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The House of the Dragon timeline picks up approximately 172 years prior to the birth of Daenerys Stormborn and the death of her father the Mad King, Aerys – the last Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne before Game of Thrones begins. Game of Thrones is based on Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, but House of the Dragon is based on his “history” book, Fire & Blood. The book is credited as written by an Archmaester of Westeros, with various accounts on what happened during the Targaryen reign. Get to know the key players, events, and timeline leading up to the Game of Thrones prequel. Alicent is Otto Hightower's daughter and is considered the most "comely" woman in Westeros, per HBO.
Alicent Hightower
At the outset, “House of the Dragon” is primarily focused on members of House Targaryen, the current ruling family, and their closest allies. But the “Game of Thrones” prequel series boasts an expansive cast of characters, often with names that are barely distinct from somebody just as significant. Here’s a guide to those we’ve met and expect to play a key role in the series. Of all the newly prominent houses in House of the Dragon, Hightower is one of the most important to keep your eye on.
Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans)
Over the course of the series viewers could see up to 17 different dragons. As they are introduced, be sure to visit the Official Dragon Index for a quick look at which dragon is which. Otto is the Hand of the King, serving both King Viserys and the realm.
Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey, Olivia Cooke)

Though Laenor is not a member of House Targaryen, he is the rider of the Targaryen-bred dragon Seasmoke. Many lords and ladies in the realm (along with some smallfolk we've seen) believe Aegon should inherit the Iron Throne after his father Viserys dies. But Viserys has maintained that the throne will pass to his firstborn child, Rhaenyra (who is half-sister to Aegon II).
At the 80th Golden Globe Awards, House of the Dragon won Best Television Series – Drama and D'Arcy was nominated for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama. The series earned nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, and won three British Academy Television Craft Awards. House of the Dragon received a straight-to-series order in October 2019, with casting beginning in July 2020 and principal photography starting in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. The series premiered on August 21, 2022, with the first season consisting of ten episodes. Five days after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season.
Ser Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate)
In the realm, Princess Rhaenys is sometimes called "The Queen Who Never Was." Mysaria was once enslaved in Essos (she was born in a city called Lys), and now is Daemon's favorite sex worker. After Rhaenyra cuts short her tour of Westeros, Daemon introduces the princess to the Street of Silk after dark. Viserys hosts a tournament to celebrate the birth of his second child.
The precluding story to "House of the Dragon" begins with the death of King Jaehaerys Targaryen.
The war was over succession of the throne, and the seeds were planted during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen. Viserys named his eldest surviving child, Rhaenyra Targaryen, as his successor. However, shortly after his death, a council gave the throne to Aegon II Targaryen, the first child of Viserys’ current wife, Alicent Hightower, and the king’s eldest male heir. This sparked a civil war between the family that eventually threatened all of Westeros. When House of the Dragon begins, Viserys I Targaryen is King of Westeros after a Great Council had voted for him to succeed his grandfather Jaehaerys. Following the death of his wife Aemma Arryn and their newborn son, Baelon, Viserys Targaryen named his daughter Rhaenyra as his heir, displacing his brother, Daemon Targaryen, from the line of succession.
The Velaryons are a Valyrian house, originating from Essos’ Valyrian Peninsula. Corlys is married to Viserys’ cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, dubbed the Queen Who Never Was after she was passed over as Jaehaerys’ heir. Together, Corlys and Rhaenys have two children, Laena and Laenor.
‘House of the Dragon’ characters, explained: Meet all the Targaryens and more
George R.R. Martin, Vince Gerardis, Sara Hess, and Ron Schmidt also serve as executive producers, with Greg Yaitanes as co-executive producer.[20] The first season premiered on August 21, 2022. Without getting into spoilers, the presence of Simon Strong and Alys Rivers, in particular, point to a sequence of events from the source material that unfolds at Harrenhal. There's a reason Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) made mention of Harrenhal when poring over the painted table at Queen Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) war council in the season 1 finale. Jaehaerys decided to appoint Baelon the new Prince of Dragonstone. When Baelon died, Viserys took his place in the line of succession. Essentially, Rhaenys could have been queen, but her dad died before her grandfather did.
Queen Alicent is something like a Cersei figure in this story. When the Dance of Dragons arrives she’ll support the claim of her son Aegon Targaryen, and both before and during she works behind the scenes in an attempt to help him win the throne. Especially early on, she is supported by her father, Otto Hightower. With her rightful claim ignored, you can probably think of her a bit like the Daenerys Targaryen of this series — at least for Dany’s first few seasons — though the two bear few other similarities. Before we get into the characters themselves, it’s worth remembering what the Dance of Dragons, the brief and bloody Targaryen civil war that House of the Dragon chronicles, was actually about.
As Otto Hightower’s daughter, Alicent is extremely present in court and King’s Landing, and has an extremely close relationship with Princess Rhaenyra – though the pair often differ in their approach to matters regarding the Throne. This is an absolutely plum role for Ifans, and watching him skulk around Considine is, we’re confident, going to be one of the great joys of Season One. The younger son of Lord Lyonel Strong, who served as King Viserys’ Master of Laws before he is promoted to Hand of the King. Larys is a close and calculating confidant of Alicent Hightower — perhaps with an agenda of his own.
2 Years Later, HOTD's Vermithor Setup Is Being Paid Off By Secret Season 2 Character Reveal - Screen Rant
2 Years Later, HOTD's Vermithor Setup Is Being Paid Off By Secret Season 2 Character Reveal.
Posted: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The series begins with the reign of King Viserys I, the fifth Targaryen ruler, the question of his succession, and the events that unfold after he names his daughter, Rhaenyra, heir — a title a woman had never assumed. Just like the original series, “House of the Dragon” introduces viewers to a wide cast of characters right off the bat. There are lots of complex political, familial and romantic (and sometimes all three!) relationships between everyone, so here’s a rundown of who’s who. Be sure to check back throughout the season as new information is revealed. Yes, the series is a prequel with Ryan J. Condal (Rampage and Hercules) and Miguel Sapohnik (whom you may remember from Game of Thrones favorite episodes “Battle of the Bastards,”“Hardhome,” and more) at the helm. Author George R.R. Martin is also actively involved as an executive producer.
The cast and crew break down everything you need to know before you dive into Season 1. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and tells the story of House Targaryen. Stream all of HBO, plus hit series, movies, reality, and more.
In order to keep their bloodlines pure, Targaryens often married their siblings or cousins. Ser Harrold Westerling is a long-standing member of the Kingsguard, having begun his service under Jaehaerys’ rule. He currently serves as the sworn shield to Rhaenyra Targaryen. In Game of Thrones, the only time House Westerling popped up was when they surrendered their seat to Robb Stark. However, in the Song of Ice and Fire books, this house played a much more prominent role, with Robb marrying Jeyne Westerling rather than Talisa Maegyr, as he did in the series. House Velaryon is one of the oldest (and wealthiest) houses in Westeros, with a Valyrian bloodline as ancient as House Targaryen — as its current lord, Corlys “the Sea Snake,” loves to remind Viserys.
She has grown up watching her father wish for a son to secure his succession. After her mother’s death, Viserys names Princess Rhaenyra his heir, breaking from the established Targaryen tradition of male succession. Was married to Laenor Velaryon, with whom she had a certain understanding. We met the hunky Ser Criston Cole in the series premiere when he defeated Daemon Targaryen in the Heir’s Tournament — a loss made more spicy by the fact that Cole is common-born.
But between Harrenhal’s alleged curse and the fact that the seat was held by House Whent when Game of Thrones began, things already aren’t looking great for House Strong’s future in House of the Dragon. “The Old, the True, the Brave”The rulers of Driftmark, an island in Blackwater Bay. Their seat is High Tide, an island-castle off Driftmark’s coast. Their ancestral seat is Dragonstone, though they rule out of King’s Landing. In episode six, Rhaenyra suggests that Helaena could be bethrothed to Jace.
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