House of the Dragon: Houses and Characters Full Guide

This article was originally published on worldtravelling.com and has been republished here with permission.

While HBO’s House of the Dragon is set in King’s Landing, which we are all familiar with from the GoT, we are unfamiliar with its major characters and houses. There are no recognizable characters to cling to because the show takes place roughly 200 years before Game of Thrones begins. And there are so many new characters having complex relationships. Our family tree and characters’ breakdown will guide you through – Special Bonus: Get to know all the dragons and their owners.

From the relationships between the Targaryens to the other houses and how every character relates to each other. Here is our special guide that breakdown all major characters and houses and will help you figure out the story and its complexities.

– House Targaryen –

King Jaehaerys I Targaryen

In House of the Dragon, King Jaehaerys Targaryen appears just briefly, yet he’s an important Targaryen to know. He appeared in the opening scene of the first episode of House of the Dragon when Jaehaerys called a meeting of Westerosi lords to decide who should be his successor.

According to A Song of Ice and Fire legend, only the fourth Targaryen monarch of Westeros, Jaehaerys, was a great king. In Fire and Blood, George R.R. Martin noted that the realm Jaehaerys inherited was “poor, war-torn, lawless, while the new king himself was a green kid with no experience with governance.” Nevertheless, Jaehaerys would rule for 55 years, a time that was characterized by stability and prosperity.

King Viserys I Targaryen

King Viserys is arguably the most important character in House of the Dragon, especially in the first few episodes. He‘s Jaehaerys Targaryen’s grandson and the victor of the election that chose Jaehaerys’ successor. Rhaenys Targaryen, Jaehaerys’ granddaughter and Viserys’ cousin was his main rival in that election.

Martin acknowledged King Viserys I’s flaws while writing in Fire and Blood, “Many believe the reign of King Viserys I to represent the zenith of Targaryen dominance in Westeros.” It must be acknowledged that “King Viserys I Targaryen wasn’t the strongest-willed of kings, it must be said; always amiable and anxious to please, he relied greatly on the counsel of the men around him, and did as they bade more often than not.”

Aemma Targaryen

Rhaenyra Targaryen’s mother, Queen Aemma Targaryen, was Viserys’ first wife. She was Aemma Arryn before she wed into the royal family, making her a distant relative of Jon Arryn, whose poisoning sparked the events in Game of Thrones.

The union of Aemma and Viserys was marred by terrible misfortune. She became pregnant multiple times but had miscarriages each time. Rhaenyra was the only healthy baby delivered. Two boys were born, but both died in their cots. While giving birth to Baelor, Aemma passed away. In Fire and Blood, her demise was a natural result of childbirth, but in House of the Dragon, Viserys orders Grand Maester Mellos to perform a C-section on Aemma in an effort to save the child.