How Many Children Alicent Has In HOTD (& What Happens To Them) (2024)

Warning: Contains major SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, the book on which House of the Dragon is based, as well as show spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2.

Alicent Hightower's children are key to House of the Dragon's story, but just how many does she actually have? Alicent was married early to King Viserys I Targaryen, and has not re-married after his death. Their children carry on the family legacy and, alongside her, are now central to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

Much of the focus may be on the rivalry between Alicent's Greens and Rhaenyra Targaryen's Blacks factions, and specifically the friendship and fallout between those two characters, but their kids are very much at the heart of it. Alicent's firstborn son, Aegon, sits the Iron Throne, while one of Rhaenyra's children in House of the Dragon has already been killed, and another was stillborn. The rivalry has trickled down through the generations and into Alicent and Rhaenyra's kids, and here's a guide to those of the former, and what happens to them in George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood.

Alicent Hightower Has 4 Children In House Of The Dragon

All Four Were Fathered By King Viserys I Targaryen

Alicent Hightower and King Viserys I Targaryen had four children across House of the Dragon season 1's timeline, though only three were shown on screen. Their firstborn was Aegon, who is now King Aegon II Targaryen. He was followed by Helaena Targaryen, whom he was later married to, and then Aemond Targaryen. Alicent and Viserys' fourth and final child is Daeron Targaryen, who was absent during season 1 as a ward in Oldtown.

Aegon Targaryen Is Alicent's Eldest Child

Aegon Is The Second King To Carry That Name

Aegon is first introduced in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3, “Second Of His Name,” as a toddler, and is then played by Ty Tennant following season 1, episode 6's time jump. He is then recast again, with Tom Glynn-Carney taking on the role from season 1, episode 8 onward, and he continues as part of House of the Dragon season 2's cast.

Aegon was initially apathetic to the crown as it is his sister’s birthright up until his grandsire, Otto, and his mother, Alicent, brainwash him into thinking their family is in danger. When Viserys died, the Green Council hastily crowned Aegon as King causing Rhaenyra’s wroth reaction and her own coronation in Dragonstone. The beginning of the Dance of the Dragons primarily consisted of raising support for each claimant’s cause, only turning into a bloodbath when Rhaenyra’s second son, Lucerys, was killed despite being a peace envoy.

During the war effort, Aegon enters battles with other dragonriders to secure his claim as King of the Seven Kingdoms. His most notable victory is slaying Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) and her red dragon, Meleys, with his brother, Aemond, and dragons, Sunfyre and Vhagar. However, this battle causes him great injury, resulting in Aemond serving as Prince Regent for around a year.

Aegon’s reign as King Aegon II is divided into the early days of the war prior to Rhaenyra taking King’s Landing by force, and then his restoration after Rhaenyra’s death courtesy of his dragon, Sunfyre, at his command. Aegon’s second reign lasts half a year before he is usurped by the supporters of his nephew, Aegon the Younger. He dies from his own men poisoning him.

Helaena Targaryen Is Alicent & Viserys' Only Daughter

Helaena Is Married To King Aegon II

Among the many tragic tales during the Targaryen civil war, few compare to that of Helaena Targaryen. Helaena (Evie Allen/Phia Saban) is a dragonrider whose mount is Dreamfyre. She is described to be an agreeable and cheerful lady fit to become a mother. As Targaryen tradition, Helaena weds her own brother, Aegon, becoming Queen after their mother, Alicent Hightower. The pair is blessed with three children, the twins Princes Jaehaerys and Princess Jaehaera, and their youngest son, Prince Maelor.

After Aemond kills Lucerys, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) retaliates by sending killers to murder one of Aegon and Helaena’s children (in the show, the original target is Aemond himself). This plays out differently in the show and book: in the latter, Helaena is forced to choose between her two sons, ultimately picking Maelor. He doesn't exist (yet) in the show, and so Helaena's choice is different, as she points out her eldest son to the killers. The result is the same, though, with Blood and Cheese killing Prince Jaehaerys.

In the book, a grief-stricken Helaena spirals into madness at the guilt that Maelor lives with the knowledge that she wanted him dead. In 130 AC, Helaena takes her own life by jumping out of Maegor’s Holdfast. It remains to be seen exactly how House of the Dragon's changes will impact this, but Helaena's ultimate fate will presumably remain the same.

Aemond Targaryen Is Alicent & Viserys' Third Child

Prince Aemond Is Also Known As Aemond "One-Eye"

Like his older siblings, Aemond (Leo Ashton/Ewan Mitchell) is a dragonrider whose mount is the fearsome Vhagar. After the death of his Aunt Laena, Aemond decided to claim Vhagar for his own due to the incessant mocking he received from his Velaryon nephews and even his own brother, Aegon. When Joffrey discovered that Aemond planned to ride Vhagar, he quickly told his older brothers and the boys engaged in a bloody skirmish, which resulted in Aemond losing his eye. This incident further fueled Aemond’s enmity against Rhaenyra and her children.

Aemond and Vhagar killed Lucerys and Arryx in an aerial fight in House of the Dragon season 1's ending. With his actions triggering dire repercussions, Aemond becomes a ruthless warrior akin to his uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen. With Aegon II injured from their battle against Princess Rhaenys, Aemond is named Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm, donning Aegon the Conqueror’s crown and commenting on how it suits him better than his brother.

Aemond is a valuable soldier in Aegon II’s war against their half-sister, Princess Rhaenyra, almost exclusively trying to eradicate their Uncle Daemon as the greatest threat from the blacks. In 130 AC, Aemond and Daemon face off in a dragon duel called the Battle of the God’s Eye, where Daemon kills him by stabbing Dark Sister into his missing eye socket, though both men and their dragons perish.

Daeron Targaryen Is Alicent & Viserys' Youngest Child

Daeron Was Missing From House Of The Dragon Season 1

The youngest of Alicent’s children, Daeron Targaryen, was born the same year as Rhaenyra’s eldest son, Jaecerys Velaryon. Prince Daeron is also a dragonrider with his mount, Tessarion. However, Daeron did not appear at all in House of the Dragon season 1, though he is confirmed to exist within the show's universe.

Being the same age as Jacaerys, King Viserys had Daeron and Jacaerys share a wet nurse in the hopes that being milk brothers would ensure that the boys grew fond of each other. Despite this fact, Daeron shares his family’s hostility toward the Blacks and his half-sister, Rhaenyra. During the Battle of the Honeywine, Daeron daringly rides Tessarion to help his Uncle Ormund Hightower’s war effort. After winning the battle on dragonback, he is knighted with the Valyrian sword Vigilance and is named Daeron the Daring at a young age.

When Aemond decides to fight Daemon, he holds Daeron back, wanting the glory for himself. Instead, Daeron remains with Ormund’s army becoming their dragon scout and razing territories that refuse to submit to the greens. Daeron’s exact demise is relatively unknown, with the only confirmed detail of him dying in sometime during the Second Battle of Tumbleton.

Though Daeron has not been revealed as of the time of writing, he is confirmed to exist in the show. House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2 referenced Daeron being at Oldtown and his dragon, which means an appearance is all but inevitable, and he can take on his book story.

House of the Dragon

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Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alco*ck and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

Cast

Jefferson Hall , Paddy Considine , Fabien Frankel , Ryan Corr , Eve Best , Gavin Spokes , Graham McTavish , Steve Toussaint , Olivia Cooke , Sonoya Mizuno , Bill Paterson , Matthew Needham , Emma D'Arcy , Matt Smith , Rhys Ifans , David Horovitch

Release Date

August 21, 2022

Seasons

2

Network

HBO Max

Streaming Service(s)

HBO Max

Franchise(s)

Game of Thrones

Showrunner

Ryan Condal