The are many noble houses at play in House of the Dragon, and it can be hard to keep track of everyone’s motivations. HBO’s fantasy universe is based on the A Song of Ice & Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, which is well-known for its complex political world-building, with a feudal system ruled by a monarch and specific regions delegated to vassal lords. Game of Thrones covered a lot of ground in introducing TV audiences to most of the prominent noble families in Westeros, but the landscape is different in House of the Dragon’s timeline, 200 years earlier.

House of the Dragon season 1 saw the stage setting for a civil war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons. The battle lines have been drawn between the “Greens” and “Blacks,” representing the two factions of the war, with Rhaenyra Targaryen and Aegon II Targaryen dividing Westeros into sides. While season 1 remained relatively intimate, focusing on family drama, season 2 will begin to incorporate more of the continent’s great houses as they’re forced to back one of the two claims to the Iron Throne.

House Targaryen

House Targaryen Is The Reigning Dynasty In Westeros

House Targaryen’s history traces back to the ruins of Old Valyria, an empire in Essos that was destroyed by a cataclysm centuries before House of the Dragon. Prior to that destruction, the Targaryen family had settled on Dragonstone, just off the shore of Westeros. 130 years before the Dance of the Dragons began, Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives flew to Westeros and united the kingdoms under his banner. This began the Targaryen dynasty, which would henceforth rule the continent from the newly built capital, King’s Landing.

Under the reigns of King Jaehaerys and King Viserys, leading up to House of the Dragon, the Targaryen rule has seen periods of relative peace. However, a conflict of succession surrounding Viserys’ heirs has led to the Dance of the Dragons, and now Targaryens find themselves on both sides of the war. House Targaryen makes up the majority of the House of the Dragon cast, as both sides are represented by a Targaryen with a varying level of claim to the Iron Throne. Other notable Targaryen characters include Daemon, Rhaenys, and Aemond, who lend support to each side as dragonriders.

House Velaryon

House Velaryon Is One Of Westeros’ Wealthiest Houses, With A Powerful Navy

House Velaryon is arguably the second-most powerful family in House of the Dragon, though the name will be fresh to Game of Thrones fans, as they don’t play a prominent role in that series. Like the Targaryens, the Velaryon house comes from Valyria, and thus, they have their share of dragonriders present in their lineage. House Velaryon is ruled by Corlys Velaryon, a world-renowned explorer and naval leader who’s built his family to be one of the wealthiest and strongest in the Seven Kingdoms. They rule from Driftmark, an island only a short distance from Dragonstone.

Corlys Velaryon is married to Rhaenys Targaryen, and the two have several children and grandchildren. Their son, Laenor Velaryon, was married to Rhaenyra Targaryen in season 1, with three children to their name (though it is widely known Laenor is not the biological parent). Their daughter, Laena Velaryon, was married to Daemon Targaryen, and the pair had two daughters, Baela and Rhaena Targaryen. Corlys Velaryon’s younger brother, Vaemond Velaryon, was also a prominent character in House of the Dragon season 1.

House Hightower

House Hightower Controls A Massive Army (& Ser Otto Hightower Is The King’s Hand)

House Hightower is one of the most historic houses in Westeros, with lineage dating back thousands of years in the southern city of Oldtown. Ser Otto Hightower was the Hand of the King to Jaehaerys Targaryen in his final years, a title that he kept throughout most of King Viserys’ reign. Otto’s daughter, Alicent Hightower, became childhood friends with Rhaenyra, though this friendship was disrupted when Otto sent Alicent to comfort Viserys following his wife’s death. Viserys and Alicent went on to marry, making Alicent Rhaenyra’s stepmother.

House Hightower commands a sizable portion of the Greens’ army

Alicent Hightower’s infamously defiant green dress at Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon’s wedding, along with the green Hightower sigil, is the reason that Aegon’s party is referred to as the Greens. Aegon is the firstborn son of Alicent Hightower and King Viserys, meaning House Hightower has an enormous stake in seeing him on the Iron Throne, as it would mean the royal lineage would continue to have Hightower blood. House Hightower commands a sizable portion of the Greens’ army, with Alicent’s brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower, being introduced as a new character in season 2.

House Stark

House Stark Governs The North From Winterfell

The Starks of Winterfell are the leading house in Game of Thrones, though they’ve been largely absent in House of the Dragon season 1. When Viserys summons lords of Westeros to King’s Landing to swear fealty to Rhaenyra as his heir, Lord Rickon Stark is seen promising loyalty to her. In House of the Dragon season 2, Rickon’s son, Cregan Stark, will be the chief representative for the historic family, with the series returning to the North as Jacaerys Velaryon visits Winterfell and the Wall.

Like House Hightower, House Stark’s family tree can be traced back to the First Men, making them one of the most historic families in the Seven Kingdoms. Before the arrival of the Targaryens, Stark kings governed the North as its own independent land. Torrhen Stark, the last King of Winter, famously bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror in order to avoid his army being decimated by dragonfire. In return, he and his men were spared, with the Starks maintaining lordship over Winterfell and their lineage granted the “Warden of the North” title.

House Lannister

House Lannister Governs The Westerlands & Tyland Lannister Is Master Of Coin

House Lannister was another prominent family in Game of Thrones, represented by antagonists like Cersei and Tywin, as well as protagonists like Tyrion. The Lannisters were one of the houses that attempted to take up arms against Aegon the Conqueror, though they were lucky enough not to be wiped out completely. At the time of House of the Dragon, House Lannister rules the Westerlands from Casterly Rock, with its leader maintaining the title “Warden of the West.” Though not as prominently powerful as in Game of Thrones, House Lannister is still quite influential in the prequel.

In House of the Dragon season 1, House Lannister is represented by two twin brothers, both played by Jefferson Hall. Jason Lannister is slightly older and more arrogant, attempting to vie for Rhaenyra’s hand in marriage in episode 3. Tyland Lannister becomes the Master of Coin to King Viserys, making him part of the king’s small council. At the start of the Dance of the Dragons, House Lannister sides with the Greens.

House Cole

Criston Cole Rises Through The Ranks, Joining The Kingsguard

Criston Cole is introduced in House of the Dragon season 1 as a low-born Dornishman with exceptional skill in battle, earning himself a place on the Kingsguard by impressing Rhaenyra at a tournament. After defeating Prince Daemon, Cole finds himself elevated to a rank entirely uncommon for a lowborn man, especially at his age. While a knight of the Kingsguard, Ser Criston breaks his oath by bedding with Rhaenyra Targaryen. After she decides not to run off with him, he’s overcome with bitterness and envy for her, leading him to become a supporter of the Greens.

Aside from Criston, House Cole isn’t exactly a prominent force, though his ascension to the ranks of nobility means House Cole is technically a noble house. As per House of the Dragon and George R.R. Martin’s broader writings, Criston is the only confirmed member of this house, which is considered extinct by Game of Thrones. While Criston wouldn’t have any direct lineage as a member of the Kingsguard, it’s possible other members of his family had children, as there are characters named Cole in the book A Dance with Dragons, though their relation is unclear.