Warning! This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon and George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood.
Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2 introduced the character of Ulf, a man with questionable Targaryen origins. As an adaptation of George R. R. Martin’sFire and Blood, the prequel to theA Song of Ice and Firebook series,House of the Dragonincludes many of the themes, characters, and storylines from the source material.One such storyline in both mediums surrounds the concept of Dragonseeds, the bastard children of House Targaryensprinkled throughoutHouse of the Dragon’s cast of characters.
Ulf was introduced inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 3, where he revealed himself in a pub scene to be a bastard of Targaryen descent. This character was depicted as a well-known member of King’s Landing’s citizens,claiming to his friends in a tavern that he is a Targaryen grandson of Jaehaerys I and thus a brother of Viserys and Daemon. This begs whether Ulf is actually a member ofHouse Targaryenand how his introduction will change the course ofHouse of the Dragon.
House Targaryen Explained: Origins, Dragons, Kings & Game Of Thrones History
There’s more to House Targaryen’s history than what’s depicted in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. Here’s what we know from the books.
Ulf Is A Dragonseed, But Not The Grandson Of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen
Ulf Has Targaryen Blood, But Not Of The Same Noble Stock He Claims
InHouse of the Dragon, Ulf boldly claims to be the brother of Viserys and Dameon, and the uncle of Rhaenyra. Interestingly, this is aHouse of the Dragonbook change. InFire and Blood, it is revealed thatUlf is a Dragonseed, but it is not confirmed how he is linked to House Targaryen. The show alters this, with Ulf claiming to be a son of Baelon the Brave. It remains to be seen whether Ulf’s claim turns out to be true, withFire and Blood’s nature as narratively unreliable, making either possibility likely.
InFire and Blood, Baelon is often described as being incredibly loyal to his wife. Baelon was even depicted as rejecting advances later in his life, proving how loyal he was to his partner. As such, this makes it unlikely that he sired a Dragonseed like Ulf. That said,House of the Dragonis not afraid to make changes based on the book’s unreliable narrators, with one potentially being that Ulf is indeed a grandson of Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
Ulf Claims The Dragon Silverwing In House Of The Dragon
Ulf Will Play An Important Role In The Impending Dance Of Dragons
InHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 7’s ending, Rhaenyra hosts an event called the Sowing of the Seeds, where bastards of Valyrian descent are brought to Dragonstone and allowed to try and claim dragons. In the process of trying to claim Vermithor, the Sowing falls to chaos, and Ulf falls off the platform and into the caverns below Dragonstone. He wanders about, searching for an escape, whenhe accidentally stumbles upon the space of Silverwing, a massive gray dragon who seems to take a quick liking to him.
Silverwing was previously the dragon of Queen Alyssane Targaryen, the wife of King Jaehaerys. Silverwing is known for being docile and friendly to humans in comparison to other, more dangerous dragons; hence, she quickly bonds with Ulf without much threat. Silverwing also has a mystical bond with the dragon Vermithor, reflecting the romantic relationship between their previous king and queen riders. Ulf claiming Silverwing instantly changes his luck, transforming him into one of the most powerful men in the realm.
What Happens To Ulf In The Dance Of The Dragons
Fire & Blood Explains What Becomes Of Ulf White
After claiming Silverwing and joining the Blacks in the Dance of Dragons,Fire & Blooddetails what happens to Ulf. Ulf’s first battle in the Dance comes in the Battle of the Gullet. This conflict sees the Greens, with the aid of a host of ships from the Triarchy, attempt to break the Velaryon blockade of Blackwater Bay. Ulf fights in this battle aboard Silverwing, aiding in reducing losses on the side of the Blacks. Eventually,Ulf was integral to two more battles, the First and Second Battles of Tumbleton.
The First Battle of Tumbleton saw Ulf and a fellow Dragonseed - anotherHouse of the Dragoncharacter Hugh Hammer- betray the Blacks by siding with the Greens. Ulf did this to be named the Lord of Bitterbridge by Daeron Targaryen. During the Second Battle of Tumbleton, Ulf slept through the battle due to being intoxicated. Ulf’s friend Hugh fell in the battle, leading the former to hastily declare he would lay claim to the Iron Throne. Eventually, Ulf was poisoned, which will undoubtedly be featured inHouse of the Dragon’s future seasons.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
