Daenerys Targaryen was quite an iconic character in Game of Thrones, charming millions of fans all over the world. Becoming the mother of dragons and taking control of the Slaver's Bay, Daenerys eventually moved to Westeros where she fought for the Iron Throne and nearly succeeded in getting it.
In House of the Dragon, fans are treated to another powerful woman, Rhaenyra, fighting for the Iron Throne and many have drawn comparisons between her and Daenerys already.
6 Fighting For The Throne
Perhaps one of the biggest similarities between Daenerys and Rhaenyra is that both of them are fighting for the Throne above all else. Daenerys Targaryen wanted to return home and take back the seat that once belonged to her father, Aerys II Targaryen. Eventually, she returned to Westeros and managed to get her hands on the Iron Throne.
Sadly, Daenerys couldn't rule for long as she was eventually stabbed in her chest by her lover, Jon Snow. Rhaenyra, on the other hand, was named the heir to the Iron Throne by her father, King Viserys. After his death, a war for succession broke out which is famously known as the Dance of the Dragons. Rhaenyra sat the Iron Throne for quite some time, however, in the end, met her demise as well.
5 Fiery Personality
Both Daenerys and Rhaenyra are known to have the blood of the dragon and, as expected, have a fiery personalities. While not every Targaryen is known to have this character trait, many do and both of them seem to carry it very strongly. Daenerys is seen growing from a timid girl to someone who eventually went on to conquer an entire country with ease.
Her faith in herself was greater than anything she ever believed in and for that, Daenerys was able to become a fan-favorite. Similarly, Rhaenyra also shares the mind of a conqueror. She has a strong belief in herself and doesn't want to stop on her path until she gets to her goal. This mindset of hers led to her being Queen for quite a long time.
4 Rebellious
Although Daenerys was not deemed to be a rebellious child at first, the fire inside her grew slowly with time. Her brother, Viserys, used to boss her around and even beat her quite often until, one day, Daenerys learned to stand up for herself. From that point onwards, Daenerys' rebellious nature only grew and made up a great part of her character in the series.
Rhaenyra, on the other hand, is seen as rebellious from the very first episode of House of the Dragon. While Alicent is more of a goody-two-shoes, Rhaenyra doesn't seem to adhere to the rules at all times. This part of her personality makes her quite similar to Daenerys Targaryen.
3 The Dragon Queen
"The Dragon Queen" is a title that is associated quite often with Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. At the end of the first season of the show, Daenerys ends up with three dragons that hatch from the eggs that Illyrio Mopatis gifts to her. In the coming years, her dragons grow quite large and as she rides them to torch her enemies, she gains the alias of "The Dragon Queen."
Quite similar to her, Rhaenyra is also a Queen fighting for the Iron Throne. Her dragon, Syrax is always by her side and aids her in every battle. Rhaenyra always goes into battle on her back with just goes to show the immense trust that she has in Syrax and her abilities. It is no surprise that she is also known as the Dragon Queen, just like Dany.
2 Losing Their Mother In Childbirth
Daenerys was given the name Stormborn after being born in a difficult labor on a stormy night on Dragonstone. Her mother, Queen Rhaella Targaryen, ended up dying on Dragonstone due to complications from childbirth. Daenerys, being a mere baby, doesn't remember her mother at all. Soon after, she was shipped off to the Essos to escape Robert's wrath.
While Rhaenyra didn't lose her mother immediately after being born, Queen Aemma also ended up dying in childbirth. As seen in the first episode of House of the Dragon, Queen Aemma dies after an attempt to save her child is made by directly cutting into her belly.
1 The Truth About The Winter
Not many Targaryens are known to have had knowledge of the cold winds of winter. Daenerys Targaryen was able to personally see the Army of the Dead up close when she went north to rescue Jon and his party. Later on, she, along with Jon, leads the battle against the Night King and the Army of the Dead and plays a significant role in their victory.
As seen in the very first episode of House of the Dragon, Queen Rhaenyra was informed about the Night King and the Winds of Winter by her father, Viserys Targaryen, shortly before he named her his heir.