House of the Dragon focuses on the Targaryens’ reign. As one Game of Thrones’ last Targaryens, Jon Snow is the Dragons’ distant relative.
House of the Dragon takes viewers to the height of the Targaryens’ reign as the brutal civil war known as The Dance of Dragons comes to fruition. This HBO prequel series presents a wonderful opportunity for fans to get acquainted with the history of House Targaryen, a family that was only mentioned in passing in Game of Thrones.
RELATED:Every Dragon That’s Going To Be In House Of The Dragon (& Their Rider)
The concept of the rightful Targaryen heir isn’t limited to House of the Dragon. Season 8 of Game of Thrones delves into this concept when it reveals that Jon Snow was actually born Aegon Targaryen. As such, his heritage conflicts with Daenerys’ claim to the Iron Throne, as she believed she was the only Targaryen alive. Like Daenerys, Jon Snow’s Targaryen lineage dates back to House of the Dragon‘s era. It’s interesting to work out how Jon Snow’s place in their family tree.
Updated on October 26th, 2022 by Ajay Aravind: House of the Dragon recently completed its first season — a breathtaking sequence of delicious melodrama, political intrigue, and, most importantly, dragons. With a Jon Snow sequel on the cards, fans are particularly excited to see a beloved Game of Thrones hero grace their TV screens once again. It’s all the more important to calculate Jon Snow’s exact relationship with the other known members of House Targaryen.
This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon. It also contains references to difficult topics, including miscarriage and death in childbirth.
9/9Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen Is Jon Snow’s Seventh Great-Grandmother
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is one of the most important characters in House of the Dragon. After her uncle Daemon was banished from King’s Landing, Rhaenyra was named heir to the Iron Throne by her father. This made her the first woman in line to the Iron Throne.
Rhaenyra would later become the mother of two future kings, Viserys II and Aegon III. King Viserys II had a son named Aegon. King Aegon IV then fathered Daeron II, who had a son named Maekar I. King Maekar I was the father of Aegon V, who fathered Jaehaerys II. Some time after, King Jaehaerys II fathered Aerys II, better known as “The Mad King.” King Aerys II was the father of Prince Rhaegar, who was Jon Snow’s biological dad. This makes Princess Rhaenyra Jon Snow’s seventh great-grandmother.
8/9King Jaehaerys I Targaryen Is The Tenth Great-Grandfather Of Jon Snow
King Jaehaerys I Targaryen was the fourth Targaryen king. He was the son of Aenys I Targaryen and the grandson of Aegon I Targaryen, or “Aegon the Conqueror.” Jaehaerys ascended to the Iron Throne after his half-brother, King Maegor I, died in a conflict after usurping the throne. Jaehaerys I had the longest reign on the Iron Throne.
RELATED:House Of The Dragon: 10 Things Only Book Readers Know About House Targaryen
Because King Jaehaerys I outlived all of his children, the Great Council of 101 AC was held to determine the heir to the Iron Throne. The honor went to his oldest living grandson, King Viserys I, who was the father of Princess Rhaenyra. King Jaehaerys I would be Jon Snow’s tenth great-grandfather.
7/9Princess Rhaenys Targaryen Is Jon Snow’s, First Cousin Ten Times Removed
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen is known as “The Queen That Never Was.” Her father was Prince Aemon Targaryen, the third son of King Jaehaerys I. Princess Rhaenys was passed over as the heir to the Iron Throne after her father’s death. Jaehaerys I instead named Prince Baelon Targaryen, his fourth born son, as heir.
Baelon later passed away, which led to the Great Council of 101 AC, where Prince Viserys was selected instead of Princess Rhaenys or her son, Laenor Valeryon. Princess Rhaenys is the first cousin of King Viserys I, making her Jon Snow’s first cousin ten times removed.
6/9King Viserys I Targaryen Is The Eighth Great-Grandfather Of Jon Snow
Viserys was the King of the Andals before his death in Episode 8 of House of the Dragon. King Viserys I was a kindhearted man who oversaw a long period of peace. However, he found himself in a succession dilemma as he ultimately failed to produce a male heir. After Lady Aemma’s death, Viserys I married Alicent Hightower, and they had four children.
RELATED:10 Harsh Realities Of Being A Targaryen In Game Of Thrones
King Viserys I initially named his only child with Lady Aemma, Princess Rhaenyra, as his heir. However, Princess Rhaenyra’s status as heir came into question after the birth of King Viserys I’s first son with Alicent. This makes King Viserys I Jon Snow’s eighth great-grandfather.
5/9Lady Aemma Arryn Is Jon Snow’s Eighth Great-Grandmother And First Cousin Ten Times Removed
Queen Aemma Arryn was the beloved first wife of King Viserys I. She only appeared in one episode of House of the Dragon, but left a big impression on fans. Her death during childbirth was one of the most poignant scenes in House of the Dragon’s premiere. It was particularly heartbreaking because King Viserys tried to save his unborn son at his wife’s expense.
Aemma was a Targaryen herself, and not just by marriage. She was the daughter of Princess Daella Targaryen. Daella was the aunt of King Viserys I, making Aemma and Viserys first cousins. As a result, Lady Aemma was both Jon Snow’s eighth great-grandmother and his first cousin ten times removed.
4/9King Viserys I And Lady Aemma’s Children Are The Seventh Great-Uncles And Aunts Of Jon Snow
King Viserys I and Queen Aemma had other children besides Princess Rhaenyra, but they were all miscarried or died during labor. Their final child together, Prince Baelon Targaryen, died shortly after his birth. This left King Viserys I without a son or a wife, on what was supposed to be one of the best days of his life.
RELATED:10 Times The House Of The Dragon Premiere Foreshadowed The Dance Of The Dragons
This tragedy set the Dance of the Dragons into motion as King Viserys I named Princess Rhaenyra as his heir. Prince Baelon and his unborn siblings were the only full siblings of Princess Rhaenyra, making them Jon Snow’s seventh great-uncles and aunts.
3/9King Viserys I And Alicent Hightower’s Children Are The Seventh Great-Half-Uncles And Aunts Of Jon Snow
King Viserys I attempted to mourn his dearly departed wife, but his Small Council began pressuring him to marry someone else. Princess Rhaenys and her husband Lord Corlys suggested their daughter, Lady Laena Velaryon. However, Viserys opted to marry Alicent, the daughter of Otto Hightower.
Alicent was close friends with Princess Rhaenyra before the inevitable schism made them bitter enemies. King Viserys and Queen Alicent had four children, Aegon, Aemond, Helaena and Daeron. King Aegon II and his siblings are half-siblings to Princess Rhaenyra, making them Jon Snow’s seventh great-half-uncles and aunts.
2/9Prince Daemon Targaryen Is The Seventh Great-Grandfather And The Eighth Great-Uncle Of Jon Snow
Prince Daemon Targaryen is King Viserys I’s only brother. This initially made him the heir to the Iron Throne at the start of House of the Dragon, as Viserys did not yet have a son. After the death of Prince Baelon, Prince Daemon mocked and celebrated the “the heir for a day,” which infuriated his brother.
King Viserys I promptly banished Prince Daemon from King’s Landing and named Princess Rhaenyra his new heir. Prince Daemon is Princess Rhaenyra’s uncle, which makes him Jon Snow’s eighth great-uncle. Prince Daemon later married Princess Rhaenyra and fathered King Viserys II. This also makes Prince Daemon Jon Snow’s seventh great-grandfather.
1/9Baela & Rhaena Targaryen Are Jon Snow’s Sixth Great-Half-Aunts
Baela and Rhaena Targaryen are betrothed to Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon, respectively, but they don’t marry either of them. Jace and Luke perish during the Dance of the Dragons, so Daemon and Laena’s daughters end up with different spouses. Their descendants have no direct connection to any Targaryen in the Game of Thrones timeline.
Given Daemon’s ancestral relationship with Jon Snow, however, both Baela and Rhaena are related to him by blood. Daemon’s son Viserys II is Jon’s sixth great-grandfather. This makes Baela and Rhaena Jon Snow’s sixth great-half-aunts. The Targaryen family tree is even more complicated than it appears because of all the incest involved.
