House Targaryen

1. Traits

  The phrase "blood of the dragon" refers to the Valyrian descent of the Targaryens, and more specifically to the fact that they were one of forty dragonlord families of Valyria. The typical Targaryen features remind strongly of the typical Valyrian features: pale skin, silver, platinum, or gold hair and eyes in a variety of shades of purple, or light blue. The Targaryens can tolerate a bit more heat than most ordinary people; However, they are not immune to fire. Another trait typical to Targaryens is the ability to have premonition-like dreams, called Dragondreams. The trait has been in the Targaryen family since before they relocated from Valyria to Dragonstone in 114 BC (and in fact, is what caused them to relocate).  

2. Customs

House Targaryen's words are "Fire and Blood." Their sigil is a three-headed dragon breathing flames, red on black. The three-headed dragon represents the Conqueror and his two sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya.[Some younger sons of the house used variations of the standard sigil. During the Dance of the Dragons King Aegon II Targaryen used a golden dragon as his personal banner. In line with the sigil colors, most Targaryens used armor black of color (e.g., Baela and her brother Aegon Targaryen, who had the three-headed dragon wrought in rubies on his breast plate and Aemond Targaryen, whose night-black armor was chased with gold).   Although the Targaryen rulers took their seat at King's Landing, the place where Aegon and his army first landed in Westeros and made their first fort, replaced by the Red Keep later on, their earlier seat of Dragonstone remained in their possession as well. It eventually became the traditional seat of the heir-apparent to the throne, who was known as the Prince of Dragonstone (or Princess of Dragonstone, in a few occasions). After the Dance of the Dragons, when House Targaryen took posses of Oldtown and put Prince Daeron Targaryen to govern the city, creating a new brank of the family, the Hightower became their residence for the summer.   House Targaryen historically followed the gods of Valyria. Sometime before Aegon's Conquest, the Targaryens abandoned the Valyrian gods and converted to the Faith of the Seven, the predominant religion in Westeros: however it's implied that it was more a political move than a real change of faith, so for the most part, they continued to follow Valyrain traditions. One of these was the practice of incestuous marriage, wedding brother to sister, cousin to cousin, uncle to niece and aunt to nephew, holding themselves apart from and above the noble Westerosi families.   Deceased Targaryens are traditionally cremated, a custom since the days of Old Valyria. If a dragon is available, it is used to light the flame of the pyre. The ashes of many of the dead of House Targaryen have been interred on Dragonstone, including those of King Aegon I, Queen Visenya, King Maegor I, Princess Daenerys, Princess Daella,King Jaehaerys I, and Queen Alysanne. Even the bones of dead dragons have their own place, as they were considered sacred by Valyrians. It's romured that in a cave, under the sept of Dragonstone, there is the secret cript, dating back to the time of Aenar Targaryen, where Queen Visenya performed her dark magic and worshipped the Old Gods of Valyria.

1. Origin

  House Targaryen was one of the forty ancient noble houses known as dragonlords who ruled the Valyrian Freehold, a great empire spanning much of Essos. The Targaryens were not one of the most powerful houses, however. The family resided in Valyria until Daenys Targaryen, also known as Daenys the Dreamer, the daughter of Lord Aenar Targaryen, had visions of a cataclysm that would come over Valyria. Aenar sold his estates in Valyria and moved his wives, children, other relatives, slaves, wealth, and five dragons (including Balerion) to Dragonstone, an island at the entrance of Blackwater Bay and the westernmost outpost of Valyrian influence, where he took possession of a castle of the same name, in 114 BC. Twelve years later the Doom descended on the city of Valyria, leading to the collapse of the Freehold. The Targaryens were the only dragonriders of Valyria to survive. In the century that followed, four of the five dragons of House Targaryen died, with only Balerion surviving. Two more dragons, Vhagar and Meraxes, were hatched from eggs on Dragonstone, however.   During the century after the Doom, which became known as the Century of Blood due to the violent struggles for power in Essos, Volantis attempted to seize power over Valyria's colonies. Most of the other Free Cities rebelled against Volantis, and towards the end of the Century of Blood, the young Lord Aegon Targaryen, rider of the dragon Balerion, was approached by Pentos and Tyrosh to form an alliance. Aegon, mounted on his dragon Balerion, flew first to Pentos to meet its prince, and then to Lys, where he set the Volantene fleet aflame. With Volantis's rule at an end, he returned to Dragonstone, and focused his attention to the lands west, which had always been of interest to him.  

2. Aegon's Conquest

2.1 The Red-Blood Orange

According to a legend Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, would have decided to to unite the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros under one ruler. after a dragondream foretold his destiny. In this dream Aegon and his two sister-wifes were sleeing together in a big green filed when, suddently, an exquisite tree appears before them and began to flourish and grow, increasing in both magnificence and stature. An extensive variety of feathered creatures and fruits adorned the tree's height, but Aegon was struck by a blood orange, that, after had fallen in to the ground right before him, splited in two, resembling a sun. Amidst the intertwined tree branches overhead, a multitude of birds harmoniously sang and flew, enjoying the cool shelter of the living canopy and each leaf of the towering tree started to rassemble a sword. Unexpectedly, a strong gust of wind emerged and directed the tips of the sword-shaped leaves towards the different cities of the realm, with a particular emphasis on Sunspear. Just as the dream was about to come to an end, a whisper from above spoke to the king, and the words echoed for many generations: "What a magnificent army it will be, and what a remarkable leader it will take to conquer the Red-Blood Orange. "  

2.2 The I War

  Slightly more than a hundred years after the Doom of Valyria, in 2 BC, he began his conquest, in which he was aided by his two sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya. All three were dragonriders, and used their dragons, Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar in battle. Aegon's Conquest lasted for two years. It began with Aegon's landing at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush with a small force, and ended when Aegon was anointed king by the High Septon in Oldtown. In total, he had managed to conquer six of the seven kingdoms, with only Dorne remaining defiant. During the war House Gardener, which had ruled the Reach, and House Hoare, which had ruled the Iron Islands and the riverlands, were extinguished, while House Durrandon, which had reigned over the Stormlands, was continued through the female line. From the swords of his enemies, Aegon created the Iron Throne, and the dynasty he began would rule for nearly three hundred years. Aegon had constructed a wooden castle, the Aegonfort, at the place where he had first come to shore, and the town that grew around it became King's Landing, the kingdom's new capital. Dragonstone remained in the possession of the Targaryens as well, and was one of Aegon's favorite places. The region around King's Landing became known as the crownlands.    

2.3 The First Dornish war

  In 4 AC, Aegon's wars of conquest continued with the First Dornish War, during which he and Rhaenys attempted to bring the Dornish under Targaryen rule as well. A bloody war, during which Queen Rhaenys Targaryen was killed with her dragon, Meraxes, at Hellholt in 10 AC. An assassination attempt on Aegon that same year led to the creation of the Kingsguard, who would guard the kings of the realm for centuries to come. The First Dornish War eventually ended in 13 AC, after Prince Nymor Martell, the Prince of Dorne, had sent his daughter Deria to King's Landing with a letter and the skull of Meraxes. Though the contents of the letter have never been revealed, Aegon agreed to an end of the war the next day.[37]  

3. The Sons and Grandsons of the Dragon

  Aegon I Targaryen died in 37 AC, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Aenys I Targaryen. Almost immediately, Aenys faced four rebellions which had grown out of dissent, dreams of the old days or of vengeance, and of the fact that Aenys and his younger brother, Maegor, had both been born from incestuous marriages. A bandit named Harren the Red, claiming to be a grandson of Harren the Black, took Harrenhal and killed Lord Gargon Qoherys. In the Vale, Lord Ronnel Arryn and his family were taken hostage by his younger brother, Jonos Arryn. On the Iron Islands, a man claimed to be the priest-king Lodos, finally returned from visiting his father after more than three centuries. And in Dorne, the Vulture King raised thirty thousand followers against the Targaryens. The rebels were swiftly defeated by the actions of Aenys's subjects and Maegor. Lord Goren Greyjoy killed the so-called priest-king, and sent his head to King Aenys. Lord Royce of Runestone defeated the supporters of Jonos Arryn, though this caused the death of Lord Ronnel and his family when Jonos threw them out of the Moon Door in the Eyrie. Prince Maegor, who had claimed the dragon Balerion after his father's death, eventually flew up to the Eyrie and had Jonos and his followers executed. The Vulture King had made the mistake of splitting his large army, and was defeated during the Vulture Hunt, in which Lord Orys Baratheon and several other Marcher lords, including Lord Dondarrion, Lady Caron, and Lord Sam Tarly, marched against him. And the last rebel, Harren the Red, was eventually caught by Aenys's Hand of the King, Lord Alyn Stokeworth. Though Stokeworth was killed by Harren in the fighting that ensued, Harren himself was slain shortly after. As Stokeworth's replacement, Aenys named Maegor as his Hand.   The next challenges Aenys faced came from the Faith of the Seven. Even though the Targaryens had been followers of the Faith of the Seven since before the Conquest, the Targaryens held themselves apart from the laws of gods and men. By marrying both his sisters, Aegon I had continued both the Valyrian practice of incestuous marriage, which was considered a sin in the eyes of the Seven, as well as the more rarely practiced custom of polygamy, even though the Faith of the Seven considered marriage only possible between one man and one wife. Even though Aegon I had always been careful regarding the Faith, the High Septons had never declared his marriages lawful, though they had not spoken up against Aegon's polygamous and incestuous marriages either. However, when Queen Visenya Targaryen had suggested, in 23 AC, that her son Maegor should be married to Aenys's infant daughter, Princess Rhaena, the High Septon had protested, and Maegor had been married to the High Septon's niece, Ceryse Hightower, instead. After sixteen years of marriage, however, Maegor remained childless. Following the birth of Aenys I's sixth child in 39 AC, Maegor took a second wife, Alys Harroway. This greatly angered the Faith, and Aenys gave his brother the choice between abandoning Alys, or going in exile. Maegor chose the latter option, after which he left for Pentos.     Maegor I Targaryen and Balerion burn down the Sept of Remembrance. The Faith remained discontent. Though they had not objected to Aenys's own marriage in 22 AC, to his cousin Alyssa Velaryon, new troubles arose in 41 AC when Aenys married his eldest daughter, Rhaena, to his eldest son and heir, Prince Aegon. The uproar this marriage caused led to the start of the Faith Militant uprising.[38] Aenys fled to Dragonstone, but fell sick and died in 42 AC. Dowager Queen Visenya immediately called Maegor back from his exile, allowing him to claim the throne. Maegor took King's Landing back from the Faith Militant, though he would spent his entire reign fighting against them. In addition, he fought against Aenys's heir, Aegon, and killed both him and his dragon Quicksilver in 43 AC.   Maegor's reign was a cruel one. He finished the construction of the Red Keep, which had begun in 35 AC, during his reign, though he honored his moniker "the Cruel" when he killed all the construction workers after work was completed. He had come back from his exile with a third wife, Tyanna, but was still without an heir towards the end of his reign. Denouncing the claims of Aenys's only surviving son, Jaehaerys, Maegor married his three Black Brides, one of whom was Jaehaerys's sister, Rhaena, and named Rhaena's daughter as his heir until he had a child of his own. While support for Jaehaerys grew, support for Maegor dwindled. When Maegor died mysteriously in 48 AC, Jaehaerys succeeded him.  

4. The Old King

  A wise ruler known as Jaehaerys the Conciliator, Jaehaerys ruled wisely for fifty-five years, during which time he made peace with the Faith. He faced a difficult decision in 92 AC following the death of his heir, Prince Aemon, when he had to name either Aemon's daughter, Rhaenys, or Aemon's brother, Baelon, as his heir. Jaehaerys chose Baelon, but Baelon died in 101 AC, which caused Jaehaerys to become the first king to call a Great Council, where Baelon's son was chosen as Jaehaerys's heir. Jaehaerys died two years later, in 103 AC, and was succeeded by his grandson, Viserys I Targaryen.    

5. The Blacks and the Greens

  King Viserys I's reign had troubles of its own. By his first wife, Lady Aemma Arryn, to whom he had been married since 93 AC, he had one surviving daughter, Rhaenyra. Aemma died in 105 AC in childbed, as did her son, Baelon, after which Viserys officially declared Rhaenyra to be his heir, having the lords of the realm swear fealty to her. Though Viserys remarried in 106 AC, and had three sons, Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron, and one daughter, Helaena, by his new wife, Queen Alicent Hightower, he insisted that Rhaenyra remained his heir. Rivalry between Rhaenyra and Alicent resulted in two fractions being formed at court, called the blacks and the greens. During the Tourney in 112 AC, held to celebrate the first six years of marriage of the royal couple, Prince Daemon Targaryen interrupts the event by arriving at the Toruney ground upon his dragon Caraxes, after returning from the Stepstones where he won the war and gift his brother Viserys of the crown that he gained. After being re-admitted in to the royal court the Prince starts courting his nience, Princess Rhaenyra and the two, one year later, get married. After an attempted murder to the harm of Prince Daemon, hatched by the Greens, the still-born sun of the couple dies and the two decides to flee away from King's Landing and its court for Essos; after three years, in 117 AC, the two returns to Westeros, making their first appearence during the q0th birthday of Prince Aegon, where they announce they're expecting a child. Few months after, the 14th day of the 1th moon of 118 AC Prince Aegon the younger is born in Dragonstone. After him, the year after, will arrive Prince Viserys, then the twins Baela and Rhaena in 121 AC and in 125 AC their last child, Princess Visenya.   When Viserys died in 129 AC, his widow, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower, and the Lord Commander of his Kingsguard, Ser Criston Cole, defied Viserys's last will, and crowned Viserys's son Aegon II while Rhaenyra, unaware of her father's death, resided on Dragonstone. Unwilling to submit to her brother, Rhaenyra declared war, and the resulting conflict over the succession, called the Dance of the Dragons (129–130 AC), divided the kingdom. Even if officially started during the first months of the year 130 AC, the conflict didn't escalate until the winter of that year, when Prince Aemond took possess of Harrenhal - already evaquated - and started to set the southeastern region on fire and flame, helped by his lover, Alys Rivers. The war started to take a bad turn for the Greens when Lord Borros Baratheon, father of Prince Aemond's bethroded, was informed that the prince took the woman for wife, breaking his promise; this gesture brought House Baratheon to abbandone the Greens, signing the start of their defeat. The war ended when, after capturing Oldtown and eradicated House Hightower, Prince Daemon deafted his newphew Aemond on the Battle Above the God's Eye, the 27th day of the 3th moon, a year after the death of King's Viserys. Three Days after he and his Queens entered into the City, who was waiting for them: even if guilt of usurpation, all the Queen's relatives had been sapred from death, as sign of benevolence. Even Prince Aemond, who was sent into exile to the Isle of Faces, where his wife - Alys Rivers - was waiting for him.  

6. The early reign of Queen Rhaenyra

During the initial years of her reign, Queen Rhaenyra initiated an ambitious project aimed at modernizing the Red Keep, the iconic castle in King's Landing. This extensive endeavor sought to eliminate any remnants of the Hightower legacy and their ties to the Faith of The Seven that had previously influenced the castle's design and decoration. Instead, Queen Rhaenyra called upon talented artists and architects hailing from the Free Cities of Myr, Lys, and Volantis. Their task was to infuse the Red Keep with a distinct Valyrian character, showcasing the artistic and cultural heritage of House Targaryen. As part of this grand endeavor, a plethora of paintings, frescoes, and tapestries were commissioned, drawing inspiration from Valyrian mythology and the illustrious Targaryen lineage.   This flourishing of art and culture during Queen Rhaenyra's reign became widely recognized as the "Valyrian Renaissance," marking a period of profound cultural revival that introduced the nobility of Westeros to Valyrian literature and artistic traditions on a grand scale.     Another notable aspect of the early years of Queen Rhaenyra's rule was her astute use of matrimonial strategies to strengthen both internal and external alliances. These well-thought-out marital alliances were proposed not only by her Small Council but also by her politically adept son, Viserys, who, despite his youth, played a pivotal role in Queen Rhaenyra's governance.   One of the most significant matrimonial unions during this period was the marriage of the beloved eldest Targaryen children, Aegon and Lady Daenaera Velaryon, the daughter of the late Lady Laena Velaryon. This momentous ceremony took place in the year 136 AC and carried substantial political and social significance.   The following year witnessed two more noteworthy weddings: the marriage between Princess Rhaena and her uncle, Prince Daeron, who later assumed the title of Lord of Oldtown after the war. Additionally, Prince Viserys entered into matrimony with Larra Rogare, the daughter of Lys's first Magister. This union had been promised for years and held considerable importance, solidifying ties between House Targaryen and the influential Rogare family of Lys.