House of Targaryen stands as the most formidable and destructive dynasty in the history of Westeros. For nearly three centuries, silver-haired rulers backed by fire-breathing dragons sat upon the Iron Throne. Their reign shaped the geopolitical landscape of the continent from the moment Aegon the Conqueror set foot on shore until the final overthrow of Aerys II. Understanding this royal bloodline requires tracing how strategic breeding, extreme power, and genetic volatility combined to build and eventually ruin an empire.
The family trace their roots back to the Freehold of Valyria, where they were minor nobility. Unlike other dragon-riding families, they fled the impending doom known as the Doom of Valyria after Daenys the Dreamer foresaw the destruction of their homeland. They relocated to Dragonstone, a bleak volcanic island off the eastern coast of Westeros, keeping their dragons and traditions alive for a century before launching an invasion that united seven distinct kingdoms under one crown.
Valyrian Origins and the Move to Dragonstone
Long before they conquered Westeros, the Targaryens were part of the Valyrian Freehold, a sprawling empire ruled by rival noble houses who wielded magic and dragons. They weren't the most powerful lords in Valyria, but owning dragons gave them elite status. In 114 BC, Daenys Targaryen had a prophetic vision that Valyria would burn. Her father, Aenar Targaryen, packed their household, wealth, and five dragons and moved them to Dragonstone.
When the Doom struck Valyria in 102 BC, wiping out the Freehold overnight, House of Targaryen was left as the last surviving family of dragonlords in the western world. They spent the next hundred years consolidating their strength, watching Westeros fracture through endless wars between kings and petty lords. By the time Aegon I reached adulthood, the stage was set for a massive continental campaign.
The Conquest and the First Rulers
In 2 BC, Aegon I Targaryen launched his invasion of Westeros alongside his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys. Armed with three massive dragons—Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes—they systematically defeated or forced the submission of six of the Seven Kingdoms. Only Dorne resisted successfully through asymmetric warfare.
- Aegon I (The Conqueror): Established the Iron Throne from the melted swords of his defeated enemies and founded King's Landing. He adopted the Faith of the Seven to legitimize his rule over Westeros.
- Aenys I: Aegon's eldest son, who proved weak and indecisive, triggering rebellions across the realm that required iron-fisted intervention.
- Maegor I (The Cruel): Aenys's half-brother, who seized the throne and finished building the Red Keep through brutal means. He died under mysterious circumstances without heirs, leaving the crown to his nephew.
The early generations established a dangerous precedent: absolute power derived entirely from biological supremacy over dragons. When the dragons grew smaller and eventually died out during the reign of Aegon III, the dynasty lost its ultimate deterrent.
Succession Crises and the Dance of the Dragons
The bloodline's greatest threat came from within. Because the family practiced incestuous marriage to keep the bloodline "pure" and dragon-riding capability intact, sibling rivalries and succession ambiguities routinely erupted into civil war.
The most devastating of these conflicts was the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war between half-siblings Rhaenyra Targaryen and Aegon II over their father Viserys I's throne. Pitting faction against faction—the Blacks and the Greens—the war destroyed almost all the royal dragons and killed thousands.
Although Rhaenyra's son Aegon III eventually took the crown, the magical beasts that made House of Targaryen invincible dwindled in size and number until the last sickly dragon died during his minority. Without dragons, the family had to rely purely on political maneuvering, leading to centuries of declining influence and recurring rebellions, most notably the Blackfyre Rebellions.
The Madness and Fall of the Dynasty
As centuries passed, the genetic toll of persistent inbreeding manifested in erratic behavior, extreme cruelty, and mental instability—a phenomenon famously referred to as the coin flip of Targaryen madness. While many rulers were wise and capable, such as Jaehaerys I the Conciliator and Aegon V the Unlikely, the final decades brought disaster.
King Aerys II, known historically as the Mad King, grew increasingly paranoid following imprisonment during the Defiance of Duskendale. His summary execution of noble heirs and demand for the heads of Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark pushed the realm into open revolt.
Robert's Rebellion shattered the dynasty. Rhaegar Targaryen died at the Battle of the Trident, King's Landing fell to Lannister forces, and Ser Jaime Lannister killed Aerys II at the foot of the Iron Throne. Surviving children Viserys and Daenerys fled across the Narrow Sea, ending 283 years of uninterrupted Targaryen rule.
Surviving Bloodlines and Modern Legacy
Though the royal line was seemingly extinguished on the continent, Targaryen blood survived through various cadet branches and marriage alliances. House Baratheon, for instance, descended directly from Rhaelle Targaryen, a daughter of Aegon V. This familial link gave Robert Baratheon a legal claim to the throne beyond simple conquest.
Decades later, Daenerys Targaryen hatched three dragon eggs, briefly restoring the family's ancient power before her descent into tyranny led to her assassination. Simultaneously, the revelation that Jon Snow was actually Aegon Targaryen—son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark—proved that the bloodline outlived the Iron Throne itself, closing the circle on a lineage forged in fire and undone by blood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did House of Targaryen practice incest?
They married within the family to preserve their Valyrian physical traits—silver-gold hair and violet eyes—and to ensure that their children retained the magical aptitude required to bond with and ride dragons.
How many Targaryen kings sat on the Iron Throne?
Seventeen crowned monarchs ruled from the Iron Throne during their 283-year dynasty, beginning with Aegon I and ending with Aerys II.
Did any dragons survive the fall of the dynasty?
No. The dragons grew progressively smaller and weaker over generations due to confinement in the Dragonpit of King's Landing, and the last dragon died long before Robert's Rebellion.
Are Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen related?
Yes. Rhaegar Targaryen was Daenerys's eldest brother, making Jon Snow her nephew.
