Photos: HBO ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps
Beyond anything else, HBO‘s House of the Dragon is the story of a family. A strange, incestuous, cutthroat, messy family that rides dragons and wages war over personal slights. And in House of the Dragon Episode 6, the family gets exponentially bigger. Ten years have passed between Episodes 5 and 6. Rhaenyra is no longer a teen (Milly Alcock), but a mother of three played by Emma D’Arcy. Elsewhere other teens have been recast and now the adult actors have broods of their own to raise. There is a whole new generation of Targaryens and Velaryons on the scene in House of the Dragon — and who they are, who their parents are, and how they get along with each other will have a massive effect on the future of House of the Dragon.
But who are Rhaenyra’s children? Does House of the Dragon bring all four of Alicent Hightower (now played by Olivia Cooke) and Viserys Targaryen’s (Paddy Considine) kids from Fire & Blood to life? And who are Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Laena Velayron’s (Nanna Blondell) two twin daughters? HBO does have a fancy official family tree, but if you’re still confused because names like Rhaenys and Rhaenyra and Rhaena all sound the same to you, that’s okay!
Here is your guide to the ever-expanding, never-not-confusing Targaryen family tree in House of the Dragon, starting with Viserys Targaryen’s first marriage…
Photo: HBO
KING VISERYS I TARGARYEN, Son of Baelor and Alyssa Targaryen; Grandson to King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne
Played by: Paddy Considine
Dragonrider?: Once! He literally rode Balerion the Dread one time as a youth before the dragon — once ridden by Aegon the Conqueror — died. Viserys has not claimed another dragon.
How To Recognize Them: He’s the doddering king with long hair whose body is perpetually falling apart. Also, he loves model cities and hates confrontations.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: He really sucks at making important decisions. This aversion to confrontation will actually set up the realm for the most explosively horrible civil war imaginable.
QUEEN AEMMA ARRYN, Viserys I’s First Wife; Daughter of Rodrick Arryn and Daella Targaryen; Granddaughter to King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne
Played by: Sian Brooke
Dragonrider?: Nope!
How To Recognize Them: She’s Rhaenyra’s really lovely mother who died in forced childbirth in the premiere.
Photos: HBO
PRINCESS RHAENYRA TARGARYEN, Daughter of Viserys I and Aemma Arryn
Played by: Milly Alcock as a teen (left) and Emma D’Arcy as an adult (right)
Dragonrider?: Yes! She rides the golden dragon Syrax.
How To Recognize Them: She is the spirited, sometimes haughty, always self-possessed main character with white blonde hair.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: She is her father’s chosen heir to the Iron Throne, but the realm feels less than thrilled about a woman becoming ruler. Especially after her father takes a second wife who produces a healthy male heir…
Photos: HBO
QUEEN ALICENT HIGHTOWER, Viserys I’s Second Wife; Daughter to Ser Otto Hightower
Played by: Emily Carey as a teen (left) and Olivia Cooke as an adult (right)
Dragonrider?: Absolutely not! She doesn’t even want to accompany a friend on dragonback as a lark.
How To Recognize Them: She’s the woman with auburn hair, brown eyes, a green dress, and quietly simmering rage.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: Alicent was once Rhaenyra Targaryen’s best friend, but they fell out as Alicent was pushed by her father to wed Rhaenyra’s dad. Later, when Alicent realizes that Rhaenyra has been lying to her about her sex life, the girl finally understands she can never trust her fate to Rhaenyra. Her only hope is to look out for herself…and her children.
Photos: HBO
PRINCE AEGON TARGARYEN, Son of Viserys I and Alicent Hightower
Played by: Unknown toddler actor and Ty Tennant as a young teen (left)
Dragonrider?: Yes, he rides a dragon called Sunfyre.
How To Recognize Them: He’s kind of a spoiled, stuck up kid; The oldest of Viserys and Alicent’s brood, often dressed in green.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: Aegon is sort of full of himself — you know, because he’s a prince — and can be a bully at times. He initially doesn’t really care about fighting Rhaenyra’s succession (similar to Rhaenyra and Alicent’s mutual dispassion about politics as teens). Think that might change???
Photos: HBOPRINCESS HELAENA, Only Daughter of Viserys I and Alicent Hightower
Played by: Unknown baby actor and Evie Allen as a child.
Dragonrider?: Yes, she rides the gorgeous dragon called Dreamfyre
How To Recognize Them: She’s the quirky Targaryen girl who we meet musing over rare insects. (We’re also pretty sure she’s the fussy baby young Alicent is always dispassionately comforting.)
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: Not much is known about Helaena in the books, so it is fascinating that House of the Dragon Episode 6 introduces her as a strange soul who probably has the gift of foresight…
Photo: HBO
PRINCE AEMOND TARGARYEN, Second Son of Viserys I and Alicent Hightower
Played by: Leo Ashton as a child
Dragonrider?: Nope! And this is a huge source of anxiety and self-loathing in young Aemond.
How To Recognize Them: He’s the slighter blonde-haired boy in green.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: We learn in House of the Dragon Episode 6 that he is the only one of the kids in King’s Landing without a dragon. This doesn’t just make him feel left out, but it singles him out for bullying from his own brother and nephews. Speaking of his nephews by sister Rhaenyra…
Photos: HBO
LAENOR VELARYON, Rhaenyra’s Husband; Son of Lord Corlys Velaryon (aka the Sea Snake) and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Played by: Theo Nate as a teen (left with Milly Alcock) and John Macmillan as an adult (right with Emma D’Arcy)
Dragonrider?: He is indeed! Laenor rode Seasmoke to victory against the Triarchy in the War of the Stepstones.
How To Recognize Them: He’s the mixed-race Targaryen with white hair and a penchant for, uh, the boys.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: Laenor is considered a fine warrior and nice dude, but he is extremely gay. He was despondent when Ser Criston Cole murdered his lover Ser Joffrey Lonmouth at his wedding to Rhaenyra. Oh, and he and Rhaenyra have an open marriage situation.
Photo: HBO
SER HARWIN STRONG, Son of Lord Lyonel Strong and Brother of Larys “Clubfoot” Strong
Played by: Ryan Corr
Dragonrider?: Uh, depends on what you mean by “dragon.”
How To Recognize Them: He is the big, tall guy with dark curls who has been constantly macking on Princess Rhaenyra since House of the Dragon Episode 3.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: It’s an open secret at court in House of the Dragon Episode 6 that Ser Harwin is Rhaenyra’s lover. It’s also strongly rumored that Rhaenyra’s three light-skinned, dark-haired, “normal-looking” kids are not Velaryons, but Strongs.
Photo: HBO
PRINCE JACAERYS “JACE” VELARYON, Eldest Son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and “Laenor Velaryon” (They’re All Allegedly Ser Harwin’s Strong Kids)
Played by: Leo Hart as a child.
Dragonrider?: Yup! He has already bonded with Vermax, whom we see breathe fire at Jace’s command in House of the Dragon Episode 6.
How To Recognize Them: He’s the oldest of Rhaenyra’s dark-haired boys.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: Jace already seems to know that Laenor Velaryon is not his father and it’s a sore spot for the boy. Jace suspects Ser Harwin is his father, but there is a crackpot theory to be had that — actually — he is Ser Criston Cole’s (We never saw if Rhaenyra drank that damn moon tea!) But it’s obvious the other two are Ser Harwin’s and Jace is probably Harwin’s as well.
Photo: HBO
LUCERYS “LUKE” VELARYON, Second Son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and “Laenor Velaryon”
Played by: Harvey Sadler as a child
Dragonrider?: Yes, though we haven’t met the dragon. In the books, Luke rides the dragon Arrax.
How To Recognize Them: He’s the middle dark-haired kid with a mop of curls.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: Keep an eye out — no pun intended — on how Luke gets along with “uncle” Aemond. Again, he’s totally Ser Harwin’s kid.
Photo: HBO
JOFFREY “JOFF” VELARYON, Youngest Son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and “Laenor Velaryon”
Played by: Unknown baby actor. Go baby, go!
Dragonrider?: He will be. The egg his brothers pick out for him should hatch and become the dragon known as Tyraxes.
How To Recognize Them: He’s the baby. Gotta love him.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: His official father Laenor names him after his fallen lover, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth. His real father makes a joke about him falling asleep in his presence. The disrespect!
Photo: HBO
PRINCE DAEMON TARGARYEN, Younger Brother of King Viserys I; Uncle to Princess Rhaenyra
Played by: Matt Smith
Dragonrider?: Heck yeah! Prince Daemon rides Caraxes, nicknamed the Bloodwyrm
How To Recognize Them: He’s the blond Targaryen with the interesting face always causing chaos.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: He is 100% unpredictable. Just when you think he’s a bad guy, he’ll do something good. Just when you think he’s a hero, he does something awful. He is a Targaryen through and through.
Photos: HBO
LADY LAENA VELARYON, Second Wife of Prince Daemon; Daughter to Lord Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen
Played by: Played by Nova Foueillis-Mosé as a child (left), Savannah Steyn as a teen (middle), and Nanna Blondell as an adult (right)
Dragonrider?: Yes, Laena rides the oldest dragon alive, Vhagar, but she didn’t bond with the dragon until she was 15.
How To Recognize Them: She’s the beautiful mixed-race lady with a wild white curly wig. (Sorry, it’s WILD.)
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: Lady Laena loves nothing in the more as much as dragon-riding. Like, it’s an obsession for her.
Photo: HBO
TWINS BAELA AND RHAENA TARGARYEN, Daughters of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon
Played by: Child Baela (on the left) is played by Shani Smethurst and Child Rhaena (on the right) is played by Eva Ossei-Gernin. (Don’t worry, we’ll make separate listings for them soon! Right now they’re very much a unit.)
Dragonriders?: Baela is. She rides Moondancer. Poor sweet Rhaena, however, keeps hoping her egg will hatch.
How To Recognize Them: They are the adorable twin girls in Daemon and Laena’s orbit.
Biggest Thing You Need to Know About Them: Baela is Daemon’s favorite as she has more of his fire (and dragonrider spirit). Rhaena, on the other hand, is more sensitive.
