The Targaryens are one of the most storied families in the history of Westeros, their legacy defined by conquest, dragons, and prophecy. To answer where did the Targaryens come from, one must look beyond the Seven Kingdoms to the distant Valyrian Freehold and the ancient ties that bound a minor noble house to the fate of continents.
Before their rise in Westeros, the Targaryens were a lesser branch of a mighty dragonlord civilization, living on the easternmost edge of a vast empire. This overview presents core facts about their origin, migration, and early centuries before Aegon’s Conquest.
| Origin Era | Homeland | Prominent Figures | Key Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Heroes | Valyria (Dragonlands) | Unknown dragonlord ancestors | Alliance through marriage with House Belibaste |
| ~10,000 BC | Westeros (First Men and Children) | Children of the Forest | Pact of friendship with early dragonlords |
| ~500 BC | Valyrian Freehold | Aenar Targaryen the Exile | Move to Dragonstone with five dragons |
| ~1 BC–1 AC | Dragonstone (island) | Lord Aenar, Queen Visenya, Princess Rhaenys | Conquest of Westeros begins |
Origins in Valyria
The Dragonlands and the Early Targaryens
Before Westeros saw the white fortresses of Dragonstone, the Targaryens lived among the dragonlords of Valyria, a civilization built on magic, stone, and fire. They were not the rulers but a family of dragonkeepers, tending beasts whose bloodline intertwined with ancient magic that still echoes through history.
Migration to Dragonstone
Prophecy, Exile, and a New Homeland
The pivotal moment in explaining where did the Targaryens come from in Westeros centers on the Doom of Valyria. Foreseeing the cataclysm through dreams, Lord Aenar Targaryen secured the family survival by relocating to Dragonstone, a remote island fortress that would become the launching point for conquest.
House Targaryen in Westerosi History
From Exiles to Kings of the Andals and the First Men
On Dragonstone, the Targaryens preserved their bloodline and dragons while the world shifted around them. When the Valyrian Freehold collapsed, they held the only surviving dragons in existence. This legacy allowed Aegon I to unite kingdoms not simply by force, but by positioning the family as inheritors of an ancient mystical mandate.
Bloodline and Legacy
Intermarriage, Incest, and the Preservation of Power
The Targaryens maintained genetic isolation through controlled marriages, often between close kin, to keep the dragonblood pure. This controversial practice reinforced their identity as a distinct line, setting them apart from other houses and anchoring their claim to rule through ancestry as much as might.
The Enduring Myth of the Dragonblood
Understanding where did the Targaryens come from reveals a family shaped by prophecy, migration, and the weight of destiny.
- Originated among dragonlords in the Valyrian Freehold
- Relocated to Dragonstone to escape the Doom of Valyria
- Used dragons and prophecy to legitimize rule in Westeros
- Maintained a distinct bloodline through controlled intermarriage
- Established a dynasty that defined centuries of Westerosi history
FAQ
Reader questions
Were the Targaryens the only dragonlords in Valyria?
No, they were one of many dragonlord families, but they were among the few who left Valyria before its destruction and retained their dragons through the centuries.
Did dreams and prophecies drive the decision to leave Valyria?
Yes, prophetic dreams shared by Aenar and his daughter Visenya warned of the Doom and directly influenced the family’s migration to Dragonstone.
How did the Targaryens survive the Doom when other Valyrian houses perished?
Their foresight, geographic separation, and careful planning allowed them to avoid the destruction that erased the heart of the Freehold.
Why did other Westerosi accept Targaryen rule after the Conquest?
Centuries of reverence for dragons, combined with Aegon’s demonstrated military superiority and political pragmatism, led many regions to submit rather than resist.