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House of the Dragon: How Is Rhaeynra Related to Daenerys?


How Is Rhaeynra Related to Daenerys
Credit: HBO

It's no secret that House of the Dragon is a prequel to Game of Thrones; but fans are noticing the many possible links between characters. For instance, how is Rhaenyra related to Daenerys?

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House of the Dragon: How Long Ago?

How Long Before GoT is House of the Dragon
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Credit: HBO

In House of the Dragon, we travel a little under two centuries into the past of House Targaryen.

While the events are unrelated to Game of Thrones, they form the not-so-distant history of the characters we encounter in GoT.

More specifically, House of the Dragon unfolds 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen who was 13 when GoT began (in the books) making the show around 185 years before GoT.

But how is Rhaenyra related to Daenerys (and consequently also to Jon Snow) by blood? Here's an explanation of the Targaryen line based on book materials, though these are subject to change in the HBO tv series:

Spoilers below!

How Is Rhaeynra Related to Daenerys
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Rhaenyra is Daenerys' ancestor; her seven times great grandmother. Jon Snow was the son of Daenerys' brother, making him Daenerys' nephew even though he's older by a year or so. This makes him Rhaneyra's eight times grandson.

Rhaenyra and Daenerys might be different characters but they do share some traits. They're both women trying to further their claim and keep their birthright in a world that doesn't want a woman on the iron throne.

Both fight against great odds to secure what they deem is theirs by blood.

Daenerys, however, grew up in exile away from Westeros, so she got to know both violence and freedom Rhaenyra hasn't tasted in the royal court.

So far, Rhaenyra hasn't shown signs of the mental instability that characterizes a devastatingly large number of Targaryens.

Of course, Daenerys hadn't either until the very end, making this a symptom of bad writing rather than properly foreshadowed or explicable madness.

It remains to be seen if Rhaenyra's story will have any more parallels with that of Daenerys.

What About Other Relations?

How Is Rhaeynra Related to House of the Dragon Characters
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We have established that Rhaenyra is many times great-grandmother to Rhaneyra, but through which of her children? And what about other characters, like Daemon?

Well, the Targaryen dynasty Daenerys was part of is directly related to Rhaenyra's line but there were many complications to get there.

During the civil war that came to be known as the Dance of Dragons, many Targaryen kings were short-lived.

The war ended with Rhaenyra's son, Viserys II on the throne. This, however, is not a son from her marriage with Ser Laenor Velaryon.

After being widowed, Rhaenyra married Daemon Targaryen and had more children with him, one of whom eventually ended up on the iron throne.

From his line came Daenerys and most of the other Targaryens we've heard of in GoT.

The above, of course, are subject to change, as House of the Dragon is still ongoing and we're waiting to see if this timeline will be kept intact.

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