House of the Dragon houses and characters guide

With war looming in the House of the Dragons, the noble houses of Westeros have already begun to choose their sides for the Iron Throne between Raenira and Aegon Targaryen. It can be difficult to keep up with shifting political alliances and an ever-expanding cast of characters. , will update this house and character guide throughout the season.

[Ed. note: The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 5.]

House Targaryen

“Fire and Blood”
The royal family of Westeros. Their ancestral locus is Dragonstone, but excludes King’s Landing. Their sigil is his three-headed dragon red on a black field.

The entire show is about House Targaryen, so this is probably one of those houses you don’t need help keeping straight (or at least we hope). to explain.

when House of the Dragon Beginning, Viserys I Targaryen is King of Westeros after the Grand Council voted him to succeed his grandfather Jaehaerys. Named his daughter Raenira as heir, and ousted his younger brother Damon Targaryen as heir. Viserys later chose to marry Aricent Hightower, with whom he had a son, Aegon, sparking a succession crisis that sparked the First Targaryen Civil War known as the Dance of the Dragons.

The Targaryens are pure-blood Valyrians, and Viserys brokers a political alliance with one of the few other Valyrian families, Velarion. Despite this, and the fact that they are related, Daemon still pursues marriage to his niece Laenira.

house high tower

Photo: Olly Upton/HBO

“We light the way”
Ruler of Old Town where the Citadel is located. They are loyal to House Tyrell of Highgarden. Their coat of arms is a white tower of flames over a gray field.

among all the new and famous houses of House of the Dragon, Hightower is one of the most important things to watch. The house is headed by Lord Hobart Hightower, whose younger brother Ser Otto handed over most of King Viserys I Targaryen’s reign. After the death of his wife Emma, ​​it was Otto who encouraged her daughter Aricent to approach the king, leading to the marriage of Aricent and Viserys and her son Aegon. However, as a result of Otto’s plot, Viserys dismisses Otto as his hand.

After being persuaded by his father, Aricent decides to fight for Aegon to be named Viserys heir. She almost declared war when she showed up at Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding feast in a green dress.

Otto also has a son, Ser Gwain Hightower, who participated in the series premiere Heir tournament.

Although Hightower remains loyal to House Tyrell, it also has its own vassals such as Bulwer, Kostain, Quie, and Beesbury, whose lord Lyman serves as Viserys’ Coin Master.

Bellarion family

Photo: Olly Upton/HBO

“Old True Warrior”
Ruler of Driftmark, an island in Blackwater Bay. Their home base is Hightide, an island castle off the coast of Driftmark. Their coat of arms is a silver seahorse over an aquamarine field.

House Velarion is one of the oldest (and wealthiest) houses in Westeros, with Valyrian lineage as old as House Targaryen. The Velaryons are Valyrian houses originating from the Valyrian peninsula of Essos. Corliss is married to Viserys’ cousin, Princess Reynis Targaryen, and is called the queen she never had after her death as heir to Jehalis. Corlys and Rhaenys have two children from her named Laena and Laenor. Although not a member of House Targaryen, Renor is the rider of the Targaryen-born dragon Seasmoke.

Corliss, also known as Lord of the Tides, served as captain of Viserys and commanded the royal fleet. His younger brother, Ser Vaemond Velaryon, serves as commander of his Velaryon Navy. However, after Viserys refused to marry his 12-year-old Laena and endorse his Alicent Hightower, Corlys left his position in the King’s Council, and in a fight with the Triarchy he became the Daemon Targaryen. partner with After the war, Viserys decided to marry Laenira to Reynor to broker a political alliance with the Bellarion family, who had by then taken over the Stepstones.

house strong

Image: HBO

A Riverland aristocrat who pledges allegiance to House Tully. Their home is the Hall of Fame in Hallen. Their crest consists of three parts: blue, red, and green, gathered around a white field fist.

House Strong is ruled by Lord Lionel Strong, who acts as Hand of Viserys after previously serving as Master of Law. His youngest son is the quiet schemer Larry Strong, and his eldest son is Sir Harwyn Strong, often called Breakbones and known as the Strongest Man of the Seven Kingdoms.

The stronghold of House Strong is the Great Castle of Harren, where Jeharryth I Targaryen hosted a meeting to select his successor.But between Harrenhal’s alleged curse and the fact that the seat was then held by House Wendt game of thrones Things are already looking bad for the Strong family’s future. House of the Dragon.

house call

Photo: Olly Upton

Butler of House Dondarion in Blackhaven, Castle of Dornish Marches. Their sigil is his ten black circles in the red field.

In the series premiere, we met the hunky Ser Christon Cole when he defeated the Demon Targaryen in a tournament of heirs. Despite being technically called a noble house, the Cole family is looked down upon in aristocratic society due to their “low-born” status. Cole’s Dornish ancestry probably doesn’t matter either.

While serving in the Kingsguard, Christon becomes very close with Raynira and the two consummate their relationship before she becomes engaged to Raynor.

Lois family

“We remember”

Ruler of Vale. They have sworn allegiance to House Arryn. Their seats are runestones. Their sigil is a black circle over an orange square, surrounded by white field runes.

Proud descendants of the First Men, House Royce has sworn allegiance to House Arryn and retains its vassals, House Toretto. Rhea Royce, Lady of the Vale, was the first wife of the Demon Targaryen, but the two hated each other. After Raenira’s engagement to Rayner, Daemon married Raenira and murdered Rhea in order to pave the way for a plan to claim the runestones as his own. killed Rhea, and is likely to challenge Daemon’s inheritance.

House Royce also makes a modest appearance in Game of Thrones, with its then-head Lord Yorn Royce playing a key role in freeing Winterfell from Bolton and electing Bran Stark to the Iron Throne.

Westerling family

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A Westerland aristocrat who has sworn allegiance to the Lannisters. Their seats are crags.

Ser Harrold Westerling is a longtime member of the Kingsguard, entering service under Jaehaerys’ rule. He now serves as Rhaenyra Targaryen’s oath shield.of game of thrones, The Westerlings only showed up when they gave up their seats to Robb Stark. However, in the A Song of Ice and Fire books, this house played a much more important role, with Robb marrying Jane Westerling rather than Talitha Mager as in the series.

Lannisters

Photo: Olly Upton/HBO

“Listen to my roar!”
Ruler of Westerland. Their seat is Casterly Rock. Their emblem is a golden lion in a crimson field.

House of the Dragon This season has given us another set of Lannister twins. Tyrand and Jason are, fortunately, not in an illicit incestuous relationship.As members of the great House of Westeros, both men play important roles in the kingdom.Corlys Velaryon leaves King’s Landing Fighting in the War of Stepstone, Ser Tyland assumed the title of Master of Ships. His brother Jason serves as Lord of Casterly Rock. In his second royal hunt for Prince Aegon, Jason attempted to win Raenira’s hand, but was quickly shut down.

The season also saw brief appearances by several other Lannisters. did.