House Targaryen

Lord of the Seven Kingdoms (Claimant)

Truth (Held by Targaryen of the Triarchy)

**House Targaryen** of the Triarchy are the rulers of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, holding both titles of King and Prince Protector. They are descendant from the line of Daeron Targaryen, the youngest brother of King Aegon II Targaryen. The Targaryens of the Three Daughters own vast estates and holdings on Lys and lay claim to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Their head of House is Aemond I Targayen and wields the Valyrian steel sword Truth. House Targaryen of the Triarchy control the last dragon in the known world, Tessarion the Blue Queen.

## Appearance and 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 (and in fact, is what caused them to relocate).

The Targaryens are seen as prone to madness, presumably caused by their inbreeding. According to King Jaehaerys II, *"madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born [...] the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land"*. Deceased Targaryens are traditionally cremated.

## History

### Origins and Relocation

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.

### War of the 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 Hoare, which had ruled the Iron Islands and the riverlands, were extinguished, while House Durrandon, which had reigned over the Stormlands, was continued through the female line. 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.

### Dance of the Dragons Aftermath

While Rhaenyra Targaryen successfully claimed the Iron Throne for herself, it was her eldest living son, Jacaerys Velaryon, who succeeded her, creating House Velaryon of King's Landing. The line of House Targaryen would live on with Rhaenyra granting her son Aegon the seat of Dragonstone.

Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Daeron Targaryen, son of King Viserys, escaped to Lys atop his dragon, Tessarion. There he married into the powerful Rogare family, helped secure victories in the Daughter's War, and was named Prince Protector of Lys

### Second Daughter's War

In 145 AC, Daeron took to the saddle of Tessarion and marched the Lys’ might against Tyrosh. The Prince Protector's resources were ultimately unmatched - in just a year, he secured for himself the fortress city. Daeron sought to bring stability to his subjugated prize rather than press his conquest, and so he called off the continuation of warfare against the other Free Cities. Tyrosh had to be convinced of the merits of its new position, and any seeds of rebellion destroyed.

### Aegon's Invasion

Daeron's heir, Aegon is quick to plunge his armies into battle against Westeros. He assaults Dorne, drawing the attention of King Jacaerys, and despite his overwhelming victories over the combined forces of Westeros, is forced to withdraw when Braavos attacks on the Free Cities, but not after slaying Morning and her rider with his dragon. Aegon earns the moniker Godswrath, but conflict ends with white peace.

### Westeros of the East

As Aegon rebuilds his navy and soldiers, he recruits exiles from Westeros, and slowly creates an Andal culture in his lands. Futhermore, a new religion is birthed, called by some as the New Exceptionalism. Combining the Faith of the Seven with the multitude of Gods worshipped in Lys and Tyrosh, this new faith provides the stability needed to secure Aegon's hold on the two Free Cities.

### The Triarchy

In 199 AC, Aegon launched his final campaign, the Godswrath's Fury. He easily dealt with the forces of Myr and brought it to heel, adding another title to his existing one: the King of the Triarchy. Then, he shifted his focus to Braavos. The last battle proved disastrous for the latter - although the mighty Braavosi armada managed to severely wound Tessarion with intense scorpionfire, the enraged dragon wreaked unimaginable havoc and carnage on the foolishly celebrating vessels. The majority of the Sealord's navy was demolished, in the most destructive battle for Braavos by far. The Free City was once more thrown into disarray and infighting, in no capacity to threaten the Triarchy for a long time.

Aegon and his dying dragon barely made it home, and when the King himself set foot into his palace, his voice was thickened by the blood stirring in his mouth. The Godswrath had been riddled with crossbow bolts - incurred during berserk, charging descents by Tessarion.  Aegon expired in a flurry of slurred and vile curses, collapsing in his own hall from his wounds.