WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale!
Summary
With plenty ofGame of Thronesspinoff showscurrently in the works, it’s fitting thatHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 finale sets up a character from one of the most anticipated upcoming prequels. FollowingHouse of the Dragon’s success, the franchise is set to go even further into House Targaryen’s past with aseries centered on Aegon’s Conquest.House of the Dragonhas already laid the groundwork for theAegon’s Conquestprequel, including the reveal of Aegon’s Song of Ice and Fire dream, references to his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys Targaryen, and subtle connections to important stories from this era.
One such anticipated story revolves aroundOrys Baratheon, who is expected to be the most significant character not bearing the Targaryen name in theAegon’s Conquestshow. The founder of House Baratheon, Orys has a backstory that’s somewhat familiar to beloved characters in bothHouse of the DragonandGame of Thrones, given he begins his rise to power as a rumored bastard of House Targaryen. Thanks to a scene between Jacaerys Velaryon and Baela Targaryen inHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s ending, Orys’ narrative already has a great setup and link to the existingGame of Thronesshows.
Jace & Baela’s House Of The Dragon Season 2 Finale Scene Sets Up Orys Baratheon In The Aegon’s Conquest Spinoff
Jace Isn’t The First Targaryen Bastard Raised Into Nobility
Much of Jacaerys Velaryon’sHouse of the Dragonseason 2 story sees him contend with his true parentage as abastard fathered by Ser Harwin Strong. Jace continues to confront his insecurities and fears that his “secret” status as a bastard could risk losing his inheritance and title as Rhaenyra Targaryen’s successor on the Iron Throne. InHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 finale, his betrothed Baela Targaryen reassures him that his position isn’t at risk just because otherbastard Velaryon and Targaryen “dragonseeds” claimed dragons.
Jace was raised in nobility as the eldest son of Rhaenyra Targaryen, King Viserys’ named heir to the Iron Throne, and nothing changes that. As Baela mentions, Jace is far from the first noble heir who was not actually sired by his noble father, as there are certainlyother bastards who have been raised as highborn children and given titles despite their illegitimate birth. In fact,bastards of House Targaryenbeing raised up with incredible power in the realm dates all the way back to Aegon’s Conquest, more specifically with the compelling character of Orys Baratheon.
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Who Orys Baratheon Is & What Happens To Him In Aegon’s Conquest
Orys Baratheon Is One Of The Most Famous Targaryen Bastards
House Baratheon has played a less dominant role inHouse of the Dragonthan inGame of Thrones, but that won’t be the case for HBO’s show based around Aegon’s Conquest. Rather,House Targaryen’s historywith House Baratheon will be explored in far more depth, and their relationship will be a far cry from the animosity between the two families inGame of Thrones. While Robert Baratheon’s hatred for Rhaegar Targaryen and all other members of the dragonriding family persisted throughout the original HBO show,Aegon I Targaryen and Orys Baratheon are close allies in the Conquest.
Though his parentage is never officially confirmed and there’s no knowledge of who his mother was, Aegon’s grandson King Jaehaerys I Targaryen openly considered Orys a “dragonseed.”
According to George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook,Orys Baratheon is rumored to be the bastard brother of King Aegon I Targaryen. Though his parentage is never officially confirmed and there’s no knowledge of who his mother was, Aegon’s grandson King Jaehaerys I Targaryen openly considered Orys a “dragonseed.” In the franchise’s histories, Orys is said to be the illegitimate son of Aerion Targaryen, the Lord of Dragonstone, making him the half-brother of Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys. Orys was also Aegon’s closest friend and ally in their youth, as the two were raised alongside one another.
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Once Aegon begins the Conquest of Westeros,Orys takes on a position that would later become known as Hand of the King. Among his most notable acts in Aegon’s Conquest is capturing Storm’s End from the former King Argilac Durrandon during the battle referred to as the Last Storm. With help from his dragonriding half-sister Rhaenys Targaryen, Orys kills the Storm King, becomes Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, and takes Argilac’s daughter Argella as his wife.
Orys Baratheon is seemingly the great-great-grandfather ofHouse of the Dragon’s Lord Borros Baratheon.
After this feat,Orys officially forms House Baratheon as the “secret” bastard noble brother of King Aegon. If Jace had looked to Orys withinHouse Targaryen’s own family treeinHouse of the Dragon, he would see that his “secret” bastard status and dark hair don’t necessarily hinder his claim to nobility.
Jace & Baela’s Scene Also Foreshadows King Joffrey Baratheon’s Game Of Thrones Story
Joffrey Is Another Noble Heir Not Sired By His Noble Father
Not only do Baela‘s reassuring words to Jacaerys hark back to the story of Orys Baratheon, but they also foreshadow the future of King Joffrey Baratheon. Exactly as Baela remarks, Joffrey is a noble heir who was not actually sired by his noble father. While Joffrey is the noble heir to King Robert Baratheon inGame of Thrones, he’ssecretly a bastard sired by his uncle, Ser Jaime Lannister. Regardless, Joffrey ascends the Iron Throne after Robert’s death, which, unlike Jace’s claim inHouse of the Dragon, causes a devastating war across the realm.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
