How is Rhaenyra Targaryen Related to Daenerys?

The Iron Throne succession line is complicated and bloodied, and the Targaryens have played a vital part in that. Daenerys Targaryen is obviously a descendant of the iconic dragon-riding family, but how exactly is she related to the 'House of the Dragons' central character, Rhaenyra?

The two legendary Targaryen women are separated by almost two hundred years and nine generations. They are distant relatives, with Rhaenyra technically being Daenerys' grandgrandgrandgrandgrandgrandmother (yeah, that's tough, we get that).

The history of Targaryens as the ruling house of Westeros begins with King Aegon I Targaryen, who united the seven kingdoms into one realm and placed himself in the Iron Throne. Since then, seventeen male Targaryens ruled from it; only for the House Baratheon to overthrow them.

Rhaenyra and Daenerys, despite being from two completely different eras and having completely different goals, are frequently compared by 'House of the Dragon ' fans. They do have some similarities; like all Targaryens, both ride dragons: Rhaenyra rides Syrax, and Daenerys has Drogon. But they also differ; for instance, fans have recently noticed that even the way the two pronounce the word "Dracarys" – a command in High Valyrion for dragons to spew fire – is a bit different.

Rhaenyra's goal in 'House of the Dragon' would be to defend her official status as King Viserys' heir and to fight Queen Alicent — Viserys' second wife — and her son, Aegon II, in a clash for the Iron Throne.

Meanwhile, 200 years later during the events of 'Game of Thrones ', Daenerys will embark on a quest to put a Targaryen back on the Iron Throne.

In fact, neither of their quests ends particularly well for them, but we are not here to spoil 'House of the Dragons' for you – or 'Game of Thrones', if you are still yet to watch the original show.

The prequel premiered on HBO Max on August 21, with new episodes arriving every Sunday.