A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms family tree
A hedge knight and his bald squire, ninety years before Game of Thrones. The squire is a prince, and by the end of it he is king.
The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms family tree
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Egg is Aegon V
That is the whole trick of the series, and it is worth knowing going in. The boy travelling the Reach with a hedge knight, shaving his head so nobody sees the silver hair, is Aegon Targaryen, fourth son of Prince Maekar. He has no realistic path to the throne and he knows it.
Then his uncle Baelor Breakspear dies at Ashford. His grandfather and cousin die of the Great Spring Sickness. His uncle Aerys I dies childless. His father becomes king and is killed at Starpike. His eldest brother dies of the pox, his second brother drinks wildfire, and his third brother Aemon refuses the crown from the Citadel. In 233 AC a Great Council hands it to the squire.
Ninety years later, the great-grandson of that boy is Rhaegar Targaryen, and his great-granddaughter is Daenerys.
Who is who in this era
- Maekar I A fourth son who became king through a run of deaths, and never forgave himself for the blow that killed his brother Baelor.
- Baelor Targaryen Breakspear, 170 to 209 AC Half Dornish, widely loved, and the best king Westeros never got. He died saving a hedge knight at the Trial of Seven at Ashford.
- Aegon V A fourth son of a fourth son who squired for a hedge knight under the name Egg, then became king. He spent his reign trying to make life better for the smallfolk and his lords hated him for it.
- Aemon Targaryen Maester of the Night’s Watch, 198 to 300 AC Turned down the Iron Throne at the Great Council of 233 AC and served some sixty seven years at Castle Black. He and Jon Snow served together and neither ever knew they were kin.
- Aerion Targaryen Brightflame, died 232 AC Cruel even by the standards of his family. He believed wildfire would turn him into a dragon.
- Daeron Targaryen eldest son of Maekar I, died c. 232 AC Maekar’s eldest, a drunk who had true prophetic dreams and hated having them.
- Daeron II Brought Dorne into the realm by marriage rather than conquest, finishing what Aegon the Conqueror could not.
- Duncan Targaryen Born in the early 220s; the exact year is not recorded. Gave up the Iron Throne in 239 AC rather than give up Jenny of Oldstones. The broken betrothal cost his father dearly.
From Egg to Daenerys in four steps
- 1
Aegon V, called Egg
Died at Summerhall in 259 AC trying to bring dragons back.
- 2
Jaehaerys II
His son. Married his own sister Shaera on the strength of a prophecy.
- 3
Aerys II, the Mad King
Their son. The last Targaryen to sit the Iron Throne.
- 4
Daenerys Targaryen
His daughter, born on Dragonstone the year after the dynasty fell.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms questions
Who is Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
Egg is Aegon Targaryen, fourth son of Prince Maekar, who travelled Westeros as squire to the hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall. He shaved his head to hide the Targaryen silver hair. He later became King Aegon V.
How does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms connect to Game of Thrones?
Egg becomes Aegon V, who is Daenerys Targaryen’s great-grandfather and Jon Snow’s great-great-grandfather. The series is set roughly ninety years before Game of Thrones.
Who is Maester Aemon in this era?
Egg’s older brother. Aemon was sent to the Citadel, turned down the Iron Throne at the Great Council of 233 AC, and took the black. He was still alive at Castle Black when Jon Snow arrived, aged over one hundred.
How did a fourth son of a fourth son become king?
By a long run of deaths. Maekar was Daeron II’s fourth son and became king after his brothers died. Aegon V was Maekar’s fourth son: Daeron died of the pox, Aerion drank wildfire, and Aemon renounced his claim.
Who was Aerion Brightflame?
Maekar’s second son, cruel enough that the Great Council of 233 AC refused to consider his infant son Maegor for the throne. He died in 232 AC after drinking a cup of wildfire, believing it would turn him into a dragon.
What was the Tragedy at Summerhall?
A fire at the royal castle of Summerhall in 259 AC during Aegon V’s attempt to hatch dragon eggs. It killed Aegon V, his son Prince Duncan and Ser Duncan the Tall. Rhaegar Targaryen was born the same day.