House Targaryen

House Targaryen is one of the Great Houses of Westeros. Targaryen’s seat is located in Dragonstone, their sigil consists of a red three-headed dragon on a black field and their words are “Fire and Blood” This House conquered and unified the Seven Kingdoms which made them sovereigns of Westeros during many centuries. In addition, they have a long tradition of raising up and controlling dragons, which made them invincible in the past.

The main members of House Targaryen who appear on the show are:

• Aerys II Targaryen. He was the last Targaryen seated in the Iron Throne. However, he was called “the Mad King” as he succumbed to madness because of a long incestuous lineage. He did not have much influence on dragons anymore and he ruled with tyranny. These are the reasons why a revolution started which led to a Civil War that ended with the murder of Aerys by Jaimie Lannister and the beginning of Robert Baratheon’s reign. He had three children: Rhaegar, Viserys and Daenerys.

• Rhaegar Targaryen. He is the eldest son of the Mad King and his heir. He was married to Elia Martell and had two children: Rhaenys and Aegon Targaryen. Nevertheless, during season six and seven it is discovered that he secretly annulled this marriage, clandestinely married Lyanna Stark and had a child with her. This affair was publically seen as Rhaegar kidnapping and raping Lyanna, which initiated the revolution against the Mad King. Rhaegar was killed by Robert Baratheon and Lyanna died giving birth to their child: Jon Snow.

• Viserys Targaryen. He is the second child of the Mad King. After Robert’s Rebellion and the dead of his father, he was taken out of Westeros and lived all his childhood and adolescence in the exile with his sister Daenerys. His brother-in-law Khal Drogo murdered him at the middle of the first season after he threated Daenerys and her unborn baby.

• Daenerys Targaryen. She is the youngest daughter of the Mad King. When Robert’s rebellion started, she was just a baby and was taken to Essos, together with her brother Viserys, to live in the exile. During the first season, she was sold by her brother to marry Khal Drogo, the commander of the Dothrakis, she hatches three dragons. After Drogo’s death, she became ruler of the tribe and started to conquer several towns and reigns in Essos. After gaining power, and with the backing of her armies and the inestimable help of Tyrion Lannister and Varys, she crosses the Narrow Sea and establishes in Dragonstone in order to defeat Cersei and being able to proclaim Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. During season seven, she beats Cersei in some battles until she meets Jon Snow and helps him battling the white walkers in the North. At the end of season seven, she loses one of her dragons, murdered by the white walkers, and travels north to fight the enemy beyond the wall. In addition, she meets Cersei to agree on having a truce and starts a romantic relationship with Jon Snow without knowing they are related.