House of the Dragon is basically one long family argument that escalates into a civil war. Every major player has silver hair, a dragon, and a burning desire to prove they are the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. The Targaryens are not just the centre of the story, they are the story. If you are struggling to keep track of who is stabbing whom, which silver-haired child belongs to which faction, and why cousins keep marrying each other, you are not alone. Let’s run through every Targaryen that matters in the show, without the fluff.
King Viserys I Targaryen
The king who presides over the calm before the storm. Viserys is a decent man but a poor ruler. He spends most of his reign trying to keep his family from tearing itself apart. Spoiler: he fails. His inability to pick a clear heir (and stick to it without hesitation) lights the match for the Dance of the Dragons.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
Viserys’ firstborn daughter and chosen heir. Intelligent, strong-willed, and not remotely interested in playing the role of a docile medieval princess. She wants the Iron Throne and is willing to fight for it. Her children’s legitimacy is constantly questioned, which fuels half the drama in the show. If you want someone who embodies both vulnerability and ruthless ambition, she is your candidate.
Prince Daemon Targaryen
Brother to Viserys, uncle to Rhaenyra, and later her husband. Daemon is violent, unpredictable, and dangerously charming. He is the sort of man who could save you from a mob on Monday and start one himself on Tuesday. A brilliant warrior and dragonrider, but also a reckless egotist. His marriage to Rhaenyra is either a stroke of genius or a terrible idea, depending on your perspective.
Queen Alicent Hightower (by marriage into the Targaryens)
Technically not a Targaryen by blood, but as Viserys’ second wife and mother of his later children, her branch of the family tree is central to the conflict. Alicent is pragmatic, pious, and far sharper than people give her credit for. She represents the faction that will become known as the Greens, pushing her son’s claim to the throne.
Aegon II Targaryen
The firstborn son of Alicent and Viserys. Entitled, reckless, and almost allergic to responsibility, but he has one advantage: he is male. In Westeros, that counts for a lot. Despite his obvious shortcomings, he is crowned king, sparking the war that defines the entire series.
Aemond Targaryen
Alicent’s second son, who makes up for what his brother lacks in ambition and ruthlessness. He loses an eye in childhood and never lets anyone forget it. He bonds with Vhagar, the largest living dragon, giving him enormous military power. Aemond is sharper, more disciplined, and far more dangerous than Aegon, and arguably should have been the one crowned instead.
Helaena Targaryen
Alicent’s daughter and a dreamer with a strange, almost prophetic view of the world. She is married to her brother Aegon (yes, the family tree folds in on itself). Helaena is often dismissed as eccentric, but her cryptic insights may be more important than anyone realises.
Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon (claimed by Rhaenyra)
The three elder sons of Rhaenyra, fathered in reality by Harwin Strong rather than her husband Laenor Velaryon. This is the scandal that haunts her faction. Jacaerys is groomed as her heir, Lucerys meets a tragic end thanks to Aemond, and Joffrey is too young to make much impact before war swallows everything. Their questionable parentage is the blade always hanging over Rhaenyra’s cause.
Aegon the Younger and Viserys (sons of Rhaenyra and Daemon)
Unlike their half-siblings, these two are true Targaryens. Aegon the Younger survives the war and eventually becomes king, though his reign is marked by tragedy and decline. Viserys is captured during the Dance and spends years as a hostage. Both brothers symbolise the grim legacy of the conflict: victory at the cost of family, dragons, and stability.
Baela and Rhaena Targaryen
Daughters of Daemon and Laena Velaryon. Loyal, capable, and sidelined by the mainline succession struggle, they still play important roles as dragonriders and allies in the war. Baela in particular is fiery and outspoken, while Rhaena struggles with being dragonless for much of her youth.
Why the Family is central
House of the Dragon is not really about dragons or battles, though both are spectacular. It is about a family that devours itself from the inside out. Every Targaryen adds another spark to the fire. The show reminds us that power without unity is a curse, and that no one can bring down House Targaryen faster than the Targaryens themselves.
The Seven Swords Takeaway
If you want a neat family tree, good luck. The Targaryens are a dynasty defined by incest, rivalry, and dragons the size of castles. Each character brings their own mix of strengths, flaws, and catastrophes, and together they form the most volatile family in Westeros. In short: keep watching, because when Targaryens start arguing, the whole realm burns.
