenys' children:
- Rhaena
- Aegon
- Viserys
- Jaehaerys
- Alysanne
- Vaella
Dragons controlled:
- Quicksilver, ridden by Aenys and later Aegon (dead by HOTD)
- Balerion the Black Dread, ridden by Maegor (dead by HOTD)
- Dreamfyre, ridden by Rhaena (dead by HOTD)
- Vermithor, ridden by Jaehaerys (dead by HOTD)
- Silverwing, ridden by Alysanne (dead by HOTD)
Aenys did not live long after marrying Rhaena to Aegon and the Faith Uprising. He intended son Aegon to become king after him, but his exiled brother Maegor returned with a different plan in mind… and would earn a famous nickname for it.
Maegor The Cruel And His Six Wives (42-48 AC)
Although Maegor was the second son of Aegon the Conqueror, he was by far the mightier warrior compared to Aenys, and came into possession of both Targaryen swords. He claimed the Iron Throne after returning from his exile, and earned his nickname after becoming a brutal tyrant and a kinslayer in murdering his nephew Aegon. Notably, he was so desperate for an heir that he married not just two wives, but a total of six, to no avail.
Maegor's wives:
- Ceryse Hightower
- Alys Harroway
- Tyranna of the Tower
- Elinor Costayne
- Rhaena Targaryen
- Jeyne Westerling
Dragon controlled:
- Balerion the Black Dread, ridden by Maegor (dead by HOTD)
Despite taking half a dozen wives, Maegor died without issue, and the Iron Throne passed to the oldest surviving son of his brother Aenys: Jaehaerys.
The Reign Of Jaehaerys I And Good Queen Alysanne (48-103)
Jaehaerys became king at the age of 14, with the realm ruled by regents until he came of age. He ran off to Dragonstone with younger sister Alysanne when plans were made to marry her off, and they wed in secret. He was named “The Old King” after ruling for more than 50 years, and he fathered 13 children, but survived all of those who had been in line for the throne, leading to the Great Council (seen at the beginning of House of the Dragon) to name the next ruler.
Jaehaerys and Alysanne’s children:
- Aegon (died in infancy)
- Daenerys (died as a child)
- Aemon (died with one child)
- Baelon (died with two sons with sister-wife Alyssa)
- Alyssa (died with two sons with brother-husband Baelon)
- Maegelle (became a septa)
- Vaegon (became an archmaester)
- Daella (died with one child with Rodrik Arryn)
- Saera (disinherited)
- Viserra (died with no children)
- Gaemon (died in infancy)
- Valerion (died in infancy)
- Gael (died with no living children)
Dragons controlled:
- Vermithor, ridden by Jaehaerys (dead by HOTD)
- Silverwing, ridden by Alysanne (dead by HOTD)
- Caraxes the Blood Wyrm, ridden by Aemon (claimed by Daemon in HOTD)
- Vhagar, ridden by Baelon (claimed by Laena and then Aemond in HOTD)
- Meleys the Red Queen, ridden by Alyssa (claimed by Rhaenys in HOTD)
Jaehaerys’ Great Council set his successors up for inevitable conflict. In George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the lords had to choose between two main male contenders: Laenor as the great-grandson of the Old King via Princess Rhaenys, and Viserys as his grandson via Baelor. In House of the Dragon, Rhaenys herself was a candidate for the throne. The Iron Throne ultimately went to Viserys, whose claim came from his father rather than via his mother like Laenor.
The Reign Of Viserys I And His Queens (103 - 129)
The Great Council is where House of the Dragon picks up, but the show doesn’t tell the full story of Viserys and Queen Aemma. The two were cousins, as Aemma Arryn was the daughter of Daella Targaryen. She was 11 when they married in George R.R. Martin’s source material, but – like Rhaenyra, who displaced her uncle Daemon in the line of succession – was aged up for HBO. She had only one child who survived to adulthood in Princess Rhaenyra, and died in childbirth. Viserys then married Alicent Hightower (who was aged down for House of the Dragon) and went on to have four children with her.
Viserys' surviving children:
- Rhaenyra, daughter and heir with Aemma
- Aegon, son with Alicent
- Helaena, daughter with Alicent
- Aemond, son with Alicent
- Daeron, son with Alicent (has not yet appeared on House of the Dragon)
Dragons controlled:
- Balerion the Black Dread, ridden by Viserys (dead by HOTD)
- Syrax, ridden by Rhaenyra
- Caraxes the Blood Wyrm, ridden by Daemon
- Meleys the Red Queen, ridden by Rhaenys
- Vhagar, ridden by Laena Velaryon and Aemond
- Seasmoke, ridden by Laenor Velaryon (status unknown after Laenor's "death")
Viserys finally died at the end of Episode 8 of House of the Dragon after seeming on death’s door for a while and sitting the Iron Throne one last time (which caused a real-life injury to actor Paddy Considine), and his final conversation with Alicent may have sown the seeds for civil war. Thinking she was Rhaenyra, he spoke of Aegon and the "prince that was promised," leading her to believe that he wants their son Aegon to inherit the Iron Throne instead of Rhaenyra. Only viewers know the truth at this point.
The Contested Coronation Of King Aegon II (129-?)
The Greens changed the game completely in Episode 9, following the death of King Viserys in King’s Landing while Princess Rhaenyra was back on Dragonstone. Alicent learned that her father and the small council had been planning to usurp the throne for Aegon long before she made her claim that Viserys’ final words were to make their son the heir. He was crowned King Aegon, Second of His Name before his sister even knew that their father was dead. It would have been a short reign if Rhaenys had unleashed Meleys, but the Greens survived and now hold the throne. Episode 9 also introduced Aegon and Helaena's twin son and daughter.
The “Green” Targaryens:
- King Aegon II
- Queen Helaena
- Prince Aemond
- Prince Daeron (has not yet appeared on House of the Dragon)
- Prince Jaehaerys (son of Aegon and Helaena)
- Princess Jaehaera (daughter of Aegon and Helaena)
- Prince Maelor (son of Aegon and Helaena, has not yet appeared)
Dragons controlled:
- Vhagar, now ridden by Aemond
- Dreamfyre, ridden by Helana
- Sunfyre the Golden, ridden by Aegon (has not yet appeared on HOTD)
The Greens didn’t face too much opposition from major players in King's Landing in stealing the throne, aside from characters like Lord Caswell and Lord Beesbury, both of whom died for their defiance, and Ser Harrold refusing to go to Dragonstone and murder Rhaenyra’s family. The people of King’s Landing cheered Aegon when he was crowned, and assuming Aemond doesn’t go rogue (beyond causing Prince Lucerys' death in their dragon confrontation in the Season 1 finale, anyway), the prince should be a valuable asset for his brother with his combat skills and Vhagar.
Queen Rhaenyra, First Of Her Name (129 AC-?)
After getting the news that Viserys was dead and the Greens had crowned Aegon, Rhaenyra was crowned on Dragonstone as Queen Rhaenyra, First of Her Name. Although Aegon holds symbols of the Conqueror, Rhaenyra holds the ancestral seat of House Targaryen and wears the crown of her late father. She doesn't have the advantage when it comes to manpower just yet (or a coronation in front of the population of King's Landing), but she has an advantage with the number of dragons even with Luke's death, and likely the support of some key Houses. Plus, Daemon, who already proved that he'll obey his wife and queen even if he is still pretty chaotic.
The “Black” Targaryens:
- Queen Rhaenyra I
- Prince Jacaerys, Rhaenyra's son with Laenor, heir to the throne via Rhaenyra
- Prince Joffrey, Rhaenyra's son with Laenor
- Prince Aegon, Rhaenyra's son with Daemon
- Prince Viserys, Rhaenyra's son with Daemon
- Daemon Targaryen, prince consort
- Baela Targaryen, Daemon's daughter with Laena
- Rhaena Targaryen, Daemon's daughter with Laena
- Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, grandmother to Baela and Rhaena
Dragons controlled:
- Syrax, ridden by Rhaenyra
- Caraxes the Blood Wyrm, ridden by Daemon
- Meleys the Red Queen, ridden by Rhaenys
- Vermax, ridden by Prince Jacaerys
- Tyraxes, ridden by Prince Joffrey (has not yet appeared on HOTD)
- Moondancer, ridden by Baela Targaryen (has not yet appeared on HOTD)
Dragons available:
- Vermithor, formerly King Jaehaerys' and currently unclaimed on Dragonstone
- Silverwing, formerly Queen Alysanne's and currently unclaimed on Dragonstone
- Seasmoke, formerly Laenor Velaryon's and currently unclaimed on Driftmark
- Three wild dragons on Dragonstone
Queen Rhaenyra was originally set on keeping peace for as long as possible, following her father's example in the wake of losing him, suffering a miscarriage, and being usurped in the span of a day. The death of Luke pretty clearly knocked her off that peaceful path, however, and fire and blood may rain down on the Greens in Season 2. Rhaenyra's two remaining Velaryon sons (who were claimed by Laenor before his “death") are now first and second in line to the throne, with Joffrey moving up after his older brother was killed.
Check back with CinemaBlend for more updates as the wait begins for House of the Dragon Season 2, since George R.R. Martin has already explained how the family gets away with so much incest in Westeros. You can rewatch the Season 1 episodes of the Game of Thrones spinoff streaming via HBO Max subscription. With the holiday season nigh, you can also find some House of the Dragon gift ideas for fans!
