Overview: Why Season 2 Family Trees Matter
This reference explains the key family trees in Game of Thrones season 2, detailing major houses, lineage connections, inheritances, and political bonds. Season 2 expands the map of Westerosi power, introducing new branches and clarifying existing ones. The following structure is designed as an evergreen guide to understanding how characters, houses, and claims relate through blood, marriage, and oaths.
House Stark: The North and Its Kin
At the center of season 2 is House Stark, whose relationships anchor much of the political and emotional landscape. Key branches include the main line descending from Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully, alongside older Northern houses that claim descent from the First Men. Bastardy, exile, and new alliances reshape their standing. The interplay between Robb’s kingship, Sansa’s position in King’s Landing, and Bran’s emerging role illustrates how lineage and law intersect in the North.
Core Stark Lineage
The core lineage tracks Eddard Stark, Catelyn Tully, and their children—Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon. Their connections to Jon Snow (Ed Stark’s ward, later revealed to have Targaryen ancestry) and Theon Greyjoy (raised as a Stark ward) highlight how upbringing and law shape identity in Westeros.
Northern Houses and Oaths
Houses Karstark, Mormont, and Umbers are bound to the Starks through oaths of fealty. These relationships affect military loyalties and succession, especially as the War of the Five Kings progresses. Treaties, hostages, and marriage prospects further link these houses in a network of mutual obligation.
House Lannister: Power, Wealth, and Intrigue
House Lannister represents the wealth and political force of the Westerlands. In season 2, the family’s reach extends through Tyrion’s missions, Cersei’s influence in King’s Landing, and Jaime’s position in the Kingsguard. Incest rumors, the nature of royal legitimacy, and control of the Iron Bank complicate their public image. The tension between inherited privilege and personal ambition drives many conflicts.
Lannister Core Lineage
Tyrion, Jaime, and Cersei are children of Tywin Lannister and Joanna Lannister. Their relationships—both familial and political—are central to court dynamics. The family’s claim to wealth, lands, and historical grievances against Targaryens and Starks shapes their strategies in season 2.
Supporting Houses and Allies
House Clegane and various vassals amplify Lannister power through enforcement and land control. Connections with the City of London’s financial powers and hired sellswords show how Lannister influence extends beyond Westeros’ traditional feudal structures.
House Baratheon: Claims, Kingship, and Division
Season 2 sharpens the split within House Baratheon. Robert’s death leaves Stannis and Renly competing for the throne, while Joffrey’s legitimacy is questioned. The role of Oathkeepers, bastardy, and regional loyalties expose fractures in the idea of a unified Baratheon legacy. Meanwhile, the broader notion of divine right and succession is tested by competing claims.
Baratheon Brothers and Their Claims
Stannis, Renly, and Joffrey each present different paths to legitimacy. Stannis relies on law and advisors, Renly on charisma and bards, and Joffrey on fear and inherited symbols. The politics of inheritance and council governance are highlighted through their councils, banners, and sworn swords.
Key Supporters and Regional Bases
Storm’s End, Dragonstone, and King’s Landing form the geographic pillars of Baratheon power. Supporters range from old knightly houses to new alliances with Essosi interests, illustrating how regional identity interacts with broader Westerosi politics.
House Targaryen: Blood, Dragons, and Legacy
Though physically absent in season 2, House Targaryen looms large through legacy, prophecy, and blood ties. The survival of Daenerys in Essos, the whispers of dragons, and the rumored legitimacy of Jon Snow connect back to this ancient house. Their sigil and historical rule inform present fears and hopes among other families.
Core Targaryen Lineage
The core lineage includes Aerys II, his children Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys, and the legacy of Aegon the Conqueror. Even when characters are offstage, the idea of Targaryen destiny and the symbolism of dragons shape political narratives across the continent.
Exile, Marriage, and Alliances
Daenerys’s marriages, councils, and growing army in Essos show how exile houses build power beyond the traditional feudal system. Connections with slaves, freedmen, and foreign advisors create a distinct model of authority compared to Westerosi houses.
Inter-House Marriages, Hostages, and Treaties
Season 2 makes explicit how marriage, hostage arrangements, and written treaties bind houses together. These tools manage conflict, secure succession, and enable resource sharing. Yet they also create vulnerabilities when promises are broken or heirs are threatened. The politics of weddings, betrothals, and oaths reflect the fragility of order in a war-driven world.
Marriage and Alliance Patterns
- Robb Stark’s marriage to a Frey secures crucial bridge access but binds his honor to hospitality laws.
- Sansa Stark’s engagement to Joffrey links Stark survival to Lannister favor, complicating allegiance.
- Renly Baratheon’s alliance with House Tyrell through Margaery demonstrates how new bonds challenge older claims.
- House Tyrell’s reach into the Reach and connections to Highgarden expand their influence despite lacking dragon lineage.
- Daenerys’s marriage to Khal Drogo and later to local elites in Essos shows alternative models of alliance building.
Key Lineages at a Glance
The table below summarizes essential verified attributes for the major houses featured in season 2, focusing on core lineage, seat, and primary claims. This is designed as a durable reference for tracing relationships and conflicts.
| House | Core Lineage (Selected) | Primary Seat | Key Claim or Role in Season 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stark | Eddard Stark, Catelyn Tully; children Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon; Jon Snow (ward) | Winterfell | Robb declared King in the North; Northern loyalty tested through war and captivity |
| Lannister | Tywin Lannister; children Jaime, Cersei, Tyrion | Casterly Rock, King’s Landing | Control of royal council, finance, and military enforcement; Tyrion acts as envoy |
| Baratheon | Aerys II; children Rhaegar, Viserys, Daenerys; usurper Robert Baratheon | Storm’s End, King’s Landing, Dragonstone | Split claimants Stannis and Renly challenge Joffrey; legitimacy questioned |
| Targaryen | Aerys II; children Rhaegar, Viserys, Daenerys | King’s Landing historically; Essos in exile | Legacy of dragons and prophecy; Daenerys builds power in Essos |
| Tyrell | Mace Tyrell; daughter Margaery | Highgarden | Wealth and influence in the Reach; strategic marriages to Renly and later Joffrey |
Conclusion: Using This Guide
Use this family tree reference to track how power shifts in season 2 through lineage, marriage, and territory. It explains who is related to whom, why claims collide, and how houses use bonds to manage risk. Because these relationships remain central to later seasons, this guide functions as a durable foundation for ongoing study of Game of Thrones’ evolving politics.