We went into House of the Dragon expecting dragons, but we didn't know there'd be quite so many children. Due to the show’s regular time-jumping, it’s standard for each episode to offer up a new bunch of Westeros royalty who, one expects, will be vying for the Iron Throne one day. It’s also not uncommon for the children to be recast every episode in an effort for realism. Kids on TV! They grow up so fast. Here’s our guide to various Velaryon and Targaryen upstarts.
Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey Velaryon
The heir to the Iron Throne’s first three kids, all boys, bear the Velaryon name (Rhaenyra’s first husband was Laenor Velaryon). But the rumour in the source material (George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood) and one that is mostly confirmed by this series, is that they’re actually the children of the knight Harwin Strong. House of the Dragon is many things, but it’s not necessarily subtle; these three boys all have brunette mops and don’t look a thing like Laenor.
These three have an uphill battle. They may be the children of the heir to the throne, but the question of their legitimacy just won’t go away. They’ve also lost both their official father (Laenor vanished in a disappearance organised by Rhaenyra and Daemon) and biological father (Harwin was assassinated in a very real fire). The boys now have a fresh father figure in their life: their mother’s new husband and uncle, Daemon.
Aegon III and Viserys II Targaryen
These two pop up in House of the Dragon’s eighth episode, a few years after the wedding of Rhaenyra and Daemon, as young children. Rhaenyra has another one on the way. Unlike their half-brothers, they’re full Targaryen blood. Given the family’s propensity for madness, that’s likely going to be an interesting mix.
Baela and Rhaena Targaryen
Baela and Rhaena are the two daughters of Daemon and his second wife, Laena Velaryon (Daemon killed his first wife Lady Rhea Royce, and made it look like a hunting accident). Laena died while she was pregnant with her third child; she demanded her dragon to kill her during a difficult labour. Thanks to some negotiations between the girls’ grandmother, Princess Rhaenys, and Rhaenyra, they’re now betrothed to Jacaerys and Lucerys. Given all they’ve been through, these two seem remarkably well-adjusted.
Aegon II, Aemond and Halaena Targaryen
These three are the children of Viserys and his second wife, Rhaenyra’s former best friend, Allicent Hightower. They’re pretty easy to tell apart. Youngest child Aemond is the one with the eye patch; his nephew, Lucerys, cut it out in a fight when they were young (typical family bonding). Eldest child Aegon is usually pissed or in bed with someone (or both). He’s also now married to his younger sister, Halaena, who doesn’t seem so happy with the arrangement. There’s probably not an award for the creepiest children in Westeros, but these lot would win hands down.
Henry Wong is a senior culture writer at Esquire, working across digital and print. He covers film, television, books, and art for the magazine, and also writes profiles.
