Targaryens And Incest: An Evaluation
I’ve seen it be argued that the Targaryens weren’t as incestuous as is made out. This does not seem right to me, so I’m going to evaluate how incestuous they actually were. I’ve devised my own way of doing this, based on how many grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents each generation has.
A normal, not inbred person has four grandparents, eight great-grandparents and sixteen great-great-grandparents, for a total of 28 people. I’m going to determine how many each generation of Targaryens have and give them a score out of 28, then put that score against the scale I have devised which is:
28 – Not inbred at all. Yay for you!
0-9 – Incredibly inbred. How are you a functioning person?
From the scores of each generation we will determine the overall level of incestuousness of the Targaryens as a whole. Let’s begin!
Visenya, Aegon I and Rhaenys
It’s a bit difficult to evaluate this generation fully as we don’t know much about their grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents. Their parents were Aerion Targaryen and Valaena Velaryon, who weren’t siblings but were related in some way as Valaena’s mother was a Targaryen. The problem is that we don’t know how exactly Valaena’s mother and Aerion are related.
There’s also no information on Aerion’s mother and grandmother. I think it’s pretty reasonable to assume that they were likely the sisters of Aerion’s father and grandfather respectively, as that is pretty standard for Targaryens. Aerion’s great-grandparents were siblings, as were his great-great-grandparents.
Visenya, Aegon I and Rhaenys have four grandparents, as far as I can tell. Daemion Targaryen and (most likely) his unnamed sister were the parents of their father Aerion and an unnamed Velaryon and an unnamed Targaryen were the parents of their mother Valaena.
Valaena’s mother was either the sister of Aerion’s father Daemion or his cousin through his uncle Maegon, as there’s no other Targaryens for her to be the child of. Most likely she was Daemion’s sister as it’s not noted that Maegon had any children. So most likely Visenya, Aegon I and Rhaenys have only four great-grandparents, as their grandfather and both grandmothers are likely siblings with the same parents. Aerys Targaryen and (most likely) his unnamed sister are the parents of Daemion Targaryen and (most likely) his sisters, one of whom he married and the other who married a Velaryon. Their other great-grandparents are an unnamed Velaryon and an unnamed wife of unknown House.
Their great-great-grandparents are Aegon and Elaena Targaryen, an unnamed Velaryon and three unnamed people of unknown Houses. Six people in total.
Visenya, Aegon I and Rhaenys: 14/28. Fairly Inbred.
Aenys and Maegor are half siblings but as both of their mothers were their father’s sisters, it doesn’t actually matter in discussion of their ancestors.
Their grandparents were Aerion Targaryen and Valaena Velaryon, their great-grandparents were Daemion Targaryen, (most likely) his two sisters and an unnamed Velaryon and their great-great-grandparents were Aerys Targaryen, (most likely) his sister, an unnamed Velaryon and his unnamed wife of unknown House.
Aenys and Maegor: 10/28. Fairly Inbred.
Rhaena, Aegon, Viserys, Jaehaerys I and Alysanne
As Aenys didn’t have a sister, he married Alyssa Velaryon. You would think this would be incest free. You would be wrong, although the incest is distant in this case. At least, as I speculate.
It’s my speculation that Valaena Velaryon, Aenys’ grandmother, and Daemon Velaryon, Alyssa’s grandfather, were siblings, making them second cousins. It’s never been stated, and it’s entirely possible they were cousins rather than siblings, but it makes sense to me.
Aenys’ children have the normal four grandparents, Aegon I, Rhaenys, Aethan Velaryon and Alarra Massey. But they only have six great-grandparents: Aerion, Valaena, Daemon, his unnamed wife, a Massey and his unnamed wife. Their great-great-grandparents are a tad speculative but I believe there are ten of them- Aerion’s parents, Valaena and Daemon’s parents, Daemon’s wife’s parents, the Massey’s parents and the Massey’s wife’s parents.
Rhaena, Aegon, Viserys, Jaehaerys and Alysanne: 20/28. Slightly Inbred.
Aemon, Baelon, Alyssa and Daella
(For brevity’s sake I’ve only listed those of Jaehaerys’ children who contributed to future generations of Targaryens.)
Jaehaerys I married his sister Alysanne, so we’re back to incestuous marriages.
Their children have two grandparents, Aenys I and Alyssa, four great-grandparents, Aegon I, Rhaenys, Aethan Velaryon and Alarra Massey, and six great-great-grandparents, Aerion, Valaena, Daemon Velaryon, his unnamed wife, a Massey and his unnamed wife.
Aemon, Baelon, Alyssa and Daella: 12/28. Fairly inbred.
Viserys I and Daemon are the sons of siblings Baelon and Alyssa Targaryen.
They have only two grandparents, Jaehaerys I and Alyssa, only two great-grandparents, Aenys I and Alyssa, and four great-great-grandparents, Aegon I, Rhaenys, Aethan and Alarra.
Viserys I and Daemon: 8/28. Incredibly Inbred.
Aegon II, Helaena, Aemond and Daeron
A much less incestuous generation as Viserys I married out of his own family the second time.
Their four grandparents are Baelon, Alyssa, Otto Hightower and Alyrie Florent (possibly? Named only in the show). They have six great-grandparents, Jaehaerys I, Alysanne, an unnamed Hightower, his unnamed wife, an unnamed Florent and his wife. They have the most great-great-grandparents so far with twelve, Aenys I, Alyssa, the unnamed Hightower’s parents, his unnamed wife’s parents, the unnamed Florent’s parents and his unnamed wife’s parents.
Aegon II, Helaena, Aemond and Daeron: 22/28. Slightly Inbred. Our highest score so far!
And we head straight back into incest here.
Aegon III and Viserys II’s grandparents are Viserys I, Aemma, Baelon and Alyssa. Their great-grandparents present an unique issue: their maternal great-grandparents are also their paternal grandparents, as their mother and father (Rhaenyra and Daemon) were niece and uncle. I’m only going to include Baelon and Alyssa once in the score, so the only great-grandparents who count are Jaehaerys I, Alysanne, Rodrik and Daella.
The same issue repeats with great-great-grandparents, so again I’m only counting those who have not already appeared in this inbred family tree. That means only Aenys I, Alyssa, Rodrik's father and Rodrik's mother count as great-great-grandparents.
Aegon III and Viserys II: Should be 10/28, but I'm docking two points for the amount of times each generation is related to each other, ie their four great-grandparents are Jaehaerys, Alysanne, their daughter and their son-in-law, so 8/28, Incredibly Inbred.
Daeron I, Baelor I, Daena, Elaena and Rhaena
Thankfully this generation is far less inbred. Aegon III married Daenaera Velaryon, to whom he is not related at all, unless you go back many generations.
Aegon III’s children have four grandparents, Daemon, Rhaenyra, Daeron Velaryon and Hazel Harte. Their eight great-grandparents are Baelon, Alyssa, Viserys I, Aemma, Vaemond, his unnamed wife, an unnamed Harte and his unnamed wife. Due to previously discussed issues around repeating family members, the great-great-grandparents we’re counting are Jaehaerys I, Alysanne, Rodrik, Daella, an unnamed Velaryon, his unnamed wife, the unnamed Harte’s parents and his unnamed wife’s parents for a total of eight.
Daeron I, Baelor I, Daena, Elaena and Rhaena: 22/28. Slightly Inbred.
Aegon IV, Naerys and Aemon
Another not very inbred generation! Viserys II married Larra Rogare, who wasn’t even Westerosi, let alone related to him. Well done Viserys II.
Aegon IV, Naerys and Aemon have four grandparents, Daemon, Rhaenyra, Lysandro Rogare and his unnamed wife. Their eight great-grandparents are Baelon, Alyssa, Viserys I, Aemma, an unnamed Rogare, his unnamed wife, an unnamed Lyseni and his unnamed wife. Due to previously discussed issues around repeating family members, the great-great-grandparents we’re counting are Jaehaerys I, Alysanne, Rodrik, Daella, an unnamed Rogare, his unnamed wife, the unnamed Lyseni’s parents and his unnamed wife’s parents for a total of ten.
Aegon IV, Naerys and Aemon: 22/28. Slightly inbred.
…and we’re back to incest. Great. Aegon IV married his sister Naerys (poor woman…).
Daeron II and Daenerys have two grandparents, Aegon III and Daenaera. They have four great-grandparents, Daemon, Rhaenyra, Daeron Velaryon and Hazel Harte, and eight great-great-grandparents, Baelon, Alyssa, Viserys I, Aemma, Vaemond, his unnamed wife, an unnamed Harte and his unnamed wife.
Daeron II and Daenerys: 14/28. Fairly Inbred.
Baelor, Aerys I, Rhaegel and Maekar I
Daeron II married Myriah Martell, completely unrelated to him. Good for him.
Daeron II’s children have four grandparents, Aegon IV, Naerys, an unnamed Martell and his unnamed wife. They have six great-grandparents, Viserys II, Larra Rogare, the unnamed Martell’s parents and his unnamed wife’s parents, and twelve great-great-grandparents, Daemon, Rhaenyra, Lysandro, his unnamed wife, an unnamed Martell, his unnamed wife, the unnamed parents of the previous Martell’s unnamed wife, and the unnamed parents of Myriah’s mother’s parents.
Baelor, Aerys I, Rhaegel and Maekar I: 22/28. Slightly Inbred.
Daeron, Aerion, Aemon, Daella, Aegon V and Rhae
Maekar I’s wife was Dyanna Dayne.
Their children have four grandparents, Daeron II, Myriah Martell, an unnamed Dayne and his unnamed wife. There are eight great-grandparents, Aegon IV, Naerys, an unnamed Martell, his unnamed wife, an unnamed Dayne, his unnamed wife and the unnamed parents of the previous Dayne’s unnamed wife. They have fourteen great-great-grandparents, Viserys II, Larra Rogare, the unnamed Martell’s parents, his unnamed wife’s parents, the unnamed Dayne’s parents, his unnamed wife’s parents, and the parents of Dyanna’s mother’s parents.
Daerion, Aerion, Aemon, Daella, Aegon V and Rhae: 26/28. Slightly Inbred. Our highest score so far, and only 2 great-great-grandparents away from not being inbred at all!
Duncan, Jaehaerys II, Shiera, Daeron and Rhaelle
Continuing the lack of incest, Aegon V married Betha Blackwood.
Their children have four grandparents, Maekar I, Dyanna Dayne, an unnamed Blackwood and his unnamed wife. They have eight great-grandparents, Daeron II, Myriah Martell, the unnamed Blackwood’s parents and his unnamed wife’s parents. They have sixteen great-great-grandparents, Aegon IV, Naerys, Myriah’s parents, Dyanna’s father’s parents and Dyanna’s mother’s parents.
Duncan, Jaehaerys II, Shiera, Daeron and Rhaelle: 28/28. Not Inbred! Wowzas!
A nosedive back into incest with siblings Jaehaerys II and Shiera marrying. We were doing so well.
Aerys II and Rhaella have two grandparents, Aegon V and Betha Blackwood, four great-grandparents, Maekar I, Dyanna Dayne, an unnamed Blackwood and his unnamed wife, and eight great-great-grandparents, Daeron II, Myriah Martell, an unnamed Dayne, his unnamed wife, the unnamed Blackwood’s parents and his unnamed wife’s parents.
Aerys II and Rhaella: 12/28. Fairly Inbred.
Rhaegar, Viserys and Daenerys
Again, siblings Aerys II and Rhaella married.
Rhaegar, Viserys and Daenerys have two grandparents, Jaehaerys II and Shiera, two great-grandparents, Aegon V and Betha Blackwood, and four great-great-grandparents, Maekar I, Dyanna Dayne, an unnamed Blackwood and his unnamed wife.
Rhaegar, Viserys and Daenerys: 8/28. Incredibly Inbred.
Two generations of Targaryens were Incredibly Inbred, five were Fairly Inbred, six were Slightly Inbred and only one was Not Inbred, with a general pattern of getting less inbred the further from Aegon I we got, until Aegon V’s kids weren’t inbred at all but then sharply returning to inbreeding with Jaehaerys II and Shiera and Aerys and Rhaella’s marriages.
So, actually, I was wrong. The Targaryens, whilst vastly more prone to inbreeding than the rest of the Houses, aren’t as inbred as they are made out to be.
(For fun, by the way, Daenerys and Jon’s children would earn a score of 14/28, Fairly Inbred. Sansa and Jon’s would be 20/28, Slightly Inbred.)
