In the final days of her reign, Rhaenyra Targaryen stood upon Dragonstone, looking out over the stormy seas, reflecting on the legacy she would leave behind. The Dance of the Dragons had torn Westeros apart, a bitter civil war fought between factions of her own family, and in the midst of it all, her children—born into a life of political intrigue, danger, and duty—became pawns in a game far older than they could comprehend. From the moment Rhaenyra was named her father’s heir, her offspring were always destined to play pivotal roles in the Targaryen saga. Yet, each child, born of love, duty, or political alliance, carried their own story. As a mother, Rhaenyra’s greatest triumphs and tragedies were tied to her children, many of whom played central roles in the conflict that engulfed Westeros.
Rhaenyra Targaryen, a key figure in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire universe, and particularly in Fire & Blood—the historical recount of House Targaryen—had multiple children across two marriages. This article explores how many children does Rhaenyra have, their fates, and how their lives intertwined with the larger narrative of Targaryen history.
Rhaenyra’s Marriages and Children: A Complex Family Legacy
Rhaenyra Targaryen, often known as the “Black Queen” during the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, was the daughter of King Viserys I Targaryen. Her marriages were not only unions of love but also strategic alliances that would define her claim to the Iron Throne. Across her two marriages, Rhaenyra had seven children—three with her first husband, Ser Laenor Velaryon, and four with her second husband, her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen.
Let’s delve into the details of each of her children.
The Children of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon
Rhaenyra’s first marriage was to Ser Laenor Velaryon, a member of the powerful Velaryon family, known for their mastery of the seas and their Targaryen-like features, given their shared Valyrian ancestry. Although the marriage was strategic, there were persistent rumours that Laenor did not father Rhaenyra’s three sons but by her lover, Ser Harwin Strong, a knight of great renown.
The three children from this marriage were:
- Jacaerys Velaryon (Jace)
- Born in 114 AC, Jacaerys was Rhaenyra’s eldest son and her chosen heir to the Iron Throne. He was a brave and loyal leader who fought for his mother’s cause during the Dance of the Dragons. Jacaerys was pivotal in securing alliances for Rhaenyra and rode the dragon Vermax. Unfortunately, his life was cut short during the war. In 129 AC, while leading a mission to gain the support of Winterfell and the Starks, Jacaerys was killed during the Battle of the Gullet, a naval engagement that proved costly for the Black faction. Jacaerys was around 15 years old at the time of his death.
- Lucerys Velaryon (Luke)
- Born in 115 AC, Lucerys was Rhaenyra’s second son and was described as the most gentle of her children. Despite his tender nature, Luke was embroiled in the brutal politics of the Targaryen civil war. He was named the heir to Driftmark, the seat of House Velaryon, and rode the dragon Arrax. Lucerys tragically died at the hands of his uncle, Aemond Targaryen, during a fateful encounter at Storm’s End in 129 AC. Aemond, who rode the massive dragon Vhagar, pursued Lucerys into the stormy skies, ultimately killing him. Lucerys was only 14 years old at the time of his death, marking one of the earliest significant casualties of the war.
- Joffrey Velaryon
- The youngest of Rhaenyra’s sons by Laenor Velaryon, Joffrey was born in 117 AC. Though he was just a boy during the Dance of the Dragons, he was known for his boldness. In 130 AC, at the height of the civil war, Joffrey attempted to fly the dragon Tyraxes in a desperate effort to join his mother during a critical battle. Tragically, he fell from the dragon’s back and died at 13 years old. Joffrey’s death added another sorrow to Rhaenyra’s already heavy burden.
The Children of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen
Following Laenor Velaryon’s mysterious death (and possible escape to Essos, according to some rumours), Rhaenyra married her uncle, Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue Prince. This marriage was a political and personal alliance, as the couple had ambitions for Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne. Rhaenyra bore four children from this union, though one did not survive infancy.
- Aegon the Younger (Aegon III)
- Born in 120 AC, Aegon would later be known as Aegon III Targaryen, one of the most significant figures in Targaryen history. After the devastating Dance of the Dragons, Aegon III eventually ascended to the Iron Throne, ruling Westeros after the Civil War. Despite being a child during the conflict, Aegon III’s reign marked a crucial turning point in the Targaryen dynasty. He witnessed the horrors of dragon warfare firsthand and famously grew to hate dragons, earning him the moniker “Aegon the Dragonbane.” Aegon’s eventual rule and his children’s reigns would stabilize the Targaryen line, but his traumatic childhood cast a long shadow over his rule.
- Viserys Targaryen
- Born in 122 AC, Viserys was the second son of Rhaenyra and Daemon. While still a child during the Dance of the Dragons, Viserys’ fate became one of the more dramatic tales of the Civil War. When Rhaenyra fled King’s Landing after Aegon II usurped her throne, Viserys was separated from the rest of the family and went missing for several years. Many believed him dead, but Viserys was later found alive in Essos, having been smuggled out of Westeros. His survival and eventual return added to the complex Targaryen narrative.
- Visenya Targaryen
- Rhaenyra’s first daughter and third child with Daemon was born in 129 AC, but she tragically died in infancy. Visenya was a stillbirth, marking yet another heartbreaking moment in Rhaenyra’s life as a mother. The death of Visenya occurred just as the Dance of the Dragons was beginning, adding emotional weight to the turmoil Rhaenyra would face.
- Unnamed Son
- Rhaenyra also gave birth to an unnamed son in 130 AC. Sadly, the child was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. The death of this infant added to the Black Queen’s emotional burden as she navigated the bloody conflict that was tearing her family and kingdom apart.
The Tragic Legacy of Rhaenyra’s Children
Rhaenyra Targaryen’s children were not just pawns in the political and dynastic battles of Westeros—they were individuals whose lives were shaped by the ambitions of their parents and the bloody civil war that consumed their house. Out of her seven children, only Aegon III and Viserys survived into adulthood, with Aegon eventually becoming king.
The losses of Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey weighed heavily on Rhaenyra, especially as they were killed in battles fought to secure her claim to the throne. Her daughter Visenya’s death in infancy, as well as the stillbirth of her last child, further compounded her tragedies.
Rhaenyra’s story concerns power, ambition, and the heavy toll of family and warfare. While she may have fought fiercely for her right to the Iron Throne, her legacy is also defined by the tragic fates of her children, who were caught in the vortex of the Dance of the Dragons.
Conclusion: A Mother’s Struggles Amidst the Dance of Dragons
The conflTargaryen’s mother and queen marked Rhaenyra Targaryen’s life. Her seven children were not only heirs to a powerful dynasty but also victims of the brutal conflict that would eventually tear her family apart. RhaenyrRhaenyra’s and her children’s stories reflect the tragic reality of power struggles in Westeros, where even the most powerful families are not immune to heartbreak.
As George R.R. Martin’Martin’s Blood and the HBO series House of the Dragon explore these complex dynamics, RhaenyrRhaenyra’s as both a queen and a mother remains a central narrative that reminds readers and viewers of the high costs of ambition and war.
