From Aegon the Conqueror to the Dance of the Dragons
The Targaryen family tree is complex, riddled with political marriages, dragonrider lineages, and generations of both brilliance and brutality. “House of the Dragon” focuses on a key turning point in this dynasty: the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. To understand the conflicts and characters, you need to trace the bloodlines that led to the succession crisis.
Aegon the Conqueror and His Heirs
The Targaryen dynasty begins with Aegon I Targaryen, the Conqueror, who united the Seven Kingdoms. He married both his sisters: Visenya and Rhaenys.
- Visenya bore Maegor I, also known as Maegor the Cruel.
- Rhaenys bore Aenys I, Aegon’s chosen heir.
This split between the lines of Visenya and Rhaenys marked the first sign of division. Maegor seized the throne through force after Aenys’s death, leading to internal strife. Eventually, the line of Aenys was restored through his son, Jaehaerys I.
Jaehaerys I and the Great Council
Jaehaerys I Targaryen, known as the Conciliator, ruled for decades and stabilised the realm. His many children died before him, prompting a major succession dilemma. This led to the Great Council of 101 AC, where lords of Westeros voted on the next heir.
- Despite having a living granddaughter, Rhaenys Targaryen, the council chose Viserys I, Jaehaerys’s grandson through a male line.
This decision, favouring male heirs over seniority or female descent, planted the seeds for future conflict.
Viserys I and His Successor
Viserys I Targaryen married twice:
- Aemma Arryn, who gave birth to Princess Rhaenyra.
- Alicent Hightower, who bore Aegon II, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron.
Viserys named Rhaenyra his heir and kept her in that role despite political pressure. He even had lords swear fealty to her. However, after his death, Alicent and her allies crowned her son Aegon II, sparking the civil war.
The Dance of the Dragons: The Two Factions
The war was fought between:
- The Blacks, supporting Rhaenyra, daughter of Viserys I
- The Greens, backing Aegon II, son of Viserys I by his second wife
Rhaenyra married her uncle Daemon Targaryen, and they had two sons: Aegon the Younger and Viserys. She also had three sons from her first marriage to Laenor Velaryon: Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey.
Aegon II, meanwhile, married his sister Helaena, and they had children including Maelor and Jaehaera.
The war consumed much of the royal line. Many dragons and heirs died, but ultimately, Rhaenyra’s son Aegon III (Aegon the Younger) survived and inherited the throne, reuniting the kingdom.
Key Relationships at a Glance
| Name | Relation to Viserys I | Allegiance | Key Role in the Dance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhaenyra Targaryen | Daughter (by Aemma Arryn) | Black | Named heir, rival claimant |
| Aegon II Targaryen | Son (by Alicent Hightower) | Green | Usurper crowned by the Greens |
| Daemon Targaryen | Brother | Black | Rhaenyra’s husband and key general |
| Alicent Hightower | Second wife | Green | Power behind the Green cause |
| Jacaerys Velaryon | Rhaenyra’s eldest son | Black | Died during the war |
| Aemond Targaryen | Alicent’s son | Green | Killed Lucerys, rode Vhagar |
Legacy of the Family Tree
The family split caused by the Dance left lasting scars. Though the war ended with a Black victory, the Targaryen dynasty never truly recovered. The deaths of so many dragons and heirs thinned the bloodline and weakened the family’s grip on power.
Aegon III, though crowned, grew up haunted by the war and presided over the beginning of the dragons’ decline.
Understanding this family tree is key to following the political and emotional stakes of “House of the Dragon”. Every alliance, betrayal, and declaration of war in the show is tied to these relationships, and the consequences echo far beyond the Dance.
