HBO’s House of the Dragon has gone to great lengths to empower the women within its story, strengthening them even further by providing both Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower with plenty of heirs to carry on the battle that’s grown between them. While there was never any doubt that Alicent’s children were fathered by King Viserys I, nearly everyone in the realm save the king acknowledged Rhaenyra’s first three sons as bastards with no claim to the Iron Throne.
But how many kids does Rhaenyra have? Across the course of the first season, Rhaenyra gave birth to six children. All of her children were boys except the last pregnancy — which ended in heart-rending tragedy. Considering everything viewers remember from Game of Thrones and the violence already witnessed across House of the Dragon’s first season, it’s impossible to guess which, if any, of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen’s children will survive the upcoming battle for the Iron Throne.
Jacaerys Velaryon Is Rhaenyra’s Firstborn Son and Heir
Firstborn son of Rhaenyra and her first husband Laenor Velaryon, Jacaerys was affectionately known to his family as Jace. There were abundant rumors spread by Queen Alicent about the legitimacy of Jace’s parentage, with murmurs circulating through court that his true father was Ser Harwin Strong. King Viserys put a halt to the rumors when a fight broke out between his sons and grandsons, threatening to burn out the tongue of anyone else who spoke such lies.According to tradition, Jacaerys was gifted a dragon egg at birth and the egg was placed in his cradle to hatch. The hatchling was named Vermax. Once the dragon was large enough, Jacaerys became his rider.
Rhaenyra’s Second Son Is Lucerys Valeryon
Second son of Rhaenyra and Laenor, Lucerys Valeryon was called Luke for short. Like his elder brother Jacaerys, the legitimacy of Rhaenyra’s second son was called into question due to Queen Alicent’s rumors about Ser Harwin Strong. When a fight with his uncle Aemond Targaryen got out of hand, Lucerys drew his dagger and slashed Aemond’s face, resulting in the loss of Aemond’s eye and a deep enmity between them. This played into Lucerys’ death in the Season 1 finale.
Lucerys’ dragon was named Arrax. Sent by his mother to entreat Borros Boratheon to recall his family’s oath to acknowledge Rhaenyra as queen, he was beaten to the punch by Aemond, who had arrived at Storm’s End earlier with gifts. Taunted and threatened by Aemond and refused by the Boratheons, Lucerys fled Storm’s End on his dragon Arrax — but was hunted and chased by Aemond aback his much older and stronger dragon Vhagar. Amidst a violent storm, Vhagar attacked Arrax, killing both dragon and rider.
Joffrey Velaryon Is Rhaenyra’s Third Son
The third and final son produced by the marriage of Rhaenyra and Laenor, Joffrey Velaryon was also rumored to be the bastard son of Ser Harwin Strong. Named for his father’s friend and companion Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, he was gifted a dragon egg at birth just like his brothers. The hatchling was named Tyraxes.
Princes Aegon III and Viserys II Are Daemon and Rhaenyra’s Sons
After the deaths of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen’s spouses, there was nothing left to stand in the way of their long-awaited union. Not long after they were married, Rhaenyra gave birth to their first son together named Aegon III. It appears that she gave birth to their second son Viserys II within approximately 18 months of Aegon’s birth. House of the Dragon doesn’t give any information about their dragon eggs, but given the family history and Daemon’s considerable pride, one can assume Rhaenyra and Daemon’s children were bonded to dragons in their cradles.
Visenya Would Have Been Rhaenyra’s Only Daughter
Though Rhaenyra gained twin stepdaughters Baela and Rhaena when she married her uncle, she gave birth to no daughters of her own until Visenya. Her daughter with Daemon was unfortunately born too early. Her labor — likely brought on by the grief of her father’s death and the betrayal of the Hightowers when they placed Aegon on the throne in Season 1, Episode 9, “The Green Council” — was painfully long and arduous. Visenya was stillborn, adding another tragedy to Rhaenyra’s life.
Rhaenyra Targaryen has six children, but unfortunately has already lost two of them, including one during birth. House of the Dragon’s second season will undoubtedly continue to follow her family as they fight for control of the Iron Throne. That makes it possible that Rhaenyra may lose other children in battle — or they could forge their own legendary paths.