House of the Dragon
WithHouse of the Dragon ’s premiere on August 21,the early reviews have been mostly positiveabout the newest lore to theGame of Thronesuniverse . The new show from HBO , which chronicle the politics of the Targaryens , is poised to put up viewers with a slew of important detail about this notoriously difficult and prickly dynasty .
While the series is designed to plunge the viewer in a particularly important menstruum in Westeros history — the Dance of the Dragons — it is important for every viewer to have a rich , deeper cognition of the many important effect that have taken place within the Targaryen family unit before the series even begin . This essential background also include cognise how the Targeyens have interacted with the other residents of the Seven Kingdoms to understand the moral force under this dynasty .
They Had A Vexed Relationship With The Faith
Given that the Targaryens have always been known for incestuous marriage , it ’s not entirely surprising that they would have a very harried relationship with the Faith . In fact , at several percentage point in history , the Targaryens have faced powerful opposition from both the High Septon and the steady members of the Faith .
These conflicts often impart very deep scars on both the members of the dynasty and the Faith as a whole , and it would come to influence the demeanour of many during the Dance of the Dragons .
They Were One Of A Select Noble Group In Valyria
Of all of the manybeautiful location that are reference inGame of Thrones , Valyria is arguably one of the most important . It is , after all , the Targaryens ' original home plate , and for this reason , it remains key to their identity . Even there , they were part of a select few stately syndicate who maintain extraordinary might .
Thus , their impression in their own inviolability is something that has always been in their family . This detail dates back before Aegon the Conqueror start the process of bringing all of Westeros under his personal rule .
They Sometimes Took More Than One Spouse
Though it is well - known that the Targaryens almost always espouse within the family , it ’s less well - known that they were also more than happy to take more than one spouse . Aegon the Conqueror require both of his sisters as married woman , for example , and this polygamous praxis was replicated at several points .
Though this was a bit unusual – as members of the family would usually wed the elder sister – it was n’t whole unique . As would turn up to be the typesetter’s case throughout the history of the Seven Kingdoms , the Targaryens and their matrimonial behavior would mold the destiny of many .
They Were No Strangers To Dynastic Squabbles
Like many of themost sinewy houses in Westeros , the Targaryens are and were no alien to various dynastic squabbles . To take just one instance , Maegor the Cruel appropriate the commode from his own nephew , who he proceeded to destroy in battle .
This pattern would be repeated throughout their chronicle , as legion phratry members believe , for one reason or another , that they had a great right field to the throne than the instal heritor . This dynastic unstableness would ultimately spell the doom of it altogether , andHouse of the Dragonwould not be the only representative where the power struggle between family members would lead to another Targaryen schism .
Dragonstone Has Always Been Key To Their Power
Few castles inGame of Thronesare quite as important as Dragonstone , alocation that will belike feature inHouse of the Dragon . From the very beginning of the Targaryens ’ dominance , the island was central to their power , and Aegon the Conqueror used it as a base from which he could set in motion his invasion and subjection of Westeros .
It was often the guinea pig that the person who controlled Dragonstone was able-bodied to establish their own authority and legitimacy . What ’s more , it was one of the places where dragons were easiest to hatch , which help to explain its prominence .
Dorne Always Provided Difficult To Subdue
The Dornish have always been a thorn in the side of the ease of Westeros . Separated from the other kingdoms by mountains and being very different in temperament and refinement , they have resisted the Targaryens ' effort to conquer them .
In fact , one of Aegon ’s own sisters , as well as her dragon , was slain during one of their many endeavour to bring in the southern country into the crease . Though the Dornish were n’t one of the capital players in the Dance of the Dragons , still these old wound would continue to fester .
Even With Dragons, They Were Subject To Rebellions
People might be forgiven for thinking that with dragons – some of the most fearful wolf in theGame of Thronescanon – that the Targaryens would have had an easy time of it bending the people of the Seven Kingdoms to their will . But , that is very much not the case . For example , Aegon the Conqueror ’s son had to fence with several rebellions that leap up throughout his domains .
From the very showtime of their story in Westeros , the Targaryens have had to deal with the fact that they are , when all is said and done , trespasser . Therefore , their position as the kingdom ’s rulers was never as secure as they might wish it to be , and they eventually were dethroned hundred of yr afterwards during Robert ’s Rebellion .
The Targaryens Held Themselves Apart
Given that they consider themselves blood of the firedrake , it ’s not surprising that , for almost all of their history , the Targaryens have held themselves apart from the balance of their subjects , whether noble or common . Though they might be willing to hook up with into some other star sign , this did n’t imply that they saw them as their equal in any way .
As events would prove , it was precisely their notion in their own innate superiority which would step down them during the Dance of the Dragons and lead to their defeat and expulsion during Robert ’s Rebellion .
They Almost Never Got Sick
To some degree , the House of the Dragon had every right hand to view itself as above the common campaign of men . In addition to commanding the dragons , they were also remarkably immune from a wide sort of illnesses , many of which affect everyone else .
This was true for much of their former history , and it no doubt conk a longsighted way of life toward excuse why so many of the residents of Westeros , particularly the business leader - athirst nobleman , were so willing to go along with the idea that the Targaryens were ranking ( even if it was mostly the dragon ) .
The Question Of Inheritance Was Often Difficult
Part of what madeGame of Thronesone of thebest series about politicswas how expertly it turn over into the thorny questions associate with might and with inheritance . This will also be the casing withHouse of the Dragon .
Those who are watching the series should know that dynastic politics were always a fraught emergence with the Targaryens since so many members were willing to flout the law . It is thus peculiarly notable that Viserys I , who is the father of Rhaenyra , insure his own title to the commode elevated above that of one of his cousins – Rhaenys – due in large part to her sexuality .
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Artwork byMagali Villeneuve
Artwork byMagali Villeneuve
