'House of the Dragon' Season 2: A look at how the Targaryen family is related — including their penchant for incest
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is streaming on HBO on June 16, 2024. The thrilling action-adventure epic is a prequel to the iconic show 'Game of Thrones' and tells the story of the iconic House Targaryen from the Westeros world.
At the time when the events in this series begin, The Targaryen family is ruling the seven kingdoms and when the series begins, the incumbent ruler is King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). As we go deeper into the series, we head into a war of succession between two separate groups of the Targaryen family.
The Targaryens are known for their unique physical features of pale skin, silver hair, and purple eyes. They are also known for their dragon eggs which hatch dragons and make them the most dominant house in all of Westeros. Their family home is at Dragonstone.
The Targaryens began ruling the seven kingdoms when the fabled king Aegon, the conqueror, conquered the seven kingdoms on his dragons. In 'House of the Dragon' the prophecy of Aegon, 'A Song of Ice and Fire' is mentioned. The prophecy states that a Targaryen King must be on the throne to save the world from a long winter, referring to the events in 'Game of Thrones'. Here's a look at the Targaryen house in 'House of the Dragon'
Viserys Targaryen and his succession
King Viserys Targaryen took over the reins of the seven kingdoms after the death of Jaehaerys Targaryen. His competition for the throne was Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), who wasn't crowned due to the patriarchal laws of the land which preferred a male ruler.
King Viserys was married to his cousin Queen Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke) who died in childbirth. They had a daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D' Arcy) who was named the heir to the throne in the absence of a male offspring. Rhaenys was married to Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint).
King Viserys had a brother Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) who was supposed to be the heir to the throne but was sent to Stepstones instead due to his unpredictable nature. Daemon Targaryen was married first to Lady Rhea Royce (Rachel Redford), whom he killed. He was then married to Rhaneys and Corlys' daughter Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) with whom he had two children Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) and Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell)
Viserys' children and the war of succession
Viserys married Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) after the death of his first wife. Alicent Hightower is the daughter of his hand Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) and his daughter Rhaenyra's best friend.
Viserys and Alicent had four children, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban), Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), and Prince Daeron Targaryen
Rhaenyra's claim as the heir to the throne is challenged by King Aegon Targaryen who is crowned after the death of Viserys as the King of the seven kingdoms.
Rhaenyra's children and step-children
Rhaenyra Targaryen has been married twice and is a mother to five sons and two stepdaughters. Her only daughter Visenya was a stillborn. From her first marriage to Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan), she has three sons Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), and Joffrey Velaryon (Santiago André). Lucerys Velaryon died at the end of the first season.
Rhaenyra later marries her uncle Daemon Targaryen and has two children Aegon III Targaryen and Viserys II Targaryen. She is also the stepmother to Daemon's daughters with his second wife Laena Velaryon, Baela and Rhaena Velaryon.
Targaryens and incest
As we have seen in the case of Daemon and Rhaenyra and other members of the Targaryen house, there is a tendency to marry within the Targaryen house.
In George RR Martin's world, Targaryens are known to marry within the family to keep their bloodline pure. There is a reference to this trait in 'Game of Thrones' as well whenever the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen is mentioned. It is believed that generations of inbreeding created insanity in the Targaryens.
The relationship between Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) in 'Game of Thrones' also turns out to be incestuous as Jon Snow is revealed to be a Targaryen later in the series.
How to stream 'House of the Dragon' Season 2?
'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max on Sunday, June 16, 2024. To watch the series, you will need a Max Subscription. The streaming platform typically offers three packages that you can choose from depending on your budget.
The low-cost plan that supports advertising costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually.
The second package, which does not support advertising, costs $15.99 per month or $149.99 annually.
Meanwhile, the third package, titled Ultimate Ad-Free, costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually.
'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Trailer
'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max on Sunday, June 16, 2024
