The House of Targaryen stands as one of the most legendary dragonlord families in the history of Westeros, shaping politics, religion, and war across centuries. This article explores the family’s origins, key members, and their lasting impact on the Seven Kingdoms.
From the ancient Valyrian Freehold to the conquest of Westeros and the Dance of the Dragons, Targaryen bloodlines define epic power struggles, intricate marriages, and catastrophic downfalls that continue to echo in the present age.
House of Targaryen Overview
| Family Name | Homeland | Notable Dragons | Key Legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Targaryen | Valyrian Freehold, later Dragonstone | Balerion, Vhagar, Meraxes | Conquest of the Seven Kingdoms; preservation of dragonblood |
| Founder | House Targaryen | Aegon I Targaryen | Established Aegonfort and the Iron Throne |
| Major Stronghold | King’s Landing | Rhaegal, Viserion, Drogon | Symbol of royal authority and conquest |
| Last Dragonlords | Daenerys Targaryen | Drogon | Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons |
Origins and Valyrian Bloodline
Before the Doom destroyed Valyria, the Targaryens were a minor dragonlord family who survived by relocating to Dragonstone. Their preservation of dragons and arcane knowledge positioned them as pivotal players in the coming age of dragons.
Centuries of careful marriage alliances and study of the arcane arts allowed them to maintain their lineage and dragon mounts, making them the only family capable of challenging the established powers in Westeros when Aegon I decided to conquer.
Conquest and the Iron Throne
The Targaryen conquest under Aegon I unified six of the Seven Kingdoms under a single dragon banner, establishing a new capital at King’s Landing and creating a centralized monarchy that would last for nearly three centuries.
Through dragons, political marriages, and strategic partitions of land, the family enforced a fragile peace that relied on fear, loyalty, and the divine right of dragonborn rulers to maintain order across a fractious realm.
Major Historical Turning Points
The history of House Targaryen is marked by three defining eras: the century-long reign after conquest, the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, and the exile-and-return that brought them back to the Iron Throne.
| Era | Event | Key Figure | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conquest | Aegon’s Landing | Aegon I Targaryen | Unified six kingdoms under dragon rule |
| Dance of the Dragons | Targaryen civil war | Rhaenyra vs Aegon II | Weakened dynasty and dragon extinction |
| Blackfyre Rebellions | Usurper claims | Daemon Blackfyre | Produced exiled cadet branches |
| Return of the Dragon | Robert’s Rebellion aftermath | Daenerys Targaryen | Restored Targaryen presence with new dragons |
Family Structure and Key Members
The Targaryen family tree is a complex web of sibling marriages, cousin unions, and arranged pacts intended to preserve both blood purity and dragon legacy.
Major figures such as Visenya and Rhaenys shaped early governance, while later members like Jaehaerys I and Baelor I influenced the realm through councils, reforms, and religious diplomacy rather than outright warfare.
Legacy and Influence Across the Realms
Even after their rule faltered, Targaryen decisions shaped borders, succession customs, and dragon lore, influencing houses, Free Cities, and Essosi powers long after they lost the Iron Throne.
- Originated in Valyria and survived through strategic relocation to Dragonstone
- Conquered and unified much of Westeros, establishing a centralized monarchy
- Drove major conflicts such as the Dance of the Dragons through succession disputes
- Ended with the near-extinction of dragonblood in Westeros before Daenerys’s rise
- Continued to influence global politics through exiled descendants and dragon legacy
FAQ
Reader questions
How did the Targaryens survive the Doom of Valyria?
They had foreseen the catastrophe through prophetic dreams and moved their dragons and household to the distant fortress-island of Dragonstone, preserving their bloodline and mounts.
What caused the Dance of the Dragons?
A disputed succession after King Viserys I naming his daughter Rhaenyra as heir led to open civil war between rival claimants, resulting in devastating losses for both dragons and nobility.
Who were the last dragonlords before Daenerys?
Before Daenerys, the known dragonlords were Prince Baelon Targaryen and his sons Aenar and Viserys, who struggled to maintain dying dragonblood in the decades before the last dragons nearly vanished.
How did Robert’s Rebellion affect the Targaryen family?
The rebellion overthrew King Aerys II, killed most of the immediate royal line, and forced surviving Targaryens into exile across the Narrow Sea, setting the stage for Daenerys’s eventual return.