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The Targaryen Bloodline: A Full, Updated Guide To The House Of The Dragon Family Tree And The Dance Of The Dragons

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The Targaryen family tree is arguably the most complex and incestuous dynasty in the world of Westeros, serving as the explosive foundation for the *House of the Dragon* series. As of December 10, 2025, the central conflict—the brutal civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons—has been fully ignited, making an understanding of the intricate bloodlines more critical than ever to track who is fighting whom and why. The series centers on the immediate family of King Viserys I, where a succession crisis pits half-siblings and their children against each other, literally plunging the realm into fire and blood. The current narrative is a direct consequence of the Targaryen tradition of marrying within the family to 'keep the blood of the dragon pure,' a practice that ultimately led to the fracturing of the realm under the weight of conflicting claims and personal resentments. To follow the war's escalating chaos, one must first grasp the core relationships and the pivotal figures who make up the two opposing factions: the 'Blacks' and the 'Greens.'

Key Figures in the Targaryen Family Tree: A Biographical Profile

The Targaryen dynasty's obsession with purity of blood led to generations of brother-sister marriages, creating a dense web of relationships where characters are often cousins, uncles, and nephews to one another simultaneously. Understanding the lineage begins with the generation that preceded the current war.
  • King Jaehaerys I Targaryen (The Old King): The fourth Targaryen king, known for his long and peaceful reign. His failure to name a clear female heir set the precedent for the succession crisis. He married his sister, Alysanne.
  • King Viserys I Targaryen: Grandson of Jaehaerys I, chosen by the Great Council to inherit the throne. He was a kind but indecisive king whose two marriages created the schism that tore the realm apart.
  • Queen Aemma Arryn: Viserys I's first wife and cousin. She died giving birth to their son, Baelon, who also died shortly after. She was the mother of Princess Rhaenyra.
  • Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen: Viserys I's only surviving child from his first marriage and his named heir. She is the claimant of the 'Black' faction. She first married Laenor Velaryon and later her uncle, Daemon Targaryen.
  • Prince Daemon Targaryen: Viserys I's younger brother, a formidable warrior, and dragonrider. He first married Rhea Royce, then Laena Velaryon, and finally his niece, Rhaenyra Targaryen. He is a key leader of the 'Blacks.'
  • Queen Alicent Hightower: Viserys I's second wife and Rhaenyra's childhood friend. She is the daughter of Otto Hightower and the mother of the 'Green' claimants.
  • King Aegon II Targaryen: Viserys I's eldest son with Alicent Hightower. He was crowned King by the 'Greens' despite Viserys naming Rhaenyra as his heir. He married his sister, Helaena.
  • Prince Aemond Targaryen: Viserys I and Alicent's second son, a fierce warrior, and rider of the great dragon Vhagar. His killing of Rhaenyra's son, Lucerys Velaryon, was the catalyst for the full-scale war.
  • Queen Helaena Targaryen: Viserys I and Alicent's daughter. She is married to her brother, Aegon II, and is known for her cryptic prophecies.

The Schism: How the Targaryen Line Split into the 'Blacks' and 'Greens'

The Dance of the Dragons is not simply a war between two noble houses; it is a catastrophic civil war within the Targaryen family itself, dividing the descendants of King Viserys I Targaryen. The two factions are named after the colors worn by their respective Queens: Rhaenyra (Black) and Alicent (Green). The conflict arose from King Viserys I's fatal decision to name his daughter, Rhaenyra, as his heir, only to later have sons with his second wife, Alicent Hightower. The 'Blacks' believe in the precedent set by Viserys I, while the 'Greens' rely on the ancient tradition of male primogeniture, arguing that a son must always precede a daughter in the line of succession.

The Black Faction: Rhaenyra's Line of Succession

The 'Blacks' are led by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her husband/uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen. Their support comes primarily from the houses who swore an oath to Rhaenyra when she was named heir, most notably House Velaryon, one of the oldest and most powerful houses in Westeros. The key children in the Black faction are:
  • From Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon (officially):
    • Jacaerys Velaryon (Jace): The eldest son and heir to the Iron Throne after his mother. A dragonrider and key diplomat.
    • Lucerys Velaryon (Luke): The second son, whose death at the hands of Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar officially began the Dance of the Dragons.
    • Joffrey Velaryon: The third son.
  • From Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen:
    • Aegon the Younger (Aegon III): A younger son, who will later become King.
    • Viserys (Viserys II): Another younger son, who will also eventually become King.
    • Visenya: A stillborn daughter.
  • From Daemon and Laena Velaryon:
    • Baela Targaryen: A daughter and dragonrider, betrothed to Jacaerys Velaryon.
    • Rhaena Targaryen: Another daughter.
The Black Council, based at Dragonstone, includes essential figures like Corlys Velaryon ("The Sea Snake") and his wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen ("The Queen That Never Was"), whose own claim to the throne was passed over for Viserys I. Their allegiance provides the Blacks with naval superiority and powerful dragonriders, making them formidable contenders for the Iron Throne.

The Green Faction: Alicent's Claim to the Throne

The 'Greens' are led by Queen Alicent Hightower and her father, Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King. Their primary claimant is Alicent's eldest son, Aegon II. The Greens are based in King's Landing and are supported by the most powerful houses of the Westerlands and the Reach, including the Hightowers themselves, who hold immense political and financial sway. The core of the Green faction's claim is that a woman cannot sit on the Iron Throne while a male heir exists, a principle they claim was established by the Great Council that chose Viserys over Rhaenys. The key children in the Green faction, all children of Viserys I and Alicent Hightower, are:
  • King Aegon II Targaryen: The crowned King, married to his sister Helaena.
  • Prince Aemond Targaryen: The single most dangerous dragonrider on the Green side.
  • Queen Helaena Targaryen: The Queen Consort.
  • Prince Daeron Targaryen: The youngest son, who is currently in Oldtown and has yet to appear in the main storyline, but whose presence will be crucial.

Aegon II and Helaena's Children (The Next Generation of Claimants):

Aegon II and Helaena have three children, who represent the next generation of the Targaryen line and are crucial to the ongoing succession battle:
  • Jaehaerys Targaryen: The eldest son and heir to Aegon II.
  • Jaehaera Targaryen: A daughter and twin of Jaehaerys.
  • Maelor Targaryen: The youngest son.
The brutal reality of the civil war means that the family tree is a target. The deaths of Lucerys Velaryon and the subsequent revenge killing of Jaehaerys Targaryen demonstrate that the war is not just about crowns, but about the complete annihilation of the opposing bloodline. This focus on eliminating the next generation of heirs is what makes the Dance of the Dragons such a dark and pivotal event in Westeros history.

The Targaryen Legacy: Connecting to Game of Thrones

While *House of the Dragon* is set nearly 200 years before *Game of Thrones*, the family tree does not end with the Dance of the Dragons. The survivors of this civil war are the direct ancestors of the later, more famous Targaryens. The lineage continues through the children of Rhaenyra and Daemon, specifically Aegon III and Viserys II. The line eventually leads to the "Mad King" Aerys II, and his children, Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys Targaryen. The complex bloodline, which includes multiple instances of incest to preserve the dragon-riding blood, is the very reason Daenerys Targaryen still had a claim to the Iron Throne centuries later. Furthermore, Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen), revealed to be the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, is the final descendant of this long, tragic, and fiery lineage. Understanding the *House of the Dragon* family tree is therefore essential to fully grasping the historical weight of the Targaryen name in the entire saga of Westeros.
house of dragon family tree
house of dragon family tree

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