Who Was Aegon the Conqueror and Why Is He So Important in ‘House of the Dragon’?
One of the most influential Targaryen rulers, Aegon is also a key character to understanding Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon’s vast lore. Here’s everything you need to know about Aegon the Conqueror and his impact on the further Targaryen generations.
George Martin’s Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, based on “A Song of Ice and Fire” and “Fire & Blood” respectively, have always been one of the most epic TV pieces when it comes to fighting for ultimate power.
In both series, Westeros was never safe from yet another war between those striving to get to the Iron Throne, but it’s not only personal ambition that keeps driving House of the Dragon’s characters to most atrocious deeds against their own family for the sake of keeping power.
George Martin’s expansive lore has never been simple enough to just boil everything down to mere greed, and Aegon the Conqueror might play a much bigger role in this case.
Even though the character has never appeared in either of the shows and will unlikely do so in House of the Dragon’s future seasons, his influence — and prophetic dream — has paved the way for centuries-lasting wars between the Targaryens.
Who Is Aegon the Conqueror?
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In both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, Aegon the Conqueror is referred to as the founder of the Targaryen dynasty who also united the Westerosi lands into Seven Kingdoms, becoming the new country’s first ever King.
Even before his famous conquest, Aegon was believed to have a lot of potential, claiming Balerion the Black Dread, one of the biggest dragons that remained in the world at that moment.
Accompanied by his wife sisters Visenya and Rhaenys, Aegon flew over the entire Westeros, torn and divided by multiple wars, and forced all those lands’ rulers to surrender to him.
Apart from the merit of uniting Westeros, Aegon is even more known for his prophetic dream that he himself called “Song of Ice and Fire”.
According to the prophecy, the darkness, accompanied by a long winter, will soon descend on Westeros, and only a Targaryen king or queen will be able to unite the realm once again, defeating evil.
How Aegon’s Prophecy Plays Into ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘House of the Dragon’
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Before House of the Dragon came along, Aegon the Conqueror’s prophetic dream was the reason why Daenerys Targaryen would stop at nothing in her fight for the Iron Throne, firmly believing that she’s the Targaryen queen that her ancestor was talking about.
However, it’s later revealed that the prophecy fits much better into Jon Snow’s story, as he’s also a Targaryen who, coincidentally, was named Aegon at birth.
In House of the Dragon, the prophecy becomes the whole reason of the upcoming war between the Targaryens, with Rhaenyra convinced that her father Viserys I has always wanted her to become the queen promised by Aegon’s dream, even if that meant defying the tradition of naming an heir and not heiress.
Viserys’ wife Alicent, however, interprets his last words to her own advantage, becoming reassured that the name “Aegon” pronounced by Viserys referred to their son, Aegon II.
