Everything you need to know about Hugh Hammer from House of the Dragon Season 2

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Who was Hugh Hammer?

Credit: HBO

In Fire and Blood, Hugh Hammer is a blacksmith’s bastard from Dragonstone. He was known for his immense size and strength, with hands powerful enough to twist steel bars. Hugh wielded a warhammer and was illiterate. In the TV series House of the Dragon, Hugh is portrayed as a bastard son of Princess Saera Targaryen, making him a first cousin to Viserys, Daemon, and Rhaenys Targaryen. Born in a pleasure house, he later became a blacksmith in King’s Landing, married a woman named Kat, and had a daughter who suffered from illness.

Hugh Hammer in House of the Dragon

Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

In the series, Hugh begins by petitioning King Aegon II for advance payment to continue manufacturing weapons for the war effort. He faces personal struggles, including caring for his sick daughter and navigating the hardships of wartime King’s Landing. After losing his daughter, Hugh answers Rhaenyra’s call for Targaryen bastards to claim dragons, successfully bonding with Vermithor on Dragonstone. This achievement transforms him from a struggling blacksmith to a powerful dragonrider in service of Queen Rhaenyra’s cause.

Hugh Hammer in Fire and Blood

Credit: Jota Saraiva

In Martin’s book, Hugh becomes a dragonrider during the Dance of the Dragons, mounting Vermithor, the dragon of the late King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He fights valiantly for the blacks in the Battle in the Gullet and is later knighted and granted lands on Driftmark. However, his ambition grows, and during the First Battle of Tumbleton, Hugh and Ulf White betray the blacks and defect to the greens, earning them the moniker “the Two Betrayers.”

Hugh’s ambition leads him to style himself as Lord Hammer and aspire to kingship. He gains support from soldiers who believe in a prophecy about a new king arising when a hammer falls on a dragon. His actions, including wearing a crown of black iron and brutally punishing those who oppose him, lead to unrest and, ultimately, a conspiracy against him.

Death and Legacy

According to Fire and Blood, Hugh meets his end during the Second Battle of Tumbleton. As he prepares for battle, Ser Jon Roxton kills him with the Valyrian steel blade Orphan-Maker. Hugh’s men then kill Roxton in retaliation. Hugh’s death marks a significant turning point in the Dance of the Dragons, showcasing the volatile nature of power and loyalty during the conflict.

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Quotes

” I could not protect you. I could not keep our girl alive. And now… we would never want again. If I claimed a dragon, they’d make you a lady.” – Hugh to Kat in House of the Dragon

“Why be a lord when you can be a king?” – Hugh Hammer in Fire and Blood

“We need a strong man to lead us, not a boy. The throne should be mine.” – Hugh Hammer in Fire and Blood

Quick Answers

Who is Hugh Hammer?

Hugh Hammer is a blacksmith who becomes a dragonrider during the Dance of the Dragons. In the books, he’s a bastard from Dragonstone, while in the TV series, he’s portrayed as a bastard son of Princess Saera Targaryen.

What dragon does Hugh Hammer ride?

Hugh claims and rides Vermithor, once the mount of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.

Why is Hugh called “The Betrayer”?

In Fire and Blood, Hugh earns this title when he and Ulf White betray the blacks and defect to the greens during the First Battle of Tumbleton.

How does Hugh die in the books?

According to Fire and Blood, Hugh is killed by Ser Jon Roxton with the Valyrian steel sword Orphan-Maker during the Second Battle of Tumbleton.

Who plays Hugh Hammer in House of the Dragon?

Actor Kieran Bew portrays Hugh Hammer in House of the Dragon Season 2.

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