The Dance of the Dragons, explained
A two year civil war between a half-brother and half-sister that killed both of them, most of their children, and almost every dragon in the world.
Both sides were right, which is the problem
In 101 AC a Great Council of a thousand lords ruled that the Iron Throne does not pass through a woman, choosing Viserys over his cousin Rhaenys. Four years later Viserys named his own daughter Rhaenyra his heir and made those same lords swear to her.
Then he had four more children by a second wife, and for twenty four years he never said which of the two arrangements stood. He died in 129 AC leaving a daughter who had been promised the throne and a son the realm’s own precedent said should have it. Everyone was right, so everyone fought.
How it happened
- 101 AC
The Great Council
A thousand lords at Harrenhal choose Viserys over his cousin Rhaenys and her son. The realm has now ruled that the throne does not pass through a woman.
- 105 AC
Rhaenyra is named heir
Aemma dies in childbed. Rather than name his brother Daemon, Viserys names his daughter and has the lords swear to her. The 101 precedent is not revoked.
- 120 AC
Daemon marries Rhaenyra
Laenor Velaryon and Laena Velaryon both die within months. Uncle and niece marry, and the Blacks have their war leader.
- 129 AC
Viserys dies, Aegon is crowned
Within days the Greens crown Aegon II in the Dragonpit without telling Rhaenyra. She is crowned on Dragonstone in reply.
- 129 AC
Lucerys dies over Storm’s End
Aemond and Vhagar kill Lucerys and Arrax above Shipbreaker Bay. Aemond claims it was not intended. It does not matter.
- 129 AC
Blood and Cheese
Daemon has Aegon II’s six year old son killed in front of his mother in the Red Keep. Helaena never recovers.
- 130 AC
Rook’s Rest and the Gullet
Rhaenys and Meleys are burned by two dragons at Rook’s Rest. Jacaerys dies at the Gullet. Both sides start running out of riders.
- 130 AC
The dragonseeds
The Blacks offer riderless dragons to anyone with Targaryen blood. Four smallfolk claim dragons. Two of them promptly betray her at Tumbleton.
- 130 AC
The Storming of the Dragonpit
The people of King’s Landing break into the Dragonpit and kill four chained dragons with hand tools. It is the single worst day in the history of dragons.
- 130 AC
Daemon and Aemond kill each other
Above the Gods Eye, Caraxes and Vhagar go into the lake together. Both riders die.
- 130 AC
Rhaenyra is fed to Sunfyre
On Dragonstone, in front of her son Aegon III, on the twenty second day of the tenth moon.
- 131 AC
Aegon II is poisoned
His own lords end it. Rhaenyra’s son Aegon III takes the throne and marries Aegon II’s daughter Jaehaera.
What it cost
The war is remembered as a succession dispute. Its actual legacy is that it ended dragons.
- Dreamfyre Killed during the Storming of the Dragonpit, 130 AC, after snapping her chains and bringing the dome down.
- Vermithor Killed at the Second Battle of Tumbleton, 130 AC.
- Caraxes Died at the Battle Above the Gods Eye, 130 AC, after mortally wounding Vhagar.
- Meleys Killed at the Battle at Rook’s Rest, 129 AC, by Vhagar and Sunfyre together.
- Syrax Killed during the Storming of the Dragonpit, 130 AC.
- Sunfyre Died of his wounds on Dragonstone, 131 AC.
- Tessarion Mortally wounded at the Second Battle of Tumbleton, 130 AC.
- Seasmoke Killed by Vermithor at the Second Battle of Tumbleton, 130 AC.
- Arrax Killed by Vhagar over Shipbreaker Bay, 129 AC.
- Vermax Died at the Battle of the Gullet, 130 AC.
- Tyraxes Killed in his own lair during the Storming of the Dragonpit, 130 AC.
- Moondancer Died fighting Sunfyre over Dragonstone, 130 AC.
- Stormcloud Died of arrow and scorpion wounds after carrying Aegon from Dragonstone to Driftmark, 130 AC.
- Morghul Killed by Hobb the Hewer during the Storming of the Dragonpit, 130 AC.
- Shrykos Killed during the Storming of the Dragonpit, 130 AC.
- Grey Ghost Killed and half eaten by Sunfyre, 130 AC. The Cannibal was blamed at first.
Four dragons survived and none of them was ever ridden by a Targaryen again. The last dragon in the world died in 153 AC under Aegon III, who had watched his mother eaten by one and never flew again. Every dragon and its riders.
Who actually inherited
The Greens held the capital and their claimant outlived Rhaenyra by a year, so on paper they won. But Aegon II left no descendants. The throne passed to Rhaenyra’s son Aegon III, and every Targaryen king afterwards descends from Rhaenyra and Daemon, including Daenerys and Jon Snow.
See the two factions laid out side by side on Greens and Blacks, or open the House of the Dragon family tree and use the faction overlay to watch the family split down the middle.
Dance of the Dragons questions
What is the Dance of the Dragons?
A Targaryen civil war fought from 129 to 131 AC between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon II over who should inherit the Iron Throne after Viserys I died.
Why is it called the Dance of the Dragons?
It is a singer’s name, and a bitter one. Both sides had dragons, so the fighting killed dragons faster than it killed claimants. Sixteen died in two years.
Who won the Dance of the Dragons?
Neither claimant survived. Rhaenyra was killed in 130 AC and Aegon II in 131 AC. The throne went to Rhaenyra’s son Aegon III, so the Black line inherited the dynasty.
How many dragons died in the Dance of the Dragons?
Sixteen of the twenty known dragons. Only Silverwing, Sheepstealer, the Cannibal and the newly hatched Morning survived, and the last dragon of all died in 153 AC.
What was Blood and Cheese?
The killing of Aegon II’s six year old son Jaehaerys in front of his mother and sister, arranged by Daemon Targaryen in reprisal for Lucerys. It made any negotiated peace impossible.
What was the Storming of the Dragonpit?
In 130 AC the starving people of King’s Landing broke into the Dragonpit and killed four chained dragons with axes and spears. Hundreds of them died doing it. It is the moment dragons stopped being invincible.