10 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Game Of Thrones

7. The Targaryens Conquered All Seven Kingdoms

One of the largest events that preludes the series is the Targaryens conquering Westeros. Called the War of Conquest, it occurred around 300 years prior to the events seen in Game of Thrones, and resulted in the Targaryens occupying the throne until Robert's Rebellion. It's a commonly held belief that the Targaryens were able to defeat all seven kingdoms of Westeros. However, there was just one that managed to successfully resist: Dorne, the home of Oberyn Martell. The leaders of Dorne observed that open battles with the Targaryens only resulted in defeat, due to the immense power of the dragons under their control. Instead, the nation engaged in guerilla warfare, swiftly striking Targaryen forces then disappearing before the dragons could show up. Eventually, the Targaryens just gave up, withdrew their armies, and allowed Dorne to remain as an independent nation. A century and a half later, King Daeron Targaryen once again attempted to take Dorne and succeeded, despite heavy losses. The ensuing Dornish rebellion proved too much though, and it quickly returned to being an independent nation. Dorne eventually joined the rest of the Seven Kingdoms via a peaceful alliance through marriage, on their own terms. This explains why Oberyn Martell can style himself 'Prince,' rather than 'Lord,' - it's a concession granted through that alliance.