The continent of Westeros, the setting for much of Game of Thrones, has a rich history dating back eight thousand years. There are countless important families, heroes, knights, and more. In that time, however, few have had quite the impact on the continent than what House Targaryen managed in only three centuries.
From the forging of the Iron Throne to Daenerys' return to Westeros, the Targaryens have always been the predominant force in Westerosi politics since their arrival after the Doom of Valyria. The family as a whole is hugely significant, but it's possible to narrow them down to a handful of individuals. Without these Targaryens, the world of Game of Thrones would have been very different.
10 Aegon The Conquerer Started A Dynasty
The Targaryens were not always royalty. In the days of the Valyrian Freehold, they were minor Dragonlords - a family of some repute but not an all-powerful force. However, they had the foresight to leave Valyria prior to the Doom, setting themselves up as the Lords of Dragonstone off the coast of Westeros.
The man who became known as Aegon the Conquerer was not content with this. Setting out with a small army, he used his three dragons to conquer almost the entire continent, from the Wall to the southern reaches of the Stormlands. Subjugating six of the kingdoms of Westeros under his own rule, Aegon founded the Targaryen dynasty and forged the Iron Throne.
9 Jon Snow Stopped Wildlings, White Walkers, And Daenerys
One of the most significant Targaryens in the history of Westeros was thought to be a Stark by most of the continent, including himself. Allegedly the bastard son of Ned Stark, Jon Snow was actually the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. His true identity had been kept hidden to safeguard his life.
Jon's first impact on Westeros as a whole was as part of the Night's Watch, preventing a mass incursion of Wildlings from devastating the North. From there, he ended the reign of the Boltons and rallied an alliance against the White Walkers. His biggest impact, however, may have been assassinating Daenerys Targaryen and cutting short her war of worldwide conquest.
8 Rhaegar Became Important For The Wrong Reasons
Rhaegar Targaryen never became king of the Seven Kingdoms, dying as crown prince. Nonetheless, he was a hugely important figure both in Westeros and beyond. As a child, he was believed to be the Prince That Was Promised of prophecy, fated to save the world from a force of darkness. He lived his life under that expectation.
Ultimately, Rhaegar died with that expectation unfulfilled. Instead, one of his biggest contributions to Westeros' history came from his marriage to Lyanna Stark. This began the series of events leading to Robert's Rebellion, and thus the political situation at the beginning of Game of Thrones.
7 Aegon IV Caused The Blackfyre Rebellions
There are many reasons for a king to shape history, but lust and incompetence are rare. Aegon IV was a notoriously poor king of Westeros, dubbed 'the Unworthy' after his death. Despite having a lengthy reign overseeing several crises, little mattered more to Aegon IV than satisfying his own varied appetites.
Aegon consequently fathered a huge number of children, and legitimized them all on his deathbed. This created one of the worst succession crises ever seen in the Blackfyre Rebellion and led to several of Westeros' bloodiest civil wars, with additional effects like the founding of the Golden Company.
6 Jaehaerys I Ended A Major Poltical Threat
The Andals of Westeros were a deeply religious people, colonizing the continent on the supposed will of their gods. Prior to Aegon creating a single throne for the entire continent, one of the most powerful and omnipresent political forces was the Faith of the Seven, exemplified by the military might of the Faith Militant.
The Faith proved a constant thorn in the side of early Targaryen kings, including openly rebelling against Aenys I and Maegor the Cruel, who failed to defeat them. After inheriting the throne, Jaehaerys 'The Conciliator' I brokered a peace with the Faith, the terms of which included the end of the Faith Militant. This stymied one of Westeros' fiercest political powers until the reign of King Tommen Baratheon.
5 Aerys II Ended A Dynasty With His Actions
A long chain of events caused the civil war known as Robert's Rebellion, but its direct inciting incident was Aerys II Targaryen's actions. Known as 'the Mad King', he had long been a sadistic and irrational ruler, fond of burning people to death and increasingly paranoid. However, war didn't break out until Aerys began executing the family of Lyanna Stark, whom his son had married.
When Lyanna's brother Brandon came to King's Landing, believing her kidnapped, Aerys arrested him and had him and his father (Rickard Stark) executed. He then asked Jon Arryn to send him the head of Rickard's next son, Ned Stark. As a result, Arryn declared war on Aerys, and the resulting rebellion led to the end of a dynasty nearly three centuries old.
4 Aegon V Had Many Adventures And Then Died Young
One of the main characters of the Tales of Dunk and Egg prequel series, Aegon V's exploits are better known to readers than those of most other Targaryens. In his travels with Duncan the Tall, Aegon shaped the continent in many small ways, being present at significant historical events.
As a king, however, he most shaped Westeros with his untimely death. In the Tragedy at Summerhall, Aegon died attempting to hatch dragon eggs with his eldest son and much of his royal court. As a result, Jaehaerys II took the throne, beginning the lineage and practices that led to the Mad King's reign.
3 Daeron II Made The Seven Kingdoms Whole
Aegon the Conquerer united six of the kingdoms of Westeros under his rule, but he and many of his successors were unable to conquer Dorne, the southernmost kingdom. Making use of guerilla techniques, the vast deserts of their kingdom, and intimidation, the Dornish held off conquest for decades.
Ultimately, Daeron 'The Good' II brought them under the Iron Throne through different means - marriage. Dorne went on to become a major player in Westerosi politics. In addition, in defeating the first Blackfyre Rebellion, Daeron stopped a different dynasty entirely taking the Iron Throne.
2 Rhaenyra Targaryen Fought The Dance Of The Dragons
Although the Targaryens unified Westeros, it was anything but peaceful because a number of civil wars took place. The most significant by far was the Dance of the Dragons, fought between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother, Aegon II. The war split the kingdoms between them and saw the deaths of nearly every Targaryen dragon.
Rhaenyra ruled King's Landing for a time, but died at the breath of Aegon's dragon. Nonetheless, her side won the war, putting her son on the throne as Aegon III. The lasting effects of the Dance of the Dragons, complete with the effects her lineage had on Westeros, cements her as one of Westeros' most significant figures.
1 Daenerys Targaryen Helped Save The World And Devastated King's Landing
One of the most recent Targaryens in Westeros history, Daenerys 'Stormborn' is one of the principal characters in Game of Thrones. Although most of her story focuses on the continent of Essos, she has a huge effect on Westeros in the two seasons she spends there.
Fighting a war with the Lannisters for control of the Iron Throne, Daenerys broke the family that had seemed undefeatable in a number of wars. Furthermore, she proved a key part of the North-Targaryen alliance that stopped the White Walkers at Winterfell, potentially saving the world. Her last act, however, was to massacre thousands in King's Landing, a crime that cut her reign short.