WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for the Fire & Blood book and House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8!Rhaenyra’s sixth pregnancy in House of the Dragon sets up one of the most utterly tragic moments still to come. House of the Dragon frequently emphasizes the dangers of childbirth and pregnancy for women in Westeros, with the two major characters Laena Velaryon and Aemma Arryn already dying from such complications. Although Rhaenyra’s mother’s death initially made her fear the notion of bearing heirs, adult Rhaenyra Targaryen now has five sons in House of the Dragon – three healthy boys with Laenor Velaryon (fathered by Harwin Strong) and two silver-haired boys with her husband Daemon Targaryen. Her next child whom she’s now pregnant with, however, will be a different story.

In House of the Dragon episode 8, Rhaenyra Targaryen is pregnant with her daughter Visenya. Despite Rhaenyra and Daemon’s excitement over having another child, their daughter will tragically never take a breath of air. Upon hearing the news of King Viserys’ death and Aegon seizing the Iron Throne and being crowned King, Rhaenyra goes into dangerously premature labor. After days of complicated and agonizing labor, Visenya was stillborn, with George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book suggesting the baby was malformed with dragon-like birth defects. Rhaenyra will survive Visenya’s birth in House of the Dragon, but her daughter’s death will have significant impacts on the black Queen. After having five boys, Rhaenyra was desperate for a daughter, which she hoped would revive the loving relationship she had with her own mother as a child.

How Visenya’s Death Changes Rhaenyra’s Character

Rhaenyra perhaps would have been more diplomatic in handling the greens’ usurpation of the throne had Visenya lived, but her wrath becomes more intense after blaming Alicent, Aegon, and the traitors on the green council for her daughter’s death. In Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra responds to the tragedy by saying that Visenya was her only daughter and the greens killed her, so for her death and the theft of the crown, Alicent and Aegon will pay. While Rhaenyra has always been headstrong and commanding, she has never been cruel or as impulsive as Daemon, but Visenya’s death changes this. Once House of the Dragon’s civil war begins, Rhaenyra will now also be driven by vengeance.

What Happens To Rhaenyra & Daemon’s Other Children

Rhaenyra will hardly have time to grieve the death of her daughter Visenya before the Stranger comes for her second-born child Lucerys Velaryon in House of the Dragon. Lucerys is killed by Aemond “One-Eye” Targaryen at Storm’s End before the war’s battles begin. Aemond attacks Lucerys when both are sent to recruit the Baratheons to their respective sides, with both Luke and his dragon dying in the conflict. Luke’s death is followed by the tragic passing of Rhaenyra’s eldest son Jacaerys Velaryon, who dies at sea during the bloody Battle of the Gullet. Rhaenyra’s third bastard son Joffrey Velaryon then dies shortly before the end of House of the Dragon’s war. When rioting in King’s Landing begins after Rhaenyra takes the Iron Throne, young Joffrey tries combating the chaos by flying on Rhaenyra’s dragon Syrax, who shakes the Prince off of her back and sends him falling to his death.

Four of Daemon and Rhaenyra’s children will survive House of the Dragon. Daemon’s daughters Baela and Rhaena Targaryen both live through the Dance of the Dragons, with Baela being integral in wounding and incapacitating King Aegon II Targaryen before his death. Rhaena survives because she was sent to the Vale for protection, where she ended up hatching her dragon Morning. Daemon and Rhaenyra’s trueborn sons Aegon and Viserys Targaryen will also be alive in House of the Dragon’s ending. Following the death of Rhaenyra’s brother Aegon II Targaryen, her son Aegon III Targaryen will ascend the Iron Throne as King. After Aegon the Younger’s coronation, Viserys returns to Westeros after being presumed dead in the war. Viserys will also eventually become King after the deaths of Aegon’s sons.