Although they were born out of due time, the characters in HBO’s original series based in Westeros, Game of Thrones, would all have opinions about who the rightful heir to King Viserys’s throne is. While some may have opposed her, there are many Game of Thrones characters who would have supported Rhaenyra in the Dance of the Dragons.
10. Ser Barriston Selmy Could Never Support The Greens
- Barristan Selmy was portrayed by Ian McElhinney
Barriston Selmy was a man of great honor in a dishonorable time. A remnant of a bygone era, Selmy still remembered a time when knights, lords, and kings were meant to behave in a way befitting of their station. While he wouldn’t have agreed with everything Rhaenyra has done, Selmy would certainly recognize her right to rule.
9. Cersei Lannister Would Support Another Queen
- Cersei Lannister was portrayed by Lena Headey
Although Cersei rarely supports anyone other than herself, she, unlike her ancestors, may have seen more favor in supporting Rhaenyra than Aegon. Moreover, as the first queen to sit on the Iron Throne, Cersei may have been more willing to support Rhaenyra than her male counterparts.
8. Jorah Mormont Probably Would Have Fallen In Love With Rhaenyra
- Jorah Mormont was portrayed by Iain Glen
There are many parallels between Rhaenyra and Daenerys Targaryen, and these would not have gone unnoticed for Jorah Mormont. Jorah deeply loved Daenerys and would have found similar feelings for Raenyra, whether these proved romantic or not. He surely would have supported Rhaenyra in the Dance of the Dragons.
7. Brienne Of Tarth Could Always Find The Noble Cause In A Fight
- Brienne of Tarth was portrayed by Gwendoline Christie
Unlike many other characters in Game of Thrones, Brienne stayed true to her honor through the series. Knowing that Viserys’s rightful heir was being shut out of King’s Landing, Brienne would have fought for Rhaenyra and the Blacks in the Dance of the Dragons, striving to preserve the rightful ascendancy of the throne.
6. Maester Aemon Was A Descendant Of Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Maester Aemon was portrayed by Peter Vaughan
Maester Aemon is a member of the Night’s Watch guarding the northern wall. However, he is much more than a simple guard, but is actually related to the final Targaryen king, Mad King Aerys II. Until Daenerys’s return and the revelation that Jon Snow is Rhaegar’s son, it was believed that Aemon was the final Targaryen in Westeros.
As one of the few Game of Thrones characters with insight into how the Targaryen royal family actually worked, Aemon would have doubtlessly supported Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne. However, Maester Aemon also saw all the wickedness and madness that the Iron Throne could bring and would have cautioned his rightful Queen against taking its power lightly.
5. Ned Stark Would Know Which Side Has The Most Honor
Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark is the lord of Winterfell at the beginning of Game of Thrones. A close friend to King Robert Baratheon after they served together during the rebellion against the Targaryens, Ned had an unmistakable sense of honor and justice. it was this quality that made him the perfect choice for the king’s new hand–if only a plot wasn’t already in motion to kill the king and anyone who denied Joffrey’s legitimacy.
Ned Stark was no fan of the Targaryens, but he knew what was best for the Seven Kingdoms. If that meant supporting Rhaenyra Targaryen to keep her incompetent and uncaring half-brother off the Iron Throne, Ned would have bent the knee without question.
4. Tyrion Lannister Would Have Been An Important Ally To Rhaenyra
- Tyrion Lannister was portrayed by Peter Dinklage
Tyrion Lannister is one of the most intelligent men in all of Westeros. The third child of Lord Tywin Lannister, Tyrion always had something to prove–especially because his physical stature made him an outcast to his family. Nevertheless, he rose to a prominent position at the side of Daenerys Targaryen, helping her take over the kingdom.
In Game of Thrones, Tyrion is shown to have an uncanny knack for sensing a weak ruler when he sees one, but it works both ways. The young Lannister is also able to foresee when someone will be a strong and upright ruler–at least with a respectable measure of accuracy. Tyrion would have immediately seen who would be the better ruler between Rhaenyra and Aegon, picking the former in a heartbeat.
3. Jon Snow Would Be Fully Devoted To His Queen
- Jon Snow was played by Kit Harington
One of the noblest men in Westeros, Jon Snow is believed to be the illegitimate son of Ned Stark. However, it is later revealed that Jon Snow is of Targaryen blood and is therefore the rightful heir to the Iron Throne as Aegon VI Targaryen. However, the young Northern hero had no desire for the throne and retreated from the Seven Kingdoms entirely after setting things right with its ascendancy.
Like his adopted father, Jon Snow had a resolute dedication to honor and decency. Therefore, he would never have stood for the slippery tactics of the Hightowers in the hours following Viserys’s death. Nevertheless, Jon wouldn’t have been so quick to trust Rhaenyra, either, and would have needed the potential queen to earn her position.
2. Varys Always Does What Is Best For The Seven Kingdoms
- Varys was played by Conleth Hill
Varys is the master of whisperers in the Red Keep, keeping certain people informed of certain happenings as he deems fit. While he initially seems to be a conniving and untrustworthy character, his claim of wanting to keep peace in the Seven Kingdoms ultimately proves true, with Varys consistently acting in favor of protecting the innocents of Westeros, even after war breaks out across the land.
Varys would not decide between the Greens and the Blacks lightly. However, the death of young Prince Lucerys would have likely prompted the master of whisperers to side with the team that wasn’t actively eating the other with dragons. Nevertheless, the horrific murder of young Prince Jaehaerys may have led Varys to change his mind.
1. Daenerys Targaryen Did What Rhaenyra Always Wanted
- Daenerys Targaryen was played by Emilia Clarke
Daenerys Targaryen was believed to be the last living member of the House of the Dragon for many years. The daughter of the Mad King Aerys II, Daenerys fought her way back to Westeros and finally claimed the Iron Throne. However, when it became clear that she shared some of her father’s less desirable traits, Jon Snow killed her before she could institute yet another regime of death and destruction.
In all likelihood, Daenerys would have gladly supported Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen if given the opportunity. Both characters are cut from a similar cloth, fighting for their power and position every step of the way. Daenerys would have greatly admired Rhaenyra and hoped to follow in her footsteps someday as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
