House Targaryen

House Targaryen is one of the major families in George R. R. Martin's fantasy epic series A Song of Ice and Fire.

Description

Motto and sigil

The words of House Targaryen are "Fire and Blood."

The sigil of House Targaryen is a three-headed dragon breathing flames, red on black. The three heads symbolise Aegon the Conqueror and his two sisters, and also their three dragons. Unlike the European dragon found in medieval heraldry, Targaryen dragons are four-limbed creatures with wings and legs but no arms, much like a Wyvern.

Traits and customs

The Targaryens were not native to the "Seven Kingdoms" of Westeros, but rather originally hailed from Valyria. The island citadel of Dragonstone, home of the Targaryens before their conquest, was the western most outpost of the Valyrian empire before the "Doom." Aegon I, styled the Conqueror, landed at the site of King's Landing and began his conquest approximatley three hundred years before the Beginning of "A Game of Thrones."

Uniquely among noble Westerosi families, the Targaryens follow the Valyrian practice of incestuous marriage, marrying brother to sister. Aegon the Conqueror married both of his sisters.

The phrase ”blood of the dragon” refers to a number of typical Targaryen features. Most Targaryens have silvery-white hair and purple eyes. However, these traits can be lost when a Targaryen mixes with another bloodlines. For example, some of the offspring of Daeron II and the Dornish princess Myriah Martell had brown hair, like Baelor Breakspear and his son Valarr.

The Targaryens are known as dragonlords, and seem to be closer to dragons than other men are. Aegon I introduced dragons to Westeros when he conquered it, and dragons were kept and ridden by the Targaryens until the last one perished under Aegon III Dragonbane. Some Targaryens have a high tolerance towards heat, for example Aegon V and Daenerys both enjoy very hot baths. However, the immunity to fire displayed by Daenerys in the last chapter of A Game of Thrones is likely a unique and magical event. Aerion Brightflame thought himself a dragon in human form, with fatal consequences.

During their time in Westeros, the Targaryens have followed the seven gods of the Andals, some of them piously, like Baelor the Blessed.

Possibly due to their incestuous practices, the Targaryens are prone to madness. King Jaehaerys II said that with the birth of a new Targaryen the gods throw a coin to decide whether the child would be great or mad. Examples of mad Targaryens are Aerion Brightflame and the Mad King Aerys II.

Genealogy

History

Timeline

All dates are given relative to Aegon's Landing (AL).

The Doom of Valyria (ca. -200 AL)

The Doom of Valyria destroys the freehold of Valyria. House Targaryen relocates to the island of Dragonstone, close to the continent of Westeros.

The Wars of Conquest (ca. 1 AL)

Aegon the Conqueror's reign as Ruler of Westeros begins. With the help of three dragons his army invades the seven kingdoms of Westeros in the Wars of Conquest. In the battle known as the "Field of Fire", Aegon's army conquers the combined forces of the Rock and of the Reach; the three dragons kill nearly four thousand men. Other kings bend the knee to Aegon, and in the end, only Dorne in the South remains unconquered.

Dance of Dragons (ca. 131 AL)

Aegon II's claim to the throne is disputed by his sister Rhaenyra

Conquest of Dorne (ca. 157 AL)

Aged 14, Daeron I conquers Dorne

The Battle of the Redgrass Field (196 AL)

The first Blackfyre rebellion ends when the rebel Daemon Blackfyre's forces are defeated in the Battle of the Redgrass Field. These events are recounted in The Sworn Sword.

Tourney at Ashford (208 AL)

Baelor Breakspear dies at the Ashford Tourney. These events are recounted in The Hedge Knight.

Great Spring Sickness (209 AL)

A plague engulfs large parts of Westeros, claiming king Daeron II and his grandsons Valarr and Matarys.

Great Council (233 AL)

A great council passes over the infant son of Aerion Brightflame, crowning Aegon V

War of the Usurper (283 AL)

The Targaryen reign ends when the usurper Robert Baratheon takes the Iron Throne in the War of the Usurper.

Dragonstone

Dragonstone is one of a group of islands in the Narrow Sea, close to the Westerosi shore. It used to be the westernmost outpost of the freehold of Valyria, and is the ancient seat of House Targaryen. On the nearby island of Driftmark, house Velaryon is another Valyrian house to survive the Doom.

The island is dominated by a huge fortress, its towers shaped like dragons and decorated a thousand gargoyles, and an active volcano, the Dragonmont. Beneath the mountain there are rich deposits of obsidian.

Some Targaryen crown princes (for example, Baelor Breakspear) held the title Prince of Dragonstone.

Notable Targaryens

Aerion

Called "Brightflame", "Brightfire", or "Aerion the Monstrous", this prince is remembered as one of the clearest example of Targaryen madness. Cruel, vain, and arrogant, he thought himself a dragon in human form. He appears in the short story The Hedge Knight, where he challenges Duncan the Tall to face him in a trial by combat. After the trial his father Maekar sent Aerion to Lys and the Free Cities, where he remained for some years. Aerion died when he drank a cup of wildfire, believing that it would turn him into a dragon. He left an infant son, who was heir to the Iron Throne, but was passed over at the death of Maekar I in favour of Aegon V by a great council.

Personal arms: Aerion displayed the three dragon heads in different colors: red, orange, and yellow, with golden flames.

Aerys II

Main article: Aerys Targaryen

The last of the Targaryens to sit the Iron Throne, Aerys was believed to be mad. His actions ignited a revolt that eventually ended the Targaryen reign of Westeros with the War of the Usurper.

Daemon Blackfyre

Personal arms: The rebel Daemon Blackfyre and his descendants inverted the Targaryen colours, displaying a black dragon on red.

Daenerys

Main article: Daenerys Targaryen

Exiled with her brother after the fall of the Targaryen reign, Daenerys 'Stormborn' Targaryen is one of the main characters of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Maekar

Personal arms: Four dragons, red on black.

Rhaegar

Heir apparent to the Iron Throne, Rhaegar was slain in 283 AL by Robert Baratheon at the Battle of the Trident. Rhaegar was married to Elia of Dorne. (GOT, 25). Elia was “never the healthiest of women.” (SOS, 128) Elia was raped (SOS, 595) and slain along with their children during the Sack of King’s Landing. (GOT, 694, SOS 595). Dorne still brooded over Elia’s death well after Robert Baratheon’s death (GOT, 529).

Rhaegar knighted Ser Gregor Clegane, the Mountain That Rides (GOT, 254). Rhaegar “carried off” Lyanna Stark thus leading events to Robert’s Rebellion (GOT, 613). Rhaegar named the spot where his Kingsguard guarded Lyanna Stark the “Tower of Joy.” (GOT, 356). Won the jousting at the Tourney at Harrenhal in the Year of the False Spring by defeating Bronze Yohn Royce, Brandon Stark, the heir of Winterfell, and Ser Arthur Dayne, among others (GOT, 526) and defeated Ser Barristan the Bold in the final tilt. To the shock and horror of those in attendance, gave the beauty laurel of winter roses to Lyanna Stark (GOT, 526). Played a silver harp. (COK, 527, 660) As a boy, “bookish to a fault, so much so that it was said that his mother, Queen Rhaella must have swallowed some books and a candle whilst he was in her womb.” Took no interest in the play of other children as a child, had wits, but was said to be “Baelor the Blessed born again.” Then one day he started training to be a warrior. (SOS, 91) A “most puissant warrior … able, determined, deliberate, dutiful, single-minded.” (SOS, 90–91) It was said, “no man ever knew Prince Rhaegar.” (SOS, 90) Known to play a harp with silver strings. (SOS, 90) Had two squires, Myles Mooton and Richard Lonmouth; both men knighted by Prince Rhaegar after they earned their spurs. (SOS, 90) Ser Myles Mooten was slain by Robert Baratheon at the Battle of the Bells. (SOS, 327) Rhaegar was very close to “young” Lord Connington, yet his oldest friend was Ser Arthur Dayne. (SOS, 90). Had long hair (SOS, 507). Pleaded with his father to reinstate Lord Tywin as Hand when Robert defeated Connington at the Battle of the Bells. (SOS, 418).

Viserys

Aerys' second son Viserys, Aerys II’s sole surviving son at the time of Aerys' death, styled himself Viserys III, but was nicknamed Cart King (Khal Rhaggat) and Sorefoot King (Khal Rhae Mhar) by the Dothraki . Described as: “A gaunt young man with nervous hands and a feverish look in his pale lilac eye.” , Viserys was said to exhibit his father’s erratic behavior even as a young child, but was sheltered from his father’s madness by his mother. At the age of 8, when the Targaryen cause was lost, Viserys fled to Dragonstone before the Sack of King’s Landing, and from there fled to Braavos to Myr to Tyrosh to Qohor to Volantis to Lys to Pentos. In exile, Viserys styled himself King Viserys III, but was called the Beggar King by others . Viserys sold his mother’s crown when “the last joy had gone from him,” but continued to believe that the common people of Westeros would rise to support his claim. (GOT, 25–26, COK, 322) Though this claim appears preposterous, there is truth in it as Oberyn Martell planned to raise Dorne for him (SOS, 593). Jon Arryn talked him out of it shortly after the war (SOS, 593) Very dedicated to the idea of how a Targaryen should act and be treated by saying things such as “Ours is the house of the dragon; the fire is in our blood.” (GOT, 26); “The dragon does not beg” (GOT 83); “The dragon speaks as he likes” (GOT, 324).

Plot

Believed that by marrying his sister to the most powerful Dothraki lord he would be provided an army to invade the Seven Kingdoms and retake the crown (GOT, 83). By all accounts, insane (GOT, 194–195. 415–417) and according to Ser Jorah Mormont, not fit for a role as battle commander. When told that Viserys planned to “sweep the Seven Kingdoms with ten thousand Dothraki screamers”, Ser Jorah stated, “Viserys could not sweep a stable with ten thousand brooms.” (GOT, 325). Dany, his sister, described him as “cruel and weak and frightened” (COK, 145) and “a fool” who “believe(d) in foolish things.” (COK, 322). Excessively cruel and violent towards his sister, Daenerys (GOT, various). He also told her of siege engines (SOS, 644). Threatened his sister’s child while still in the womb. (GOT, 330) Every move Viserys made was known by Varys, Master of Whispers (SOS, 652). Killed at Vaes Dothrak by Khal Drogo, his brother-in-law, with a crown of molten gold (GOT, 418) for violating Dothraki rules of conduct. At the time of his death, he “began to scream the high, wordless scream of a coward facing death…(He) whimpered like a dog and wept like a child.” (GOT, 418).