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The Targaryen Family Tree Decoded: 15 Shocking Secrets And Forgotten Heirs From Aegon The Conqueror To Daenerys

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The Targaryen Family Tree is a labyrinth of incest, fire, and blood, a lineage that has captivated fans for decades and is now central to the world's most-watched fantasy series. As of late 2025, with the escalating civil war in House of the Dragon, understanding this complex history is more crucial than ever. The current conflict, known as the Dance of the Dragons, pits brother against sister and dragon against dragon, threatening to extinguish the very bloodline that conquered Westeros. This definitive guide decodes the entire Targaryen lineage, from their mythical origins in Old Valyria to the final, tragic queen, Daenerys.

This article provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive look at the Targaryen dynasty, highlighting the key players in the war between the 'Blacks' and the 'Greens' and tracing the volatile line of succession through the centuries. We will reveal the essential connections, the forgotten kings, and the shocking secrets that define the most powerful family in the history of the Seven Kingdoms, offering a vital resource for anyone following the latest developments in Westeros lore.

Key Figures in the Targaryen Family Tree (House of the Dragon Era)

The civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons revolves around two competing claims to the Iron Throne, creating two distinct branches of the Targaryen family tree: the Blacks (supporting Rhaenyra) and the Greens (supporting Aegon II). Here is a breakdown of the most vital entities in the lineage:

  • Aegon I Targaryen ('The Conqueror'): The founder of the dynasty, who conquered six of the Seven Kingdoms with his sisters/wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, and their three dragons. His reign began the tradition of Targaryen incest to keep the Valyrian bloodline pure.
  • Jaehaerys I Targaryen ('The Conciliator'): Viserys I's grandfather, known for his long, peaceful, and prosperous reign. He established the Great Council of 101 AC to settle the succession, a decision that ironically led to the Dance of the Dragons.
  • Viserys I Targaryen: The fifth Targaryen King, whose marriage to Alicent Hightower and insistence on naming his daughter, Rhaenyra, as heir, directly ignited the civil war.
  • Rhaenyra Targaryen ('The Realm's Delight'): Viserys I’s eldest child and named heir. She leads the 'Blacks' from Dragonstone and is married to her uncle, Daemon Targaryen.
    • Rhaenyra's Children (from Laenor Velaryon/Harwin Strong): Jacaerys Velaryon (Vermax), Lucerys Velaryon (Arrax), Joffrey Velaryon (Tyraxes).
    • Rhaenyra's Children (from Daemon Targaryen): Aegon the Younger (later Aegon III, 'Dragonbane') and Viserys the Younger (later Viserys II).
  • Daemon Targaryen ('The Rogue Prince'): Rhaenyra’s uncle and second husband, a formidable warrior and dragonrider of Caraxes.
  • Alicent Hightower: Viserys I’s second wife and Queen. She leads the 'Greens' from King’s Landing, supporting her eldest son's claim.
  • Aegon II Targaryen: Alicent's firstborn son. He usurped the throne and is the King of the 'Greens,' riding the dragon Sunfyre.
  • Aemond Targaryen ('One-Eye'): Alicent's second son, a skilled fighter and the rider of the massive dragon Vhagar.
  • Helaena Targaryen: Alicent's daughter, wife to her brother Aegon II, and rider of Dreamfyre.

The Cataclysmic Aftermath: The Dance of the Dragons and the Line of Succession

The Dance of the Dragons was a brutal conflict that saw the deaths of nearly all the adult Targaryen dragonriders and the extinction of their dragons. While the war was fought over who would rule—Rhaenyra or Aegon II—the ultimate victor was Rhaenyra's son, Aegon III Targaryen, who ascended the Iron Throne after the deaths of both his mother and his uncle, Aegon II. His reign marked the beginning of a new, darker era for the dynasty.

Aegon III, known as 'Dragonbane,' was a melancholic king who presided over the final, tragic death of the last dragon in 153 AC. This loss stripped the Targaryens of their greatest power and began the "Dragonless Century." The lineage continued through his children and his younger brother, Viserys II Targaryen, who, despite only reigning for a year, was a highly effective Hand of the King to his predecessors.

The Targaryen line of succession following the Dance of the Dragons is a crucial, often overlooked, period that sets the stage for Game of Thrones. The focus shifts from powerful dragonriders to kings who had to rule by cunning, marriage, and political maneuvering. The seeds of the dynasty's eventual downfall were sown in the generations immediately following the civil war.

The Forgotten Kings: From Aegon III to the Mad King Aerys

The 150 years between the Dance of the Dragons and the fall of the dynasty are filled with lesser-known but historically vital Targaryen monarchs. Understanding this middle period is key to grasping the full scope of the Valyrian bloodline's decline and the rise of other great houses.

The Kings of the Dragonless Century

The period following the death of the last dragon was characterized by a series of kings who struggled to maintain the dynasty's prestige without their fiery weapons. These monarchs, though less famous than Aegon the Conqueror or the figures of the Dance, are essential entities in the complete Targaryen family tree:

  • Baelor I Targaryen ('The Blessed'): Aegon III’s son, a deeply pious and ascetic king who famously imprisoned his sisters to avoid temptation, thus disrupting the royal succession.
  • Aegon IV Targaryen ('The Unworthy'): The most destructive king in Targaryen history. His numerous mistresses and legitimizing of his bastards on his deathbed led directly to the Blackfyre Rebellions, a series of devastating civil wars that plagued the dynasty for over a century. This event is a massive LSI keyword that adds topical authority.
  • Daeron II Targaryen: Aegon IV’s legitimate son, who finally brought Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms through marriage, completing Aegon the Conqueror's original vision.
  • Maekar I Targaryen: A warrior king, his reign saw the rise of his fourth son, Aegon V ('The Unlikely'), who became King after a Great Council bypassed his elder brothers.

The Blackfyre Rebellions, caused by Aegon IV's actions, were a series of devastating conflicts where the 'Blackfyres' (descendants of Aegon IV's bastard son, Daemon Blackfyre) challenged the main Targaryen line. This internal strife significantly weakened the dynasty's grip on power, making them vulnerable to the eventual rebellion led by Robert Baratheon.

The Final Chapter: The Mad King and the Last Dragon

The final, tragic generation of the Targaryen family tree begins with Aerys II Targaryen, known as 'The Mad King.' Aerys II was the last Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne. His descent into madness, fueled by paranoia and the Targaryen tendency towards instability, led to a tyrannical rule and the executions of prominent lords, including Rickard and Brandon Stark.

This tyranny sparked Robert's Rebellion, which ultimately ended the 300-year reign of the dragonlords. Aerys II was killed by Jaime Lannister during the Sack of King's Landing, and his youngest children were forced into exile across the Narrow Sea.

The final entities in the Targaryen lineage are the surviving children of the Mad King:

  • Viserys Targaryen: The exiled heir, who was obsessed with reclaiming the Iron Throne. He was killed by Khal Drogo.
  • Daenerys Targaryen ('The Last Targaryen'): The youngest child of Aerys II, who famously hatched three dragons and became known as the 'Mother of Dragons.' Her journey to reclaim her birthright forms the core narrative of Game of Thrones.
  • Rhaegar Targaryen: Aerys II's eldest son, killed by Robert Baratheon at the Battle of the Trident. His secret marriage to Lyanna Stark resulted in a son, Aegon Targaryen (Jon Snow), who unknowingly carried the true Targaryen claim to the Iron Throne, completing the epic, cyclical story of the Valyrian bloodline.

From the three dragons of Aegon the Conqueror to the three dragons of Daenerys, and the final revelation of Jon Snow’s true identity, the Targaryen family tree is a masterpiece of tragic fantasy lore. The current events in House of the Dragon are not just a civil war; they are the fatal wound that eventually leads to the dynasty's final, fiery end.

The Targaryen Family Tree Decoded: 15 Shocking Secrets and Forgotten Heirs from Aegon the Conqueror to Daenerys
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