Is the Madking in House of the Dragon a Mad King? Targaryen Civil War Explained

Game of Thrones’ divisive finale in 2019 saw the end of the epic fantasy series. House of the Dragon will be returning to the screens in August 2022 as a long-awaited prequel series.

The series tells the story of Targaryen’s civil war which marked the end of one the most powerful dynasties Westeros has ever seen.

However, some fans have been left with questions about House of the Dragon’s time period and whether the series will feature the Mad King.

Who is Game of Thrones’ Mad King?

The Mad King was Aerys Targaryen II and he sat on the Iron Throne before Robert Baratheon’s rebellion.

Aerys was the father for Daenerys Targaryen as well as her brothers Viserys, Rhaegar and Rhaegar. His reign ended in death and destruction, despite his relative peace at the beginning of his rule.

Several years before Robert’s Rebellion, Aerys was taken prisoner during the Defiance of Duskendale. Aerys was held captive by the rebel band for six months, before Ser Barristan Selmy rescued her.

His imprisonment was the beginning of Aerys’ madness. Over the following years, he grew increasingly erratic and unhinged before the actions of his son, Rhaegar Targaryen – who allegedly kidnapped Lyanna Stark – sparked several houses to rebel against the throne.

Robert’s Rebellion raged for around a year until the rebelling armies surrounded King’s Landing.

Aerys was not going to give up, though. To ensure that Robert did not inherit anything, he ordered his pyromancers ignite wildfire caches they had hidden around the city.

In response to Aerys’ plan to burn King’s Landing to the ground, Jaime Lannister betrayed the king and stabbed him in the back, earning himself the nickname, Kingslayer.

Is the Madking in House of the Dragon real?

House of the Dragon will not feature Aerys Targaryen II the Mad King.

That’s because the prequel series takes place two hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones.

House of the Dragon was not a good time for him, considering that Aerys Targaryen was dethroned only 15 years prior to Game of Thrones’s debut.

Instead, House of the Dragon will focus on the Mad King’s ancestors as several members of the Targaryen family aim to ascend the Iron Throne as a succession dispute arises.

What does House of the Dragon mean?

Based on George R.R. Martin’s 2018 novel Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon tells the story of the Targaryen Civil War, which became known as the Dance of Dragons – itself loosely based on the real War of the Roses.

House of the Dragon begins with King Viserys I on the Iron Throne at the height of the Targaryen dynasty’s power.

Viserys, following the death of his wife, controversially names Princess Rhaenyra his successor. This sparks tension among members of the Targaryen and other Westeros houses.

As Viserys’ first-born child, Rhaenyra expects to be named the first queen regnant of the Seven Kingdoms.

However, Viserys’ brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen, a renowned warrior, also has his eyes on the Iron Throne.

House of the Dragon will be open on HBO On August 21, 2022, in the USA

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