Game of Thrones was the biggest TV Show of all time for a while. HBO knows how to make them. While it might have left a bitter taste in our mouths at the end of the last season, we can’t deny that it was the best series that TV had to offer in a long while. Despite how Game of Thrones is over, HBO isn’t quite prepared to stop producing shows around the series. After all, in addition to A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin blessed us with more works, Fire & Blood being one of them. While GoT has its conclusion, at least for the viewers, other stories revolving around Westeros will keep coming our way. One of them is already here, and it’s called The House of the Dragon.
Once it hit the big screens, it was evident that we got another sensation on our hands. There’s so much to learn about the world where the Targaryens and other noble houses live. This is what we’re going to cover today. Let’s get to know the noble houses of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Take note that we’re going to speak only about the significant powerhouses, so if your favorite isn’t listed here, try not to get too offended.
House Targaryen
This house plays a significant role in both of our favorite TV shows. Thanks to their dragons, they have been rulers of Westeros for centuries before Robert’s Rebellion. Daenerys tried to make things right, but we all know how that ended. But, this doesn’t make them any less intimidating. In House of the Dragon, they’re still in charge. Thus they’re first on our list. Here is where their story and line begins with Viserys I, who had two wives, Aemma and Alicent. With them, he had five children, daughter Rhaenyra with Aemma, and four others, Aegon II, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron with Alicent. Considering that this family has got a relatively confusing bloodline, we could dedicate an entire article to them, but you’ll have a better understanding if you check out the graph on the Targaryen family tree in an article from ExpressVPN. What’s important to know is that they still sit on the Iron Throne and will continue to do so during the length of the show.
House Hightower
A prominent house in the realm, the head of the household, Otto Hightower, serves as the Hand of The King in House of the Dragon. His daughter, Alicent, is the future Queen and the mother of a few Targaryen heirs. Their home is located in Oldtown, where the Citadel lies, making them so intimidating. The name ‘Hightower’ also plays a prominent role in both series, but it is more accentuated in House of the Dragon than in GoT. In the current timeline, the house is at its height, with Otto being in the position he is and with his daughter as the future Queen.
House Lannister
The Lannisters are one of the main antagonists in GoT, while not yet introduced in House of the Dragon. They are one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the known world, with their riches being compared to the Iron Bank. In the current show, they are not yet introduced, but we know their might through Tywin, who is a merciless leader and the Hand of The King in GoT, and Jaime who is a member of the Kingsguard. Also, Cersei is the Queen for the majority of GoT.
House Stark
One of the most beloved houses in Westeros, at least to us fans of the show. They’re introduced early in the Game of Thrones, and members of this family even survive to the end even if it didn’t seem that way. Dubbed the Kings of The North, the Stark family had a lot of famous leaders. Most prominent being Bran the Builder, Rickard Stark, and Theon Stark. The more recent history remembers Ned Stark as the hero of Robert’s rebellion who defeated sir Arthur Dayne. Also, it turned out one of its members was in fact a Targaryen.
House Velaryon
Another great house, and this time we’re talking about a bloodline that dates back to ancient Valyria. Back in the day, they weren’t Dragonriders, but today, they hold the power as the biggest naval force in the realm. They rule Blackwater Bay from their ancestral home called Driftmark. They wanted to get married into the Targaryen family but their goals were shunned by the Hightowers. While they’re mentioned in GoT, their power is bigger in the current timeline with members of the house known so far being Corlys, Rhaenys Targaryen, his wife, and their children Laena and Laenor. At the moment Corlys is the Master of Ships for the King.
House Baratheon
If your love for the realm of Westeros started with Game of Thrones, you know that the Baratheons are one of the biggest houses in the universe. King Robert sits on the Iron Throne, as a ruler who overthrows the Targaryen dynasty. King Robert dies early on in GoT, but his house carries on living with Stannis. Yes, he had a few children, but you know that story. They haven’t still been introduced to the HOTD story, but they will soon as one of the families that have ties to Targaryen rule.
House Tyrell
This house is not yet introduced in the HOTD, but in GoT they play a major role. They’re potent both in wealth and in military power. Of course, it all comes to halt once the show ends, but in the HOTD they still have a role to play. They’re located in the Highgarden, and while in GoT their house is left with no male heirs and it goes extinct, they have a long history to play before the story reaches that conclusion. As far as the books go, maybe R. R. Martin has different plans for them.
Conclusion
Game of Thrones and House of The Dragon is immense TV shows. There is so much lore to cover, that’s impossible. As you can see, we have only covered a few houses, and houses Strong, Bolton, Arryn, Gardener, Tully, Greyjoy, and the rest will have to forgive us. As more episodes of HOTD come out, maybe will update this article. We could do the same after another rewatch of GoT. In any case, stay tuned, as this story is nowhere near over.