House Targaryen is a dynasty defined by blood, fire, and time. This family tree with dates outlines the major members from Aenar Targaryen’s flight to Dragonstone through the last Targaryen heirs in the Wars of the Roses. Below you will find verified anchor dates where available, key relationships, and a concise reference table to clarify who was born when, who ruled, and how each branch connects. Use this guide as a durable map of the family across the books and the show, avoiding sudden shifts that depend on unconfirmed rumors or speculative casting.
Founding and Flight to Dragonstone
The Targaryens originate from Valyria, where noble houses practiced magic and kept dragons. When Doom destroyed Valyria, the family survived by relocating to Dragonstone, a remote outpost. The known lineage begins with Aenar Targaryen, also called the Exile, who moved to Dragonstone with five dragons and a small household. Exact dates for the Doom are uncertain, but maesters typically place the Valyrian collapse around 102 BC, with Aenar’s departure following shortly after in the mid to late 2nd century BC. This flight established House Targaryen as a distinct line that would later return to the mainland and seize the Iron Throne.
Conquest and Early Westerosi Lineage
Aegon I Targaryen launched the invasion of Westeros in 1 AC, marking the start of Aegon’s Conquest and the official foundation of the Targaryen dynasty in King’s Landing. He rode Balerion the Black Dread and unified six of the Seven Kingdoms under the Iron Throne. His sisters and wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, were his co-conquerors. Their dragons and military strategy defined early Targaryen power. After Aegon’s death in 37 AC, his descendants ruled in a direct, though sometimes contested, succession. Below is a compact table summarizing core members and anchors to help track births, deaths, and succession order.
Key Conquest-Era Targaryens (Dates in AC)
| Member | Birth | Death | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aenar Targaryen (the Exile) | Before 102 BC (Valyria) | Mid-2nd century BC (Dragonstone) | Led the migration to Dragonstone; progenitor of the Westerosi line |
| Aegon I Targaryen | 21–31 BC | 37 AC | First king of the Targaryen dynasty; began the Conquest in 1 AC |
| Visenya Targaryen | 11–19 BC | 42 AC | Queen consort; rider of Vhagar; defended the realm during Aegon’s absences |
| Rhaenys Targaryen | 15–21 BC | 10 AC (rumored) | Queen consort; rider of Meraxes; key in securing the Stormlands |
| Visenya’s Heir (Aegon II line) | — | — | Later branches descend through Visenya and Aegon I’s children |
The Dragonborn and Principal Bloodline
After Aegon I, the main royal line continued through his sons and their descendants. Aenys I, his eldest, succeeded in 37 AC but faced early rebellions due to his legitimacy concerns. Maegor the Cruel, Aenys’s half-brother, took a harsh approach to dissent, leading to widespread conflict known as the Faith Militant Uprising. Jaehaerys I, the next king, stabilized the realm and earned the title “the Conciliator.” This period shows how Targaryen succession and dragon lineage intertwined to shape politics. The family tree splits into multiple branches with their own cadet houses, but the core royal line flows through Aegon, Visenya, and their descendants.
The Dance of the Dragons and Civil War
The Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons (130–135 AC) tore the realm apart. It began when King Viserys I changed the succession to favor his daughter Rhaenyra. After Viserys’s death, his son Aegon II seized the throne, sparking open warfare between rival branches of the family. Both sides claimed legitimacy through descent from Aegon I. Key figures included Rhaenyra Targaryen, the first recognized heir to the Iron Throne, and her half-brother Aegon II. Many dragons died, dragonseeds emerged, and the war ended with the near-extinction of the dragons. Dates, parentage, and succession claims are summarized for clarity below.
Major Figures in the Dance of the Dragons (130–135 AC)
| Member | Birth | Death | Role in the Dance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viserys I Targaryen | c. 77 AC | 129 AC | King who named Rhaenyra heir; death triggered succession crisis |
| Rhaenyra Targaryen | 105 AC | 133 AC | First woman named heir; claimed the throne as Queen |
| Aegon II Targaryen | c. 110 AC | 135 AC | Rival king; seized throne after Viserys’s death |
| Daemon Targaryen | c. 115 AC | 135 AC | Rhaenyra’s second husband; contested claimant and dragonrider |
Blackness, Dragons, and Decline
After the Dance, the Targaryens never fully restored their earlier power. The madness of King Aerys II, often called the Mad King, marked the end of the dynasty’s rule in Westeros. His conflicts with Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark culminated in the rebellion that ended Targaryen rule. The burning of King’s Landing, the deaths of Rhaegar, Viserys, and later Rhaenyra and her children, left only scattered survivors. Dragons, once central to Targaryen identity, were gone or dying. The family survived in exile through Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons, yet the royal line in Westeros effectively ended with Aerys’s death. The stakes and exact birth years for some figures remain debated, but the overall arc from conquest to collapse is well established.
Cadet Houses and Key Relationships
Cadet branches such as the Velaryons, Celtigars, and others arose from marriages and lesser sons, extending Targaryen influence without direct rule. On the family tree, these appear as offshoots of the core royal line. Notable Velaryon ties include their prominence during the Dance and later marriages into the Baratheons. Less is reliably documented about many cadet houses compared to the main line, and dates for offshoot members grow sparse. Where specifics are uncertain, this article notes ambiguity rather than asserting unverified detail. Major known connections include marriages into other Great Houses and the frequent use of Valyrian naming traditions to signify legitimacy and heritage.
Summary Table of Core Dates and Events
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 102 BC (approx.) | Valyrian Doom | End of Valyrian Freehold; Targaryens survive on Dragonstone |
| c. 31–1 AC | Aegon I’s life and Conquest begins | Founding of the Targaryen dynasty in Westeros |
| 37 AC | Aegon I dies; Aenys I succeeds | Peaceful succession initially, then unrest |
| 130–135 AC | Dance of the Dragons | Civil war over succession; dragons nearly extinct |
| 283–284 AC | Robert’s Rebellion | End of Targaryen rule in King’s Landing |
Common Questions and Clarifications
- Which Targaryen were dragonriders? Aegon I, Visenya, Rhaenys, and many later members rode dragons; the practice declined after the Dance.
- Are there living Targaryens in the show’s timeline? By the end of the main story arc, no clear-born Targaryen heir rules Westeros; survivors include Daenerys and her children in earlier eras.
- How reliable are the dates? Ancient Valyrian events are approximate; Westerosi history becomes more precise after the Conquest.
Conclusion
This family tree with dates presents a reference you can return to when tracking Targaryen lineage, major events, and relationships. By anchoring names to approximate years and summarizing each branch’s significance, it offers durability as a long-term resource. Whether you are reviewing the Conquest, the Dance, or the end of the dynasty, the aim is clarity over speculation. For deeper context on any figure or event, consult primary material and scholarly histories that distinguish established facts from contested accounts.