The Green Council Map How Aegon II Seized the Iron Throne
Red Keep · Dragonpit · Dragonstone · The Dance Begins
When King Viserys I died, his small council hid the news and crowned Aegon II instead of Rhaenyra. This map follows the Green Council from the Red Keep to the Dragonpit coronation and the word that raced to Dragonstone.
The Green Council was the secret meeting of King Viserys I’s small council in the Red Keep after his death in 129 AC. Led by Otto Hightower and Queen Alicent, it chose to crown Viserys’ son Aegon II instead of his named heir, Rhaenyra. Aegon was crowned in the Dragonpit, and the news reaching Dragonstone started the Dance of the Dragons.
The Green Council at a Glance
The essentials at a glance before the full breakdown.
What was the Green Council?
King Viserys I named his daughter Rhaenyra as his heir, but many lords never accepted a ruling queen. When Viserys died in the Red Keep, his Hand, Otto Hightower, and Queen Alicent kept the death secret and summoned the small council.
Behind closed doors the council agreed to crown Alicent’s eldest son, Aegon, instead. The faction became known as the Greens, after the green Alicent wore; Rhaenyra’s supporters became the Blacks.
Who sat on the Green Council?
In Fire & Blood the council members included:
- Otto Hightower, Hand of the King
- Queen Alicent Hightower
- Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard
- Tyland Lannister, master of ships
- Jasper Wylde, master of laws
- Larys Strong, master of whisperers
- Grand Maester Orwyle
- Lyman Beesbury, master of coin, the only one who objected and was killed for it
From the Red Keep to the Dragonpit
Aegon II had to be found and brought back before the crowning. He was then crowned in the Dragonpit before a crowd, so the smallfolk would see their new king. In House of the Dragon Season 1, Rhaenys Targaryen bursts up through the Dragonpit floor on Meleys during the ceremony and escapes rather than burn the Greens.
Word then raced across Blackwater Bay to Dragonstone, where Rhaenyra was crowned queen by her own supporters. The short crossing between the two seats meant the war would be fought by dragons within days.
Why the Green Council matters
The Green Council turned a succession dispute into civil war. Every battle on the Dance of the Dragons map, from Rook’s Rest to the Gullet, follows from the choice made in that council chamber.
See how the two sides lined up on the Team Black vs Team Green map.
From Council Chamber to Civil War
Green Council: Questions
The secret meeting of Viserys I’s small council that chose to crown Aegon II instead of Rhaenyra.
In the Red Keep in King’s Landing, right after Viserys I died.
Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, with Queen Alicent.
In the Dragonpit in King’s Landing.
After the green dress Queen Alicent wore, in contrast to Rhaenyra’s black supporters.
ThroneAtlas is an independent fan-made atlas and lore reference. It is not affiliated with HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery or George R. R. Martin. Map artwork is original ThroneAtlas illustration.
