Blackfyre Rebellion shapes A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Polygon reports that the Blackfyre Rebellion, a Targaryen succession conflict, looms over HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a faithful adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight set about a century before Game of Thrones and more than 70 years after House of the Dragon.

The revolt began after King Aegon IV, called Aegon the Unworthy, legitimized his many bastards and gave the dynasty’s Valyrian steel sword, Blackfyre, to his favored son Daemon Waters. Daemon took the name Daemon Blackfyre and claimed the Iron Throne, touching off a civil war that ended with his death in a battle near King’s Landing.

Daeron II’s sons Baelor and Maekar helped defeat Daemon and both appear in the new series; Targaryen power remains fragile in this era without dragons, Baelor has no children, and Daemon has descendants in exile. Dunk, who was a child when the rebellion ended, seeks to prove himself as a knight but will find himself entangled in the kingdom’s politics. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuts on HBO Max on Jan. 18, with new episodes on Sundays through Feb. 22.

Key Topics

Culture, Blackfyre Rebellion, George R.r. Martin, Aegon Iv, Daemon Blackfyre, Daeron Ii