‘House of the Dragon’ family tree: Meet the Targaryen ancestors from ‘Game of Thrones’

Wait, who is that? They’re married… but aren’t they siblings? Where did that other silver-haired Targaryen come from?

If you’ve found yourself asking these questions while watching HBO’s House of the Dragon, you’re not alone.

Set long before Daenerys Targaryen hatched three dragons and Jon Snow learned his true parentage, their ancestors were fighting a civil war that would tear the ruling dynasty apart. Roughly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the prequel series follows House Targaryen at the height of its power over the Seven Kingdoms when dragons filled the skies. Based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel Fire & Blood, the show chronicles the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, a brutal succession conflict between two rival factions: the Greens and the Blacks.

With every character seemingly named some variation of Aegon or Rhaenyra, turning on closed captioning every Sunday definitely helps. A visual of the family tree doesn’t hurt, either.

Below is a basic guide to the key players, their dragon bonds and where they stand as the war for the Iron Throne unfolds.

Viserys I Targaryen

The well-meaning king kept the peace during his rule. His decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as his heir sets the stage for the civil war. After the death of his first wife, Queen Aemma Arryn, Viserys marries Alicent Hightower and fathers four more children. After his death, Alicent misunderstands his final words, sparking a succession crisis.

Faction: Neutral (pre-war)

Dragon bond: Balerion (before the dragon’s death)

Rhaenyra Targaryen

The strong-willed and independent firstborn daughter of King Viserys I and Queen Aemma Arryn. Rhaenyra first married Ser Laenor Velaryon, with whom she has three sons: Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey. There was strong speculation that their birth father was her sworn protector and lover, Ser Harwin Strong. Rhaenyra, though, maintains that Laenor is their father. Following Laenor’s disappearance, Rhaenyra marries Daemon, her uncle, and they share three children: Viserys II, Aegon III and stillborn Visenya. As Viserys’ chosen heir, Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne is the main conflict of the war within House Targaryen. Though her half-brother Aegon II (the U-SUR-PER) claims the throne in King’s Landing, she is crowned queen at a separate ceremony at Dragonstone.

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: Syrax 

Daemon Targaryen

The unpredictable younger brother of King Viserys I, who is a skilled dragonrider and warrior. After the death of his first wife, Rhea Royce, he married Laena Velaryon. Daemon and Laena share two daughters: Baela and Rhaena. After Laena’s death, Daemon married his niece, Rhaenyra, to strengthen her claim as heir to the Iron Throne. They share three children: Viserys II, Aegon III and stillborn Visenya.

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: Caraxes

Rhaenys Targaryen

Known as “The Queen Who Never Was,” Rhaenys was passed over for the Iron Throne as the lords of Westeros were in favor of her first cousin, Viserys. Married to Lord Corlys Velaryon, she is the mother of Laena and Laenor and one of Rhaenyra’s strongest supporters.

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: Meleys 

Baela Targaryen

She’s the firstborn and eldest daughter of Daemon and Laena. She is betrothed to her cousin, Jacaerys, to strengthen the alliance between House Targaryen and House Velaryon. She has a strong and trusting relationship with her grandmother, Rhaenys.

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: Moondancer

Rhaena Targaryen

She is the youngest daughter of Daemon and Laena. She is betrothed to her cousin, Lucerys, to strengthen the alliance between House Targaryen and House Velaryon.

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: Sheepstealer, a wild dragon

Corlys Velaryon

He is the leader of the powerful Velaryon family with ancient roots. He is married to Rhaenys, with whom he has two children: Laena and Laenor. As a great explorer, he earned the nickname “The Sea Snake” and is considered the richest man in Westeros. He supports Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne. 

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: None

Alicent Hightower

She is the daughter of Otto Hightower, the primary Hand to King Viserys I. Alicent became Queen after she married Viserys following the death of his first wife. They share four children, the oldest of whom is their son, Aegon II. Alicent thought she heard her husband, the king, whisper on his deathbed that Aegon was the true heir, not Rhaenyra, as previously announced. Under her father’s advice, Alicent aligned with the Green Council in an effort to crown Aegon the next king of Westeros. Alicent also shares a strong childhood friendship with Rhaenyra, but maintains a fierce allegiance to her house and family.

Faction: Green

Dragon bond: None

Aegon II Targaryen

The firstborn son of Viserys and Alicent, making him a half-brother of Rhaenyra. After his father’s death, he is crowned king with the support of his mother and grandfather, despite Viserys naming Rhaenyra as heir. He performs his royal duties with indifference, refusing to engage in the kingdom’s affairs. He’s married to his sister, Helaena, with whom he shares two children: Jaehaera and Jaehaerys.

Faction: Green

Dragon bond: Sunfyre

Helaena Targaryen

The only daughter of Viserys and Alicent, who is known for her quirky personality and believes happiness lies in her ability to “keep chickens.” When she was younger, she was deeply fascinated with bugs and sometimes spoke in a cryptic language. She’s married to her older brother, Aegon II, with whom she shares two children: Jaehaera and Jaehaerys.

Faction: Green

Dragon bond: Dreamfyre, whom Helaena rarely rides

Aemond Targaryen

The secondborn son of Viserys and Alicent, known for his serious, militant and fiery drive. He holds a vendetta against his nephews, Jacaerys (Jace) and Lucerys (Luke), after a fight from their youth resulted in the loss of his left eye. He pledged to marry Floris Baratheon to forge an alliance with House Baratheon in exchange for their support during the civil war.

Faction: Green

Dragon bond: Vhagar, the largest dragon in Westeros, who was previously bonded with Laena Velaryon

Daeron Targaryen

The youngest son of Viserys and Alicent. Daeron was raised in Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower, to squire for Ormund Hightower, Otto Hightower’s nephew. Daeron, who was born with silver hair, now has dyed brown hair. Ormund surrenders a boy pretending to be Daeron, with bleached hair, to Rhaenyra. Alicent, who knows her own son Daeron, reveals to Rhaenyra that Ormund intentionally surrendered the wrong boy.

Faction: Green

Dragon bond: Tessarion

Addam of Hull

One of Lord Corlys Velaryon’s illegitimate sons. Given his Valyrian blood, Seasmoke seeks out Addam as his dragon rider. He pledges himself to Rhaenyra.

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: Seasmoke

Hugh Hammer

As a blacksmith struggling to support his family in King’s Landing during a blockade, he reveals he’s the illegitimate child of King Jaehaerys’s daughter, who was an ostracized Targaryen woman. Given his lineage with Valyrian blood, he’s able to become a dragonrider.

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: Vermithor

Ulf the White

His boasting claims of Targaryen lineage in the pub turned out to be true. He’s the illegitimate son of Baelon Targaryen, which makes him a half-brother to Viserys and Daemon.

Faction: Black

Dragon bond: Silverwing