Complete Guide to the Noble Houses of Westeros in the Targaryen Civil War
House of the Dragon immerses viewers in the brutal and complex world of Westeros nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Central to the series is the Dance of the Dragons, a devastating civil war between rival Targaryen factions. But the conflict would not have taken shape without the great houses of the realm, each with their own interests, loyalties, and rivalries. This guide details every house that appears or is referenced in the show, highlighting their roles, political positions, and historical weight.
House Targaryen
Region: Dragonstone and King’s Landing
Seat: The Red Keep and Dragonstone
Allegiance: Divided (Green vs Black factions)
As the ruling dynasty, House Targaryen sits at the heart of the conflict. King Viserys I’s failure to resolve the question of succession sets the realm ablaze. His children by different wives form the rival factions:
- Greens support Aegon II Targaryen, son of Alicent Hightower
- Blacks support Rhaenyra Targaryen, his daughter by Queen Aemma Arryn
Dragons, bloodlines, and shifting alliances define their path.
House Hightower
Region: The Reach
Seat: Oldtown
Allegiance: Green
Alicent Hightower becomes queen through her marriage to King Viserys. Her father, Ser Otto Hightower, serves as Hand of the King and is one of the key instigators behind the coup that crowns Aegon II. The Hightowers are rich, devout, and politically ruthless.
House Velaryon
Region: Driftmark
Seat: High Tide
Allegiance: Black
A Valyrian house like the Targaryens, the Velaryons control the realm’s largest fleet. Lord Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, throws his considerable weight behind Rhaenyra. His wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, adds further legitimacy to the Blacks’ claim. Their house is vital for naval supremacy.
House Strong
Region: Riverlands
Seat: Harrenhal
Allegiance: Green (but split loyalties)
House Strong gains influence when Lyonel Strong is made Hand of the King. His sons play very different roles. Harwin Strong is believed to be the real father of Rhaenyra’s children, while Larys Strong uses manipulation and murder to strengthen the Greens. The burning of Harrenhal leaves the house in ruins.
House Cole
Region: The Stormlands
Seat: Minor house sworn to House Dondarrion
Allegiance: Green
Ser Criston Cole rises from lowborn Dornish knight to Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and later Hand to Aegon II. A fierce supporter of the Greens, his rejection by Rhaenyra and personal vendettas drive much of his violent ambition.
House Arryn
Region: The Vale
Seat: The Eyrie
Allegiance: Black
Rhaenyra’s mother was of House Arryn, and she calls upon her kin for support. Though reluctant at first, the Vale gradually leans towards the Blacks, reflecting its ancient loyalty to the Targaryens.
House Lannister
Region: The Westerlands
Seat: Casterly Rock
Allegiance: Green
Lord Jason Lannister, proud and wealthy, supports Aegon’s claim. Though the Lannisters are not yet the dominant power they become in later centuries, their gold and forces carry weight in the war.
House Baratheon
Region: The Stormlands
Seat: Storm’s End
Allegiance: Mixed
Lord Borros Baratheon plays a key role in the story’s turning point when Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys visits Storm’s End to secure his oath. What unfolds there marks a dark turning in the Dance. The house leans Green after a failed diplomatic approach by the Blacks.
House Tully
Region: The Riverlands
Seat: Riverrun
Allegiance: Black
Though not prominently featured, House Tully eventually lends its banners to Rhaenyra’s cause, supporting the Riverlords who resent Hightower interference.
House Stark
Region: The North
Seat: Winterfell
Allegiance: Black
Cregan Stark, Lord of Winterfell, honours an ancient oath and joins the Blacks. His support comes late but carries immense symbolic and military weight. The North, as ever, stands as a proud and independent region.
Other Notable Houses
| House | Region | Allegiance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beesbury | The Reach | Green (initially) | Lord Lyman Beesbury serves on the Small Council and dies during the Green coup |
| Celtigar | Crownlands | Black | Lord Bartimos Celtigar is among Rhaenyra’s supporters |
| Massey | Crownlands | Black | Minor house from Stonedance backing Rhaenyra |
| Mooton | Riverlands | Black | Swears loyalty to Rhaenyra at Maidenpool |
| Staunton | Crownlands | Black | Loyal bannermen of Dragonstone |
| Dondarrion | Stormlands | Mixed | Their allegiance may vary across the war’s timeline |
Allegiances in Summary
| Faction | Key Supporting Houses |
|---|---|
| Greens | Hightower, Lannister, Baratheon (part), Strong, Cole |
| Blacks | Velaryon, Arryn, Tully, Stark, Baratheon (briefly), Celtigar, Massey, Mooton |
Legacy and House Fortunes
The Dance of the Dragons leaves many of these houses permanently altered. Harrenhal becomes a cursed ruin. The Velaryons suffer deep personal losses but survive. The Targaryen dynasty weakens, never recovering its prior unity or strength. The Baratheons and Lannisters position themselves for eventual dominance in the centuries to come.
