Like every project adapting the A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will introduce TV-only audiences to a whole new Targaryen dynasty. Set after the events of House of the Dragon but before the events of Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will adapt George R.R. Martin’s trilogy of the same name, starting with the novella The Hedge Knight. The upcoming Game of Thrones spin-off series will revolve around the adventures of low-born knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his royal squire, Aegon “Egg” Targaryen.
The royal family that rules Westeros for the majority of the Game of Thrones timeline, the Targaryens are the ferocious dragon-riding conquerors known for their silver hair, violet eyes, and generational incest. House Targaryen appears in some capacity in every story set in A Song of Ice and Fire‘s world, and the Tales of Dunk and Egg trilogy is no exception. Many of the big names in the messy House Targaryen family tree have already been cast for the upcoming streaming series on Max, though they already have lengthy histories in the books.
Aegon V “Egg” Targaryen
One half of the Tales of Dunk and Egg titular duo, Aegon V “Egg” Targaryen is the fourth son of King Maekor I. Egg finds himself a squire of the Hedge Knight Ser Duncan the Tall after disguising himself as a simple stableboy, going on a series of misadventures across Westeros and beyond despite his noble heritage. Balancing out the naive and idealistic Ser Duncan with his more practical views of the world honed from a childhood spent as the runt of the latest royal Targaryen litter, Egg is a rare member of the family with genuine kindness.
Later on in life, Egg ends up sitting on the Iron Throne despite being the least likely son of King Maekor to do so as the youngest child, earning him the nickname “Aegon the Unlikely.” Though the grand council assembled to choose the new king doesn’t want Aegon on the throne due to his time spent among the peasantry of Westeros, his older brother Aemon Targaryen, who appears in Game of Thrones, refuses to accept the title, recognizing Aegon as the more qualified leader. In the upcoming series, Egg will be played by Dexter Sol Ansell.
Dexter Sol Ansell is a child actor who will realistically portray Aegon Targaryen at the time of his appearance in the first Tales of Dunk and Egg book, The Hedge Knight, being only 9 years old at the time of writing. Despite his tender age, Ansell has already made a name for himself with an impressive performance as a young President Snow in the Hunger Games prequel, Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Hopefully, Dexter Sol Ansell can capture the charm and empathy that won over the smallfolk on Egg’s adventures.
Baelor Targaryen
The uncle of Aegon V, Prince Baelor Targaryen is first in line for the throne prior to the start of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The son of King Daeron II and the Dornish Lady Myriah Martell, Baelor has the rare distinction of a true Targaryen who doesn’t share his family’s signature silver hair, instead having a head full of the dark hair of a Dornishman. While he might not exactly look like a traditional Targaryen noble, Baelor more than acts like one, being the textbook ideal of a warrior, leader, and lord.
Baelor fought valiantly in the wars of the Blackfyre Rebellion, a series of bitter succession wars sparked by the actions of his late grandfather, who legitimized his bastard sons’ lineage. He had famously defeated the rebellion’s leader, Daemon Blackfyre, earlier at a massive jousting tournament, earning him the title Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen. In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Baelor will be played by Bertie Caravel, a little known English actor best known for his work in The Crown, a similarly nobility-focused TV show.
Daeron Targaryen
One of Aegon Targaryen’s older brothers, Daeron Targaryen is the oldest son of King Maekor I, though he doesn’t have much of the typical aptitudes suspected of the first in line for the Iron Throne. Showing little interest in knighthood or glory, Daeron snuck away with his younger brother from the tournament he was supposed to fight in, shaving the boy’s head to disguise his Targaryen heritage. It’s because of Daeron’s cowardly actions that Aegon, disguised as Egg, meets Ser Duncan the Tall and becomes his squire in the first place.
For all his shortcomings, Daeron possesses the rare Targaryen ability to have prophetic dreams, also known as “dragon dreams,” a supernatural affinity shared with his distant ancestor Daenerys Targaryen. Turning to alcohol to run from his harrowing visions of the future earns Daeron the unfortunate nickname of “Daeron the Drunken,” frequently struggling to interpret the future in any meaningful way. As of the time of writing, Daeron Targaryen has yet to be cast in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, though he’s sure to appear.
Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen
The second-eldest son of King Maekor I, Aerion Targaryen is Aegon’s cloest brother in age and the source of endless torment for the young lad. Earning his title of “Aerion the Monstrous” from a young age due to his early acts of petty cruelty, Aerion tortures his younger brother in childhood, killing Egg’s beloved pet cat and threatening him with disturbing physical violence. Aerion is a prime example of the type of madness that can affect the Targaryen lineage, similarly to Daenerys’ father King Aerys II, whose cruelty saw him as the first Targaryen to lose the Iron Throne.
Thinking himself to be a literal dragon in human form, Aerion serves as the primary antagonist of the first book in Dunk and Egg’s adventures, The Hedge Knight, having Duncan arrested and placing his life in mortal peril for standing up to his chivalrous code. Long after the events of the books, Aerion meets an unfortunate end after drinking wildfire, thinking its latent magical properties will free his true draconic form. In the upcoming series, Aerion will be played by Finn Bennet, recognizable from the cast of True Detective: Night Country.
King Maekar I Targaryen
The father of Aegon, Aerion, and Daeron and brother of Baelor, King Maekar I Targaryen is the fourteenth Targaryen king to sit on the Iron Throne. A seasoned warrior, steadfast leader, and firm ruling hand, Maekar has an uneven reputation as both a king and a Targaryen. The fourth son of his predecessor, King Daeron II, Maekar’s achievements in battle during the Blackfyre Rebellions and his efforts as a political figure in King’s Landing were both constantly outshone by his princely brothers, living in the shadow of Baelor, Areys, and Rhaegel.
Despite being last in line for the throne, Maekar ends up ascending to kingship after a series of unfortunate deaths plague his family. While not as cruel as the likes of his son Aerion, King Maekar is known for being a gruff and prickly king, harsh in his punishments and quick to act, still most famous for raising his vicious spiked mace against his own brother. In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, King Maekar will be played by Sam Spruell, most famous for appearances in Snow White and the Huntsman and the Fargo series.
Valarr Targaryen
The oldest son of Baelor Targaryen despite his title, Valarr Targaryen is a figure of royalty in the first book of the Tales of Dunk and Egg trilogy, The Hedge Knight. Known as a capable fighter, Valarr is frustrated by his lack of capable opponents in official tournaments due to his royal heritage, never able to truly test his mettle against knights of any renown. Valarr’s thin appearance and long brown hair with a single streak of Targaryen silver earned him the nickname of the “Young Prince,” hilariously causing his younger brother Matarys to be called the “Even Younger Prince.”
Sadly, Valarr ends up being a familial dead end for the Targaryen family tree, losing three children in infancy with his wife, Lady Jena Dondarrion. Valarr ends up holding a grudge against his cousin Aegon and Ser Duncan the Tall due to the fallout of their actions against his father, though he doesn’t become a truly antagonistic figure. In the upcoming streaming series, Valarr has yet to join the cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Brynden Rivers
Though a bastard child, the infamous Brynden Rivers technically does have Targaryen blood running through his veins, making him the final member of the dragon-riding family to officially appear in-person in the Tales of Dunk and Egg trilogy. Known for his striking appearance, Brynden Rivers is an albino with even paler hair and skin than the average Targaryen, save for the wine-colored birthmark on his face in the shape of a raven, earning him his ominous nickname, Lord Bloodraven. Brynden Rivers is the child of King Aegon IV and his mistress, Lady Melissa Blackwood.
Once serving as the Hand of the King, Brynden Rivers eventually gets sent to the Knight’s watch, where he ventures beyond the wall to become a greenseer and the Three-Eyed Raven, unnaturally extending his lifespan by merging with an ancient tree. This makes him the only character from Game of Thrones who could also show up in prequel spin-offs, eventually passing his teachings on to Bran. In Game of Thrones, Brynden Rivers was played by Struan Rodger, but a younger version of him has yet to be cast in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.