What you need to know about House of the Dragons before you watch the Game of Thrones prequel

Game of Thrones'first spin-off series,House of the Dragonsis finally here. But don't expect to see a familiar face. The show is setDaenerys Targaryen's birthand172 years before him in the events of Game of Thrones, andGeorge R. R. Adapted from Martin's fantasy seriesA Song of Ice. and FireStill, the audience gets to see plenty of Daenerys' ancestors.

House of the Dragons quotes from Martin's companion novel to the main series Fire & Bloodoutlining the history of House Targaryen. The show begins when the Targaryen King Viserys names an unexpected heir. This choice ultimately leads to civil war within powerful families. Targaryen will face Targaryen. dragon vs dragon.

But to understand exactly why the Targaryens would tear each other apart for a chance to sit on the Iron Throne, and how the lords of Westeros responded to this conflict, must recall some of Westeros. history. Some of these lessons and legends were told as the characters from Game of Thrones discussed their ancestors.

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House of the Dragons

When is House of the Dragons?

House of the Dragon is set 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, the story of the dragon-riding Targaryen clan, her ancestor.

How did House Targaryen become so powerful?

Understand Considering how House Targaryen first obtained the Iron Throne, we have to rewindhundreds of years before the events of Game of Thrones.

Recall that the world of Game of Thrones is divided into two lands: Westeros in the West and Essos in the EastCurrently, The Valyrians are the most powerful people on Essos, as they can tame fire-breathing dragons, the most powerful weapon a ruler can possess.

A woman named Daenys Targaryen has terrifying dreams about cataclysmic events that will destroy Valryia. Her father, Aenar Targaryen, tells his fellow nobles about this apocalyptic vision. As is often the case with characters like Cassandra, the Valyrian ignores Dennis' warnings.

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However, Inar listens to his daughter's vision, gathers his family and their dragons, and departs Valyria. They make their way across the sea to an island, where they build a castle that will come to be known as Dragonstone. In Game of Thrones,Dragonstone guards the entrance to his bay in Blackwater. Stannis Baratheon takes refuge there after the Battle of Blackwater until Castle heads to the Wall to assist him in his Battle of Black. Dragonstone is also Daenerys' first stop in Westeros when she finally crosses the ocean after her exile on Essos.

Twelve years after Aenar moved her family, Daenys' dream came true. A volcano erupts. The earth cracks open. Valyria is destroyed. And all its dragons are killed. This event became known as Valyria's Fate. The Targaryens, who survived Dragonstone, are the only remaining Valyrians, and the only ones who can wield dragons. Daenys becomes known as Daenys the Dreamer.

How did House Targaryen take over Westeros?

Century Passage To do. The Targaryens keep a low profile and work to build a castle on Dragonstone. Aegon I then decided he wanted to explore Westeros. He and his sister's wife (yes, really), Rhaenys and his Visenya, ride dragons and scout all kingdoms. Aegon decides that he wants to unite the war groups in Westeros and control them all. Hemade a large table using the map of Westeros used by Daenerys in Dragonstone from Game of Thrones

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And Aegon's conquest begins. With his three dragons, Aegon, Renis, and Visenia, he easily defeats the Houses of Westeros, save for Dorn, and Aegon becomes king. Aegon takes all of his enemy's weapons and builds an incredibly nasty-looking Iron Throne. He places it in the fortress of Kings, his landing place, the site of his first landing in Westeros.

Aegon I to Dragon House

Mr. and Mrs. Targaryen are committed to keeping their lines "pure", meaning they engage in incest. Unfortunately, as a result, about half of the Targaryen descendants are relatively normal, while the other half are crazed and bloodthirsty. (See: Daenerys and her insane brother Viserys at the beginning of Thrones —No doubt Daenerys will also come to a deep end by the end of the show.)

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Aegon has Each sister has a son - a wife. I like Aennis, the oldest. His younger brother Megor is not so sweet. Megor kills his half-brother and obtains the Iron Throne for himself. Maegor ruled for his six years, was atrocious, and was eventually found impaled on his own Iron Throne (ouch.). He was succeeded by his nephew Jaehearys, son of Aenys.

Jaehaerys is the greatest king ever. He builds roads (including King's Road), sanitation systems, and infrastructure. This is tedious but important. He and his wife have 13 children, all of whom sleep with dragon eggs in their crib. Jaeherys' eldest sons, his Aemon and Baelon, are both good men and will be great rulers. However, they both died before Jaeherys, forcing the king to choose an heir among his grandchildren. The politics of succession is complicated, but basically it comes down to choosing a granddaughter or a grandson.

And finally, you're ready to meet the characters inHouse of the Dragons. Amon's eldest son is Princess Rainis (played by Eve Best in the series). Aimon was the eldest son of Jeharis, so naturally Reinis should be chosen as his successor. Unfortunately, all lords of Westeros are very sexist and don't like the idea of ​​taking orders from their queen. So instead of giving her the Iron Throne, Jaeherys holds a meeting with the lords of her 101 AC called the Grand Council. They decide that Baelon's son Jaeherys (Paddy Considine) will inherit his Iron Throne instead.

Princess Reinis marries Corys Her Valarion (Steve Her Toussaint), a powerful captain known as Sea Snake. He comes from a family that is also Valyrian, but left Valyria long before the Targaryens for trade purposes. Crucially, Valarion is unable to ride a dragon, but has been an important ally of the Targaryens since Aegon's conquest.

Dragon House

Viserys Targaryen

Decades later, Viserys proved to be a very good king. But when the time comes for him to name his heir, all hell breaks loose. A civil war eventually broke out, which became known as the Dance of the Dragons.

Raenira Targaryen

His first marriage, Rhaenyra, should succeed to the throne. (The younger version of Laenira is played by Milly Alcock in the show, and the older version is played by Emma Darcy.) This proclamation works well for the aforementioned misogynistic lord of Westeros, who points out that Jehiris overtook Reynis as a precedent. I don `t go. In the case of male inheritance. The status of Westeros' inheritance law is ambiguous in this regard, and the situation is controversial. Still, Rhaenyra grows up with hopes of succession to the throne.

Demon Targaryen

Meanwhile, Viserys' brother the great warrior Daemon ( Matt Smith) wants the Iron Throne for himself. He will make an alliance with anyone who can gain power.

Reynis Targaryen

Eve BestHouse as Princess Reynis Velarion By the time Of the Dragon begins, "The Queen Who Never Was." She may or may not still have a chip on her shoulder about being handed over her throne - and advice to hand out to another potential female heir. .

Corliss Valeiron

Raines married Lord Corys Valarion Known as Sea Snake. and left Valyria before the Targaryens. He is a captain and cannot ride a dragon. Since Aegon's conquest, he has stuck with House Targaryen.

Otto Hightower

Hightowers Wealthy Its seat of power is in the Old Town, and at the beginning of the series Otto Hightower (Rhys Effans) is the Hand of the King. (This is the same position that Ned Stark had against King Robert Baratheon at the beginning of Game of Thrones).

Aricent Hightower

He Daughters of Aricent Hightower (Emily Carey) and Olivia Cooke (in two different timelines) become Viserys' second wife. The line of inheritance becomes more complicated when she bears him a child.

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