After its first season concluded in October 2022, it was obvious that the series had become a favorite among fans of Game of Thrones. The show’s appeal lies in its unique setting – an earlier period in Westeros during the peak of Targaryen power – which feels both new and captivating. House of the Dragon began with the rule of Viserys I Targaryen, offering viewers a look into the complex history of House Targaryen.
Since House of the Dragon has just begun, we can expect several more seasons. The Targaryen family ruled Westeros for centuries, and it’s impossible to tell that entire story in just one series, or even one season. The Iron Throne changed hands many times over the years, ultimately ending with Bran the Broken as seen in Game of Thrones.
Aegon I Targaryen Unified the Kingdoms of Westeros For the First Time
Aegon I Targaryen, known as Aegon the Conqueror, brought the separate kingdoms of Westeros together and began the Targaryen rule. Many believe Westeros would never have been one country without him. Over time, people have strongly debated whether his unification was ultimately a positive or negative event.
Aegon the Conqueror successfully took over six of the nine kingdoms: The North, the Vale, the Iron Islands, the Riverlands, the Westerlands, and the Stormlands. However, he was never able to conquer Dorne.
The powerful families in these areas, like the Lannisters and Starks, ended up owing loyalty to the Targaryens. This arrangement lasted for a long time, until Robert led a rebellion against them. While he was king, Aegon began building King’s Landing, which would serve as the capital city of Westeros for hundreds of years.
I’ve always been fascinated by his reign! He didn’t just lead, he actually reshaped how we measure time itself. He started a new calendar, with year 1 marking the beginning of his rule, and it lasted until his death in the 27th year. It’s amazing to think about the impact he had, even on something as fundamental as how we track the years!
Aenys I Targaryen Took the Throne Only Five Years Before His Death
Aenys and his wife, who was also his sister, became the second king to rule from the Iron Throne. Though Aenys was often sick as a child and didn’t seem naturally suited to be king, he was remarkably intelligent and fascinated by subjects like astronomy and alchemy.
Aenys was a good-hearted king, but he struggled with big decisions because he didn’t want to upset anyone. This led to several uprisings during his reign, and people often doubted his ability to rule. Aenys himself was surprised by these rebellions, as he thought his people supported him. He only ruled for five years, passing away in 42 AC.
Maegor I Targaryen Earned His Toxic Reputation For Brutality
Maegor I Targaryen, often called Maegor the Cruel, was the younger half-brother of Aenys and a son of Aegon the Conqueror. Unlike his brother, who was gentle and preferred peace, Maegor quickly became known for his ruthlessness and skill in battle. A natural fighter, Maegor loved combat – something his brother never grasped – and grew into a powerful and feared warrior.
Maegor was known for his brutality; he didn’t trust anyone and always resorted to violence instead of talking things out. He had few true friends, even among his own advisors. His six-year reign as king was a harsh tyranny. After Viserys I died, some people worried that Rhaenyra Targaryen might become as ruthless as Maegor, and this fear actually led some to oppose her during the Dance of the Dragons.
Jaehaerys I Targaryen Ushered In an Age of Peace For Westeros
Jaehaerys I Targaryen became king after his uncle Maegor died in 48 AC. He was known as Jaehaerys the Conciliator, and later as the Old King, because he ruled for 55 years – longer than any other monarch in Westerosi history. He was a confident and graceful ruler, often described as knowledgeable like a maester and devout like a septon. Jaehaerys differed from his uncle by prioritizing peaceful solutions, though he was still capable of fighting when necessary.
Jaehaerys was a skilled dragon rider and warrior, famously riding Vermithor, a massive dragon from House Targaryen. He brought a level of stability that previous Targaryen rulers hadn’t achieved, and this stability was crucial. Without his strong reign, it’s likely the Targaryens wouldn’t have survived the later conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons.
It was really sad to see King Jaehaerys lose so many of his family, including quite a few of his kids. It created a tricky situation when he got older – people started wondering who should inherit the throne after him. Would it be his granddaughter, Rhaenys, or his grandson, Viserys? It was a tough call, and something no one had really dealt with before.
Viserys I Targaryen Would Unwittingly Cause the Dance of the Dragons
Viserys I Targaryen, the fifth king to rule from the Iron Throne, has become very well-known, largely due to the show House of the Dragon. Brilliantly portrayed by Paddy Considine, he’s a central figure in the first season, appearing in all eight episodes as one of the main characters.
Knowing it would cause conflict, he chose his daughter, Rhaenyra, to be his heir after his wife and son passed away, a decision that ultimately split Westeros apart.
After the death of his grandfather, Jaehaerys, Viserys became king and continued to rule peacefully. However, when he married Alicent Hightower and had a son, questions arose about the future of his first child’s claim to the throne, Rhaenyra. Despite tension between his wife and daughter, Viserys made it clear on his deathbed how the succession should proceed, preventing a dispute.
As Viserys lay dying and struggled to speak, he seemed to say the name ‘Aegon.’ Alicent interpreted this as him choosing their son, Aegon II, to be his heir, rather than Rhaenyra.
Aegon II Targaryen Waged a War For Domination With His Half-Sister
When Viserys’s son, Aegon II Targaryen, was born, he became the designated heir to the Iron Throne. This happened because a faction known as the Greens disregarded Viserys’s earlier decision to name his daughter, Rhaenyra, as heir. Aegon, even when young, wasn’t interested in governing and mostly enjoyed the benefits of being royal. Rhaenyra, however, challenged his claim, believing she was the rightful ruler as Viserys’s original chosen heir.
A fierce rivalry between siblings erupted into a brutal civil war, famously known as the Dance of the Dragons – a particularly violent time in the history of Westeros, as shown in House of the Dragon. Ultimately, both Aegon and Rhaenyra died during the conflict, and neither of them ever achieved a peaceful reign over Westeros.
The Dance of the Dragons was a brutal conflict that led to the extinction of all dragons, severely diminishing the power of House Targaryen, who had long depended on these creatures for their rule. Centuries later, dragons would reappear with Daenerys Targaryen, a descendant of Rhaenyra.
Aegon III Targaryen Dealt With the Aftermath of the Civil War
You know, as a huge fantasy fan, I’ve been diving into the Targaryen history lately, and Aegon III is a really fascinating figure. He’s often called Aegon the Dragonbane, but he’s also known as Aegon Targaryen, of course. Basically, he took over from Aegon II after that brutal Dance of the Dragons civil war, and had to pick up the pieces. Being the son of Daemon and Rhaenyra, that war really messed him up, honestly. It left a deep mark on the guy.
After being separated from his brother Viserys II, Aegon III lived through the brutal war between his mother and uncle. He was forced to witness the tragic death of Rhaenyra, who was killed by the dragon Sunfyre belonging to Aegon II.
Aegon III was deeply affected by the traumatic events he experienced, and he never regained his ability to find happiness. This earned him the nickname “Aegon the Unhappy,” as he rarely laughed or smiled. He lived a life filled with sadness, and generally preferred to be alone.
Daeron I Targaryen Actually Took Control of All the Seven Kingdoms
After his father, Aegon III, passed away, Daeron became the eighth king of Westeros. Remarkably, at just 14 years old, he successfully invaded Dorne – something even the original founder of the Seven Kingdoms hadn’t been able to achieve. He documented his experiences in a book titled The Conquest of Dorne, and his early achievements quickly established him as one of the most notable kings in Westerosi history.
Despite being a capable warrior, Daeron wasn’t a natural leader. He struggled with the political side of ruling, and often relied on his uncle and chief advisor, Viserys, to maintain stability in the kingdom.
Okay, so Daeron Targaryen – this guy was told repeatedly not to mess with Dorne, but he went and invaded anyway. It’s a bold move, I’ll give him that. Sadly, it didn’t pay off. He was killed at just 18 years old by the Dornish, who weren’t about to kneel to a new king. That meant his brother, Baelor, inherited the Iron Throne. What’s fascinating is that Daeron’s story, specifically his conquest of Dorne, became a huge influence on Jon Snow growing up. The kid practically idolized him! It really shaped Jon’s worldview, apparently.
Baelor I Targaryen Began the Construction of His Eponymous Sept
When his older brother, Daeron I, died, Baelor I Targaryen—known as Baelor the Blessed—became the ninth king of the Seven Kingdoms. Instead of continuing the war his brother started with Dorne, Baelor wanted to establish peace. He began his reign by freeing fourteen Dornish hostages and forgiving their past offenses. Baelor personally took the hostages back to Dorne and successfully negotiated a peaceful agreement with the Prince of Dorne.
Many people disapproved of King Baelor’s choices during his reign. He made controversial decisions like imprisoning his sisters in a place he called the ‘Maidenvault,’ supposedly to protect them, and outlawing prostitution in the capital city. Baelor, known as ‘the Blessed,’ deeply cared for his subjects, but also seemed constantly worried about giving in to his own desires. He is also remembered for starting the construction of the grand Sept of Baelor.
Viserys II Targaryen Followed In the Footsteps of Jaehaerys
Viserys II Targaryen, who was briefly shown as an infant in House of the Dragon, became the tenth king after his nephew Baelor died in 171 AC. Some people wondered if one of Baelor’s sisters should be queen instead, but they had been isolated for years in the Maidenvault and were considered out of touch with the realm.
Viserys II was a clever and forward-thinking king, much like Jaehaerys the Wise. Having previously served as Hand to King Daeron I, he brought valuable experience to the throne and worked to improve Westeros. Sadly, his reign was cut short by a sudden illness after just one year.
Many people suspected that Viserys II was poisoned by his successor, Aegon IV. Fortunately, his previous experience as Hand of the King likely prevented things from falling apart completely.
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2026-03-01 23:12