Burning of King's Landing

Lore & Background

During the civil war between Rhaenyra and Aegon II, King's Landing became the ultimate prize. Unlike later conflicts where wildfire was used strategically, this devastation stemmed from the aerial superiority of dragons. Vhagar, the largest dragon in history, clashed with Sunfyre over the city walls, their breath igniting timber structures and causing panic among smallfolk who had no defense against such weapons. The Red Keep itself sustained damage as knights and guards attempted to defend the gates while overhead, the sky burned. The event highlighted the vulnerability of stone and mortar against ancient beasts. While the city was not razed completely, the fires left scars on the architecture that would take decades to repair, serving as a grim reminder of the cost of Targaryen succession disputes.

In Their Own Story

The smell of ash choked the streets before the roar even began. A baker in Flea Bottom dropped his loaf as the shadow passed overhead, blotting out the sun. He looked up to see two silhouettes weaving through smoke plumes, scales gleaming like molten gold and obsidian. Fire rained down not from catapults, but from jaws that had tasted meat for centuries. The stone of the city groaned under the heat, and the baker knew then that the war was no longer fought on fields, but above their heads.

Reader's Guide

The conflict began when rival claimants sought to seize the capital through force rather than diplomacy. Dragons were deployed as living siege engines, capable of bypassing walls entirely. Key battles saw Vhagar and Sunfyre engaging in aerial dogfights over the city, causing widespread fires that spread through wooden districts. Defenders struggled to protect key strongholds while civilians fled into the streets. The aftermath left King's Landing damaged but standing, with both sides realizing the capital was a fragile prize. The destruction shifted public sentiment against dragon warfare, influencing future decisions on how the throne would be defended.

Did You Know?

• Dragonfire is significantly hotter than wildfire, capable of melting stone and metal instantly.
• King's Landing has been rebuilt multiple times throughout history after major fires during wars.
• The Red Keep was designed with fire-resistant materials to withstand dragon attacks.
• Smallfolk often fled the city during these battles, causing labor shortages in the capital.