Alicent Hightower is one of the most central figures in the story of House of the Dragon. She is a strong character who will put her family first more than anything. She is intelligent, politically informed, and one of the most influential women in Westeros. When she put her own son on the Iron Throne instead of her old friend, Rhaenyra Targaryen, the actual heir to the throne, this sparks the terrible Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
This makes Alicent one of the instigators of the war. The journey she goes through in this story is very gripping. For fans, Alicent is either hated or loved. However, those who know the character of Alicent know that there's more to her than most fans know.
7 She Was Close With Jaehaerys Targaryen
When Otto Hightower was made Hand of the King under Jaehaerys I Targaryen's reign, he brought a young Alicent with him. At a very young age, Alicent became very close to the Targaryen king. She read to him, fetched his meals, and she'd even assisted him in washing and dressing.
The two got so close that at the end of his life, King Jaehaerys kept mistaking Alicent for her daughter, Saera Targaryen, who was in Volantis. He was convinced that Alicent was instead Saera who had returned to him. Alicent was reading to Jaehaerys when he passed away.
6 She Has Brothers
One aspect of Alicent's life that's not entirely highlighted in House of the Dragon is her siblings. Alicent has multiple brothers, but only one of them was ever mentioned by name. It's known, however, that Alicent's brothers came with her and Otto when they came to the royal court when Otto became King Jaehaerys' hand.
Alicent's only named sibling is her younger brother, Gwayne Hightower. Gwayne was a knight and eventually became the second-in-command of the City Watch of King's Landing. It's unknown whether Alicent and Gwayne were ever close, but they never had a momentous interaction.
5 It's Rumored She Spent A Night With Daemon
As a young woman of a noble house, Alicent wasn't immune to terrible rumors. One of the most prevalent rumors about her was that she was "deflowered" by none other than Daemon Targaryen himself. The instigator of this rumor was Mushroom, the court fool at the time. This rumor was never confirmed, but it should be noted that Mushroom is known to be an unreliable narrator and prone to exaggerate accounts.
Not only did Mushroom insist that Alicent spent a night with Daemon, he also mentioned that she had also slept with Viserys while Aemma, the late King's first wife, was still alive. He even went as far as to say that Alicent had been more than just King Jaehaerys' aide. While these rumors are unlikely to be true, it did cause some to see Alicent as an unseemly queen when King Viserys decided to marry her.
4 Alicent Has Four Children
The show has only shown three of Alicent's children, Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond Targaryen. However, Alicent and Viserys actually have a fourth son, Daeron Targaryen, who has yet to appear in the show. Daeron isn't around during the events of the show's first season as he was sent to Oldtown to squire for Lord Ormund Hightower, the Lord of the Hightower and Alicent's cousin.
Daeron was said to be the noblest among his siblings. He was thought to be an honorable character, gentle, and had the courage of a warrior. He had earned respect and love where his brothers only gathered fear and contempt. Due to Daeron's absence from King's Landing, his relationship was never explored much, but it's known that she loved him all the same.
3 Alicent And Rhaenyra's Relationship
In the House of the Dragon, Alicent and Rhaenyra's relationship was extensively explored. It was shown that both were extremely close with each other at a young age. Their sisterly kinship was only compromised when it was announced that King Viserys, Rhaenyra's father, planned to wed Alicent.
In the books, however, this wasn't described as the case. Prior to King Viserys' engagement with Alicent, it was never mentioned that she and Rhaenyra were ever close. They eventually became somewhat close, until Alicent gave birth to her first son, Aegon. Aegon's birth cast doubt on Rhaenyra's claim to the throne, and their relationship got muddied ever since.
2 Her Age
When Otto Hightower became King Jaehaerys' Hand of the King, Alicent was only 13 years of age. While some highborn children have been at the royal court at a much younger age, Alicent's experience as a young girl, especially under the guidance of King Jaehaerys, still educated her well.
Alicent's experience made her a comely and intelligent person. Couple this with her immense love for her children and Alicent makes for a very compelling adversary for Rhaenyra.
1 Older Than Rhaenyra
Alicent and Rhaenyra's age difference isn't explored much in the show, but the former is actually nine years older than the latter. This age difference isn't very clear nor is it believable given how the younger versions of both characters look about as young as the other.
Even the adult versions of the characters look like they're about the same age. However, the books have always mentioned that Alicent looked young for her age. In the show, Emma D'Arcy, the actress who plays Rhaenyra, is two years older than Olivia Cooke, the actress who plays Alicent.