The second season of House of the Dragon has finally reached the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war. One faction in that conflict is House Hightower, which, under the leadership of Queen Alicent Hightower and her father, Hand of the King Otto Hightower, took the Iron Throne from Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Rhaenyra was designated heir by her father, King Viserys I Targaryen, who was also Alicent’s spouse; nevertheless, a misconception of Viserys I’s last words and cultural apprehensions regarding a female sovereign prompted the Hightowers to elevate Alicent’s son, Aegon, to the throne.
Despite their role in House of the Dragon, the Hightowers are rarely seen in Game of Thrones. Viewers that engage with the original series will observe that the Hightowers remain intertwined with the Baratheon-Lannister dynasty. The Hightower lineage was poised to reclaim the Iron Throne.
What Happened With House Hightower After the Dance of the Dragons?
To the likely disappointment of many fans of Rhaenyra and Team Black, the Hightowers successfully survive the occurrences of House of the Dragon and thrive in a post-Alicent era. Information regarding the Hightowers during the interval between the events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones is limited.
In the narrative of House of the Dragon, the leader of House Hightower is not Otto Hightower, but his nephew, Lord Ormund Hightower, who resides in Oldtown, where the previously mentioned Prince Daeron Targaryen serves as his squire. Following Lord Ormund’s demise in the First Battle of Tumbleton in the Reach, his successor was his 15-year-old son, Lyonel Hightower.
Lyonel generated controversy by marrying Lady Samantha Tarly, his widowed stepmother. The couple would produce six offspring together. Lady Samantha subsequently established the Bank of Oldtown, which facilitated the Hightower in amassing considerable money following the Dance of the Dragons.
Do the Hightowers and Rhaenyra Targaryen achieve reconciliation? To a certain degree. Princess Rhaena Targaryen, offspring of Prince Daemon Targaryen, subsequently weds Garmund Hightower, the younger sibling of Lord Lyonel, and they together have six progeny.
This was Rhaena’s second marriage following her initial union with Ser Corwyn Corbray. During the Blackfyre Rebellion, in which Targaryen bastards advocated for Daemon Blackfyre’s claim to the Iron Throne, the Hightowers chose to maintain neutrality, providing a degree of support to both factions.
House Butterwell, Oakhart, and Tarbeck also endorsed both factions in the fight.
Gerold Hightower Clashed With Eddard Stark at the Tower of Joy
After the Blackfyre Rebellion, the Hightowers retained their loyalty to the crown throughout Robert’s Rebellion. A Hightower features prominently in one of the most pivotal scenes in Game of Thrones — the Tower of Joy.
The Tower of Joy sequence, depicted in one of Bran Stark’s visions, has a young Eddard Stark escorted by allies, including Lord Howland Reed, in search of Stark’s sister, Lyanna Stark.
Lyanna Stark’s purported abduction served as the impetus for the rebellion, since her fiancé, Robert Baratheon, was convinced that Prince Rhaegar Targaryen had stolen her. The couple wed, and Lyanna was in labor with their offspring, commonly referred to as Jon Snow.
Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Gerold Hightower awaited Stark and Reed. Ser Gerold served as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and designated Robert Baratheon as the “usurper.” Although Ser Gerold succeeded in eliminating one of the rival bannermen, he ultimately perished from a sword wound to the throat inflicted by Eddard Stark.
Significantly, Eddie Eyre, the actor portraying Ser Gerold, also plays a role in House of the Dragon, making him one of the rare performers to appear in both House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. For the whole of Season 2, Eyre has portrayed an unnamed knight.
Despite portraying a distinctly different character, Eyre continues to maintain proximity to the Hightowers. This might serve as an entertaining headcanon fan theory suggesting that the knight is a distant relative of Ser Gerold.
Who Leads House Hightower in Game of Thrones?
Who currently rules the Hightowers in Oldtown in Game of Thrones? The answer is Lord Leyton Hightower. Lord Leyton is Ser Gerold’s nephew. He is entirely absent from Game of Thrones and is only referenced in the Histories & Lore additional feature entitled “The Reach,” included in the Season 3 Blu-ray release of the series.
Lord Leyton has been sequestered in the Hightower for more than a decade, which provides a valid justification for this situation. The Hightower is a substantial lighthouse located on Battle Isle in Oldtown.
Samwell Tarly observed it upon their arrival in Oldtown in Season 6. Lord Leyton is referenced frequently in the literature, with the rationale for his reclusive position being his purported study of magical manuscripts alongside his eldest daughter, Malora Hightower.
Notwithstanding this, he continues to issue commands and deploy his army into war when required, led by his sons who are engaged in fight against Euron Greyjoy’s fleet as disclosed in the revealed chapters of The Winds of Winter.
Initially, the Hightowers endorsed Renly Baratheon’s assertions to the Iron Throne, similar to the broader backing from The Reach. Following Renly’s demise, the Hightowers and Tyrells formed an alliance with the Iron Throne.
Prior to his seclusion, Lord Tywin Lannister proposed a marriage between his son Tyrion and one of Lord Leyton’s daughters. Lord Leyton was offended by this, considering Tyrion was a dwarf, and refused.
Jorah Mormont Was Wed to a Member of House Hightower
Jorah Mormont has consistently been a beloved character in Game of Thrones. It may be unexpected that he was previously wed to a Hightower. Lyneese Hightower was the second spouse of Jorah Mormont, distinct from Lynesse Hightower, the aunt of Alicent seen in Season 1 of House of the Dragon.
Jorah’s ex-wife Lynesse was briefly referenced in the inaugural season of Game of Thrones, as Jorah noted her extravagant preferences, which precipitated his financial downfall and compelled him to engage in the slave trade to maintain his lifestyle.
Lynesse was reared amid the affluence of Hightower, rendering her adjustment to the somewhat less affluent Mormonts challenging.
Lynesse ultimately departed from Jorah to join Tregar Ormollen, becoming one of his concubines. In the narrative, Jorah informs Tyrion that Tregar threatened to enslave him should he refuse to relinquish Lynesse.
Lynesse presently dwells in Lys, where Lord Leyton’s son, Ser Humfrey, journeys in the hope that his sister would provide the Hightowers with a sufficiently formidable fleet to repel the Greyjoys’ assault.
Curious about the legacy of House Hightower after House of the Dragon? Understand their complex histories, affiliations, and unexpected links to Game of Thrones. For a thorough discussion of their significance in Westeros, please visit our website.