All the Kings and Queens of Westeros who came before and after Aegon II

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The history of Westeros, the setting of the "Game of Thrones" universe, is sprawling, filled with great battles, great houses, and great (and, well, not-so-great) rulers. Between "Game of Thrones" and the prequel series, "House of the Dragon," we've seen multiple kings and queens rise and fall at different points in Westeros history. However, as readers of George R.R. Martin's novels know, this is only a small part of the rich history the author has created for his fantasy world.

As "House of the Dragon" nears the end of the first season and delves even deeper into the history of House Targaryen (the royal house that rules most of Westeros' revealed history) , it seems like the perfect time for an introduction on every ruler we've seen in the "GOT" universe so far. From the kings we know very well (like Robert and Joffrey Baratheon) to those you might not know unless you've read all the extra books and bonuses (like Aerys II "the Mad King" Targaryen, who doesn't only appeared in 'Game of Thrones' for a split second), many stories remain to be told.

For the purposes of this background, we combine both the background from the universe of the books and that of the TV show; in cases where the world of television goes further than the books, we follow the timeline on screen to its conclusion.

If you're ready for spoilers on all the rulers of Westeros, keep reading for a full primer on everyone who has sat on the Iron Throne thus far.

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