The latest episode of “House of the Dragon” has shed light on the origin of the civil war in Westeros, which was sparked by confusion between two Targaryens sharing the same name. The brewing conflict officially began in season one, episode eight, after King Viserys Targaryen caused confusion over his successor in episode seven.
Viserys initially declared his daughter, Rhaenyra, as his heir but later mentioned an Aegon being “the prince that was promised.” This led to Alicent Targaryen putting her son Aegon II on the throne. However, during a conversation between Rhaenyra and Alicent in King’s Landing, it was revealed that Viserys was referring to Aegon the Conqueror in his prophecy, not Alicent’s son.
The misunderstanding over the prophecy of “The Song of Ice and Fire” caused the war to escalate, with fans finding humor in the situation. The mistake made by Alicent in interpreting Viserys’ words led to irreversible consequences and the outbreak of war.
While this development is not directly taken from George R.R Martin’s source material “Fire and Blood,” fans have welcomed it with memes and discussions about the importance of clarity and communication in preventing conflict. The realization that there were two different Aegons highlights how easily miscommunication can lead to misunderstandings and ultimately conflicts within families or societies.