House of the Dragon Family Tree Explained: Targaryens, Velaryons and Hightowers
If you’ve ever watched House of the Dragon and found yourself asking, “Wait… which silver-haired psychopath is this one again?” then congratulations — you’re having the exact same experience as me, and probably most people who watch this TV Series.
Between the Targaryens marrying each other, the Velaryons marrying the Targaryens, and the Hightowers trying to marry absolutely everyone they can get their hands on, Westeros has produced one of television’s most confusing family trees. It’s less a family tree and more a family hedge that’s been attacked with a sword.
House of the Dragon Season 3 started streaming just days ago, so now is the perfect time for a little refresher. Dragons are multiplying, alliances are shifting, and half the realm seems determined to settle family disputes with fire-breathing nuclear weapons.
House of the Dragon S3 sneak peek:
Below, is a broken down version with the complete House of the Dragon family tree, including the Targaryens, Velaryons and Hightowers, so you can continue into Season 3 knowing exactly who is related to who — and who is currently trying to kill them.
The Complete House of the Dragon Family Tree
Which Targaryens Have Died Before Season 3?
One thing House of the Dragon loves almost as much as dragons is wiping out members of its own cast.
Season 2 claimed several major casualties across both sides of the war. Team Black suffered one of its biggest losses when Princess Rhaenys Targaryen — the legendary “Queen Who Never Was” — met her fate during the Battle of Rook’s Rest.
Meanwhile, Team Green suffered a devastating tragedy when young Prince Jaehaerys became the victim of the infamous Blood and Cheese assassination plot. It’s one of the darkest moments in the series so far and a reminder that this civil war has stopped being about politics and started being about revenge.
The good news? There are still enough Targaryens left to confuse viewers for several more seasons.
Team Black: Rhaenyra’s Branch of the House of the Dragon Family Tree
Rhaenyra Targaryen remains the heart of Team Black, backed by her husband, uncle, occasional headache and full-time chaos merchant, Daemon Targaryen.
After spending much of Season 2 wandering around Harrenhal experiencing visions that looked suspiciously like Westerosi therapy sessions, Daemon finally returned ready to support Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne.
Their young sons, Aegon and Viserys, have been moved away from the front lines for protection, but the next generation of Team Black remains heavily involved in the war.
Jacaerys Velaryon has emerged as one of Rhaenyra’s most valuable allies, while Baela Targaryen continues proving herself as a fierce dragonrider. Rhaena Targaryen remains dragonless for now, although her pursuit of the wild dragon Sheepstealer could dramatically change that situation in Season 3.
If Team Black is going to win the Dance of the Dragons, these younger members of the family could be just as important as Rhaenyra and Daemon themselves.
Team Green: Alicent and Her Children
If Rhaenyra leads Team Black, Alicent Hightower remains the emotional centre of Team Green.
The problem is that Team Green increasingly seems determined to ignore everything Alicent says.
Her eldest son Aegon II remains king, although being roasted, broken and nearly murdered by your own brother isn’t exactly ideal preparation for ruling Westeros. That brother, Aemond, now serves as Prince Regent and has become one of the most dangerous figures in the Seven Kingdoms.
Then there’s Helaena, perhaps the only genuinely innocent person left in King’s Landing, and Daeron, the long-absent youngest son whose arrival could significantly strengthen the Greens in Season 3.
With Aemond riding the colossal dragon Vhagar and Daeron finally expected to enter the story, Team Green remains every bit as dangerous as Team Black.
House Hightower Explained
While the Targaryens get most of the attention, House Hightower has quietly shaped much of the conflict from the shadows.
Otto Hightower spent years positioning his family near the throne and effectively planted the seeds of the entire civil war. Unfortunately for him, he now finds himself imprisoned under mysterious circumstances.
Alicent’s brother Gwayne continues serving alongside Criston Cole, while Season 3 introduces Lord Ormund Hightower, the current head of the family and a major military force supporting Team Green.
Think of the Hightowers as Westeros’ ultimate political operators. They don’t ride dragons, but they’ve certainly helped start dragon wars.
House Velaryon Explained
House Velaryon remains one of the most important families in the series.
Led by Corlys Velaryon, the legendary Sea Snake, the family has endured enormous losses throughout the war. Both of Corlys’ children are gone, and his wife Rhaenys fell in battle.
Yet Season 2 also expanded the Velaryon branch of the family tree by revealing Corlys’ sons Alyn and Addam of Hull.
Alyn has become a trusted sailor within Corlys’ fleet, while Addam has achieved something even more remarkable: becoming a dragonrider.
After bonding with Seasmoke, Addam instantly became one of the most important players in the war ahead. His rise proves that in Westeros, your destiny can change very quickly when a dragon suddenly decides it likes you.
The Dragonseeds Could Change Everything
Just when you thought the House of the Dragon family tree couldn’t become any more complicated, Season 2 introduced the Dragonseeds.
These individuals possess Valyrian ancestry despite not being recognised members of House Targaryen.
Addam of Hull, Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White all successfully claimed dragons, dramatically increasing Team Black’s military strength.
Ulf rides Silverwing, once ridden by Queen Alysanne, while Hugh Hammer now commands the fearsome Vermithor, the former dragon of King Jaehaerys I.
Of course, giving ordinary people access to giant flying weapons of mass destruction has never gone wrong in Westeros before… so we’re sure everything will be absolutely fine.
Why the House of the Dragon Family Tree Matters in Season 3
The upcoming season isn’t just about dragons battling in the skies. It’s about bloodlines, succession, loyalty and legacy.
Every alliance, betrayal and battle can be traced back to the tangled relationships between Houses Targaryen, Velaryon and Hightower. Understanding those connections makes every victory more satisfying and every loss far more painful.
As the Dance of the Dragons escalates, the family tree will only become more important.
Insomniacs Thoughts
As Season 3 approaches, understanding the House of the Dragon family tree is more important than ever. The war between Team Black and Team Green is only getting bigger, more dragons are entering the conflict, and new players are stepping into the spotlight.
If you’ve made it this far without confusing Aegon II, Aegon III, Viserys II, Viserys I, Daemon, Daeron, Rhaenys and Rhaenyra, frankly, you deserve a seat on the Small Council.
One thing’s certain: Westeros has never had a family reunion quite this explosive.
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