House of the Dragon Ep 6 returns after a 10-year time jump where Rhaenyra and Laenor have formed their own versions of marital bliss. Sadly, where Laenor’s transgressions are being ignored, every hair on Rhaenyra’s kids’ heads is being scrutinized.
The rumor going around is that Rhaenyra’s kids are dark-haired, just like her alleged lover, Harwin Strong. So, who really is the father of Rhaenyra’s first three kids?
House of the Dragon Ep 6 makes serious implications that all three of Rhaenyra’s sons (Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey) have been fathered by Harwin Strong. He was her sworn shield and served as Captain to City Watch of King’s Landing.
The parentage of Rhaenyra’s kids will pose a big hurdle for her. Even Harwin now being out of the picture won’t solve it. Here’s what you need to know.
Who is Harwin Strong?
Ser Harwin Strong was a knight from Harrenhal who served in the City Watch. He appears in the show in Episode 3 as a knight amused by a boar-blood-covered Rhaenyra. He later also encounters her during her scandalous night out with Daemon.
HOTD does not really depict how Harwin and Rhaenyra get together, nor do we get any scenes of them expressing their feelings for each other. However, Harwin’s longing gazes toward Rhaenyra, and the amount of affection and care he has for Jace, Luke, and the newborn Joffrey is proof enough.
Harwin’s romance with Rhaenrya stems out of her and Laenor’s marriage of convenience. This is why the three play charades, with Laenor even pretending that Harwin’s kids are his own. Sadly, this will come to bite them all in the back.
When rumors about Harwin and Rhaenyra’s illegitimate relationship take off, his father, Lyonel Strong, believes that removing his son from court is the only solution. The night they reach Harrenhal, both father and son are killed in a fire orchestrated by Harwin’s younger brother, Larys Strong.
Why does Rhaenyra’s kids’ parentage matter?
The most important reason behind Rhaenyra and Laenor’s marriage was that their union would strengthen Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne. This is because the Velaryons are incredibly rich and are from Old Valyria. Moreover, previous marriages have also made it possible for some of them to become dragon riders.
Now, Rhaenyra’s right of being the heir is already opposed due to her being a woman. If nobles and common folk alike realize that her first three sons are Harwin’s kids, not Laenor’s, her position would weaken further.
The kids would not just be illegitimate but also born of relatively “lower class.” No one is going to let Rhaenyra ascend the Iron Throne, knowing that after her, an illegitimate child (presumably Jacerys, since he’s the oldest) will be the next heir.
Alicent too will use this against her, reasoning that Rhaenyra should not be made Queen if her illegitimate sons (who are not “true” Targaryens) will continue the line. This is a belief that many will buy into when the civil war begins, backing Aegon II’s claim to the throne.
In the upcoming episodes, there will be an encounter between Aemond and Rhaenyra’s kids where he’ll taunt them by calling them “Strong Boys.” It will result in Aemond losing an eye, as well as Alicent drawing out a dagger to harm Rhaenyra and her kids (as seen in this trailer down below).
House of the Dragon’s heated civil war is only getting started!
About House Of The Dragon
House of the Dragon is the prequel series to HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
Set three hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will show Westeros under the Targaryen family’s rule before the dragons went extinct. It will follow the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who fought for the throne after the death of their father, Viserys I.
Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show stars Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.
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