What is the timeline of House of the Dragon?

As Season 2 of House of the Dragon approaches its June release, fans are eager to dive into Westeros’s past. Set 200 years before Game of Thrones, the series will take viewers on a journey through a world of political intrigue and family conflicts.

House of the Dragon delves into the history of the Targaryens, providing insight into their rise and fall. This article will explore the timeline of this highly anticipated show, inspired by George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.

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Jaehaerys I and the Great Council of 101 AC

Credits: HBO

House of the Dragon unfolds around the year 103 AC in the land of Westeros. The series kicked off with a significant event known as the Great Council, which began in 101 AC.

This council was called to decide who would succeed King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, also known as the “Old King,” as the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. The tradition of male-preference primogeniture influenced the decision-making process. According to this, male heirs were favored over females.

This tradition led to Baelon, Jaehaerys’s younger son, being named heir after the death of his elder brother, Aemon. However, Baelon unexpectedly passed away in 101 AC, prompting the need for the Great Council.

During the council, various claims to the throne were debated. Jaehaerys’ only surviving son, Archmaester Vaegon, was disqualified due to his vows.

House Baratheon supported the claim of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the daughter of Jaehaerys’ eldest son. Despite this, the Council chose Viserys, the son of Jaehaerys’ younger son.

Viserys ascended to the throne following Jaehaerys’s passing in 103 AC, setting the stage for the events that unfolded in House of the Dragon.

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112 AC and the reign of Viserys

Credits: HBO

The series kicks off with the arrival of Princess Rhaenyra, daughter of King Viserys I Targaryen, in 112 AC, during the early years of Viserys’s reign. We also meet a young Alicent Hightower, who is friends with Rhaenyra.

Alongside them, we are introduced to her father, Otto Hightower, and members of the Small Council. We also meet Prince Daemon, King Viserys’s younger brother, who later takes on the role of commander of the city watch.

The kingdom eagerly anticipates the birth of a male heir to ensure the Targaryen lineage. Queen Aemma faces tremendous pressure due to previous miscarriages and childbirth complications.

We also meet Prince Daemon, King Viserys’s younger brother, who later takes on the role of commander of the city watch. Tragedy strikes when Queen Aemma dies while giving birth to a son, who tragically does not survive.

King Viserys, devastated by the loss, rethinks the issue of succession. In a bold move, he designates Rhaenyra as his heir, defying tradition.

This decision triggers conflict, particularly when Alicent Hightower becomes the king’s second wife and gives birth to a son, Aegon, further complicating the succession issue.

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120 AC and the claiming of Vhagar

Credits: HBO

House of the Dragon then jumps forward in time to roughly 120 AC. We leave behind the innocence of young Rhaenyra and Alicent and enter a court filled with growing tensions. Here, we meet a new group of Targaryen children.

Aegon, Alicent’s oldest son, struggles with impulsiveness and a lack of discipline. His brother Aemond is quiet and hasn’t yet bonded with a dragon. Their sister Helaena is fascinated with insects.

Rhaenyra’s sons, Jacaerys and Lucerys, grow up learning about their mother’s Targaryen blood and claim to the throne. Despite rumors about their birth, they fiercely defend their right to rule.

Tensions rise within the family. Rhaenyra’s sons are actually born out of wedlock, leading Alicent to prepare her son Aegon for kingship. Her father, Otto, warns her that Rhaenyra’s rule would bring chaos to the realm.

During this time, Daemon’s wife, Laena Velaryon, dies. Aemond claims her dragon, Vhagar. Soon after, Aemond fights with his cousins, resulting in Lucerys slashing his eye. This incident worsens the tension between the two branches of the Targaryen family.

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129 AC and the Coronation of Aegon II

Credits: HBO

The second time jump in House of the Dragon brings us to around 129 AC, showing us a Westeros changed by past tensions. Now, we meet adults who face the results of their parents’ decisions and their own ambitions.

Rhaenyra is now a mature woman who has spent years fighting for her place. She is married to Daemon, and her sons Jacaerys and Lucerys are now both dragonriders, ready to defend their claim to the throne.

Alicent supports her son Aegon as the rightful claimant to the throne. Aegon, now a young man, is arrogant and prideful. His brother Aemond is a skilled warrior, longing for the throne and dealing with past hurts.

The once-friendly bond between Rhaenyra and Alicent has turned to rivalry. Their children now seek power and influence.

By the end of Season 1, Viserys dies, and Alicent and the Green Council crown Aegon as king. Aemond accidentally kills Lucerys during a dragon flight.

This inflames Rhaenyra’s desire for vengeance as her claim is challenged and her son is slain. These events set off the Dance of the Dragons civil war.

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The Dance of the Dragons

Credits: Magali Villeneuve

House of the Dragon is set to take us through the entirety of the Civil War and its aftermath in the coming seasons. Season 2, with its confirmed eight episodes, will likely focus on the early stages of the war. We will likely see key battles like the Assault on Harrenhal and the Battle of the Burning Mill.

Season 3 might delve deeper into the most destructive phase of the war, showing moments like the Battle of the Gullet and the Fall of King’s Landing. It could also cover the peace talks that led to Aegon III’s ascension.

Season 4 may explore the end and aftermath of the war, focusing on the rebuilding of the realm. We can expect to see events like the Maiden’s Fair and Aegon III’s coronation, symbolizing a closure to this turbulent chapter.

It is likely that the series will conclude with the beginning of Aegon III’s reign in 131 AC when he inherits a fractured realm after the Dance of the Dragons.

 

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