Here’s a breakdown of how the characters in House of the Dragon are related to the important characters and families seen in Game of Thrones.
WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1 and George R.R. Martin’s book, Fire & Blood!
Many key characters from Game of Thrones are directly related to House of the Dragon’s main characters, with some also having unexpected familial ties. House of the Dragon is set over 150 years before Game of Thrones’ timeline, so while no members of the original series’ houses are alive in the prequel, their ancestors are present. Game of Thrones’ Targaryens, Starks, Lannisters, and Baratheons directly descend from figures seen in House of the Dragon, but some will only have very distant relations due to certain family lines being destroyed in the Dance of the Dragons.
While House Velaryon is one of the three most prominent families in House of the Dragon, no members of their house are featured as characters in Game of Thrones. The same is true for House of the Dragon’s House Strong, as their family goes extinct in the final act of the Targaryen civil war. However, every other key family in House of the Dragon will see their descendants play significant roles as characters in Game of Thrones, such as the prequel’s Targaryens and Starks eventually producing the prophesied Prince That Was Promised, A.K.A. Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, from their lines.
How House Of The Dragon’s Targaryens Are Related To Daenerys & Jon Snow
Game of Thrones’ important characters Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow, A.K.A. Aegon Targaryen, are the direct descendants of House of the Dragon’s Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. In fact, every Targaryen character in Game of Thrones comes from Rhaenyra and Daemon’s direct line, as their children are the only Targaryens to survive the Dance of the Dragons. Aemond and Daeron Targaryen die without issuing any heirs, with Aegon and Helaena’s children also dying young. As such, the only Targaryens who produce heirs after House of the Dragon are Rhaenyra and Daemon’s sons Aegon III and Viserys II Targaryen.
Rhaenyra and Daemon are thus the great-great-great-great-great grandmother and grandfather of Game of Thrones’ Daenerys, Rhaegar, and Viserys Targaryen. Since Jon Snow is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen, there’s one additional generation between himself and House of the Dragon’s Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. Aemond, Aegon, and Helaena Targaryen leave no direct heirs after House of the Dragon, so they’re the great-great-great-great-great-great aunt and uncles of Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen. The same goes for Daemon’s daughters Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, and while they do survive the Dance of the Dragons and produce heirs, Game of Thrones’ history doesn’t reveal their direct family lines after House of the Dragon.
House Of The Dragon’s Borros Baratheon & GOT’s Robert, Stannis & Renly
The Green supporter Lord Borros Baratheon, who was officially introduced in House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale, is presumed to be the direct ancestor of Game of Thrones’ characters Robert, Stannis, Renly, Shireen, and Gendry Baratheon. Borros is succeeded by his young son Royce after the Lord of Storm’s End dies in House of the Dragon’s civil war, but George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood didn’t reveal what happened to Royce Baratheon after this era. As Borros’ only son, it’s assumed that Royce continued the line of House Baratheon, which leads directly down to Robert, Stannis, and Renly in Game of Thrones. Since Royce’s heirs aren’t revealed, it’s unclear how many generations there are between the Baratheon characters.
Game of Thrones’ Baratheons are also direct descendants of House of the Dragon’s Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. Robert’s grandmother was Rhaelle Targaryen, the great-great-great granddaughter of Rhaenyra and Daemon’s son King Viserys II Targaryen. Rhaelle was also the sister of Daenerys’ father King Aerys II Targaryen, which makes Robert, Renly, and Stannis the first cousins once removed of Daenerys, Rhaegar, and Viserys. This also makes Gendry Baratheon and Jon Snow second cousins once removed in Game of Thrones.
How HOTD’s Hightowers Relate To GOT’s Gerold Hightower & Margaery Tyrell
While Game of Thrones doesn’t feature any prominent characters with the Hightower name, there are still a few figures who are part of the family tree. However, the only Hightowers in Game of Thrones are seemingly descended from Otto’s nephew Ormund, as Otto, Hobert, Gwayne, and Alicent Hightower’s family line goes extinct upon her death after House of the Dragon. As such, Ser Gerold Hightower, who was seen fighting Ned Stark at the Tower of Joy in Game of Thrones’ season 6 flashback, is seemingly the direct descendant of Lord Hobert Hightower through his apparent son Ormund.
It’s unclear how many generations there are between Gerold and House of the Dragon’s Hightowers, but it’s safe to say that Otto and Alicent are simply the great-great-great-great-great uncle and cousin of Game of Thrones’ knight. House of the Dragon’s Hightowers are also related to Game of Thrones’ Queen Margaery Tyrell and her brother Ser Loras Tyrell. Their mother was Lady Alerie Hightower, who was the great-niece of Ser Gerold Hightower. As such, Queen Margaery Tyrell does, indeed, share blood with House of the Dragon’s Queen Alicent Hightower.
House Of The Dragon’s Cregan & GOT’s Starks
The beloved members of House Stark in Game of Thrones all directly descend from House of the Dragon’s season 2 character Lord Cregan Stark. While Cregan has yet to be seen in House of the Dragon, the season 1 finale mentioned him as an important figure, with Prince Jacaerys Velaryon now being sent to treat with him in Winterfell. House of the Dragon’s Cregan Stark is the great-great-great-great grandfather of Game of Thrones’ Ned, Benjen, and Lyanna Stark. As such, Cregan is the great-great-great-great-great grandfather of Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon Stark and Jon Snow/Aegon Targaryen.
House Of The Dragon’s Jason & Tyland Lannister To GOT’s Tyrion, Cersei & Jaime
House Lannister still boasts its wealth in House of the Dragon, which will pass to their anti-hero Game of Thrones descendants. House of the Dragon’s twins Jason and Tyland Lannister lead the lion-represented family in the prequel, but only Jason leaves heirs. After dying in House of the Dragon’s civil war, Jason Lannister is succeeded as Lord of Casterly Rock by his young son Loreon, although Fire & Blood doesn’t confirm Loreon’s children. However, it seems that Loreon’s son was Lord Damon, who led House Lannister during the reign of Rhaenyra and Daemon’s great-grandson King Daeron II Targaryen. As such, Jason Lannister is likely the great-great-great-great grandfather of Game of Thrones’ Lord Tywin Lannister.
How House Of The Dragon’s Jeyne Arryn Relates To GOT’s Jon & Robin
While she has yet to be seen on the series, Lady Jeyne Arryn will play an important role in House of the Dragon season 2 and beyond. While Jeyne is the head of House Arryn during House of the Dragon, she isn’t a direct ancestor to Game of Thrones’ Jon and Robin Arryn. Since she never married or had any children, Jeyne was known as the “Maiden of the Vale,” with many of her cousins fighting over her inheritances. Ultimately, Jeyne is succeeded by her cousin Joffrey Arryn, who seems to be Jon Arryn’s direct ancestor. It seems Jeyne Arryn is simply a distant cousin to Game of Thrones’ characters from several generations back.
How HOTD’s Targaryens Are Related To GOT’s Oberyn Martell
Game of Thrones’ Targaryens and Martells share more blood than the series let on, with the Dornish lords also being direct descends of House of the Dragon’s Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. Following the conquest of Dorne by King Aegon III Targaryen’s son King Daeron I Targaryen, Prince Daeron II Targaryen (the grandson of Rhaenyra and Daemon’s son Viserys) was married to Myriah Martell. King Daeron II Targaryen and Queen Myriah Martell’s youngest son grew up to be King Maekar I Targaryen, who is the great-grandfather of Daenerys Targaryen and great-great-grandfather of Jon Snow.
Due to the crown still needing to maintain peace with Dorne, a future Targaryen princess married a Martell prince. The first Princess Daenerys Targaryen, the daughter of King Aegon IV Targaryen, was married to Prince Maron Martell, with whom she had several children. Their son later inherited Sunspear, with Game of Thrones’ Martell characters being descended from this Targaryen. Since Daenerys is the great-granddaughter of House of the Dragon’s Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, generational logic would suggest that Game of Thrones’ Oberyn Martell is the great-great-great-great-great grandson of Rhaenyra and Daemon.
House Of The Dragon’s Tullys & GOT’s Catelyn & Edmure
Like the Starks and Arryns, House Tully has yet to appear in House of the Dragon, but they were mentioned in the season 1 finale as an important house for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen to gain the support of. By the end of House of the Dragon’s Targaryen civil war, the family will be led by the young Lord Kermit Tully. House Tully’s lineage between Kermit and the father of Hoster and Brynden Tully is somewhat muddled, but the eras in which some of the family’s historic members lived give clues to the succession of the house.
As such, while unconfirmed, it seems that House of the Dragon’s Lord Kermit Tully is the great-great-great-great-great grandfather of Game of Thrones’ Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure Tully. This also makes Kermit Tully the distant great-grandfather of Game of Thrones‘ Starks, including Robb, Sansa, Arya, and Bran, as well as Lysa Tully’s son Robin Arryn.
How House Of The Dragon’s Rhea Royce Is Related To GOT’s Yohn Royce
Rhea Royce makes a brief appearance in House of the Dragon season 1 as the first wife of Prince Daemon Targaryen. When Daemon returns to the Vale, he murders his wife and hopes to take her inheritance of House Royce’s Runestone, but Lady Jeyne Arryn rejects his proposal. Since Rhea didn’t have any children, Runestone passes to her nephew and, soon after, Lord Gunthor Royce, who seems to be the character from which House Royce descends after House of the Dragon. As such, Rhea Royce appears to be the great-aunt or cousin from several generations back of Game of Thrones’ character Yohn Royce, the Lord of Runestone and a powerful bannerman to House Arryn who fosters Robin.
How HOTD’s Lord Commander Ryam Redwyne Is Related To GOT’s Olenna Tyrell
Before Ser Harrold Westerling became the Lord Commander of Viserys’ Kingsguard in House of the Dragon, the position was held by the fearsome Ryam Redwyne. As a Kingsguard knight, Ryam Redwyne was forbidden from taking a wife and thus had no direct heirs, but he still shares distant relations to Game of Thrones’ iconic character Olenna Tyrell, née Redwyne. It appears that Ser Ryam Redwyne’s nephew became Lord of the Arbor during the Dance of the Dragons, with the line seemingly descending from this yet-unnamed character. As such, House of the Dragon’s Ryam is most likely the great-great-great-great uncle of Game of Thrones’ Olenna Tyrell.
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