Spoiler Warning: House of the Dragon Season One
It’s difficult to pinpoint what exactly makes a good ruler in theGame of Thronesuniverse. A king or queen can be a strong leader, presiding over their subjects with an iron fist, but lack the kindness and patience that are necessary to make them beloved. On the other hand, rulers with a gentle heart, likeHouse of the Dragon’sKing Viserys, are often incapable of making the difficult political decisions that characterize an effective reign. It is nearly impossible to rule over Westeros without shedding a bit of blood, so rulers without any cutthroat characteristics are ultimately ineffective.
The most powerful Westerosi rulers utilize a mixture of kindness and brutality to carry out their vision for the Seven Kingdoms. They must balance the politics of the various powerful Houses with concerns regarding foreign invaders and the domestic strife of common folk. Additionally, as Tywin Lannister explains in the originalGame of Thrones, the most important characteristic of a king is wisdom. There are two royals in Westeros: one king and one queen.King Aegon seems too youngfor the position and will likely rule in the same petulant manner that characterized his youth. But what about Rhaenyra as queen?
At the beginning ofHouse of the Dragon, King Viserys, after the death of his wife and newborn child, finds himself without any male heirs to take the Iron Throne. He was tasked by his Small Council to select a successor. He chooses his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra. This is a controversial decision, as choosing a woman to rule Westeros broke hundreds of years of tradition.
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From the moment she was chosen to rule someday, the then Princess Rhaenyra proved to have a much more intense leadership style than her father. For example, she chose Ser Criston Cole to serve on the Kingsguard, despite him being common-born. This decision showcased both sides of a potential reign of Rhaenyra. On the one hand, surrounding herself with the most talented individuals possible, regardless of status, shows a certain amount of wisdom.
However, choosing Ser Criston Cole over the myriad options that came from influential houses demonstrated a lack of political awareness. Additionally, Cole’s ultimate decision to ally himself with Queen Alicent and the Blacks has earned Rhaenyra a lifetime enemy.
Ultimately, Rhaenyra’s ascension to the Iron Throne never came to fruition. A faction of usurpersknown as the Greens, led by Queen Alicent and her father, Ser Otto Hightower, installed King Aegon to the throne, going against the wishes of King Viserys. This set the stage for a civil war with the Blacks, who are led by the rightful heir Rhaenyra and her husband/uncle Daemon. Though most of the Blacks immediately began planning for a conflict upon hearing the news of Aegon’s ascension, Rhaenyra seemed reticent to rush headlong into a bloody civil war, seeming to weigh the possibility ofnegotiating for peacerather seriously.
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However, everything changed for Queen Rhaenyra when her second-born son, Lucerys Valeryon, waskilled in an aerial battlewith Queen Alicent’s son Aemond and his massive dragon Vhagar. The death of her son at the hands of the Greens, whether or not it was ultimately intentional, will likely shatter her ambitions for peace and force her to serve as Queen.
Does Rhaenyra Have the Trappings of an Effective Leader?
As of yet, Rhaenyra has not givenHouse of the Dragonaudiences a clear sense of how effective she will be as Queen. She has little experience ruling but will certainly get a trial by fire (no pun intended) when tasked with leading the Blacks in the impending civil war.
Leadership characteristics aside, it’s clear that Rhaenyra is, at the very least, an incredibly strong-willed woman. The season finale saw Queen Rhaenyra going through abrutal premature birth. Stonefaced, she made it through the birth without the assistance of her servants. Her child did not survive, but Rhaenyra immediately re-engaged herself with the war council, proving that even personal tragedy will not stand in the way of her royal duties.
It’s unclear whether or not Queen Rhaenyra will ever be able to sit on the Iron Throne. Many folks will have to die, and untold Kingdoms will be burned to the ground before the Greens drop their support of King Aegon. Nevertheless, she is both strong-willed and cunning, which will undoubtedly make her an effective wartime leader. Whether she will be a good Queen in times of peace is yet to be seen and may never be.
