{"id":20624,"date":"2022-08-22T09:00:40","date_gmt":"2022-08-22T07:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1695260"},"modified":"2022-08-22T09:31:20","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T07:31:20","slug":"what-is-the-dance-of-the-dragons-house-of-the-dragon-war-explained","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/what-is-the-dance-of-the-dragons-house-of-the-dragon-war-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Dance of the Dragons? House of the Dragon war explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 22 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The Targaryens take what is theirs with Fire and Blood.<\/p>\n

So, it should come as no surprise that the legendary fallen house during the times of Game of Thrones was once at the height of its powers and also helped to destroy itself through a bloody war.<\/p>\n

In the new prequel series House of the Dragon<\/a>, we begin our story during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) as he hopes for a male heir with his wife Queen Aemma (Sian Brooke).<\/p>\n

The pair already have a daughter in the form of the \u2018Realm\u2019s Delight\u2019, Princess Rhaenyra Targayren (Milly Alcock and Emma D\u2019Arcy), but many expect Viserys\u2019s controversial brother Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) to be named as his heir in the absence of a son.<\/p>\n

However, Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), the Hand of the King, has other plans \u2013\u00a0and they involve his daughter, Lady Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey and Olivia Cooke).<\/p>\n

This all leads us to the Dance of the Dragons \u2013\u00a0but what exactly does this mean?<\/p>\n

**Spoilers for the book Fire and Blood and House of the Dragon ahead**<\/strong><\/p>

What is the Dance of the Dragons? House of the Dragon war explained<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ollie Upton \/ HBO<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

House of the Dragon depicts a civil war that breaks out between factions within House Targaryen over who is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.<\/p>\n

The civil war is dubbed the \u2018Dance of the Dragons\u2019 due to the clashing of Targaryens and their dragon steeds.<\/p>\n

King Viserys I Targaryen himself was chosen as the heir to his grandfather King Jaehaerys in a Great Council, which saw him favoured over his female cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.<\/p>