The Targaryen Family Tree: From Old Valyria to Game of Thrones

The silver-haired, dragon-riding Targaryens are central to both Game of Thrones and its prequel House of the Dragon. But for viewers who haven't read George R.R. Martin's books, the full scope of House Targaryen's history—spanning several centuries—can be confusing. Here's everything you need to know about the Targaryen family tree, from its origins in Old Valyria to its bitter end.

Origins in Old Valyria

The Targaryens were one of 40 noble houses that originated from the Valyrian Freehold, an empire in Essos noted for its power over dragons. While far from the most powerful Valyrian house, the Targaryens had one crucial advantage: prophetic visions.

Daenys the Dreamer, daughter of Lord Aenar, foresaw a cataclysm destroying Valyria. Her visions prompted the family's self-imposed exile to Westeros, where they took up residence on Dragonstone alongside their allies Houses Velaryon and Celtigar—and several dragons.

Years later, Daenys' visions proved true. An apocalypse known as "the Doom" decimated Valyria and the remaining houses, leaving the Targaryens one of only three surviving families. Crucially, they were the only dragonriders left, with three living dragons: Balerion the Dread, Vhagar, and Meraxes.

Aegon's Conquest

Balerion's rider, Aegon Targaryen, made peace with the Free Cities in Essos before setting sights on Westeros. With his sister-wives Rhaenys (rider of Meraxes) and Visenya (rider of Vhagar), Aegon began his conquest to unite the Seven Kingdoms under one ruler.

Over two years, Aegon conquered the Stormlands, Westerlands, and the North—the latter after King Torrhen Stark famously bent the knee to avoid battle. Only Dorne and the Iron Islands remained unconquered, but Westeros was essentially united.

Rather than rule from Dragonstone, Aegon built a city at the spot he first landed: King's Landing. He collected swords from fallen enemies and melted them to create the Iron Throne, symbolizing his power. During his first attempt to claim Dorne, sister-wife Rhaenys and her dragon were shot down and killed, leaving behind Aegon's eldest son, Aenys.

Divisive Successors

Aegon the Conqueror was succeeded by son Aenys I, who immediately faced uprisings from the Faith of the Seven denouncing Targaryen incest and polygamy. After Aenys fled to Dragonstone and died, his half-brother Maegor ascended.

Maegor "the Cruel" reclaimed King's Landing and, to secure his reign, killed Aenys' heir. His desperate attempts to produce an heir led him to marry multiple wives, but none bore children. Maegor was found dead on the Iron Throne with slashed wrists—circumstances unknown—and was succeeded by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.

The Peaceful Reign of Jaehaerys I

Too young to rule initially, Jaehaerys I relied on his mother as Queen Regent. Rather than provoke war, he pardoned war criminals from Maegor's rule (though they had to give children to the Crown or face exile).

To avoid another Faith Militant uprising, advisors conspired to marry off Jaehaerys' sister Alysanne to someone else. When Jaehaerys discovered this, he fled with Alysanne to Dragonstone and eloped. His 55-year reign was prosperous, bearing 13 children and expanding Westeros' road system while making peace with the Faith despite his incestuous marriage.

The Great Council and Viserys I

As House of the Dragon opens, King Jaehaerys calls the Great Council of 101 following his eldest sons' deaths. Viserys I Targaryen was selected as heir over his cousin Rhaenys.

Viserys had a peaceful but tragic reign. His wife Aemma Arryn bore daughter Rhaenyra, whom Viserys named heir after his brother Daemon mocked Aemma's death by stillbirth. Viserys later remarried Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra's childhood friend, who bore him male heirs—eldest being Aegon.

As Viserys' health declined, the question became: would Rhaenyra or Aegon claim the throne? His death left behind a fractured court—Rhaenyra's "blacks" and Alicent's "greens"—sparking civil war.

The Dance of Dragons

Immediately after Viserys' death, Queen Alicent crowned her son Aegon king, while Princess Rhaenyra resided on Dragonstone with husband/uncle Daemon. Upon discovering Aegon sat the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra declared war.

The conflict—comprising House of the Dragon Seasons 1 and 2—resulted in deaths of Daemon, Rhaenyra, and many living dragons in Westeros. Though Targaryens remained in power, they lost their most significant advantage: dragons. This haunted the house for the remainder of its reign.

Maintaining the Dynasty

After the Dance ended, the crippled Aegon II ruled briefly before being succeeded by Aegon III, son of Daemon and Rhaenyra. His reign saw the final extinction of dragons in Westeros. His successor Daeron I attempted conquering Dorne like Aegon the Conqueror but died in the attempt.

Daeron's brother Baelor I successfully welcomed Dorne into Westeros, finally uniting all Seven Kingdoms. The throne then passed through several more Targaryens, including the notorious Aegon IV "the Unworthy," whose deathbed legitimization of his bastards sowed seeds for future Blackfyre Rebellions.

Eventually King Aegon V—"Egg" from the upcoming spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms—took the throne. His reign ended with the Tragedy at Summerhall, where his attempt to revive dragons resulted in a fire taking his life and many others.

The Mad King's Downfall

After brief King Jaehaerys II, the throne passed to history's most infamous Targaryen: Aerys II, the Mad King. With sister-wife Rhaella, Aerys bore three children: Prince Rhaegar (who married Elia Martell), Prince Viserys, and Princess Daenerys.

Prince Rhaegar's abduction of Lyanna Stark, betrothed to Robert Baratheon, sparked Robert's Rebellion—a revolt uniting all Seven Kingdoms against the Mad King. During the Sack of King's Landing, Rhaegar's wife and children were murdered, and Jaime Lannister slew the Mad King.

Robert Baratheon claimed the Iron Throne after killing Rhaegar at the Battle of the Trident, ending the Targaryen dynasty... or so it seemed.

Jon Snow's Secret Heritage

Game of Thrones Season 6 revealed that Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark actually were in love and eloped. Their secret marriage bore a son: Aegon, renamed Jon Snow by Ned Stark and raised as his bastard to hide him from Robert's wrath.

Jon eventually became Lord Commander of the Night's Watch before being assassinated and resurrected. He helped reclaim Winterfell and was named King in the North—far from his true birthright as the Mad King's legitimate heir.

Daenerys' Rise in Essos

Queen Rhaella died giving birth to Daenerys during a storm on Dragonstone, earning the child the name "Daenerys Stormborn." Daenerys and brother Viserys were smuggled to Braavos, eventually reaching Pentos where Viserys sold her as bride to Khal Drogo.

Daenerys was gifted three dragon eggs at her wedding. Against Viserys' plans, she gained Drogo's love—leading to Viserys' execution. After Drogo's death, Daenerys survived his funeral pyre while the eggs hatched, giving her three dragons. She became the "Mother of Dragons," emancipating slaves across Essos and eventually ruling Meereen.

The Final Tragedy

Game of Thrones' final season shows Daenerys' descent into madness after learning Jon's lineage and losing two dragons. Her rampage destroyed King's Landing. After finally claiming the Iron Throne, she was assassinated by Jon before even sitting on it.

Jon's exile to the Night's Watch—whose celibacy laws, if followed—essentially ended the Targaryen bloodline. The silver-haired dragon riders who once ruled Westeros for centuries ended not with conquest or glory, but with tragedy, madness, and extinction.

Understanding the Legacy

The Targaryen family tree is complex, filled with incest, civil wars, prophetic dreams, and dragon fire. From Valyrian exiles to Westerosi conquerors to mad rulers to exiled children, their story spans centuries of triumph and tragedy.

Understanding this history enriches both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, showing how centuries of decisions, traditions, and mistakes led to the bitter end viewers witnessed. Fire and blood indeed.