House of the Dragondigs deep into the history of the most troubled family in Westeros. The Targaryen brood carries ancient traditions that see them marry their close relatives to keep their bloodline pure. Their relationships are often influenced by the tremendous power and violence that follows their every move. Some Targaryens barely appear in the show, but their impact lived on in the damaged minds of their descendants. Daemon Targaryen has a lot going on, but what can fans know about Alyssa Targaryen, the woman that gave him life?
There are a lot of characters inHouse of the Dragon. Its predecessor,Game of Thrones, hada much wider scopeand a massive cast to fil it, butHouse of the Dragonstill has two armies to watch. Though keeping up with all the notable figures could take up a lot of time, there are plenty of off-screen names worth tracking. Characters consistently bring up old kings or famous soldiers whenever they feel the need. The histories are eternally fascinating. They may never appear, but they never stop mattering.
Who is Alyssa Targaryen in the books?
Alyssa Targaryen is a minor figure inFire and Blood. Alyssa was the fifth child ofKing Jaehaerys I Targaryenand Queen Alysanne Targaryen. Alyssa’s parents had 13 children in total, though Jaehaerys the Conciliator would outlive all but two of them. Alyssa was lucky enough to live to adulthood, unlike at least four of her siblings. She had unusual traits for a member of her family. Her hair was blonde rather than the Targaryen’s usual silver, and she had a unique case of heterochromia. One of her eyes matched the brilliant violet of her parents, but the other was a vibrant green. She probably inherited that trait from hergrandmother’s Velaryon blood, as that seafaring family sometimes enjoyed blue or green eyes. Her unorthodox appearance didn’t change her treatment in the family.
Alyssa was uninterested in the ladylike pursuits her parents expected her to undertake. In that matter, she mirrors several other members of her family. She idolized her older brother Baelon, following him everywhere in their youth. Followingthe grotesque Targaryen tradition, Queen Alysanne saw this as a great opportunity and began planning for their eventual marriage. Alyssa frequently taunted her younger siblings and made scenes out of petty squabbles. She married Baelon when she was 15. Their marriage was notably salacious, as Alyssa was known to take pride in her bawdy sense of humor. Alyssa claimed the dragon Meleys the same year, becoming the first rider of the beast that would later bond with Rhaenys. Alyssa and Baelon shared a short, but happy marriage. She had her first son, Viserys, at 17. She gave birth to Daemon four years later. Alyssa reportedly intended to give Baelon enough sons to make an army, but that didn’t work out. The birth of her third son, Aegon, went terribly and caused irreparable harm. She died a few months later. Aegon joined her in passing later that year. Viserys was only six when he lost his mother.Poor Daemon was only two, too young to remember the woman who birthed him.
Who is Alyssa Targaryen inHouse of the Dragon?
Alyssa doesn’t appear alive inHouse of the Dragon. The first scene of theseries depicts Jaehaerys Targaryenselecting Viserys as his heir. This event takes place 20 years after Alyssa’s death. However, she has finally joined the series, in a way. Daemon Targaryen moved into Harrenhal as part of his support for the Blacks in the Dance of the Dragons. The cursed castle has consistently wreaked havoc on Daemon’s sanity. He began suffering from nightmares that kept him from sleeping. After a consultation with Harrenhal’s witch, Alys Rivers, Daemon begins taking a mysterious potion that should help. He instead began hallucinating while awake, seemingly robbing his sanity from him. During a meal and while surrounded by other people, Daemon enters a vivid hallucination in which he has sex with his mother. While clearly disgusting, this is not unusual for the Targaryen brood. The clear undertone of the scene is that his sexual gratification primarily stands in for his desire to be celebrated as his mother’s favorite. The dream turns sour when she reminds him that he’s the second-born, and that his poor luck in that matter is the only thing keeping him from the throne. Daemon returns to consciousness.Alys Rivers later chides him, pointing out that it’s a shame that he never met his mother. Viserys sums up Alyssa like this:
Our mother, she had no regard for custom or tradition, rules.
Who plays Alyssa Targaryen inHouse of the Dragon?
Emeline Lambert plays Alyssa Targaryen in her brief scene. Lambert is best-known for her role in Sky’sDjango. She portrayed Caroline Turner in theTV remake of Sergio Corbucci’s classic1966 spaghetti western. Lambert also appeared inInvasionfor Apple TV+ and Courteney Tan’s well-received 2023 short filmLonging. Her brief, but impactful, role inHouse of the Dragonpushed her name into several interesting conversations.
Alyssa Targaryen is a tragic figure. She was one of several Targaryen women who wanted something more from life than most women could hope for, but she died doing the only thing her society wanted from her. At least Alyssa was happy to bear children with the man she loved.Daemon and Viserys wouldhave lived very different lives if their mother had been around. Daemon’s dream might be disturbing, but it’s nothing new for the Rogue Prince.
