Main Targaryen Family and Allies
House of Dragons centers on the Targaryen family during the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. The core lineage begins with King Viserys I Targaryen, whose failing health and controversial succession decision set the conflict in motion. His designated heir, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, becomes the focal point of the pro-Rhaenyra faction. Opposing her is her half-brother, Aegon II Targaryen, who claims the throne with support from the Green faction. Important allies and relatives include Prince Daemon Targaryen, Viserys’s brother and Rhaenyra’s second husband, whose ambitions and combat prowess shape the war; Queen Alicent Hightower, Viserys’s second wife and mother of Aegon II; and the powerful Lord Corlys Velaryon, whose naval strength is crucial to both sides. Understanding these figures is essential to grasping the political and military dynamics of the show.
Rhaenyra Targaryen: The Claimant Princess
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is the elder child of Viserys I and his first wife, Queen Aemma Arryn. Designated heir in her youth and the first Targaryen princess to inherit the Iron Throne, she marries Laenor Velaryon and later Daemon Targaryen. Strong-willed and politically aware, Rhaenyra becomes the symbolic leader of the Blacks. Her claim rests on birth order and Viserys’s later validation, while her faction controls Dragonstone and key northern houses. Notable relationships include her contentious dynamic with Alicent and the loyalty of bastards like Jon the Bastard. Her dragons, particularly Syrax, play a central role in her survival and military posture.
Aegon II Targaryen: The Usurper King
Aegon II Targaryen, named heir by Viserys on his deathbed before Rhaenyra’s formal confirmation, crowns himself king, triggering the Dance. As the eldest son of Viserys and Alicent, he is backed by the Green faction, which includes many of the royal council and the Hightower forces. Though initially politically cautious, Aegon becomes more ruthless as the war progresses, ordering the death of rivals and leveraging dragonfire against his kin. His reliance on experienced councilors and skilled dragonriders defines the Greens’ strategy, even as internal betrayals and battlefield losses weaken his position.
Daemon Targaryen: The Rogue Prince
Daemon Targaryen, the charismatic and dangerous younger brother of Viserys I, is one of the most formidable figures in the series. A former King of the Narrow Sea and skilled dragonrider, he joins Rhaenyra late in the war after a complex history that includes a controversial first marriage and rule as Lord of the Tides. His marriage to Rhaenyra cements a key alliance, and his tactical brilliance on the battlefield makes him indispensable to the Blacks. Nevertheless, his ambition and morally gray actions create friction within the family, revealing the personal costs of the conflict.
Alicent Hightower: The Queen Mother
Queen Alicent Hightower, daughter of Lord Ormund Hightower, becomes Viserys I’s second wife and mother of Aegon II, Aemond, Helaena, and Daeron. Raised in King’s Landing and deeply familiar with court politics, she becomes the emotional and political anchor for the Greens. Her fierce loyalty to her children and belief in Aegon II’s divine right drive many of the Greens’ decisions. Over time, her relationship with Rhaenyra deteriorates, symbolizing the fracture between the two branches of the royal family.
Corlys Velaryon and Other Key Supporters
Lord Corlys Velaryon, known as the Sea Snake, is the wealthiest man in the Seven Kingdoms and a central military figure for both sides at different points. His wife, Queen Rhaenys Targaryen—Viserys’s aunt and Rhaenyra’s grandmother—adds moral authority and a deep claim to the throne. Other pivotal characters include Otto Hightower, the cunning Hand of the King; Criston Cole, the formidable Kingsguard knight; and Mysaria, a former brothel owner turned influential advisor. Their alliances, rivalries, and choices shape the war’s trajectory.
Dragons and Dragonriders at a Glance
Dragons are decisive in House of Dragons, both as symbols of legitimacy and as instruments of war. Each major dragon has a rider whose background and relationship with the beast influence battlefield outcomes and political loyalties. The balance of power shifts as dragons are hatched, lost, or seized, making dragon control synonymous with control of the Iron Throne. The following table summarizes the core dragonriders and their mounts early in the war.
| Character | Claim/Alignment | Dragon(s) | Role in the War |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhaenyra Targaryen | Black faction claimant | Syrax, later others | Primary military and symbolic leader |
| Aegon II Targaryen | Green faction king | Sunfyre | Central figurehead and frontline rider |
| Daemon Targaryen | Black faction supporter | Caraxes | Elite tactician and dragon combatant |
| Aemond Targaryen | Green faction adherent | Vhagar | Key enforcer and dragon tactician |
| Lucerys Velaryon | Black faction envoy | Arrax | Diplomat and rider in critical missions |
Political Factions and Their Leaders
The war is defined by two main coalitions: the Blacks, supporting Rhaenyra’s claim, and the Greens, backing Aegon II. The Blacks draw strength from Dragonstone, Storm’s End, and northern houses, while the Greens rely on King’s Landing, the Reach, and the fleet of House Velaryon after initial disputes. Lord Jasper Wylde and other councilors influence strategy, while mercenaries and bannermen shift the balance. The nuanced loyalties of houses such as the Targaryens, Velaryons, Hightowers, and Baratheons underscore that the conflict is as much about family and legacy as it is about governance.
Notable Non-Royal Figures
Several non-royal characters wield outsized influence. Otto Hightower serves as a master manipulator within the king’s council, while his rival, Lord Lyman Beesbury, represents more moderate counsel. Ser Criston Cole’s defection from Rhaenyra’s guard to Aegon II’s side marks a turning point, highlighting personal betrayal and pragmatism. Septon Eustace provides religious framing for the conflict, and figures like Mysaria and Patrek of Pennytree demonstrate how smaller actors impact court dynamics and wartime decisions.
Tactics, Turning Points, and Outcomes
Military engagements in House of Dragons range from dragon duels to large-scale fleet actions, with each encounter reshaping the strategic landscape. Key battles—such as the Gulltown skirmishes, the battle beneath the godswood, and the decisive duel between dragonriders—show how personal rivalries translate into campaign outcomes. The war’s conclusion brings irreversible changes to succession customs, dragon populations, and the unity of the realm, with repercussions that echo through future Targaryen history. Understanding these turning points is vital to appreciating how each character’s actions contribute to the broader arc of the series.
Legacy and Continuing Influence
The choices made during the Dance of the Dragons reverberate far beyond the war itself, influencing succession precedents, dragon taming practices, and the political standing of houses across Westeros. Rhaenyra’s legacy as a claimant-queen, Aegon II’s consolidation of royal authority, and Daemon’s shifting loyalties inform much of the Targaryen dynasty’s later narrative. Even ancillary figures, from dragonkeepers to councilors, leave a mark on the realm’s culture and governance. The show’s careful attention to lineage, law, and dragon lore ensures that each character’s role remains relevant to broader worldbuilding in the franchise.
Tags: house-of-dragons, game-of-thrones, targaryen-characters