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 becomes 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 (129 AC Onwards)

Credit: HBO

After Lucerys’s death, the realm remained in a fragile peace as both the Blacks and Greens prepared for conflict. The two factions sought alliances with Houses Baratheon, Stark, and Arryn. The Greens aimed to secure the Riverlands, mobilizing Houses Lannister and Hightower to support their efforts. Meanwhile, the Blacks established a blockade of the Gullet, limiting trade in King’s Landing.

This blockade pressured the Greens to consider expanding their naval forces or allying with the Ironborn. The North and Vale ultimately sided with the Blacks. Lord Cregan Stark pledged 2,000 men to Rhaenyra’s cause, while Lady Jeyne Arryn sought a dragon’s protection for the Vale. The Greens faced additional setbacks when House Beesbury, angry over their lord’s murder, raised arms in support of Rhaenyra.

Blood and Cheese

Credits: Max

Rhaenyra grieved her son’s death and did not respond to the good news for her cause. She searched the Stormlands for signs of Lucerys and returned to Dragonstone with a demand for Aemond Targaryen. Daemon, eager for revenge, decided to honor Rhaenyra’s wish. After failing to gain support from Rhaenys and Meleys for an attack on Vhagar, Daemon went to King’s Landing alone.

He enlisted a loyal City Watch guard and a rat-catcher familiar with the castle’s secret tunnels. The two are simply known as Blood and Cheese. Their mission became clear: assassinate Aemond. While searching for him, they found Queen Helaena and took her son, Jaehaerys, hostage. Despite Helaena’s pleas, they murdered Jaehaerys in his bed, leaving a wave of shock in the realm.

The Funeral of Jaehaerys

Credits: Max

Jaehaerys’s murder shocked the Greens. The Green Council responded by locking down the Red Keep and the city, searching for the assassins. Blood and Cheese, the assassins, managed to escape, with Blood carrying Jaehaerys’s head to claim his reward from Daemon. Aegon blamed Rhaenyra for the murder and vowed to declare war. Lord Larys Strong informed the council about Blood’s capture.

Aegon wanted to execute Blood, but Lord Jasper Wylde advised against it, suggesting they interrogate him for information. Ser Otto proposed blaming Rhaenyra publicly and holding a funeral for Jaehaerys to gain sympathy from the smallfolk. After much debate, Aegon reluctantly agreed to allow the funeral, with Alicent and Helaena riding behind the procession.

The hanging of the ratcatchers

Credit: HBO

As news of Jaehaerys’s death spread, the Blacks were shocked to find Rhaenyra blamed for it. Rhaenyra denied her involvement and sent out ravens to counter the accusations. Her advisor warned her that the incident harmed the Blacks’ reputation. Rhaenyra confronted Daemon about his role in Jaehaerys’s murder. They argued, with Rhaenyra questioning Daemon’s loyalty.

Meanwhile, Jaehaerys’s funeral garnered public sympathy for the Greens, who painted Rhaenyra as responsible for the tragedy. The tension escalated further when Criston ordered Ser Arryk Cargyll to impersonate his brother and infiltrate Dragonstone to kill Rhaenyra. After interrogating Blood, Aegon ordered the hanging of all ratcatchers in the Red Keep, angering many in King’s Landing. This rash decision led to public scorn for the Greens.

The Battle of the Burning Mill

Credit: HBO

The battle at the Burning Mill marked the first conflict between the supporters of the Blacks and the Greens. The feud between the Brackens and Blackwoods erupted over a border dispute. The Brackens, aligned with the Greens, attacked first, killing Lord Samwell Blackwood. Despite Aegon’s claim of victory, both sides suffered heavy losses. With a Hightower army still months away, Criston proposed raising an army in King’s Landing to attack the Riverlands.

He departed with Targaryen and Hightower knights. The Blacks learned of Criston’s movements when Lady Baela Targaryen spotted his forces and harassed them. In contrast, Daemon easily captured Harrenhal, gaining a strategic advantage and beginning to negotiate with Lord Grover Tully to secure the Riverlands.

The Battle at Rook’s Rest

Credit: HBO

The Battle at Rook’s Rest marked the first clash between the dragons of the Blacks and Greens. Rhaenys Targaryen, riding Meleys, flew to Rook’s Rest to support the Stauntons against the Green army. Meleys devastated the Green forces with dragonfire. However, Criston had hidden Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar in the woods, who joined the battle unexpectedly. Aegon and Sunfyre also joined the fray but suffered serious injuries in the conflict.

Rhaenys directed Meleys to attack Vhagar, leading to a fierce aerial battle. Ultimately, Vhagar outmatched Meleys, resulting in the deaths of both Rhaenys and her dragon. Despite the Greens’ costly victory, they suffered significant losses, including Aegon’s injuries. The defeat weakened the Blacks, who lost their most significant dragon and a crucial council member.

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