The Dance of the Dragons

The Targaryen civil war between the blacks of Queen Rhaenyra and the greens of King Aegon II: dragon against dragon, until most of the dragons and half the royal family are dead.

▶ Play The Dance of the Dragons on the animated map

The armies

The campaign step by step

  1. 129 AC – Two crownings

    Viserys I dies. The greens crown his son Aegon II in the Dragonpit; on Dragonstone the blacks crown his named heir Rhaenyra. Ravens fly to every castle: each lord must choose.

  2. 129 AC – Blood and cheese; Arrax over Shipbreaker Bay

    Lucerys flies to Storm's End to win Lord Borros – and finds his uncle Aemond there. Vhagar hunts Arrax down over the bay and the boy prince dies. Daemon answers by having Aegon's son murdered in the Red Keep.

    Marches: Aemond → Storm's End

    ⚔ Lucerys & Arrax die near Storm's End – victory for Aemond · Vhagar · dragons took part

  3. 129 AC – Daemon takes Harrenhal

    Daemon flies Caraxes to Harrenhal and takes the great castle without a fight; the riverlords declare for Rhaenyra and the war in the Riverlands begins.

    Marches: Daemon → Harrenhal; Riverlords → Harrenhal

  4. 129 AC – Rook's Rest

    Criston Cole baits the blacks by besieging Rook's Rest. Rhaenys comes on Meleys – and Aegon II and Aemond fall on her from the clouds with Sunfyre and Vhagar. Rhaenys and the Red Queen die; Sunfyre is crippled and the king burned near to death.

    Marches: Criston Cole → King's Landing (near); Rhaenys → King's Landing (near); Aegon II → King's Landing (near); Aemond → King's Landing (near)

    ⚔ Rook's Rest near King's Landing – victory for Aemond · Vhagar · dragons took part · fallen: Rhaenys

  5. 130 AC – The Battle of the Gullet

    The Triarchy's fleet sails for Dragonstone with the greens' gold. The dragonseeds and young Jacaerys meet it over the Gullet; Vermax is dragged into the sea and the prince drowns, but the fleet is broken.

    ⚔ The Gullet near Dragonstone – victory for Rhaenyra · Syrax · dragons took part

  6. 130 AC – The fall of King's Landing

    With Aemond and Cole away in the Riverlands, Rhaenyra and Daemon fly on the capital. The gold cloaks open the gates, the city falls in a day and Rhaenyra sits the Iron Throne – the greens flee or hide.

    Marches: Rhaenyra → King's Landing; Daemon → King's Landing; Aegon II → King's Landing (near)

    ⚔ The capital falls to the blacks near King's Landing – victory for Rhaenyra · Syrax · dragons took part

  7. 130 AC – The Fishfeed

    At the crossing of the Blue Fork the river lords and the Winter Wolves trap Cole's green host between the rivers; the fish feast for days. The deadliest land battle of the Dance.

    Marches: Cregan Stark → The Twins (near); Riverlords → The Twins (near); Criston Cole → The Twins (near)

    ⚔ The Fishfeed near The Twins – victory for Riverlords · blacks

  8. 130 AC – The Butcher's Ball

    Criston Cole's retreating greens are caught and destroyed; the Kingmaker dies under a hail of arrows.

    Marches: Criston Cole → Harrenhal (near); Riverlords → Harrenhal (near)

    ⚔ The Butcher's Ball near Harrenhal – victory for Riverlords · blacks · fallen: Criston Cole

  9. 130 AC – Tumbleton

    Ormund Hightower's great green host marches up the Mander. At Tumbleton two dragonseeds turn their cloaks; the town burns and the road to King's Landing lies open.

    Marches: Ormund Hightower → Highgarden (near)

    ⚔ First Tumbleton near Highgarden – victory for Ormund Hightower · greens · dragons took part

  10. 130 AC – The battle above the Gods Eye

    Daemon waits at Harrenhal for Aemond. Caraxes and Vhagar meet above the lake; Daemon leaps onto Vhagar and drives Dark Sister through Aemond's eye as all four fall into the water. Neither rider nor dragon rises again.

    Marches: Daemon → Harrenhal; Aemond → Harrenhal

    ⚔ Above the Gods Eye near Harrenhal – victory for Daemon · Caraxes · dragons took part · fallen: Daemon, Aemond

  11. 130 AC – The storming of the Dragonpit

    The mob of King's Landing rises against the queen; led by the Shepherd they storm the Dragonpit and kill five dragons. Rhaenyra flees the city on Syrax.

    Marches: Rhaenyra → Dragonstone

    ⚔ The Dragonpit stormed near King's Landing – victory for the greens · dragons took part

  12. 130 AC – The queen's end

    Rhaenyra lands at Dragonstone to find Aegon II waiting with a crippled Sunfyre. The dragon devours her before her son's eyes.

    Marches: Aegon II → Dragonstone

    ⚔ Rhaenyra fed to Sunfyre near Dragonstone – victory for Aegon II · Sunfyre · dragons took part · fallen: Rhaenyra

  13. 131 AC – The Hour of the Wolf

    Cregan Stark's Northmen march on King's Landing to finish the war – but Aegon II is poisoned by his own men before they arrive. Cregan sits in judgement for a day, then goes home; Rhaenyra's son Aegon III is crowned.

    Marches: Cregan Stark → King's Landing

    ⚔ Aegon II poisoned · the Hour of the Wolf near King's Landing – victory for Cregan Stark · Winter Wolves · without a battle · fallen: Aegon II

Places of The Dance of the Dragons

Questions about The Dance of the Dragons

When was The Dance of the Dragons?

The Dance of the Dragons took place in 129–131 AC, during the era "Dance of the Dragons".

Who fought in The Dance of the Dragons?

Rhaenyra · Syrax; Daemon · Caraxes; Rhaenys · Meleys; Aegon II · Sunfyre; Aemond · Vhagar; Criston Cole · greens; Ormund Hightower · greens; Cregan Stark · Winter Wolves; Riverlords · blacks.

What were the major battles of The Dance of the Dragons?

Lucerys & Arrax die (129 AC, won by Aemond · Vhagar); Rook's Rest (129 AC, won by Aemond · Vhagar); The Gullet (130 AC, won by Rhaenyra · Syrax); The capital falls to the blacks (130 AC, won by Rhaenyra · Syrax); The Fishfeed (130 AC, won by Riverlords · blacks); The Butcher's Ball (130 AC, won by Riverlords · blacks); First Tumbleton (130 AC, won by Ormund Hightower · greens); Above the Gods Eye (130 AC, won by Daemon · Caraxes); The Dragonpit stormed (130 AC, won by the greens); Rhaenyra fed to Sunfyre (130 AC, won by Aegon II · Sunfyre); Aegon II poisoned · the Hour of the Wolf (131 AC, won by Cregan Stark · Winter Wolves).

Were dragons used in The Dance of the Dragons?

Yes – dragons fought at Lucerys & Arrax die, Rook's Rest, The Gullet, The capital falls to the blacks, First Tumbleton, Above the Gods Eye, The Dragonpit stormed, Rhaenyra fed to Sunfyre.