The Greens support Aegon II, Alicent Hightower’s son, while the Blacks support Rhaenyra Targaryen, King Viserys I’s named heir. Their rival claims to the Iron Throne divide House Targaryen in the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
What do the Greens and Blacks believe?
The dispute is about who should succeed Viserys I. In the show’s framing, Viserys names his daughter Rhaenyra as heir; after his death, Alicent’s supporters advance her son Aegon II’s claim instead. The two sides are rival political factions within the Targaryen dynasty, not separate houses or peoples. The official Warner Bros. Discovery series synopses use the terms “Greens” and “Black Council” in describing the show.
![House of the Dragon: The Complete First Season (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JeAIckcXL._SL160_.jpg)
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Who is on each side?
These are recognizable figures associated with the factions, not complete membership lists. The lists reflect the sources’ character descriptions and are not a promise that every allegiance remains fixed throughout the war.
| Faction | Claimant | Representative figures | Association |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | Aegon II | Alicent Hightower, Aegon II, Aemond, Helaena, Otto Hightower, Criston Cole | Alicent’s court party; green is associated with House Hightower |
| Blacks | Rhaenyra | Rhaenyra, Daemon, Jacaerys, Rhaenys, Corlys Velaryon | Rhaenyra’s party; black and Targaryen red |
Allegiances among individual characters and great houses can change as the conflict unfolds. A broad faction label does not explain every supporter’s personal reasons or political interests. The Greens and Blacks reference pages give broader book-continuity lists.
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Why are they called the Greens and the Blacks?
In the book-history account, the names trace to a tournament at King’s Landing: Alicent wore green, while Rhaenyra wore Targaryen red and black. Their rival court parties adopted those colors. In the television adaptation, the shorthand is easy to recognize visually: green evokes Alicent and House Hightower, while Rhaenyra is associated with black.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should viewers separate show and book details?
House of the Dragon adapts George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, but the series and book are distinct continuities. The faction names and central succession dispute apply to the show; specific events, rosters, and the timing of shifting loyalties should be understood in the context of a particular season or the book. The Den of Geek explainer published June 17, 2024, for example, covers the show through season two episode one, so it should not be treated as a current, exhaustive roster.
For the source history behind the adaptation, Penguin Random House describes Fire & Blood (HBO Tie-in Edition) as the inspiration for the series and identifies it as an account of the Targaryen civil war. It is optional background, not required reading to understand which claimant each faction backs.
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