As soon as upon a time within the fantasy land of Westeros, a clan of fireproof, dragon-riding blondes took over the Seven Kingdoms and dedicated a surprising quantity of direct sibling incest. They had been Home Targaryen, they usually dominated for hundreds of years till one among their descendants fumbled the bag and let Robert Baratheon usurp the throne. Then got here the story of Game of Thrones… and everyone knows how that turned out.
House of the Dragon turns again the clock to the bizarre previous days of Targaryen rule — extra particularly, the interval earlier than and through a civil battle referred to as the Dance of the Dragons. Evidently, there are much more Targaryens round on this time than there have been throughout Thrones, and remembering who’s associated to who’s lots tougher on this present. Don’t fear although, we bought you. Not solely do we’ve got what the Targaryen household tree appeared like at the beginning of Season 1, but in addition we have got the replace to maintain issues straight after the Episode 6 time leap.
That is the household tree because it exists at the beginning of Home of the Dragon. Solely essentially the most related youngsters in every technology are included, since absolutely outlining the handfuls of rogue cousins, usurpers, minor monarchs, and momentary heirs would actually take longer than simply watching the primary episode.
The Targaryen household tree in all its incestuous branches.
Credit score: Ian Moore / Mashable
Aegon “The Conqueror” Targaryen and Rhaenys Targaryen
If there’s one useless Targaryen the folks on Sport of Thrones talked about most (in addition to the Mad King and Rhaegar), it’s Aegon “The Conqueror.” He based the royal line by taking up nearly all of the Seven Kingdoms and uniting them underneath his rule. Aegon additionally married each of his sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya, in accordance with the extraordinarily nasty household custom of maintaining their bloodline “pure” — a phrase which right here means “dragon-riding and probably insane.”
Incest: Siblings.
Related youngsters: Aenys Targaryen
Aenys Targaryen and Alyssa Velaryon
To start with, it’s pronounced “Ennis.” Be good. His spouse Alyssa was a Velaryon, so the Velaryon household has had pores and skin within the recreation (of thrones) because the basis of the Targaryen dynasty.
Incest: First cousins, which is the genetic equal of a rando off the road for this household.
Related youngsters: Jaehaerys Targaryen and Alysanne Targaryen
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Jaehaerys “The Outdated King” Targaryen and Alysanne Targaryen
Jaehaerys Targaryen (heart) with Viserys Targaryen, Aemma Arryn, Rhaenys Targaryen, and Corlys Velaryon.
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
So far as sibling incest goes, these two are literally…type of candy? They had been presupposed to be married off to different households however ran away to elope collectively as a result of they beloved one another from childhood. (Yeah, nope. Nonetheless unhealthy.)
Jaehaerys and Alysanne dominated properly collectively and their reign was a golden age for the Targaryens. Additionally they had tons of youngsters however solely 4 of them actually mattered in the long run.
Incest: Siblings.
Related youngsters: Aemon, Baelon, Alyssa, and Daella — in that start order.
Aemon Targaryen and Jocelyn Baratheon (not pictured)
Aemon was the firstborn surviving son and inheritor of Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He married a Baratheon, which looks like it will be not tremendous incest-y, however that Baratheon was additionally his aunt. Aemon died earlier than his father, passing the position of inheritor all the way down to his youthful brother Baelon.
Incest: No matter a man marrying his mother and father’ shared half-sister is.
Related youngsters: Rhaenys Targaryen
Baelon Targaryen and Alyssa Targaryen
Ah, so we’re again to marrying our siblings. Baelon had two sons along with his sister Alyssa and have become the brand new inheritor after his brother Aemon died. Then he died, leaving Jaehaerys and Alysanne with precisely zero eligible sons to inherit the throne immediately.
Incest: Siblings. Once more.
Related youngsters: Viserys and Daemon Targaryen
Daella Targaryen and Roderick Arryn (not pictured)
Daella Targaryen married younger and sadly died giving start to her first and solely daughter, Aemma.
Incest: Completely none, which is sort of a shock.
Related youngsters: Aemma Arryn
Rhaenys Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon
Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Eve Greatest as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in “Home of the Dragon.”
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
Rhaenys is the firstborn baby of Aemon Targaryen and eldest granddaughter of Jaehaerys and Alysanne. She’s married to Corlys “The Sea Snake” Velaryon in a love match that consolidates a ton of the realm’s wealth and energy into one badass mega-family.
Nonetheless, her declare to the Iron Throne (in addition to the declare of her son Laenor) was handed over in favor of her youthful cousin Viserys. Was {that a} unhealthy transfer? Tune in to search out out!
Incest: Tremendous distant cousins, to the purpose the place it’s a wash.
Related youngsters: Laenor and Laena Velaryon (not pictured, they’re vital later)
Viserys Targaryen and Aemma Arryn
Paddy Considine and Sian Brooke as Viserys Targaryen and Aemma Arryn in “Home of the Dragon.”
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
The king and queen at the beginning of Home of the Dragon are Viserys and Aemma, the youngsters of Baelon and Daella Targaryen, respectively. They’ve one daughter, Rhaenyra, and hope to have a son, primarily as a result of within the absence of a son the throne would possibly cross to Viserys’ brother Daemon.
Now, to deliver this full circle: Keep in mind the half about Targaryen blood purity that means “dragon-riding and probably insane?” That’s Daemon to a T. And the T is for Targaryen.
Incest: First cousins.
Related youngsters: Rhaenyra Targaryen
The Targaryen Household Tree from Episode 6 onward
How’s it going? All people having enjoyable? Is everybody keeping the dragon names straight? Are we agreed on who the MVPs are of each episode? Good.
After all, the second everybody will get comfy with how issues work within the Pink Hold, Home of the Dragon throws a curveball and jumps forward 10-ish years to when Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Daemon all have youngsters of their very own. Simply to verify everybody’s caught up on all the brand new Targaryens, Velaryons, and different robust (ahem) contenders for our consideration, right here’s what the household tree seems like as of Episode 6 of Home of the Dragon.
Credit score: Ian Moore / Mashable
And this is how the Targaryen’s branches are faring:
King Viserys Targaryen and Aemma Arryn [DECEASED]
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
King Viserys and Aemma Arryn had been a stunning match — up till the purpose he allowed his maesters to carry out a C-section without her consent. Baelon, the son Aemma died to ship, solely survived his mom for just a few extra hours, incomes the mocking moniker “Inheritor for a Day” from Viserys’ youthful brother Daemon.
After that, Viserys named his daughter Rhaenyra his absolute inheritor, reasonably than cross the throne to Daemon.
Incest: First Cousins
Related Kids: Rhaenyra Targaryen, Baelon Targaryen [DECEASED]
King Viserys Targaryen and Alicent Hightower
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
After the loss of life of his beloved Queen Aemma, Viserys was pressured into taking one other spouse and selected Alicent Hightower, his daughter’s greatest buddy and daughter of his Hand, Otto Hightower. Nothing says “friendship killer” like your bestie marrying your dad, proper? Yikes!
Incest: None, to Viserys’ credit score. That’s all he will get credit score for.
Related Kids: Aegon, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron Targaryen [Not born yet]
Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
Despite the fact that Rhaenys’ declare to the throne was handed over for her cousin Viserys, Corlys and Rhaenys have hella standing with out truly having to rule the dominion. They’re highly effective, they’re wealthy, and their children have royal blood, making their bloodline preferrred to marry again into the Targaryen household.
Incest: Distant cousins
Related Kids: Laenor and Laena Velaryon
Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
After the (ahem) tragic loss of life of his first spouse Rhea Royce, Daemon Targaryen married Laena Velaryon, the attractive daughter of his first cousin Rhaenys. Attributable to Daemon’s um, misbehavior at courtroom, they had been compelled into exile in Pentos, the place they reside with their twin daughters and fly round on their cool dragons Caraxes and Vhagar.
Incest: First cousins as soon as eliminated
Related Kids: Baela and Rhaena Targaryen
Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
Rhaenyra’s marriage to Laenor Velaryon was type of a given, contemplating her distinctive standing as a princess and future ruling queen. Solely somebody with the blood of the dragon would do for her, and Laenor was proper there wanting like a totally uninterested — I imply, clearly devoted — snack.
Incest: Second Cousins
Related Kids: Formally? Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon.
Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Robust
Credit score: Ollie Upton / HBO
Yeah, so Rhaenyra wasn’t precisely Laenor’s kind. He wasn’t hers both. When her youngsters had been born wanting completely nothing like their father, she insisted that they had been Laenor’s respectable sons…all whereas having a really shut relationship with Ser Harwin Robust, the brunette son of the King’s Grasp of Legal guidelines. And hey, would you have a look at that? If you happen to squint her children do type of appear to be…uh. By no means thoughts.
Incest: None
Related Kids. Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey “Velaryon”
New House of the Dragon episodes are available every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.(opens in a new tab)