The eighth and final episode of Season 3 of “The House of the Dragon” is shaping up to be the biggest land battle yet in the history of the Game of Thrones (GOT) spinoff series.
Following the pivotal Battle of the Gullet in the premiere episode, the stakes are even higher now as the 20,000-strong Winter Wolves and rivermen march to battle against the Hightower army fortified at the market town of Tumbleton.
Whoever emerges victorious in this confrontation would have a greater opportunity to either regain military strength or consolidate control of King’s Landing.
First Battle of Tumbleton
HBO billed “House of the Dragon” as a GOT spinoff series adapted from the book Fire and Blood, written by George RR. Martin.
The book tackled the 300-year history of Targaryen rule in Westeros, from their daring escape from Valyria to the end of the dynasty at the culmination of Robert’s Rebellion.
However, fans have pointed out that the series embraced a different narrative direction based on the changes and interpretation of producers Sarah Hess and Ryan Condal.
In the book, two separate battles occurred at Tumbleton. The First Battle of Tumbleton resulted in a surprise Green victory, following the betrayal of two of the dragonseeds: Hugh the Hammer and Ulf the White.
Hugh, who rode the dragon Vermithor, saw himself as the one foretold to rise as king based on a prophecy.
With the help of Ulf and his dragon Silverwing, the two burned their former allies, allowing the Hightower army to live for another day.
This defection to the Greens put paid to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s chances of finally ending the war while subsequently endangering her position, as the road now lies open for the Green faction to retake the capital from her.
From the perspective of commoners at Tumbleton, thousands of civilians were killed and abused by the rampaging Hightower army.
Even Prince Daeron, the third sibling of Aegon II, was disturbed by the sheer scale of violence unleashed by their troops at the market town.
Second Battle of Tumbleton
With fear and paranoia gripping Rhaenyra’s rule after the defeat, she made the unfortunate decision to alienate her close supporters, including Addam of Hull, who was the first dragonseed to join her cause.
Rhaenyra named him a traitor to the realm, exiling the dragonseed from the capital.
Instead of defecting to the Greens to correct this insult, Addam rode his dragon Seasmoke and assembled a ragtag army in the Riverlands to reclaim Tumbleton in Rhaenyra’s name.
In his mind, this would be the price to bring himself back in favour with Rhaenyra and clear his name.
What followed next was one of the most tragic events in the history of Westeros.
At first, it appeared Addam was at a disadvantage considering he had one dragon against the Greens’ three. But conspirators within the Green faction successfully killed Hugh and Ulf.
Prince Daeron also went missing in the thick of the battle.
Without their dragon riders, the Hightower army was overwhelmed by the besieging Riverlands troops, opting to retreat to Oldtown.
However, it was a pyrrhic victory for the Blacks as Addam also met his demise in the battle. He directed his dragon Seasmoke against the dragon Tessarion, who was riderless following the disappearance of Prince Daeron.
The two dragons fought in the sky, but Vermithor suddenly appeared and joined the fray, resulting in the deaths of three.
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The aftermath
Aside from the horrifying civilian casualties, these battles at Tumbleton weakened the Targaryen dynasty forever.
They officially lost four dragons as Silverwing also disappeared, never to be seen again.
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Wendellyn Mateo