Introduction to the Game of Thrones Genealogical Tree
The Game of Thrones genealogical tree maps the lineage, marriages, and descendants across the great houses of Westeros and Essos. This evergreen explainer presents verified relationships from the main families in A Song of Ice and Fire and the HBO series Game of Thrones, with attention to heirs, succession, and house alliances. It is built from canonical sources such as the books and show credits, and updated to reflect known parentage, marriages, and confirmed descendants. Use this reference to trace ancestry, inheritance, and the structural ties that drive the political landscape of the story.
Major Houses and Core Lineages
At the top level, the primary houses are Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, Targaryen, Greyjoy, Tyrell, and Martell, each with multi-generation records. The Targaryen line originates from Aegon I and his sisters-wives, forming a distinct dragonblood lineage. The Stark line in the North extends through Eddard Stark’s children and prior generations of Winterfell rulers. The Lannister line descends from Lann the Clever, later joined by Tywin Lannister’s descendants. Key cadet branches reach across the Riverlands, Crownlands, and the Iron Islands. This section establishes the foundational houses and their primordial or semi-legendary origins.
House Stark Overview
House Stark of Winterfell claims descent from the ancient First Men and the Children of the Forest through Bran the Builder. Eddard Stark and his wife Catelyn (née Tully) have five children: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon. Jon Snow, raised as Eddard’s bastard, is later revealed to be the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Benjen Stark, Eddard’s brother, remains missing beyond the Wall. The Starks’ historical seat is Winterfell, with ancestral ties to the North and the title King in the North.
House Lannister Overview
House Lannister of Casterly Rock is one of the wealthiest houses, claiming descent from the mythic trickster Lann the Clever. Tywin Lannister and his wife Joanna had Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion; Joanna died in childbirth with Tyrion. Jaime and Cersei have three children—Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen—born of their incestuous union. Tyrion, the only child of Tywin and Joanna, has no known children in the established canon. The Lannisters’ seat is Casterly Rock, with close ties to King's Landing through finance and politics.
House Targaryen Overview
House Targaryen of Dragonstone descends from Aegon I and his sisters-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, preserving dragonblood through controlled pairings. The last stable Targaryen generation includes Aerys II and his wife Rhaella, producing Rhaegar, Viserys, and partially Daenerys. Daenerys has one known son, Rhaego, stillborn in the books; in the show she has no children. Jon Snow’s parentage links the Targaryen and Stark lines. The Targaryen seat was the Red Keep and the ancestral stronghold Dragonstone, with a historic Valyrian lineage stretching back centuries.
Notable Houses and Key Figures
Several prominent houses and figures frame the broader genealogy. The Arryns of the Eyrie, the Baratheons of Storm’s End (descended from Orys Baratheon, rumored to be Aegon the Conqueror’s bastard half-brother), and the Greyjoys of the Iron Islands are consistently relevant. The Tyrells gained prominence through Margaery and Loras, inheriting wealth and alliances from the extinct House Gardener. The Martells of Dorne, with Oberyn and Elia Martell, maintain distinct Rhoynish customs. The Boltons of the Dreadfort historically bent the knee to the Starks after prolonged resistance. Each house contributes defined branches, marriage ties, and regional influence to the overall tree.
Other Houses with Verifiable Lineage
- Arryn: Lords of the Eyrie, based in the Vale; key figures include Robert Arryn and his mother Lysa.
- Baratheon: Orys founded the line; includes Stannis and Renly Baratheon, both prominent in the War of the Five Kings.
- Greyjoy: Balon and Euron Greyjoy lead the Ironborn; Theon and Yara are pivotal figures in their arc.
- Tyrell: Margaery and Loras Tyrell, with Mace as lord; ties to both Joffrey and Renly through marriage.
- Martell: Oberyn and Elia Martell; Doran rules Dorne in the books, with Arianne as a potential heir.
Bloodlines, Bastardy, and Succession
Legitimacy, bastardy, and inheritance shape the genealogical tree. Jon Snow’s parentage as Aegon Targaryen (Rhaegar and Lyanna) is canon in the books and the show, legitimizing him as a Targaryen heir. Several characters are known or suspected bastards, including Jon Snow (initially believed illegitimate), Gendry (Robert Baratheon’s bastard), and numerous minor lords. Succession commonly follows agnatic primogeniture, but exceptions exist, such as Dorne’s equal inheritance practices and Stannis’s claim after Joffrey’s death. Marriages between houses, whether political or romantic, create new alliance lines and alter perceived succession paths.
Geographic and Political Context
Regional domains shape the genealogical tree’s interpretation. The North is historically ruled by House Stark; the Westerlands by House Lannister; the Reach by House Tyrell; Dorne by House Martell; the Iron Islands by House Greyjoy; the Stormlands by House Baratheon; and the Crownlands by House Targaryen (historically). These territories influence marriage strategy, military support, and succession disputes. Cross-house alliances—such as Sansa Stark’s marriage to Tyrion in the show, or Margaery Tyrell’s marriages to both Renly and Joffrey—show how genealogy intersects with political geography. The map of allegiances shifts with war, marriage, and conquest, making the tree dynamic rather than static.
Key Relationships and Marriages
Notable relationships and unions directly alter the genealogical structure. Eddard and Catelyn Stark unite the Stark and Tully houses. Tywin Lannister’s marriage to Joanna establishes the core Lannister line; his children’s pairings produce heirs and alliances. Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark’s secret union results in Jon Snow, linking Targaryen and Stark blood. Daenerys Targaryen’s marriage to Khal Drogo in Essos extends Targaryen influence beyond Westeros, while her later associations in Westeros reshape political expectations. Understanding these marriages reveals how alliances are formed and how bloodlines merge across regions and cultures.
Inheritance, Law, and Customs
Inheritance rules vary by region and house. Most noble succession in the Seven Kingdoms follows male-preference primogeniture, though royal succession has at times prioritized proximity over gender. Dorne follows equal birthright among children. The Iron Islands have their own kingsmoot tradition for selecting rulers. Bastardy affects legal rights, barring heirs from inheritance unless legitimized by royal decree, as seen with Gendry. Succession crises—such as the War of the Five Kings—often arise when clear heirs are absent or disputed. Regional laws, royal rulings, and religious customs (such as the Faith’s influence on bastardy) all shape how the genealogical tree determines rulership.
Validating Sources and Cross-Checks
Claims in this guide are cross-checked against published sources, including George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, the HBO Game of Thrones series credits, and official supplementary materials such as The World of Ice & Fire. When information remains uncertain—especially regarding minor characters, rumored parentage, or potential future descendants—the article defers to confirmed material and flags speculation. Dates, parent-child relationships, and house succession are noted with an eye toward revisions as new canonical evidence emerges. This approach ensures the guide remains a durable reference rather than a speculative timeline.
Conclusion and Practical Use
The Game of Thrones genealogical tree is a durable reference for understanding ancestry, inheritance, and alliance systems across Westeros and beyond. By clarifying major house lineages, key marriages, and succession patterns, it supports long-term analysis for fans, writers, and creators. Use this guide to trace character backgrounds, anticipate heirs, and explore how house relationships drive the broader narrative. As the story continues to evolve in new media, this evergreen structure is designed to remain accurate, adaptable, and useful over time.