What is the Blackfyre Rebellion in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - the second prequel in HBO’s hit Game of Thrones franchise - has thrust viewers back into the world of Westeros, but in a fascinating new era.

The latest George R.R. Martin adaptation charts the misadventures of Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as they enter the Ashford tourney in search of fortune.

The amusing - and surprisingly grounded - events take place in an uncharted time, as the show is the first series to not feature any dragons, with the last one dying in 153 AC (After Conquest).

Set roughly 80 years after the conclusion of the Targaryen civil war in House of the Dragon - and a further 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones - the latest series paints Westeros in relative peace under King Daeron II Targaryen’s rule.

But that’s not to say it’s been plain sailing for House Targaryen, as the Great House has certainly endured its fair share of in-fighting and unrest (yes - again!), following the Blackfyre Rebellion.

Here is everything you need to know about the Blackfyre Rebellion in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

What is the Blackfyre Rebellion in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

The Blackfyre Rebellion was another major civil war within House Targaryen, sparked by a succession crisis following the death of King Aegon IV Targaryen - you’d think they’d have learned by now after the Dance of Dragons!

Often considered one of the worst Targaryen rulers, Aegon IV legitimised all of his bastard children on his deathbed, destabilising the line of succession and setting the stage for conflict.

This triggered Daemon Blackfyre, one of his legitimised sons, to declare himself the rightful heir over his trueborn half-brother, King Daeron II Targaryen, igniting yet another war for the Iron Throne.

Tensions were further fuelled by Aegon IV’s earlier decision to gift Daemon the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre - which has been the ancestral blade of House Targaryen.

Daemon Blackfyre launched an uprising against King Daeron II Targaryen, reversing the colours of House Targaryen for his own sigil and earning the nickname 'the Black Dragon', as the conflict split the realm for roughly a year.

The first Blackfyre Rebellion took place in 196 AC, around 65 years after the events of House of the Dragon (which ended in 131 AC), and roughly a decade before the events of The Hedge Knight.

Which Houses took part in the Blackfyre Rebellion?

The Blackfyre Rebellion was fought primarily between Great Houses loyal to House Targaryen, and those who backed the rebel faction of House Blackfyre.

Support for Daemon Blackfyre was driven by several factors, including doubts over King Daeron II’s legitimacy, resentment towards Dornish influence at court, Aegon IV’s decision to gift Daemon the ancestral sword Blackfyre, and the belief that Daemon better embodied the Targaryen features compared to his trueborn half-brother.

In the novels, it’s suggested that nearly half the realm declared for Daemon. His strongest support came primarily from the Reach, the Riverlands, and the stormlands, including:

• House Peake
• House Osgrey
• House Bracken
• House Yronwood
• House Butterwell
• House Costayne
• House Shawney
• House Strickland
• House Sunderly
• House Cockshaw
• House Risley

Meanwhile, King Daeron II Targaryen retained the backing of several powerful loyalist Houses, including:

• House Targaryen
• House Martell
• House Arryn
• House Corbray
• House Hightower
• House Oakheart
• House Tarbeck
• House Lothston

While the First Blackfyre Rebellion came to an end during the climactic Battle of the Redgrass Field - a bloody conflict won largely thanks to the efforts and strategy of Baelor and Maekar Targaryen - the civil war between the Black and Red dragons continued to divide Westeros for decades.

What is the timeline of the Blackfyre Rebellions?

While the first Blackfyre Rebellion culminated in Daemon I Blackfyre’s death at the Battle of the Redgrass Field, his descendants continued to vie for the Iron Throne against their Targaryen rivals across four major uprisings.

The timeline of the rebellions is as follows:

• 196 AC - The First Blackfyre Rebellion
• 211–212 AC - The Second Blackfyre Rebellion
• 219 AC - The Third Blackfyre Rebellion
• 236 AC - The Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion

The conflict known as the War of the Ninepenny Kings in 258 AC ultimately marked the end of the Blackfyre line, as Maelys the Monstrous - the last 'Blackfyre Pretender' - was killed during the war between King Jaehaerys II Targaryen and the Band of Nine.

This finally brought the long-running Blackfyre struggle to a decisive end.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs weekly on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Game of Thrones seasons 1 to 8 and House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.

If you’re looking for something else to watch in the meantime, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or visit our dedicated Fantasy hub. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.