House Targaryen is at the center of this adaptation of George RR Martin’s work. The 10-episode series takes place around 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, when the Targaryens had united the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros under one ruler. So, before Daenerys – who was there? Introducing the messiest family in Westeros… Aegon the Conqueror In A Song of Ice and Fire, the book series on which Thrones is based, author George RR Martin explains that, similar to the real-life Before Christ and Anno Domini, the dates in Westeros are described as “Before Conquest” (B.C. .) or ” After the Conquest” (AC). Said conquest occurred when Aegon, Daenerys’ ancestor, conquered all of Westeros with his dragons, uniting all seven kingdoms under one ruler. It has been reported that Ty Tennant, son of Doctor Who star David Tennant, may star as Aegon in House of the Dragon, meaning there may be some flashbacks to the past. Ty Tennant (right) can play Aegon the Conqueror in House of the Dragon (AFP via Getty Images) Aegon I Targaryen died in 37 AD. and was succeeded by his eldest son, Aenys I Targaryen. The Targaryens held themselves above the laws of men and therefore practiced incest and polygamy. In true Game of Thrones fashion, Aenys married his eldest daughter, Rhaena, to his eldest son and heir, Prince Aegon. This union caused an uproar, and Aenys fled to Dragonstone before dying in AD 42. Aenys’ sixth son, Maegor returned from exile, slaying Aegon and his dragon Quicksilver to reclaim the Iron Throne. After his mysterious death in AD 48, Maegor was succeeded by Aenys’ sole heir, Jaehaerys. A prophetic dream that Aegon once had is a big plot point in the first episode of House of the Dragon – find the full explanation here. House of the Dragon begins with the rule of Viserys I Targaryen Paddy Considine in ‘House of the Dragon’ (HBO) Jaehaerys ruled wisely for 55 years until he was succeeded in 103 AD by his grandson, Viserys I Targaryen – this is where the House of the Dragon takes its motto. Viserys, played by Paddy Considine, chose his daughter from his first marriage to Lady Aemma Arryn, Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) to succeed him, over Daemon (Matt Smith) – younger brother of and legitimate heir to the throne. Spoiler alert: After their respective husbands died, Rhaenyra and Daemon married each other in 120 AD. and they had three more children, Aegon the Younger, Viserys, and the deceased Visenya. When Viserys died in 129 AD, his widow and second wife, Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower defied Viserys’ last will and crowned his son Aegon II while Rhaenyra resided at Dragonstone. Rhaenyra declared war on the succession, dividing the kingdom and killing thousands of men and several dragons. After killing Rhaenyra with his dragon, Aegon II betrothed his daughter and only child, Jaehaera, to Rhaenyra’s eldest surviving son, Aegon the Younger, and named them his heirs. Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen (HBO) Between two rows In 131 AD, Aegon II was poisoned by his own advisers, and 11-year-old Aegon the Younger ascended the throne as Aegon III Targaryen. Aegon III died in 157 AD. from consumption and was succeeded by his eldest son, Daeron I Targaryen, born to him by his second wife, Queen Daenaera Velaryon. In 160 AD, Daeron was killed without an heir and was succeeded by his younger brother, Baelor I Targaryen. Baelor died of starvation and was succeeded in 171 AD. his uncle, Prince Viserys, brother of Aegon III. Viserys II was succeeded by his eldest son, Aegon IV, who was rumored to have been involved in his father’s death. Aegon was succeeded by his son Daeron II after legitimizing several bastard children, including Daemon Blackfyre who rebelled against the king and was killed. Daeron II was succeeded by his second son, Aerys I Targaryen, in 209 AD. Aerys I’s younger brother Maekar was named heir and succeeded in 221 AD. reigning for 12 years. Maekar I’s youngest son, Aegon V was later crowned “The Unlikely” as he was the fourth son of a fourth son. The events of Game of Thrones begin Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon in “Game of Thrones” (HBO) Aegon V’s second son, Jaehaerys II Targaryen, ascended the throne in 259 AD, but died after only three years of rule and was succeeded by his only son, Aerys II Targaryen AKA… ‘The Mad King’. Cue Game of Thrones. Aerys’ reign would prove to be the one that ended the Targaryen dynasty. Aerys appointed his friend Tywin Lannister (played by Charles Dance) as the hand of the king. Growing jealous, Aerys appointed Tywin’s heir, Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), to his royal guard in 281 AD, leaving Tywin with his dwarf son Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) as heir. Meanwhile, Aerys’ heir, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, the older brother of Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), secretly married Lyanna Stark, the betrothed of his cousin Lord Robert Baratheon (played by Mark Addy) and had Jon Snow (Kit Harington). ). This revelation comes to light in the final season of Thrones as Jon Snow is revealed to be Daenerys’ nephew. Slouch. Kit Harington, right, as Jon Snow in “Game Of Thrones” alongside Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen (HBO/PA) Robert then declared his intention to claim the Iron Throne due to the fact that his grandmother was Princess Rhaelle Targaryen, the youngest daughter of King Aegon V Targaryen. Robert killed Rhaegar and Jaime Lannister, earning him the nickname “Kingslayer” for killing Aerys in the throne room of King’s Landing. After his victory and Lyanna’s death, Robert married Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) to secure an alliance with House Lannister. Meanwhile, Aerys’ remaining heirs Viserys and Daenerys fled to Essos where they attempted to recruit followers and reclaim the Iron Throne. So we enter the front row and chaos unfolds. House of the Dragon will premiere Sunday, August 21 at 9:00 PM on HBO. It will then be available to stream on HBO Max next. For UK viewers, it will premiere at 2am on Monday 22 August on Sky. The episode will then be repeated at 9pm on Monday and will be available to stream on Sky and NOW after its original run.
