The House of the Dragon timeline spans multiple decades. Between the events of episode 1 and episode 10, around 20 years have passed – and that's not including the flashback to the Great Council in the season premiere. But, on the bright side, season 2 plays out in real time right before our eyes, whilst both Team Green and Team Black ready their troops and prepare for war. House Targaryen is a dynasty, after all, and we're racing through the years on screen, so you'd be forgiven if you're a little confused.
If you're struggling to keep track of the time jumps and re-castings, don't worry. We've gone through every episode of the show to outline which year they take place in, as well as identifying when the main Game of Thrones series takes place for some additional context.
The timeline in the show differs a little from the timeline in George R.R. Martin's book, Fire & Blood – below, we've outlined the events as they go down in the HBO TV show. Each year is denoted by "AC" which stands for "After Conquest" in reference to when Aegon Targaryen conquered the continent of Westeros. So, "101 AC" means 101 years after Aegon took hold of the continent. "BC" means "Before Conquest".
House of the Dragon timeline
101 AC: After both of King Jaehaerys' sons die, a Great Council is held to decide which of his grandchildren should be his new heir. The two candidates are Viserys (Paddy Considine) and Rhaenys (Eve Best), the two oldest children of his two sons, Baelon and Aemon. We see these events in a flashback during episode 1.
110 AC: Nine years later, the events of season 1 episode 1 really get going. After his wife Aemma and their newborn son Baleon die, Viserys names his 15-year-old daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) as his heir.
111 AC: In season 1 episode 2, six months have passed since episode 1. Viserys announces his decision to marry Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), the daughter of the Hand of the King (Rhys Ifans) and Rhaenyra's close friend. Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) go to war to defend the Stepstones against the Triarchy from Essos.
114 AC: In season 1 episode 3, three years have passed since episode 2. The war in the Stepstones against the Triarchy has been waging for three years, and Viserys and Alicent have two children – a son, Aegon, who is two, and Helaena, an infant daughter. A few months pass between episode 3 and episode 4, while episode 5 follows on straight afterward.
124 AC: In season 1 episodes 6 and 7, 10 years have passed. Rhaenyra and Alicent are now adults and their actors have been recast to reflect this – Emma D'Arcy replaces Alcock as Rhaenyra and Olivia Cooke replaces Carey as Alicent. Rhaenyra has three sons, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, and Alicent's children, Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond, are now adolescents.
130 AC: In season 1 episode 8, Rhaenys says it's been six years since she last saw Corlys as he is away fighting in the Stepstones, so at least six years have passed since episode 7. Jacaerys, Lucerys, Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond are now much older and their actors have been recast. After marrying at the end of episode 7, Rhaenyra and Daemon now have two infant children of their own, Aegon (yes, another one) and Viserys. Episodes 9 and 10 follow directly on from episode 8.
Season 2 episode 1 picks up just days after the events of the season 1 finale. We know this as Daemon says Rhaenyra has been missing for seven days since her son Lucerys' death and has been patrolling the skies looking for his body. Unlike the first season, the rest of season 2 pretty much plays out in real time, with no time jumps or sudden changes. Every day counts as both team Green and Black are preparing for war. As battle breaks out in season 3, we expect there to be little time jumping there, too.
When does Game of Thrones take place?
280 AC: Robert Baratheon is proclaimed King of the Seven Kingdoms, and Lord Eddard Stark's child Robb is born. Jon Snow, Eddard's bastard, is also birthed.
298 AC: The events of Game of Thrones begin, kickstarted by Robert Baratheon's hand Jon Arryn being poisoned and Ned Stark being proclaimed the new hand.
305 AC: A Song of Ice and Fire comes to a close as the Army of the Dead is defeated and a new ruler is placed on the Iron Throne, as seen in Game of Thrones season 8.
House of the Dragon airs on Sundays on HBO and HBO Max, before following on Mondays in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. Make sure you never miss an episode with our handy House of the Dragon release schedule.
