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Aegon II Targaryen

The royal standard of King Aegon II.

Larys: "The beacon on the Hightower, do you know what color it glows when Oldtown calls its banners to war?"
Harwin: "Green."
— Larys and Harwin Strong, remarking on Alicent's gown[src]

The Greens[1] are a political faction that support the claim of Aegon II Targaryen on the Iron Throne. During the Dance of the Dragons, they oppose the Blacks, who follow Rhaenyra Targaryen.

History[]

Background[]

The Greens began as a political faction in King Viserys I Targaryen's royal court at King's Landing. They are named for the green gown that Queen Alicent Hightower wore during the wedding feast of Ser Laenor Velaryon and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, in an act of coded defiance and slight towards her stepdaughter Rhaenyra. The color green refers to one of the colors of House Hightower, and the color of the Hightower's beacon when Oldtown's banners are called to war.[2]

The Greens support Alicent's son, Prince Aegon, as heir to the Iron Throne,[3] in opposition to Rhaenyra's claim, which is supported by their rival faction: the Blacks.[4]

House of the Dragon: Season 1[]

Rhaenyra proposes to Prince Daemon, explaining that she cannot face the Greens alone.[1]

On his deathbed, King Viserys mistakes Queen Alicent for Rhaenyra, speaking of Aegon the Conqueror, the Prince That Was Promised, and "The Song of Ice and Fire." Alicent misinterprets this as Viserys wanting their son Aegon to inherit the throne instead of Rhaenyra.[5]

Following Viserys's death, Ser Otto Hightower convenes the Small Council, announcing the king's death and his intent to move forward with crowning Aegon. To Alicent's dismay, several members of the council have already been plotting to install Aegon on the Iron Throne. Only Lord Lyman Beesbury speaks out, but he is promptly killed by Ser Criston Cole. Otto counts Houses Tully and Tyrell among their allies, but Ser Tyland Lannister expresses uncertainty about House Baratheon, and suggests a marriage alliance to one of Lord Borros's four unmarried daughters.[3] Otto later has ravens sent to House Stark as well.[4]

Otto tasks Ser Harrold Westerling with securing Rhaenyra and her family from Dragonstone, but Harrold refuses and resigns his post. Ser Erryk Cargyll also leaves the Kingsguard, believing Aegon unfit to rule. Ser Erryk's twin brother, Ser Arryk Cargyll, remains loyal to Aegon.[3]

The courtiers of the Red Keep are assembled by Otto and commanded to bend the knee. With varying levels of enthusiasm, most do, the only holdouts being Lady Fell and Lord Merryweather. Lord Allun Caswell feigns allegiance to Aegon and attempts to flee the capital to warn Rhaenyra but is captured. Fell, Merryweather, and Caswell are all executed. The Greens publicly crown Aegon in the Dragonpit to the cheers of the assembled smallfolk. Aegon, who up until that point had not wanted the throne, becomes more enthused after receiving the adoration of the smallfolk.[3]

Both sides send emissaries to Storm's End, hoping to gain the support of House Baratheon and the Stormlands. Prince Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar arrive first and secure a marriage alliance for the Greens, with Aemond being betrothed to Lord Baratheon's daughter Floris. Prince Lucerys Velaryon arrives later with a message from his mother Rhaenyra. Lord Borros is offended by the demanding nature of the letter and dismisses the kinship between himself and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, a prominent black supporter. Lucerys is also unable to offer a betrothal to one of the Baratheon daughters as he is already betrothed. Upon leaving, Aemond and Vhagar chase Lucerys and his dragon Arrax. Aemond eventually loses control of Vhagar, who kills Lucerys and Arrax, thus firing the first shots of the Dance of the Dragons.[4]

Houses sworn to King Aegon II[]

Reach[]

Riverlands[]

Stormlands[]

Westerlands[]

In the books[]

In Fire & Blood, the greens were unofficially formed in 111 AC during the tournament on Viserys and Alicent's fifth anniversary. Alicent wore a green dress at the opening feast, while Rhaenyra wore black and red. Ever since, their respective factions at court were known as the "greens" and the "blacks," which were previously called the "queen's party" and the "party of the princess." Friends, family, servants, and supporters of Queen Alicent always wore green thereafter.

Whereas in the show the Greens take a golden three-headed dragon on a green field as their battle-flag, in the books the field is black, as Aegon adopted this sigil to honor his mount Sunfyre, not the greens.

References[]

Notes[]

  1. "Driftmark" picks up only days after "The Princess and the Queen," which takes place in 126 AC.

External links[]

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