The Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, will prominently feature distant relatives of Daenerys Targaryen – but how Daenerys is related to the House of the Dragon Targaryens may have confused some prospective viewers. The prequel series will provide ample background on the notorious Targaryen family history, with the story being loosely based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood novel from 2018 and taking place almost two centuries before the events in Game of Thrones. The series’ protagonist is revealed to be Rhaenyra Targaryen, played by Emma Darcy – a character who possesses many similarities to her distant relative, Daenerys.

Daenerys, played by Emilia Clarke, was the youngest child born to King Aerys II Targaryen and Queen Raella during Robert Baratheon’s rebellion. Robert’s ascension to the throne marked the end of the long reign by House Targaryen and set off the events that began the Game of Thrones series. Daenerys’ quest to restore her family’s glory is the focal point of the acclaimed series and catapulted the character to immense popularity. Despite the criticisms of the Game of Thrones ending, interest in the series continues, with House of the Dragon providing ample background to George R.R. Martin’s most infamous family.

Due to the habitual incest within the Targaryen family tree, the familial relationship between Daenerys and the Targaryens from House of the Dragon is a bit more complex than it otherwise would be. For example, King Viserys I, the current king at the start of House of the Dragon, is the namesake for Daenery’s older brother and their distant great-grandfather. However, in the books, the king’s daughter and appointed successor, Rhaenyra, marries her uncle Daemon and has offspring that ascend to the Iron Throne. So while Daenerys is the distant niece of both Rhaenyra and Daemon, they’re also her grandparents several times removed – which would also make Rhaenyra her distant cousin, due to Daemon being Rhaenyra’s uncle as well as her husband.

Overview Of The Targaryen Family Tree

House Targaryen’s family tree is infamous, known for uniting the seven kingdoms through the use of dragons, but also for a hereditary instability stemming from their constant inbreeding. The family’s history in Westeros starts with Aegon I, who came from the Eastern lands and became the first king in the Targaryen dynasty. House of The Dragon will introduce King Viserys I, the 5th Targaryen king of Westeros and the father of the series’ new main character Rhaenyra and brother to her opposer, Daemon. Game of Thrones begins after King Aerys II, the Mad King, is slain by his king’s guard, Jaime Lannister. The Mad King fathered three children, Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys. Daenerys, for a time, was considered the only remaining Targaryen and true heir to the Iron Throne until the revelation that she had a nephew in Jon Snow, who is set to get a sequel series. Snow, born with Aegon Targaryen after his ancestors, is currently the only known living member of his family line after he murdered in aunt in the series finale.

Despite the Targaryens losing their right to the throne once again at the end of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will follow the family amid their long reign over the unified Seven Kingdoms. The new series has a chance to fix its mistakes from the mixed bag that was Game of Thrones season 8 while still setting itself apart. House of the Dragon will introduce more families from the past and, more importantly, new dragons.