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The release announcement for the third live-actionseries in theGame of Thronesfranchise,A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,has been around for a while. While the exact premiere date remains unknown, HBO, via its 2025 slate, has confirmed that the series will be released next year. What’s more, Dexter Sol Ansell, who plays Egg in the upcoming prequel, has confirmed via an Instagram post that the filming has wrapped"after a few wonderful months.“He bids goodbye to Belfast, with the hope of seeing it soon.
HBO greenlit theGame of Thronesspin-off,A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, much to the chagrin of viewers who’d hoped to see the now scrapped Jon Snow spin-off, or Aegon’s Conquest first, which is confirmed to be in development. However, lore-obsessed fans, and those versed in the source material,The Hedge Knight, are certain that breathing life into Dunk and Egg means adapting major lore events such asthe Blackfyre Rebellion(s).
The Prelude to The First And The Second Blackfyre Rebellions
The king on the throne during Ashford Tourney - Daeron II was spurned by the act of his father, Aegon IV, legitimizing all his bastards before dying. This led to generations of rebellions between the trueborn and the legitimized Targaryens, the second of which concerns the heroes Duncan and Egg. The First Blackfyre Rebellion was fought in 196 AC between the forces of Daeron II and Daemon I Blackfyre, who wasAegon the Unworthy’s bastard son by cousin Daena.
The constant friction between King Aegon IV and his heir, Daeron, is the prelude to the rebellion. Aegon IV and Daeron never really saw eye to eye, and the King himself stoked rumors that his legal heir (Daeron) was born out of wedlock between his sister-wife, Naerys, and younger brother, Prince Aemon the Dragonknight. Aegon IV threatened to place his bastard sons, Aegor Rivers (aka Bittersteel) and Balerion Otherys, in the line of succession, but never really went ahead. However, in 182 AC, he did bestowthe Targaryen regalia, Blackfyre, after then twelve-year-old Daemon won a squire’s tourney. This act of conferring Blackfyre became the source of chaos at his court. Many took Aegon IV’s act of bestowing the Targaryen sword as a move towards Daemon’s acknowledgment and legitimization. Daemon, on the other hand, started using “Blackfyre” as his second name, and in time founded House Blackfyre. Before his death, Aegon IV placed all his bastards in the line of succession, leaving Daeron’s supporters no room for political maneuvers. Daeron ascended the throne in 184 AC as King Daeron II and had to constantly appease his father, Aegon IV’s Great Bastards (sired by noblewomen).
Daemon, who looked more and morelike the Conqueror, was urged by his councilors to rebel against the crown in 196 AC. He was married to Rohanne of Tyrosh, and she gave birth to his twin sons, Aegon and Aemon. They had five more sons, and at least two daughters. Daemon declared himself Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and escaped imprisonment due to his key supporter at court, Quentyn Ball. He reversed the colors of the Targaryen banner (black dragon against red) and earned the moniker “the Black Dragon.” He also minted his coins during the period.
Hightower, Butterwell, Oakheart, and Tarbeck were torn, whilethe Great Housesremained loyal to the throne. Daemon found support in the Reach and the Stormlands, and finally, the rebellion was stomped out in the Battle of the Redgrass Field in 196 AC. Daemon and his eldest twin sons, Aemond and Aegon, were killed on the battlefield by another Great Bastard, Brynden Rivers. At the same time, another Great Bastard, Aegor Rivers, recovered Blackfyre from the battlefield and sought refuge in Tyrosh with Daemon’s wife, Rohanne, and surviving children. They continued their struggle from afar and the Second Blackfyre Rebellion of 212 AC was ignited shortly after.
182 AC
184 AC
196 AC
209 AC
The Second Blackfyre Rebellion
212 AC
In 212 AC, a tourney at Whitewalls in the Riverlands was held by Lord Ambrose Butterwell in honor of his second marriage to Lord Frey’s daughter. The Second Blackfyre Rebellion broke out here. First off, Lord Ambrose’s liege lord declined the wedding invitation, and the tourney ended before time as rebellion broke out.Ser Duncan the Tallentered the tourney under the name, “the Gallows Knight”, and Daemon Blackfyre and Rohanne’s third son, Daemon the Younger aka Daemon II entered as a Hedge Knight, “John the Fiddler.”
Daemon II Blackfyre was known to haveprophetic dragon dreams. He dreamt of the death of his brothers Aegon and Aemon, and the ascension of Duncan the Tall to the Kingsguard. Convinced by Lord Gormon Peake to claim the throne, Daemon II ended his exile and traveled to the Seven Kingdoms.
Ser Duncan The Tall’s Role In The Second Blackfyre Rebellion
The Whitewalls Tourney was a front for Daemon II gathering support, and Egg correctly called it a “traitor’s tourney.” Daemon II was given special treatment at the wedding. For a man of his stature, i.e., a mereHedge Knight, Daemon IIwas convinced by Peake to sway people such as Duncan. Daemon II did not have the support of Aegor Rivers, nor the Blackfyre sword in his possession. He approached Duncan the Tall as “John the Fiddler” and relayed that he dreamt of him wearing a white cloak. Daemon II failed to get Duncan to his side, while Alyn Cockshaw was happy to have him at Whitewalls.
Lord Ambrose Butterwell promised his dragon egg to the winner, but it was stolen before time. Daemon II unhorsed Ser Franklyn Frey and Ser Galtry the Green, but Duncan learned it was a farce. Lord Peake was bribing Daemon II’s opponents, to make a case for his martial skills. However, a man of honor such as Ser Glendon Flowers refused the bribe and was taken away and tortured for stealing Butterwell’s dragon egg. Duncan brought the public’s attention to John the Fiddler’s true identity and accused Peake of framing Glendon Flowers. Once Daemon II learned of Peake’s elaborate ruse, he revealed his identity and challenged Glendon Flowers to atrial by battle. Not only did Glendon Flowers manage to unhorse Daemon II, but the latter fell into a pool of dirty water, and was nicknamed “the Brown Dragon.”
In the end, Daemon II was arrested by Lord Brynden Rivers and no one at Whitewalls supported him. He remained the Targaryens' hostage for a few years, asBrynden Rivers wantedto prevent the rise of another Blackfyre Pretender, Haegon. However, after Daemon II’s death, Aegor and Haegon join hands to fight the Targaryens in the Third Blackfyre Rebellion.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
