How Daemon Targaryen Is Related To Daenerys

This article contains major SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, the book on which House of the Dragon is based.

Summary Daemon Targaryen is Daenerys' sixth great-grandfather.

Their lineage continued through their youngest son.

Daemon is Jon Snow’s seventh great-grandfather.

House of the Dragon’s Daemon Targaryen is related to Game of Thrones’ Daenerys, with his and Rhaenyra’s lineage directly connecting to the Mother of Dragons. As one of the main characters in A Song of Ice and Fire, Daenerys is arguably the most recognizable Targaryen from the world created by George R.R. Martin. Whereas Game of Thrones was set in a time when most but not all Targaryens were gone, House of the Dragon sees the “House of the Dragon” at the height of their power. The House Targaryen prequel starts 197 years before Game of Thrones.

The Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war covered in House of the Dragon, ended in 131 AC. Daenerys Targaryen was born in 284 AC in the books, although she and most of the characters were aged up in the HBO adaptation. Regardless, almost 200 years separate the main events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. While House Targaryen was never the same after the Dance, it continued to rule Westeros for a couple of more generations before Robert Baratheon’s rebellion put an end to the dynasty that began with Aegon the Conqueror.

3:40 Related How Many Kids Rhaenyra Has In HOTD, Who The Father Is, & What Happens To Them Rhaenyra Targaryen’s children from her marriages with Leanor and Daemon all played important roles in the Dance of the Dragons and what came after.

Daemon Targaryen Is Daenerys' Sixth Great-Grandfather

Daemon And Rhaenyra’s Bloodline Continued Through Their Youngest Son

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Both Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen were killed during the Dance of the Dragons. Daemon died first, at the Battle Above the God’s Eye against Aemond Targaryen. While Rhaenyra sat on the Iron Throne for a while, she had to flee the capital and fall into a trap in Dragonstone set up by Aegon II. Team Green technically won the war once Aegon II killed Rhaenyra and returned to the throne, but the line of succession would change again shortly after. Aegon II was poisoned by someone in the court, leaving Corlys Velaryon and other powerful lords to choose a new ruler.

Daemon is Jon Snow’s seventh great-grandfather in HBO’s Game of Thrones universe, as Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.

Lord Corlys supported the claim of a different Aegon – Rhaenyra and Daemon’s oldest son. Rhaenyra and Daemon had two children, but at the end of the war, it was believed that the youngest one, Viserys, had died. Aegon was safe, though, and despite his young age, he was chosen as the new king. However, Rhaenyra’s lineage did not continue through Aegon III. He and his male sons died without heirs, after which Viserys II was crowned. Viserys II started a lineage that would continue for hundreds of years until Aerys II Targaryen and his children: Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys.

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How The Targaryen Line Continues From Daemon & Rhaenyra's Children To Daenerys

Daemon And Rhaenyra’s Sons Both Sat On The Throne

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Aegon III, or Aegon the Younger, had two sons – Daeron and Baelor. Daeron sat on the Iron Throne after the death of his father, who managed to somewhat unite the realm and bring back some of the peace and stability from before the Dance of the Dragons. However, Daeron I died without any heirs. This is why his younger brother, Baelor, became king. Baelor I also died without heirs, though, with Viserys II being the next in the line of succession. The youngest son of Daemon and Rhaenyra sat on the throne after his older brother and his two sons.

Generation Direct Lineage From Daemon To Daenerys Relations 1 Daemon Targaryen Daenerys' sixth-great grandfather 2 Viserys II Targaryen Daemon's youngest and last surviving son 3 Aegon VI Targaryen Viserys II's son 4 Daeron II Targaryen Aegon VI's son 5 Maekar I Targaryen Daeron II's son 6 Aegon V Targaryen Maekar's son 7 Jaehaerys II Targaryen Aegon V's son 8 Aerys II Targaryen Jaehaerys II's son 9 Daenerys Targaryen Aerys II's daughter

Viserys II’s line was more stable than the previous one. His son, Aegon VI Targaryen, was considered the worst Aegon but left an heir, Daeron II. Daeron’s successor was Maekar; Maekar’s heir was Aegon V; Aegon’s son was Jaehaerys II, and Jaehaerys II’s heir was Aerys II Targaryen. The last of the Targaryen kings before Robert’s rebellion, Aerys was the father of Viserys and Daenerys. In other words, House of the Dragon’s Daemon and Rhaenyra are the sixth great-grandparents of Daenerys Targaryen. They are also the seventh great-grandparents of Jon Snow, born Aegon Targaryen in Game of Thrones.