It’s not easy to accept that the gripping series Game of Thrones ended in 2019. Each of us has been riveted to our seats throughout the enthralling seasons as the kingly houses of Westeros battle for control of the regions and the enemy re-emerges after millennia of dormancy. The Great Houses are the most potent among the Seven Kingdoms’ noble houses and in this article, we will discuss about Game of Thrones’ family tree.
Except for House Stark, which reigns over a separate kingdom, they have enormous control over their fiefs and lands. However, it could become a little tricky while trying to remember every member of the Houses. So, to help you go through all the people you might be looking for, here is the Game of Thrones family tree.
The Beginning: Three Noble Houses
The three most significant houses at the start of the series are Stark, Lannister, and Baratheon. This may seem a bit apparent for ardent Game of Thrones fans, but for others who are just tuning in, this is something that one might need to know. There are Nine great houses in Westeros. It includes Martell, Tyrell, Tully, Stark, Baratheon, Lannister, Greyjoy, Targaryen, and Arryn.
Even though these houses are known as the great houses of Westeros, only a few of them are featured prominently in the Game of Thrones series. In-Game of Thrones, the King of the Andals, the First Men, and the Rhoynar all sat on the Iron Throne in their rightful place, housed in the Great Hall of the Red Keep in King’s Landing.
Only their Hand could occupy the Iron Throne in addition to the kings themselves. The monarchies that reign over the Seven Kingdoms and their might were denoted by the metonyms “the crown” and “the iron throne.”
The Stark Family Tree
The Starks are the oldest family in Westeros, having their history starting thousands of years before the first individuals contrived the Westeros. There are many unknowns in this Games of Thrones family tree because of its long and rich history. Here are some of the notable characters you will encounter in the Game of Thrones series.
Richard Stark was the grandfather of Ned Stark (Sean Bean), Brandon Stark (played by Isaac Hempstead Wright), Lyanna and Benjen Stark. Brandon or Bran Stark was Ned’s brother, who was killed, by the mad king, Aerys the second (David Rintoul).
Lyanna Stark was killed when Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) seized the throne of the mad king Aerys II. Lastly, Benjen Stark makes a sacrifice in the North to save Jon Snow, who is Targaryens related. Catelyn Tully, Ned’s wife, was killed at the Red Wedding.
All of the Stark children had her as their mother. The oldest Stark daughter, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), was made Queen of the North following the bloody conflict of the King’s Landing and Jon Snow murdered Daenerys Targaryen. Rob Stark was assassinated, during the same time, after declaring himself King of the North.
About The Great War
The Great War ended when Arya Stark (played by Maisie Williams), the youngest daughter, killed the Night King and the White Walkers. She embarks on a trip westward following the King’s Landing battle to find answers.
The youngest son Rickon was slain by Lord Ramsey Bolton before the Battle of the Bastards and is the last sole survivor of the Stark family. One could be curious about Jon Snow’s ancestry. But his family tree was disclosed at the very end.
House Lannister
One of the most powerful dynasties, the Lannisters, possessed an abundant source of gold. Here is a clear breakdown of what one might seek, given that thrones family trees are complex.
Lord Tywin Lannister was the leader of House Lannister and the Lord of Casterly Rock. Tyrion, his son, the legitimate heir, killed him with a crossbow after discovering him with his girlfriend. Joanna Lannister, his wife, died after giving birth to Tyrion, the youngest son of Tyrion.
They had two other children, the twins Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister. Cersei wed Robert when he seized the throne of King Aerys II. It was a forced marriage; hence, she could never love Robert and had an affair with her brother Jaime Lannister.
Jaime was Tywin’s pride as he was the best fighter in Westeros, but later, he had his hands cut off. Joffrey Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon, Tommen, and Margaery Tyrell will appear as Cersei’s children later in the series. They belonged to Cersei and Jaime, not Robert.
After Robert died, Joffrey Baratheon succeeded him as king, but Sansa Stark poisoned him during his wedding to Margaery Tyrell. Additionally, Myrcella Baratheon was poisoned, and Tommen married Margaery Tyrell before killing himself after learning about his wife’s death in the Wildfire explosion.
House Baratheon
The House of Baratheon was one of the most powerful houses in Westeros, as Robert Baratheon served as the country’s first monarch. Rob and Cersei had no children together, and she had her children with Jaime; therefore, the house loses most of its influence. It explains why the Baratheon family tree is short.
Gendry was one of Robert’s numerous bastard children as he had many illegitimate children. In the future, Daenerys legitimized him. After Robert ascended to the throne, Stannis, Robbert’s younger brother, served as the Lord of Dragonstone.
After Robert’s passing, he tried to ascend to the throne but failed. His death was confirmed at the ill-fated Battle of Winterfell. The red witch Melisandre burnt Shireen, his only daughter alive, at stake. Selyse hung herself after learning of her daughter’s passing.
Recently, Robert’s brother attempted to usurp Rob’s crown but was unsuccessful. He was, however, assassinated by a shadow allegedly sent by the red witch. Before passing away, he also wed Margaery Tyrell, who later wed Joffrey and Tommen Lannister.
House Targaryen
Aegon Targaryen, or Jon Snow, conquered six of Westeros’ seven kingdoms, was subdued by him with the aid of three dragons and began the Targaryen dynasty. However, the family tree is complex, and the Targaryen family tree is known to have marriages within the family tree to keep their blood “clean”.
At the start of the series, the first Targaryen king was Aerys Targaryen and Aegon V’s son. Before the show’s events started, he had been ousted during the “Robert’s Rebellion” 20 years earlier. Robert accused Rhaegar, son of Aerys, of kidnapping Lyanna Stark, the sister of Ned Stark.
Aerys married his sister Rhaella in the traditional Targaryen ways, and the two bore three children Daenerys, Viserys, and Rhaegar. After her oldest son Rhaegar Targaryen, who was slain opposing Robert during Robert’s Rebellion, she escaped the palace and returned to Dragonstone. She gave birth to Daenery, the youngest daughter, before passing away.
Here the thrones season becomes interesting as the real identity of Jon is revealed. Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark are the parents of Jon Snow, also known as Aegon Targaryen. This makes him the real heir of house Targaryen, who can claim the iron throne.
From an early age, Jon is shown as Lord Eddard Stark’s bastard son. He was reared at Winterfell with Eddard’s legitimate offspring. This marks a complete Targaryen family tree.
House Greyjoy
Theon and Yara Greyjoy’s father, Balon Greyjoy, is the Iron Islands ruler in the nail-biting Game of Thrones series. Alanna’s Harlaw is Yara’s mother and Lord Balon’s wife. Theon Greyjoy is Balon’s son; following the Greyjoy uprising, Theon is taken into the Starks’ care.
He grows up next to the Stark kids and gets along well with Rob. Theon had other siblings well, Maron Greyjoy and Rodrik Greyjoy, who died before the opening of the ice and fire series.
House Tully
The leader of House Tully is Lord Edmure Tully, the late Hoster Tully’s son. Hoster’s wife, Minisa, was born in House Whent. King’s wife passed away during delivery. Catelyn Stark was their eldest child and Lord Eddard Stark’s widow, who was assassinated by Black Walder Rivers at the Red Wedding.
Lady Lysa was their second child and the late Lord Jon Arryn’s widow. Before being assassinated by Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish, she served as Regent of the Vale. Their lone child and heir are Lord Edmure Tully.
House Arryn
In the Game of thrones, Lysa Tully’s spouse, Jon Arryn, is a Hand of the King who works for Robert. At the beginning of the series, Jon Arryn’s death was from a fever, but it is discovered that his wife, Lysa, poisoned him. His successor as Hand of the King is Eddard Stark.
Jon Arryn’s wife, Lysa Arryn, is the daughter of Hoster Tully and Minisa Whent. The son of Jon Arryn and Lysa Tully, Robert Arryn becomes Lord Paramount. Although Lord Baelish had emotions for Catelyn Tully for a long time, Tywin Lannister arranges their marriage in the family.
House Tarly
In-Game of Thrones, Samwell Tarly (John Bradley), sometimes known as Sam, is a nerdy, reserved Night’s Watch member who was persuaded to enlist by his father. He has partially come out of his shell due to his strong relationship with Jon, which has allowed him to attend Oldtown and eventually become the Master of the Watch.
Sam was outcast by his family because of his intellectual curiosity. But his father, Randyll Tarly, is one of Westeros’ most accomplished military leaders.
House Martell
In The Prince of Dorne was Doran Martell. The thrones family tree is a little complicated here as well. Ellaria Sand killed Doran Martell after calling him “weak” and criticizing him for not taking revenge for the deaths of his sister Elia and brother Oberyn. Oberyn Martell (played by Pedro Pascal) is Prince Doran’s younger brother and bore eight girls who were bastards.
Myrcella Baratheon and her father, Jamie Lannister, were travelling to King’s Landing on a ship with Trystane Martell, who was engaged to Myrcella Baratheon. The parents of Trystane Martell were Prince Doran and Mellaril. Ellaria Sand, the mother of four of Prince Oberyn Martell’s eight illegitimate daughters, is his love interest.
Oberyn had a sister, Princess Elia Martell, the Red Viper and Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne and leader of House Martell. He had two children with Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, the successor to Aerys II, Aegon and Rhaenys. Moreover, a secret ceremony was held where Elia and Lyanna got married.
How Jon was Related to House Targaryen
Conclusion
Game of Thrones‘ seventh season ended with Daenerys Targaryen secretly getting intimate with her cousin Jon. However, Tyrion Lannister, their counsel, was listening outside the door and appeared quite anxious, which only served to muddle matters more.
The season seven finale revealed Nymeria Sand Obara Sand. Tyene Sand Olenna Tyrell, Dickon and Randyll Tarly, Thoros of Myr, Benjen Stark, Viserion, and Littlefinger die, which would upset any thrones fan. The Great War against the Army of the Dead and the War for possession of the Iron Throne is depicted as their resolutions in the final season. Many important protagonists gather at Winterfell early in the season to face the Dead, including Jon, Daenerys, and many others.
The Game of Thrones family trees are rather complex and have plenty of illegitimate children born out of wedlock. The Game of Thrones family trees got even more compounded when intimacy occurred between different Houses. With all the intermarriage, incest and death, it could be hard to track the family trees.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. How many Kingdoms and Houses are there in Games of Thrones?
There are seven Kingdoms and about 300 noble houses. However, there are only nine Houses that are called Great Houses or Great Families, and others are called lesser noble.
Q2. Which is the most powerful house in Games of Thrones right now?
House Targaryen
Q3. When was House Lannister found?
It was found in Age of Heroes.
Q4. Who formed House Stark?
It was formed by The First Men.
