Who Are the Greens and Blacks in House of the Dragon?

House of the Dragon is currently hurtling towards a civil war that will tear the realm in two. Based on Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin, the two sides of the fractured House Targaryen that are in conflict for the Iron Throne are commonly referred to as the Greens and the Blacks. For those who haven’t read the source material, this may be confusing, So who are the Greens and the Blacks, and which side has the advantage? With the new trailers for Season 2 pitting the two sides against each other, here’s a refresher on where each side lands.

Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) was named by her father, King Viserys (Paddy Considine), as heir to the Iron Throne. While a woman had never ruled before, the King had no other living children and an unpopular and volatile brother king, so there was little choice. That was until a few years later, when his new wife, Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke), bore him a son, Prince Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). Many of the men of Westeros expected that upon Aegon’s second name day, the King would replace Rhaenyra as heir with his firstborn son Aegon. He did not and instead continued to support his daughter Rhaenyra’s succession for the remaining years of his reign. Upon his death, the realm split into two sides who will battle for the throne, those that support Rhaenyra and those who support Aegon, but why are they called the Greens and the Blacks?

The now iconic scene in Episode 5, “We Light the Way” in which Queen Alicent wears a green dress to Princess Rhaenyra’s wedding is a slight variation of a scene in Fire and Blood which shows us where the Greens and the Blacks got their names. In the book, this takes place at King Viserys and Queen Alicent’s fifth wedding anniversary celebration. Princess Rhaenyra is wearing a red and black dress to symbolize House Targaryen, and thus, her side of the war becomes known as the Blacks. Queen Alicent, who would typically wear the colors of the House she married into on such an occasion chooses instead to wear a green dress in honor of her family – House Hightower. Her side of the war is from then on referred to as the Greens.

House of the Dragon

The reign of House Targaryen begins with this prequel to the popular HBO series Game of Thrones. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon is set nearly 200 years before Game of Thrones, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war with King Viserys.

Release Date

August 21, 2022

Creator

Ryan J. Condal, George R.R. Martin

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

2

Distributor

HBO

Who Is On the Side of the Blacks and Rhaenyra?

On the Black side, fighting for the rights of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her heir, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), are the men of the realm who value their honor and refuse to go back on their sworn oaths to honor and defend her rights of succession. Rhaenyra has sons, her heir Jacaerys ‘Jace’ Velaryon, Lucerys ‘Luke’ Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), and Joffrey Velaryon who were all fathered by Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr) before his untimely death. Also, on her side is Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) her uncle and husband, his daughters from poor Lady Laena; Baela (Bethany Antonia), and Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell), and the two sons Rhaenyra and Daemon share, Aegon and Viserys (though they are too young to fight). Once her greatest competition for the throne, Prince Daemon is now her greatest ally and will be of great help to her in all matters going forward.

The Velaryons are loyal to Rhaenyra even after the death of Lady Laena and the supposed death of Ser Laenor (John MacMillan). Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) chooses to side with Rhaenyra and her sons, though he knows they do not share his blood because they share his name. He is still trying to maintain the legacy of his family house, and without legitimate children to carry on his name, he feels he must support his ‘grandsons’. Daemon firmly siding with Rhaenyra makes the choice simpler, as the Blacks are also the side that will defend his granddaughters. House Velaryon brings the full might of their ships and wealth to Rhaenyra, making her almost impossible to beat on the water. Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) and Lord Corlys Velaryon are highly influential figures in the realm and having their backing, strategic planning abilities, money, ships, and dragons is vital to Rhaenyra’s campaign.

Though technically allied with Daemon, not Rhaenyra, Mysaria aka the White Worm (Sonoya Mizuno) will be siding with the Blacks. This is essential because it gives the Blacks eyes and ears in King’s Landing and the Red Keep while they are away at Dragonstone. Erryk Cargylle (Elliot Tittensor) left King’s Landing to join Rhaenyra at the end of Season 1, becoming a member of her Queen’s guard along with Steffon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan) and Lorent Marbrand (Max Wrottesley). Season 2’s trailer also highlights the conflict between the Black allies, the Blackwoods, and their long-time enemies, the Brackens. With the combined forces of Rhaenyra, Deamon, the Velaryon family, and the other Black supporters, they will prove difficult to beat.

The Blacks have a far superior number of dragons. Among them, they currently have five Dragonriders; Rhaenyra Targaryen on Syrax, Jace Velaryon on Vermax, Daemon Targaryen on Caraxes, his daughter Baela Targaryen on Moondancer, and the Queen that never was Rhaenys Velaryon on Meleys. They will also reside on Dragonstone, which has many wild and riderless dragons roaming free that they can use if they can find some brave souls willing to try and tame them. The Season 2 trailer shows a glimpse of a few possibilities with Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty), Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), and Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) sitting at a table with Rhaenyra.

Who Is On the Side of the Greens and Alicent?

On the Green side, fighting for the rights of King Aegon Targaryen and his future heirs, will be the houses of the realm who would rather break their vows than lend their support to a woman. Aegon’s most ardent supporter is his mother, Queen Alicent, and though less supportive, his sister and wife Princess Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban), and his brother Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) are on his side nonetheless. The Greens have the support of the most powerful and influential members of King Viserys’s small council. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), who brings the entirety of House Hightower with him, and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel).

In order to solidify his claim to the throne, and in true Targaryen tradition, Prince Aegon is married to his sister Helaena, and they have three children, Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and Maelor, who are still small. Though seemingly outmatched, the Greens hold an advantage when it comes to proximity. Their chosen ruler Aegon, his mother Queen Alicent, The Hand of the King, and Lord Commander Cole all reside within Kings Landing, and Aegon technically sits on the Iron Throne, despite Rhaenyra’s protests.

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The Dance of the Dragons returns June 16.

Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) the new Lord of Harrenhal is helping Alicent, and his discretion and willingness to do whatever is needed will be valuable in the war to come. Larys is a manipulative mastermind, always planning many steps ahead, and his loyalty to the Greens may yet be conditional on their ability to give him what he wants. Other Green supporters include Arryk Cargylle (Luke Tittensor), Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall), Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan), and Borros Baratheon (Roger Evans), whom Aemond convinced to join the Greens with a marriage pact in Season 1. The Season 2 trailer shows a few more allies, including, Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) and House Brecken.

The Greens may have fewer dragons but with Aegon’s younger brother Aemond bonding to the dragon Vhagar, they are not outmatched by much. Vhagar is by far the strongest and largest of the remaining dragons, twice the size of Rhaenyra’s dragon Caraxes. Aegon Targaryen rides his dragon Sunfyre, and his sister Helaena is bonded with Dreamfyre though she doesn’t often ride.

Who Has Yet to Pick a Side in the Dance of the Dragons?

As Season 2 kicks off, the war has barely begun, so most of the houses in Westeros have not chosen who to support, but they cannot remain undeclared for long. Rhaenyra sent envoys to Houses Baratheon, Arryn, and Stark at the end of Season 1. Though the Baratheons chose the Greens, the others have not declared one way or the other. Aemods visited the Baratheons as well, but the Green’s other steps in gaining allies are unclear. All the great and lesser houses of the Seven Kingdoms will soon be called upon to make their choice. Some will be swayed by promises of future advantage, royal marriage, and prosperity, others by their loyalty, duty, and honor; and some will seek to remain neutral to avoid the dreadful price this war will cost all those involved.

House of the Dragon Season 2 will premiere on June 16. Season 1 is available to stream on Max in the U.S.

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