*Warning: Contains spoilers for House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones.*
House of the Dragon, the new Game of Thrones prequel series which is set nearly 200 years before the original show, is a hit with fans and critics.
The first season tells the story of King Viserys’ (Paddy Considine) reign, after he names his daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) as heir to the Iron Throne.
At the beginning of the series, House Targaryen is at the height of its powers. Dragons roam the skies, and the family have been in power for over 100 years.
So far, we’ve seen Viserys and his wife Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) get married and give birth two children: a daughter, Helaena, and a son, Aegon.
Aegon’s birth was confirmed in episode three, during which he is referred to as ‘Second of His Name’ by the nobility in Westeros.
But who was the first Aegon Targaryen?
Who is Aegon the Conqueror?
Aegon I, known as ‘Aegon the Conqueror’, the first Targaryen king to come to Westeros, has been mentioned several times already in House of the Dragon.
It is Aegon’s ‘song of ice and fire’ dream that Viserys tells Rhaenyra about in the first episode when he is explaining that she is to be his heir.
Aegon came to Westeros over a century before the events of House of the Dragon, after House Targaryen fled their old homeland of Valyria.
Aegon conquered six of the Seven Kingdoms, built the Iron Throne, established the site of King’s Landing, and reset the Westeros calendar.
He travelled around Westeros on his dragon, Balerion the Dread, as kings from every realm of the land bent the knee to him.
He had two wives, Visenya and Rhaenys – both of whom were also his sisters. Yep, that’s the Targaryens for you, I’m afraid.
The only kingdom not to be conquered by Aegon was Dorne. They resisted his rule initially, but voluntarily joined an alliance with the Targaryens years later.
What happened to Aegon I?
After Dorne joined the Seven Kingdoms, the last years of Aegon’s reign were quiet. So quiet, in fact, that they were known as ‘the Dragon’s Peace’.
He built the Sept of Baelor on Visenya’s Hill and the dragonpit on Rhaenys’ Kill,. The Red Keep would eventually be constructed on Aegon’s High Hill.
10 years after his conquest of Westeros, Rhaenys died. Aegon had two sons: Maegor, and, Aenys, who later went on to have many children with his wife.
Aegon died of a stroke at the age of 64 while speaking with his grandchildren. He was outlived by his second wife, Visenya, who lived another decade longer.
Maegor became known as ‘Maegor the Cruel’ and only reigned for a short time before he was overthrown. He was found dead on the Iron Throne.
Years later, in Game of Thrones, it was revealed that Jon Snow had secretly been named Aegon Targaryen by his mother Lyanna Stark.
When is the next episode of House of the Dragon?
House of the Dragon airs on Monday mornings at 2am on , then 9pm on Monday evenings. It is also available on demand on SkyGo or after its initial broadcast.
The next episode, titled We Light the Way, premieres on September 19 at 2am.
Watch House of the Dragon on and .
