House of the Dragon: Why This Character’s Arc Was Confusing

Nivedita Dubey
November 24, 2024

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Summary:

House of the Dragon offers a deeper look into the Targaryen civil war, the Dance of the Dragons.
Rhaenys Targaryen’s arc differs between the series and the book Fire & Blood.
The show’s adaptation highlights gender politics and reshapes Rhaenys’s significance.
The Great Council of 101 AC decision set a precedent that later fueled the Civil War.

House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, delves into the bloody history of the Targaryen family. Its events revolve around the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war that defined the Seven Kingdoms’ future. Central to this story is Rhaenys Targaryen, The Queen Who Never Was, whose storyline showcases the tragic consequences of a patriarchal society’s decisions.

Rhaenys Targaryen’s Claim to the Iron Throne

Rhaenys Was the Daughter of Jaehaerys’s Late Heir

Rhaenys Targaryen, great-granddaughter of Aegon the Conqueror, was born in 74 AC to Aemon Targaryen and Jocelyn Baratheon. As the eldest grandchild of King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne, her claim to the Iron Throne seemed promising. From a young age, Rhaenys displayed the strength of her lineage by bonding with the dragon Meleys, the Red Queen, earning admiration as “Our Queen To Be.”

Her marriage to Corlys Velaryon further elevated her status. Together, they symbolized unity between sea and sky, inspiring hope for a prosperous reign. However, Rhaenys’s father, Aemon, died in 92 AC, throwing her claim into question. When the Old King Jaehaerys faced a succession crisis, many advocated for Rhaenys or her bloodline to take the throne, arguing she was her father’s rightful heir. This led to the pivotal Great Council of 101 AC.

What Happened at the Great Council of 101 AC?

The Book and Series Differ In Their Depiction of This Landmark Moment

In 101 AC, King Jaehaerys summoned a Great Council at Harrenhal to determine his successor. Fourteen major claims were presented, but the decision ultimately rested between two heirs: Viserys Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon.

The show’s prologue suggests that Rhaenys herself was in direct contention, highlighting the gender bias in Westeros. By contrast, Fire & Blood rules her out early, shifting focus to her son, Laenor. This discrepancy reshaped Rhaenys’s live-action portrayal, making her a symbol of the systemic exclusion of women from power. Ultimately, the council chose Viserys, establishing a precedent that women could not ascend the Iron Throne.

The Great Council’s Decision and Its Long-Term Consequences

Jaehaerys’s Decision Created a Precedent That Led to Civil War

While King Jaehaerys’s reign was seen as a golden age, the Great Council of 101 AC left a divisive legacy. By prioritizing male heirs, the council entrenched gender bias, setting the stage for future conflict. Decades later, King Viserys’s naming of his daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen as heir defied this precedent, sparking tensions that culminated in the Dance of the Dragons.

Had Rhaenys been crowned queen, these conflicts might have been avoided. Her reign could have established equality in succession, preventing the bloody civil war that nearly destroyed House Targaryen. Instead, Rhaenys remained in the shadows, eventually allying with Rhaenyra in the Dance. Her death in the Battle of Rook’s Rest, alongside Meleys, marked the end of a queen who was denied her destiny.

Rhaenys Targaryen’s Character Arc in House of the Dragon

Rhaenys Targaryen, The Queen Who Never Was, remains a poignant figure in House of the Dragon. Her arc encapsulates themes of ambition and the struggle for recognition in a male-dominated world. While Fire & Blood offers a more complex take on her character, the series amplifies her presence, making her a symbol of resilience and lost potential.

Rhaenys’s journey—from a dragonrider admired by the realm to a sidelined claimant to the throne—emphasizes the human cost of rigid traditions. Her legacy resonates as a reminder of what Westeros lost by denying her the crown.