Every Secret Targaryen in Game of Thrones & A Song of Ice & Fire (Including 1 The TV Show Cut)

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The Targaryen family is central to all stories in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, including Game of Thrones and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Surprisingly, there are more secret Targaryens than many fans realize. While many characters openly identify with the dragon symbol of House Targaryen, the creators of these stories, both George R.R. Martin and those adapting his work, enjoy revealing hidden Targaryen identities as a dramatic plot device.

The recent episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms brought a surprising reveal, but this isn’t the first time the show has done that. Game of Thrones had a similar twist, and George R.R. Martin’s books actually mention two other characters with hidden Targaryen ancestry. These characters all have reasons for keeping their family history secret, but it usually comes to light eventually. Please be aware that this article contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 3, “The Squire,” of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

4) Jon Snow

Although it hasn’t been revealed in George R.R. Martin’s books yet, the biggest surprise about the Targaryen family is that Jon Snow is actually Aegon – the true son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. Fans of the Song of Ice and Fire series had suspected this for years, and the Game of Thrones show later confirmed it. Considering all the hints throughout the story, Jon’s Targaryen heritage actually fits very well.

Following the rebellion led by Robert Baratheon, revealing Jon Snow’s true origins would have been dangerous. So, Ned Stark kept it a secret, raising Jon as if he were his own child. However, through the actions of Bran and Samwell Tarly, Jon eventually discovers he’s a Targaryen. Despite this revelation, it doesn’t result in Jon claiming the Iron Throne or other major outcomes that fans expected, although he does get to fly on one of Daenerys’ dragons.

3) Brynden “Bloodraven” Rivers/The Three-Eyed Raven

The Three-Eyed Raven is a significant character in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. While the original series kept his true identity mysterious, House of the Dragon strongly suggests – as the books hinted – that he is Brynden Rivers, also known as Bloodraven. The prequel series shows a birthmark shaped like a raven, explaining his nickname. Furthermore, in the books, he directly tells Bran his given name is Brynden.

Brynden Rivers, also known as one of King Aegon IV’s illegitimate sons, is the half-brother of the current king, Daeron II, as seen in the story A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Considering the show’s timeframe, he’s likely to appear. He won’t be revealed as a Targaryen with hidden ancestry right away, but he eventually ends up at the Wall, becoming Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and disappearing somewhere in the North. Later, after becoming the Three-Eyed Raven, he keeps his past a secret – probably because it’s no longer important to who he is.

2) Aegon V Targaryen (Egg)

Following episode 3 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it’s become obvious that Egg is secretly a Targaryen. His nickname is actually short for Aegon V Targaryen, making him the second hidden Aegon we’ve seen. He’s the grandson of the current king and the youngest son of Maekar I, but he’s keeping his true identity a secret from Ser Duncan the Tall, pretending to be someone else in order to become his squire.

The HBO series hasn’t explained why Egg acted the way he did, but the novella The Hedge Knight offers some clues. Egg isn’t happy with the life he’s been born into, which is evident in how he treats his brother, Prince Aerion. He longs to be a knight, but the older brother he’s meant to assist—Daeron, known as “The Drunken”—isn’t interested in combat and skips the tournament at Ashford Meadow. Shaving his head and teaming up with Dunk is Egg’s way of chasing his dream despite these obstacles, but his disguise doesn’t stay secret for long.

1) Aegon VI Targaryen (Young Griff)

As a huge fan of the books, I’m really excited about Aegon VI Targaryen, also called Young Griff! He doesn’t show up in the show, but he’s a big deal in the later books, and I think he’s going to be super important in how everything ends. We first meet him in A Dance With Dragons when Tyrion runs into him on a ship. At first, he pretends to be the son of some random guy named ‘Griff,’ but Tyrion quickly figures out that’s a lie. Turns out, he’s actually the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell! Everyone thinks he died as a baby, but Aegon intends to reclaim the Iron Throne. I can’t wait to see how his story unfolds!

With Daenerys Targaryen also vying for power, the arrival of Young Griff creates another major conflict for the upcoming books, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. It makes sense why the Game of Thrones TV show didn’t include this storyline – the series already had a lot to resolve in its final seasons. But if Young Griff is genuinely who he says he is, his claim to the Iron Throne is actually stronger than Daenerys’s, and he could surprise his rivals.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about the Targaryen family in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-05 02:13