A new season of House of the Dragon means we’re back in the trenches of parsing the Targaryen family tree.
That process can be tough for a number of reasons: the sheer number of characters, their similar names (seriously, does George R.R. Martin get paid by the “ae”?), and of course, all that incest. So if you’ve ever asked yourself the question “Who is that?” or “How are they related again?,” you’ve come to the right place.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 review: A tragedy written in fire and blood
Here, you’ll find the Targaryen family tree as it stands headed into Season 2, complete with deaths and updated marriages. If you need a refresher on the Season 1 family tree, time jumps and all, we’ve got you covered there, too. Read on for all the characters you need to remember going into Season 2, and how the twisted Targaryen family tree links them all together.
Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable
Alicent Hightower
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Kicking things off at the top of our family tree is Alicent Hightower, matriarch of Team Green. Following her husband Viserys’ death and their son Aegon II’s coronation, Alicent became Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Her father, Otto Hightower, is Aegon’s Hand of the King. He also served as Hand to the past two kings, Jaehaerys and Viserys. Clearly, the Hightowers have no intention of leaving the Targaryens alone just yet.
Alicent and Viserys’ children: Aegon II, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron Targaryen
Credit: Mashable composite: Ollie Upton / HBO
Alicent and Viserys had four children together, and we’re already getting some classic Targaryen sibling incest with two of them. As is custom for the House of the Dragon, Aegon II married his younger sister Helaena, whose prophetic visions in Season 1 established her as a “dreamer” like Aegon the Conqueror. Together, they have three children: twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and Maelor. As Aegon’s eldest son, Jaehaerys is currently heir to the throne.
The new ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 intro shows the history of House Targaryen
Aegon and Helaena’s younger brother Aemond will prove a key player in the oncoming Dance of the Dragons. He currently rides Vhagar, the largest of the dragons, as well as the creature responsible for killing Lucerys Targaryen. Oh, and with his sapphire eye and eye-patch combo, he’s rocking the best accessories in all of Westeros.
Daeron, the youngest of Alicent and Viserys’ children, has yet to appear in House of the Dragon, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist! In Fire & Blood, he grows up in Oldtown as a ward of House Hightower. Perhaps he’ll join the action in Season 2. Even just getting a mention would be nice!
Rhaenys Targaryen and Corlys Targaryen
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
The Queen Who Never Was and the Sea Snake both survived Season 1. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of their children. Their daughter Laena died during a painful childbirth, when she commanded her dragon Vhagar to set her ablaze. Their son Laenor, Rhaenyra Targaryen’s first husband, died in a sword fight. At least, that’s what Rhaenys and Corlys believe.
In reality (and in one of the biggest changes from Martin’s work), Laenor faked his death and fled to Essos with his lover Qarl, leaving his dragon Seasmoke behind. The ruse offered Laenor a new start and gave Rhaenyra an opening for a new marriage. Unfortunately, it also devastated his parents, who have already experienced so much loss. If Laenor ever does come back to Westeros — and given the events of Fire & Blood, I’m not sure he will — he’ll have some explaining to do to his poor mother and father.
Rhaenyra and Alicent reunite in the ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 premiere — but not how you’d think
Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Once Laenor and Laena both died (or at least seemed like they had), there was nothing stopping Rhaenyra and Daemon from getting married. Certainly not the fact that they’re uncle and niece!
In the years between their marriage and the end of Season 1, Rhaenyra and Daemon have two sons: Aegon III and Viserys II. Their daughter, Visenya, is stillborn, another tragic loss Rhaenyra must weather in the wake of her father’s death.
Rhaenyra and Laenor’s children: Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon
Credit: Theo Whitman / HBO
By all official standards, Rhaenyra and Laenor had three children together during the course of their marriage. Yet it’s an open secret that all three are the bastard sons of Ser Harwin Strong, who perished in a fire set by his brother Larys in Season 1.
Harwin may be dead, but (some of) his sons live on. As the eldest child, Jacaerys is Rhaenyra’s heir. If she manages to take the Iron Throne, he’s next in line. His younger brother Lucerys was heir to Driftmark, seat of House Velaryon, but after his tragic death in the Season 1 finale, that title presumably passes to the youngest of the three boys, Joffrey.
Daemon and Laena’s children: Baela and Rhaena Targaryen
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Rounding out the family tree are Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, the daughters of Daemon and Laena and the legitimate grandchildren of Rhaenys and Corlys.
Like many of the Targaryens, Baela is a dragonrider. We already see her riding her mount Moondancer in the Season 2 trailer, so expect a larger role from her this season. She’s also betrothed to her cousin Jacaerys, which is fairly tame as far as Targaryen incest goes.
Unlike Baela, Rhaena doesn’t have a dragon, nor is she betrothed. She had hoped to claim Vhagar following her mother’s death, but Aemond got there first. Rhaena was also promised to wed Lucerys, but once again, Aemond got in the way. He just has it out for Team Black, doesn’t he?
House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres June 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max, with a new episode every Sunday.
