Page 22: House Targaryen

House Targaryen is a former Great House of Westeros and former ruling family of the Seven Kingdoms. The Targaryens were once a noble family of the Valyrian Empire, a dominent power in the continent of Essos. House Targaryen was given control of the Island of Dragonstone in the Narrow Sea a number of centuries ago.

Valyrians owe their power to the fact that they have an ability to bond with and ride dragons. They are also more tolerant to extreme heat and high temperatures than other races. 

For five thousand years, the Valyrians were a great power thanks to the dragons.

Four hundred years ago, Valyria was completely destroyed in what is today called the "Doom" when a string of volcanoes erupted and completely destroyed the city.

After the destruction of Valyria, the Targaryens set their sights on Westeros and, with the help of their three dragons, spearheaded an attack that brought six of the existing seven kingdoms, unified under King Aegon I. The seventh kingdom, Dorne, joined the kingdom through a political/marriage alliance two centuries later. The Targaryens ruled for approximately three centuries until the reign of Aerys II (the Mad King), when his son Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna Stark (Ned Stark's sister) of Winterfell for unknown reasons. This started a massive uprising led by Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn.

Generations of in-breeding have preserved in the Targaryen bloodline the classic Valyrian features of silver-white (platinum blond) hair and very fair, pale skin.

After Robert Baratheon took the Iron Throne, the remaining Targaryens, brother and sister, Viserys and Daenerys fled into exile to Essos. See blog titled The Former Rulers of Westeros for more information.