House of the Dragon, based on George R. R. Martin’s bookFire & Blood, serves as a prequel toGame of Thrones. Revolving around the ancestors of Daenerys Targaryen, the House Targaryen, who have used dragons as the base of their power, a succession crisis comes to light. Soon, two factions, the Blacks and the Greens, are formed.
House of the Dragon
Taking place about 172 years before the events ofGame of Thrones,House of the Dragontells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
Different houses and powerful families appear throughoutHouse of the Dragon. They each have their own heraldry, mottos, and history. Naturally, members of these lines round out the cast.
FittingHouse of the Dragon’s nature as a prequel series, many of these families have already been introduced to viewers throughGame of Thrones, leaving audiences to watch and see if the apple really falls far from the tree. Some of these families have lost their status by the time ofGame of Thrones, but it can still be worth a watch to see what once was.
House Targaryen
House Targaryen is a noble house also known as the “House of the Dragon,” giving the series its name. Before being disposed of during Robert’s Rebellion and being supplanted by House Baratheon, it had unified the realm. Its coat of arms depicts a three-headed, hydra-like red dragon against a black background. Its house words are “Fire and Blood.” Keeping the theme, even the head of the house is known as the “dragon.” Of course, this makes sense, as they use literal dragons.
The House That Gives the Series Its Name
House of the Dragondepicts the house’s glory days in contrast toGame of Thrones. The house’s strive for power is portrayed in a noble light, wanting to unite Westeros behind a powerful monarch to combat the dark forces.
Many prominent members of the house fill out the cast. King Jaehaerys Targaryen, also known as “The Old King” isportrayed as a noble ruler, but his decision to name his grandson Viserys his heir, who in turn named his daughter Princess Rhaenyra heir, brought about a civil war and succession crisis.
House Lannister
House Lannister serves as one of the Great Houses of Westeros known for ruling over the Westerlands. InGame of Thrones, they were known for their vast wealth and their power behind the Iron Throne. Its coat of arms features a golden rampaging lion against a red background. Their house words are officially “Hear me roar!,” but they are also known for the informal motto of “A Lannister always pays his debts.”
Even in the Prequel, Lannisters Mean Wealth
InHouse of the Dragon, they are already portrayed as quite wealthy, though not quite reaching their status inGame of Thrones.Somewhat reminiscent ofJaime and Cersei, two prominent members of the family are two ambitious twins: the boorish Lord Jason Lannister and the sly Ser Tyland Lannister, the latter of whom has schemed with Otto Hightower to put Aegon on the throne.
House Stark
House Stark, which served as one of the most prominent houses inGame of Thrones, was the royal house of the Kingdom of the North and served as one of Westeros' longest-running lines of nobility. The house’s sigil is the head of a grey direwolf against a white background over green. Their motto is a famous warning: “Winter Is Coming.” The house is known for its devotion to the North and the Night’s Watch.
House Stark Takes Oaths Seriously
Compared toGame of Thrones, House Stark is somewhat less prominent inHouse of the Dragon, but members do make appearances. Lord Rickon Stark, for example, appears towards the end of the first episode anddies offscreen afterward,but not before pledging fealty to Rhaenyra Targaryen. His son, Lord Cregan Stark, also appears and agrees to honor this oath.
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House Baratheon
House Baratheon of Storm’s End serves as the stormlands' principal house as well as the youngest of Westeros' Great Houses. The house was founded by Orys Baratheon, who married a conquered house’s heiress.
InGame of Thrones, Robert Baratheon had made House Baratheon the Seven Kingdom’s ruling power through a rebellion against the Targaryen dynasty, becoming King Robert I Baratheon. Its sigil is of a black stag against a gold field, with their official house words reading “Ours is the Fury.”
Loyalty Skips a Generation
Boremund Baratheon appears inHouse of the Dragon’s first episode, “The Heirs of the Dragon.” He believes that his cousin, Rhaenys Targaryen, is the rightful queen of the Seven Kingdoms. He is also seen hosting the princess and her suitors at Storm’s End. However, he dies offscreen in the first season, being supplanted by his son, Borros, who proves to be less loyal than his father and his allegiances, instead supporting Aegon.
House Velaryon
House Velaryon is a house of Valyrians that rules Driftmark, an island west of Dragonstone. However, High Tide, the castle that serves as the house’s seat, is based on an island off Driftmark’s coast.
According to the books, their heraldry takes the form of a seahorse against a green background, which is given a more fantastic appearance in theHouse of the Dragonseries. Their house words are sometimes given as “The Old, the True, the Brave.” This motto doesn’t actually appear in the books, but in a campaign guide.
A Shared Past With House Targaryen
House Velaryon is connected to House Targaryen, with them both descending from Valyria. This bond has been emphasized through political marriages and alliances. Many prominent members of House Velaryon appear inHouse of the Dragon. Corlys Velaryo, who is known as the “Sea Snake,” serves as the head of the house and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen’s husband.
Their daughter, Lady Laena Velaryon, was the dragon Vhagar’s rider, and wasmarried to Prince Daemon Targaryen. King Viserys had considered a political marriage with Laena, but decided against it due to her youth. Corlys and Rhaenys' son, Laenor Velaryon, once rode the dragon, Seasmoke, and had been the husband of Rhaenyra Targaryen.
House Westerling
House Westerling is a house based close to Casterly Rock, which is subject to House Lannister. In the books, the house is described as having fallen on bad times and is known more for its honor than power. Robb Stark had also notably been married to Jeyne Westerling in the books, but his love-interest was changed to Talisa Stark inGame of Thrones, changing House Westerling’s role in the series.
A Faithful Knight
Ser Harrold Westerling, a knight from the house, appears early on inHouse of the Dragon. Harrold long served as a member of the Kingsguard and was known for his chivalry andhis prominent military careerin years past. He was even assigned to serve as Rhaenyra Targaryen’s sworn shield by King Viserys. Notably, he is given a larger role in the series compared to the books, where he is said to have died of old age.
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House Royce
House Royce was a former Great House of Westeros that ruled over the Vale. However, it was later disposed of by House Royce. Its heraldry is made up of black pebbles against a bronze field surrounded by runes. It also has “We Remember” as its house words.
An Unhappy Marriage
A few members from the vassal house appear inHouse of the Dragon. Lady Rhea Royce serves as Daemon Targaryen’s estranged wife, having likely been married for political reasons. She is eventually killed by Daemon, using her dying words to taunt him. Her cousin, Ser Gerold Royce, later appears, having suspected the real nature of Rhea’s death. Notably, Gerold doesn’t appear in the books, having been created for the series.
House Strong
House Strong is a vassal of House Tully who currently has Harrenhal as their fortress. Their coat of arms resembles three differently colored rivers against a white background, issuing forth from a hand. Time will not be kind to them, as the line is considered extinct by the time of the original books. However, asHouse of the Dragonis a prequel series, members of the house appear in the series.
Brother Against Brother
InHouse of the Dragon, Lord Lyonel Strong serves King Viserys as a master of laws and is eventually raised to the rank of Hand of the King. His children, Ser Harwin Strong and Larys Strong, also appear, with the former being the father of Rhaenyra’s sons, though presented as Laenor Velaryon’s sons. As stated, as they are destined to die out byGame of Thrones, the family isn’t even safe from itself: the calculating Larys arranges for his father and brother’s death during the burning of Harrenhal.
House Hightower
House Hightower is a house that has its seat located in Oldtown, one of Westeros' oldest cities. Their coat of arms depicts a white stone tower adorned with green fire amidst a smoke-grey background. Its motto reads “We Light the Way,” connecting the house to a watchtower. For many, House Hightower is known to be shrouded in mystery.
The Dowager Queen’s Lineage
InHouse of the Dragon, House Hightower becomes part of the royal line upon Viserys' marriage to Alicent Hightower, making her Queen Consort. However, this leads to a division of supporters known as the Blacks and the Geens. With the Blacks supporting Rhaenyra Targaryen’s claim to the Iron Throne, House Hightower’s loyalties lie with the Greens, who support the rule of King Aegon II Targaryen, Viserys and Alicent’s son.
In the originalGame of Thronesbooks,Alerie Hightower was the originalwife of Mace Tyrell, which also connects their children to House Hightower.
