10 Things To Expect From Game Of Thrones: House Of The Dragon

The civil war at the heart of House of the Dragon burst forth from the bitter rivalry between a princess and a queen – the crown princess of Dragonstone Rhaenyra Targaryen and her stepmother Alicent Hightower. The relationship between the two women soured after King Viserys refused to recant naming Rhaenyra as heir despite Alicent giving birth to his sons.

Upon the death of King Viserys, the question of succession arose. Despite Princess Rhaenyra’s status and King Viserys’ wishes, many preferred that his eldest son by Alicent, Aegon, take the throne instead. The two rival factions arose, the Blacks (the supporters of Rhaenyra) and the Greens (the supporters of Alicent and Aegon). Much of the intrigue during the Dance of Dragons arose from powerful allies switching sides between the two factions. For example, Kingsgaurd member Criston Cole (who may have been glanced in the teaser trailer as part of the tournament) began as an ally and rumored paramour of Rhaenyra Targaryen but later switched sides and crowned Alicent’s son Aegon king.

The rivalry between queens also resulted in years of enmity between their children. Rhaenyra’s three eldest sons fought against Alicent’s three sons by Rhaenyra’s father. Despite the taboo of kinslaying in the Seven Kingdoms, this conflict led to cousin to cousin fighting to the death as part of the fallout between the conflict between two women desperate to be the first lady of the realm.