The Targaryen Civil War Explained
45sPerfect for newcomers, this segment breaks down the complex feud between the Greens and Blacks, making it highly shareable for fans trying to understand the show.
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This video provides a concise guide to the key characters and alliances in House of the Dragon Season 3. It explains the succession crisis, the formation of the Greens and Blacks factions, and the major events that lead to the Dance of the Dragons, setting the stage for the upcoming season.
Chapters
[00:00]
The Succession Crisis
King Viserys names his daughter Rhaenyra as heir over his brother Daemon, despite her being a woman, setting up the central conflict.
[00:13]
The Greens vs. Blacks
Rhaenyra's best friend Alicent is forced to marry Viserys, creating resentment that splits the court into the Greens (Alicent's side) and the Blacks (Rhaenyra's side).
[00:26]
Rhaenyra's Alliances
Rhaenyra's affair with Criston Cole ends, she marries Laenor (who prefers men), and secretly has children with Harwin Strong. Harwin's brother Laerys kills him and allies with Alicent.
[00:53]
Daemon and Rhaenyra's Union
Daemon marries Laena (Corlys and Rhaenys's daughter), who dies. Rhaenyra and Daemon help Laenor fake his death, then marry each other, angering Corlys and Rhaenys.
[01:06]
Alicent's Children
Alicent has four children: Aegon (partier), Daeron (in Oldtown), Helaena (visions), and Aemond (resentful, claims Vhagar). Aemond loses an eye in a fight with Rhaenyra's kids, deepening the hatred.
[01:23]
The War Begins
When Viserys dies, Alicent's father Otto conspires to put Aegon on the throne. Rhaenyra miscarries from stress, and Aemond kills her son Luke, leading Daemon to order the murder of Aegon's heir.
[01:35]
Shifting Loyalties
Alicent starts an affair with Criston Cole and does 'weird foot stuff' with Larys. Daemon resents Rhaenyra's throne, runs off to Harrenhal, but after meeting witch Alice Rivers, he has visions and returns to Team Rhaenyra.
[01:47]
The War Escalates
Rhaenyra's only trusted advisor is spymaster Mysaria (Daemon's ex and her current hookup). Aemond kills Rhaenys and burns Aegon, making himself regent. Aegon flees with Larys's help.
[02:14]
The Final Alliances
Corlys makes amends with his bastards, one of whom (Adam) claims a dragon. Rhaenyra gives dragons to bastards Ulfwhite and Hugh Hammer. Alicent, feeling guilty, offers to end the war by letting Rhaenyra's forces into the city.
Study Flashcards (7)
Who is the designated heir to the Iron Throne at the start of the story?
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Who is the designated heir to the Iron Throne at the start of the story?
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Rhaenyra Targaryen, named heir by King Viserys despite being a woman.
What are the two main factions in the civil war?
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What are the two main factions in the civil war?
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The Greens (Alicent's faction) and the Blacks (Rhaenyra's faction).
00:26
Who leads the Greens and what is her relationship to Rhaenyra?
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Who leads the Greens and what is her relationship to Rhaenyra?
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Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra's former best friend, who was forced to marry Viserys.
00:13
Who is Daemon Targaryen and what is his role?
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Who is Daemon Targaryen and what is his role?
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He is Rhaenyra's uncle and later her husband, and he initially resents her claim to the throne.
00:53
How does Aemond obtain a dragon and what is the consequence?
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How does Aemond obtain a dragon and what is the consequence?
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Aemond claims the dragon Vhagar after Laena's death, escalating the conflict.
01:06
What event directly leads to the escalation of the war?
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What event directly leads to the escalation of the war?
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Aemond kills Rhaenyra's son Luke, triggering a cycle of revenge.
01:23
What is Alicent's final offer to Rhaenyra?
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What is Alicent's final offer to Rhaenyra?
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Alicent offers to let Rhaenyra's forces into the city to end the war, but the outcome is uncertain.
02:14
💡 Key Takeaways
📊
The Succession Crisis
King Viserys names Rhaenyra as heir over his brother Daemon, setting up the central conflict.
📊
The Greens vs. Blacks
Alicent's forced marriage to Viserys creates a lasting rift, dividing the court into two factions.
00:13
📊
The War Begins
Otto Hightower's conspiracy and Aemond's killing of Luke trigger open war.
01:23
💡
Alicent's Regret
Alicent realizes her son is a monster and attempts to make amends, showing the human cost of the conflict.
02:14Full Transcript
[00:00] This is a guide to all of the characters and alliances that you need to know for House of the Dragons Season 3. Now, Viserys was king, but to keep his brother Daemon from the throne, he named his child Rhaenyra as his heir, even though she is a woman. Rhaenyra's best friend
[00:13] is Alyson Tytower, but then Alyson is forced into marrying Rhaenyra's dad, and then she starts having babies, while Rhaenyra is allowed to be sexually promiscuous. This creates resentment between them that will last for decades. Alyson's side at court are called the Greens, and Rhaenyra's
[00:26] are called the Blacks. Rhaenyra is having an affair with Kingsguard Criston Cole, but after she shoots him down, she marries Laenor, who prefers the company of men, so then she secretly has babies with this guy, Harwin Strong. But then, Harwin's brother Laerys has his brother killed,
[00:39] so Laerys cozies up to Alicent. Laenor's father is the wealthy sailor Corlys Velaryon, and his mother is Rhaenys Targaryen, who was passed over for the Iron Throne decades ago. Daemon marries their daughter Laena, and they have twins before she dies. Rhaenyra and Daemon help Laenor fake
[00:53] his death, and then Rhaenys and Corlys blame them for the loss of their son, especially after Rhaenyra marries her uncle Daemon. I know, but they also have two children. Alicent has four kids by Viserys. There's Aegon, who likes to party, Daeron, who lives
[01:06] in Oldtown Helaena who has creepy visions of the future and Aemond who resents everyone for making fun of him when he was a kid And he hates Rhaenyra kids because they got into a fight that cost him an eye He also claims Laenys dragon after she dies making the two sides hate each other even more When Viserys dies Alicent father Otto conspires
[01:23] to steal the throne for his grandson Aegon, and then Rhaenyra is so upset that she miscarriages, and then Aemon kills her son Luke, and then Daemon orders the murder of Aegon's heir. Basically, everyone hates everyone, they're all ready for war, but then Alicent starts banging
[01:35] Kristen Cole and doing weird foot stuff with Laris. Daemon also resents Rhaenyra's throne and then runs off to Harrenhal to build an army. For himself or for her, we just don't know yet, but then after meeting the witch Alice Rivers, he has visions of the future and is once again
[01:47] Team Rhaenyra. Now, the only advisor that Rhaenyra can trust is Spymaster Mysaria, who is Daemon's ex and also her current hookup. Aemon covets his brother's throne, so in a fight where he kills Rhaenys, he also tries to kill his brother, burning him very badly and making Aemon regent
[02:01] of the realm. Aegon then flees the city with the help of Larys, and then Alicent starts to understand that, hey, her son is an actual monster. Corlys, now childless and widowed, makes amends with his two bastard sons, and one of them, Adam, claims a dragon for himself,
[02:14] and this gives Rhaenyra the idea to give dragons to two Targaryen bastards named Ulfwhite and Hugh Hammer. Alicent feels real bad for starting a war, so then makes amends with her former best friend, then offers to let her forces into the city and end the war, and that is every alliance you need
[02:26] to know for House of the Dragon Season 3.
