Game of Thrones told the Targaryen story completely out of order — flashbacks, prequels, spinoffs airing decades apart. If you just want the family tree in the order it actually happened, no dragons required to follow along, here you go.
Why Chronological Order Is Genuinely Confusing Here
Between the original novels, Fire & Blood, the Dunk and Egg novellas, House of the Dragon, and the original show, this family has been told in at least four different timelines simultaneously. It’s less “family tree” and more “family tree with a broken time machine.” Here’s the actual order things happened in-universe.
The Full Order
- Aegon I “the Conqueror” — unites the Seven Kingdoms, founds the dynasty
- Maegor I “the Cruel” — short, brutal reign
- Jaehaerys I “the Conciliator” — long, stabilizing rule
- Viserys I — sets the stage for civil war through indecision
- Rhaenyra / Aegon II — rival claimants, Dance of the Dragons
- Aegon III “the Dragonbane” — inherits a dynasty with its dragons nearly extinct
- (several generations later) Maekar I — Egg’s father
- Aegon V “the Unlikely” — Egg himself, unexpectedly crowned
- Jaehaerys II — Aegon V’s son
- Aerys II “the Mad King” — the last Targaryen king before Robert’s Rebellion
- Daenerys / “Aegon” (Jon Snow) — the final generation, main show era
Reign-by-Reign Table
| Order | King/Claimant | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aegon I | Founded the dynasty |
| 2 | Maegor I | Brutal, short reign |
| 3 | Jaehaerys I | Long, stabilizing rule |
| 4 | Viserys I | Triggered the succession crisis |
| 5 | Rhaenyra / Aegon II | Dance of the Dragons civil war |
| 6 | Aegon III | Reigned over the dragons’ decline |
| 7 | Aegon V (“Egg”) | Rose from fourth-in-line to king |
| 8 | Jaehaerys II | Aegon V’s heir |
| 9 | Aerys II | Last king; “the Mad King” |
| — | Daenerys / Jon Snow | Final generation, no crown secured |
FAQ
Who was the first Targaryen king?
Aegon I Targaryen, “the Conqueror,” who united the Seven Kingdoms.
Who was the last Targaryen to actually sit the Iron Throne?
Aerys II Targaryen, “the Mad King” — the last to hold the throne before Robert’s Rebellion ended Targaryen rule.
Does this order match the show’s release order?
No — the show and its prequels were released in a completely different order than the events actually happened. This list follows in-universe chronology.