The Untold Truth Of House Of The Dragon's Rhaenyra Targaryen

Born in 97 AC, Princess Rhaenyra is the firstborn child of King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) and Queen Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke). Rhaenyra's father inherits the throne in a time of turmoil. The fifth king of the Targaryen dynasty is chosen to rule by the Great Council of 101 AC after the old king, Jaehaerys I (Michael Carter), loses both of his male heirs and convenes the noble houses of Westeros to decide who will inherit the crown as his successor.

Viserys is chosen over his cousin Rhaenys (Eve Best) despite being the younger of the two. Rhaenys, nicknamed the Queen Who Never Was, discusses the Great Council's decision with young Rhaenyra in the first "House of the Dragon" episode "The Heirs of the Dragon," telling the princess: "Men would rather set the realm ablaze than see a woman ascend the Iron Throne."

Primogeniture is, arguably, the central theme of Rhaenyra's story. Viserys and Aemma try multiple times to conceive a male heir throughout their marriage, resulting in several miscarriages, stillbirths, and, ultimately, a brutal and bloody fate for Queen Aemma. After a non-consensual medieval C-section marks the end of the queen, teenage Rhaenyra is officially named Viserys' heir. This differs from "Fire And Blood" — in the Targaryen history book, Viserys names Rhaenyra his heir when she is eight years old.