House of the Dragon - season 1 ended with the Greens installing Aegon II on the Iron Throne and the Black Queen, Rhaenyra's coronation at Dragonstone. The Greens struck the first blow by usurping the Iron Throne, while Rhaenyra remained reluctant to plunge the realm into war. This changes in the final moments of the show, with Aemond Targaryen causing the deaths of Rhaenyra's son, Prince Lucerys Velaryon, and Arrax in the fight above Shipbreaker Bay.
Rhaenyra has amassed her councilors and loyalists on Dragonstone, and Alicent heads her household at the Red Keep in King's Landing. The realm prepares for the war of succession, and the factions are identified by the terminology - the Greens and the Blacks - which frankly are umbrella terms for the opposing sides. Here is who they are made of in HBO's House of the Dragon.
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Who Are The Greens And The Blacks In House Of The Dragon?
The Greens
Alicent Hightower embraces the color of her House in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 5 "We Light the Way." Dressed in an all-green ensemble, she enters the wedding hall during Viserys' speech, walks up to the high table, and only acknowledges the Hightowers in the room. She knows what she is doing, and everyone has fixed their eyes on her. She acts cold and distant, and the Strong men, Ser Harwin and his brother, Larys, exchange whispers:
The beacon on the Hightower. Do you know what color it glows when Oldtown calls its banners to war?
And to that, Ser Harwin Strong replies, "Green." Alicent's entry signals the onset of a cold war which, after Viserys' death, is to turn into a full-scale, realm-wide conflict, involving dragons.
Thereafter, in House on the Dragon, Alicent dresses in green to convey that she is a Hightower before everything else and that that's where her loyalties lie. She will see to it that Otto's blood, through her and King Viserys' firstborn son, Aegon, is installed on the Iron Throne. It is pertinent to mention that the Greens are raised in the Faith of the Seven, and Alicent, with time sees to it that the Targaryen heraldry is replaced with the Faith's emblems.
As for who makes up the Greens House on the Dragon, there is no question about the fact that House Hightower of Oldtown has known ever since Aegon's birth that it is a heartbeat away from war. Alicent has the support of her son, Aemond, who thinks he should sit the Iron Throne and not his wastrel of an elder brother. Alicent's daughter, Helaena, speaks in riddles and, while she isn't a cutthroat Green by any means, she acknowledges Aegon II as king and is one of them. Lord Commander Ser Criston Cole and Maester Orwyle are also key members. The Great Houses, namely Baratheon of Storm's End, and Lannister of Casterly Rock are the Greens' biggest allies. While Otto counts Riverrun (Tullys) and Highgarden (Tyrells) among his allies, it remains to be seen how House of the Dragon season 2 incorporates them into the storyline.
The Blacks
Viserys' decreed heir, and eldest female descendant, Rhaenyra Targaryen, heads the Blacks on Dragonstone. She and her prince consort, Daemon, and their children from previous marriages (Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon and Baela and Rhaena Targaryen) are conspicuous by their black and red clothes. As seen in House of the Dragon season 2 teaser trailer, the Black Queen's three-headed red dragon against a black banner flies high.
In George R. R. Martin's works, the nomenclature of the Greens and the Blacks stems from a great tournament organized in honor of King Viserys I's and Queen Alicent Hightower's fifth wedding anniversary. The Queen wears a green dress while the Princess wears red and black. People took notice, the event gained traction, and their loyal courtiers followed suit. Thereafter, it became customary to refer to Alicent's party as the Greens and Rhaenyra's as the Blacks. As for who makes up the Blacks, Houses Velaryon, Celtigar, Staunton, Massey, Darklyn, and Bar Emmon have declared for Rhaenyra. She will secure the support of the Houses, Stark and Arryn, for the former are known to keep their oaths and the latter are her kin.
The Greens Vs. The Blacks
Which Side Has A Stronger Position In The Dance Of The Dragons?
The Greens and the Blacks will take their dragons to war, and fight in the notable battles of Rook's Rest, Gullet, and Above the Gods Eye in House of the Dragon. The Greens have the largest living dragon, Vhagar, and two more adult dragons, namely, Sunfyre (Aegon II) and Dreamfyre (Helaena). The Blacks have more dragons and are most likely to claim Vermithor through a Dragonseed - Hugh Hammer. Rhaenyra has Syrax, Daemon has the battle-hardened Caraxes, and Jacaerys has Vermax. Lucerys and Arrax are gone, but Baela has Moondancer, and Rhaenys has Meleys. Additionally, the Blacks have the support of the richest House in the realm - Velaryon. Lord Corlys commands the Velaryon fleet, and they control the Narrow Sea. The Greens, on the other hand, have allied to the second and the third-richest Houses, Lannister and Hightower.
Rhaenyra's Blacks have a stronger position in House of the Dragon, but the Greens are not to be trifled with.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is HBO's prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.
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