Today we will explain The Targaryen family tree. House of the Dragon, HBO‘s eagerly awaited Game of Thrones prequel, has finally been released. The focus of this George RR Martin adaption is House Targaryen.
What time period does House of Dragons take place?
The 10-episode series is set roughly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, when the Targaryens had consolidated the seven Westeros kingdoms under a single monarch.
So, who was there before Daenerys? Introducing Westeros’ messiest family…
The Targaryen family tree
Now let’s explore the Targaryen family tree!
Aegon the Conquerer
Author George RR Martin explains that dates in Westeros are referred to as “Before Conquest” (BC) or “After Conquest” in A Song of Ice and Fire, the book series that served as the inspiration for the HBO series Thrones (AC).
When Aegon, Daenerys’ ancestor, united the seven kingdoms under one ruler and used his dragons to conquer the entirety of Westeros, the conquest in question took place.
There may be some flashbacks in House of the Dragon because Ty Tennant, the Doctor Who actor David Tennant’s son, has been tipped to play Aegon.
Aenys I Targaryen, the eldest son, succeeded his father Aegon I Targaryen after his death in 37 AC.
The Targaryens engaged in incestuous marriage and polygamy because they believed themselves to be above human laws.
Aenys wedded his eldest daughter, Rhaena, to his eldest son and heir, Prince Aegon, in typical Game of Thrones style. Aenys escaped to Dragonstone in the wake of this scandal before passing away in 42 AD.
Maegor, the sixth son of Aenys, assassinated Aegon and his dragon Quicksilver upon his return from exile in order to seize the Iron Throne.
Maegor’s sole surviving heir, Jaehaerys, succeeded him after his mysterious death in 48 AD.
The story of the House of the Dragon begins during the reign of Targaryen
House of the Dragon takes its cue from Jaehaerys, who governed wisely for 55 years until being succeeded in 103 AC by his grandson, Viserys I Targaryen.
Viserys, portrayed by Paddy Considine, chose Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), his child from his first marriage to Lady Aemma Arryn, to replace him rather than Daemon (Matt Smith), his younger brother and legitimate heir.
Spoiler Alert: This section contains spoilers. Rhaenyra and Daemon wed in 120 AC after the passing of each other’s spouses, and they went on to have three additional children: Aegon the Younger, Viserys, and the stillborn Visenya.
When Viserys passed away in 129 AC, his widow and second wife, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower, disobeyed his final testament and installed his son Aegon II as king while Rhaenyra was living on Dragonstone.
Rhaenyra divided the realm, killed a number of dragons, and launched war over the succession.
Aegon II wedded his daughter and only child, Jaehaera, to Rhaenyra’s oldest living son, Aegon the Younger, and declared them his heirs after killing Rhaenyra with his dragon.
What happened between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones?
Aegon II was assassinated in 131 A.D. by his own council members, and the 11-year-old Aegon the Younger succeeded him as Aegon III Targaryen.
Aegon III passed away from consumption in 157 AC, and his second wife, Queen Daenaera Velaryon, gave birth to his eldest son, Daeron I Targaryen, who succeeded him.
When Daeron died without leaving an heir in 160 AC, his younger brother Baelor I Targaryen took over as king.
After Baelor starved himself to death, his uncle Prince Viserys, the brother of Aegon III, succeeded him in 171 AC.
Aegon IV, who was rumored to have been complicit in his father’s demise, succeeded Viserys II as king.
After legalizing numerous bastard offspring, including Daemon Blackfyre, who rose up against the king and was put to death, Aegon was succeeded by his son Daeron II.
In 209 AC, Aerys I Targaryen, Daeron II’s second son, succeeded his father.
Maekar, the eldest brother of Aerys I and designated as heir, ruled for 12 years beginning in 221 AC. Aegon V, the youngest son of Maekar I, later received the title “The Unlikely” since he was the fourth son of a fourth son.
From this point on, Game of Thrones begins
Aerys II Targaryen, also known as “The Mad King,” replaced Jaehaerys II Targaryen, Aegon V’s second son, who had barely been king for three years before he passed away.
The Targaryen Dynasty will ultimately come to an end during Aerys’ reign. Tywin Lannister, portrayed by Charles Dance, was chosen by Aerys to be his Hand of the King.
In 281 AC, out of increasing resentment, Aerys named Tywin’s heir, Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), to his Kingsguard, leaving Tywin with his dwarf son Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) as his only option.
The younger brother of Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, secretly wed Lyanna Stark, the fiancée of his cousin Lord Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), and gave birth to Jon Snow (Kit Harington). The fact that Jon Snow is Daenerys’ nephew is made clear in the last season of Game of Thrones. Awkward.
Then Robert declared his intention to seize the Iron Throne on the grounds that Princess Rhaelle Targaryen, the youngest daughter of King Aegon V Targaryen, was his grandmother.
In the King’s Landing throne room, Robert killed Aerys, receiving the nickname “Kingslayer” after killing Rhaegar and Jaime Lannister.
Robert married Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) to form an alliance with House Lannister after his victory and Lyanna’s passing.
The remaining heirs of Aerys, Viserys and Daenerys, escaped to Essos where they made an effort to gather supporters and retake the Iron Throne.
HBO’s House of the Dragon began airing on Sunday, August 21, at 9:00 p.m. Following that, HBO Max will have a stream of it. We hope you understood the Targaryen family tree before you watch the series.
What’s going on with HBO Max? HBO Max and Discovery+ are merging!
