(NCS) — Whether you’re gearing up for the latest Westeros-set sequence, HBO’s “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” ready desperately for George R.R. Martin to publish the subsequent “A Song of Ice and Fire” installment or rewatching the authentic sequence simply to really feel the ache over again, you may by no means know an excessive amount of about “Game of Thrones.”
Well, possibly you may. A bit refresher on the historical past can’t damage, although.
The drama, patricide, incest, betrayal, nudity and draconology of the “Game of Thrones” books and TV sequence spans greater than 12,000 years. Don’t assume too arduous about what “years” are in the fantasy realm of Westeros. Be grateful there’s a degree of reference in any respect, as a result of it’s about to get advanced. (HBO shares dad or mum firm Warner Bros. Discovery with NCS.)
How the date system works:
“A Song of Ice and Fire” time is split into two eras: BC and AC, or “Before Conquest” and “After Conquest.” The conquest in query right here is Aegon’s Conquest, or the second when the famed Targaryen household, they of the platinum hair and large dragons, grow to be a significant participant in Westeros, the fictional, Anglo-inspired realm the place most of the “Game of Thrones” motion takes place.
Pretty a lot all the pieces that occurs in the “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” sequence takes place in the AC period, so we’ll stick with that. All sorts of necessary lore occurs earlier than this period, and the histories in the present and the books are so thick that there are inevitably some little in-world discrepancies. Just use this timeline as a common information, okay? There is just a lot time one can dedicate to fantastical historical past earlier than it turns into insanity.
1 AC: Aegon’s Conquest is accomplished
The Targaryens — the ancestors of Daenerys, Jon Snow and virtually everybody on “House of the Dragon” — invade Westeros and grow to be its ruling household, establishing the capital metropolis of King’s Landing. (That’s the place the Baratheons and Lannisters dominated from for practically the complete “Game of Thrones” sequence.) A phrase of warning: Targaryens reuse names, so there are another necessary Aegons to maintain observe of. Good luck!
112 AC: ‘House of the Dragon,’ Season 1
- The Targaryens are nonetheless in energy, nonetheless marrying their sisters and cousins and whatnot.
- King Viserys names his daughter Rhaenyra as his inheritor and then marries Alicent, her closest childhood pal. These are each extraordinarily messy, dramatic choices that have an effect on the course of the complete present and, certainly, the historical past of Westeros.
- After all that, King Viserys dies.
- Rhaenyra is topped queen and will get together with her husband/uncle Daemon Targaryen. However, some Targaryens help her half-brother, Aegon II, as the new ruler as an alternative. Alicent’s different son by accident kills Rhaenyra’s son in an ill-advised reckless dragon driving incident. Cue Season 2!
132 AC: The Dance of the Dragons
This is the place “House of the Dragon” Season 1 leaves off. The Dance of the Dragons is the title for a civil battle between factions of House Targaryen over who their rightful ruler needs to be, Rhaenyra or Aegon II. It is an enormous half of Westerosi historical past and its first act occupies a lot of “House of the Dragon” Season 2. No spoilers for the battles that can doubtless comply with in Season 3, however so much of folks die.
~209 AC: ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Season 1
The latest addition to the “Thrones” TV universe adapts Martin’s “Tales of Dunk and Egg,” novellas which can be amongst his solely works to comply with a typical man. The first of these small-scale tales, “The Hedge Knight,” takes place around 90 years earlier than the occasions of “A Song of Ice and Fire.” In it, we meet Dunk (or Ser Dunk the Tall, as he takes to calling himself), a wannabe knight in search of goal after the knight he squired for dies. He enters a jousting match in the city of Ashford, assembly Egg, a curious bald boy who desires to squire for him. No spoilers, since this sequence is airing at present, however some acquainted homes could issue into the in any other case standalone story.
261 AC: The Reign of Aerys II, the Mad King
We nonetheless haven’t gotten to the most important “Game of Thrones” motion, however greater than a Westerosi century after the bloody Dance of the Dragons, Targaryens are nonetheless in energy, main “GoT” gamers are being born and occasions that affect the complete sequence begin to play out. Aerys II was the “Mad King” who was finally slain by Jaime Lannister, and marked the finish of the unbroken centuries throughout which Targaryens dominated Westeros.
281 AC: Robert’s Rebellion
Another essential second in Westerosi historical past, that is when Robert Baratheon wrests energy from the Targaryens. Also round this time, Rhaegar Targaryen (Daenerys’ brother) secretly marries Lyanna Stark, who provides delivery to Jon Snow and then dies (RIP once more), establishing one of the largest and ickiest secrets and techniques of the sequence.
298 AC: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 1 (‘ASOIAF’ Book 1: ‘A Game of Thrones’)
Finally, 186 years after “House of the Dragon” Season 1 begins, we get to the most important motion.
- Robert Baratheon dies in a boar goring.
- The Lannisters jockey for energy.
- Jamie Lannister pauses a spherical of incest with Cersei Lannister to push Bran Stark out a window.
- Ned Stark is executed by Joffrey Baratheon as a result of the former is aware of the latter isn’t the king’s precise son (it’s that darn incest once more). As a consequence, the Starks scatter and Jon Snow, who is unquestionably Ned’s illegitimate son and not one thing much more sophisticated, will get despatched to the Night’s Watch.
- Daenerys, chilling throughout the slim sea in Essos, turns into a Khaleesi and will get her dragons.
From right here on out, annually roughly corresponds to a season of the present. Funny how this stuff occur!
299 AC: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2 (‘ASOIAF’ Book 2: ‘A Clash of Kings’)
- The War of the Five Kings continues to pit Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy and present king Joffrey Baratheon in opposition to one another. Horrendous choices are made by all.
- Renly Baratheon is slain by a shadow demon birthed from the loins of the Red Priestess Melisandre.
- The Lannisters and Tyrells beat Baratheon forces in the Battle of Blackwater Bay, Tyrion will get his cool-looking scar.
- Jon mopes in the North, Daenerys fiddles round in Essos.
300 AC: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 3 (‘ASOIAF’ Book 3: ‘A Storm of Swords’)
- Catelyn Stark, Robb Stark, Robb Stark’s spouse Talisa and our final remaining shred of show-related innocence are slaughtered at the Red Wedding.
- Bran and Arya Stark proceed on their respective hero’s journeys.
- Daenerys slays her first large dragon second and secures a military for her eventual takeover of Westeros.
- The White Walkers grow to be a significant half of the motion.
301 AC: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 4 (‘ASOIAF’ Book 3: ‘A Storm of Swords’)
No, that’s not a typo. Starting this season, the timing of the present begins to tug away considerably from the timing of the books. Some occasions from completely different books overlap in the similar season, and some occasions in the similar guide are extra unfold out. Take it up with George R.R. Martin.
- The Purple Wedding takes the beloved angel Joffrey Baratheon, RIP.
- Tyrion, who’s Joffrey’s uncle, is put to trial for Joffrey’s loss of life.
- Sansa and Littlefinger kind a creepy alliance after he kills her aunt Lysa Arryn.
- Daenerys continues to be bopping round over there too, liberating slaves and mothering dragons.
302 AC: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5 (‘ASOIAF’ Book 4: ‘A Feast for Crows’ and Book 5: ‘A Dance of Dragons’)
- Arya trains to be an murderer in Braavos. Bran is in a tree.
- Current King Tommen Baratheon marries Margaery Tyrell and Sansa Stark is married off to Ramsay Bolton, marking the present’s romantic nadir.
- Stannis Baratheon burns his daughter alive to win a battle marking the nadir of, nicely, all the pieces else. (And he doesn’t even win the battle!)
- Religious fervor strikes King’s Landing to the detriment of the Tyrells and Cersei Lannister, who does her notorious “Shame” stroll.
- The White Walkers exhibit their true CGI price range potential at the Battle of Hardhome.
- Jon Snow is “stabbed” and “killed.”
303 AC: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6
The motion of this season supposedly aligns with the sixth “ASOIAF” guide, “The Winds of Winter.” Hard to inform, since we’re nonetheless ready for its launch.
- No approach, Jon is alive!
- Tyrion, who has fled Westeros, meets Daenerys, who continues to be doing no matter throughout the Narrow Sea.
- Cersei blows up the Sept of Baelor, incinerating most of the Tyrells and numerous others. Her son Tommen jumps out of a window in grief, and Cersei turns into Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Bran Stark, the tree boy, turns into the Three-Eyed Raven.
- Sansa kills Ramsay Bolton and is later reunited together with her brother, Jon Snow. These are equally heartwarming occasions.
- Daenerys, Tyrion, the dragons, et al FINALLY sail for Westeros!
304 AC: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7
- Daenerys and Jon Snow lastly meet! She desires to safe the Iron Throne, he desires to cease a military of the useless from destroying all humanity. Can they make a deal?
- Aryan and Bran come again to Winterfell. Sansa and Arya Stark execute Littlefinger. The Starks are again, child!
- Jon and Daenerys go north to seize a wight (ice zombie) to indicate Cersei Lannister, who desires nothing to do with both of them. One of Daenerys’ dragons is killed and was an enormous ice zombie dragon.
- Daenerys and Jon make love in a young scene overlaid with Tyrion’s revelation that the two are, the truth is, aunt and nephew. (His father is Dany’s late brother, Rhaegar.) And guess what! Jon’s delivery title is Aegon.
305 AC: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8
- A bunch of characters converge at Winterfell for the ultimate battle in opposition to the White Walkers and their unstoppable Army of the Dead.
- The unstoppable Army of the Dead is promptly stopped by Arya Stark wielding a big steak knife.
- Main characters and supporting characters alike drop like flies, although key gamers like Tyrion and the Starks who’ve made it this far survive.
- Daenerys is lastly pushed over the edge and obliterates King’s Landing, including untold numbers to the season’s total loss of life toll.
- Seeing his girlfraunt (girlfriend aunt) has turned full evil, Jon Snow kills Daenerys with one other steak knife. The ultimate, tragic verse of the Song of Ice and Fire involves an in depth.
- Bran wins the Game of Thrones in double extra time. It’s a controversial choice.
The-NCS-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.