Searches of “Game of Thrones family tree 2016” and “Game of Thrones family tree season 6” have likely increased over the past couple of days because of reactions from fans following the revelation about the Jon Snow family tree. Of course, with so many feuding families is this series, keeping track of a single bloodline can be a chore. If you’ve read over a Game of Thrones family tree chart so many times that it’s made you dizzy, here’s a nice change of pace: four easy-to-digest facts about the various houses and families of the Targaryen family tree, among others in the hit show, following the season 6 finale and the beginning of the wait for season 7. Oh, and it’s probably obvious at this point, but warning: spoilers ahead!
The Lannister Branches Are Very Long
Over 6,000 years old, the Lannister family tree has thrived through its many cadet branches and distant cousins, many of whom exist as minor players in the world’s nobility. It’s possible that the story has been full of minor characters with a hint of Lannister blood in them, but are far enough away from the main line to have not warranted the attention. Compare the Lannister family tree to the Stark family tree, which is much smaller due to harsher living conditions in the North, despite House Stark having a history dating further back than that of the Lannisters.
The Targaryen Family Tree Is Rather Large
At one point in Westeros history, House Targaryen was the ruling House of the Seven Kingdoms. They did so for three centuries before Robert’s Rebellion, the event that triggered the series as a whole. As such, more than any other Game of Thrones family tree chart, the Targaryen family tree is incredibly extensive and detailed. Just how extensive? Well, the full tree featured over 100 people across 16 generations, which is impressive, given that this is the history of a family that is entirely fictional.
It’s Also Connected to Other Houses
One explanation for the size of the Targaryen family tree may be just how far its branches reach. They have ties through marriage to many of the series’ other major houses. The Targaryens are connected to House Baratheon via marriage between Rhaelle and Ormund, which connects them to the Lannister family tree. While the connection between the Targaryen family tree and the Lannister family tree might seem distant, rumors and theories persist that it’s closer than many think; namely, it’s been suggested that Tyrion Lannister is actually of House Targaryen, a fact that would be unknown to even Tyrion himself. There’s also one more family that is tied to the Targaryens. . .
The Targaryen-Stark Connection
In what was Game of Thrones season 6’s big reveal (and the cause of all those “Game of Thrones family tree season 6” searches), it was learned (or is that confirmed?) that Jon Snow is not the bastard son of Ned Stark, but rather the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. This change to the Jon Snow family tree—or trees—is set to have major repercussions in season 7 as Jon Snow can now make a legit claim to the Iron Throne, in addition to potentially giving him the dragon-friendly abilities. associated with the Targaryen bloodline.
