Volume 1
Aegon's Conquest
Aegon Targaryen and his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys land at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush with their dragons, beginning the conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. Key battles include the Field of Fire and the burning of Harrenhal. Dorne alone remains unconquered.
Reign of the Dragon—The Wars of King Aegon I
King Aegon I consolidates his rule through continued military campaigns, including the First Dornish War and the suppression of rebellions across the newly unified realm.
Three Heads Had the Dragon—Governance Under King Aegon I
Aegon establishes the governance of the Seven Kingdoms, creates the Iron Throne, founds King's Landing, and rules with his two queens at his side.
The Sons of the Dragon
The reigns of Aegon's sons, Aenys I and Maegor I (the Cruel). Aenys's weak rule gives way to Maegor's brutal suppression of the Faith Militant uprising.
Prince into King—The Ascension of Jaehaerys I
The young prince Jaehaerys claims the throne after Maegor's death, with his mother Alyssa Velaryon and sister-wife Alysanne at his side.
The Year of the Three Brides—49 AC
Jaehaerys and Alysanne marry, along with other significant Targaryen unions, marking a turning point in the early reign.
A Surfeit of Rulers
The political landscape shifts as various claimants and regents vie for power in the turbulent years following Maegor's reign.
A Time of Testing—The Realm Remade
Jaehaerys undertakes major reforms, including the unification of laws, road-building, and strengthening the realm's infrastructure.
Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I
Personal tragedies strike the royal family, including the deaths of children and the challenges of maintaining the Targaryen bloodline.
Jaehaerys and Alysanne—Their Triumphs and Tragedies
The long partnership between king and queen produces both great achievements and deep sorrows, including the loss of their children.
The Long Reign—Jaehaerys and Alysanne—Policy, Progeny, and Pain
Jaehaerys's extended rule brings prosperity but also succession concerns as his many children and grandchildren create competing claims.
Heirs of the Dragon—A Question of Succession
The death of Jaehaerys's sons forces a grand council at Harrenhal to determine the heir, choosing Viserys over the female claim of Rhaenys.
The Dying of the Dragons—The Blacks and the Greens
The realm fractures into two factions following Viserys I's death: the Blacks (supporting Rhaenyra) and the Greens (supporting Aegon II).
The Dying of the Dragons—A Son for a Son
The Dance of the Dragons begins in earnest with assassinations and escalating violence, including the murder of Prince Jaehaerys.
The Dying of the Dragons—The Red Dragon and the Gold
Major dragon battles erupt, including the clash between Meleys and Sunfyre, as the war spreads across Westeros.
The Dying of the Dragons—Rhaenyra Triumphant
Rhaenyra captures King's Landing and sits the Iron Throne, but her hold on power proves tenuous.
The Dying of the Dragons—Rhaenyra Overthrown
Rhaenyra's reign collapses amid betrayal, riot, and the loss of her dragons, forcing her to flee the capital.
The Dying of the Dragons—The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II
Aegon II's brief restoration ends with his mysterious death, leaving the throne vacant and the realm in chaos.
Aftermath—The Hour of the Wolf
Lord Cregan Stark marches south to enforce justice, presiding over the trials and executions of the conspirators.
Under the Regents—The Hooded Hand
The regency for young Aegon III begins, with various hands and regents struggling to maintain order.
Under the Regents—War and Peace and Cattle Shows
The regency navigates foreign wars, domestic unrest, and the peculiar challenges of ruling a dragonless realm.
Under the Regents—The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist
The young admiral Alyn Velaryon leads a daring naval expedition, securing trade and demonstrating the crown's reach.
The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency
The regency finally ends as Aegon III comes of age, marking the close of Volume One and a new era for House Targaryen.