Aegon V Targaryen, affectionately known as Egg, serves as a crucial bridge in the Targaryen dynasty, linking the era of the Great Bastards to the eventual fall of the Iron Throne. As the fourth son of a fourth son, his unlikely ascent to the crown and his subsequent descendants—including the "Mad King" Aerys, Daenerys Targaryen, and Jon Snow—make his family tree essential for understanding the late-era history of Westeros.
Who Was Aegon V Targaryen?
Aegon V Targaryen, born in 200 AC, was never intended to rule. His nickname, "Egg," originated during his youth when he served as a squire to the hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall. This period of his life is chronicled in George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg. Because he was so far down the line of succession, he was allowed a level of freedom rarely granted to Targaryen princes, traveling the Seven Kingdoms incognito with a shaved head to hide his Valyrian features.
His reign, which began in 233 AC, was marked by a deep empathy for the common people, a trait he developed during his travels. However, this same empathy often put him at odds with the high lords of Westeros. Aegon V is frequently referred to as Aegon the Unlikely because it took a series of improbable deaths and the refusal of the crown by his older brother, Aemon (later Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch), for him to become king.
The Ancestry of Aegon V: The House of Maekar
To understand the Aegon Targaryen Egg family tree, one must first look at his immediate predecessors. Aegon was the son of King Maekar I Targaryen and Lady Dyanna Dayne. This union is significant because it introduced the blood of House Dayne—a noble house from Dorne famous for the title "Sword of the Morning"—into the royal line.
The Paternal Line
Aegon’s father, Maekar I, was the fourth son of King Daeron II Targaryen (Daeron the Good) and the Dornish Princess Myriah Martell. The reign of Daeron II was defined by the first Blackfyre Rebellion, a dynastic struggle that would haunt Aegon V’s own reign. Through Daeron II, Aegon V is the great-grandson of Aegon IV, known as Aegon the Unworthy, the king whose legitimization of his bastards on his deathbed nearly destroyed the realm.
The Siblings of Egg
Aegon was the youngest of four brothers, and his path to the throne was cleared only through tragedy and choice:
- Daeron the Drunken: The eldest, who suffered from prophetic "dragon dreams" and eventually died of a pox.
- Aerion Brightflame: A cruel and erratic prince who died after drinking a cup of wildfire, believing it would transform him into a dragon.
- Aemon Targaryen: A scholarly man who became a Maester. When the Great Council of 233 AC offered him the crown to bypass the infant son of Aerion, Aemon refused and joined the Night's Watch to ensure he could never be used in a plot against his brother Aegon.
Aegon also had two sisters, Rhae and Daella, though they played less prominent roles in the political maneuvering of the era.
The Marriage to Betha Blackwood
One of the most defining aspects of Aegon V’s life was his marriage to Betha Blackwood, known as "Black Betha." In a departure from the traditional Targaryen practice of incestuous marriage (brother-sister unions), Aegon married for love. House Blackwood is an ancient house of the Riverlands that still worships the Old Gods and claims descent from the First Men.
This marriage was politically controversial but genetically significant. By bringing Blackwood blood into the Targaryen line, Aegon V reintroduced the heritage of the First Men into the Valyrian lineage. Some scholars within the lore suggest that this mix of Valyrian "blood of the dragon" and the "blood of the First Men" may have contributed to the magical or prophetic abilities seen in later generations, such as Rhaegar Targaryen and potentially Jon Snow.
The Children of Aegon V and Their Rebellions
Aegon V and Betha Blackwood had five children. Aegon, remembering the misery of his own brothers and the instability of the realm, hoped to use his children's marriages to forge strong alliances with the Great Houses. However, his children, influenced by their father’s own example of a love match, defied him one by one.
Duncan the Small
The Prince of Dragonflies and heir to the throne, Duncan Targaryen, was betrothed to a daughter of Lord Lyonel Baratheon. He broke this engagement to marry a mysterious common woman named Jenny of Oldstones. This act of defiance nearly caused a civil war, and Duncan was forced to renounce his claim to the Iron Throne. The crown then passed to his younger brother, Jaehaerys.
Jaehaerys II and Shaera Targaryen
Aegon’s second son, Jaehaerys, and his daughter, Shaera, were betrothed to members of House Tully and House Tyrell, respectively. However, the two siblings were secretly in love. Emulating their elder brother’s defiance, they eloped and married in secret. While Aegon was forced to accept the union, it further alienated the Great Houses he had sought to appease.
Rhaelle Targaryen
To mend the rift with House Baratheon caused by Duncan’s broken betrothal, Aegon’s youngest daughter, Rhaelle, was sent to Storm's End to marry Ormund Baratheon. This union is critical to the later history of Westeros, as Rhaelle is the grandmother of Robert, Stannis, and Renly Baratheon. It is this drop of Targaryen blood that Robert Baratheon later used to justify his claim to the Iron Throne after his rebellion.
Daeron Targaryen
The youngest son, Daeron, was betrothed to Lady Olenna Redwyne (who would later become the "Queen of Thorns" Olenna Tyrell). Daeron also broke his betrothal, preferring to remain unwed and devoted to his close companion, Ser Jeremy Norridge. Daeron eventually died in battle against the remnants of the Blackfyre pretenders.
The Tragedy at Summerhall
The family tree of Aegon V is intrinsically linked to the event that ended his life: the Tragedy at Summerhall in 259 AC. Aegon V became increasingly obsessed with the idea that only the return of dragons could provide him the power needed to force the high lords to accept his pro-smallfolk reforms.
He gathered his family and several dragon eggs at the summer palace of Summerhall to attempt a hatching ritual. The ritual went horribly wrong, resulting in a massive fire that killed King Aegon V, his eldest son Prince Duncan, and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall.
The tragedy occurred on the same day that Aegon’s great-grandson, Rhaegar Targaryen, was born. This overlap between death and rebirth fueled the melancholy nature of Rhaegar and the various "Prince That Was Promised" prophecies that dominate the later timeline.
Connecting Egg to the Modern Era
The lineage following Aegon V is what leads directly to the events of A Game of Thrones. After Aegon's death, his second son ascended as Jaehaerys II. Though his reign was short, Jaehaerys was the father of Aerys II, the Mad King.
The descent from Aegon V to the current characters is as follows:
- Aegon V (Egg) married Betha Blackwood.
- Their son Jaehaerys II married his sister Shaera.
- Their son Aerys II (The Mad King) married his sister Rhaella.
- Aerys and Rhaella produced Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys.
- Rhaegar Targaryen (according to most established lore) is the father of Jon Snow (Aegon VI).
| Generation | Name | Relation to Aegon V | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paternal | Maekar I | Father | The fourth son of Daeron II; a stern, warrior king. |
| Self | Aegon V | N/A | Known as "Egg"; traveled with Duncan the Tall. |
| Spouse | Betha Blackwood | Wife | Introduced First Men blood into the royal line. |
| Children | Duncan the Small | Son | Renounced the throne for Jenny of Oldstones. |
| Children | Jaehaerys II | Son | Successor to Aegon V; father of the Mad King. |
| Children | Rhaelle | Daughter | Grandmother to Robert Baratheon. |
| Grandchildren | Aerys II | Grandson | The "Mad King"; the last Targaryen to sit the throne. |
| Great-Grandchildren | Daenerys | Great-Grandchild | Mother of Dragons; daughter of Aerys II. |
| Great-Grandchildren | Rhaegar | Great-Grandchild | Crown Prince; died at the Battle of the Trident. |
| 2x Great-Grandchild | Jon Snow (Aegon) | G-G-Grandchild | Son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark (Book/Show Lore). |
Why the "Egg" Lineage Matters in 2026
In the current landscape of Westerosi scholarship and media adaptations, the Aegon Targaryen Egg family tree is more relevant than ever. With the expansion of the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms series on screen, audiences are seeing the human side of the Targaryens—away from the dragons and the grandeur of the Red Keep.
Egg’s ancestry is a reminder that the Targaryen family was often at its best when it was most connected to the people it ruled. His decision to marry Betha Blackwood and his subsequent struggle to keep his children in line shows a dynasty in transition, moving away from ancient Valyrian isolation toward a more integrated, yet fragile, Westerosi identity. Furthermore, the inclusion of Blackwood and Dayne blood into this specific branch suggests that the "magical" potency of the modern Targaryens (like Daenerys's dragon-birthing or Rhaegar's visions) might be a result of this specific genetic cocktail curated by Aegon V.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "Egg" the same Aegon who conquered Westeros?
No. Aegon the Conqueror was Aegon I, the founder of the dynasty who lived nearly 300 years before "Egg." Aegon V (Egg) was named after him, but they are separated by many generations of kings. "Egg" is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Aegon the Conqueror.
How is Maester Aemon related to Egg?
Maester Aemon was Aegon V’s older brother. He was the third son of Maekar I, while Egg was the fourth. Aemon famously refused the throne during the Great Council of 233 AC, which allowed Egg to become king. Aemon later traveled to the Wall to serve in the Night’s Watch to ensure his presence wouldn't cause political friction for his brother.
Does Jon Snow descend from Aegon V?
Yes. If we follow the lineage established in the histories, Jon Snow (born Aegon Targaryen, son of Rhaegar) is the great-great-grandson of Aegon V. Rhaegar was the grandson of Jaehaerys II, who was Aegon V’s son.
Why did Aegon V have such a difficult reign?
Aegon V spent much of his youth among the common people, which gave him a populist streak. As king, he attempted to pass laws that protected the rights of the smallfolk and limited the power of the lords. These reforms were met with fierce resistance from the nobility, leading to constant uprisings and political instability that plagued his time on the throne.
What is the significance of the "Blackwood" blood in Egg's tree?
House Blackwood is one of the few southern houses that still follows the Old Gods. By marrying Betha Blackwood, Aegon V introduced the genetics of the First Men and the spiritual heritage of the Riverlands into the Targaryen line. Many fans believe this "green" blood combined with "dragon" blood is what enabled the resurgence of magic in his descendants.
Summary and Next Steps
The family tree of Aegon V "Egg" Targaryen is a complex web of love matches, broken betrothals, and tragic ends. From his humble beginnings as a squire to his fiery end at Summerhall, Aegon V remains one of the most relatable and human kings in the Targaryen line.
To better understand the legacy of House Targaryen, readers should explore the Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, which provide the foundational context for Aegon's character. Additionally, reviewing the lineage of House Baratheon reveals how Aegon's daughter Rhaelle provided the legal basis for the end of the Targaryen dynasty. For those tracking the "Prince That Was Promised" prophecy, paying close attention to the events of Summerhall and the birth of Rhaegar is the next logical step in unraveling the mysteries of the Targaryen bloodline.
