The Mad King family tree centers on Aerys II Targaryen, the paranoid ruler whose abuses ignited Robert’s Rebellion and reshaped Westerosi history. As king, he was son of Jaehaerys II and nephew of Aegon V; as father, he fathered Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys and sired countless grandchildren through them. Understanding these relationships clarifies how legacy, trauma, and dynastic survival intertwine across generations. This evergreen relationship explainer maps the Targaryen lineage from Aerys II to the surviving heirs, emphasizing verified lineage and bloodline impact on politics and prophecy.
Aerys II Targaryen: The Mad King
Aerys II Targaryen, commonly called the Mad King, ruled from 262 AC to 283 AC. His reign grew increasingly tyrannical as paranoia and mistrust drove purges, executions, and the abuse of noble houses. Aerys’s instability culminated in the deaths of Brandon Stark and Rickard Stark, which helped ignite Robert’s Rebellion. Defeated at the Trident and slain inside the Red Keep, his legacy defined a fractured realm and set the stage for the Targaryen diaspora and the political contests that define A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation.
Key Relationships of Aerys II
Aerys II married his sister, Queen Rhaella, reinforcing traditional Targaryen practices of sibling marriage to preserve the bloodline. They raised children in the court at King’s Landing, where court politics and royal expectations shaped their lives. Aerys’s relationship with his eldest son, Rhaegar, grew tense as the crown prince pursued reforms and personal attachments that clashed with his father’s demands. His distrust extended to allies and family, complicating alliances and fueling dissent that ultimately toppled his reign.
Immediate Descendants: Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys
The three children of Aerys II—Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys—form the core of the Mad King’s direct lineage. Rhaegar, the crown prince, married Elia Martell and had two children, Rhaenys and Aegon, before dying early in the war. Viserys and Daenerys survived exile, with Daenerys forging her own legacy as the Dragon Queen, while Viserys met an early death in Essos. Their children and potential descendants carry the last strands of the Targaryen claim, shaping post-war succession across both continents.
Aerys II’s Children at a Glance
| Name | Relationship to Aerys II | Notable Descendants | Status per Canonical Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhaegar Targaryen | Eldest son | d>Rhaenys Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen | Deceased (killed at the Trident) |
| Viserys Targaryen | Second son | None confirmed in canon | Deceased (killed in exile in Essos) |
| Daenerys Targaryen | Youngest child | No confirmed children | Deceased (ended series; TV fate differs) |
Siblings and the Targaryen Generation Before
Aerys II had siblings whose fates intertwined with the broader civil strife of the realm. His siblings generally remained in the background during his reign, but their lines persisted and gained prominence after his death. The extended Targaryen kin included cousins and uncles whose allegiances shifted during the wars of the late third century. Tracking these connections helps clarify claims of descent and the contested legitimacy of various Targaryen successors in the books and show, where sources sometimes diverge.
Notable Relatives in Context
- Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys: Children of Rhaegar, raised in Essos and central to claims of restoration.
- Visenya and Rhaenys: Alleged or rumored figures tied to prophetic rumors; no verified canonical status.
- Other Targaryen cousins: Appear in lore and rumors but remain peripheral to the core line of Aerys II.
Legacy Across Generations
The Mad King’s influence extends through both blood and fear. His cruelty seeded lasting trauma in the nobility and undermined faith in hereditary rule, yet the survival of his grandchildren ensured that Targaryen influence persisted. Daenerys’s rise, Aegon’s contested claim, and the lingering question of rightful succession all echo Aerys’s failures and the costs of absolutism. In the political landscape after the Long Night, claims rooted in the Mad King’s lineage continue to inform alliances, rivalries, and the evolving theory of legitimacy in the Seven Kingdoms.
Family Tree Summary
The Mad King family tree in Game of Thrones is compact in direct descendants but sprawling in implication. Aerys II stands as the root, with his marriage to Rhaella producing Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys. Rhaegar’s children link to emerging claimants in Essos and beyond, while Viserys and Daenerys, though childless in canon, remain pivotal to narratives of exile, survival, and rebirth. The broader Targaryen kin, though fragmented, sustains the possibility of restored dynastic power in a realm still reckoning with the sins and symbols of the Mad King.