How Every Main Character In House Of The Dragon Dies In The Books

• House of the Dragon

  Release Date:

  2022-08-21

  Story By:

  George R.R. Martin

  Showrunner:

  Ryan Condal

Warning: This article contains massive SPOILERS for the Fire & Blood book.

This article contains descriptions of graphic violence and suicide.

Summary

• House of the Dragon
  , based on George R. R. Martin’s book
  Fire & Blood
  , explores the destruction of House Targaryen and the personal cost of a bloody civil war.
• Season 1 features brutal deaths of main characters, such as Lucerys Velaryon, showcasing the violent nature of the story.
• The Dance of the Dragons results in the deaths of multiple characters, some of whom die in the most horrific ways.

House of the Dragon, based on the book Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin, recounts how House Targaryen is nearly wiped out at the height of its power. House of the Dragon is about how the hubris and pride of House Targaryen would lead to its destruction and the mounting personal cost of a bloody civil war. Unlike Game of Thrones, which was based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, House of the Dragon is based on the in-universe “historical treatise” that offers an overview of the Targaryens’ history and reveals the fate of dozens of characters that predate the likes of Daenerys.

Game of Thrones is known for brutal deaths, and the Targaryen prequel is no different. House of the Dragon season 1 included the deaths of several main characters, most notably that of Lucerys Velaryon, the second son of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. While most go into a Game of Thrones show expecting graphic violence, some viewers may benefit from knowing how all the House of the Dragon cast members will meet their ends before watching it.

Jacaerys Velaryon

Shot down by crossbows in battle

The pride of the senior members of House Targaryen results in the deaths of most of their children. After losing Lucerys (Luke) in the season 1 finale, Rhaenyra’s eldest son Jacaerys (Jace) will likely also die in House of the Dragon season 3. Jacaerys dies in battle in the book, and is one of many key Targaryen casualties that has a significant impact on the Dance of the Dragons.

The death of Jacaerys Targaryen was a shocking one for the rest of his family, and the blacks as a group, since it occured when an easy victory seemed all-but-assured. At the Battle of the Gullet, when his dragon Vermax is wounded by crossbows, Jace leaps from the dragon’s back, only to be shot down himself. Before his death, Jace secures a key alliance for the blacks by recruiting Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell.

Criston Cole

Shot By Archers In Battle

While he may be the subject of many memes following some of his scenes with Alicent in House of the Dragon season 2, Ser Criston Cole isn’t destined to make it to the end of House of the Dragons alive unless the show deviates significantly from the source material. Ser Criston Cole is one of the most divisive characters in House of the Dragon, and his desire to spite Rhaenyra never wanes.

He serves King Aegon II loyally until his death, becoming Hand of the King when Aegon grows tired of his grandfather Otto Hightower’s conservative strategies. That said, a satisfying death for Cole does happen; he dies at the battle known as the Butcher’s Ball, where he is shot by Robb Rivers and two other archers. Rivers, whose surname suggests that he is a bastard of House Blackwood, is regarded as the most skilled archer in Westeros during his time.

Aegon Targaryen

Poisoned By An Unknown Assassin

House of the Dragon season 2 has spent a lot of time establishing Aegon Targaryen as a character but, like many of his family, he’s almost guaranteed to be dead by the time the Game of Thrones prequel conclude. In the A Dance with Dragons novel, Aegon is shown to be incredibly complacent once he ascends the Iron Throne, which costs him his life.

After “winning” the civil war, King Aegon II does nothing about the approaching armies, spending his time contemplating his future marriage to Cassandra Baratheon and commissioning statues of his late brothers. With the green armies depleted and more enemies coming, the small council realizes too late that Aegon is a terrible king. Aegon is then found dead with blood on his lips. His killer is never confirmed, although Larys Strong and Corlys Velaryon are among the suspects.

However, the show does seem to be taking a different route with Aegon II. In House of the Dragon season 2, he ends up significantly injured after an encounter with Aemond. Aegon manages to make it back to Kings Landing still alive, but barely. While he sustains similar injuries in the books, they do appear far worse in the show. It’s entirely possible that by the time House of the Dragon concludes, Aegon would have succumbed to these wounds rather than being poisoned like he was in the source material.

Larys Strong

Executed By Cregan Stark

Larys is one of the main suspects in Aegon’s murder. When Cregan Stark arrives at King’s Landing, various conspirators are convicted. Many chose to join the Night’s Watch to avoid execution, but Larys chooses death instead. He is beheaded by Cregan, using his blade Ice. His last request is that Cregan remove his bad foot from his corpse, which is granted. The sword Ice is passed down to Eddard Stark and later reforged into two blades: Widow’s Wail, possessed by Joffrey Baratheon, and Oathkeeper, by Brienne of Tarth.

However, while this is how Larys Strong dies in the book, the possible change to the death of Aegon II in House of the Dragon may also mean that the fate of Larys Strong is altered too. If Aegon does die from the wounds he sustained in House of the Dragon season 2, then it’s unlikely that Larys Strong will be blamed as a conspirator (since there’s no conspiracy). If this is the case, then he may even end up surviving — although there are still plenty of ways he could die.

Mysaria

Killed In The Streets Of King’s Landing

Mysaria appears to die in season 1, episode 9, “The Green Council” in a fire. However, she survived since she was supposed to play an important role in the war, and returned once again in House of the Dragon season 2. During the Dance of Dragons, she serves as Rhaenyra’s unofficial Mistress of Whisperers (the equivalent of Lord Varys, the Master of Whisperers).

If the show follows the same plot as the books, then Mysaria will have one of the most brutal upcoming deaths in House of the Dragon. When Rhaenyra flees King’s Landing Mysaria remains, and is taken prisoner when the greens’ forces return. She is told if she can walk through the streets of the city naked while being whipped, she will be allowed to live. Mysaria dies before completing the journey.

Corlys Velaryon

Dies Of Natural Causes

Whether Corlys Valaryon dies in House of the Dragon depends on how much further after the Targaryen civil war the show chooses to explore, as he passes away a couple of years after it concludes. Corlys survives the Dance of Dragons and acts as a regent for Rhaenyra’s son, King Aegon III, when he inherits the throne at a young age. Corlys dies of old age and is buried at sea. In House of the Dragon season 1, he expresses his regret to his wife Rhaenys for spending so long trying to put a member of his family on the Iron Throne.

His granddaughters Baela and Rhaena are the only members of Corlys’ immediate family to live through the war, and he feels survivor’s guilt, dedicating the rest of his life to protecting the family’s legacy. The death of Corlys Valaryon may well arrive in House of the Dragon, but if it does it will likely be in season 5, and only if the show continues the narrative into the reign of King Aegon III.

Rhaenys Targaryen

Dies In Combat On Dragonback

Rhaenys has already died in House of the Dragon, perishing in season 2, and the show stayed relatively faithful to how she meets her end in the A Dance With Dragons novel. In both the book and the HBO show, Rhaenys rides into battle on her dragon Meleys and engages in a fight against both Aemond and Aegon on their dragons.

Outnumbered, Rhaenys and Meleys are both killed, but Aegon is severely injured, and Aemond rules Westeros in his place while he recovers. Rhaenys knew that she would not survive the battle but forged ahead anyway. There is an interesting parallel between the deaths of Rhaneys and her daughter, Laena. Laena wanted to die “a dragon rider’s death” and ordered Vhagar (then her dragon) to burn her to ash rather than die in childbirth.

Joffrey Velaryon

Falls From Dragonback Riding Into Battle

While he may share a name with one of the most hated characters in Game of Thrones, Joffrey Velaryon in House of the Dragon grows to be a far braver and less sadistic character. Unfortunately, being nothing like Joffrey Lannister isn’t enough to saved Joffrey Velayron, and he’s one of the House of the Dragon characters who will die before the end of the show (provided his narrative remains true to the source material, of course).

Rhaenyra’s son Joffrey dies during a riot in King’s Landing. He is afraid for the safety of his dragon and tries to help turn the tide by riding his mother’s dragon Syrax, but falls 200 hundred feet. His dragon Tyraxes and several other dragons are killed by rioters. Since Joffrey’s older brothers both died before him, he is briefly heir to the Iron Throne. Joffrey and his brothers’ deaths emphasize the tragedies brought by the war. ​​​

Aemond Targaryen

Dies In Combat On Dragonback

Aemond Targaryen is coming into his own in House of the Dragon season 2, becoming the significant presence his on-page counterpart is in the A Dance With Dragons novel. Unfortunately, he’s also one of the characters destined to die in House of the Dragon. Those hoping for a showdown between Aemond and Daemon are getting their wish. With Aemond riding Vhagar and Daemon riding Caraxes, they battle each other above the God’s Eye, the largest lake in Westeros.

Both dragons are heavily wounded before Daemon leaps from Caraxes and stabs Aemond through his remaining eye, sending both riders and dragons plunging into the water. Aemond and Vhagar’s bodies are found years later. Aemond is as morally culpable as the rest of his family, but he sees himself as dedicated to them and rides into battle multiple times to protect his brother’s claim to the throne.

Helaena Targaryen

Dies By Suicide

Of all the upcoming deaths in House of the Dragon, one of the most tragic and emotional will likely be that of Helaena Targaryen, who has already been at the center of several of the hardest to watch scenes in the show. Given that her decline has already begun in House of the Dragon, it’s also possible her death will come before the end of season 2. In the novel, Daemon Targaryen sends assassins to murder one of Aegon and Helaena’s sons, hoping to avenge Luke’s death.

Their other son is later killed after escaping King’s Landing with his father and sister. After her sons’ deaths, Helaena becomes depressed and eventually throws herself from one of the castle’s towers. Helaena is depicted as a sweet, introverted young woman, who was beloved by the people of King’s Landing, and her children were mere toddlers when they died. Their deaths are among the most horrific events in the ASOIAF universe.

Otto Hightower

Beheaded On Rhaenyra’s Orders

Rhys Ifans was one of the most known cast members in House of the Dragon, and his character, Otto Hightower, is also likely going to have a death scene not to dissimlar from Ned Stark’s in Game of Thrones. Otto is executed as a traitor when Rhaenyra’s forces take King’s Landing, while his daughter Alicent and grandaughter Helaena are kept alive as prisoners. Otto was determined to have someone of his blood on the Iron Throne and manipulated his daughter to accomplish this.

He’ll survive until much later in the show

Some believe that Otto is the real villain of House of the Dragon, and many important players consider his death as a victory. Rhaenyra is fighting a war to be the first reigning queen of Westeros, while Otto’s actions are all in service of upholding a patriarchal society in which his family wins the throne. Given that Otto’s death comes toward the end of the Dance of the Dragons, it’s likely he’ll survive until much later in the show.

Alicent Hightower

Dies Of A Fever

Despite being at the center of the conflict for the Iron Throne that tears the Seven Kingdoms apart in House of the Dragon, Alicent suffers a somewhat un-violent (though by no means pleasant) death. Alicent survives the war and spends her remaining days in a tower mourning the deaths of her children, and towards the end of her life, comes to hate the color green.

Alicent is a complex character because she supports her malevolent son’s claim to the throne but has also endured years of mistreatment. Alicent makes these decisions because she is trying to grasp some power for herself. Her death frames her as a tragic figure because no matter what she did to make her own life better, it only led to more heartbreak. She dies at a relatively young age from an outbreak of the Winter Fever.

Daemon Targaryen

Dies In Combat On Dragonback And Is Never Found

Daemon has become a fan-favorite character in House of the Dragon, thanks in no small part to the performance of Matt Smith, and it’s likely that he’ll also have an incredible death scene when he’s finally written out of the show. Daemon dies in an epic battle with Aemond, Daemon stabbing his opponent in the eye with his blade Dark Sister.

After both sides are plunged into the waters of the God’s Eye, Daemon’s dragon Caraxes manages to crawl to the shore before dying, but Daemon’s body is never found. Daemon is also a morally gray character but is dedicated to his brother’s legacy and is willing to do anything for Rhaenyra to claim the throne, no matter how unethical. He may have succeeded in preserving Rhaenyra’s legacy, though, as their two sons, Aegon and Viserys, survive the war and inherit the throne.

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Eaten Alive By A Dragon

Her half-brother feeds her to his dragon Sunfyre

Of all the main characters in House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra Targaryen is perhaps set to have the most gruesome and abrupt death. After being driven out of King’s Landing by rioters, Rhaenyra wanders Westeros, trying to raise enough money to escape the country. She is captured at Dragonstone by Aegon’s forces, where her half-brother feeds her to his dragon Sunfyre.

Rhaenyra fights relentlessly to become the first reigning queen of the Seven Kingdoms, but it only leads to her doom. Her fate reflects the House of the Dragon‘s central theme of the conflict’s futility. Rhaenyra’s death is spoiled in Game of Thrones season 3, episode 4, “Now His Watch Is Ended,” when Joffrey Baratheon tells Margaery Tyrell about these events, which are now the stuff of Westerosi history.