The war between kin inHouse of the Dragonhas wider ramifications than the Greens and the Blacks would have envisioned. Lucerys Velaryon’s death at the hands of Vhagar and Aemond, which took place inHouse of the Dragonseason 1, episode 10: “The Black Queen,” sent the realm tail-spinning into chaos. It marked the failure of the terms of surrender that the Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower sent to the Blacks on Dragonstone.
The Greens and the Blacks have put the war in the hands of dragons, and the Houses throughout the realm cannot run away from this truth. This war involves crown-empowered Houses, such as the Hightowers and the Lannisters, against those that side with Rhaenyra, such as the Arryns and the Velaryons. The Dance also has a bearing on many new Houses inHouse of the Dragon,and has altered the very nature of their relationships with the crown.
Updated June 22, 2025, by Bisma Fida:Season 2 ofHouse of the Dragonhas put a spin on the state of minor and great Houses in Westeros during the Dance of the Dragons. Minor changes have been made to the state of affairs of the Rosbys, Stokeworths, Brackens, Blackwoods, and Tullys from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. Some houses receive more attention, while others are given less importance in the story.House of the DragonSeason 2 sees the introduction ofnew Housesand this list has, accordingly, been updated to include new names and their representatives.
6House Lefford
The Leffords Have Declared For The Greens
House Lefford is a wealthy family in the east of the Westerlands. With the Lannisters as their liege lords, they have declared for the Greens in the Dance of the Dragons. Inseason 2, episode 6: “Smallfolk,“Jason Lannister marches to House Lefford’s seat of Golden Tooth with his massive army. He meets with Lord Humfrey Lefford at the gates of Golden Tooth and brags about his numbers:
I bring a thousand knights of my own, and seven times as many archers and men-at-arms.
Lord Humfrey merely welcomes Jason inside his territory, but the Lannister lord invites himself and his army to garrison inside the Golden Tooth. Humfrey doesn’t look happy about that, considering food and supplies run thin during times of war. The best the Leffords can do for Jason and the Greens is to provide them with 500 fighting men. Humfrey also wants Jason and their armies to march to Harrenhal at once, but the latter prefers to summon Aemond and Vhagar first.
5House Broome
Ser Alfred Broome Serves Rhaenyra
Jamie Kenna playsSer Alfred BroomeinHouse of the Dragonseason 2. He comes from the devoutly religious Broome family of the Westerlands, who sided with the Faith Militant in their revolt against Maegor the Cruel. House Broome suffered Maegor and Balerion’s wrath and saw their seat burn.
Ser Alfred is an outspoken member of Queen Rhaenyra’s small council, often disagreeing with her on her policy of restraint. He is angry after Duskendale and Rook’s Rest and doubts his queen because she is a woman, and he believes her to be gentler in comparison to the men fighting the war. That said, he remains fiercely loyal to Rhaenyra, and she is proud to say that he and his House served King Viserys well. Rhaenyra dispatched Ser Alfred to Harrenhal to see Daemon Targaryen:
I ask you to reason with him. Find out his state of mind and his intentions.
Before leaving, Ser Alfred pledged his loyalty to the Queen once again and asked if she had a message for her husband.
4House Bracken
The Brackens & Blackwoods Use The Civil War To Settle Scores
House of the DragonSeason 1 shines light on the deep-seated rivalry and animosity between the Blackwoods of Raventree Hall and the Brackens of Stone Hedge. Season 2 continues this and says quite a bit aboutthe Brackens and the Blackwoods. The Riverlands are the hotspot, and Daemon resides at Harrenhal to raise an army to fight the Greens. The Brackens have declared for Aegon, and the Blackwoods for Rhaenyra.
Season 2, episode 3, “The Burning Mill,” derives its name from the battle over a minor boundary dispute between the Brackens and the Blackwoods. The knights of both Houses hurl insults at each other, with Ser Aeron Bracken calling Rhaenyra a “false queen” and a “kinslayer.” Ser Davos Blackwood retorts and a battle ensues. Heavy casualties are reported on both sides, and Aemond Targaryen reports to the Small Council:
House Bracken took it upon themselves to attack the Blackwoods who declared for the pretender. Lord Samwell Blackwood himself is slain.
Aegon disagrees with his councilors, who say the Brackens and the Blackwoods have used the civil war as an excuse to fight their wars. Aegon declares the Burning Mill the first blood in the Greens' name.
Ser Willem Blackwood has declared for the Blacks. He is the regent, ruling in the name of Lord Benjicot Blackwood, and is summoned to Harrenhal by Daemon. Willem is happy to pledge his levies to Daemon and hopes for Caraxes' protection. Willem and Daemon treat with Lord Amos Bracken, but to no avail. Daemon permits Willem to terrorize the Brackens into yielding, but that campaign brings more dishonor to his name. Willem’s forces carry the red and black Targaryen banners, and the Riverlords march up to Harrenhal to express disgust at Daemon’s tactics. They vow not to support him.
3House Tully
Lord Grover Tully Is Dead
The Brackens and the Blackwoods are but minor noble Houses in the Riverlands, with House Tully holding them together for centuries. Daemon knows he’s almost lost the Riverlands by permitting Willem to commit atrocities, butHarrenhal’s acting Maester Alys Riverspoints to him the importance of House Tully:
House Tully is not the largest House in the Riverlands, nor is it the richest, but it is the most stable. The Tullys' wisdom has kept the River Houses in line for centuries.
Alys certainly had a part to play in Grover Tully’s death. With him gone, Oscar Tully is now the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Daemon had previously treated with Grover Tully’s grandson, Oscar, and the latter is likely to declare Black inHouse of the Dragon’s future.
2House Stokeworth
Criston Cole Felled Castle Stokeworth
The minor House Stokeworth becomes the target of Criston Cole’s ire, as his strategy is to use the Crownlands Houses against the Riverlands. Since the Riverlands are key to winning, Cole needs the help of Houses such as Stokeworth and Rosby to subdue the Riverlands.
Cole adds the numbers of House Stokeworth to his army and marches further. The Stokeworths currently fight for the Greens and are part of the host marching to the Riverlands.
1House Rosby
The Castle Of Rosby Fell To The Greens
Like the Stokeworths, the Rosbys are among the first few Houses in the Crownlands who defect to the Greens. A Black stronghold, Cole turns the Rosbys to his cause and executes those who resist. These small strongholds embolden him to march on to the final destination of the seaside keep of Rook’s Rest.
Cole employs his battle strategyat Rook’s Rest, and the Blacks send Princess Rhaenys to counter the attack.Aegon, atop Sunfyre, rides into the battle unannounced and is eliminated by Aemond. Aemond and Cole’s plan was to ambush whichever dragon the Blacks would send to Rook’s Rest. Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys are slain in the battle, and by winning Rook’s Rest, the Greens have cut off Dragonstone by land.
