House Targaryen
The last dragon riders who ruled Westeros with fire and blood.
House Targaryen was the ruling dynasty of the Seven Kingdoms for nearly three centuries before their fall during Robert's Rebellion. Hailing from the ancient and mystical island of Valyria, they were the last survivors of a civilization destroyed by catastrophe, distinguished by their unique physical traits of silver-gold hair and violet eyes. For generations, they sat upon the Iron Throne in King's Landing, wielding power through their mastery of dragons, creatures that had not been seen in Westeros for over a century prior to Daenerys Stormborn.
- Founder
- Aegon I Targaryen
- Seat
- Dragonstone (originally), Red Keep (later)
- Sigil
- Three-headed red dragon on a black field
- Words
- Fire and Blood
- Notable Members
- Aerys II, Rhaegar, Viserys, Daenerys, Jon Snow
- Status
- Extinct as a legitimate line (debatable regarding heirs)
Lore & Background
The Targaryen era ended in chaos when King Aerys II, known as the Mad King, descended into paranoia and cruelty, ordering the burning of his own subjects. His son Rhaegar's abduction of Lyanna Stark sparked a rebellion led by Robert Baratheon, which culminated in the Sack of King's Landing. Most of the family was slaughtered, leaving only two children to flee across the Narrow Sea: Viserys and Daenerys. For decades, they lived as exiles, dreaming of return, until Daenerys hatched three dragon eggs and began a journey to reclaim her birthright.
In Their Own Story
The wind screamed through Dragonstone's fractured battlements, carrying the brine of the Narrow Sea and the acrid ghost of ancient ash. In the shadowed chamber, a silhouette detached itself from the gloom—not human, but vast and leathery, its wings casting a monstrous shape against the wall. A low rumble shuddered through the stone floor, escalating into a roar that rattled the dust from tapestries depicting three-headed beasts. The last heir stepped forward, her violet eyes catching the orange hell-glow of the fire pit where a creature of obsidian scales and parchment wings stretched its neck. 'We are not dead,' she whispered to the empty air. The dragon answered instantly, exhaling a plume of smoke that twisted in the heat, momentarily forming the shape of a crown before dissolving into nothing.
Reader's Guide
Ultimately, the Targaryen arc explores themes of destiny, the burden of power, and whether bloodline truly dictates character. Whether they are seen as saviors or destroyers depends on the perspective of those who witness their return, but their impact on the fate of the Seven Kingdoms is undeniable.
Did You Know?
- The Targaryen sigil features three heads to represent Aegon I and his two sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys.
- They are known for their resistance to fire, though this trait is not universal among all members of the family.
- Balerion the Black Dread was the largest dragon ever ridden by a Targaryen and was eventually found dead in the caverns beneath Dragonstone.
- The phrase 'Fire and Blood' serves as both their house words and a warning to those who oppose them.