While Fire and Blood is the first volume of a projected trilogy, Martin has written extensively about the Targaryen Dynasty throughout his books. From the famous A Song of Ice and Fire series as well as in the Dunk and Egg novellas, much of his writing about the fantasy world of Westeros hinges on the legacy of the Targaryen family. As shown in this book, their fortunes often turn on a dime, with great kings and queens being immediately followed by cruel or weak ones.
In the Dunk and Egg series, Martin writes about the coming of age of Egg, who will later become king Aegon V. He depicts his meeting with Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight of low birth for whom he later squires. They have adventures together, defeating members of the Blackfyre rebellion and traveling to various jousts. The two develop a close friendship and Aegon later names him Lord Commander of his kingsguard. Aegon is described as both resourceful and curious. Following a series of succession issues, Aegon is crowned king and nicknamed Aegon the Unlikely, as he was far down in the succession order. He marries Betha Blackwood and they have several children together. Aegon introduces many reforms, in an effort to improve the lives of the average people in Westeros. He perishes in the "Tragedy of Summerhall" when a great fire breaks out during an attempt to hatch dragon eggs.
Predating the events of A Song of Ice and Fire, the reign of Aerys II Targaryen is portrayed as a dark period in Westeros history. Aerys appears to be a good king early on, guided by the help of his shrewd and pragmatic Hand, Tywin Lannister. However, following his wife's several miscarriages, he grows increasingly bitter and angry, causing a deterioration in his relationship with Tywin. Matters are only made worse when Aerys is kidnapped for six months during a conflagration at Duskendale. Tywin is able to rescue him, but he is never the same after this, becoming violent and paranoid. When his son Rhaegar runs away with Lyanna Stark, Lyanna's brother, Brandon, and her father, Rickard, arrive in King's Landing and demand her return. Aerys has them arrested and later brutally killed, burning Rickard alive and forcing Brandon to watch as he is strangled by a device around his neck. This ignites the realm, setting off the events of "Robert's Rebellion." When Stark, Baratheon, and Arryn's forces descend on King's Landing, Aerys tells his men to ignite green vials of a substance known as wildfire that will burn the entire city down. In an effort to spare many lives, Tywin's son Jaime kills Aerys, going against his duty as a member of the Kingsguard, but acting in what he views as the interest of the realm as a whole. Aerys is remembered as the "mad king."
In these portrayals, Martin shows how each member of the Targaryen dynasty has the capacity for great good and great evil. The changeability in their characters reveals the structural unsoundness of their lineage, as each generation offers a completely different sort of ruler. In this way, the Targaryens act as the main dramatic engine of almost all of Martin's Westeros novels, stories, and histories.
