House Targaryen

House Targaryen of Dragonstone is a noble family of Valyrian descent who 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, as House Targaryen of King's Landing.

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 castle on Dragonstone island, 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. Their original castle was almost always given to the heir to the throne, the Prince of Dragonstone. The Targaryens eventually built the summer residence Summerhall, which has been given to several younger sons of the family over time.

House Targaryen rule as the Kings of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, the Lords of the Seven Kingdoms and Protectors of the Realm.

## Customs

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.

## Dragons

As one of the forty dragonlord families of Valyria, the Targaryens were closer to dragons than other men. Aenar Targaryen brought five dragons with him when he moved from Valyria to Dragonstone, and King Aegon I Targaryen and his sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya rode them to battle during the Conquest of the Seven Kingdoms in 2 BC - 1 BC. The Targaryens rode their dragons during the first century and a half following Aegon's Conquest. Deaths in battle, especially during the *Dance of the Dragons*, and a growing infirmity in each following generation caused the family's stable to dwindle. The last dragon was a deformed and sterile creature, who died young in 153 AC, during the reign of King Aegon III, the Dragonbane.

The Targaryens housed their dragons in an immense domed structure in King's Landing, the Dragonpit, which was constructed during the reign of King Maegor I Targaryen. Not all dragons which hatched were ridden, however. On the island of Dragonlords, several dragons, both wild and previously ridden, resided at least during the reigns of King Viserys I and King Aegon II Targaryen.

At some point, it became tradition to gift a newborn child with a dragon's egg in the cradle.This practice continued even after the death of the last dragon, with the last Targaryens confirmed to have been given an egg having been the sons of Prince Maekar during the reign of Daeron II Targaryen.Whether the tradition was continued beyond this point is unknown; However, the Targaryens still possessed eggs. Several attempts have been made, since the death of the last dragon, to hatch these eggs by members of House Targaryen. This list includes Aegon III and his younger brother Hand of the King (and later king) , Viserys II, Baelor I, Aegon V, and Aerys II Targaryen.

Only one attempt has succeeded, and it was made by Queen Daenerys I Targaryen in 299AC. Almost 150years after the death of the "last" dragon, 3 new dragon came to life: Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal. The three dragon also symbolise the new era of House Targaryen.