House of the Dragon Season 2: Targaryen factions explained as Greens and Blacks clash

As anticipation mounts for the return of ‘House of the Dragon’ with Season 2, fans are urged to pick sides between the enigmatic factions known as the Greens and the Blacks. The trailers for the upcoming season, set to premiere on Sunday, June 16 on HBO, have sparked intrigue among viewers, prompting a deeper exploration into the origins of these factions within the Targaryen family tree.


While the terms Greens and Blacks were not explicitly mentioned in the show's first season, readers of George R.R. Martin's history books, such as "Fire & Blood," are familiar with their significance. The conflict between the Blacks, led by Rhaenyra Targaryen, and the Greens, supported by Aegon II and the Hightowers, sets the stage for an epic clash for power and supremacy.


The roots of this division can be traced back to tensions between Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower, King Viserys's wife, stemming from Rhaenyra's claim as Viserys's heir despite Alicent giving birth to sons. This familial strife escalated when Ser Otto Hightower was dismissed as Hand of the King due to the succession dispute, leading to the formation of opposing factions.


The pivotal moment that marked the names of these factions occurred during a grand tourney in King's Landing, where Queen Alicent's attire of green and Princess Rhaenyra's Targaryen red and black garb served as symbolic representations of their allegiances. From that point on, the factions became known as the Greens and the Blacks, respectively.


Additionally, the return of Prince Daemon from exile adds another layer of complexity to the conflict, as his popularity among the smallfolk and reconciliation with his brother Viserys further fuels the tensions between the Greens and the Blacks.