Every Targaryen In House Of The Dragon & How They're Related To Maester Aemon (2024)

The Targaryens ruled over Westeros for centuries with the might of dragons and fire. However, when fans were introduced to the Targaryen family in Game of Thrones, they were practically extinct. Even so, one surprise member of the Targaryen family — alive and well in GoT — is revealed to be Maester Aemon, the elderly Maester at the Night's Watch who Jon Snow looks up to for wisdom.

Maester Aemon was born Prince Aemon Targaryen and, as a second-born Prince, was the heir to the Iron Throne before relinquishing his family name and birthright to become a Maester. Aemon would have inherited the Throne too had he not become a Maester, as his elder brother Aerion later died. With House of the Dragon delving into the Targaryens at the height of their power, fans might wonder where Maester Aemon falls in the Targaryen family tree.

Updated by Fawzia Khan on July 9th, 2024: The hotly anticipated House of The Dragon Season 2 is now airing, and fans of the franchise can't get enough of the Targaryens and their lore. As new characters of the family enter the fore in the newest installment, more of the great House's history is coming to light. This list has been updated with new characters and their relation to GoT's Maester Aemon, and also refreshed with better formatting.

King Jaehaerys I Targaryen Was Aemon's Seventh Great-Grandfather

At the start of House of the Dragon, King Jaehaerys I announces his heir during the Great Council after the death of his last remaining child. This is the only time fans get to see the longest-reigning Targaryen king as a fast-forward to a point in his successor's reign shortly followed.

His successor, King Viserys I, is King Jaehaerys I's grandson. King Viserys I was Rhaenyra's father and King Viserys II's grandfather. King Viserys II was the father of King Aegon IV, who fathered King Daeron II. In turn, he was the father of King Maekar I — Maester Aemon's father. This makes King Jaehaerys I the seventh great-grandfather of Maester Aemon.

Princess Rhaenys Targaryen Is Aemon's First Cousin Seven Times Removed

The two candidates for King Jaehaerys I's heir in the Great Council of 101 AC were two of his grandchildren: the eventual King Viserys I and his cousin, Princess Rhaenys. While King Viserys I was an appealing choice due to being the closest male heir, Princess Rhaenys was the daughter of King Jaehaerys I's oldest son.

Ultimately, the patriarchy won out and Rhaenys became "The Queen That Never Was" because she could not ascend the Iron Throne that was rightfully hers. However, she serves as a useful and wise counselor to Rhaenyra in her court in House of The Dragon. As King Viserys I's cousin, Rhaenys is also the first cousin seven times removed of Maester Aemon. Rhaenys married Corlys Velaryon, the Lord of The Tides.

King Viserys I Targaryen Was Maester Aemon's Fifth Great-Grandfather

A majority of the first season of House of the Dragon is under the rule of King Viserys I. For a time, their world was at peace, as the King did not want to create war for no reason. However, one by one, King Viserys I unknowingly made mistakes that would later plunge Westeros into a Targaryen civil war.

Despite this, King Viserys I was beloved during his life, but he slowly succumbed to a prolonged illness that eventually took his life. King Viserys I lived a long life and fathered five children, including the yet-to-be-seen Prince Daeron, who has been mentioned in Season 2. Through his daughter Rhaenyra, King Viserys I is the fifth great-grandfather of Maester Aemon.

Queen Aemma Arryn Was Both The Fifth Great-Grandmother & First Cousin Seven Times Removed From Aemon

King Viserys I's first wife was Queen Aemma Arryn, daughter of Lord Rodrick Arryn and Princess Daella Targaryen. Queen Aemma only appeared in House of the Dragon's series premiere, but she was beloved even in her limited time. Her death during childbirth was the first significant event that would chart the course of House of the Dragon and leave an empty hole in King Viserys I's heart for the rest of his life.

Aemma was Rhaenyra's mother, making her the fifth great-grandmother of Maester Aemon. Since she was also the first cousin of King Viserys I, she's also the first cousin seven times removed of Maester Aemon.

Prince Daemon Targaryen Is Aemon's The Fourth Great-Grandfather & The Fifth Great-Granduncle

Prince Daemon is the brother of King Viserys I. He was initially King Viserys I's heir before the birth of the king's first son, Prince Baelon. Sadly, Prince Baelon passed away shortly after his birth, but this did not restore Daemon's birthright. King Viserys I kicked Daemon out of King's Landing after the latter mocked his son's death as "the heir for a day." The king then named his only child at the time, Rhaenyra, as heir to the Iron Throne.

By being King Viserys I's brother, Daemon is the fifth great-granduncle of Maester Aemon. However, Daemon goes on to marry Princess Rhaenyra after the death of his second wife, Laena. Through their child, Viserys, Daemon is also the fourth great-grandfather of Maester Aemon.

Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen Is Maester Aemon's Fourth Great-Grandmother

Princess Rhaenyra is the only surviving child of King Viserys I and Queen Aemma. King Viserys I named Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, which was controversial due to the established patriarchy. Despite Rhaenyra's readiness for the role, it hasn't stopped others from plotting to usurp her birthright. In Season 2, Aegon II remains the King of the Seven Kingdoms in King's Landing, while Rhaenyra has also declared herself Queen of the Seven Kingdoms in Dragonstone.

Rhaenyra had married her cousin Prince Leanor Velaryon, and they sired three children, although all three were actually fathered by Ser Harwin Strong. Rhaenyra later married Prince Daemon after Ser Laenor's "death." As such, Rhaenyra is the fourth great-grandmother of Maester Aemon.

King Viserys I Targaryen & Queen Alicent Hightower's Children Are Maester Aemon's Fourth Great-Half-Granduncles & Aunts

After the death of Queen Aemma, King Viserys I reluctantly remarried, but his choice of spouse changed the history of the Seven Kingdoms. King Viserys I chose to marry Lady Alicent Hightower, the daughter of his Hand, Otto Hightower, even when he was advised to marry a Velaryon for stronger political ties. King Viserys I and Queen Alicent had four children together: King Aegon II, Aemond, Helaena, and Daeron.

When King Viserys I died, Otto and the rest of King Viserys I's council revealed their long-term plans to put King Aegon II on the Iron Throne, which came to fruition in Season 1, Episode 10 "The Black Queen" and the rest of Season 2. As King Aegon II and his siblings are Rhaenyra's half-siblings, they are the fourth great-half-granduncles/aunts of Maester Aemon. Daeron has only been mentioned in Season 2 so far, where it is said he resides in Oldtown.

King Aegon II Targaryen & Queen Helaena's Targaryen Children Are Aemon's First Half-Cousins Five Times Removed

In keeping with the Targaryen's incestuous customs, King Aegon II and his sister, Helaena, get married. King Aegon II doesn't feel anything towards his sister, detests the fact he's married to her, and would rather revel in brothels and child-fighting rings. However, he does show a lot of affection for his children, particularly Jaeherys, in Season 2.

King Aegon II and Queen Helaena have three children, twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and Maelor. King Aegon II also has an unconfirmed number of bastards, but Prince Jaehaerys, Princess Jaehaera, and Prince Maelor are the first half-cousins five times removed from Maester Aemon. Their family suffered a huge loss when Daemon commissioned the infamous Blood and Cheese to go into the Red Keep and murder a son; Little Jaehaerys was brutally murdered in his sleep.

Prince Daemon Targaryen & Lady Laena Velaryon's Children Are The Maester's First Cousins Six Times Removed & Third Great-Half-Grandaunts

Daemon's marriage to Rhaenyra wasn't his first marriage; in fact, it was his third. Daemon previously married Lady Rhea Royce, whom he murdered, but it was called an accident out of fear and lack of evidence. Daemon then married his cousin, Lady Laena Velaryon, daughter of Daemon's first cousin, Rhaenys, and he had his first offspring with her.

Daemon and Lady Laena had two children together: Lady Baela and Lady Rhaena Targaryen. They were due a third child, but Laena unfortunately passed away due to childbirth, which also killed the baby. Lady Rhaena and Lady Baela are the first cousins six times removed of Maester Aemon as well as his third great-half-grandaunts.

Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen & Ser Harwin Strong's Children Are Aemon's Third Great-Half-Granduncles

While not Targaryens by name, Prince Jacaerys, Prince Lucerys Velaryon, and Prince Joffrey Velaryon are still very much Targaryens by blood. In fact, they're not biologically Velaryons at all, which was somewhat of an open secret in King's Landing. Rhaenyra and Prince Laenor Velaryon's marriage was purely political. Neither had any interest in the other, as both Rhaenyra and Laenor had their eyes on other men.

Rhaenyra developed a relationship with Ser Harwin Strong, who is the biological father of Prince Jacaerys, Prince Joffrey, and Prince Lucerys, while she stayed wed to Laenor. Regardless of their parentage, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey remain the third great-half-granduncles to Maester Aemon. Lucerys was unfortunately murdered by his own cousin-Uncle Aemond Targaryen in the finale of House of The Dragon Season 1, and Joffrey is sent away with Rhaena to protect him from the war in House of The Dragon Season 2.

Daemon & Rhaenyra Targaryen's Children Are Aemon's Third Great-Grandparents & Second Cousins Five Times Removed

Rhaenyra and Daemon have long had feelings for one another, which gave rise to a slow-burn romance that captivated fans. After the death of Princess Laena, Daemon and Rhaenyra hatched a plot for Ser Laenor to fake his own death and run away with his lover, Ser Qarl, which opened the door for the uncle and niece to wed.

Daemon and Rhaenyra have two children together: Aegon and Viserys. A third child, Visenya, was stillborn after Rhaenyra learned that her father had passed away and the Hightowers usurped the Iron Throne in Season 1, Episode 10 "The Black Queen." Aegon and Viserys are Maester Aemon's third great-grandparents and his second cousins five times removed.

Book fans have long awaited the appearance of the Dragonseed, or illegitimate bastards who were born of Targaryen relations with smallfolk. Before it was outlawed by King Jaehaerys I, the Targaryens had a tradition: when a smallfolk couple would marry, the King or Lord of the land had a right to bed the bride on the wedding night. The children born of these unions were called Dragonseed, and Season 2 of House of The Dragon introduced four of them.

Ulf White claimed he was the grandson of King Jaehaerys I and the son of Baelon the Brave, which meant that he was likely Aemon's fifth great-grandfather, but that remains up for debate as the Dragonseeds' origins were pretty unclear. It is unknown who sired Addam of Hull, Hugh Hammer, and Alyn of Hull, but they hold some relation to Aemon which may be revealed later on in House of The Dragon Season 2.

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  Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for a millennia.

  Release Date

  April 17, 2011

  Cast

  Peter Dinklage , Emilia Clarke , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Sophie Turner , Maisie Williams , Kit Harington , Lena Headey , Sean Bean

  Main Genre

  Drama

  Creator

  David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

  Production Company

  Home Box Office (HBO), Television 360Grok! Studio

  Number of Episodes

  73

  Network

  HBO Max

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  House of the Dragon

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  Two centuries before the events ofA Game of Thrones,House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone.

  Release Date

  August 21, 2022

  Cast

  Jefferson Hall , Eve Best , David Horovitch , Paddy Considine , Ryan Corr , Bill Paterson , Fabien Frankel , Graham McTavish , Olivia Cooke , Gavin Spokes , Sonoya Mizuno , Steve Toussaint , Matt Smith , Matthew Needham , Rhys Ifans , Emma D'Arcy , Milly Alco*ck

  Main Genre

  Drama

  Creator

  George R. R. Martin, Ryan J. Condal

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  Bastard Sword, Cross Plains Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO

  Number of Episodes

  10

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  HBO Max

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  Max