Battle is formally right here in Home of the Dragon, and the primary episodes of season 2 definitely has seen each side endure 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 forged of characters will be exhausting to maintain up with, notably since so many weren’t featured in Sport of Thrones. That will help you hold observe 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 Crew Black and who’s Crew 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)
“Hearth and Blood”
The royal home of Westeros. Their ancestral seat is Dragonstone, although they rule out of King’s Touchdown. Their sigil is a crimson three-headed dragon over a black discipline.
Your complete present is about Home Targaryen, so that is in all probability the one home you don’t need assistance maintaining straight (or a minimum of 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 called 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 together 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: Crew Black for Rhaenyra and her cohort, Crew Inexperienced for Aegon (see beneath).
Home Hightower
Declared for: Crew Inexperienced
“We Gentle the Manner”
The rulers of Oldtown, the place the Citadel is situated. They maintain fealty to Home Tyrell of Highgarden. Their sigil is a white tower topped by flames on a grey discipline.
Of all of the newly distinguished homes in Home of the Dragon, Hightower is (clearly) crucial 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 children, Alicent and Ser Gwayne, who’s largely again in Oldtown through 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, on account 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 carrying a inexperienced gown.
Finally, Alicent and Otto conspired to place Aegon on the throne (kind of pondering 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, “Crew 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: Crew 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 discipline.
Home Velaryon is likely one of 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 youngsters, Laena and Laenor. Although Laenor just isn’t 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 put up 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 (a minimum of publicly; they speak some mad shit on their very own typically). Since Aegon’s coronation, Home Velaryon has been working with Crew Black.
Home Robust
Declared for: Crew 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, crimson, and inexperienced converging round a fist on white discipline.
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 commonly referred to as Breakbones and often called 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 trying nice for Home Robust’s future in Home of the Dragon.
Or a minimum of, they weren’t, till two crucial issues occurred: Ser Harwin Robust had a long-running affair with Rhaenyra, secretly (or “secretly”) fathering three of her youngsters. After which later, Larys blew up his brother and pop. The lordship handed to Larys’ nice uncle, so Harrenhal is weak to say the least. (Technically any Robust youngsters heirs are being dubbed “Valeryons,” so whereas they’re Crew Black they don’t characterize the home.) However we all know Larys has thrown his gauntlet in with Alicent and Crew Inexperienced in an enormous method.
Home Cole
Declared for: Crew Inexperienced
Stewards to Home Dondarrion at Blackhaven, a citadel within the Dornish Marches. Their sigil is ten black circles on a crimson discipline.
We met the hunky Ser Criston Cole within the collection premiere when he defeated Daemon Targaryen within the Inheritor’s Match — 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 seemed 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 completely satisfied to hitch up with Crew 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 Keep 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 discipline.
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 a purpose 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 doubtless 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 below Jaehaerys’ rule. He at the moment serves because the sworn defend to Rhaenyra Targaryen. In Sport of Thrones, the one time Home Westerling popped up was after they surrendered their seat to Robb Stark. Nonetheless, within the Track of Ice and Hearth books, this home performed a way more distinguished function, with Robb marrying Jeyne Westerling relatively than Talisa Maegyr, as he did within the collection.
Home Lannister
Declared for: Crew Inexperienced
“Hear Me Roar!”
The rulers of the Westerlands. Their seat is Casterly Rock. Their sigil is a golden lion on a crimson discipline.
Home of the Dragon has given us one other set of Lannister twins in season 1: Tyland and Jason, who, happily, aren’t in a bootleg incestuous relationship. As befitting members of one in every of Westeros’ Nice Homes, each males maintain essential roles within the kingdom. After Corlys Velaryon left King’s Touchdown to struggle within the Battle of the Stepstones, Ser Tyland took over as Grasp of Ships. His brother Jason serves because the Lord of Casterly Rock. Through 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 transient 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 essential to season 2 to date is their transient point out at Aegon’s small council assembly within the premiere, when Otto says their navies will likely be essential for breaking by way of Ser Corlys’ blockade.
Home Stark
Declared for: Crew Black
“Winter Is Coming”
The wardens of the North. Their seat is Winterfell. Their sigil is a working 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 displaying Jacaerys the Wall, and talking of the the Aristocracy of sacrifice and repair (basic 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: Crew Black
Their seat is The Twins, probably the most essential castles in Westeros, guarding the clearest river-crossing from the North to the Riverlands. Their sigil is 2 towers linked by a bridge.
The Freys have lengthy loved the place of energy that their citadel’s prime actual property affords them. Simply as Lord Walder Frey made a profitable take care of 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 achieve the Riverlands, Jace agrees to offer Home Frey the citadel at Harrenhal, establishing them as an much more highly effective power in Westeros, with two of essentially the most highly effective and influential castles on the continent. Nonetheless, Jace bought what he was after, and added Home Frey to his mom’s supporters.
Declared for: Crew 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 shedding the latest spherical of their longstanding struggle in opposition to Home Blackwood, Home Bracken has acquitted itself pretty effectively on this battle to date. 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 fireplace. 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, Responsibility, 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 fascinating conditions on this record: Aemond and Aegon see Riverrun as a key space to regulate with a purpose to shield King’s Touchdown. “Fats outdated 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: Crew 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 help in change 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 title thrown round.