Nothing derails a casual conversation about Game of Thrones faster than someone confidently declaring the wrong sibling order. Let’s settle it.
Why Ages Get Confusing Here
Two honest reasons: the show adjusted several characters’ ages for casting and pacing reasons, and this family has a lot of half-siblings and step-siblings born close together, which makes birth order genuinely hard to track even with a chart in front of you.
Age Order by Generation
Aerys II’s children, oldest to youngest:
- Rhaegar Targaryen — born 259 AC
- Viserys Targaryen — born 276 AC
- Daenerys Targaryen — born 284 AC (after both her father and Rhaegar had died)
Viserys I’s children, oldest to youngest (combined both marriages):
- Rhaenyra Targaryen — born 97 AC
- Aegon II Targaryen — born 107 AC
- Helaena Targaryen — born 109 AC
- Aemond Targaryen — born 110 AC
- Daeron Targaryen — born 112 AC
Book vs. Show Age Differences
House of the Dragon notably aged several characters up from their book-canon ages for the adult storylines — a common and reasonable adaptation choice, but one that trips up viewers cross-referencing the books afterward. If you’re tracking book-accurate ages specifically, see our Song of Ice and Fire book-canon hub.
FAQ
Is Daenerys older or younger than Rhaegar?
Younger — significantly. She was born after Rhaegar’s death, meaning the two siblings never actually met.
Is Rhaenyra older than Aegon II?
Yes — Rhaenyra was Viserys I’s firstborn child, which is precisely why her being passed over for the throne sparked the Dance of the Dragons.