House Targaryen of King's Landing

King of the First Men

Lord of the Seven Kingdoms

Protector of The Realm

House Targaryen is a noble family of Valyrian descent who once ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The Targaryen sigil is a three-headed dragon breathing flames, red on black. The house words are *"Fire and Blood"*. It eventually became the first royal house of the Seven Kingdoms.

The only family of dragonlords who survived the Doom of Valyria, the Targaryens left the Valyrian Freehold twelve years before the Doom. They resided for more than a century at Dragonstone on the island of the same name, until Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, began the first of the Wars of Conquest in 2 BC.

During Aegon's Conquest, the family built the Aegonfort in the new capital city of King's Landing. The Aegonfort was later torn down and replaced by the Red Keep, which remained their main seat for the duration of their dynasty, and which housed the Iron Throne.

## Appearances & Traits

The phrase "blood of the dragon" refers to the Valyrian descent of the Targaryens, and more specifically to the fact that they were one of forty dragonlord families of Valyria. The typical Targaryen features remind strongly of the typical Valyrian features: pale skin, silver, platinum, or gold hair and eyes in a variety of shades of purple, or light blue.

The Targaryens can tolerate a bit more heat than most ordinary people; However, they are not immune to fire.

Another trait typical to Targaryens is the ability to have premonition-like dreams. The trait has been in the Targaryen family since before they relocated from Valyria to Dragonstone in 114 BC.

The Targaryens are seen as prone to madness, presumably caused by their inbreeding.

## History & Recent Events

### Origins

House Targaryen was one of the forty ancient noble houses known as dragonlords who ruled the Valyrian Freehold, a great empire spanning much of Essos. The Targaryens were not one of the most powerful houses, however. The family resided in Valyria until Daenys Targaryen, also known as Daenys the Dreamer, the daughter of Lord Aenar Targaryen, had visions of a cataclysm that would come over Valyria. Aenar sold his estates in Valyria and moved his wives, children, other relatives, slaves, wealth, and five dragons (including Balerion) to Dragonstone, an island at the entrance of Blackwater Bay and the westernmost outpost of Valyrian influence, where he took possession of a castle of the same name, in 114 BC. Twelve years later the Doom descended on the city of Valyria, leading to the collapse of the Freehold. The Targaryens were the only dragonriders of Valyria to survive. In the century that followed, four of the five dragons of House Targaryen died, with only Balerion surviving. Two more dragons, Vhagar and Meraxes, were hatched from eggs on Dragonstone, however.

During the century after the Doom, which became known as the Century of Blood due to the violent struggles for power in Essos, Volantis attempted to seize power over Valyria's colonies. Most of the other Free Cities rebelled against Volantis, and towards the end of the Century of Blood, the young Lord Aegon Targaryen, rider of the dragon Balerion, was approached by Pentos and Tyrosh to form an alliance. Aegon, mounted on his dragon Balerion, flew first to Pentos to meet its prince, and then to Lys, where he set the Volantene fleet aflame. With Volantis's rule at an end, he returned to Dragonstone, and focused his attention to the lands west, which had always been of interest to him.

### Wars of Conquest

Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, aspired to unite the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros under one ruler. Slightly more than a hundred years after the Doom of Valyria, in 2 BC, he began his conquest, in which he was aided by his two sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya. All three were dragonriders, and used their dragons, Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar in battle. Aegon's Conquest lasted for two years. It began with Aegon's landing at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush with a small force, and ended when Aegon was anointed king by the High Septon in Oldtown. In total, he had managed to conquer six of the seven kingdoms, with only Dorne remaining defiant. During the war House Gardener, which had ruled the Reach, and House Durrandon were extinguished. From the swords of his enemies, Aegon created the Iron Throne, and the dynasty he began would rule for nearly three hundred years. Aegon had constructed a wooden castle, the Aegonfort, at the place where he had first come to shore, and the town that grew around it became King's Landing, the kingdom's new capital. Dragonstone remained in the possession of the Targaryens as well, and was one of Aegon's favorite places. The region around King's Landing became known as the crownlands.

Although in 7 A.C, tragedy struck. King Aegon would pass away from lover's pox only 7 years after taking his throne. His sister-wife Visenya would take the throne after him. His other sister-wife Rhaenys would leave from Dragonstone to Dorne on the back of Meraxes to serve in the court of Meria Martell. Upon Aegon's death, Visenya would remarry Ronnel Arryn. Soon after this, her sister Rhaenys would marry Nymor Martell. This marriage would stabilize the relationship between The Seven Kingdoms and the independent Principality of Dorne.

### Visenya I

Visenya Targaryen would take the throne as the first Targaryen queen to sit on the Iron Throne ever. She would be known as "Visenya the Lawmaker" as many of the laws in The Seven Kingdoms would have been made or updated by her. The maester's would describe her as ahead of her time. In 11 A.C she gave birth to two twins, Maegor and Maegelle. To protect her children, Queen Visenya would establish an elite guard known as The Royal Guard. She would name the first Lord Commander of the Royal Guard, Corlys Velayron. The Royal Guard would be made up of 300 knights. They would guard the king or queen with their life. Visenya would also create the kingsroad, a kingdom wide road that would stretch from King's Landing to Winterfell, and to Storm's End and Highgarden, from Highgarden the road would then connect down to Sunspear. She would also ban the Rite of First Night, a law giving the liege the right to bed the bride of a newly married couple. She thought the law was barbaric and there was no need for it to be practiced. Visenya would also make clear the succession in the realm. As her kids were twins, there was no way of telling which one should inherit the throne first. Visenya created the succession law of cognatic primogeniture. This stated, 'the oldest surviving child of the reigning monarch shall inherit the throne.' She also created the dragonpit in King's Landing, a place for the dragon's to stay where they would be contained

There was relative peace throughout the realm while she was reigning in exception for The Riverlands. However, upon her death, the realm would spiral into chaos. Visenya died in 31 A.C

### Maegor I

After his mother's death, Maegor Targaryen would take the throne as Maegor I. He was seen to be unworthy as King, one of the first Targaryens that would have not ridden a dragon in his lifetime. He spent almost his entire reign dealing with rebellions. Upon taking the throne, some of the lords would raise their banners in rebellion. The rebels in the Riverland who caused mayhem throughout the country led by "The Giant of the Trident" were quickly dispatched by Maegor. He would string the bodies of the dead from Darry to Harrenhal, sending a message to the lords of the realm. House Tyrell who was formulating plans of rebellion would swiftly stop their talks, but House Lannister would continue to plot against him.

In 33 A.C King Maegor would not only wed his sister Maegelle, but also the daughter of Lord Blackwood. The High Septon and the faith would cause unrest throughout the kingdom, as polygamy and incestuous marriages were against the faith in every way. The only reason they had accepted it with Aegon and his sisters was not to be charred, but now the king was incapable of riding a dragon. The High Septon would raise his flag in rebellion, and all his followers to his side. He would recreate The Faith Militant. Members of the Poor Fellows and the Second Sons would wage war against Maegor. The High Septon would formally excommunicate Maegor from the faith. Maegor would go on the offensive, taking a massive host from King's Landing to Oldtown and assault The Starry Sept. The High Septon and his followers would flee to Dorne where Maegor would not be able to follow them.

Maegor would consider invading Dorne, but his councilors warned against it. They said that the dragon power of Dorne would be an unstoppable force that The Seven Kingdoms could not deal with. Maegor himself couldn't even ride a dragon, but he was determined to change this. One morning in 41 A.C Robyn Darklyn, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, would walk into the dragonpit in search for King Maegor. King Maegor would not be found anywhere, but a pile of ash laid before Balerion's pit with his crown on top.

### Maegelle I

Queen Maegelle I would take the throne in 35 A.C after her brother's death. She would not even hold a funeral for Maegor. The maester's said Maegelle loved him not, and during their time in King's Landing together they often slept in completely different rooms. She would hold a realm wide tournament that would last six months. The winner of this tournament would take her hand in marriage matrilineally. After six months, she would wed Olyvar Bracken.

Queen Maegelle possibly made the biggest change in the history of Westeros up to this point. As the High Septon had escaped to Dorne and would not be backing the crown anymore. Maegelle would create her own deviation of The Faith of The Seven, called The Faith of Westeros. This would be known as 'The Dragon's Schism.' Septons that lusted for power would travel to King's Landing and proclaim her faith 'the true faith of westeros'. In the doctrine of the Faith of Westeros, it was said that the king or queen of Westeros would be the true head of faith, not the High Septon. The worship of paragon's would soon begin after, the first being Aegon Targaryen, now known as Aegon "The Uniter" throughout the faith.

A couple years later Maegelle would welcome her first child Daemon, followed by Aegor and Rhaena.

Maegelle would live to see most of her realm be converted to the new faith, although The North and the Iron Islands would stay true to their old beliefs. She would be sent into a coma during 72 A.C and would die 8 months later.

### Daemon I

Daemon "The Dire" would be the first dragonrider of House Targaryen since his grandmother's passing. He would be known as a living paragon. The rider of Balerion would be crowned King by a septon during the 60th year since Aegon united the Kingdoms. To the smallfolk he would be seen as Aegon the Uniter reborn. Besides taming a dragon, Daemon was hardly the man of honor. He lived a hedonistic lifestyle, spending most of his time in his bedchambers with various women rather then ruling the kingdom. It is said that Daemon had slept with over 200 women in his lifetime. He sired 15 children, most of them bastards. The most notable being Maegor Rivers, Rhaelle Targaryen, and Lewys Targaryen.

He would bridge the gap between Dorne and Westeros once more. Near two decades the neighbours sat in a stalemate waiting for one another to break the peace. Daemon flew to Sunspear a top Balerion and landed near the Holy Sept of Dorne where he shared prayers with the High Septon. On hearing of Daemons arrival the Prince Aemon flew on Vhagar followed by his kin on their dragons and landed outside expecting to see a sight of fire and blood, but alas there was none..

For a week the dragonriders spent in the Sept discussing the future of one another's Kingdoms. Daemon did not wish to fight Dorne and thus offered a simple conclusion, he would take a wife of Prince Aemons choosing. Aemon would name his daughter as the match for King Daemon who accepted. Allyria Martell would fly to Aegonfort three moons later and the pair would be wed at Dragonstone a week later. Both realms would celebrate the moment of peace. Soon his son and heir Lewys Targaryen would be born, the 2nd of 4 children of their union.

Daemon would die in the 9th Moon of the 91st year since Aegon conquered Westeros. He would attempt to hatch the egg of Balerion to give to his heir Lewys Targaryen. In a tragic accident however, Daemon would end up killing himself and his wife.

### Recent Events

A moon after Daemon's death, Lewys Targaryen would announce a coronation ceremony to be held for him on the 30th day of the 6th Moon in the year 92 AC.