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Game of Thrones
House of the Dragon
This page is about the Great House. For the short, see: House Targaryen (short)

"Half the Targaryens went mad, didn't they? What's the saying? 'Every time a Targaryen is born the gods flip a coin.'"
Cersei Lannister to Tyrion Lannister[src]
House Targaryen banner

The banner of House Targaryen, the royal house of Westeros.

House Targaryen[1][c] of Dragonstone, known poetically as the House of the Dragon,[2] is an exiled Great House of Westeros and the former royal house of the Seven Kingdoms. House Targaryen conquered and unified the realm before it was deposed during Robert's Rebellion, where House Baratheon replaced it as the new royal house. The two surviving Targaryens, Viserys and Daenerys, fled into exile to the Free Cities of Essos across the Narrow Sea.

House Lannister replaced House Baratheon as the royal house in the aftermath of the War of the Five Kings, but they were defeated in the Last War. After Daenerys burnt King's Landing, she was assassinated by her nephew Jon Snow to prevent further destruction. Jon is the last known Targaryen, but his identity as the son of Rhaegar Targaryen is kept a secret, and he was exiled to the Night's Watch for the assassination of Daenerys, effectively ending House Targaryen. However, the bloodline of House Targaryen still exists in various houses, such as House Baratheon, House Velaryon, and House Martell.

House Targaryen's sigil is a three-headed red dragon on a black background, and their house words are "Fire and Blood."[3][a] The head of House Targaryen is referred to as "the dragon."[4][5]

History

Background

House Targaryen was one of the forty dragonlord families of the Valyrian Freehold, an empire that rose in Essos and dominated much of the known world. Due to their mastery of dragons, and thus sorcery, they had no real opposition to contend with. Using dragonfire and magic, they built their grand capital city of Valyria, which was unmatched in quality in the east.

The Valyrian Freehold's reign would continue until the Doom of Valyria, a cataclysmic event that ultimately fractured the mighty empire and left the Targaryens as the last surviving dragonlords, due to Daenys the Dreamer having foreseen the disaster and convincing her father to leave their capital and take their family to Dragonstone, in spite of their rivals' sneers (another reason could be that Aenar met with some mishap at court and chose exile over execution).[6] Dragonstone would become the seat of their power, due to its importance in their survival, and Aegon Targaryen would end the Century of Blood after Valyria's fall by joining the Free Cities' side against Volantis.[7]

After a century of isolation, Aegon, disinterested in the eastern lands of his ancestors, which he saw as old and withered, looked west to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, which he sought to conquer and unify into one realm, with the aid of his dragons and his sister-wives Rhaenys and Visenya.

In the Targaryen era there were periods of peace and prosperity during the reign of benevolent kings like Jaehaerys the Conciliator, but also periods of terror and distress when evil tyrants like Maegor the Cruel ruled. The civil population of Westeros suffered a lot especially during the bloody conflicts between opposing branches of House Targaryen, like the Dance of the Dragons and the Blackfyre Rebellions.

During the increasingly erratic reign of King Aerys II, his son Rhaegar was said to have kidnapped Lyanna Stark of Winterfell for unknown reasons; this led to a massive uprising led by Eddard Stark, Robert Baratheon, and Jon Arryn. At the end of this war, Aerys and Rhaegar were dead and the Targaryen power-base in Westeros destroyed. Aerys's youngest children, Viserys and Daenerys, were taken by Targaryen loyalists into exile in the Free Cities of the East. Unknown to most, however, Rhaegar had his marriage with Elia Martell annulled and remarried Lyanna, with whom he also had a son, Jon Snow. As Lyanna lay dying after giving birth to her son, she pleaded with her brother Eddard to keep her baby safe from Robert, who surely would want her baby dead due to Robert's immense hatred for Rhaegar and promise to wipe out the Targaryen bloodline. She reveals her son's name is 'Aegon Targaryen'.[8] To protect his sister's son from Robert, Eddard takes his infant nephew back with him to Winterfell, names him 'Jon',[9] and claims him as his illegitimate son, raising Jon as his own child alongside his trueborn children.[10] The child would become Jon Snow and grows up with the maternal side of his family.

Generations of compound inbreeding have preserved in the Targaryen bloodline the classic Valyrian features of silver-white (platinum blonde) hair, and very fair, pale skin. Allegedly, this also preserved in their bloodline the ability to successfully bond with and ride dragons. They also seem to be somewhat more tolerant of extreme heat and high temperatures than other people, though they are by no means invulnerable to fire – or at least, not all of them. Unfortunately, some believe that this practice of inbreeding has also caused the trait of insanity to plague House Targaryen; though some members are known to be perfectly normal psychologically-speaking, other Targaryens throughout history have displayed bizarre, erratic and sometimes violent behavior, succumbing to the so-called 'Targaryen madness'.

Game of Thrones: Season 1

Daenerys and Viserys

Viserys and Daenerys, the last of the known Targaryens.

Viserys Targaryen arranges for the marriage of his sister Daenerys to the powerful Dothraki Khal Drogo in exchange for a promise that Drogo will help him to reclaim his crown. Daenerys is given a trio of ancient fossilized dragon eggs as a gift.[11]

Daenerys and dragon

Daenerys emerges from the pyre with dragons.

Following the deaths of Viserys,[4] and Drogo, most of the Drothraki abandon Daenerys. She steps into Drogo's funeral pyre, emerging unharmed and holding the dragon hatchlings in her hands.[12]

Game of Thrones: Season 2

Daenerys and her few followers cross the Red Waste,[13][14] finally arriving in Qarth.[15] After an attempt to steal the dragons, Daenerys and the remnants of her khalasar raid Xaro's wealthy home and leave.[16]

Game of Thrones: Season 3

Daenerys and her retainers flee Qarth by ship, heading for Astapor to purchase an army. Daenerys is nearly assassinated, but is rescued by Ser Barristan Selmy, who has tracked her down to pledge fealty to House Targaryen once again.[17] Daenerys double-crosses the Good Masters, seizing their elite Unsullied and burning the slave-owning elite. Daenerys thus becomes the first Targaryen in generations to march at the head of her own conquering army.[18] Daenerys heads to Yunkai, where she manages to win over the Second Sons and liberate that city from the Wise Masters.[19][20]

Game of Thrones: Season 4

The now-sizable Targaryen army moves on Meereen, and conquers it with the aid of a slave revolt. Daenerys decides to remain in Meereen and rule as queen until the slaves are truly free and she has enough force to take all of Westeros.[21]

Game of Thrones: Season 5

Daenerys continues to try to control Meereen but faces major opposition from the Sons of the Harpy. Meanwhile, in Pentos, Varys works to convert a new asset to the Targaryen cause: the fugitive Tyrion Lannister,[22] whom Daenerys aaccepts as her advisor.[23]

Whilst attending the games at the Great Pit of Daznak, Daenerys is almost assassinated, but is saved by Drogon, who carries Daenerys away into the Dothraki Sea and making her the first Targaryen dragon rider in centuries.[24]

Game of Thrones: Season 6

Daenerys has been captured and brought before Khal Moro,[25] but manages to get free with the help of Daario Naharis and Jorah. The Dothraki immediately show their allegiance to Daenerys, thus making her the leader of all the Dothraki present, including at least 100,000 Dothraki warriors. Daenerys returns to Meereen, which is besieged, and defeats her enemies.[26]

Daenerys meets Theon and Yara Greyjoy, who have arrived to pledge their fleet to the Targaryen cause. Back in Westeros, Varys secures the assistance of Dorne and House Tyrell. Daenerys and her army sail to Westeros.

Meanwhile, Bran Stark learns that his half-brother Jon Snow is actually the son of Lyanna and the last living child of Rhaegar Targaryen.[27]

Game of Thrones: Season 7

Dragonstone-gates

Daenerys approaches Dragonstone with Tyrion.

Daenerys arrives at Dragonstone, her birthplace and the ancestral stronghold of House Targaryen.[28]

Daenerys suffers several major setbacks: her ironborn fleet is destroyed by Euron Greyjoy;[29] the Unsullied capture Casterly Rock, but end up stranded at the castle; Jaime leads an army to Highgarden, sacking the castle and knocking the Tyrells out of the war.[30]

Jon meets Dany Queens Justice s7

Daenerys and Jon Snow, unaware of their familial ties, meet.

Daenerys gains a potential ally in Jon Snow, now King in the North. Daenerys later leads the Dothraki against the Lannister army, defeating the army and cutting them off from King's Landing.[31]

In the Citadel, Gilly and Sam find out that Jon is actually a trueborn Targaryen, thus he is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.[32]

705 Drogon Daenerys

Daenerys and Drogon after ambushing the Lannister-Tarly host.

A Game of Thrones with Danerys at Jon's Bedside, Episode 6 of Season 7, 'Beyond the Wall'

Jon pledges allegiance to Daenerys.

Jon gives up his crown to Daenerys and pledges allegiance to her as his queen.

At the Dragonpit in King's Landing, Daenerys offers a truce to Cersei Lannister, but in vain.

Rhaegar and Lyanna kiss

Bran Stark sees Rhaegar and Lyanna's wedding.

Daenerys sails with Jon to Winterfell, and they become lovers.[33]

Game of Thrones: Season 8

Daenerys and Jon arrive at Winterfell.

Dragon Riding S8 Ep 1

Jon Snow becomes a dragonrider, riding Rhaegal.

Sam informs Jon of his true parentage and calls him the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, Aegon of House Targaryen, the Sixth of His Name. Jon says that pressing his claim is treason, expressing no interest in the Iron Throne and reinforcing his loyalty towards his queen.[34]

Jon & Dany S8 Ep3

Jon and Daenerys oversee the start of the Battle of Winterfell.

The Targaryen and Stark forces fight and defeat the army of the dead at the Battle of Winterfell.[35]

Episode 71

The Targaryen fleet sails back to Dragonstone.

The Targaryen fleet is suddenly ambushed and destroyed by Euron.[36]

TheBellsWFire

Daenerys burns King's Landing with Drogon.

The Targaryen, Stark, and Arryn forces attack King's Landing. Even after the Lannisters surrender, the Targaryen, Stark, and Arryn forces sack the city, while a mad Daenerys burns the city.[37]

Captured King's Landing S8 Ep6

Daenerys overlooks a ruined King's Landing.

House Targaryen is restored to royalty. Daenerys intends to conquer the world and put an end to the rule of all tyrants. Jon reluctantly kills her.

Jon Dany

Jon holds Daenerys's body after assassinating her.

Drogon unleashes his fire across the throne room, melting the Iron Throne, destroying what Aegon the Conqueror built and "breaking the wheel" that have plagued Westeros for over 300 years. He picks up Daenerys's body and flies away, leaving a grieved Jon behind.

Stark Sibling's S8 Ep6

Jon, the last known Targaryen, bends the knee to Bran I the Broken.

Jon is sent to the Wall by the new king, Brandon I Stark. As a member of the Night's Watch, Jon is prohibited from fathering children and House Targaryen will become extinct with Jon's death.[38]

Relationships

Members

Ancestors

Aegon the Conqueror Crown

The crown of Aegon the Conqueror.

Sworn to Daenerys Targaryen

Vassal houses

Royal court and household

Clandestine ally

Military strength

Essos

House Targaryen's military strength has fluctuated over the last few years under Daenerys Targaryen's leadership. Since the death of her husband Khal Drogo, Daenerys has commanded a khalasar containing only a few dozen riders, less than half of whom are warriors, as well as a single trained knight, Jorah Mormont. During her time in the Red Waste and Qarth, Daenerys's dragons were not large enough to provide combat assistance.

By the time Daenerys reached Astapor in Slaver's Bay, her dragons had grown enough to provide limited air support in certain engagements, and she had gained the loyalty of an additional knight, Ser Barristan Selmy. It should be pointed out that although limited, the dragons at this time are capable of providing the only air support in the known world.

Following the fall of Astapor, Daenerys gained an army of 8,000 fully trained Unsullied, elite warrior-eunuchs who fight in large, disciplined phalanx formations, as well as several hundred Unsullied-in-training who serve as auxiliaries.[39]

Shortly after arriving at Yunkai, Daenerys is able to secure the affection of Daario Naharis, a lieutenant in the Second Sons. During a parley between Daenerys and the captains of the Second Sons, Daario points out that Daenerys's Unsullied are impressive infantry, but she still possesses no cavalry, siege weapons, or ships. Later that night, Daario slays the captains of the Second Sons, makes himself captain, and pledges the company to Daenerys. The Second Sons add 2,000 armored cavalry to the growing Targaryen army.[40]

During Daenerys's rule of Meereen, the Unsullied and the Second Sons take light, but constant losses, most of them assassinated by the Sons of the Harpy. The greatest losses of this time were both of her knights: Daenerys banished Ser Jorah upon learning that he had once spied on her for Robert Baratheon, and Ser Barristan was killed by the Sons of the Harpy. During her time in Meereen, her forces took control of the Meereenese Navy that consisted of 93 ships, although the fleet was later destroyed in the harbor.

After burning the Dothraki khals in Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys emerges unburnt from the flames, and all the people in the city bow down to her. In perhaps her greatest turnaround yet, Daenerys secured the loyalty of the roughly 100,000 Dothraki assembled at the time,[41] finally gaining the numbers – though not the means – to retake Westeros.

By this point, all three dragons had grown significantly larger, with Drogon, in particular, becoming larger than a carriage due to his continued freedom. He is now large enough for Daenerys to sit comfortably across his back, and has begun to obey her commands while riding. Should they be tamed and ridden, all three dragons are now large enough to coordinate aerial assaults should the need arise. During the second siege of Meereen, all three dragons were deployed to devastating effect, even though Drogon was the only one being ridden.

Upon breaking the Second Siege, Daenerys took possession of the remains of their armada, roughly 200 ships. Shortly after, she was visited by Theon and Yara Greyjoy, who offered their ships – the better part of the formidable Iron Fleet – to her in exchange for supporting Yara's claim to the Salt Throne, to which Daenerys agreed, on the condition that the ironborn change their ways forever.

Westeros

There are no official allies or vassals of House Targaryen left in Westeros. In truth, Varys is a Targaryen loyalist and possesses a vast spy network, but by himself, Varys commands no military forces and cannot be considered a military asset. He eventually relocated to Meereen and began openly serving Daenerys, again mostly through coordinating his spy network.

King Robert Baratheon expressed fear that even after all these years, there are still a sizable number of noble Houses in Westeros who are either secret Targaryen loyalists or who later developed some grievance with Robert's rule, and would flock to the Targaryen banner if they attempted to retake the Iron Throne in open war. It is not clear what influence his opinions since Ser Jorah stressed to Dany that the number of Targaryen loyalists remaining in Westeros is far lower than Viserys liked to believe. Viserys believed that because House Tyrell of the Reach and House Martell of Dorne fought on the Targaryen side during Robert's Rebellion, the prospects were good that they'd be willing to join his cause and rebel against Robert. Nonetheless, for much of Robert's reign, and most of the War of the Five Kings that followed, it is unknown that dissatisfied Houses would support a Targaryen return, while House Tyrell had become closely aligned with the Lannister-backed House Baratheon.

However, following the Assassination of Balon Greyjoy, the Coup in Dorne and the Destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor, the attitudes of several major factions changed dramatically. Fleeing their uncle upon his success at the kingsmoot on Old Wyk, Yara and Theon Greyjoy made for Meereen, where they agreed to support Daenerys's claim and provide transport for Daenerys's army, as well as support at sea, in exchange for Yara's accession to the Salt Throne, independent of the Seven Kingdoms. Daenerys accepted the independence of the Iron Islands, provided that the independent Ironborn give up all reaving, raping and pillaging, to which Yara reluctantly acquiesced. Meanwhile, Ellaria, in desperate need of allies, agreed to support Daenerys's invasion. At Varys's urging, she also reached out to Olenna Tyrell, who was out for revenge against Cersei Lannister.

As a result, House Targaryen gained the support of the largely intact forces of the Reach, Dorne, and the Iron Islands. After the recent events of her invasion of Westeros, Daenerys's army had already taken several heavy blows. Yara's Ironborn fleet was destroyed by her uncle, Euron Greyjoy. The Sand Snakes, along with Yara, were captured by Euron, effectively knocking Dorne out of the war. Jaime Lannister then led an army into the Reach to sack Highgarden, also knocking House Tyrell out of the war. The Unsullied took moderate casualties at the Fall of Casterly Rock, which was likewise the case with the Dothraki at the Battle of the Goldroad. When Jon Snow, King in the North, sought an alliance with Daenerys for her help in defeating the Army of the Dead threatening all of humanity, he initially refused her condition that he bend the knee as he did not know her yet. However, when Daenerys came to rescue Jon's party Beyond the Wall and the Night King managed to kill Viserion with an ice spear, upon which Daenerys vowed to fight the Night King at Jon's side, Jon bent the knee to Daenerys as queen and agreed to pledge his Northern forces to her. The Night King reanimated Viserion as a wight, leaving Drogon and Rhaegal as Daenerys's living dragons.

Half of the Dothraki and Unsullied troops were killed during the Great War. The remainder were forced to scatter and retreat behind the walls of Winterfell. Although both Drogon and Rhaegal survived, they were injured during the battle against the dead. After the Great War, Targaryen forces still maintained roughly a dozen ships in the royal fleet and a contingent of Unsullied forces. After Euron shot down and killed Rhaegal with scorpion bolts, Drogon became Daenerys’s only living dragon.

Daenerys had Varys burned alive by Drogon for treason shortly before the Battle of King's Landing. The Targaryen-Northern forces suffered light casualties in the battle, but they emerged victorious when the city surrendered to Daenerys, allowing her to take the Iron Throne. However, Daenerys laid waste to a surrendered King's Landing, killing thousands of civilians in the process. She declared to her assembled Dothraki and Unsullied forces that they "liberated" the people of King's Landing and will do so all over the world. Daenerys had Tyrion Lannister arrested for treason upon finding out Tyrion tried to save his brother Jaime. Jon pleaded with Daenerys to stop this path of destruction but Daenerys believed her actions were necessary to build her ideal world. Unable to dissuade her, an agonized Jon assassinated her to prevent more carnage upon the world. Drogon was anguished to discover his mother’s lifeless body, but he did not blame Jon for her death. Instead, he used his fiery breath to melt the Iron Throne before carrying Daenerys across the Narrow Sea.

After Daenerys’s death, Grey Worm and the Unsullied sailed to Naath to protect its people as Grey Worm had promised Missandei. Meanwhile, the Dothraki either returned to Essos or integrated themselves into Westerosi society.

Family tree

Aegon's Conquest and Faith Militant uprising


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-Visenya
Visenya
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AegonI
Aegon I
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-QueenRhaenysTargaryen
Rhaenys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-OrysBaratheon
Orys
Baratheon
House Baratheon
Deceased
 
Famtree-ArgellaBaratheon
Argella
Baratheon
née
Durrandon House Durrandon
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-AenysTargaryen
Aenys I
Targaryen


Deceased
 
House-Velaryon-Square
Alyssa
Velaryon[d]

Deceased
 
Famtree-MaegorTargaryen
Maegor I
Targaryen


Deceased
 
House-Hightower-Square
Ceryse
Hightower

1st wife
Deceased
 
Famtree-AlysHarroway
Alys
Harroway
House Harroway
2nd wife
Deceased
 
Famtree-Tyanna
Tyanna of
the Tower

3rd wife
Deceased
 
Famtree-ElinorCostayneBlackBride
Elinor
Costayne

Black Bride
Deceased
 
Famtree-JeyneWesterlingBlackBride
Jeyne
Westerling

Black Bride
Deceased
 
Famtree-RhaenaTargaryenBlackBride
Rhaena
Targaryen

Black Bride
Deceased
 
House-Baratheon-Main-Square
Axel
Baratheon


Deceased
 
House-Baratheon-Main-Square
Raymont
Baratheon


Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-RhaenaTargaryen
Rhaena
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AegonTargaryenSonOfAenys
Aegon
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-JaehaerysI
Jaehaerys I
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-HotD-Square
Alysanne
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Child

Stillborn
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Child

Stillborn
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Child

Stillborn
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Child

Stillborn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dance of the Dragons

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-RhaenaTargaryen
Rhaena
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AegonTargaryenSonOfAenys
Aegon
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-JaehaerysI
Jaehaerys I
Targaryen
1
Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-HotD-Square
Alysanne
Targaryen

Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-HotD-Square
Aemon
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Baratheon-Main-Square
Jocelyn
Baratheon

Deceased
 
House-Arryn-Square
Rodrik
Arryn[d]
Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-HotD-Square
Daella
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-HotD-Square
Baelon
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-HotD-Square
Alyssa
Targaryen

Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-CorlysVelaryon
Corlys
Velaryon
House Velaryon

 
Famtree-RhaenysVelaryon
Rhaenys
Targaryen


 
Famtree-AemmaArryn
Aemma
Arryn
House Arryn/House of the Dragon
Deceased
 
Famtree-ViserysITargaryen
Viserys I
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AlicentHightower
Alicent
Hightower
House Hightower

 
Famtree-DaemonTargaryen
Daemon
Targaryen
Daemon Targaryen

 
Famtree-RheaRoyce
Rhea
Royce
House Royce
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-DaemonTargaryen
Daemon
Targaryen
Daemon Targaryen

 
Famtree-LaenaVelaryon
Laena
Velaryon
House Velaryon
Deceased
 
Famtree-LaenorVelaryon
Laenor
Velaryon
2 House Velaryon

 
Famtree-RhaenyraTargaryen
Rhaenyra
Targaryen


 
Famtree-DaemonTargaryen
Daemon
Targaryen
Daemon Targaryen

 
Famtree-Aegon Targaryen
Aegon II
Targaryen
Aegon II Targaryen

 
Famtree-HelaenaTargaryen
Helaena
Targaryen


 
Famtree-AemondTargaryen
Aemond
Targaryen


 
House-Targaryen-HotD-Square
Daeron
Targaryen


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-Baela Targaryen
Baela
Targaryen


 
Famtree-Rhaena Targaryen
Rhaena
Targaryen


 
Famtree-Jacaerys Velaryon
Jacaerys
Velaryon
House Velaryon

 
Famtree-Lucerys Velaryon
Lucerys
Velaryon
House Velaryon
Deceased
 
Famtree-JoffreyVelaryon
Joffrey
Velaryon
House Velaryon

 
Famtree-AegonIII
Aegon
Targaryen


 
Famtree-ViserysII
Viserys
Targaryen


 
Famtree-PrinceJahaerysTargaryen
Jaehaerys
Targaryen


 
Famtree-JaehaeraTargaryen
Jaehaera
Targaryen


 
House-Targaryen-HotD-Square
Maelor
Targaryen


1 Jaehaerys had thirteen children in all. For simplicity, only the direct ancestors of future generations are on this family tree and they are not in the exact order of birth. The thirteen children in correct order are: Aegon, Daenerys, Aemon, Baelon, Alyssa, Maegelle, Vaegon, Daella, Saera, Viserra, Gaemon, Valerion, and Gael.
2 While Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey are officially Laenor's, he and Rhaenyra never had any biological issue. His three sons are in fact fathered by Harwin Strong.

Conquest of Dorne


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-AegonIII
Aegon III
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Velaryon-Square
Daenaera
Velaryon[d]
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-ViserysII
Viserys II
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Larra
Rogare[d]
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DaeronITargaryenFamilyTree
Daeron I
Targaryen

Deceased
 
BaelorTheBlessedTargaryenFamilyTree
Baelor I
Targaryen

Deceased
 
ElaenaTargaryenFamilyTree
Elaena
Targaryen

Deceased
 
RhaenaTargaryenFamilyTree
Rhaena
Targaryen

Deceased
 
DaenaTargaryenFamilyTree
Daena
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AegonIV
Aegon IV
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-NaerysTargaryen
Naerys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AemonTheDragonknight
Aemon
Targaryen
Kingsguard
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-DaemonBlackfyre
Daemon I
Blackfyre
House Blackfyre
Deceased
 
House-Blackfyre-Square
Rohanne
of Tyrosh

Deceased
 
Famtree-AegorRivers
Aegor
Rivers
Aegor Rivers
Deceased
 
Famtree-BryndenRivers
Brynden
Rivers
Brynden RiversNight's Watch
Deceased
 
Famtree-Unknown
Shiera
Seastar

Deceased
Famtree-DaeronII
Daeron II
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-MyriahMartell
Myriah
Martell
House Martell
Deceased
 
Famtree-MaronMartell
Maron
Martell
House Martell
Deceased
 
Famtree-DaenerysOfSunspear
Daenerys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 

Blackfyre Rebellion

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-DaemonBlackfyre
Daemon I
Blackfyre
House Blackfyre
Deceased
 
House-Blackfyre-Square
Rohanne
of Tyrosh

Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-DaeronII
Daeron II
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-MyriahMartell
Myriah
Martell
House Martell
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-MaronMartell
Maron
Martell
House Martell
Deceased
 
Famtree-DaenerysOfSunspear
Daenerys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Blackfyre-Square
Descendants

Male line extinct
 
Famtree-BaelorBreakspear
Baelor
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Aerys I
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Aelinor
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Rhaegel
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-MaekarITargaryen
Maekar I
Targaryen
Maekar Targaryen
Deceased
 
House-Dayne-Square
Dyanna
Dayne

Deceased
 
House-Martell-heraldry
Son


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Daeron
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AerionTargaryen
Aerion
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-MaesterAemon
Aemon
Targaryen
Order of MaestersNight's Watch
Deceased
 
Famtree-AegonVTargaryen
Aegon V
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Blackwood-Square
Betha
Blackwood[d]
Deceased
 
 
 

War of the Ninepenny Kings, Robert's Rebellion, and War of the Five Kings

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Daeron
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AerionTargaryen
Aerion
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-MaesterAemon
Aemon
Targaryen
Order of MaestersNight's Watch
Deceased
 
Famtree-AegonVTargaryen
Aegon V
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Blackwood-Square
Betha
Blackwood[d]
Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Duncan
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-AerysIITargaryen
Aerys II
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-RhaellaTargaryen
Rhaella
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Daeron
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-OrmundBaratheon
Ormund
Baratheon
House Baratheon
Deceased
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Rhaelle
Targaryen

Deceased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-EliaMartell
Elia
Martell
House Martell
Deceased
 
Famtree-RhaegarTargaryen
Rhaegar
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-LyannaStark
Lyanna
Stark
House Stark
Deceased
 
Famtree-ViserysTargaryen
Viserys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-Drogo
Drogo

Deceased
 
Famtree-DaenerysTargaryen
Daenerys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
House-Baratheon-Main-Square
Descendants


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Famtree-RhaenysTargaryenOfRhaegar
Rhaenys
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-PrinceAegon
Aegon
Targaryen

Deceased
 
Famtree-JonSnow
Jon
Snow
Night's Watch

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House-Targaryen-Square
Rhaego

Stillborn
 
 

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the Targaryen family (they were not a formal House, as this was a Westerosi concept not found in the Freehold) moved from Valyria to Dragonstone, then the most far-flung outpost of the Valyrian Freehold, apparently in fear of a prophecy predicting the destruction of Valyria a century before it happened. Both before and after their relocation, the Targaryens were counted among the dragonlords, the forty or so powerful families who bred, raised and rode their own dragons and thus dominated Valyrian politics and culture. They were, however, never among the most powerful of those families. After the fall of Valyria, the Targaryens stayed on Dragonstone for a hundred years, apparently hoarding the strength of their dragons and debating whether to invade Westeros or to attempt to seize control of the Valyrian colony-states which later became known as the Free Cities. When the time came, the Targaryens ultimately assisted the Free Cities in asserting their continued independence and then proceeded to invade Westeros.

House Targaryen ruled Westeros for 283 years, during which time they survived substantial civil wars (including the Dance of Dragons and no fewer than five Blackfyre Rebellions), plague (the Great Spring Sickness), and an attempted foreign invasion (in the War of the Ninepenny Kings). They were brought down when the Mad King's insanity became too dangerous to be ignored.

The Targaryens adopted the religion and many of the customs of Westeros, but they clung to two old Valyrian customs in defiance of public disapproval: Targaryen princes and kings were allowed to have multiple wives, and Targaryens were allowed to marry brother to sister, something considered taboo elsewhere in Westeros. The former custom was apparently considered outdated in Valyria itself, but the latter was fairly common.

The generations of Targaryen inbreeding produced a distinctive set of physical features shared by all of their members during the House's three centuries of rule. This includes a generally pale appearance with silver-white (platinum blonde) hair and purple irises. While pale, they are not albinos, although their eyebrows are white. The actors playing Daenerys and Viserys are actually both dark-haired, so they had to wear wigs, although the production team decided not to dye their eyebrows to match. The TV series opted not to portray the Targaryens with purple eyes, partially due to the logistical difficulty of matching purple contact lenses for actors in every shot. The TV series originally filmed Viserys and Daenerys wearing violet contact lenses, but show creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss quickly abandoned their use. As they explained in the Season 1 Blu-ray episode commentaries, "actors act with their eyes, and [the lenses] really hurt the emotion."[42]

By the point the novels reached, there are two living descendants of the house: Daenerys and Aegon Targaryen, the son of Rhaegar and Elia who is revealed to be alive in A Dance with Dragons. Since Jon Snow's parantage has yet to be confirmed in the books, Aegon has the strongest claim to the Iron Throne, ahead of Daenerys, although his legitimacy is questioned by Tommen's small council. A popular fan theory states that Aegon is really the son of Illyrio Mopatis and his late wife Serra, a possible member of House Blackfyre.

According to the TV series official pronunciation guide developed for the cast and crew, "Targaryen" is pronounced "Tar-GAIR-ee-in".

Lineage

Dragonstone and the Sons of the Dragon

The Old King and the Dance of the Dragons

The Conquest of Dorne and the Blackfyre Rebellions

  • King AEGON III the Dragonbane (120–157 AC)
  • King VISERYS II (122–172 AC) m. LARRA ROGARE,
    • King AEGON IV the Unworthy (135–184 AC),
      • m. Princess NAERYS TARGARYEN:
      • sp. Princess DAENA TARGARYEN:
      • sp. MEGETTE:
        • Septa ALYSANNE (b. 155 AC),
        • Septa LILY (b. 156 AC),
        • Septa WILLOW (b. 157 AC),
        • Septa ROSEY (b. 158 AC),
      • sp. BELLEGERE OTHERYS:
        • BELLENORA OTHERYS,
          • Daughter,
        • NARHA OTHERYS,
        • BALERION OTHERYS,
      • sp. Lady FALENA STOKEWORTH:
        • JEYNE LOTHSTON (b. 164 AC) (disp.),
      • sp. BARBA BRACKEN:
        • Ser AEGOR RIVERS (172–241 AC) m. CALLA BLACKFYRE,
      • sp. MELISSA BLACKWOOD:
      • sp. SERENEI OF LYS:
      • sp. daughters of Lord Butterwell:
        • Bastards (disp.),
    • Prince AEMON the Dragonknight (b. 136 AC),
    • Queen NAERYS (b. 138 AC).

The Last Dragons

Gallery

References

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 High Valyrian: Perzys Ānogār
  2. In "Valyria & the Dragons," Viserys Targaryen states that Aegon began his conquest 100 years after the Doom of Valyria in 102 BC, placing it in 2 BC.
  3. High Valyrian: Targārio Lentrot
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Conjecture based on information from The World of Ice & Fire; may be subject to change.

External links


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