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The world of House of the Dragon is full of fire, blood, and a whole lot of family drama - and at the center of all the chaos lies one burning question: who is the real heir to the Iron Throne? Is it Princess Rhaenyra, the named successor of her father? Or is it Prince Aegon, the firstborn son, who many think has a more "traditional" claim? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you'd hope, especially when Targaryens are involved. This is a family where politics, dragons, and betrayal are thicker than blood.
The real heir in House of the Dragon: Targaryen lineage explained
Let’s rewind to the beginning of this whole House of the Dragon mess. King Viserys I Targaryen, a generally peaceful ruler, had no sons from his first marriage. So, after the tragic death of his wife and their newborn son Baelon, he named his daughter Rhaenyra as heir, making her the first woman in Westeros officially set to rule. This was a huge deal because it was royal history in the making! She was trained for the job, sat in on council meetings, and everyone bowed to her...at least on her face, they did. But then came Alicent Hightower, Viserys’ second wife, and things got spicy. She gave birth to Aegon II, Viserys’ eldest son. Now, tradition in Westeros (misogynistic as it is) favors male heirs, and many lords began whispering that he should be king instead. However, Viserys never wavered—he insisted until his death that Rhaenyra was his chosen heir. Cue the chaos!
So, who’s technically right? Based purely on law and Viserys’ wishes, Rhaenyra is the legitimate heir in House of the Dragon. She was named in front of the entire court and remained his choice until his final breath...despite some confusion with his dying words, thanks to poor timing and a whole lot of misunderstandings. On the other hand, Aegon II has the support of the traditionalist factions - those who believe the Iron Throne should only go to a male. His claim is driven more by politics than law. The Hightowers move fast after Viserys dies, crown Aegon in secret, and basically kick off the civil war we now know as the Dance of the Dragons.
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The Targaryens, unlike most of Westeros, have no strict male-only rule. Their Valyrian roots actually allowed for female rulers. But Westeros isn’t Valyria, and the people weren’t quite ready for a queen on the throne. That’s what makes Rhaenyra’s story so tragic and powerful; she was battling centuries of sexism, not just her brother.
That’s the million-gold-dragon question. Legally? Rhaenyra. Traditionally? Aegon. Morally? Depends on who you ask. The Dance of the Dragons isn’t just a war over a throne - it’s a war over what kind of Westeros should exist. In the end, House of the Dragon reminds us that in Westeros, being right doesn’t always mean you win...especially when dragons are involved!
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