The Targaryen dynasty in Westeros began with Aegon and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, over a century before the events of House of the Dragon.

Maegor the Cruel: Game Of Thrones' Worst King, Explained Game of Thrones has featured some terrible kings in Westerosi history, but none as cruel as Maegor Targaryen, the son of Aegon the Conqueror.

Matt Smith’s Daemon is House of the Dragon’s villain, but his arc better mirrors a worse Targaryen from Game of Thrones history — not the Mad King or Aegon, but Maegor the Cruel.

The Targaryen family tree was already twisted by the time that House of the Dragon picked up, so check out a breakdown of who's who in the dynasty.

Ascending to the throne after Maegor's death, Jaehaerys began the longest reign in Targaryen history, sitting on the throne for 55 years.

Fire and Blood keeps whether Maegor died by suicide or murder ambiguous. However, the death sets a pattern of Targaryen Kings being hurt or killed by the very Iron Throne they rule from.

Aegon’s son Aenys succeeded his father, but was eventually killed by his brother, the usurper Maegor Targaryen. Six years into Maegor’s infamously cruel reign, his nephew Jaehaerys Targaryen ...

From Aegon the Conqueror to Daenerys Stormborn, where do all the Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon monarchs rank?

Maegor was later killed because he usurped the throne from his own brother, Aenys Targaryen, and Jaehaerys Targaryen (Michael Carter) became king shortly after his death.

After Maegor’s death, Balerion returned to Dragonstone, where he was claimed in 54 AC by Princess Aerea Targaryen. However, she was unable to bend the dragon to her will, which led to her death.

It would work quite well as backstory to a much more fascinating time in the Targaryen dynasty: That of King Maegor I Targaryen, also known as Maegor the Cruel.

House of the Dragon and the Targaryen family, explained HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel reveals a period of turbulence and upheaval for Daenerys’s formidable family.