Are All Targaryens Born with Silver Eyes and Platinum Blonde Hair?

For years, fans of the A Song of Ice and Fire series and the Game of Thrones TV show have believed that Targaryens are known for their iconic silver hair and purple eyes, making them stand out against the rest of the realm. However, the truth is a bit more complex than that.

Defining Valyrian Features

The Targaryens have traditionally been associated with two distinct features: silver hair and purple eyes, features that are characteristic of the Valyrian people from Valyria. But it's not as simple as just silver hair and purple eyes. These features became hallmarks of the Targaryens because for centuries, the Targaryens practiced close incest and inbreeding to preserve their line, which resulted in a high concentration of these traits within the family.

The Doom of Valyria and Its Aftermath

During the Doom of Valyria, which occurred more than a millennium before the events in Westeros, the majority of the Valyrian nobility were wiped out. The Targaryens, who were descendants of old Valyrian blood, survived and adapted by increasing their own inbreeding. As a result, the silver hair and purple eyes became associated with the Targaryen family.

Limitations of Genetic Uniformity

Even though the Targaryens did inbreed, they did not do it all the time. In fact, they sought to marry outside their family lines on several occasions to introduce genetic diversity, though unfortunately, this practice was not always successful. For example:

The Vale: Aemma Arryn married Viserys Targaryen. Dorne: Elia Martell married Rhaegar Targaryen. Oldtown: Alicent Hightower married Viserys Targaryen. The North: Lady Lyanna Stark married Rhaegar Targaryen.

Incest did mean very little genetic variation, but the Targaryens also produced many bastards. Notable bastards include Lucerys and Jakarys, who inherited different hair and eye colors from their non-Targaryen fathers. Some even suggest that Tyrion Lannister might be a bastard child of Aerys Targaryen and Joanna Lannister.

Rare Exceptions Amongst the Targaryens

There have been rare exceptions within the Targaryen family where members did not present the stereotypical Valyrian features. Jon Snow, later known as Aegon VI Targaryen, for instance, is a legitimate Targaryen but lacks the silver hair and purple eyes. This is because he inherited the blood of the First Men from his mother, Lyanna Stark. The blood of the First Men is dominant over Valyrian blood, thus masking the characteristic features.

While the Targaryens struggled to maintain a balance between inbreeding and genetic diversity, non-Valyrian influences from across Westeros did make their way into the Targaryen family, leading to a more diverse range of appearances within the lineage.

Conclusion

The widely circulated stereotype of Targaryens having silver eyes and platinum blonde hair is partially true, but not entirely accurate. The Targaryens' genetic makeup has been influenced by their historical practices of incest and inbreeding, as well as occasional marriages to non-Valyrian bloodlines, leading to a much more nuanced and diverse family than commonly thought.