Dragon: Vermithor Details: We only see Jaehaerys I on screen briefly, but his life (and, more specifically, his death) set the stage for what’s to come. Jaehaerys was only the fourth Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne — his predecessors were Aegon the Conquerer himself, Aegon’s son (and Jaehaerys’ father) Aenys I, then Maegor I (also known as Maegor the Cruel). So Jaehaerys was the grandson of Aegon the Conquerer, and the son of Aenys I and his wife, Alyssa Velaryon. He was married to Alysanne Targaryen, his sister (yes, his sister. Classic Targaryens!). Together they had 13 children, although Jaehaerys outlived almost all of them. Jaehaerys was the longest-serving Targaryen monarch, ruling over Westeros for nearly six decades, and his reign saw a time of mostly peace and posterity. In the show, Jaehaerys held a great council at Harrenhal to determine his heir — and his eldest grandchild, Rhaenys, was passed over in favor of his grandson Viserys, who inherited the throne when Jaehaerys died. Dragon: Meleys Details: Rhaenys is the daughter of Jaehaerys’ son, Aemon Targaryen, and Jaehaerys’ half-sister (on his mother’s side) Jocelyn Baratheon (so yeah — her mother was her father’s aunt). Rhaenys is married to Corlys Velaryon, and if you’re keeping track of just how incest-y things are: Rhaenys’ mother, Jocelyn, was the daughter of a Baratheon and a Velaryon. Together, Rhaenys and Corlys have a daughter, Laena, and a son, Laenor. As I’ve already mentioned, Rhaenys, and subsequently her children, lost their place in the line of succession in favor of Viserys. Dragon: N/A Details: House Velaryon is the other house in the Seven Kingdoms, aside from the Targaryens, which lays claim to Valyrian heritage. They rule the island of Driftmark, which is west of Dragonstone in Blackwater Bay. Corlys is head of the house and married to Rhaenys, with whom he has two children, Laena and Laenor. Known as the greatest seafarer in the Seven Kingdoms, Corlys has the nickname the Sea Snake, and his adventures have made him and his family incredibly rich and given them the largest navy in the world. He is the Master of Ships on Viserys’ Small Council. Dragon: Vhagar Details: Laena is the eldest child of Corlys and Rhaenys. As the timeline moves forward and events unfold, Laena’s fate becomes more closely entwined with key characters we’ve already met. Dragon: Seasmoke Details: Although he’s the younger child of Rhaenys and Corlys, because he’s a boy, Laenor is heir to Driftmark. Like Laena, he will have a larger role in events as he gets older. Dragon: Balerion (before Balerion’s death) Details: Viserys is the son of Baelon Targaryen and Alyssa Targaryen, who were brother and sister (children of Jaehaerys and HIS sister-wife, Alysanne). Inheriting the throne from his grandfather, he became the fifth Targaryen on the Iron Throne. In a break with close family tradition, he did not marry his sister — instead, he married his cousin, Aemma Arryn (who was also Jaehaerys and Alysanne’s grandchild). With Aemma, Viserys had three children, but both sons died in infancy, leaving Rhaenyra Targaryen their only surviving child, and Viserys’ declared heir. After the death of Aemma, Viserys chose Alicent Hightower, daughter of his hand Otto, as his second wife. Dragon: N/A Details: Queen Consort Aemma Arryn was the daughter of Rodrik Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie in the Vale, and Daella Targaryen, daughter of Jaehaerys and Alysanne. With her maternal cousin Viserys, Aemma had two sons who both died not long after their births, and one daughter, Rhaenyra. As we saw in the first episode of House of the Dragon, Aemma died as a result of a forced Caesarean while in labor with her second son. Dragon: Syrax Details: Rhaenyra is the only surviving child of Viserys and Aemma. After her mother and brother’s death, Viserys made Rhaenyra his heir and next in line for the Iron Throne. She is close with her uncle Daemon, Viserys’ brother, and in the show, she is best friends with Alicent Hightower, daughter of Viserys’ Hand of the King, Otto Hightower. Dragon: Caraxes Details: Daemon is the younger son of Baelon Targaryen and his sister-wife Alyssa, brother to Viserys I, and uncle to Rhaenyra. Before Viserys made Rhaenyra his heir, Daemon was next in line to the throne. He’s commander of the City Watch, having previously served as Viserys’ Master of Coin and Master of Law but being removed from both positions at the urging of Otto Hightower. Daemon is married to Rhea Royce, Lady of Runestone in the Vale, but the two don’t get on and spend most of their time apart. Daemon’s lover is Mysaria, a dancer from Lys. Daemon is a renowned warrior and fights with the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister. Dragon: N/A Details: Otto Hightower is from one of the most notable families of the Reach. In the show, he’s the younger brother of Hobert Hightower, the Lord of the Hightower. He has two children we’ve seen so far, Alicent and Gwayne. Considered a highly intelligent man, Otto became Hand of the King to Jaehaerys I after the death of Jaehaerys’ son and former hand (and Viserys’ father), Baelon. As Jaehaerys’ health declined in the final years of his reign, Otto took on more and more of a role in ruling the kingdom. When Viserys became King, Otto continued as Hand. He quickly viewed Daemon as a threat. Dragon: N/A Details: Alicent is the daughter of Otto Hightower. When her father became Hand of the King to Jaehaerys, Alicent spent a lot of time caring for the ailing king. In the show, she is close friends with Rhaenyra Targaryen and grew up in the Red Keep alongside her. Alicent becomes Viserys’ second wife. Dragon: N/A Details: Mellos is the Grand Maester on Viserys’ Small Council. That’s all we know of him so far on the show! Dragon: N/A Details: Beesbury is the head of his house and Lord of Honeyholt in the Reach. He’s on the Small Council, serving as Master of Coin and Lord Treasurer for Jaehaerys I and continuing the roles for Viserys I. Dragon: N/A Details: Lyonel Strong is the head of his house and Lord of Harrenhal. He is on Viserys’ Small Council, serving as Master of Laws. He has several children, two of which we know will appear on House of the Dragon, although they haven’t been on screen yet: Harwin Strong, Lyonel’s heir and the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms, and Larys Strong. Dragon: N/A Details: Harrold Westerling has been in the Kingsguard since the reign of Jaehaerys I and is now the sworn protector of Rhaenyra Targaryen. Dragon: N/A Details: Criston Cole is a knight and the son of the steward at Blackhaven, the seat of House Dondarrion in the stormlands. Thanks to Rhaenyra Targaryen, he is now a member of the Kingsguard. Dragon: N/A Details: Mysaria hails from Lys, one of the Free Cities of Essos. She’s a dancer who previously worked in a pleasure house, and she is the lover of Daemon Targaryen.
