Dance of the Dragons

Lore & Background

The seeds of conflict were sown during the reign of Viserys I, who named his daughter Rhaenyra as heir despite traditional laws favoring male successors. Upon his death, Queen Alicent Hightower declared her son Aegon II the true king, supported by powerful families like the Hightowers and Lannisters. This schism forced lords across Westeros to choose sides based on loyalty, marriage alliances, or fear of dragonfire. The war was characterized by brutal aerial combat between dragonriders. Unlike previous conflicts where dragons were used primarily against ground armies, here they hunted each other in the skies. Major battles occurred at locations like Tumbleton (First and Second), Rook's Rest, and the Gullet, leaving scars on the land that would last for generations. Harrenhal, while a strategic stronghold and site of political intrigue, was not the scene of a major open battle. The fighting was often personal as much as political. Ultimately, the war ended with the death of Rhaenyra and Aegon II's brief consolidation of power before he was poisoned by his own small council members—not by agents of Cregan Stark, who arrived later to execute the conspirators. However, the realm paid a terrible price. The loss of so many dragons meant House Targaryen could no longer rely on them to enforce their rule, weakening their grip on the Iron Throne for centuries to come.

In Their Own Story

The smoke rose in thick black columns against the grey sky, visible even from the high walls of Harrenhal. Ser Criston Cole tightened his grip on his lance, his eyes scanning the clouds above. He knew what was coming; he had heard the roar before, a sound that shook the very stones beneath his boots. Two shapes emerged from the mist, scales glinting like polished armor in the weak sun. They circled each other, ancient beasts locked in a deadly dance of fire and fury, while below them, men waited to see which side would burn first.

Reader's Guide

The conflict began when King Viserys I died without a clear resolution on succession, despite naming his daughter Rhaenyra as heir. His second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower, claimed her son Aegon II was the true ruler by traditional male primogeniture laws. This division split the realm into two camps: the Blacks supporting Rhaenyra and the Greens backing Aegon. Violence escalated quickly as both sides sought to secure allies and dragonriders. Battles were fought across Westeros, from the Riverlands to Dragonstone. The war was unique in history because it featured dragons fighting against other dragons in aerial combat, a terrifying spectacle that devastated the countryside. Ultimately, the war ended with Rhaenyra's death and Aegon II securing the throne, though he died shortly after from illness. However, the cost was immense. Dozens of knights, lords, and dragons perished. The population of dragons dwindled significantly, marking the beginning of their eventual extinction as a military force.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Dance of the Dragons' was coined after the civil war, not before it; it is not a pre-existing prophecy or term from earlier Targaryen history.
• It was not the first time in history that Targaryen dragons were used to destroy one another directly—Balerion vs. Quicksilver during Maegor the Cruel's reign predates it.
• Many great castles and strongholds were burned or destroyed during the fighting across Westeros.
• The war resulted in the death of several major dragonriders, including key members of House Velaryon.