We figure out which Targaryens appear in the new HBO series 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,' and why without knowing their genealogy you still risk getting confused.
We figure out which descendants of dragon riders appear in the new HBO series, and why the Targaryens make you study their genealogy to avoid getting confused by the names. Oh, those .
“History does not remember blood. It remembers names.” We sort through the Targaryen family tree and legacy. And also learn how not to get confused by their children.
Open material“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is a new “Game of Thrones” spin-off based on George R.R. Martin’s novellas “Tales of Dunk and Egg.” On social media, it’s being called a “sitcom in Westeros,” and it seems to be the fresh breath this big franchise needed. Our impressions .
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is the first Martin series that isn’t afraid to laugh at itself. Meta-humor, a charismatic Baratheon, and a Westeros you want to stay in.
Open materialA Bit of Context
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” takes us about 100 years before “Game of Thrones” and about 90 years after the events of “House of the Dragon.”
The action unfolds 13 years after the first Blackfyre Rebellion—a civil war that split the kingdom and left a trail of grievances and broken alliances.
On the Iron Throne sits Daeron II Targaryen, known as Daeron the Good. And it is his family that heads to the tournament at Ashford, where the series’ events unfold.
But before we dive into another chaos of names and titles, let us remind you again: half of the Targaryens share the same names, and they also love marrying relatives.
We have tried to avoid plot spoilers for the series, and only describe those characters who have already appeared under their own names. Minor spoilers from biographies are present, but they will most likely never be shown in the series.
Finally Something Understandable
Eight seasons of “Game of Thrones” and two seasons of “House of the Dragon” showed us the world through the eyes of kings, lords, and other aristocracy. Intrigues, betrayals, dragons, battles for the throne. Chaos is a ladder… and all that.
Commoners were there, of course, but somewhere in the background—more as extras who were periodically killed for effect.
Now, for the first time in the franchise, we see Westeros through the eyes of an ordinary guy. For Dunk, lords, and especially Targaryens, are unattainable idols he has only ever seen from afar at tournaments. Royal power is something abstract and distant. And the main problem here is not how to seize the Iron Throne, but how the hell to become a knight when you have neither money, nor connections, nor even a decent shield.
Showrunner Ira Parker does not hide that they deliberately moved away from the gloomy atmosphere of previous projects:
“We wanted to be as faithful as possible to the source material and its atmosphere. Six episodes of 30 minutes each is the perfect format. We expanded the world a bit: gave more time to Lyonel Baratheon and the Targaryens, and also added quality fight scenes.”
Simply put, be prepared that not everything has to be gloomy and bleak.
Political Situation
Although the Targaryens still sit on the Iron Throne, their position can be described in one word: shaky. Some even describe it as “a house at sunset.”
Without dragons, this family has to make concessions, smile at lords, and behave almost like ordinary people. And the people begin to ask uncomfortable questions: why, exactly, are these guys still in power?
The showrunner explains again:
“The Targaryens finally have to be real leaders. They need to attend tournaments (like at Ashford) and make friends. But it looks a bit desperate—both for the people and for the viewers, many of whom will probably root against them.”
Finn Bennett, who plays Aerion Targaryen, adds context:
“Aerion feels that people are laughing behind his back and behind the Targaryens. He believes they don’t belong at such events. It’s beneath his dignity and quite humiliating. This explains a lot about his behavior at the tournament—a kind of defiant attempt to regain former respect.”
Why No Dragons?
The reason for the absence of dragons is not budget cuts on special effects, but the history of Westeros. By 209 AC (After Aegon's Conquest), all dragons had died out. And the next time they appear will be only in the finale of the first season of “Game of Thrones.”
Most dragons died during the “Dance of the Dragons”—that same Targaryen civil war we witness in “House of the Dragon.” Archmaester Gyldayn wrote that it would be more accurate to call this war the “Death of the Dragons.” And he was right: at the start of the war in 129 AC, there were about 20 dragons in the world. By the end of the conflict in 131 AC, only four remained.
According to the novella “The Hedge Knight,” the last Targaryen dragon was “small and stunted, with withered wings.” It was a green female that even laid a clutch of five eggs—but none ever hatched. Dunk’s teacher, the aforementioned Ser Arlan (hard to forget after the second episode), saw her in King’s Landing when he was a boy, a year before her death in 153 AC. That means by the time the series begins (209 AC), more than 50 years have passed since the last dragon’s death.
So, the Targaryens continue to rule, but they have lost their almost mythical status as dragon riders. In effect, they have lost their main weapon—fear.
The Blackfyre Rebellion (or Why Everyone Is So Nervous)
Daemon Blackfyre was the illegitimate bastard son of King Aegon IV, called the Unworthy for his, shall we say, insatiable appetites (women, food, power, and more of everything).
And who is Aegon IV?
He is the eldest son of Viserys II—the same one who is the younger son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Daemon. Moreover, he is one of the worst kings on the Iron Throne. And Martin even considered writing a separate story about him, although we already know a great deal from his biography.
So, Aegon IV not only legitimized his bastard on his deathbed but also gave him the ancestral Valyrian steel sword—Blackfyre. This was Aegon the Conqueror’s sword, a symbol of royal authority. In short, the gesture was unambiguous.
Later, Daemon founded his own cadet branch of the dynasty, known as House Blackfyre (even restyling the Targaryen coat of arms for himself), and laid claim to the Iron Throne after his father’s death. Thanks to possessing the symbolically important sword (and his impressive appearance—the guy was handsome, literally “delicate features of almost inhuman beauty,” as well as charming and a skilled warrior), Daemon gained the support of many Westerosi lords who joined his rebellion.
The First Blackfyre Rebellion began in 196 AC and lasted about a year. In the end, King Daeron II and his loyalists managed to kill Daemon Blackfyre and his twin sons at the Battle of the Redgrass Field and suppress the revolt. This was the last major conflict of his reign—at least for now.
But the story didn’t end there. To give you an idea of the threat level: there will be four more rebellions and a full-scale war in the future.
Several of Daemon’s sons managed to flee to the Free Cities, where they remain a constant threat, ready to ignite a new rebellion at any moment. And that’s not to mention the other bastards that Aegon the Unworthy acknowledged on his deathbed.
Although in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” Daemon or the First Blackfyre Rebellion have been mentioned rarely so far, all characters live in the shadow of this recently concluded war (only 13 years ago!) and under the specter of new potential revolts.
The claimants to the throne are still alive and abroad, half the nobility still hasn’t decided whom they support. The atmosphere, frankly, is tense.
Now let’s sort out the main Targaryens of the series.
King Daeron II “the Good” Targaryen
The current King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. He does not actually appear on screen, presumably staying in King’s Landing while his sons Maekar and Baelor head to the Ashford tournament.
He is the great-grandson of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. And the great-great-great-grandfather of Daenerys Targaryen.
King Daeron had a strained relationship with his father, King Aegon IV. While the latter craved war with Dorne (which was not yet part of the Seven Kingdoms), Daeron advocated for peace.
Aegon began spreading rumors that Daeron was not his legitimate son, but the product of an affair between his wife (and sister) Naerys and their brother Aemon. But he never officially disinherited Daeron.
He is known for incorporating Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms bloodlessly. It’s simple—he married Princess Myriah Martell as part of a peace pact. And because Daeron preferred diplomatic solutions to conflicts, he earned the nickname “the Good.”
He created the peaceful Westeros we see in the series.
Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen
Prince Baelor Targaryen (played by Bertie Carvel) is the firstborn son of King Daeron II and Queen Myriah Martell. He holds two positions simultaneously: heir to Dragonstone and Hand of the King. Moreover, Hand to his own father, which already says a lot.
Baelor is considered one of the wisest and most noble Targaryens of his generation. He is not just a politician—he is a proven warrior and commander who truly deserves to sit on the Iron Throne.
He earned his nickname “Breakspear” at age 17 when he defeated none other than Daemon Blackfyre at a tournament. In the First Rebellion, Baelor commanded the forces of Dorne and the Stormlands, driving the rebel army straight into the shield wall of his brother Maekar. This battle inspired the song “The Hammer and the Anvil”—Baelor was the hammer, Maekar the anvil.
He is married to Jena Dondarrion, and they have two sons: Prince Valarr and Prince Matarys.
His connection to “Game of Thrones”: Baelor has no direct descendants in the original series. Valarr marries Kiera of Tyrosh, but all their children are stillborn. So this branch ends.
But if we dig into the past: Baelor’s great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother are Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy). And his grandfather is little Viserys, whom Rhaenyra sent to the Eyrie for protection.
Prince Valarr “the Young Prince” Targaryen
Valarr Targaryen (Oscar Morgan) is Baelor’s eldest son, Maekar’s nephew, and Matarys’ older brother. He appears near the end of the second episode as the favorite of the Ashford tournament, and it must be said, the guy really knows how to handle a lance.
Not much is known about him, except that he marries Kiera of Tyrosh, but none of their children survive childbirth.
Later, Valarr will die from the Great Spring Sickness (the Great Spring Fever) along with his grandfather and brother. George Martin is vague with birth dates, but it is assumed Valarr did not live to see his twenties.
Prince Maekar Targaryen
Maekar Targaryen (Sam Spruell) is the fourth son of King Daeron II and Queen Myriah Martell, Prince of Summerhall (the Targaryen castle in the Stormlands).
Unlike his charismatic older brother, Maekar is stern, impatient, and prone to judgment. He is better at commanding on the battlefield than in political corridors.
Maekar is married to Lady Dyanna Dayne, and they have six children: Princes Daeron, Aerion, Aemon, Princesses Daella, Rhaelle, and Prince Aegon.
His connection to “Game of Thrones”: First, Maekar has many children, and here the magic of family ties begins.
One of his sons is Aemon—the same Maester Aemon (Peter Vaughan) from “Game of Thrones.”
Another son of Maekar, Aegon, will have many children. One of them, Rhaelle, will marry Ormund Baratheon and give birth to Steffon Baratheon—the father of Robert, Stannis, and Renly Baratheon. That is, all three Baratheon brothers from “Game of Thrones” are direct descendants of Maekar.
But that’s not all!
Aegon married his sister (classic Targaryen) and had two more children: Jaehaerys and Shaera. They also married each other (classic again) and had Aerys and Rhaella, who also married (yes, they don’t stop). And they had Prince Rhaegar and his sister... Daenerys (Emilia Clarke).
And Rhaegar, by the way, is Jon Snow’s father.
So Maekar, for all his gloominess and pickiness, turns out to be the direct ancestor of a good half of the main characters in “Game of Thrones.”
Prince Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen
Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) is the second son of Prince Maekar and Dyanna Dayne. And he embodies all the most dangerous traits of the Targaryen dynasty.
Although he calls himself “Brightflame,” believing he is a dragon in human form, others know him as “Aerion the Monstrous”—a cruel, sadistic figure afflicted with the infamous family madness.
Volatile, prone to violence, and arrogant, Aerion poses a danger at the Ashford tournament.
His connection to “Game of Thrones”: Aerion adheres to the Targaryen tradition of marrying within the family: he marries his cousin Daenora Targaryen and fathers a son, Maegor.
Incidentally, later Aerion will attempt to turn himself into a dragon by drinking wildfire. Which, as you might guess, will end badly—he will die.
But his descendants? Little is known about them, and Aerion’s trail ends there.
Aemon Targaryen or Maester Aemon
Since he was the third son of his father, who in turn was the fourth son of the king, he had no chance of taking the throne. Nor any ambition. He was not friends with the sword, so at the age of nine or ten, he was sent to the Citadel to train as a maester. His father, by the way, was against it. But his grandfather, King Daeron, insisted on his decision with the words: “When there are too many dragons, it is as dangerous as when there are too few.”
In the first season of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” he is probably cleaning chamber pots, like Sam Tarly in season seven. In the future, when the succession eventually reaches him, he will refuse to become king, citing his maester’s vows.
We will tell you about Daeron Targaryen and Aegon the Unlikely separately, so as not to spoil the series plot too much.
So, let’s enjoy the Targaryen family ties together and remember new names. Before someone marries another, names their child the same set of names, or goes mad. But that’s why we love them, isn’t it?
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