The entire conflict of House of the Dragon focuses on the fight for the Iron Throne, with both the Greens and Blacks fighting with the aim of winning complete control over Westeros. Currently, the main conflict between who would rule is between Aegon and Rhaenyra, although with Aegon’s newly burnt state, it looks like Aemond is vying for more power.

Whilst the power dynamics aren’t going to be resolved anytime soon, there can only be one ruler of Westeros. So, if you don’t mind some serious spoilers then let’s find out who finally ends up winning the Iron Throne in House of the Dragon.

Via HBO

Towards the end of the book, pretty much everyone apart from Rhaenyra and Aegon has died or been brutally killed. Rhaenyra briefly takes Kings Landing from Aegon but eventually flees to Dragonstone, believing it to be safer for her. Unfortunately for her, Aegon is waiting with his dragon Sunfyre who eats Rhaenyra in “six bites.”

The book describes: “Sunfyre, it is said, did not seem at first to take any interest in the offering, until Broome pricked the queen’s breast with his dagger. The smell of blood roused the dragon, who sniffed at Her Grace, then bathed her in a blast of flame, so suddenly that Ser Alfred’s cloak caught fire as he leapt away. Rhaenyra Targaryen had time to raise her head toward the sky and shriek out one last curse upon her half-brother before Sunfyre’s jaws closed round her, tearing off her arm and shoulder.” That’s got to leave a bruise.

As such Rhaenyra is out of the picture and Aegon retakes Kings Landing and the Iron Throne. However, due to a dragon fall both of his legs are broken and the rest of his life is spent “in great pain.” Slightly embarrassingly he can’t even sit on the Iron Throne due to his legs and is forced to use a wooden seat at its base as his throne. Mortifying. Just two years into his rule at age 24 he is poisoned under the direction of Larys Strong and dies.

Aegon’s nephew, who is confusingly also called Aegon then takes the throne and becomes King Aegon III and ends up marrying Princess Jaehaera in order to unite “the two rival branches of House Targaryen and ending two years of treachery and carnage.” That would be a lovely place for everything to come to an end but obviously that doesn’t happen. Queen Jaehaera ends up killing herself and so King Ageon III remarries Lady Daenaera of the House Velaryon.

So, at the end of House of the Dragon, Aegon ends up winning the Iron Throne but in a way through the marriage of Jaehara to King Aegon III both the Greens and Blacks are victorious. Sort of makes it all worth it…