Highlights
- House of the Dragon introduces the powerful Hightower family in Westeros, known for their loyalty to the Faith of the Seven.
- The Hightowers of Oldtown, with their iconic white watchtower sigil, are one of the oldest and proudest houses in the Reach.
- The House of the Dragon storyline revolves around the Hightower family's involvement in the Dance of the Dragons civil war, with Alicent and Otto supporting the Greens.
House of the Dragon season 1, episode 1 "The Heirs of the Dragon," shows a Hightower named Otto occupying the most important seat at King Viserys' small council. He's served Viserys' grandsire, Jaehaerys as Hand, and now advises his grandson on almost every subject under the sun. Otto Hightower's only daughter, Alicent also lives in King's Landing with him, and she's best friends with the king's daughter. The young women are a terrific duo, and their fathers are the first and second most powerful men in the Seven Kingdoms.
While the name Hightower is absent from HBO's Game of Thrones, it carries weight in House of the Dragon, courtesy of Alicent and Otto. As a matter of fact, the Hightowers are one of the oldest houses in the Reach, and among the most powerful, and richest. The lore is filled with fascinating details about them, especially with respect to their dedication, loyalty, and commitment to the Faith of the Seven.
The Hightowers Of Oldtown
The Hightowers rule from their seat of Hightower in the city of Oldtown. Their sigil is a stone white watchtower with a fire on top and their motto is "We Light the Way." The Hightowers' ancestral Valyrian steel sword is called Vigilance and in House of the Dragon, they are recognizable by the color green. House Hightower isn't just an ancient Westerosi house, but it's also the proudest one. Oftentimes, the head of the House will prefer peace to war because they fervently believe in the Seven. The younger iteration of Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) from House of the Dragon would pray to the Seven in the quiet of the Sept. She was deeply devoted to the Gods and asked Rhaenyra to pray to them for solace.
Game of Thrones lore also says the Hightowers liked to dabble in necromancy and alchemy. There exist conflicting reports about their origin, however. Though the family is ancient, there are those who believe the Hightowers descend from the First Men, like the Starks, but Maester Yandel believes they settled in Westeros much earlier. He believes they are the descendants of the seafarers and traders who made settlements at the top of the Whispering Sound and are the founders of Oldtown. Notwithstanding these claims, what's confirmed is that the Hightowers lived in the black stone fortress of Battle Isle before their seat.
The Color Green
Per the events of House of the Dragon, Alicent felt a deep sense of betrayal after she learned Rhaenyra was no longer a maiden. She did not make a fuss about it but chose to convey that she and Rhaenyra were on opposite sides by making a dramatic late entry at her former friend's wedding to Laenor. In House of the Dragon season 1, and Episode 5 "We Light The Way," she showed up late, wearing an exquisite green dress right as the king was in the midst of his speech. This green dress served as a symbol of Alicent realizing she was taking matters into her own hands and acting in the interests of House Hightower. At that point, Larys Strong asked his brother, Harwin:
The beacon on the Hightower, do you know what color it glows when Oldtown calls its banners to war?
Harwin says, "Green," and Alicent climbs the stairs to take her place at the high table.
When the Hightowers call their banners to war, they light a green flame atop their seat - the massive castle and lighthouse. Furthermore, green is the name Alicent's faction is known by in the Dance. Those who will support her House are the Greens and those with Rhaenyra are the Blacks. It is pertinent to mention that Alicent chose to dress in green to convey her anger and fury at the Targaryens in the wake of Viserys dismissing her father, Otto as Hand and replacing him with Lord Lyonel Strong.
The Hightowers In The Dance Of The Dragons
Otto appears as a cunning man from the get-go and on his grandson, Aegon's second nameday, his older brother, and the head of House Hightower and Lord of Oldtown, Lord Hobert Hightower appears on the scene. Hobert advises Otto to prepare Aegon to usurp Rhaenyra's throne. Featured in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3 "Second of His Name," Lord Hobert says:
Two years old and already our boy has a kingly presence.
The Hightowers also have vested interests in Alicent's firstborn, Aegon becoming King. Hobert expects Viserys I to supplant Rhaenyra and name Aegon as heir to the Iron Throne. When Otto remarks that Viserys doesn't necessarily place importance on Aegon being his eldest male descendant, Hobert advises his younger brother to make the king see it. While Aegon's second nameday is a happy occasion for the lords and the ladies close to the king, the Hightowers spend their time politicking. In House of the Dragon, Hobert hails Alicent's firstborn as "Aegon the Conqueror-Babe, Second of His Name! Here's to His Grace on his second name day!" Quite obviously, the Hightowers will fiercely support the Greens in the upcoming Dance, and members such as Otto and Alicent are likely to perish in the bloody civil war.