House Targaryen is one of the most significant historical houses and traces its bloodline back to that of Old Valyria. House Targaryen was one of the major ancient Valyrian families to tame dragons with magic and set up the Valyrian Freehold across the continent of Easteros. However, unlike all other ancient Valyrian familes, House Targaryen survived the Doom by escaping to Dragonstone 12 years prior with five dragons.

Following The Doom, the Targaryens lived on Dragonstone for 100 years, at which point Aegon the Conqueror set forth on his Conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. Just as the ancient Valyrians did on Easteros thousands of years prior, Aegon and his two sisters were able to unite the many kingdoms of Westeros and consolidate them under the rule of House Targaryen. The Targaryen Kings would rule the Seven Kingdoms from King’s Landing for the next 300 years, until Robert Baratheon usurped the throne after Robert’s Rebellion.

The sigil of House Targaryen is a three-headed dragon, representing Aegon and his two sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya. Their words are “Fire and Blood.” Though they ruled from King’s Landing, they maintained their house seat of Dragonstone. Due to their practice of incest, the Targaryens were prone to madness. It is said that each time a Targaryen king was born, the gods flipped a coin to determine whether he would be a proper ruler or a mad one.

SIGNIFICANT TARGARYEN CHARACTERS

Aenar the Exile earned this nickname after fleeing Old Valyria and relocating to Dragonstone with his family and five dragons. His daughter, Daenys the Dreamer, had a vision of Valyria’s decimation. Had he not done this, there would likely be no Targaryens or dragons alive today and the Known World would be entirely different.

Daenys the Dreamer, daughter of Aenar, she had prophetic visions of the fall of Old Valyria 12 years prior to it actually happening.

Aegon the Conqueror invaded Westeros on his Conquest of the Seven Kingdoms approximately 100 years after The Doom. He rode the fiercest dragon to have ever lived, Balerion; his wife-sisters Rhaenys and Visenya rode Meraxes and Vhagar, respectively. After uniting six of the Seven Kingdoms, Aegon became the first Targaryen King of the Seven Kingdoms, starting a dynasty that would rule Westeros for the next 300 years.

Queen Rhaenys Targaryen was the sister-wife of Aegon and first Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She rode Meraxes and helped Aegon to unite the Seven Kingdoms.

Queen Visenya Targaryen was Aegon’s other sister-wife and also Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She rode Vhagar.

Baelor the Blessed was perhaps the most beloved Targaryen King to have ever ruled the Seven Kingdoms. He lived 150 years ago. Studying to become a septon (priest), Baelor assumed the throne after his king-brother was killed. A religious man, Baelor treated the smallfolk of the Seven Kingdom’s well and ruled fairly over Westeros. Most significant, he made peace with Dorne and arranged for a marriage between his Targaryen cousin and a Martell princess. With this marriage, King Baelor successfully consolidated Dorne as the seventh kingdom, something Aegon was never able to do. Another great contribution, King Baelor built the Great Sept of Baelor, the seat of the High Septon and place of religious worship of the Faith of the Seven.

Aemon Targaryen was born over 100 years ago, but passed up his chance to take the Iron Throne to become a Maestar. He is so old and has been a Maestar at Castle Black for so many years that most people forget that he is of Targaryen blood.

The Mad King Aerys began his reign 40 years ago and would be the last Targaryen King of the 300-year old Targaryen dynasty over Westeros. After being paranoid and obsessed with fire, the Mad King began burning alive anybody he suspected as an enemy or threat. An example of his mad actions, Aerys cut out the tongue of Sir Ilyn Payne, after Aerys believed Ilyn had spoke rumors of Targaryen incest. The Mad King had three children: Rhaegar, Viserys and Daenarys. During Robert’s Rebellion, the Mad King was killed by Jaimie Lannister, otherwise known as Kingslayer.

Prince Rhaegar Targaryen showed much promise of being a better king than his mad father. But, during Robert’s Rebellion, Prince Rhaegar was killed by Robert Baratheon during the Battle of the Trident. Rhaegar instigated Robert’s Rebellion by kidnapping Lyanna Stark, brother of Ned and bride-to-be of Robert.

The Beggar King Viserys was heir to the throne after his older brother Rhaegar was slain in battle. As an exile in Easteros with his younger sister Daenarys, Viserys attempted to raise an army to help him reclaim the throne. He married his younger sister to Khal Drogo to secure the Dothraki army, though Viserys was later killed by Khal Drogo for his mistreatment of Drogo’s new wife, Khaleesi.

Daenarys Stormborn is believed to be the last living Targaryen today. 150 years after the death of the last dragon, Daenarys was able to hatch three dragon eggs, making her the Mother of Dragons. Along with Jorah Mormont and Ser Barristan Selmy, Daenarys seeks to make her way from Easteros to Westeros to reclaim the Iron Throne, just as Aegon had done 300 years prior.