Game of Thrones fans worldwide are really happy to find themselves back in the middle of the betrayal, intrigue and dragonfire of Westeros. HBO's new series House of the Dragon promises to provide all three with a dose of fratricide thrown in for good measure. However, while they've been looking forward to the spinoff, many fans are unsure how House of the Dragon relates to Game of Thrones.
Those hoping for adventures with the familiar faces of Jon Snow, Arya Stark or Daenerys Targaryen are out of luck -- but many of the names involved in House of the Dragon will sound somewhat familiar. Die-hard viewers of Game of Thrones will remember Daenerys' quest to raise an army, cross the sea and take back the Iron Throne which once belonged to her family. House of the Dragon centers around the squabbles of the infamous Targaryen family and the dragons they ride.
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House of the Dragon takes place during an era of Westerosi history known as "The Dance of Dragons" or "The Dying of the Dragons." During this period, a civil war arose between members of the Targaryen family in an attempt to determine the line of succession. The dispute centers around the children of King Viserys I.
While Viserys had many children, the two who spearheaded this conflict are Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen. Rhaenyra is the daughter of Viserys's first wife Aemma Arryn and is Viserys designated heir to inherit the throne. Aegon II is the son of Viserys's second wife -- the much younger Alicent Hightower. The Hightowers are a powerful family because Alicent's father, Ser Otto Hightower, is Viserys' Hand of the King.
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House of the Dragon takes place approximately 175-200 years before Game of Thrones. Time is divided into two periods: BC (Before Conquest) and AC (After Conquest), referring to before and after the Targaryen conquest of a much more prosperous Westeros. The Doom of Valyria -- the event that ended the Valyrian Empire and killed all dragons other than those ridden by the Targaryens -- occurred in roughly 100 BC. Aegon I Targaryen formed the Iron Throne and cemented the Targaryen rule of Westeros in 2 AC.
The Dance of Dragons takes place roughly between 129 AC to 131 AC. As House of the Dragon is going to portray the events leading up to and surrounding this conflict, the show is placed slightly before this period in the timeline. The first episode largely takes place in 112 AC -- which the first episode tells us is 172 years before the death of King Aerys and the birth of his daughter, Daenerys Targaryen. Then in 298 AC, the events of Game of Thrones will begin.
The well-developed history of George R.R. Martin's world is one of the aspects that drew many fans to Game of Thrones. House of the Dragon provides an opportunity to expand on that history while indulging in a whole new cast of characters. With House of the Dragon, fans are able to experience scheming and war in Westeros at a time when dragons still thrived.
House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9:00 p.m. on HBO and streams on HBO Max.