Jeyne Arryn finally appeared in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5, titled Regent, after Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen sent her son, Jacaerys Velaryon, as an envoy to treat the Lady of Vale in the first season finale.
Though her appearance in the second season’s premiere episode was cut to focus on Jacaerys’ visit to Lord Cregan Stark in Winterfell, Jeyne was officially introduced a few episodes later after Rhaena Targaryen stayed with her.
Rhaenyra sent Rhaena to watch over Joffrey, Aegon, Viserys, and several dragon eggs in the Vale to keep them safe during the war called the Dance of Dragons.
Before Rhaena went to Pentos, she stayed at the Eyrie with Jeyne.
Jeyne is Rhaenyra’s cousin through her late mother, Aemma Arryn, who pledges House Arryn’s loyalty to her.
If her surname rings a bell, it's because she’s an ancestor of House Arryn, first heard in Games of Thrones.
So, who is Jeyne Arryn, and what’s her connection to the original show? Find out below.
Jeyne Arryn’s Role in the Dance of the Dragons Explored
[Warning: Major Fire & Blood spoilers ahead.]
Jeyne is called the Maiden of the Vale, the head of House Arryn, Lady of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale, and Wardness of the East during the reign of Viserys I and the Dance of the Dragons.
She pledges her loyalty to Rhaenyra in exchange for a dragon to protect the Vale.
But aside from being a host to Rhaena and Rhaenyra’s three youngest children and dragon eggs at the Eyrie in House of the Dragon, she has a more significant role in Dance of the Dragons.
In George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, on which the show is based, Jeyne sends her forces to join Rhaenyra’s army when she takes King’s Landing.
Jeyne offers to send a troop, but the crown lacks gold and ships to do this after the Storming of the Dragonpit, which saw the people of King’s Landing attack and kill the dragons in the Dragonpit.
Though Rhaenyra is advised to flee to the Eyrie for safety, she goes to Dragonstone instead and meets her demise at the hands of Aegon II Targaryen after commanding Sunfyre to kill her.
After Rhaenyra’s death, Jeyne sends her troops to King’s Landing, refusing to surrender to Aegon. This helps strengthen the Black’s cause, while Rhaena finally succeeds in hatching a dragon egg in the Vale.
Jeyne eventually becomes one of King Aegon III Targaryen's seven regents, the eldest surviving son of Rhaenyra, and dies two years later of an illness in Gulltown.
What is Jeynre Arryn’s Connection to Game of Thrones?
Never married and with no children, Jeyne is an indirect ancestor of Jon and Robin Arryn from Game of Thrones.
Her successor, Joffrey Arryn, is assumed to be Jon’s direct ancestor and is described as a distant fourth cousin to Jeyne.
That said, it’s difficult to pinpoint how many generations in House Arryn Jeyne are moved from Jon and his son Robin in Game of Thrones.
Now that Jeyne is formally introduced in House of the Dragon Season 2, fans must wait to see her bigger role in the series and how she’s set to help Rhaenyra win Dance of the Dragons.
House of the Dragon Season 2 airs every Sunday on HBO.
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