House Targaryen

"*My sons, remember that whether black or green, gold or red or black again, a dragon is still a dragon. Respect them always, for their legacy deserves your respect.'*"
―Franklyn Terrace.
**House Targaryen** **of Dragonstone**is an exiled Great House of Westeros and was the ruling Royal House of the Seven Kingdoms for three centuries since it conquered and unified the realm, before it was deposed during Robert's Rebellion & The 6th Blackfyre Rebellion. They were replaced by House Blackfyre, their cadet branch house as the new Royal House. House Targaryen lives on in exile in Essos. Planning their return to power and the reconquest of the Seven Kingdoms.

House Targaryen's sigil is a three-headed red dragon on a black background, and their house words are "Fire and Blood."

## History

### Background

Once a noble family of the vast Valyrian Freehold, an empire spanning most of the eastern continent, the Targaryens were given control of the island of Dragonstone in the Narrow Sea some centuries ago. After the obliteration of Valyria in the Doom, the Targaryens launched a devastating invasion of Westeros using three dragons to spearhead their attack. In a short period of time, six of the seven formerly independent kingdoms had surrendered to the Targaryen leader, King Aegon I, unifying the continent under his rule. The last hold-out, Dorne, joined the kingdom through a political and marriage alliance some two centuries later.

During the increasingly erratic reign of King Aerys II, his son Rhaegar was said to have kidnapped Lyanna Stark of Winterfell for unknown reasons. When Lyanna's brother Brandon protested, Aerys responded by having his father Rickard Stark arrested and executed. This sparked a massive uprising led by Bradon Stark, Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn. During the war Rhaegar murdered his father and replaced him as the new King of the Seven Kingdoms and the Blackfyres returned again for the 6th Blackfyre Rebellion. At the end of the war, the Targaryen's were defeated and believed extincted. House Blackfyre replaced House Targaryen as the new royal house of the Seven Kingdoms.

Generations of compound inbreeding have preserved in the Targaryen bloodline the classic Valyrian features of silver-white (platinum blonde) hair, and very fair, pale skin. Allegedly, this also preserved in their bloodline the ability to successfully bond with and ride dragons. They also seem to be somewhat more tolerant of extreme heat and high temperatures than other people, though they are by no means invulnerable to fire – or at least, not all of them. Unfortunately, some believe that this practice of inbreeding has also caused the trait of insanity to plague House Targaryen; though some members are known to be perfectly normal psychologically-speaking, other Targaryens throughout history have displayed bizarre, erratic and sometimes violent behavior, succumbing to the so-called 'Targaryen madness'.

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## Relationships

### Members

* King Aerys II Targaryen, called "the Mad King" and "King Scab". Imprisoned by his former heir Rhaegar Targaryen.
* Queen Rhaella Targaryen, his sister-wife.
	+ King Rhaegar I Targaryen, their eldest son. Lead a coup against his father and became the new King of the Seven Kingdoms.
		- Princess Elia Martell, his first and former wife of House Martell.
			* Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, their daughter.
			* Prince Aegon Targaryen, their son. Claimant King of the Andals and the First Men after Robert's Rebellion and 6th Blackfyre Rebellion.
		- Queen Lyanna Stark, his second and secret wife of House Stark.
			* Unnamed Child
	+ Prince Viserys Targaryen, their youngest son.
	+ Princess Daenerys Targaryen, their only daughter.
* Maester Aemon, born "Aemon Targaryen", the uncle of Aerys II Targaryen, a maester serving at Castle Black. He served as a member of the Night's Watch and the order of Maesters. Aemon renounced his family ties, allegiances and his claim to the Iron Throne decades ago.