The Targaryen Bloodline Decoded: 15+ Key Entities On The House Of The Dragon Family Tree (Updated For Season 2)

Tracking the tangled webs of the Targaryen dynasty can feel like a quest through the Valyrian Freehold itself, but understanding the intricate family tree is essential to grasp the stakes of the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. The sheer number of intermarriages, cousins, and half-siblings makes the royal succession a bloody puzzle, a tradition that ultimately tears the great House apart.

As of late 2024, with the highly anticipated second season of House of the Dragon now a reality, the lines are drawn, and the family’s complexity has only deepened with new characters and alliances. This comprehensive breakdown will map the core lineage, identify the key players in the coming conflict, and introduce the crucial new entities joining the fray, ensuring you are fully prepared for the dragons' war.

The Core Lineage: From Aegon the Conqueror to the Old King Jaehaerys I

The Targaryen dynasty in Westeros begins with Aegon I Targaryen, known as Aegon the Conqueror, who established the Iron Throne. The lineage relevant to House of the Dragon picks up centuries later, focusing on the children and grandchildren of the fourth Targaryen king, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, "The Old King". His long and peaceful reign set the stage for the coming storm.

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The succession crisis that leads to the Dance of the Dragons stems directly from Jaehaerys’s choices. His two most prominent children were Aemon Targaryen and Baelon Targaryen.

• Jaehaerys I Targaryen (The Old King): His reign was one of peace, but his failure to clearly establish a female line of succession for the Iron Throne created the precedent for the war.
• Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen That Never Was): The daughter of Aemon. She was passed over for the throne twice—once for Viserys and once for her son, Laenor Velaryon—despite being the eldest living grandchild of Jaehaerys. She is married to Lord Corlys Velaryon.
• King Viserys I Targaryen: The son of Baelon, he was chosen by the Great Council to succeed Jaehaerys. His decision to name his daughter, Rhaenyra, as his heir is the central catalyst for the civil war.
• Prince Daemon Targaryen: Viserys's younger brother, a formidable warrior, and dragonrider. His complex relationship with Viserys and his eventual marriage to Rhaenyra makes him a pivotal figure.

Team Black vs. Team Green: The Warring Branches and Their Children

The entire conflict—the Dance of the Dragons—is a brutal family feud pitting two branches of the Targaryen family against each other: Team Black (Rhaenyra's faction) and Team Green (Alicent's faction). This division is a perfect illustration of the LSI keyword Targaryen family tree explained through conflict.

Team Black: Princess Rhaenyra's Lineage

Team Black supports Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Viserys’s named heir and firstborn child. Her claim is based on her father's decree, but her legitimacy is challenged due to her sex and the parentage of her first three sons.

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• Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen: The claimant to the Iron Throne, married first to Laenor Velaryon and later to her uncle, Daemon Targaryen.
• Jacaerys Velaryon (Jace): Rhaenyra's eldest son and heir. He is a key emissary for Team Black.
• Lucerys Velaryon (Luke): Rhaenyra's second son, whose tragic death at the hands of Aemond Targaryen is the spark that ignites the Dance of the Dragons.
• Joffrey Velaryon: Rhaenyra's third son.
• Aegon the Younger & Viserys: Rhaenyra's two sons with Daemon Targaryen, born later in the timeline.

Team Green: Queen Alicent's Lineage

Team Green supports Prince Aegon II Targaryen, Viserys’s firstborn son with his second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower. Their claim is based on the traditional Westerosi law that favors a male heir over an elder female heir, a core theme in the Dance of the Dragons lineage.

• Queen Alicent Hightower: Daughter of Ser Otto Hightower (Hand of the King) and mother of the Green claimants. She believes Rhaenyra’s ascension will endanger her own children.
• King Aegon II Targaryen: The younger half-brother of Rhaenyra, who is crowned king by the Greens upon Viserys's death. He is married to his sister, Helaena Targaryen.
• Prince Aemond Targaryen: Alicent's second son, a fierce warrior and dragonrider who loses an eye in a childhood fight with Lucerys Velaryon. His thirst for vengeance is a major plot driver.
• Princess Helaena Targaryen: Aegon II's sister-wife, a dragonrider and a dreamer whose cryptic prophecies often foreshadow tragedy.
• Prince Daeron Targaryen: Alicent's third son, who is often overlooked but becomes important later in the war.

New Faces and Crucial Alliances: Expanding the Political Web in Season 2

The complexity of the Targaryen family tree extends beyond the direct bloodline, drawing in powerful houses and new characters who will play a deciding role in the war. The House of the Dragon Season 2 characters list includes several key figures who bolster the topical authority of the narrative.

The Velaryon/Sea Snake Connection

The House Velaryon is critical to Team Black. Lord Corlys Velaryon (The Sea Snake) and Princess Rhaenys (The Queen That Never Was) are Rhaenyra's in-laws, providing the Blacks with the largest fleet in Westeros. Their children, Laena Velaryon (Daemon's second wife) and Laenor Velaryon (Rhaenyra's first husband), solidify this alliance.

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The New Blood: Key Season 2 Entities

The war requires new alliances and new dragonriders. The second season introduces entities whose loyalty will be crucial to the outcome of the Dance of the Dragons:

• Lord Cregan Stark: The young Lord of Winterfell and head of House Stark. His support is vital for Team Black, and Rhaenyra's son, Jacaerys, is sent to secure his loyalty.
• Alys Rivers: A mysterious figure from Harrenhal, often rumored to be a witch or a sorceress, whose influence over the war is significant.
• The Dragonseeds (Hugh Hammer & Ulf White): Two common-born men who are rumored to have Targaryen blood and are capable of claiming and riding dragons. Their rise is a destabilizing factor in the war.
• Addam of Hull & Alyn of Hull: Two brothers from Hull who also emerge as potential dragonriders, further complicating the issue of succession and loyalty.
• Ser Gwayne Hightower: Brother to Queen Alicent and son of Otto Hightower. His presence strengthens the power base of House Hightower in the Green faction.

The Lasting Legacy of the Targaryen Family Tree

The House of the Dragon family tree is not merely a chart of names; it is a blueprint for tragedy. The incestuous tradition, a practice meant to keep the bloodline pure and strengthen their connection to dragons, ultimately created a volatile, interconnected family where every marital alliance was also a political vulnerability. The Targaryen family tree explained in this context shows that the children of Viserys I—Rhaenyra, Aegon II, Aemond, and Helaena—were all bound by blood but separated by ambition, counsel, and a father's indecision.

The sheer number of entities—from Daenys "Dreamer" Targaryen in the ancient past to the newest Dragonseeds—demonstrates the depth of the lore and the scale of the conflict. As the Dance of the Dragons unfolds, every branch of this sprawling tree will be tested, and the war will decide not only who sits on the Iron Throne but also the fate of the dragons themselves, leaving a legacy that will haunt Westeros for generations to come, right up to the events of Game of Thrones.