Targaryen Family Tree: A Who's Who Guide to “House of the Dragon ”— and How They Relate to “Game of Thrones”

From ‘House of the Dragon’ to ‘Game of Thrones,’ here’s a rundown of the Targaryen family tree

From Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones to Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon, fans can’t get enough of the dragon-wielding Targaryens.

Game of Thrones has been widely heralded as one of the greatest shows of all time since its debut in 2011. One family that stood out was the Targaryens, who ruled the fictional continent of Westeros for nearly 300 years before the series began.

The Targaryens proved so popular that after Game of Thrones ended in 2019, they received their own spinoff related to events prior to Game of Thrones called House of the Dragon in 2022. Both shows are based on George R.R. Martin’s book series A Song of Ice and Fire, which delves deep into the lore of the Targaryens and Westeros.

For centuries, the Targaryens ruled Westeros atop the Iron Throne with their powerful dragons. The silver-haired Targaryens’ often wed their sisters, brothers, cousins and other relatives to “keep their bloodline pure,” according to Martin’s book Fire & Blood.

Their rule continued despite a civil war entitled “The Dance of the Dragons” — which House of the Dragon is based on. After ruling for centuries, King Aerys II — also known as “The Mad King” in Game of Thrones — went mad with power, causing another war that saw Robert Baratheon take the throne and end the Targaryen dynasty of that time period.

Years later, Daenerys Targaryen — played by Emilia Clarke — provided hope for a new Targaryen dynasty in Game of Thrones. It is later revealed that one of the series’ most popular characters, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is also a Targaryen, which became more important as the series approached its climax.

Read on to learn everything about the Targaryen family tree in House of the Dragon and how they relate to their descendants in Game of Thrones.

Aegon “The Conqueror” Targaryen

Aegon “The Conqueror” Targaryen plays an important role in the history of Westeros, having united the Seven Kingdoms. Aegon was the first Targaryen to sit atop the Iron Throne, which began a centuries-long Targaryen dynasty that saw the dragon-riding family in power.

Aegon is also known for his dream, “The Song of Ice and Fire,” which was his premonition of darkness rising on the winter winds that would destroy the world of men and would need to be conquered by the fire of Targaryen dragons. That "darkness" ended up being the White Walkers in Game of Thrones.

Aenys Targaryen

Aenys Targaryen was the son of Aegon and the second king of the Seven Kingdoms until he was murdered by his brother, Aegon’s second son, Maegor “The Cruel” Targaryen, who took the throne. Aenys was known as a kind leader and married Alyssa Velaryon, creating a strong bond between the Targaryen and Velaryon families — two of the only families with dragons.

Jaehaerys “The Old King” Targaryen

Six years after taking the Iron Throne, Maegor died and Aenys' son Jaehaerys Targaryen took the throne. Jaehaerys was known as the old king after reigning over the Seven Kingdoms for nearly 60 years during a time of peace and prosperity at the peak of the Targaryen dynasty.

Aemon Targaryen

After many of Jaehaerys’ 13 children died, Aemon Targaryen was the first of his children to survive into adulthood and would have been Jaehaerys’ heir had Aemon not died before him. Aemon married his aunt, Jocelyn Baratheon and gave birth to a daughter, Rhaenys Targaryen, who frequently appeared in House of the Dragon until her death in season 2.

Baelon Targaryen

Baelon Targaryen is the son of Jaehaerys, brother of Aemon — with whom he was very close — uncle of Rhaenys and father of Viserys Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen. Baelon — nicknamed Baelon the Brave — was named heir instead of Rhaenys after Aemon died, but Baelon died before Jaehaerys.

Rhaenys Targaryen

Rhaenys (played by Eve Best) is the granddaughter of Jaehaerys, daughter of Aemon and first cousin of Viserys. After being passed over as queen twice — first in favor of her uncle Baelon and then in favor of Viserys — because she was a woman during a time where women had not yet sat on the Iron Throne, she is known as “The Queen Who Never Was.”

Rhaenys is intelligent, determined and strong as she gains some power by marrying Lord Corlys Velaryon: Master of Driftmark, Lord of the Tides and head of House Velaryon. They share two children: son Laenor and daughter Laena (Corlys also had two sons out of wedlock, Addam and Alyn of Hull). When she learns of the plan for Aegon II to usurp Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne, she interrupts Aegon’s coronation by breaking up through the floor with her dragon Melys.

This made a powerful statement in favor of Rhaenyra’s claim as Rhaenys flew to Dragonstone to alert Rhaenyra of what had transpired and reaffirmed her allegiance. She served as a valuable member of Rhaenyra’s council, even going to stop Ser Criston Cole from taking Rook’s Rest for King Aegon II Targaryen, so Rhaenyra could stay back.

This would prove to be her last defiant act as she and Melys valiantly fought against an ambush from Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar before being killed.

Viserys Targaryen

Viserys (played by Paddy Considine) is the grandson of Jaehaerys, son of Baelon, brother of Daemon, first cousin of Rhaenys and father of Rhaenyra Targaryen, Aegon II Targaryen, Aemond Targaryen, Helaena Targaryen and Daeron Targaryen. Viserys leads during a time of relative peace and prosperity for the Targaryens and is arguably one of the most honorable and noble characters in House of the Dragon.

When he decides to name his oldest child Rhaenyra (whom he shared with his first wife Aemma) the heir to the Iron Throne — despite the fact that it was always kings who ruled during this time — many question him. Even as he has male children with his second wife, Alicent Hightower, he believes Rhaenyra would make the best monarch, which many in the realm contest.

As Viserys ages, he tells Rhaenyra of Aegon’s Song of Ice and Fire. However, he believed he was continuing to discuss the story with Rhaenyra on another night when he was actually talking to Alicent. Alicent mistakenly believes Viserys is talking about their son Aegon II, saying Aegon II should be on the throne after Viserys dies, which leads to the Dance of the Dragons civil war.

Daemon Targaryen

Daemon (played by Matt Smith) is the brother of Viserys, uncle — and later husband — to Rhaenyra and father of Aegon III Targaryen, Viserys II Targaryen and Visenya Targaryen. He welcomed daughters Baela Velaryon and Rhaena Velaryon with his first wife Laena. Daemon is one of the most clever, cunning and conniving characters in House of the Dragon, who always seems to have the upper hand.

One area in which Daemon didn’t have the upper hand was when his brother Viserys named Rhaenyra heir to the throne while Daemon felt it should have been him because he was a man. Daemon is bitter over this, but supports Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne and develops a close relationship with her that eventually leads to marriage.

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra — portrayed by Milly Alcock during her teenage years and Emma D’Arcy as an adult — is the main character in House of the Dragon. After the death of Viserys’ wife and Rhaenyra’s mother Aemma during childbirth, Rhaenyra is named heir to the throne during a time where no woman had been named heir before.

Rhaenyra is a noble heir, but also enjoys breaking out of the boundaries she feels confined by as a teenager, especially when her father attempts to arrange a marriage. She eventually marries Laenor Velaryon — who is only attracted to men — with the agreement that it will be an open marriage.

Rhaenyra had three children during her marriage to Laenor named Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey (though their father is strongly believed to be Ser Harwin Strong). She later married her uncle Daemon, whom she had two children with: Aegon III, Viserys II and Visenya. After Alicent’s misunderstanding which leads to Aegon II claiming the throne, Rhaenyra prepares for war and gathers allies to fight for her rightful claim to the throne.

Even on the brink of war, Rhaenyra has an eye on peace as she risks being killed by wearing a disguise to King’s Landing to confront Alicent — her former best friend — where Rhaenyra leads Alicent to conclude Viserys was talking about Aegon the Conqueror and not her son Aegon II. When Alicent realizes this, but says it is too late, Rhaenyra understands she must prepare for an all-out war as she desires the throne for the good of the realm.

Aegon II Targaryen

Aegon (played by Tom Glynn-Carney) is the eldest son of Viserys and Alicent, brother to Aemond, Daeron and Helaena — who he is later forced to marry — and father to Jaehaerys II Targaryen and Jaehaera Targaryen. Aegon II is rebellious, careless and somewhat nihilistic.

When he initially finds out that it is believed Viserys wants him to inherit the throne, he is discovered hiding as he does not want the responsibility. Nonetheless, he is made king and often found eschewing his royal duties in favor of visiting brothels or hanging out with those who work for him.

He is also relentless in punishing those who cross him and attempts to prove himself while also being bored of his responsibilities. The Dance of the Dragons is based on his claim to the throne from the words Alicent believed she heard Viserys say, against Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne based on Viserys’ life-long decision.

“[He was] thrown into the fray, headfirst, unable to swim … So yeah, he's floundering. But also, there is a guise of his that he’s trying to wear it well,” Glynn-Carney told PEOPLE. “He’s got a bit of a spring in his step. He’s also walking two inches taller than he would do, I think. For the start anyway.”

Helaena Targaryen

Helaena (played by Phia Saban) is the daughter of Viserys and Alicent, brother of Aemond, Daeron and Aegon II — whom she is forced to marry — and mother to Jaehaerys II and Jaehaera. She is a kind and caring mother focused on the well-being of her children ensuring that they learn.

Helaena is also a victim of tragedy as she watches her son Jaehaerys be murdered and catches her mother in bed with Ser Criston Cole, who should have been on watch.

Jaehaerys II Targaryen

Jaehaerys II is the son of Aegon II and Helaena, grandson of Viserys and brother of Jaehaera. In House of the Dragon’s season 2 premiere, Aegon II brings him to a meeting where Jaehaerys II is mischievous and bored.

Later on, Jaehaerys II is murdered in the episode’s climax. In exchange for Aemond killing Rhaenyra's son Lucerys, Rhaenyra wants a son for a son, but when the killers Daemon sends can’t find Aemond, they take Jahaerys II’s head instead, even though he is just an infant.

Jaehaera Targaryen

Jaehaera is the brother of Jaehaerys II, son of Aegon II and Helaena, and granddaughter of Viserys. She is seen playing with her brother before Aegon II takes him away in the second season premiere of House of the Dragon.

She is in the room when her infant brother is murdered and is nearly killed herself when the killers can’t figure out whether she or her twin brother is a boy. Helaena is forced to point out that Jaehaerys II is the heir as Jaehaera lives.

Aemond Targaryen

Aemond (played by Ewan Mitchell) is the son of Viserys and Alicent as well as the brother of Helaena, Aegon II and Daeron. As a child, Aemond is rebellious, an outcast and does not get along well with Rhaenyra’s children, who are of a similar age.

During a childhood fight, Aemond had his eye cut out by Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys and stole her family’s ferocious, powerful red dragon Vhagar. As an adult, Aemond is vicious, tactical and easily identifiable by wearing an eye patch over a blue glass ball where his eye used to be.

As the Dance of the Dragons Targaryen civil war unfolds at the end of House of the Dragon’s first season, Aemond and Lucerys meet again while trying to secure alliances. Aemond requests that Lucerys take out his own eye in exchange for what he did to Aemond when they were kids.

When Lucerys refuses, Aemond chases Lucerys on his dragon, seemingly meaning to injure him rather than kill him, but his dragon, Vhagar, delivers a fatal blow to Rhaenyra’s son. This ends up being just one of Aemond’s defining moments, which further provokes war.

Daeron Targaryen

Daeron Targaryen is the son of Viserys and Alicent as well as the brother of Aegon II, Helaena and Aemond. Daeron does not appear in House of the Dragon but is mentioned in the second season’s sixth episode when Alicent asks her brother Gwayne how Daeron is doing in Oldtown.

“He’s stalwart, clever, as adept with his lute as he is with his sword and a feature in the fancies of many a young lady, I’ll wager. He’s kind,” Gwayne told Alicent.

Jacaerys Velaryon

Jacaerys (played by Harry Collett) is Rhaenyra’s eldest son and allegedly the son of Laenor Velaryon, although it is heavily implied that he is the son of Ser Harwin Strong. His brothers are Lucerys and Joffrey Velaryon and he is the grandson of Viserys.

He demonstrates qualities of leadership on Rhaenyra’s council and in gaining alliances with his determined, protective and tactical nature. He is also named as Rhaenyra’s heir to the throne and is often by her side to learn from her when she is around, which includes her telling him about Aegon’s dream.

Lucerys Velaryon

Lucerys (portrayed by Elliot Grihault) is Rhaenyra’s second son with Laenor, although it is also heavily implied he is Ser Harwin’s son. His brothers are Jacaerys and Joffrey Velaryon and he is Viserys’ grandson.

Lucerys is younger than Jacaerys and slightly more timid, but still wants to help gather alliances for Rhaenyra. Lucerys cut out Aemond’s eye during a fight when they were kids in which Aemond mocked Lucerys for being born out of wedlock.

They unexpectedly met again years later when Lucerys attempted to secure alliances for Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne while Aemond attempted to secure alliances for Aegon II’s claim. After a fight with their dragons, Lucerys is killed by Aemond and his dragon Vhagar, which serves as a key moment in escalating the Dance of the Dragons Targaryen civil war.

Joffrey Velaryon

Joffrey is Rhaenyra’s youngest alleged son with Laenor, although it is also heavily implied he is Ser Harwin’s son. Joffrey is seen being introduced to Viserys by Rhaenyra and Laenor during episode 6 of House of the Dragon’s first season as Viserys says he will make a fine knight one day.

Baela Targaryen

Baela is the daughter of Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen and the sister of Rhaena Targaryen. She is engaged to her step-brother Jacaerys and is known as a brave dragonrider on her dragon, Moonrider.

Rhaena Targaryen

Rhaena Targaryen is the daughter of Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen and sister of Baela. Rhaena is initially engaged to Lucerys until he is killed by Aemond and Vhagar — the dragon Aemond stole — which was initially intended for Rhaena.

Rhaena is sent to Pentos with Rhaenyra’s sons, Joffrey, Viserys II and Aegon III to stay safe as the war escalates, but not without being given four dragon eggs by Rhaenyra. It was confirmed by the episode’s director in which Rhaena was given the eggs, that those eggs went on to belong to Daenerys in Game of Thrones.

Aegon III Targaryen

Aegon III is the first son of Rhaenyra and Daemon, named after Aegon the Conqueror. Aegon III eventually goes on to become king in the Song of Ice and Fire books.

Viserys II Targaryen

Viserys II is the second son of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, named after Rhaenyra’s father and Daemon’s brother Viserys. Viserys II also goes on to become king in the Song of Ice and Fire books.

Visenya Targaryen

Visenya was the still-born daughter of Rhaenyra and Daemon, named after Aegon the Conqueror’s sister-wife, who helped usher in the Targaryen dynasty.

How are the Targaryens in House of the Dragon related to the characters in Game of Thrones?

Once the Dance of the Dragons civil war ended, the Targaryens continued to rule for nearly 200 years until King Aerys II — also known as “The Mad King” — was killed by “The Kingslayer” Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Robert Baratheon took the throne during Robert’s Rebellion, and Aerys’ daughter Daenerys began building up herself and her dragons for a rise to power from afar.

Daenerys’ brother Rhaegar secretly married Ned Stark’s sister Lyanna Stark and gave birth to Jon Snow, making Jon Daenerys’ nephew. Lyanna told Ned that he must swear not to tell anyone and say that he fathered Jon out of wedlock to protect his identity.

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