A Quick Guide to the Many Families of "House of the Dragon"

Although House Stark is one of the most important great houses in "Game of Thrones," they're much less significant in the era depicted in "House of the Dragon." Still, they've made some appearances in the TV series. In the first episode, Lord Rickon Stark is seen pledging loyalty to the throne and to Rhaenyra as heir. And in the season finale, Rhaenyra sends her son Jacaerys north to treat with Lord Cregan Stark. She's certain he will side with them since the people in the North are honorable and don't forget their oaths (which does sound like Ned Stark's ancestors). If the show sticks to the books, Lord Cregan Stark will eventually play a pretty major role in the action.

House Baratheon is the ruling royal house when "Game of Thrones" begins, but their role is less central in "House of the Dragon." The house's origins are actually depicted in the book "Fire & Blood." The book covers several generations of Targaryen rule, starting with the conquest of Westeros by Aegon I. House Baratheon is founded by Orys Baratheon, one of Aegon I's generals, when he marries the last heiress of a conquered house. The houses remain closely tied together; Princess Rhaenys's mother is Lady Jocelyn Baratheon, whose mother is the Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon.

Boremund Baratheon (who's Jocelyn's brother) is seen in the first episode of "House of the Dragon" also pledging his support to Rhaenyra. He appears again in episode four when Rhaenyra's tour of Westeros takes her to meet the eligible suitors of the Stormlands in Storm's End. But by the 10th and final episode of the season, he's been replaced by his son Borros, who doesn't side with Rhaenyra.

House Lannister is the only one of the great houses we knew from "Game of Thrones" (other than the Targaryens, of course) that we were sure before the show's premiere would have some major characters in "House of the Dragon." Two Lannisters are in the main cast, with actor Jefferson Hall portraying both Jason Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock, and his sly, politically-minded twin, Tyland. Viewers meet both brothers in the third episode. By the end of the season, Tyland has plotted with Otto Hightower to put Aegon on the throne, and both Lannister brothers back the greens.

One of the biggest houses in "House of the Dragon" is House Velaryon. House Velaryon, like the Targaryens, descend from Valyria and also have silver hair and purple eyes. House Velaryon and House Targaryen have often been connected by marriage and are longtime allies. In "House of the Dragon," its most prominent members include Corlys Velaryon, aka the Sea Snake; his wife, Rhaenys; and their children, Laena and Laenor, who marry Viserys and Rhaenyra, respectively. Rhaenyra's three oldest children are also Velaryons.

House Hightower has a significant presence in "House of the Dragon." When the series begins, Otto Hightower is serving as the Hand of the King. His daughter, Alicent, is by his side in King's Landing and has a strong friendship with Princess Rhaenyra. Ultimately, King Viserys chooses Alicent to be his wife, and she bears children for him, Aegon and Helaena, continuing his house's line. In episode four, Viserys removes Otto as his Hand after Rhaenyra tells him that he'll stop at nothing to have Aegon replace her as the heir. And that comes true in episode nine. Though Alicent's children may bear the name Targaryen, they are Hightowers.

The house does briefly appear in "Game of Thrones." Alerie Hightower was married to Mace Tyrell. The head of Aerys's Kingsguard was also a member of House Hightower.

House Westerling, from the Westerlands, also appears in "House of the Dragon." Ser Harrold Westerling serves as the Lord Commander of King Viserys's Kingsguard. He is killed shortly after Aegon is declared the king in episode nine. Other members of the Westerling family will become embroiled in the war known as the Dance of Dragons.

In George R. R. Martin's novels, Robb Stark marries Jeyne Westerling, but the character's name and backstory were changed for "Game of Thrones."

House Strong is another house with a significant presence in "House of the Dragon." When the series begins, Lord Lyonel Strong is King Viserys's master of laws. His children are also present in King's Landing and the Red Keep, including Ser Harwin Strong, who serves in the gold cloaks, and Larys Strong, who is a quiet observer of everything that goes on.

In episode five, viewers learn Lord Lyonel has been raised to the position of Hand of the King. Larys is Alicent's closest ally, and in episode six, we learn Harwin is the real father of Rhaenyra's sons. Larys has his father and brother killed at Harrenhal, ultimately ending his family's line. No one from the house is around by the time the events of "Game of Thrones" occur.

While not a major, point-of-view house, House Tully does play a major supporting role in "Game of Thrones." It's not clear yet what role they'll have in "House of the Dragon." In episode ten, Rhaenyra and her allies are certain the Tullys will keep their oath to her and side with her against Aegon, but we don't see that occur until the series ends. No Tully plays a major role in "Fire & Blood," but that could change for the TV series.

The warring kings and nobles in "House of the Dragon" have their hands full enough with a human (and dragon) civil war, so it's a good thing the White Walkers aren't also on their list of enemies to deal with. However, the first episode of "House of the Dragon" does introduce the idea that even the Targaryens of old knew the White Walkers and the Long Night were coming. Viserys tells Rhaenyra that Aegon dreamed of the Long Night and that's why he brought dragons to Westeros.

House Martell has a significant history with House Targaryen, as depicted throughout the book "Fire and Blood." Whether they'll play just as significant a role in "House of the Dragon" remains to be seen. House Martell and their kingdom of Dorne are pivotal in the early years of Targaryen rule, as they're the only great house to resist the Targaryen conquest in a meaningful and sustained way. That being said, those events happen a few generations before the civil war shown in "House of the Dragon." In fact, "Fire and Blood" notes that the only involvement House Martell has in that war is its refusal to take any part in it, so we might not see Martells very much on screen.

The Wildlings, or free folk, live beyond the Wall and remain separate from the Seven Kingdoms. As a result of their cultural and geographical distance from the rest of the continent, they play little to no role in Westerosi politics. The book "Fire & Blood" doesn't include any stories that prominently feature Wildlings, so it seems safe to say "House of the Dragon" will also keep the Wildlings out of focus.

The mystical Children of the Forest are a key part of Westeros lore, but they're supposedly long extinct before "Game of Thrones" starts. If you're hoping "House of the Dragon" goes far enough back in history to see their era, you'll unfortunately be let down. The era of the Children of the Forest takes place several thousands of years before "House of the Dragon," so they're unlikely to play a role in the new series.