Who Were the Targaryens
The Targaryens were a fictional dynasty of rulers in the Game of Thrones series and George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels. They were the last dragonlords in Westeros and used their dragons to conquer and unify most of the continent under a single iron throne. The family originated from the Valyrian Freehold before relocating to the island fortress of Dragonstone after the Doom of Valyria.
The Targaryens ruled the Seven Kingdoms for nearly three centuries before the events of the main Game of Thrones story. Their sigil was a three-headed dragon on a black field, and their house words were "Fire and Blood." The family practiced incestuous marriages to keep their bloodline pure and preserve their dragon-riding abilities. The last Targaryen king in the main series timeline was Aerys II, known as the Mad King, whose actions sparked Robert's Rebellion.
Key Targaryen Characters
Daenerys Targaryen is the central Targaryen character in the television series, often called Daenerys Stormborn or the Mother of Dragons. She is the last surviving member of the main Targaryen line and seeks to reclaim the Iron Throne with her three dragons. Her journey begins as an exiled princess and progresses through marriage alliances, military conquests, and political maneuvering across Essos and Westeros.
Other major Targaryens include Jon Snow, whose true identity as Rhaegar Targaryen's son is revealed in the series. Rhaegar was the crown prince and a skilled knight who won the Tourney at Harrenhal. Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys's older brother, spent years in exile seeking resources to fund his invasion of Westeros. Aegon Targaryen, also known as Young Griff, is a claimed descendant who appears in the later novels and seeks to press his own claim to the throne.
Targaryen History and Legacy
The Targaryens conquered Westeros approximately 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones using their dragons and a small army. Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, established the dynasty and built King's Landing as their capital. The Targaryens ruled through periods of stability and turmoil, including the Dance of the Dragons civil war between rival branches of the family.
The dynasty ended with Robert Baratheon's rebellion, which overthrew the Mad King Aerys II and installed Robert as the new ruler. The last dragons died during the Targaryen reign, and the family's connection to dragons became legendary. The Targaryen legacy continues to influence political struggles in Westeros, with multiple claimants and pretenders asserting Targaryen bloodlines in the novels and spin-off series.