Ever wondered how the fiery Daenerys Targaryen of Game of Thrones connects to the characters in the prequel series, House of the Dragon? The answer lies in blood, ambition, and the tangled web of the Targaryen family tree, with Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen serving as a crucial link.
The premiere of Season 2 of HBO’s House of the Dragon on June 16, 2024, drew in 7.8 million viewers, reigniting interest in the Targaryen dynasty and its complex history. At the heart of it all is Rhaenyra Targaryen, whose story is set nearly 172 years before the birth of Daenerys, played by Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones. This temporal distance means several generations separate the two, but their connection is undeniable. While timelines circulating online differ slightly, the general agreement is that Daenerys targaryen is a distant descendent of Rhaenyra targaryen.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Rhaenyra Targaryen |
| Character In | House of the Dragon |
| Relation to Daenerys Targaryen | Distant Ancestor (Sixth Great Grandmother) |
| Key Relationships | Daemon Targaryen (Uncle/Husband), Viserys I Targaryen (Father) |
| Children | Viserys II, Aegon III (among others) |
| Historical Significance | Central figure in the "Dance of the Dragons," a Targaryen civil war |
| Played By | Emma D'Arcy (Adult), Milly Alcock (Young) |
| Reference Link | Game of Thrones Wiki - Rhaenyra Targaryen |
