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The Targaryen Civil War: 7 Shocking Family Tree Secrets That Explain The Dance Of The Dragons

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Understanding the Targaryen family tree is the single most critical factor in grasping the brutal civil war at the heart of House of the Dragon. As of December 21, 2025, the realm is fractured, and the lines of succession are hopelessly tangled, pitting half-siblings, aunts, and nephews against each other in a bloody conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons. This deep dive into the Targaryen lineage provides the essential, up-to-date context you need to follow every betrayal and battle as the two main factions—the Blacks and the Greens—vie for the Iron Throne.

The Targaryen dynasty, famous for its silver hair, purple eyes, and tradition of incestuous marriage to "keep the bloodline pure," has reached a catastrophic breaking point. The death of King Viserys I Targaryen has unleashed a devastating power struggle that will reshape the history of Westeros. To truly appreciate the scale of the tragedy, you must know every key player, their claim, and their lineage.

The Royal Lineage: A Complete House of the Dragon Family Tree Biography

The Targaryen family tree during the Dance of the Dragons can be best understood by tracing the two main branches stemming from King Viserys I, who inadvertently ignited the conflict by naming his daughter, Rhaenyra, as his heir, only for his second wife, Alicent, to push her own son, Aegon, forward.

  • King Viserys I Targaryen (The Peacemaker):
    • Parents: Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen.
    • First Wife: Aemma Arryn (died in childbirth).
    • Second Wife: Alicent Hightower.
    • Children (with Aemma): Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
    • Children (with Alicent): Prince Aegon (II), Prince Aemond, Princess Helaena, and Prince Daeron (often absent from early show seasons but a key player).
    • Role: His indecision and desire for peace ultimately led to civil war.
  • Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (The Blacks' Queen):
    • Parents: King Viserys I and Queen Aemma Arryn.
    • First Husband: Laenor Velaryon (allegedly).
    • Second Husband/Uncle: Prince Daemon Targaryen.
    • Children (The "Strong" Boys): Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon, Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon, Joffrey Velaryon (all rumored to be fathered by Ser Harwin Strong).
    • Children (Targaryen): Prince Aegon (The Younger) and Prince Viserys (The Younger).
    • Dragon: Syrax.
    • Claim: Named heir by Viserys I, supported by her husband Daemon, the Velaryons, and many major houses.
  • King Aegon II Targaryen (The Greens' King):
    • Parents: King Viserys I and Queen Alicent Hightower.
    • Wife/Sister: Queen Helaena Targaryen.
    • Children: Twins Prince Jaehaerys and Princess Jaehaera, and Prince Maelor.
    • Dragon: Sunfyre.
    • Claim: The eldest son of Viserys and Alicent, supported by the Greens faction who believe male primogeniture is paramount.
  • Prince Daemon Targaryen (The Rogue Prince):
    • Parents: Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen (brother of Viserys I).
    • Wives: Rhea Royce, Laena Velaryon, and Rhaenyra Targaryen (his niece).
    • Children (with Laena): Twins Baela Targaryen and Rhaena Targaryen.
    • Children (with Rhaenyra): Prince Aegon and Prince Viserys.
    • Dragon: Caraxes.
    • Role: Rhaenyra’s most formidable ally, a fierce warrior, and a key military strategist for the Blacks.
  • Queen Alicent Hightower (The Greens' Matriarch):
    • Parents: Ser Otto Hightower.
    • Husband: King Viserys I Targaryen.
    • Children: King Aegon II, Prince Aemond, Princess Helaena, and Prince Daeron.
    • Role: The driving force behind the Greens faction and the political rival of Rhaenyra.

The Incestuous Roots of Conflict: How the Targaryen Bloodline Fractured Westeros

The Targaryens’ insistence on marrying within the family—a practice intended to preserve the purity of their Valyrian blood and their connection to dragons—is the very thing that created the ambiguous succession crisis and fueled the Dance of the Dragons.

The marriage of King Viserys I to Alicent Hightower, a non-Targaryen, was already a break from tradition, but the true complication lies in the next generation. The two most consequential incestuous unions are:

1. Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen (Niece and Uncle)

This union was a powerful consolidation of Targaryen blood and dragon power, solidifying the "Black" claim. Daemon, the Rogue Prince, brought his immense military experience and his formidable dragon, Caraxes, to Rhaenyra's cause. Their sons, Aegon the Younger and Viserys the Younger, represent the purest Targaryen line in Rhaenyra's immediate family, yet their birth did nothing to diminish the suspicion surrounding Rhaenyra’s older three sons, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, whose true paternity is widely doubted in the court.

2. Aegon II Targaryen and Helaena Targaryen (Brother and Sister)

The "Greens" faction, led by Queen Alicent and Ser Otto Hightower, adhered more closely to the Targaryen tradition by marrying their eldest son, Aegon, to his sister, Helaena. This marriage produced the heirs apparent to Aegon II: the twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and their younger brother Maelor. This union was intended to create an unassailable claim, but the tragic fate of their children becomes a major catalyst for the war's escalating brutality. The murder of Prince Jaehaerys is a pivotal, shocking moment that turns a political disagreement into a blood feud.

The Blacks vs. The Greens: Key Players and Their Dragons

The Dance of the Dragons is not just a war of armies; it is a war of dragons. The family tree determines who rides which beast, creating a terrifyingly powerful roster for both sides. The balance of power is constantly shifting based on which dragonriders survive the escalating conflict.

The Black Faction (Rhaenyra's Supporters)

The Blacks represent the established line of succession, backed by the wealth and naval power of House Velaryon. Their strength lies in the number of dragonriders and the sheer size of their dragons. Key entities include:

  • Rhaenyra Targaryen: Rider of Syrax.
  • Daemon Targaryen: Rider of Caraxes.
  • Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen Who Never Was): Daemon’s cousin and Corlys Velaryon's wife. Rider of Meleys, "The Red Queen."
  • Corlys Velaryon (The Sea Snake): Master of Driftmark and Rhaenyra’s most powerful ally.
  • Jacaerys Velaryon: Rhaenyra's eldest son, rider of Vermax.
  • Baela Targaryen: Daemon’s daughter, rider of Moondancer.
  • Rhaena Targaryen: Daemon’s daughter, who eventually claims the dragon Morning.
  • The Dragonseeds: A group of bastards from Valyrian bloodlines who are recruited to ride unclaimed dragons, significantly bolstering the Blacks' aerial advantage.

The Blacks’ claim is based on King Viserys I’s decree, making them the legitimate party in the eyes of many lords who swore an oath to Rhaenyra years prior. Their political base is Dragonstone, the ancient seat of the Targaryens.

The Green Faction (Aegon II's Supporters)

The Greens operate from King’s Landing, controlling the capital, the royal treasury, and the support of the powerful House Hightower. Their advantage lies in holding the political heart of the Seven Kingdoms and possessing some of the largest, most fearsome dragons in Westeros. Key entities include:

  • Aegon II Targaryen: Rider of Sunfyre, "The Golden."
  • Alicent Hightower: The Queen Mother and mastermind of the coup.
  • Otto Hightower: Hand of the King and Alicent's father, a shrewd political operator.
  • Aemond Targaryen (The One-Eyed Prince): Aegon’s younger brother, a ruthless warrior, and rider of Vhagar.
  • Helaena Targaryen: Aegon’s sister-wife, rider of Dreamfyre.
  • Ser Criston Cole: Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, who crowns Aegon and serves as a key general.
  • Larys Strong (The Clubfoot): Master of Whisperers, providing the Greens with vital intelligence and dark deeds.

The Greens’ claim is rooted in the tradition of male succession, arguing that a woman cannot sit the Iron Throne, a precedent set decades earlier at the Great Council of 101 AC. Their power is concentrated and deeply entrenched in the capital.

The Family Tree's Fatal Flaw: The Question of Paternity

The most explosive secret hidden within the Targaryen family tree is the parentage of Rhaenyra's three eldest sons: Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey. Officially, they are the sons of Ser Laenor Velaryon. However, their physical appearance—brown hair and eyes, lacking the distinct Valyrian silver and purple—strongly suggests their true father was Ser Harwin Strong, the Captain of the City Watch.

This ambiguity is the Greens' most potent political weapon. If Rhaenyra’s children are bastards, her entire line of succession is invalid, automatically strengthening Aegon II’s claim. The fatal confrontation between Prince Aemond (a Green) and Prince Lucerys (a Black) over this very issue—where Aemond calls Lucerys and his brothers "Strong boys"—results in Lucerys's death, an act of kinslaying that officially begins the Dance of the Dragons. This single act of violence, born from a family secret, shatters the fragile peace and sets the stage for the war's most brutal acts, ensuring the Targaryen family tree will be forever stained with the blood of its own kin.

The Targaryen Civil War: 7 Shocking Family Tree Secrets That Explain the Dance of the Dragons
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