Targaryen Family Tree: A Complete Genealogical Guide

What This Targaryen Genealogy Covers

This guide explains the Targaryen family tree across Valyria, Dragonstone, and King’s Landing, focusing on canonical information from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and its televised adaptation where noted. It outlines the main lineage from Aegon I through his sisters and later rulers, including pivotal figures such as Visenya and Rhaenys, Aenys, Maegor, Jaehaerys, and their descendants. You will find names, known parent–child links, marriages, and succession outcomes presented plainly and concisely, avoiding unverified fan theories.

Defining the Targaryen House

The Targaryens are a Valyrian noble house that survived the Doom of Valyria by relocating to Dragonstone. Their defining traits include bloodline purity politics, incendiary dragon control, and claims to the Iron Throne rooted in conquest and law. Understanding their sigil, words, and foundational myths helps contextualize their motivations and conflicts throughout the history of Westeros.

Key Historical Figures and Their Roles

Certain Targaryens shaped the realm’s politics and wars for generations. Aegon I, the Conqueror, began the dynasty; his sisters-wives forged the Dragonbind. Aenys I struggled with legitimacy, while Maegor I’s harshness defined the Faith’s resistance. Jaehaerys I presided over peace, but his line and choices seeded later civil strife. These figures frame the house’s long arc from apex to dissolution.

Aegon I and the Conquest

Aegon I, often called Aegon the Conqueror, landed with his sisters-wives and dragons, uniting six of the Seven Kingdoms under the new Targaryen dynasty. His sisters-wives Visenya and Rhaenys were co-equal in conquest and governance. The dragons’ presence defined battlefield tactics and political deterrence. His succession plan—through a single royal line—created enduring tension around legitimacy.

Maegor the Cruel and the Faith Militant Uprising

Maegor I Targaryen faced the Faith Militant Uprising after Aenys’s attempts at appeasement failed. His brutal campaigns to enforce his claim left a divided realm and a legacy of fear. Marriages across Valyrian and local houses, combined with dragon supremacy, underpinned his contested rule, illustrating the risks of relying on personal authority and draconian measures.

Core Genealogical Table: Canonical Bloodline and Succession

The table below lists core Targaryen figures by generation, their claimed relationships, and what is typically verified in the source material. Where dates and outcomes are established by the narrative, they are presented as the story presents them rather than as modern inferences.

Member	Generation	Known Biological or Claimed Relation to House	Succession Role
Aegon I Targaryen	Founder	Conqueror, claimed by descent from Old Valyria	First king of the Targaryen dynasty
Visenya Targaryen	Founder	Sister-wife of Aegon I, rider of Vhagar	Co-conqueror and royal protector
Rhaenys Targaryen	Founder	Sister-wife of Aegon I, rider of Meraxes	Co-conqueror, active in the Conquest
Aenys I Targaryen	Firstborn	Son of Aegon I and Rhaenys	Second king
Maegor I Targaryen	Firstborn	Son of Aegon I and Visenya	Third king, harsh rule
Jaehaerys I Targaryen	Later	Son of Aemon and Alyssa Velaryon	Long-reigning king, peace
Viserys I Targaryen	Later	Son of Jaehaerys I	King at onset of Dance
Rhaenyra Targaryen	Later	Daughter of Viserys I	Claimant in Dance
Aegon II Targaryen	Later	Son of Viserys I	Rival claimant in Dance
Aegon III Targaryen	Later	Son of Rhaenyra	Post-Dance king

Branches, Marriages, and Political Consequences

The Targaryens practiced sibling marriage to keep bloodlines “pure,” which shaped claims and counterclaims. Marriages with Velaryons and other houses expanded influence but also linked the fates of multiple lines. These unions helped secure fleets, coastal strongholds, and support in the Narrow Sea. The consequences of these choices are evident in succession conflicts, regional loyalties, and the ways rival houses leveraged Targaryen marriages for their own legitimacy.

The Dance of the Dragons and Lasting Impact

The Dance of the Dragons, the mid-century civil war between Rhaenyra and Aegon II, fractured the house and weakened Targaryen authority across the realm. Though Aegon III followed, the irreversible loss of dragons and credibility set the stage for Targaryen decline. The Blackfyre Pretenders and regional defiances reflected the broader instability born of contested succession and the erosion of unified dragonlord rule.

Connections to Other Houses and Regional Influence

Targaryen relationships with the Starks, Baratheons, Hightowers, and Velaryons shaped politics across Westeros. Alliances through marriage and shared crises created a patchwork of loyalties and grudges. Dragons and fire remained symbolic tools of fear and legitimacy, while the loss of both transformed how houses viewed Targaryen authority and the risks of overreliance on singular power.

Common Misconceptions and Clarifications

Not every Targaryen who claimed the throne ruled successfully, and not every dragon ensured victory. Lineage did not guarantee support; legitimacy often depended on perceived capability and alliances. Claims rooted in descent from Old Valyria carried weight, but outcomes were decided by war, law, and the shifting politics of the Great Council. This guide separates established lineage from speculation and outlines verified relationships only.

FAQs: Targaryen Genealogy Basics

Which Targaryen started the dynasty? Aegon I Targaryen, the Conqueror, began the dynasty on Dragonstone and claimed the throne by conquest and lineage.
Were Targaryens required to marry siblings to stay “pure”? Practiced often but not mandated by law. It was a cultural choice to consolidate bloodlines and claims, not an absolute requirement.
What happened after the Dance of the Dragons? The realm entered a weaker period under Aegon III, with reduced dragons and ongoing Blackfyre challenges that shaped later politics.
Are all Targaryens in the show also in the books? Major characters largely align, but the books contain deeper genealogical detail and some figures with limited screen presence.
How can I trace my own possible Targaryen lineage? Use reputable genealogical sources and treat medieval claims skeptically; surviving records are fragmented and often politically motivated.

Methodology and Sources

This overview relies primarily on George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, the foundational text for Targaryen history, alongside televised adaptation details where they align with canonical events. Succession events, parent–child relationships, and outcomes reflect the narrative’s established timeline and decisions. Where ambiguity remains, the guide flags inconsistencies rather than resolving them with unsourced speculation.