House of the Dragon: You need to know these 7 things about House Targaryen from the “Game of Thrones” universe

The Game of Thrones series House of the Dragon is about the reign of House Targaryen, 172 years before the events of the main series. The spin-off is based on George RR Martin’s book “Fire and Blood” and deals in particular with the “Dance of the Dragons”.

1. The History of House Targaryen

The Targaryens originally come from Valyria, the capital of the Valyrian Free State. Over 5,000 years ago, the Valyrians lived as simple shepherds until they discovered dragons in the volcanic chain known as the Fourteen Flames. They tamed the dragons and, with their help, expanded the Valyrian Freehold until they occupied over half of the known world.

The Targaryens were one of the greatest houses in the Free State and settled on the island of Dragonstone. Due to the great distance from Valyria, the Targaryens suffered no damage when the Free State of Valyria fell. Now they were the last great house from Valyria to have dragons.

With the help of their dangerous dragons and well-trained armies, they conquered almost the entire continent of Westeros and united the fragmented kingdoms. Aegon I Targaryen became the first ruler of this new empire, which would remain in Targaryen hands for three centuries.

2. House of the Dragon: Series is about the “Dance of the Dragons”

After the death of the Targaryen ruler Viserys I, the 5th Targaryen King, a conflict arose between his children Rhaenyra Targaryen and Aegon II over the Iron Throne. Before Aegon’s birth, the king prepared his daughter Rhaenyra to rule Westeros. Aegon II Targaryen then emerged from Viserys’ second marriage to Alicent Hightower. After his father’s death, a dispute broke out over the Iron Throne, which led to the “Dance of the Dragons”.

Since both parties had dragons, massive battles broke out that destroyed entire areas of the country. Eventually, Aegon II managed to capture his sister and feed her to his own dragon. But with Rhaenyra’s death, the war for the Seven Kingdoms was not yet over.

Her son, Aegon III, avenged his mother and after Aegon II died of poison, he took the throne. Aegon III married Aegon II’s daughter, Princess Jaehaera, to unite the warring lines. The war was over. However, Jaehaera died two years after the wedding and was also the last offspring of the Greens.

Numerous dragons died in the war. The remaining dragons were too small and unable to ensure the survival of their race. The last dragon known as Dragonbane lived and died as the last of his kind under the reign of Aegon III.

3. The Targaryen coat of arms

The Targaryen coat of arms features a red, three-headed dragon. This represents the Targaryens’ ability to ride dragons. It was only through the power that the dragons gave them that they were able to conquer almost all of Westeros.

The dragon on the Targaryen coat of arms known from “Game of Thrones” has two legs. In “House of the Dragon” you can see flags with four-legged dragon creatures as coats of arms. There’s a reason Daenerys’ ancestors depicted a four-legged dragon on their coat of arms.

4. Important House Targaryen family members

In “The House of the Dragon” numerous family members of House Targaryen are introduced. In addition to Daenerys, unseen characters also play an important role in “Game of Thrones”. We introduce you to the Targaryen family.

5. The seat of House Targaryen is Dragonstone

The Targaryens’ headquarters before they lived in King’s Landing was Dragonstone. Drachenstein is a powerful fortress located in Blackwater Bay. Its walls are made of intricate Valyrian stonework and have stood strong for centuries.

Due to its isolated position on an island, the fortress is considered impregnable. Even a small garrison is enough to successfully defend the large fortress.

Many centuries after Aegon the Conqueror, Aerys II came to power. He was the son of Aegon V. As was customary for the Targaryens, he married his sister and had three children with her: Daenerys, Rhaegar and Viserys. Aerys II was known for his mood swings and insane fantasies.

Rhaegar was killed in battle by Robert Baratheon, Viserys and Daenerys fled to Essos with their mother. Aerys II, the Mad King, asked his pyromancer to set the city on fire. Over the course of his reign, Aerys had countless barrels of sea fire made and stored beneath the city. He believed that he could transform himself into a dragon through fire and free the whole world.

Jaime Lannister, who was then a member of the Kingsguard under Aerys, did not want to allow the destruction of King’s Landing. He murdered his king from behind and also prevented the pyromancer from lighting the sea fire.

With the end of the war, House Targaryen was expelled from the Iron Throne and House Baratheon took its place.

6. In “Game of Thrones,” House Targaryen fights its way back to power

Aerys’ surviving children, Daenerys and Viserys, escaped unharmed to Essos. There they tried together to recapture the throne. However, Viserys turned out to be just as insane as his father and was killed by Daenerys’ husband Khal Drogo.

It took a long time for Daenerys to gain an army, followers, and dragons under her rule. She sailed towards Westeros with the Iron Fleet and its massive army to assert her claim to the throne.

At her side is Tyrion Lannister. As the “Hand of the Queen”, he advises her on strategic decisions and supports her in all situations. In Dragonstone, Daenerys forms an alliance with Jon Snow.

They fight together against the threat from the north. In return, Jon Snow, named King of the North by the Northmen, swears allegiance to House Targaryen. At this point, only Bran and Sam know who Jon Snow’s true parents are.

7. Jon Snow: The Last Targaryen

In the third episode of GoT season 8 entitled “The Long Night” there is a fight against the White Walkers. There are many casualties and numerous characters die in battle. In the end, Arya Stark manages to kill the Night King in the Battle of Winterfell. With this she ends the second Long Night and wipes out all White Walkers and revenants.

After defeating the Night King, Daenerys takes on King’s Landing. She attacks King’s Landing with her dragon and completely destroys the city. Like her father before her, she seems to be going insane. To prevent further harm, Jon Snow kills his lover. When Daenerys’ dragon Drogon realizes that his mother is dead, he melts down the Iron Throne, grabs the dead Daenerys and flies away with her.

Jon Snow is sentenced to serve the rest of his life in the Night’s Watch. He is the last living Targaryen and dragon rider of Westeros.

Meanwhile, US broadcaster HBO has announced that they are planning a “Game of Thrones” spin-off about Jon Snow (Jon Schnee in the German version). Not much is known about the spin-off series so far, except that series star Kit Harington will reprise the role of Jon Snow. The stories about the Targaryen family don’t end with the finale of GoT.

We provide you with information about all the houses of Westeros in our overview. You can find information about characters on our GoT character overview. In our timeline you can read when the different events in Westeros took place. In our GoT wiki we provide you with additional information about Game of Thrones.