Warfare is formally right here in Home of the Dragon, and the primary episodes of season 2 actually has seen either side undergo losses — a son for a son, with a world much more tragic and treacherous than simply about any of them had been ready for at this level.
Nonetheless, this Dance of Dragons is simply warming up. And the noble homes of Westeros are already starting to decide on sides within the rivalry for the Iron Throne between Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). The shifting political alliances and ever-expanding solid of characters might be laborious to maintain up with, notably since so many weren’t featured in Sport of Thrones. That can assist you hold monitor of the varied homes — and the way they match into the Targaryen civil battle — we’ll be updating this house-and-character information all through the season as to who’s Staff Black and who’s Staff Inexperienced.
[Ed. note: The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2 episode 5.]
Home Targaryen
Declared for: It’s difficult (see beneath)
“Fireplace and Blood”
The royal home of Westeros. Their ancestral seat is Dragonstone, although they rule out of King’s Touchdown. Their sigil is a pink three-headed dragon over a black area.
The whole present is about Home Targaryen, so that is in all probability the one home you don’t need assistance conserving straight (or not less than we’d hope). We’ll nonetheless go over the bullet factors right here, although, simply in case.
When Home of the Dragon begins, Viserys I Targaryen is King of Westeros after a Nice Council had voted for him to succeed his grandfather Jaehaerys. Following the loss of life of his spouse Aemma Arryn and their new child son, Baelon, Viserys Targaryen named his daughter Rhaenyra as his inheritor, displacing his brother, Daemon Targaryen, from the road of succession. Viserys later chooses to marry Alicent Hightower, with whom he has a son, Aegon, making a disaster of succession that units off the primary Targaryen civil battle, often known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Home Targaryen are pureblood Valyrians, and Viserys brokers a political alliance with one of many solely different Valyrian homes, Velaryon, when he instructions Rhaenrya to marry her second cousin, Laenor Velaryon. Regardless of this — and the actual fact they’re associated — Daemon nonetheless pursues a wedding along with his niece Rhaenyra.
Being the household behind this complete mess of a civil battle, Home Targaryen is predictably break up by way of allegiance. Whereas King Aegon sits on the throne in King’s Touchdown, Queen Rhaenyra stays in Dragonstone, with each claiming that they’re the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. By season 2, every has misplaced a son (Lucerys for Rhaenyra within the season 1 finale; Jaehaerys within the season 2 premiere of Home of the Dragon for Aegon). They’ve additionally staked out staff names and colours: Staff Black for Rhaenyra and her cohort, Staff Inexperienced for Aegon (see beneath).
Home Hightower
Declared for: Staff Inexperienced
“We Mild the Manner”
The rulers of Oldtown, the place the Citadel is positioned. They maintain fealty to Home Tyrell of Highgarden. Their sigil is a white tower topped by flames on a grey area.
Of all of the newly distinguished homes in Home of the Dragon, Hightower is (clearly) a very powerful to maintain your eye on. The home is headed up by Lord Hobert Hightower, whose youthful brother Ser Otto was Hand to King Viserys I Targaryen for a lot of his reign. Otto has two youngsters, Alicent and Ser Gwayne, who’s largely again in Oldtown in the course of the occasions of the present (although he participated within the match within the pilot). Otto inspired Alicent to get near the king after the loss of life of his spouse Aemma, resulting in Alicent and Viserys’ marriage and their son Aegon. Although, because of Otto’s behind-the-scenes machinations, Viserys dismisses Otto as his Hand.
After some convincing from her father, Alicent decides to struggle for Aegon to be named Viserys’ inheritor. She all however declares battle when she seems at Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding ceremony feast sporting a inexperienced costume.
Finally, Alicent and Otto conspired to place Aegon on the throne (kind of considering they had been honoring Viserys’ needs), and whereas they survived the coronation, they did truly set the stage for a battle this time. Since then, “Staff Inexperienced” (so named for the Hightower home colours) has been presiding over King’s Touchdown and the Seven Kingdoms, whereas attempting to recruit banners to their trigger.
Hightower holds fealty to Home Tyrell, however in addition they have a number of vassals of their very own: Bulwer, Costayne, Cuy, and Beesbury, whose lord, Lyman, serves as Viserys’ Grasp of Coin.
Home Velaryon
Declared for: Staff Black
“The Outdated, the True, the Courageous”
The rulers of Driftmark, an island in Blackwater Bay. Their seat is Excessive Tide, an island-castle off Driftmark’s coast. Their sigil is a silver seahorse over an aquamarine area.
Home Velaryon is among the oldest (and wealthiest) homes in Westeros, with a Valyrian bloodline as historical as Home Targaryen — as its present lord, Corlys “the Sea Snake,” likes to remind Viserys. The Velaryons are a Valyrian home, originating from Essos’ Valyrian Peninsula. Corlys is married to Viserys’ cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, dubbed the Queen Who By no means Was after she was handed over as Jaehaerys’ inheritor. Collectively, Corlys and Rhaenys have two kids, Laena and Laenor. Although Laenor is just not a member of Home Targaryen, he’s the rider of the Targaryen-bred dragon Seasmoke.
Corlys, also called Lord of the Tides, served as Viserys’ Grasp of Ships and instructions the Royal Fleet. His youthful brother, Ser Vaemond Velaryon, serves as commander of the Velaryon navy. Nonetheless, after Viserys rejects marrying the 12-year-old Laena in favor of Alicent Hightower, Corlys leaves his submit on the King’s Council and aligns himself with Daemon Targaryen within the battle in opposition to the Triarchy. After the battle, Viserys decides to marry Rhaenyra to Laenor to dealer a political alliance with Home Velaryon, which by then had taken over the Stepstones.
Although Laenor “died” and Rhaenyra went on to marry Daemon, Corlys and Rhaenys stayed loyal to her trigger (not less than publicly; they discuss some mad shit on their very own typically). Since Aegon’s coronation, Home Velaryon has been working with Staff Black.
Home Robust
Declared for: Staff Inexperienced (largely; see beneath)
A noble home of the Riverlands that holds fealty to Home Tully. Their seat is the Harrenhal. Their sigil is a tripartite of blue, pink, and inexperienced converging round a fist on white area.
Home Robust is dominated over by Lord Lyonel Robust, who acts as Viserys’ Hand after beforehand serving as his Grasp of Legal guidelines. His youngest son is the quiet schemer Larys Robust, and the oldest is Ser Harwin Robust, who is usually referred to as Breakbones and often known as the strongest man within the Seven Kingdoms.
Home Robust’s seat is Harrenhal, which hosted Jaehaerys I Targaryen’s meeting to decide on an inheritor. However between Harrenhal’s alleged curse and the truth that the seat was held by Home Whent when Sport of Thrones started, issues already aren’t wanting nice for Home Robust’s future in Home of the Dragon.
Or not less than, they weren’t, till two essential issues occurred: Ser Harwin Robust had a long-running affair with Rhaenyra, secretly (or “secretly”) fathering three of her kids. After which later, Larys blew up his brother and pop. The lordship handed to Larys’ nice uncle, so Harrenhal is susceptible to say the least. (Technically any Robust kids heirs are being dubbed “Valeryons,” so whereas they’re Staff Black they don’t symbolize the home.) However we all know Larys has thrown his gauntlet in with Alicent and Staff Inexperienced in a giant method.
Home Cole
Declared for: Staff Inexperienced
Stewards to Home Dondarrion at Blackhaven, a fortress within the Dornish Marches. Their sigil is ten black circles on a pink area.
We met the hunky Ser Criston Cole within the sequence premiere when he defeated Daemon Targaryen within the Inheritor’s Event — a loss made spicier by the truth that Cole is common-born. Criston’s father is the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven, however regardless of technically being referred to as a noble home, Home Cole is basically appeared down upon in noble society for his or her “low-born” standing. Cole’s Dornish ancestry in all probability doesn’t assist issues both.
Whereas serving within the Kingsguard, Criston turns into very shut with Rhaenyra, and the pair consummate their relationship previous to her engagement to Laenor. However after she breaks up with him, he takes it fairly tough, and grows to hate her. Ever since, he’s been joyful to affix up with Staff Inexperienced, the place he nonetheless serves as commander of the Kingsguard and, as of season 2, began a sexual relationship with Alicent.
Home Royce
Declared for: Undetermined
“We Bear in mind”
The rulers of the Vale. They maintain fealty to Home Arryn. Their seat is Runestone. Their sigil is black circles over an orange sq., surrounded by runes on a white area.
Proud descendants of the First Males, Home Royce holds fealty to Home Arryn and has a vassal of their very own, Home Tollett. Rhea Royce, the Girl of the Vale, was the primary spouse of Daemon Targaryen, though the 2 loathed one another. Following Rhaenyra’s engagement to Laenor, Daemon murdered Rhea with the intention to clear the way in which for his plots to marry Rhaenyra and declare Runestone for his personal. Nonetheless, Rhea’s cousin Ser Gerald Royce is aware of Daemon killed Rhea, and can seemingly problem Daemon’s inheritance.
Home Royce was additionally reasonably featured in Sport of Thrones, with its then-head Lord Yohn Royce enjoying a key rule in liberating Winterfell from the Boltons and electing Bran Stark to the Iron Throne.
Home Westerling
Declared for: Undetermined
A noble home of the Westerlands that holds fealty to Home Lannister. Their seat is the Crag.
Ser Harrold Westerling is a long-standing member of the Kingsguard, having begun his service underneath Jaehaerys’ rule. He at the moment serves because the sworn protect to Rhaenyra Targaryen. In Sport of Thrones, the one time Home Westerling popped up was once they surrendered their seat to Robb Stark. Nonetheless, within the Tune of Ice and Fireplace books, this home performed a way more distinguished position, with Robb marrying Jeyne Westerling quite than Talisa Maegyr, as he did within the sequence.
Home Lannister
Declared for: Staff Inexperienced
“Hear Me Roar!”
The rulers of the Westerlands. Their seat is Casterly Rock. Their sigil is a golden lion on a crimson area.
Home of the Dragon has given us one other set of Lannister twins in season 1: Tyland and Jason, who, fortuitously, usually are not in a bootleg incestuous relationship. As befitting members of certainly one of Westeros’ Nice Homes, each males maintain necessary roles within the kingdom. After Corlys Velaryon left King’s Touchdown to struggle within the Warfare of the Stepstones, Ser Tyland took over as Grasp of Ships. His brother Jason serves because the Lord of Casterly Rock. Throughout the royal hunt on Prince Aegon’s second nameday, Jason tried to win Rhaenyra’s hand however was promptly shut down.
Season 1 additionally noticed temporary appearances by a couple of different Lannisters — the twins had been joined on the royal hunt by their widowed mom Ceira and Brett, a relative whose precise connection to the household is unknown. However most necessary to season 2 to this point is their temporary point out at Aegon’s small council assembly within the premiere, when Otto says their navies might be necessary for breaking by means of Ser Corlys’ blockade.
Home Stark
Declared for: Staff Black
“Winter Is Coming”
The wardens of the North. Their seat is Winterfell. Their sigil is a operating grey direwolf.
Whereas the Starks actually undergo it in Sport of Thrones, we get a glimpse of the home’s halcyon days within the season 2 premiere, with Lord Cregan Stark exhibiting Jacaerys the Wall, and talking of the the Aristocracy of sacrifice and repair (traditional Stark shit). Later, Jacaerys tells his mother that Lord Cregan has promised 2,000 males to their trigger, though we don’t hear the finer factors of the deal.
Declared for: Staff Black
Their seat is The Twins, one of the crucial necessary castles in Westeros, guarding the clearest river-crossing from the North to the Riverlands. Their sigil is 2 towers related by a bridge.
The Freys have lengthy loved the place of energy that their fortress’s prime actual property affords them. Simply as Lord Walder Frey made a profitable cope with Catelyn Stark within the unique Sport of Thrones, Home of the Dragon’s Freys make out like bandits throughout their episode 5 assembly with Jace. Caught between a rock and a tough place, and determined for the assistance of the Stark males, who want to make use of the crossing at The Twins to succeed in the Riverlands, Jace agrees to provide Home Frey the fortress at Harrenhal, establishing them as an much more highly effective pressure in Westeros, with two of probably the most highly effective and influential castles on the continent. Nonetheless, Jace acquired what he was after, and added Home Frey to his mom’s supporters.
Declared for: Staff Black
A considerably distinguished home within the Riverlands.
After their bitter feud with the Brackens was restarted earlier this season, the Blackwoods have been the first beneficiaries of Daemon’s time at Harrenhal. In episode 5, Daemon and his dragon assist carry the Brackens to heel, however they nonetheless aren’t thrilled over his management of the Riverlands.
Declared for: It’s difficult
One other considerably distinguished home within the Riverlands.
Regardless of dropping the newest spherical of their longstanding struggle in opposition to Home Blackwood, Home Bracken has acquitted itself pretty properly on this battle to this point. Initially declared for the Greens, the Brackens fought the Blackwoods nobly, and didn’t again down even when Daemon threatened them face-to-face with dragon hearth. Even after they misplaced the struggle, the Brackens refused to bend the knee to Harrenhal’s “interloper,” and appear to have defied Daemon, making an attempt to strike out on their very own. It’s unclear whether or not they’re actually supporting anybody in The Dance of Dragons now.
Home Tully
Declared for: Undecided
“Household, Obligation, Honor”
The rulers of the Riverlands. Their seat is Riverrun. Their sigil is a leaping trout on blue-and-red mud.
One of many extra attention-grabbing conditions on this record: Aemond and Aegon see Riverrun as a key space to regulate with the intention to defend King’s Touchdown. “Fats previous Lord Tully will both increase my banner, or see his burn,” Aegon tells his Small Council. That’s an effective way to begin an alliance.
Home Arryn
Declared for: Staff Black
“As Excessive as Honor”
The rulers of the Vale. Their seat is the Eyrie. Their sigil is a blue falcon hovering in opposition to a moon.
That’s proper, the household with the Moon Door! Those up within the Vale, the place Tyrion was as soon as held captive. Most of their point out right here has been in Jacaerys’ debrief to Rhaenyra: Girl Jeyne Arryn has pledged her assist in trade for a dragon to protect the Vale.
Home Greyjoy
Declared for: Undetermined
“We Do Not Sow”
The rulers of the Iron Islands. Their seat is Pyke. Their sigil is a golden kraken.
They haven’t gotten a ton of play in Home of the Dragon but. However apparently Aegon wants a grasp of ships, and “younger Lord Dalton Greyjoy” will get his identify thrown round.