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The Ultimate Game Of Thrones Family Tree: 5 Key Houses And The Shocking Targaryen-Stark Connection Explained (2025 Update)

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The intricate web of power, incest, and assassination that defines Westeros can only be fully understood by mastering the family trees of its Great Houses. As of late 2025, with the continued expansion of the universe through prequels like House of the Dragon and the anticipation of new spin-offs, the connections between the Targaryen, Stark, Lannister, and Baratheon dynasties are more crucial than ever to follow. This comprehensive guide merges the history of the Targaryen dynasty’s beginning with the final fates of the houses in Game of Thrones, providing a fresh, up-to-date analysis of the most powerful—and often most incestuous—lineages in the Seven Kingdoms.

Understanding the full scope of the Game of Thrones family tree is not just a matter of trivia; it’s the key to every major political and military conflict, from the Dance of the Dragons to Robert’s Rebellion. The true identity of Jon Snow, the legitimacy of the Lannister-Baratheon line, and the resilience of the Starks are all rooted in generations of complex, often tragic, blood ties that shaped the destiny of the realm.

The Dragon’s Blood: House Targaryen (From Old Valyria to Jon Snow)

House Targaryen is the central thread connecting the entire saga, beginning with their escape from the Doom of Valyria and culminating in the rule of a Stark. Their history is defined by dragon-riding, incestuous marriages to "keep the bloodline pure," and a descent into madness.

Aegon the Conqueror and the Foundation of the Dynasty

The Targaryen dynasty began with Aegon I Targaryen, known as Aegon the Conqueror, who, along with his sister-wives Visenya Targaryen and Rhaenys Targaryen, conquered six of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros approximately 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones.

  • Aegon I's Line: Aegon I and Rhaenys had a son, Aenys I Targaryen. Aegon I and Visenya had a son, Maegor I Targaryen (Maegor the Cruel).
  • Jaehaerys the Conciliator: The reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the longest-ruling Targaryen king, brought a long period of peace and prosperity. He is the grandfather of King Viserys I Targaryen, the central figure in the early seasons of House of the Dragon.

The Dance of the Dragons and the Line of Succession

House of the Dragon focuses on the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, a brutal conflict over the succession to Viserys I. The two main claimants were his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, and his son by his second wife, Aegon II Targaryen.

  • Rhaenyra's Line: Rhaenyra married her uncle, Daemon Targaryen. Their children continued the main royal line after the Dance, leading directly to the later kings.
  • The Generations Gap: It is crucial to note that many generations separate Rhaenyra and Daemon from the final Targaryens of Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen).

The Final Targaryens and the Secret Heir

The lineage concludes with King Aerys II Targaryen (The Mad King) and his children: Rhaegar Targaryen, Viserys Targaryen, and Daenerys Targaryen.

  • Daenerys Targaryen: The last surviving Targaryen claimant, known as the Mother of Dragons.
  • Jon Snow’s True Identity: The most critical revelation in the entire saga is that Jon Snow is not the bastard son of Ned Stark, but the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, making his true name Aegon Targaryen and giving him the strongest claim to the Iron Throne.

The Blood of the First Men: House Stark of Winterfell

House Stark is the epitome of resilience, tracing its lineage back thousands of years to the Age of Heroes. Their motto, "Winter Is Coming," reflects their deep connection to the North and their enduring strength.

The Ancient Line and Key Figures

The Starks are said to descend from Bran the Builder, who constructed The Wall and Winterfell. Their recent history centers around Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, the Warden of the North, and his family.

  • Ned Stark: Married to Catelyn Tully (of House Tully), they had five children: Robb Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, and Rickon Stark.
  • Lyanna Stark: Ned's sister, whose secret marriage to Rhaegar Targaryen is the root of Robert’s Rebellion and the true parentage of Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen).
  • The Survivor Line: After the tragedies of the Red Wedding and the War of the Five Kings, the Stark line survived through Sansa (Queen in the North), Arya (who sailed west of Westeros), and Bran (who became Bran the Broken, King of the Six Kingdoms).

The Gold and the Incest: House Lannister of Casterly Rock

The Lannisters, with their endless gold and cutthroat ambition, are the primary antagonists of the original series. Their lineage traces back to Lann the Clever, a legendary trickster from the Age of Heroes who supposedly swindled Casterly Rock from the Casterlys.

The Tywin Generation

The house's power was consolidated under Lord Tywin Lannister, a fierce and calculating patriarch who sought to place his blood on the Iron Throne. He had three children with his wife, Joanna Lannister:

  • The Twins: Jaime Lannister and Cersei Lannister. Their incestuous relationship forms the core secret that destabilizes the realm.
  • Tyrion Lannister: The youngest son, a dwarf despised by his father, who eventually becomes Hand of the Queen to Daenerys.

The False Baratheon Lineage

Cersei was married to King Robert Baratheon, but all three of their children—Joffrey Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon, and Tommen Baratheon—were secretly the children of Cersei and Jaime. This deception, exposed by Ned Stark and later Tyrion, was the catalyst for the War of the Five Kings.

The Stag and the Rebellion: House Baratheon of Storm's End

House Baratheon rose to prominence when Robert Baratheon overthrew the Targaryen dynasty during Robert’s Rebellion. The house itself has a historical link to the Targaryens, as the Baratheons descend from a Targaryen bastard line, giving Robert a distant claim to the throne.

The Brothers Baratheon

The key Baratheon figures are the three brothers, sons of Steffon Baratheon and Cassana Baratheon:

  • King Robert Baratheon: The Usurper King, whose marriage to Cersei Lannister produced no true heirs.
  • Stannis Baratheon: The stern, lawful brother who claimed the throne after Robert's death. He was married to Selyse Florent, and they had one daughter, Shireen Baratheon.
  • Renly Baratheon: The charismatic youngest brother, who also claimed the throne and married Margaery Tyrell.

The Extinction of the Main Line

All three brothers, and Robert's incestuous children, met tragic ends, effectively ending the main Baratheon royal line. The only known surviving true Baratheon blood is Gendry Baratheon, Robert’s recognized bastard son, who was legitimized by Daenerys Targaryen and became Lord of Storm's End.

Topical Authority: Key Entities and Connections

To fully appreciate the depth of the Westerosi bloodlines, it is vital to understand the key individuals and events that link them. The following 20+ entities are essential to mastering the comprehensive Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon family trees:

  • Aegon I Targaryen (The Conqueror)
  • Viserys I Targaryen (King in House of the Dragon)
  • Rhaenyra Targaryen (Claimant in the Dance of the Dragons)
  • Daemon Targaryen (Rhaenyra's Uncle/Husband)
  • Jaehaerys I Targaryen (The Old King)
  • Aerys II Targaryen (The Mad King)
  • Rhaegar Targaryen (Jon Snow's true father)
  • Daenerys Targaryen (The Last Dragon)
  • Jon Snow / Aegon Targaryen (Stark-Targaryen Heir)
  • Bran the Builder (Stark ancestor)
  • Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark (Warden of the North)
  • Lyanna Stark (Ned's sister, Rhaegar's wife)
  • Catelyn Tully (Ned's wife, of House Tully)
  • Sansa Stark (Queen in the North)
  • Bran Stark (King of the Six Kingdoms)
  • Lann the Clever (Lannister ancestor)
  • Lord Tywin Lannister (Patriarch of Casterly Rock)
  • Cersei Lannister (Queen, Robert's wife)
  • Jaime Lannister (Kingslayer, Cersei's twin)
  • Tyrion Lannister (Hand of the Queen/King)
  • Robert Baratheon (The Usurper King)
  • Stannis Baratheon (Robert's brother)
  • Gendry Baratheon (Robert's legitimized bastard)
  • The Dance of the Dragons (Targaryen Civil War)
  • Robert's Rebellion (The war that deposed Aerys II)
  • The Red Wedding (Massacre of the Starks/Tullys)

The bloodlines of Westeros are a complex tapestry of ambition, duty, and devastating secrets. From the inbreeding of the Targaryens to preserve their dragon-rider heritage, to the incestuous deception of the Lannisters to seize the crown, and the ancient, honorable lineage of the Starks, the family tree is the true map of power in George R.R. Martin's world. By understanding these key connections, you can fully appreciate how the sins and triumphs of one generation inevitably cascade into the next, shaping the fate of the realm for centuries to come.

The Ultimate Game of Thrones Family Tree: 5 Key Houses and The Shocking Targaryen-Stark Connection Explained (2025 Update)
game of thrones family tree
game of thrones family tree

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