Who Is Saera Targaryen? Hugh Hammer’s Mother Explained

Viewers are excited to uncover the secrets of Saera Targaryen in House of the Dragon Season 2. Her story adds new layers of intrigue and complexity, especially through her connection to Hugh the Hammer. As the season unfolds, her background and controversial past reshape the storyline and enrich the history of the Targaryen dynasty.

Here is everything you need to know about Saera Targaryen in House of the Dragon, with spoilers.

Who is Hugh the Hammer’s mother, Saera Targaryen, in House of the Dragon Season 2?

Saera Targaryen was the ninth child of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen, known for her rebellious nature and scandalous behavior. Despite her royal birth, Saera’s actions led her to a life far removed from the Targaryen court.

Saera’s life was riddled with controversy from a young age. As a teenager, she formed relationships with several young noblemen, leading to infamous sex parties. She suggested marrying all three of her lovers, likening herself to Aegon the Conqueror, which infuriated her father.

Confined to her room, she attempted to steal a dragon, resulting in her house arrest. One of her lovers died in a trial by combat against Jaehaerys, exacerbating the scandal. For about a year, she faced harsh treatment from septas, akin to Cersei’s Walk of Shame.

Unwilling to become a Silent Sister, she escaped to Lys and became a prostitute, much to the horror of her mother, Alysanne, who secretly monitored her. Jaehaerys, however, disowned her. Saera eventually rose to become an underworld queen in Lys and later in Volantis, amassing wealth and bearing several illegitimate children, including Hugh the Hammer.

In House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 7, Hugh the Hammer reveals his lineage to his wife, Kat. He explains that his mother was a Targaryen who worked in a pleasure house. Hugh Hammer shares that his mother told him he was no different from her brother’s sons, Viserys and Daemon, but he felt ashamed of her. 

The revelation of his connection to Saera Targaryen provides Hugh with a significant, albeit controversial, Targaryen bloodline. It also underscores his inherent right to claim and ride the dragon Vermithor. His Targaryen heritage becomes a pivotal element in his character, shaping his destiny and role in the unfolding events.