The family connections in Game of Thrones are often at times crazy. When a fan is introduced to a new character, they might ask, “Well, how is this character related to everyone else?” House of the Dragon is even more complex and the Targaryen family tree is no joke.
House of the Dragon is heading towards the second season and there’s more drama than ever. The show serves as a prequel to HBO’s Game of Thrones, which ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019. Both series are based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books. House of Dragons—which is specifically inspired by Martin’s 2018 novel, Fire & Blood—is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen and the events leading up to the war of succession for the Targaryen crown, also known as the Dance of Dragons.
With everyone trying to get their hands on the Iron Throne, there are power dynamics that include hooking up with a relatively close family member to strengthen power. We’ve simplified the Targaryen family tree below.
Played by: Michael Carter
Born: 34 AC
Died: 103 AC
Dragon: Vermithor
Nickname: The Old King
Family: Grandson of King Aegon the Conqueror; son of King Aenys; nephew of King Maegor; husband and brother of Queen Alysanne; grandfather of King Viserys
Played by: Paddy Considine
Born: 77 AC
Died: 129 AC
Dragon: Balerion
Nickname: Viserys the Peaceful
Family: Cousin and husband to Queen Aemma; husband to Queen Alicent; brother to Daemon; cousin to Rhaenys; father to Rhaenyra, Aegon II, Aemond, Helaena, and Daeron
Played by: Matt Smith
Born: 81 AC
Dragon: Caraxes
Nickname: The Rogue Prince
Family: Uncle and husband to Rhaenyra; grandson of Jaehaerys; brother of King Viserys; husband of Laena Velaryon; father of Rhaena, Baela, Aegon III and Viserys II
Played by: Eve Best
Born: 74 AC
Nickname: The Queen Who Never Was
Dragon: Meleys
Family: Cousin to King Viserys; wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon; mother of Laena and Laenor Velaryon; aunt of Rhaenyra
Played by: Emma D’Arcy and Milly Alcock (younger)
Born: 97 AC
Dragon: Syrax
Nickname: The Realm’s Delight; The Whore of Dragonstone; The Pretender; King Meagor With Teats
Family: Daughter of King Viserys and Queen Aemma; stepdaughter of Queen Alicent; wife of Laenor Velaryon; lover of Criston Cole and Harwin Strong; niece and wife to Daemon; half-sister to Aegon II, Aemond and Heleana; mother of Jacaerys, Lucerys, Joffrey, Aegon III and Viserys II
Played by: Nanna Blondell
Born: 100 AC
Died: 126 AC
Dragon: Syrax
Family: Wife and first cousin once removed of Daemon; Mother of Baela and Rhaena; daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Played by: John Macmillan
Born: 97 AC
Dragon: Syrax
Family: Son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen; brother of Laena; husband of Rhaenyra; father of Jaecaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon
Played by: Tom Glynn-Carney and Ty Tennant (younger)
Born: 107 AC
Dragon: Sunfyre
Nickname: Aegon the Elder; Aegon the Usurper
Family: Son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent; brother of Aemond, Helaena and Daeron; half-brother of Rhaenyra; uncle to Jacaerys and Lucerys; father of Jaehaerys, Jaehaera and Maelor
Played by: Ewan Mitchell and Leo Ashton (younger)
Born: 110 AC
Dragon: Vhagar
Nickname: Aemond One-Eye; Aemond the Kinslayer
Family: Son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent; brother of King Aegon II, Helaena and Daeron; half-brother of Rhaenyra; uncle to Jacaerys and Lucerys
Played by: Phia Saban and Evie Allen (younger)
Born: 109 AC
Dragon: Dreamfyre
Family: Daughter of King Viserys and Queen Alicent; sister and wife to Aegon II; sister to Aemond and Daeron; mother of Jaehaerys, Jaehaera and Maelor
Played by: Harry Collett and Leo Hart (younger)
Born: 114 AC
Nickname: Jace
Dragon: Vermax
Family: Son of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon or Harwin Strong; brother of Lucerys and Joffrey; nephew to King Aegon II and Aemond
Played by: Elliot Grihault and Harvey Sadler (younger)
Born: 115 AC
Died: 129 AC
Dragon: Arrax
Nickname: Luke
Family: Son of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon or Harwin Strong; brother of Jacaerys and Joffrey; nephew to King Aegon II and Aemond
Played by: Oscar Eskinazi
Born: 126 AC
Nickname: Joff
Family: Son of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon or Harwin Strong; brother of Jacaerys and Lucerys; nephew to King Aegon II and Aemond
Born: 120 AC and 122 AC
Nicknames: Aegon the Younger
Family: Children of Rhaenyra and Daemon
Played by: Phoebe Campbell and Eva Ossei-Gerning (younger); Bethany Antonia and Shani Smethurst (younger)
Born: 116 AC
Nickname: Dragon Twins
Dragon: Moondancer (Baela)
Family: Daughters of Daemon and Laena; cousins of Jacaerys, Lucerys, Joffrey, Aegon II, Aemond, Helaena and Daeron
Played by: Emilia Clarke
Born: 282 AC
Died: 305 AC
Dragons: Viserion, Rhaegal, Drogon
Nicknames: Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons; Dany
Family: Daughter of King Aerys II and Queen Rhaella; sister of Rhaegar and Daenerys; wife of Khal Drogo; aunt and lover of Jon Snow
