House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon is a fantasy drama set nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, focusing on the rise and internal conflict of House Targaryen, the dragon-riding dynasty that once ruled Westeros.

The story begins during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, a well-meaning but indecisive ruler. With no surviving male heir, Viserys names his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, as his successor—an unusual decision in a male-dominated society.

Rhaenyra grows up expecting to inherit the Iron Throne, but her claim is challenged when Viserys remarries and has sons with Alicent Hightower. Over time, tensions grow between Rhaenyra and Alicent, once close friends, as political factions begin to form around them.

The realm becomes divided into two rival camps:

The “Blacks,” who support Rhaenyra’s claim
The “Greens,” who support Alicent’s son, Aegon II Targaryen

As Viserys’s health declines, the struggle for succession intensifies. Secrets, betrayals, and shifting alliances deepen the conflict. The presence of dragons—powerful and unpredictable—raises the stakes even higher, making the coming war far more destructive.

After Viserys’s death, the Greens seize control of King’s Landing and crown Aegon II as king, bypassing Rhaenyra. In response, Rhaenyra declares herself the rightful queen, leading to a brutal civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

The war tears apart the Targaryen family, as relatives turn against each other in battles fought with both armies and dragons. The conflict results in devastating losses on both sides and marks the beginning of the decline of Targaryen power in Westeros.