House of the Dragon is a series that follows House Targaryen, the ruling house of the Seven Kingdoms for almost 300 years. The series shows the events that led to the beginning of the decline of the powerful house. But when do all of these events take place in the Game of Thrones timeline?
Here’s the complete timeline of Game of Thrones, including the events in House of the Dragon:
(Note that the events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones take place After Conquest (AC), or after Aegon Targaryen’s conquest of Westeros.)
RELATED: Do You Need to Watch Game of Thrones Before House of the Dragon?
112 AC-129 AC: House of the Dragon Season 1
At the start of the first episode of House of the Dragon, King Jaeherys calls a Great Council in 101 AC to choose a successor. He chooses Viserys Targaryen (Rhaenyra’s father) over Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
House of the Dragon then establishes that it is already the ninth year of King Viserys Targaryen’s reign, which is in 112 AC.
In the first season, Viserys names Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as his successor and marries her childhood friend, Alicent Hightower. After Viserys’ death, the Greens hold a coronation for Aegon II Targaryen, while Rhaenyra is crowned queen.
Season 1 ends with the event that kickstarted the Dance of the Dragons, where Aemond Targaryen chases after Lucerys Velaryon and Arrax, which resulted in Vhagar killing the prince and his dragon.
Viserys was right when he said, “The idea that we control the dragons is an illusion.”
129 AC-131 AC: The Dance of the Dragons
This is likely where House of the Dragon Season 2 will take place since it will pick up where Season 1 left off.
The Dance of the Dragons is the name for a civil war that emerged between two of Visery’s children, his eldest son Aegon II and his eldest daughter Rhaenyra (also the one he named his successor), with them fighting over who should succeed their father on the Iron Throne.
262 AC-283 AC: The Reign of the Mad King
King Aerys II Targaryen was the last Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne and was Daenerys, Viserys III, and Rhaegar’s father.
Aerys was called “The Mad King”, as he burned anyone who was against him. His rule started out well, but he later succumbed to madness after he was imprisoned during the Defiance of Duskendale.
He then became very paranoid, jealous of his Hand Tywin Lannister, and killed as he pleased. The Mad King was eventually slain by his Kingsguard, Jaime Lannister.
282 AC-283 AC: Robert’s Rebellion
Robert’s Rebellion is often mentioned in Game of Thrones as it is a crucial event in Westerosi history.
Rhaegar, Aerys’ son, allegedly kidnapped Robert Baratheon’s betrothed, Lyanna Stark. Lyanna’s brother Brandon and father Rickard demanded justice from Aerys, but The Mad King responded by killing them.
Aerys then demanded Lord Jon Arryn to turn over Eddard “Ned” Stark, the new Lord of Winterfell, and Robert Baratheon. But Jon refused, and banners were raised in a revolt known as the War of the Usurper to Targaryen loyalists.
The event, however, is often referred to as “Robert’s Rebellion”. Rhaegar led an army to take down the rebels but was defeated by Robert. Tywin Lannister’s army arrives in King’s Landing, but not to defend the city.
Jaime Lannister kills The Mad King, which then leads to him being called the “Kingslayer”. Robert Baratheon was proclaimed King of the Seven Kingdoms and married Cersei Lannister.
Later in the Game of Thrones series, however, it is revealed that Robert’s Rebellion was built on a lie, as Rhaegar and Lyanna were in love. They got married, and Lyanna died giving birth to Jon Snow, whose real name is actually “Aegon Targaryen”.
298 AC: Game of Thrones Season 1
In the first season of Game of Thrones, Robert appoints Ned Stark to be his Hand after Jon Arryn dies.
Ned moves to King’s Landing and later discovers that none of Cersei’s children were Robert’s. Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen’s father is actually Jaime Lannister, Cersei’s twin brother.
Robert dies after being gored by a boar, and Joffrey is crowned king. Joffrey then has Ned Stark beheaded.
Robb Stark, Ned’s son, seeks vengeance, while Robert's younger brothers, Stannis and Renly, challenge Joffrey’s reign. Sansa Stark is held hostage, while Arya Stark escapes.
Elsewhere, Jon Snow joins the Night’s Watch, and Daenerys becomes a Khaleesi and successfully hatches her dragon eggs, giving life to Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.
299 AC: Game of Thrones Season 2
The War of the Five Kings continues in Season 2, the war between Joffrey Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Robb Stark, and Balon Greyjoy.
Stannis’ counselor, the Red Priestess Melisandre, summons a shadow creature that kills Renly. House Greyjoy attacks the North. The Lannisters and the Tyrells beat Stannis’ forces in the Battle of Blackwater Bay.
300 AC: Game of Thrones Season 3
Game of Thrones Season 3 is where the Red Wedding takes place. Robb Stark was placed in a vulnerable position, with him losing the support of House Karstark and House Frey.
Robb broke his promised marriage-alliance with House Frey by marrying Talisa Maegyr, and he later attempts to win back their support. House Frey then had Robb’s uncle Edmure Tully marry Lord Walder’s daughter, Roslin Frey.
But unfortunately, Robb, his mother Catelyn, Talisa, and almost the entire Northern army are massacred during the wedding feast (thus, the “Red Wedding”). The Lannisters then installed House Bolton as the new rulers of the North.
As for Daenerys, she gains control of an army of 8,000 Unsullied warrior-eunuchs. The Night’s Watch also encounters the White Walkers.
301 AC: Game of Thrones Season 4
The fourth season of Game of Thrones is where the Purple Wedding takes place, where King Joffrey Baratheon was poisoned with wine at his own wedding.
Joffrey is then succeeded by his brother, Tommen. Tyrion Lannister gets accused of killing Joffrey, while Sansa escapes King’s Landing.
Tyrion later escapes, but before leaving, he kills his father Tywin. Daenerys captures Meereen and becomes its ruler.
The wildlings attack the Night’s Watch of Castle Black, and Bran and his companions finally reach the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven.
302 AC: Game of Thrones Season 5
In Season 5, Tyrion becomes Daenerys’ adviser. King Tommen marries Margaery Tyrell, while Sansa is married off to Ramsay Bolton.
Stannis loses a battle against House Bolton and is ultimately killed by Brienne of Tarth. Arya trains to be an assassin, while Jon becomes Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Later, however, Jon is betrayed by members of the Night’s Watch and is stabbed to death.
303 AC: Game of Thrones Season 6
Jon Snow is resurrected by Melisandre and returns to Castle Black. There, he is reunited with Sansa. Season 6 is where the Battle of the Bastards takes place, where Jon defeats Ramsay. Sansa then fed Ramsay to his own hounds.
Cersei blows up the Great Sept of Baelor, which results in the deaths of her enemies, including Margaery. Tommen kills himself after Margaery’s death, and Cersei becomes the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
After Arya’s training with the Faceless Men in Braavos, she avenges her family by killing Walder Frey and his sons.
Jon Snow becomes the King in the North, while Bran Stark becomes the Three-Eyed Raven. Daenerys also sails for Westeros.
304 AC: Game of Thrones Season 7
Jon and Daenerys meet in the seventh season of Game of Thrones, and later on, Jon bends the knee. Jon and Daenerys try to capture a wight to provide proof to Cersei of their existence, but unfortunately, one of Daenerys’ dragons is killed.
The Dragonpit Summit is held in King’s Landing, but the peace talks do not end well after Cersei learns that Jon bent the knee to Daenerys. In the finale, we see the Night King and his army marching on Westeros.
305 AC: Game of Thrones Season 8
It becomes clear to Daenerys that the Northerners see Jon as their ruler, not her. Jon later finds out about his true parentage.
The Battle of Winterfell takes place in the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones. The Army of the Dead is defeated, with Arya killing the Night King.
Cersei refuses to surrender and kills Missandei, Daenerys’ friend. Daenerys then burns King’s Landing, which results in thousands of deaths, including Cersei’s and Jaime’s.
Jon confronts Daenerys about this, but she believes what she did was necessary. Jon tells Daenerys that a world of mercy is what they need. Daenerys says that the new world she will build will be a good one because she knows what is good.
Jon asks about others who think they know what is good, and Daenerys responds that they don’t get to choose. To prevent Daenerys from causing more destruction, Jon decides to kill her.
Bran Stark becomes the King of Westeros and grants the North its independence at Sansa’s demand.
Sansa Stark becomes the Queen in the North, while Arya travels to what’s west of Westeros. As for Jon Snow, he goes beyond the Wall with the wildlings, and this is where the series ends.