House Targaryen: history, motto and coat of arms. Genealogical tree of the Targarians. "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In the article we will talk about the Targaryen house. This is the royal dynasty that we find in the writings of George R. R. Martin and in the wonderful TV series Game of Thrones. We will take a closer look at the history of the house, whose motto is the words "Fire and Blood", a family tree and other details that few people know about.

Start

The family originally lived in Valyria. Here she was one of the forty richest and most noble houses that fought for power. All the power-hungry houses owned dragons, and it must be said that the Targaryen house was far from being the most powerful. What was the beginning of the story for readers? The history of the House of Targaryen begins with the fact that the daughter of Einar Targaryen, 12 years before the Doom of Valyria, saw the fall in the fire. Daenys persuaded her father to move, and he, with his slaves, wives, and all his we alth, moved to Dragonstone. It was the westernmost point of Valyria, an old fortress on an island that was under a smoking mountain. The inhabitants and rulers of Valyria interpreted such an act as a recognition of weaknessHouse Targaryen.

On Dragonstone

Here the dynasty ruled for another long hundred years. This time was called the Bloody Age for good reason, because Einar was a cruel and even insane ruler. Location allowed enrichment. The Targaryens and their allies lived very close to Blackwater Bay. Thanks to this, the Velaryons and Targaryens collected huge requisitions from merchant ships that passed through the bay, and it was impossible to bypass it. Two families from Valyria who were allies of Einar - the Velaryons and the Celtigars - guarded the middle part of the strait, while the Targaryens controlled the situation from the sky, sitting on their dragons.

Targarian family tree

The brother and husband of Daenys the Dreamer was Gaimon, who succeeded Einar and became known as Gaimon the Glorious. The couple had two children: a son, Aegon, and a daughter, Elaine, who ruled jointly after their father's death. After that, power passed to Elaine's son Maegon, his brother Aerys. Then the throne was taken by the sons of Aerys - Balon, Damion and Eilix. The Dragonstone was inherited by the son of one of the three brothers Aerion, who married a girl from the Velarion clan. They had an only son who was destined to become the Conqueror. Aegon married both of his sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya.

Domination

The Targaryens directed their policy in the book "A Song of Ice and Fire" more to the east, and until a certain time they were almost not interested in Westeros. Thoughts of conquering the Sunset Kingdoms first came to Aegon I. He commandedcreate a Painted table in the shape of the mainland of Westeros with all geographical objects applied. Volantis later invited the Conqueror to join him in destroying the remnants of the Free Cities. However, Aegon supported the Storm King. No wonder House Targaryen's motto is "Fire and Blood".

During the reign of Aegon, Westeros consisted of 7 states. The last Storm King, Argilac Durrandon, proposed to Ægon that he strengthen his bonds through a marriage alliance. In addition to his daughter Argella, the king also offered land. These were territories that in fact belonged to the kingdom of Isles and Rivers, despite the fact that Argilac considered them his own. And if Aegon took these lands in his own name or on behalf of Argilak, it would mean inevitable war between the two states. If the royal troops had resisted, then the new acquisition would have been just a buffer between enemies. However, Aegon did not like this proposal, and he put forward a counter. He offered the hand of Argela to his brother Oris Baratheon. However, Oris was illegitimate, so Argilac considered such an offer humiliating and rejected him. He ordered the hands of Aegon's ambassador to be cut off.

This situation prompted Aegon to take action. He gathered his vassals and sent out an ultimatum to the rest of the kings that they must recognize him as the king of Westeros, otherwise they will be crushed to dust.

Conquest

Aegon set out to conquer Westeros. He landed on Blackwater, where the city of King's Landing, the capital of all kingdoms, would later be founded. Someone right awaysubmitted to the dragons, and someone tried to fight. Soon, the red dragon lord created a small council and divided the army into three parts.

The army of Visenya Targaryen went to the Vale of Arryn, but was defeated there at Gull City. The army led by Rhaenys went to the Stormlands. Orys Baratheon destroyed Argilac's army and killed him himself. Aegon traveled to the Iron Isles, which were ruled by Harren the Black. Lord Tully, along with his subjects, went over to the side of the conquerors and helped in the siege of Harrenhal Castle, where Harren was hiding with his army. The dragon Balerion burned Harren's castle and himself to the ground. This allowed the Targaryens to seize power over the shores of the Trident.

Strong opposition

Other opponents of House Targaryen were able to provide stronger and more serious opposition. The King of the West and the King of the Expanse have united. The army of Mert Gradener and Lauren Lannister marched against the enemy. Aegon's troops were 5 times smaller, with most of them represented by river lords who had only recently sworn allegiance to the king and were not worth relying on too much.

However, this did not stop Aegon, and he went to the rebels along with his sisters and dragons. The armies met near the city of Stone Sept, where the Golden Road would later arise. The battle took place on an open field, not far from Chernovodnaya. The representative of the red dragon managed to win, even though the number was small. Dragons proved to be a significant advantage. The King of the Expanse was killed right on the battlefield,and a member of the Lannister family was captured, where he soon swore allegiance to Aegon.

Stark attack

Knowing that the situation was developing in this way, Stark still decided to oppose the conqueror. Torrchen Stark gathered all his troops and set up camp on the north side of the Trident. His brother Brandon Snow planned to kill the dragons, but Torrhen suddenly changed his mind during the battle and recognized the power of the Targaryens. During this time Arryn, Queen of the Mountains and Dales of Sharra, was fortifying her castle in preparation for a siege. Visenya flew into the valley on her dragon and forced Sharra to side with the conquerors, not by force, but by diplomatic tricks.

After a while, Ægon took over Oldtown. Here the High Septon held a celebration, which was dedicated to the glorious conqueror. Aegon even managed to conquer the Iron Islands, where the people had originally chosen the Greyjoys as rulers.

Martell Disagreement

Meria Martell flatly refused to swear allegiance to the new king. The army managed to invade Dorne and even captured the main castle of Sunspear. But the price was the death of Rhaenys and her dragon. This boosted morale among the Dornishmen and led a successful uprising.

However, Meriya still died in this confrontation. Her heir, Nimor, had seen enough of the consequences of war as he grew up, and so he was inclined to make peace. He sent his daughter Deria to bring peace terms and the skull of Meraxes. The terms of the peace were such that the Martells did not wantswear allegiance to the Targaryens and asked that Dorne be left independent. Of course, such conditions angered the courtiers, but the document was accompanied by a letter addressed personally to Aegon. The king read it and got angry, but agreed to the conditions of the Dornishmen. This gave them a century and a half of their own power.

After Ægon

The coat of arms of House Targaryen has weakened. Aenys was weak and sickly, he lost his power over many lands. After Maegor the Cruel ascended the throne, he died on the Iron Throne during the rebellion against himself. Jaehaerys the Peacemaker, the son of Aenis, managed to settle the situation. His reign is remembered as a time of peace and prosperity. Then Viserys ascended the throne, who ruled calmly, but there was real chaos in his personal life, which later turned into a real tribal war, during which ordinary people, lords and representatives of the Targaryen house died.

Deyeron I, who was called the Young Dragon, sat on the throne, because he ascended the throne at the age of 14. He immediately decided to conquer Dorne, and he succeeded, but the guy could not hold such a strong state in his hands. After him, his brother Baelor, who was distinguished by special piety, sat on the throne. He ruled peacefully and calmly.

After him, Viserys II, who had previously been the Hand, became the ruler. A year later, he died and Aegon IV ascended the throne. He started his reign perfectly, but ended it as an old depraved old man. He legitimized his four bastards before his death. The throne was taken by Daeron. After that, power passed alternately to all of hissons. King Aegon V was much loved by the people, but his reign was short. In his place was his son Jayeheiris II, who remained in power for only 3 years. Then began the time of his son Aerys, who was popularly called the Mad King. In his youth, he was a good king, but everyone noticed his unjustified temper, which in adulthood became his scourge.

Before the overthrow

The Targaryen dynasty had to come to an end sooner or later, and it has come. King Aerys II suffered from a mental disorder that manifested itself in excessive cruelty, frequent hallucinations and paranoia. He became close with the pyromancers, which did not please the lords and the people. Later, the famous jousting tournament was held in Harrenhal, which the Mad King also came to watch, as he feared the evil intentions of his eldest son. The tournament was won by Rhaegar, who called Lyanna (daughter of the Guardian of the North, Rickard Stark) the most beautiful woman. At the same time, Jaime (Tywin Lannister's eldest son) joined the Kingsguard. After some time Rhaegar abducts Lyanna to the Tower of Joy (Dorn).

Overthrow

Rickard Stark and Brandon asked Aerys to restore justice, but he brutally executed them. After that, he demanded from Lord Jon Arryn (the owner of the Eagle's Nest) to give him Eddard Stark. Eddard became the new heir of Winterfell after the execution of his father and brother. The King also demanded that Robert Baratheon be handed over to him, who was the lord of Storm's End and Lyanna's fiancé. It will come to passthe Guardian of the East interfered. Other participants in the process, who were threatened with execution, did not waste time either. Eddard Stark arrived in the North and armed his vassals, as did Robert Baratheon. Mace Tyrell, the lord of Highgarden, spoke out against Robert, who, with the help of Randyll Tarly, defeated the army of the Baratheons and laid siege to their ancestral castle for a whole year. At this time, Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark enlisted the support of Lord Riverrun Tully, taking his daughters Lysa and Catelyn as wives.

The Battle of the Bells failed to prove that House Targaryen had come to an end, but the Mad King clearly understood that a powerful and united force was resisting him. Ayereis approached the Prince of Dorne, Leven Martell, and enlisted his support. The ruler came up with an amazing plan - to mine the battlefield. Rhaegar led an army against the enemy, and a battle took place on the banks of the Trident River, but the Targaryens were defeated, and Robert Baratheon killed Prince Dragonstone.

The Mad King sent his pregnant wife and son Viserys to Dragonstone. Along with this, the army of Tywin Lannister arrived at the walls of the capital. Maester Pycelle persuaded the King to open the gate, and this became a global mistake of the ruler. Jaime killed the Mad King. Stark captured the capital, and Baratheon made peace with Tywin, taking his daughter Cersei as his wife.

Loyal Targaryen people hid his wife and children in the Free Cities. In the future, it is Daenerys Targaryen who will try to conquer the Seven Kingdoms.

Marriage tradition

House Targaryen kept the blood pure. Since the beginning of time, brothers have taken their sisters as wives. That is why inIn the TV series Game of Thrones, it is said that the golden blood of ancient Valyria flows in the body of Daenerys. In the event that there were not enough unmarried men or women in the family, they were looked for in the ancient Valyrian Velaryon family or in the Free Cities.

Those who haven't read the book can expect Daenerys Targaryen's aggressive policy to continue in the series.