The most powerful Targaryens have helped to shape the history of Westeros for better and worse. Of the Great Houses in Westeros that have been part of the Game of Thrones franchise, the Targaryens have been the most influential. There have been many family members who have sat on the Iron Throne and even more who have made significant impacts on history.
The Targaryens have a controversial legacy, and that is highlighted by their most powerful members. There are incredible warriors and benevolent rulers, but there are also cruel tyrants and greedy warmongers. Throughout Westeros’ history, these Targaryens have proven their power and left a lasting reputation.
10. Viserys II Targaryen
Viserys II is somewhat of an underrated Targaryen whose power was largely behind the scenes. Though he did become king himself, Viserys’s best accomplishments could be considered his time as Hand of the King. He took the position initially to serve his brother Aegon III, who didn’t trust anyone else following the trauma he suffered during the Dance of Dragons.
When Aegon died, Viserys continued in the role as Hand of the King, serving his nephews, Daeron I and then Baelor the Blessed. However, the reality was that Viserys was really running the realm during his time. Daeron was busy trying to bring Dorne into the fold while Baelor was focused on his faith. Viserys was the one who helped Westeros heal after the Dance of Dragons.
9. Aemond Targaryen
In House of the Dragon, we see two sides of the Targaryen family at war with each other, and each side has its key warrior. While the Blacks have Daemon Targaryen, a seasoned fighter, the Greens have Aemond Targaryen, who proves himself to be an equal to his uncle. Aemond is a ruthless and chilling killer who is dangerous because he feels he has something to prove.
He rides the largest of the Targaryen dragons and proves a devastating presence on the battlefield. He is already responsible for several key deaths in House of the Dragon, including Rhaenys and Lucerys, and nearly killed his own brother and king in order to take control. Before the Dance of Dragons is over, he will shed a lot more blood.
8. Rhaenyra Targaryen
House of the Dragon showcases Rhaenyra Targaryen as a complex and fascinating protagonist. We have seen her suffer, doubt herself, and doubt the war she was waging for the Iron Throne. However, these complexities should never distract from the immense power she had also been shown to have. After all, even without the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra convinced many of the Great Houses of Westeros that she should rule.
As a dragonrider, Rhaenyra is one of the best, and her strategic mind is often sharper than those who advise her. She made her army exponentially more powerful by using Dragonseeds to bring more dragons into battle. Season 3 of House of the Dragon will show how powerful Rhaenyra is and how foolish her enemies are to doubt her.
7. Jaehaerys I Targaryen
When looking at the power of the greatest Targaryens, it is not always the fiercest warriors who are most impressive. The Targaryens have given Westeros many kings over the years, but not all of them have been capable rulers. Jaehaerys I will go down as one of the greatest kings in Westeros’ history, and his power came from being a skilled politician.
Though he trained himself to be a great warrior, he also relied on his mind to create a Westeros that was better than when he first took the Iron Throne. Following Aegon’s Conquest, Jaehaerys helped shape the realm into one that could thrive with new laws and creations that benefited the people. With such volatility in Westeros, a king who can rule peacefully for decades is an incredible feat.
6. Daemon Targaryen
When it comes to Targaryen warriors, Daemon stands quite near the top of the pack. While many of his kin who came before him and after him concerned themselves with politics and how to rule, Daemon was dead set on proving himself on the battlefield. He was a fearsome fighter, which was matched by his own dragon, Caraxes, which was one of the deadliest dragons in Westeros.
Daemon was certainly ruthless, but he was also smart enough to know that even the best warriors need to inspire love in others. He was charismatic and even maintained the loyalty of the City Watch in King’s Landing after leaving the city to join Rhaenerya’s campaign for the Iron Throne.
5. Jon Snow / Aegon Targaryen
While there are a lot of bastards and alleged Targaryens in the lore of A Song of Ice and Fire, Jon Snow was legitimized as Aegon Targaryen when he was born only for Ned Stark to hide his identity to keep him safe. Even though no one knew he was the heir to the Iron Throne, Jon managed to gain considerable power as a bastard of the North.
He became Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and then went on to be named as King in the North. Further evidence of his importance, Jon was resurrected following his death. He very well could have sat on the Iron Throne as some of Daenerys’s closest allies thought that he would be a better fit to rule.
4. Maegor Targaryen
Unfortunately, the Game of Thrones universe has proven many times that cruelty can make for great power. That was something that was established with the aptly named Maegor the Cruel. He was the son of Visenya and had no claim to the Iron Throne, but usurped it and held it through force. He was ruthless in his determination to hold onto the throne, even battling his own family and emerging victorious.
Maegor was perhaps the most hated king in the history of Westeros, though he did accomplish some impressive feats. He managed to demolish the Faith Militant in a bloody conflict and oversaw the building of the Red Keep, killing all the workers to ensure its secrets. He is the reason the Targaryens are so feared, as the people of Westeros remember how cruel they can be.
3. Visenya Targaryen
While Aegon Targaryen is known as the conqueror of Westeros, he could not have done it alone. Certainly, the greatest ally in his conquest was his sister-wife Visenya. She was one of the only Targaryen women who was actually trained to be a warrior and went into battle on the back of Vhagar, wielding the Valyrian steel sword, Dark Sister.
It is her warrior persona that inspired many young girls in Westeros, including Arya Stark. However, it was not just her skill in battle that made her so powerful. She was Aegon’s most trusted advisor and was even responsible for forming the Kingsguard to ensure the king was always protected.
2. Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys Targaryen has the advantage of being our introduction to the Targaryen family, but even ignoring that, there is no denying the power she showed throughout her story. It is quite amazing that she started her journey as a timid young girl who was used as a pawn by those around her, then gradually became the most powerful figure in Westeros.
Daenerys has some incredible achievements to her name, from commanding the Unsullied army to uniting all the Dothraki army under her rule to actually winning the Iron Throne. The fact that she only kept it for moments does damage her legacy, but she was also responsible for bringing dragons back into the world.
1. Aegon I Targaryen
Aegon I is not only the most powerful Targaryen in history but also likely the most important character in the history of Westeros. The Seven Kingdoms would not exist were it not for Aegon coming to conquer the lands and bring all the great houses together. He created the Iron Throne, which stands as a reminder of how powerful he was.
Aegon’s conquest was not just about getting power for the Targaryens. As we have learned from House of the Dragon, Aegon had a dream that there would be an enemy that the world would have to unite against. Therefore, it is not just impressive that he was about to conquer Westeros, but that he also ruled over it successfully, while establishing a dynasty.
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