I Untangled the Messy Targaryen Family in House of the Dragon
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Spoilers ahead. Note, this is based on George R.R. Martin's book series, but could differ from the show. If you don't want anything spoiled about House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones, stop reading now.
After much anticipation, House of the Dragon—the prequel to Game of Thrones—finally premieres on Sunday, August 21 on HBO. Based on George R. R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood, the drama series is set 200 years before the events in Game of Thrones, and will follow the House of Targaryen and the bitter civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons that breaks out over the Iron Throne. Since the family line is complicated, T&C put together a Targaryen family tree so you can follow along as you watch. Keep scrolling to find out more about the main characters and their relatives.
King Viserys I Targaryen
King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) is the fifth ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and the successor of his grandfather, King Jaehaerys I. A good-natured and peaceful man, the head of the Targaryen household only wishes to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy. But conflict arises when he refuses to abide by the male-heir succession precedent set forth by his predecessor and chooses his first-born daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, to be his heir, which later leads to the infamous civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
The first-born of King Viserys and only living child of the late Aemma Arryn, Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) was announced her father’s direct heir and grew up preparing to sit on the Iron Throne. The only problem is that she is not a man, which leads to drama within the Targaryen family. A dragon rider, Princess Rhaenyra ends up fighting in a civil war against her half-brother Aegon II, the oldest son of Viserys and his second wife, Alicent Hightower.
During her lifetime, she was first married to Laenor Velaryon and had three children with him, and later marries her uncle, Prince Daemon, with whom she shares three kids.
Prince Daemon Targaryen
Played by Matt Smith, Prince Daemon is the younger brother of King Viserys I and uncle of Princess Rhaenyra. Unlike his brother, he is hot-headed and arrogant, and is described as a “peerless warrior and dragon rider.” Within his lifetime, Daemon married three times: first to Lady Rhea Royce; then to Laena Velaryon with whom he has two kids; and finally to his niece and heir to the throne, Princess Rhaenyra, with whom he shares three children.
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
A dragon rider and the granddaughter of King Jaehaerys I, Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) was given the nickname of “The Queen Who Never Was” after being passed over as heir to the throne at the Great Council because the realm believed her cousin, Viserys, was more fit to be the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms since he was a male. (For background: Her father, Aemon, was King Jaehaerys’s heir, but died before he could sit on the throne.) Rhaenys is married to Corlys Velaryon and the two have a son and daughter: Laenor and Laena.
Corlys Velaryon
Steve Toussaint plays Corlys Velaryon, also known as “The Sea Snake.” He is the head of House Velaryon (a bloodline as old as House Targaryen), and is said to be richer than the esteemed Lannister House, and claims the largest navy in the world. Corlys is the husband of Princess Rhaenys and father to Laenor and Laena.
Aegon II Targaryen
Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) is the first-born son of Viserys and his second wife, Alicent Hightower. Since he is the oldest boy in the family, he believes he has the right to be the next king. However, his ascent to the throne is disputed by his older half-sister, Princess Rhaenyra, who was her father's designated heir. As a result, this leads to the civil war the premise of the show revolves around.
Alicent Hightower
Olivia Cooke stars as Viserys’s second wife and the daughter of his most-trusted advisor. The two have four children together: Aegon II, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron. She sides with her son Aegon II when he challenges Princess Rhaenyra to the throne.
How is Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones related to Rhaenyra Targaryen on House of the Dragon?
As Game of Thrones fans know, Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen (or Khaleesi) played a major role in the hit series’ eight seasons. So, where does she fit into this whole complicated family equation? According to various Targaryen timelines around the internet, Daenerys is a distant niece of Princess Rhaenyra.
House of the Dragon takes place two centuries before the events in Game of Thrones, so Daenerys’s character is no nowhere to be found in the plot. The prequel begins with King Viserys I, who is the 5th Targaryen king, while Game of Thrones starts 200 years after the civil war, following the death of King Aerys II, also known as the Mad King, who is slain by his king’s guard, Jaime Lannister.
Daenerys is the daughter of King Aerys II and Queen Rhaella, and is the youngest of three. By the time Game of Thrones rolled around, her older brother, Rhaegar (heir to the throne and Jon Snow’s father, as fans later find out) was murdered, and her other brother, Viserys, is killed in the first season by Khal Drogo, leaving her to be the only living heir.
Though the series take place centuries apart, Daenerys and Rhaenyra have a lot in common. Milly Alcock, who plays young Rhaenyra, said in an interview with TVLine: “She’s met with very similar challenges that Daenerys is also brought with, in not being viable in her claim to the throne and having other people constantly be like, ‘You’re not legitimate.’”
House of the Dragon premieres Sunday, August 21, at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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