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We can tell from the white hair that both Hugh and Ulf are of Targaryen descent on House of the Dragon. That’s the case in the book Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin* as well.
The two dragonseeds are definitely Targaryen descendants, but the story of who and where they come from is shrouded in mystery. The show has added its own flair, but I’m going to look at both the show and the book to understand how they are dragonseeds.
Hugh Hammer Is Possibly the Descendent of Saera Targaryen on House of the Dragon
On House of the Dragon, Hugh shared that his mother was Princess Saera Targaryen. We know that she was the daughter of King Jaehaerys I, making her a relative of Viserys and Rhaenys. However, she fled across the Narrow Sea and was well known for being a rebellious child.
It would mean that Hugh is a direct cousin of Viserys I and Daemon Targaryen. He hasn’t made a big deal of this lineage, though. After all, not only is it hard to prove, but he is still an illegitimate Targaryen, and it’s clear that the family doesn’t acknowledge all of those family members.
In the novels, the lineage is slightly different, as it’s never officially confirmed. The popular theory is that he’s a descendant of Arion Targaryen, an older relative of Aegon the Conqueror. This makes him a far more distant relative of Rhaenyra.
Ulf the White Says He’s the Son of Baelon the Brave
Ulf isn’t afraid to talk about his own lineage, and during House of the Dragon Season 2, he made it clear to people who would listen that he is the illegitimate son of Prince Baelon the Brave. That makes him half-brother to Viserys and Daemon, and the uncle to Rhaenyra and Aegon.
When Aegon walked into the tavern, Ulf had to make sure that Aegon didn’t hear him. It’s clear that while he is proud to talk to his peers, he’s not going to raise his lineage up to the legitimate Targaryens.
Like with Hugh, the book doesn’t go into too many details about Ulf’s lineage. He is a Targaryen in some way due to his silver hair, but even he doesn’t know of his own origins. He doesn’t go about declaring he is the illegitimate son of Baelon.
In the books, the two end up being known as the “Two Betrayers.” It’s not clear how that storyline will play out on House of the Dragon yet, as Hugh, especially, seems loyal to Rhaenyra.
House of the Dragon* airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
