At long last, HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon returns, plunging viewers headlong into the thick of the most brutal civil war in Westeros' history. The show's third season promises higher stakes and more intense conflict than ever, as rival branches of House Targaryen murder each other and set the realm aflame because they can't agree on who should sit the Iron Throne.
If one thing is true of House of the Dragon, it's that its sprawling cast of characters is in many ways even harder to keep track of than Game of Thrones. Who are all these Targaryens, and how are they related? And what about the new characters coming in season 3? Where does their allegiance lie?
Take this character guide with you as you head into House of the Dragon season 3, so you can make sure you know exactly who's playing the game of thrones before we find out who wins and who dies.
Team Black
Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Emma D'Arcy)
Rhaenyra Targaryen is the leader of the Blacks, and the rightful heir who was chosen by her father King Viserys to sit the Iron Throne. However, she also happens to be a woman, which means her ascension would upset centuries of Westerosi tradition. That's a perfect excuse for the Greens to supplant her and name their own heir instead.
Rhaenyra is the wife (and niece) of Daemon Targaryen, step mother to Baela and Rhaena, and mother to Jacaerys Velaryon, Lucerys Velaryon (died in season 1), Joffrey Velaryon, and two small children named Aegon and Viserys, who were last seen heading for the safety of the Free Cities from the Vale. She rides an agile yellow dragon named Syrax.
Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith)
Daemon Targaryen is the husband/uncle of Rhaenyra, and the younger brother of the late King Viserys. His nickname is the rogue prince, on account of the fact that he has a reputation for causing chaos wherever he goes. Daemon isn't one to shrink from bloodshed, and along with Corlys Velaryon, stands as one of the most battle-tested commanders in the Seven Kingdoms during House of the Dragon.
Daemon has two teenage children from his first marriage to Laena Velaryon, the twins Baela and Rhaena. He also has two young children from his union with Rhaenyra, and is the step father to Jace and Joffrey. Daemon rides the red dragon Caraxes.
Jacaerys Velaryon (played by Harry Collett)
Jacaerys Velaryon, nicknamed Jace, is Rhaenyra's oldest son and heir. On paper, his father was Laenor Velaryon; but it's a well-known fact that Jace and his two younger brothers were born of an affair between Rhaenyra and Harwin Strong, making them secret bastards. Nonetheless, Jace has shown a penchant for strategy and building alliances for the Blacks, and has more than proven himself worthy of his position. Jace is betrothed to his step sister, Baela Targaryen. He rides the young dragon Vermax.
Baela Targaryen (played by Bethany Antonia)
Baela Targaryen is the daughter of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon, betrothed of Jace, and granddaughter of Corlys Velaryon. She is an accomplished dragonrider for her age, brave, and level-headed. She currently serves the Blacks as a scout. She rides the dragon Moondancer.
Rhaena Targaryen (played by Phoebe Campbell)
Rhaena Targaryen is the twin sister of Baela, daughter of Daemon and Laena Velaryon, and granddaughter of Corlys Velaryon. Unlike her sister, Rhaena was never able to claim a dragon of her own. She was sent to the Vale to watch over Rhaenyra and Daemon's two young children, but abandoned that duty after hearing rumors of a wild dragon in the area named Sheepstealer.
Corlys Velaryon (played by Steve Toussaint)
Corlys Velaryon is one of the most accomplished sailors in the history of Westeros, whose legendary nine voyages to far-flung corners of the world earned him the nickname the Sea Snake. He's also an accomplished naval commander, having fought for decades against pirates from an alliance of the Free Cities called the Triarchy, alongside Daemon Targaryen.
Corlys is also the richest man in Westeros, thanks to all the treasure he brought back from afar. He's consumed with thoughts of his legacy, and has already faced more tragedy than most. He was married to Rhaenys Targaryen, who died during the Battle at Rook's Rest; they had two children, Laena and Laenor Velaryon. Laena died during childbirth, while Laenor faked his own death to go live across the Narrow Sea (and presumably died sometime later).
That makes what familial connections he still has even more important: his bastard sons Alyn and Addam of Hull, his granddaughters Baela and Rhaena, and his grandsons Jacaerys and Joffrey, the bastard children Laenor claimed were his own from his marriage to Rhaenyra.
Alyn of Hull (played by Abubakar Salim)
Alyn of Hull is one of Corlys Velaryon's two bastard children, and the older brother to Addam. His mother was a peasant shipwright. Alyn longs to be considered a true son by his father, even as he resents the Velaryon patriarch for abandoning him and his brother for most of their lives. The Dance of the Dragons civil war has brought them together, as Corlys' losses have turned his focus to Alyn as his eldest child. He serves as Corlys' first mate aboard the Queen Who Ever Was, and also fought in the war in the Stepstones.
Addam of Hull (played by Clinton Liberty)
Addam of Hull is Alyn's younger brother, and the bastard son of Corlys Velaryon. Unlike Alyn, Addam retains a youthful sense of optimism about the world, and isn't as resentful of their father. He is the first of the dragonseeds, bastards with the blood of Old Valyria who claimed riderless dragons to fight for Rhaenyra. Addam is bonded to the dragon Seasmoke, who was previously ridden by Laenor Velaryon.
Hugh (played by Kieran Bew)
Hugh is a dragonseed in service to Rhaenyra, who has claimed the mighty bronze dragon Vermithor — the second largest dragon alive after Vhagar. He lived as a blacksmith in King's Landing with his wife Kat (played by Ellora Torchia), hiding the secret that he was a Targaryen bastard.
Ulf (played by Tom Bennett)
Ulf is another dragonseed flying for Rhaenyra. Like Hugh, he's a Targaryen bastard who was invited to the "Red Sowing," a horrific event where Rhaenyra gave these bastards the chance to claim riderless dragons. Despite being a rowdy drunkard who takes nothing seriously, Ulf managed to successfully bond the dragon Silverwing.
Mysaria (played by Sonoya Mizuno)
Hailing from the distant land of Yi Ti, Mysaria long ago entrenched herself in King's Landing first as a prostitute, and then later as an information broker known as the White Worm. She was a paramour of Daemon Targaryen, until a falling out saw them go their separate ways. During season 2 of House of the Dragon, she became a close advisor and romantic prospect for Rhaenyra Targaryen, and remains one of the few people whose council Rhaenyra relies upon.
Lord Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes)
Despite his young age, Oscar Tully is the Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, meaning all the other great houses in the region owe him fealty. He assembled a host of rivermen to fight for Daemon Targaryen at Harrenhal. At the end of season 2, they marched together to make war against the Blacks' enemies in the region.
Lord Roderick Dustin (played by Tommy Flanagan)
Roderick Dustin is the Lord of Barrowtown, a settlement in the North. He is a new character being introduced in season 3, the leader of a group of old Northmen called the Winter Wolves, who have come south to fight for Rhaenyra because of a promise Cregan Stark made to Jace Velaryon. Every man of the Winter Wolves is a seasoned combat veteran, and none more than Roderick Dustin, who is so old and weathered he bears the nickname Roddy the Ruin.
Ser Simon Strong (played by Simon Russell Beale)
Simon Strong is the leader of House Strong and lord of Harrenhal, a haunted yet massively important fortress in the heart of the Riverlands. He gave his support to Daemon Targaryen in season 2, allowing Harrenhal to become the main base of operations for Daemon's efforts to unite the Riverlands under Rhaenyra — though in truth, there was nothing he could have done to resist. He has a good sense of humor in the face of unassailable odds, and is the granduncle to Larys and Harwin Strong.
Lord Cregan Stark (played by Tom Taylor)
Cregan Stark is the Lord of Winterfell, and a distant ancestor of the Starks from Game of Thrones. He met with Jace at the beginning of House of the Dragon season 2, and agreed to send the Winter Wolves south to fight for Rhaenyra.
TEAM GREEN
Alicent Hightower (played by Olivia Cooke)
Alicent Hightower is the wife to the late King Viserys and childhood friend of Rhaenyra Targaryen. She is a leader amongst the Green faction, though her grip on power has waned as her sons have risen into their own. She and Viserys had four children: Aegon, Aemond, Helaena, and Daeron. She is also the grandmother to Aegon and Helaena's children, Jaehaerys (deceased) and Jaehaera.
Alicent has a canny mind for politics and schemes, and has survived shifts in the balance of power that many others would not. But the war she helped start by pushing her son Aegon onto the throne weighs heavy on her. At the end of season 2, she made a secret deal with Rhaenyra to walk away from it all, in exchange for the Iron Throne — and Aegon's head.
Aegon II Targaryen (played by Tom Glynn-Carney)
King Aegon II Targaryen is the oldest son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent, and the figurehead chosen by the Greens for their coup of the Iron Throne. Aegon had no wish to rule, but after being thrust into power, gave it his genuine best effort despite his debaucherous ways.
That all came to an end at the Battle at Rook's Rest, where Aegon tried to fight the dragonrider Rhaenys, and ended up engulfed in dragonfire thanks to his treacherous younger brother, Aemond. Aegon's recovery has been painful, and his injuries have left him permanently disfigured. Fearing for his life, he fled the Red Keep at the end of season 2 with help from his master of whisperers, Larys Strong.
Aegon rides the golden dragon Sunfyre, whose fate remains unknown as of the start of season 3. He is the husband and brother of Helaena Targaryen, and father to Jaehaerys (deceased) and Jaehaera. After Rook's Rest, Aegon is incapable of siring any more heirs.
Aemond Targaryen (played by Ewan Mitchell)
Aemond Targaryen is the second son of Alicent and King Viserys. Unlike his bumbling older brother, Aemond studied combat, strategy, history, and all the other virtues of leadership with discipline. Relentlessly bullied as a child, Aemond eventually claimed the dragon Vhagar, the oldest and most dangerous beast in the Seven Kingdoms.
After betraying Aegon II at Rook's Rest, Aemond has assumed control of King's Landing as Prince Regent. He has a dangerous obsession with his uncle Daemon, who he views as one of his few true equals.
Helaena Targaryen (played by Phia Saban)
Helaena Targaryen is the only daughter of Alicent Hightower and King Viserys, as well as the wife (and sister) of King Aegon II. She and Aegon had twins: a boy named Jaehaerys and a girl named Jaehaera. Jaehaerys was brutally murdered in front of Helaena during the House of the Dragon season 2 premiere, by cutthroats known as Blood and Cheese.
Unlike her brothers, Helaena is a kind-hearted person who is adored by the people of King's Landing, and even looked upon fondly by members of Team Black. She also has a gift for prophecy, which sometimes gives her visions that come true.
Ser Criston Cole (played by Fabien Frankel)
Ser Criston Cole is the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard for the Greens, as well as Hand of the King. He is nicknamed Kingmaker, on account of being the one who placed the crown on King Aegon's head during his coronation.
After a failed romance with Rhaenyra in their youth, Criston Cole became a vehement enemy of the Black Queen. He serves the Greens faithfully, as a Kingsguard knight as well as a mentor to Prince Aemond and secret lover to Alicent Hightower. He also commanded the Battle at Rook's Rest, which sent him on a dark spiral of acceptance for the fact that he is almost certainly not making it out of the war alive. Criston currently marches through the Riverlands with the intent of taking back Harrenhal.
Gwayne Hightower (played by Freddie Fox)
Gwayne Hightower is the younger brother of Alicent, a knight who grew up in Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower's power. He is an honorable man with a quick wit, who marched with Criston Cole on Rook's Rest. He is also part of the Green company in the Riverlands, where he serves as a close confidante to Cole.
Otto Hightower (played by Rhys Ifans)
Otto Hightower served as the Hand of the King to three rulers of Westeros: King Jaehaerys the Conciliator, King Viserys, and King Aegon II. He is the father of Alicent and Gwayne, the primary architect of the Green Council coup, and one of the deftest poltical minds of his time. However, Otto's grip on power slipped during House of the Dragon season 2, when he was stripped of his position by his grandson. He decided to leave King's Landing after that, but was never heard from again. When last we saw Otto, he was being held in a prison cell in some unknown location.
Larys Strong (played by Matthew Needham)
Larys Strong is the master of whisperers to King Aegon II, and a cunning schemer in the vein of Littlefinger from Game of Thrones. Despite coming from a great house, Larys was often looked down upon for his physical ailment: a foot crippled from birth, which earned him the nickname "the Clubfoot." Larys is always playing the long game, and at the end of House of the Dragon season 2 he made one of his most dangerous gambits yet: helping King Aegon escape King's Landing, before his brother Aemond decided to kill him and formally claim the Iron Throne for his own.
Tyland & Jason Lannister (played by Jefferson Hall)
Tyland and Jason Lannister are twin brothers, and the faces of House Lannister in House of the Dragon. Jason is lord of the house and ruler of Casterly Rock. He was last seen leading his army into the Riverlands to fight for the Greens.
Tyland Lannister is the master of ships for King Aegon II. At the end of season 2, he struck out for the Free Cities to forge a dangerous alliance with the Triarchy pirates in hopes of breaking the Sea Snake's blockage of King's Landing.
Lord Ormund Hightower (played by James Norton)
Ormund Hightower is a new character appearing in House of the Dragon season 3, and will have a major impact on events. He is the nephew of Otto and cousin to Alicent and Gwayne Hightower, as well as the Lord of Oldtown. Little is known of Ormund's personality, but he commands one of the largest standing armies in the Seven Kingdoms and has set out into the Reach to fight for the Greens. Ormund's ward is Daeron Targaryen, Alicent's youngest son.
Daeron Targaryen
Little is known of Daeron Targaryen, including what actor will play him in season 3 (though we do have a very good idea). Daeron is the younger brother of Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena, who was sent to ward in Oldtown when he was just a boy by his mother Alicent and father King Viserys. Season 3 will serve as the proper introduction for Daeron, one of the last remaining dragonriders the story has to feature. He rides the beautiful dragon Tessarion, nicknamed the Blue Queen.
Grand Maester Orwyle (played by Kurt Egyiawan)
Orwyle is the Grand Maester who serves the crown. His post is outside of the Green and Black conflict, but at preset the king he's serving is Green, and thus his counsel serves their cause. Orwyle is a compassionate man who primarily appears in the series as a healer and source of reason — qualities that are all too rare in the Dance of the Dragons civil war.
Jasper Wylde (played by Paul Kennedy)
Jasper Wylde, nicknamed the Ironrod, is the master of laws on King Aegon II's Small Council, and a key member of the Green Council coup. Despite his position as the chief lawkeeper of the Seven Kingdoms, he has a penchant for scheming and covets power.
FREE AGENTS
Alys Rivers (played by Gayle Rankin)
Alys Rivers is the healer residing at Harrenhal, and she is a woman of many secrets. Some believe her to be a witch, and House of the Dragon has certainly given evidence to support it, including her knowledge of the strange dreams Daemon had in the haunted castle. But what does she want? What are her motivations and goals?
Alys helped Daemon, but it was clear she was never truly invested in the Blacks' cause. Alys Rivers has her own desires, and her considerable skills serve her in seeking them out.
Lady Jeyne Arryn (played by Amanda Collin)
Lady Jeyne Arryn is the leader of the Vale during this time period, and a shrewd politician who has done everything she can to keep her soldiers out of the fight. While Jeyne is technically an ally of the Blacks, and is hosting Rhaena Targaryen along with Rhaenyra's children Aegon and Viserys, she has made it clear that her first loyalty is to the Vale. Whether she will ultimately come to the Blacks' aid in their hour of need remains to be seen.
Sharako Lohar (played by Abigail Thorn)
Sharako Lohar is a pirate captain from Lys and the commander of the Triarchy fleet sailing to break the Sea Snake's blockade of the Gullet. While she has agreed to fight for the Greens, the Triarchy is its own political beast that is firmly apart from the power struggles of Westeros. As such, expect Sharako Lohar to play a pivotal role in the Battle of the Gullet; beyond that, I wouldn't count on her to care much for what happens to the Iron Throne.
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