Published on 10.14.2022 and updated on 06.22.2026

What happens to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s children in George R. R. Martin‘s books? The third season of House of the Dragon is expected to adapt some of these tragedies, but the fate of the Blacks is even crueler than the series has shown so far.

Below, I explain what happens to each of them, with spoilers for Fire & Blood.

We have to prepare. As we have summed up how tragic the future of the Hightowers will be, we should know: what awaits the Blacks is no better. SPOILERS on the way.

What happens to Rhaenyra’s children?

In the books, almost all of Rhaenyra’s children die during the Dance of the Dragons. The Targaryen civil war is merciless to the princess’s lineage.

What happens to Lucerys Velaryon?

The brief life of Lucerys, the second child of Rhaenyra Targaryen, marked the family conflict with violence. Luce was chosen by his grandfather, Ser Corlys Velaryon, as the future heir of Driftmark and has always mocked his uncle, Aemond also responsible for blinding him in one eye. “Protected” by his mother and brother, his death eliminated any chance of Peace among the Targaryens, as we saw in the Season 1 finale of House of the Dragon.

In Episode 9, the Greens took the Iron Throne, crowning Aegon in Rhaenyra’s place. In an attempt to resolve the issue without shedding blood, but using politics, the Blacks sought the support of those who had sworn allegiance to the princess.

Lucerys and Jacaerys ask for help, flying like emissaries in search of allies. Sensing danger, Rhaenyra only allows it if the children swear not to fight and everyone agrees that Luce should lead the safest mission. That would be seeking support from Ser Borros Baratheon, in Stormsend, closer to Dragonstone.

It’s a fatal error.

When he gets there, Lucerys finds that his uncle Aemond is more agile and is already in the castle. Ser Borros is still deciding whether to honor his oath or not and has an offer of marriage in hand, with Aemond offering to marry one of his daughters, something Luce cannot match, as he is already engaged to Baela Velaryon. In this way, Ser Borros switches sides, starting to support the Greens. Prince Aemond tries to attack his nephew in search of repairing his lost eye, but is stopped. Well, hindered inside Stormsend. When Luce leaves on his dragon, Arrax, he is pursued by Aemond and Vaghar.

A storm disrupts Arrax, who is much smaller than Vaghar. The battle in the air is swift. Fatally attacked, Arrax fell into the sea, with Luce meeting the same fate. Their bodies were only found three days later, serving as a feast for crabs and seabirds. The series suggests that although Aemond was responsible for the attack, he was unable to control Vaghar, who became uncontrollable after Arrax reacted. An accident? Tragic in any way.

It is the news of her son’s death that determines the desire for revenge and extermination of the Hightowers for Rhaenyra.

Lucerys’ death may have been celebrated as revenge by Aemond, but it sped tragedy. Daemon, the prince’s stepfather, states, “an eye for an eye, a son for a son. Lucerys will be avenged”, ordering the death of one of Aegon’s sons, which became one of the most violent and traumatic scenes of the conflict. Lucerys, therefore, defines civil war.

How does Rhaenys Targaryen die in Dance of the Dragons?

The Queen That Never Was was a heartfelt loss through the second season. We saw in Episode 9 of Season 1 that Rhaenys was still in King’s Landing when Aegon II was crowned, but differently from the book, where she flees with Viserys’ crown. She did flee and warn Rhaenyra about the greens, but not as much as an ally.

From that moment on, Rhaenys was one of the main voices in the Council of Blacks, collaborating in the war strategy and in the defense of Dragonstone and Driftmark. Once overcome by pain, Rhaenyra passes to Rhaenys all decision-making power in the war. In the series, it was a bit different, but the same results.

However, Rhaenys’ death is a seed of a future crisis between Rhaenyra and the Velaryons. In the book, as in the series, one of the Blacks’ supporters asks for help as he is under attack by the Greens, led by Ser Criston Cole. Still traumatized by Luce’s death, Rhaenyra prevents Jacaerys from going with his grandmother to combat, and Rhaenys goes alone with Meleys. It was an ambush. Aegon II and Aemond were waiting, mounted on Sunfyre and Vhagar. Although victory was virtually impossible, the princess did not back down. The battle was breathtaking as three dragons were facing each other. Again, it was a bit different in the series.

Aegon is injured, but as Meleys is killed by Vaghar, Rhaenys suffers the same fate. Along with the dragon carcass, they found the body of a burnt woman, supposedly Rhaenys. This death has a divisive effect on Blacks. Ser Corlys is not content that – to spare her children – Rhaenyra sent Rhaenys alone, reducing her chances in combat. Something that will resonate later on.

How Does Jacaerys Die in Fire & Blood?

Rhaenyra’s firstborn, Jacaerys, is responsible, protective, handsome, agile, and hot-tempered (revealing even more of his DNA than the official father profile). Jace knows the truth (that he is the son of Ser Harwin Strong), but he is second in line, technically, after Rhaenyra.

Jace’s fate is as sad as his brothers’. He is on her mother’s Small Council, and he was the one who suggested sending Luce to Stormsend, as he thought it would be safer. Jace covered greater distances, at greater risk of being intercepted. Despite the loss of Luce, Jace gains important support for the blacks, especially the Starks in the north.

A bit different from the series, his death comes when he is trying to save his brothers, in this case, the two youngest, Aegon III and Viserys II, on their way to Pentos. The princes were attacked and captured by the Greens, with Aegon III managing to escape to Dragonstone on his dragon, Stormcloud. On the counterattack, Jace flies low with Vermax when the two are hit by scorpion fire. Jace falls from his dragon onto one of the burning ships. He heroically saves himself, but when he was floating in the water, he was hit by a sea of ​​arrows and finally killed.

In House of the Dragon, Rhaena tried to help flying Sheepstealer, but she couldn’t manage her dragon, and it forced Jace to fly lower, and we know the rest.

If losing Luce sparked a desire for revenge in Rhaenyra, Jace’s death hardens her heart. That’s when she starts losing nearby allies. What dominates her is fury and hatred.

Does Daemon kill Aemond?

We’ve already seen Daemon’s confrontation with his executioner and final victim, his nephew, Aemond. But first, he will be responsible for one of the greatest deaths of the Greens, when he orders the killing of Aegon II’s sons to avenge Lucaerys.

At Harrenhal, Daemon challenges Aemond to a match and waits for two weeks until his nephew finally shows up. The fight between the two – and their dragons – was violent and cost them both their lives. As Daemon’s body was never found, rumor has it that he actually ran off with Nettles, his lover.

Eventually, it’s Daemon and Rhaenyra’s two sons who end up sitting on the Iron Throne, but is that for a future series?

Who survives the Dance of the Dragons?

The Velaryons survive, but in recent years, Ser Corlys has come to support the Greens after falling out with Rhaenyra and being accused of treason (unfairly). His granddaughters marry and prosper, and when Aegon III ascends the throne, Peace reigns in Westeros. There’s so much left for that day.

As House of the Dragon moves into Season 3 and beyond, these deaths are not just tragic events. They shape the psychological and political transformation of Rhaenyra Targaryen, pushing her toward decisions that will define the fate of Westeros.

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