House Targaryen stands out as one of the most unconventional families in Westeros, marked by its dragons, complex relationships, and dramatic history.
Recently, the vision experienced by Daemon Targaryen in Season 2 of House of the Dragon has raised intriguing questions about how Daenerys Targaryen connects to him and his wife, Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Both characters are from the same noble house, but the exact nature of their relationship remains a puzzle for many viewers. Let’s explore the details to unravel this intricate family connection.
Daemon’s Vision and Its Implications
Daemon’s vision is a key plot point in the series, providing crucial insights into the future of House Targaryen and the fate of Westeros. His vision is rich with symbolism, including White Walkers and a young Daenerys with her three dragons.
This scene mirrors a significant moment from the Season 1 finale of Game of Thrones, where Daenerys walks into a funeral pyre with her dragon eggs and emerges from the flames unscathed, with her dragons miraculously hatched.
In the vision, Daemon sees this event as a sign that dragons will rise again, which he believes is essential for countering the threat of the White Walkers and the coming winter.
He recognizes that the absence of dragons would leave Westeros defenseless against these looming dangers. Daemon concludes that, for Westeros to have a chance, his wife Rhaenyra must take the Iron Throne, ensuring that the dragons will return in time to help protect the realm.
However, Daemon does not know who the young woman with dragons is in his vision. To him, she is merely a mysterious figure in a desert, not realizing that she is Daenerys Targaryen. For Daemon, this woman could be a future daughter, granddaughter, or even a great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter.
As the audience, we understand that Daenerys is a direct descendant of Daemon and Rhaenyra, destined to revive the dragons and fight against the forthcoming darkness.
Daenerys’s Lineage and Its Significance
The history of House Targaryen is filled with a mix of extraordinary achievements and dark events. To understand Daenerys’s connection to Daemon and Rhaenyra, we need to move into details from future seasons of House of the Dragon and the book Fire & Blood. This understanding is crucial for grasping the full scope of the Targaryen legacy.
Rhaenyra Targaryen’s death during the Dance of the Dragons is mentioned by Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones. Daemon also faces a significant confrontation against Aemond in Harrenhal, which the series has made clear.
Despite these tragic outcomes, Daemon and Rhaenyra have heirs who eventually ascend to the Iron Throne. Aegon III becomes king, and after his reign, his brother Viserys II takes over, continuing the Targaryen lineage.
Viserys II’s descendants include the notorious Aegon IV and ultimately the Mad King, Aerys II, who is Daenerys’s father. Daenerys Targaryen is eight generations removed from Rhaenyra, making Rhaenyra her great-great-great-great-great-grandmother.
It’s important to note that Game of Thrones omits Jaehaerys II, Aerys II’s father, which affects the lineage in the series. Without any retconning, Daenerys would be just seven generations removed from Rhaenyra in the show’s lore.
Daemon and Rhaenyra’s generation marks the end of House Targaryen’s dragons. However, Rhaenyra ensured the survival of Daenerys’s dragon eggs before her death. This continuation of the Targaryen line means that, in a century and a half, Daenerys would emerge with the dragons needed to face the coming threats.
Season 2 of House of the Dragon is now available for streaming on Max.
