House Targaryen

House Targaryen, of the blood of old Valyria, was the royal house of Westeros for some 280 years before being deposed in the War of the Usurper. Their ancestral fortress was Dragonstone before they established the city of King's Landing and their stronghold of the Red Keep within it. Their sigil is a red three-headed dragon, breathing flame on black. Their words are "Fire and Blood".

History

House Targaryen was, of old, a noble family of ancient Valyria, far to the south-east of Westeros. Five hundred years ago, the Targaryens departed the Valyrian homelands and travelled to Dragonstone, a small island off the east coast of Westeros, where they established a keep and trading post. According to some legends, a Targaryen ancestor named Aenar encouraged this move due to a prophetic vision. Other reports suggest that the Targaryens may have been exiled, or merely assigned to establish the trading post.

One century after the Targaryens arrived on Dragonstone, the Doom descended on Valyria and destroyed it, shattering the peninsular and devastating the Freehold. The empire collapsed, most its dragons were slaughtered and the conquested, vassal states became independent. This time of chaos was known as the Bleeding Years and lasted for approximately one century after the Doom. During this time the Valyrian colony of Volantis on the south-western coast of Essos requested Targaryen aid, and that of their dragons, in reestablishing Valyrian control of the coastal regions. The newly-raised lord of Dragonstone, Aegon, refused. Instead, he had a mighty table carved as a map of the Westerosi continent, with every bay and inlet marked but with no borders. Aegon envisaged a Westeros united under one ruler, and he determined he would be that ruler.

The Conquest

Aegon and his two sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, landed with a small force of men at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush. Over the next several years they undertook the Conquest, seizing control of all the lands of Westeros from the Wall to the Red Mountains with the help of their dragons. Only Dorne beyond the southern mountains refused to yield, and in the end Aegon permitted it to remain free. Aegon began construction of a great new capital at King's Landing.

The Faith Militant Uprising

During this campaign, Aegon and his family had converted to the Faith of the Seven but had refused to give up the Valyrian practices of polygamy or incest, a sore point with the Faithful. Aegon's own immense charisma and military acumen overcame this issue, but when he died and his son Aenys, born of incest, took the throne there was widespread condemnation. The Faith Militant launched a bloody uprising that Aenys was unable to deal with. He appointed his half-brother Maegor to the position of Hand of the King in an attempt to put down the revolt, but Maegor's heavy-handed tactics saw a bloodbath result and he became known as 'The Cruel'. When Aenys died and Maegor took the throne, the situation worsened. Many thousands on both sides died before Maegor was killed, apparently by the Iron Throne itself, and Aenys' son Jaehaerys took the throne. Jaehaerys offered full peace and amnesty on pain of the Faith Militant disbanding forever, and the High Septon reluctantly accepted the offer.

The Conciliator

Jaehaerys ruled long and well, restoring relations between the Targaryens and the Faith, undertaking great works to benefit the people and abolishing restrictive or abusive laws, such as that of first night. His queen, Alysanne, took to visiting many parts of the continent on her dragon Silverwing, personally learning of the difficulties of the people and finding ways to solve them. The Night's Watch benefitted from their attention as well. For his great works, Jaehaerys was named 'The Conciliator', for he had shown the people of Westeros the benefits of being ruled as one nation under one king.

The end of the dragons

Jaehaerys died after half a century of rule and his grandson Viserys I took the throne after him, ruling well in a time of peace and plenty. His death, however trigged a major crisis when his daughter, Rhaenyra, whom he had raised to rule after him, was supplanted by her half-brother Aegon. The result was a two-year-long civil war called the Dance of Dragons, which saw many lesser branches of the Targaryen family and most of their extant dragons destroyed. The war ended with Rhaenyra's death, but Aegon, ruling as Aegon II, did not long outlive her and Rhaenyra's son took the throne as Aegon III. Haunted by his mother's death and memories of the war, Aegon III was fearful of dragons and the last Targaryen dragon died during his rule, for which event he was called the 'Dragonbane'.

War and peace with Dorne

Aegon III's eldest son Daeron took the throne at the age of only fourteen. Despite his youth, Daeron the Young Dragon was a formidable warrior and an exceptionally skilled general. At his instigation, the armies of the Seven Kingdoms invaded Dorne, planning to force it to bend the knee to the Iron Throne. After months of fighting, Daeron was rewarded with victory. Unfortunately, he unwisely left a Tyrell of Highgarden as his representative in Dorne and this triggered a huge rebellion with just weeks of the original victory. Daeron returned with an army, but this time the entire populace rose against him and during the resulting bloodbath forty thousand lives were lost, Daeron's amongst them (dying at only the age of eighteen). His cousin Aemon, who had won acclaim in the war and been dubbed the Dragonknight, was imprisoned during this phase of the conflict. Daeron's brother Baelor, a holy man who preferred a life of religious study, was crowned King and went to Dorne to make peace, successfully negotiating Aemon the Dragonknight's release.

Baelor ruled for ten years, but spent much of that time in religious contemplation, or praying over the last dragon's three surviving eggs, hoping they would hatch. His uncle Viserys ruled as Hand, as he had whilst Daeron warred in the south. Baelor starved himself to death in a religious fervour and Viserys took the throne as Viserys II, but died just a year later and was succeeded by his son, Aegon IV Targaryen.

The Blackfyre Rebellion

Aegon IV was a reputable warrior, but after taking the throne he lost himself to vice, becoming grossly fat and interested in matters of the flesh. He took many lovers and had many bastards, but was insanely jealous. When he caught Terrence Toyne, one of his Kingsguard abed with one of his mistresses, he had both killed. Toyne's brothers tried to avenge him and came close, but his brother Aemon the Dragonknight gave his life to save Aegon's.

Aegon IV was unhappy with his legitimate son, Daeron, considering him weak for he was more interested in wisdom gleaned from books and maesters rather than war and combat. He had married Daeron to Princess Myriah Martell of Dorne in an effort to entice Dorne into peacefully joining the Seven Kingdoms, but to his dismay his son seemed to take up Dornish ways instead. Aegon's eldest natural-born son, Daemon, was made of different material. He had been a strong boy, large for his size and noted for his fighting skills when only twelve years of age. Aegon IV recognised him as his son and, to the disbelief of the entire royal court, gave him the ancestral Targaryen sword Blackfyre. Daemon grew into a warrior of formidable and legendary repute, with another of Aegon's bastards, Aegor Rivers or 'Bittersteel' not far behind him in skill. Aegon IV was rumoured to be considering naming Daemon his heir when he died.

Daeron took the throne instead as Daeron II and ruled peacefully for a decade, but there was disquiet as the court took on a more Dornish flavour and Daeron pledged to marry his sister Daenerys to Prince Moran Martell, in return for which Moran would finally bring Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms. Daenerys was rumoured to be the love of Daemon, who by now had taken the surname 'Blackfyre' for the sword, further estranging Daemon from his half-brother. Finally, rumours surfaced that Daeron II was actually the son of a union between his mother and uncle, Aemon the Dragonknight, and was thus illegitimate. Daemon Blackfyre claimed the Iron Throne, provoking a bloody year-long war called the Blackfyre Rebellion. At the end of the war Daemon and his two eldest sons were dead, and his younger sons and Bittersteel had been forced into exile. Daeron II went on to rule for another fifteen years as Daeron the Good King, bringing peace and prosperity back to the realm.

Succession crisis

When Daeron II died, his son Aerys I took the throne, but he was bookish and reclusive, leaving the realm almost entirely to the ruling of his Hand, his uncle Brynden Rivers, known as 'Bloodraven'. Aerys I died after only a few years of rule and was succeeded by his brother Maekar. Maekar had not expected to inherit, as he was only the fourth son of King Daeron, but ruled reasonably well until he was killed in battle with an outlaw lord.

Maekar's death triggered a succession crisis, for Maekar's eldest two sons had already died, one of the pox and another from drinking wildfire. Their children were either illegitimate bastards or simpletons. A Great Council was convened to discuss the matter and it was agreed that the throne should be offered to Maekar's third son, Aemon, in training to be a maester. Aemon rejected the crown and immediately withdrew to the Wall to join the Night's Watch. Maekar's youngest son Aegon thus took the throne, becoming Aegon V, Aegon the Unlikely as he was the fourth son of a fourth son.

The Tragedy at Summerhall

Aegon V ruled wisely and well. During his rule Westeros remained at peace, and the threat from the Blackfyre Pretenders was apparently ended once and for all when Maelys the Monstrous was killed in the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Despite the prosperity of this time, Aegon was convinced that the last three surviving dragon eggs could still be hatched and devoted much time to studying them. This led to his downfall when an attempt to hatch the eggs went badly wrong. The Targaryen summer palace at Summerhall was destroyed by fire. Aegon V, his life-long friend and mentor Ser Duncan the Tall, Aegon's son and heir Prince Duncan the Small, and numerous others lost their lives in the resulting blaze. During the firestorm Rhaegar Targaryen was born to Prince Aerys, Aegon V's grandson, and his sister-wife.

The Mad King

Aegon's younger son Jaehaerys took the throne, but he was in a state of shock from the deaths of his father and brother and died prematurely just two years later. Aerys II took the throne.

Aerys' early years were filled with promise. He filled his court with a new generation of younger, skilled warriors and politicians. He appointed the canny and skilled Tywin Lannister as his Hand, and the Kingsguard reached the apex of its martial skills at this time under the command of Gerold Hightower, with Ser Barristan Selmy and, later, the prodigiously skilled Ser Arthur Dayne joining its ranks.

After a decade, Aerys had become more sullen and moody, and unhappy that much of the credit for the running of the realm had gone to his hand. When Lord Denys Darklyn of Duskendale refused to pay his taxes, Aerys attempted to sort the situation out personally. Instead, in what became known as the Defiance of Duskendale, he ended up imprisoned in the town for six months before Tywin was finally able to break him out. Freed, Aerys' rage was terrible to behold as he had the entire Darklyn family utterly destroyed, its surviving members put to death through horrendous and inventive methods.

From this time on, it is said that Aerys danced on the edge of madness. He alienated Tywin by going back on an agreement to marry his son Rhaegar to Tywin's daughter Cersei, instead wedding him to Princess Elia Martell of Dorne. He also accepted Tywin's eldest son Jaime into the Kingsguard, disinheriting him as Tywin's heir, to Tywin's utter fury. When Rhaegar allegedly kidnapped Lyanna Stark, her father and brother came to King's Landing to ask for the King's justice. Believing that they intended to kill his son, Aerys had both of them murdered. In response, Houses Stark, Baratheon, Arryn and Tully rose their banners in rebellion. A bloody conflict erupted which ended with Rhaegar's death at the Battle of the Trident, the Lannisters joining the rebels and sacking King's Landing, and Jaime Lannister killing Aerys on the steps of the Iron Throne.

Aerys' sister-wife survived him by eight months, but died giving bith to their third child Daenerys on Dragonstone. Loyal Targaryen retainers took Daenerys and her brother Viserys into exile in the Free Cities, whilst Robert Baratheon was crowned King.

In exile

Viserys and Daenerys dwelt awhile in Braavos, but after their money was stolen by disloyal servants they became wanderers. Viserys became known as the Beggar King and attracted some attention from discontented Targaryen loyalists living in exile in the Free Cities, but never gained sufficient support to become a threat. Eventually they were taken in by the wealthy merchant Ilyrio Mopatis of Pentos, who concocted a plan with Viserys to marry Daenerys to a powerful faction of the eastern continent who would be able to help them win back the throne. Khal Drogo of the Dothraki agreed to the deal and Daenerys was wed to him. However, Viserys became angry at the 'constant delays' to their plans to invade Westeros, and eventually did a grievous insult to Drogo, who killed him for it.

Daenerys became the last Targaryen, but had won her husband's heart. When she was nearly killed by assassins on the order of Robert Baratheon, Drogo swore blood vengeance and vowed to win Daenerys' throne for her. However, Drogo died of a wound sustained in battle, leaving Daenerys alone aside from a few loyal retainers. But during these events Daenerys had inherited the last three dragon eggs, and these now hatched. With dragons at her command, Daenerys became the talk and wonder of the east, but her attempts to win support in Qarth proved unsuccessful. Finally, aided by the former Kingsguard Ser Barristan Selmy, she conquered the slave cities of Slaver's Bay and declared herself Queen of Meereen, vowing to stay and learn how to rule. Her ambition remains to return to Westeros and retake her father's throne.

Targaryen characters in the books

• Aemon Targaryen
• Daenerys Targaryen, called the Stormborn and Mother of Dragons
• Viserys III Targaryen, called the Beggar King

Historical Targaryen characters

• Aegon I Targaryen, called Aegon the Conqueror
• Aegon II Targaryen
• Aegon III Targaryen, called the Dragonbane
• Aegon IV Targaryen, called Aegon the Unworthy
• Aegon V Targaryen, called Aegon the Unlikely or 'Egg'
• Aegon VI Targaryen
• Aelinor Targaryen, sister-wife to Aerys I
• Aemon Targaryen, called the Dragonknight
• Aenar Targaryen
• Aenys I Targaryen
• Aerion Targaryen, called Aerion Brightflame or Aerion Brightfire
• Aerys I Targaryen
• Aerys II Targaryen, called the Mad King
• Alysanne Targaryen, called Good Queen Alysanne, the sister-wife of Jaehaerys I
• Baelor I Targaryen, called Baelor the Blessed or Baelor the Beloved
• Baelor Targaryen, called Baelor Breakspear
• Daella Targaryen
• Daena Targaryen, called Daena the Defiant, mother of Daemon Blackfyre, one of the Princesses in the Tower
• Daenerys Targaryen, married into House Martell
• Daeron I Targaryen, called the Young Dragon and the Boy King
• Daeron II Targaryen, called the Good King
• Daeron Targaryen, called Daeron the Drunk
• Duncan Targaryen, called the Prince of Dragonflies and Duncan the Small
• Elaena Targaryen, one of the Princesses in the Tower
• Elia Targaryen, originally of House Martell
• Jaehaerys I Targaryen, called Jaehaerys the Conciliator
• Jaehaerys II Targaryen
• Jeyne Targaryen, originally of House Westerling, wife of Maegor the Cruel
• Matarys Targaryen
• Maegor I Targaryen, called Maegor the Cruel
• Maekar I Targaryen
• Myriah Targaryen, originally of House Martell
• Naerys Targaryen, sister-wife to Aegon IV
• Rhae Targaryen, married into House Baratheon
• Rhaegal Targaryen
• Rhaegar Targaryen
• Rhaella Targaryen
• Rhaelle Targaryen
• Rhaena Targaryen, one of the Princesses in the Tower
• Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Rhaenys Targaryen, sister-wife to Aegon I
• Rhaenys Targaryen
• Valarr Targaryen
• Visenya Targaryen, sister-wife to Aegon I
• Viserys I Targaryen
• Viserys II Targaryen

Aegon IV's bastards

• Daemon Blackfyre
• Aegor Rivers
• Brynden Rivers
• Shiera Seastar