Led by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, and the Velaryon faction of the Targaryen family. She was named by her father, King Viserys I, as his successor to the Iron Throne. She is the first Queen of Westeros after a century of the throne being passed down to male heirs, and is supported by those who swore fealty to her in front of King Viserys I.

Led by King Aegon II Targaryen, the eldest son of King Viserys I, and who was crowned in front of the civilians of King’s Landing. As male heir, he has supporters who believe he is entitled to the throne to honour long-standing tradition. Team Green are the Hightower faction of the Targaryen family in line with his mother Alicent Hightower. The Hightower family use green as a call-to-arms of war.

Warning: Contains major spoilers for seasons one and two.

Played by: Emma D’Arcy (Truth Seekers, Wanderlust)

One of the two argued heirs to the throne, Queen Rhaenyra is the sole daughter of King Viserys I’s marriage to Queen Aemma Arryn, and was officially declared by Viserys as his successor. She has three children from her first marriage to Ser Laenor Velaryon, however it is a widely-held secret they are actually bastard children with her lover, Lord Harwin Strong, who is now deceased. Therefore, it is argued by defectors she has no legitimate heirs to inherit the throne after her. She is now married to her uncle, Prince Daemon, with whom she has two children, and a third child that was stillborn.

Initially struggling to get a foothold on the Black Council, she is acutely aware she is spoken over because she is a woman, and so begins to take matters into her own hands.

She finds a confidante in Mysaria and entrusts a lot of her plans to her son and heir, Jacaerys.

Rhaenyra is a strategic leader, and heeds Mysaria’s advice to appeal to the smallfolk of King’s Landing and think outside the box of her royal lineage.

Played by: Matt Smith (Doctor Who, Morbius)

Brother to King Viserys I, at one point he assumed to be next in line to the throne, before niece Rhaenyra was declared the successor. He is now Rhaenyra’s husband and uncle, keeping with tradition of Targaryen’s maintaining a “pure” bloodline. Known to be cunning and aware, he rides dragon Caraxes and has become a renowned soldier in battle, helping defeat the Crabfeeder and the Triarchy fleet at the Battle of the Stepstones. He was previously married to Rhea Royce and Leana Velaryon.

It has often been debated why he pushed to be married to Rhaenyra, with many believing he did so strategically in order to have his own claim to the throne. Even Rhaenyra seemed to believe this, confronting him about it during an argument.

He later fled to claim Harrenhal, and while there, attempted to build an army himself. However, he started getting visions about his life – both premonitions and moments from his past, and by the end of season two, he reunited with Rhaenyra, bent the knee, and declared her the one True Queen of Westeros.

Played by: Steve Toussaint (Small Axe, It’s A Sin)

Former Master Of Ships in King Viserys’ Small Council, Lord Corlys has been nicknamed the Sea Snake due to his conquering of the seas of Westeros and beyond. Of native Valyrian descent, like the Targaryen’s are, he hopes his blood will one day assume the throne. He had two children, Leanor and Leana, both of whom are deceased, or presumed to be. Leanor was Queen Rhaenyra’s first husband in an arranged marriage, and dismissed suspicion that his son was gay as a “phase”. Despite knowing Rhaenyra’s children aren’t his, he remains loyal to them and treats them as his own grandchildren, especially after Laenor’s supposed death.

Despite being unfaithful to Rhaenys while at sea, fathering at least two children, he immensely loved his wife. After her death, he began to doubt his loyalty to Rhaenyra out of anger, but later assumed a position as Hand To The Queen, doubling down on his association with the Blacks so Rhaenys didn’t die in vain.

He later renamed his ship from the Sea Snake to the Queen That Never Was in her honour.

Played by: Harry Collett (Dunkirk, Dolittle)

Firstborn son to Queen Rhaenyra, Jacaerys is the heir-apparent in her lineage. He is the rider of the dragon Vermax. As a child, Rhaenyra attempted to bond the two sides of the family by attempting to arrange Jacaerys’ marriage to Heleana, and while her father believed it to be a good idea, Alicent blocked it. He is very aware of the suspicions surrounding his legitimacy, and the long-assumed rumours his father is actually Harwin Strong, but honours his mother’s word that “he is a Targaryen, and that’s all that matters”.

As the war continues, Jace becomes a valuable asset in acquiring allies across the Seven Kingdoms, gaining the loyalty of Cregan Stark in the North, as well as the Tarlys.

Played by: Bethany Antonia (Stay Close, Nolly)

Lady Rhaena is the daughter of Daemon and his second wife Laena Velaryon, and older twin sister of Lady Rhaena. She is under the protection of her grandmother, Rhaenys, following the death of her mother in childbirth. Her dragon is Moonrider, whom she bonded with at birth in the tradition of the Targaryen house.

She has developed a close bond with Jace during their time together, and she is encouraged by Rhaenyra to use Moonrider to her advantage, often spying on the whereabouts of the Green faction.

Played by: Newcomer Phoebe Campbell

Lady Rhaena is the daughter of Daemon and his second wife Laena Velaryon, and younger twin sister of Lady Baela. She was under the protection of her grandmother, Rhaenys, following the death of her mother in childbirth. Her dragon egg did not hatch at her birth, and she hoped to acquire Vhagar after her mother’s death, before Prince Aemond claimed her as his own.

Sent away from Dragonstone when the war began, Rhaena was tasked with looking after Rhaenyra’s young children. However, her desire for a dragon remained.

At the end of the season two finale, we see her track down a rogue dragon, known to fans as Sheepstealer.

Played by: Sonoya Mizuno (Ex-Machina, Maniac, Devs)

A former sex worker at a brothel in King’s Landing, Mysaria first caught the attention of Daemon, who took her as his lover and, at one point, fiancée. She left Daemon after he goaded Otto Hightower with her, lying that she was pregnant. This is a particular sore point for Mysaria as, unbeknownst to him, she is unable to have children due to abuse when she was younger. She leaves him shortly after.

Building a life in Flea Bottom, Mysaria later kidnaps Aegon and bargains with Ser Otto for his return, aiming to stop child exploitation of her people. He agrees, but later sets fire to her home to send a message.

Mysaria survives and is later brought to Daemon, who accuses her of selling secrets to the Hightowers. He offers to spare her life in exchange with helping him hire assassins in the Red Keep to kill Aemond, but they kill baby Jaehaerys instead.

Later, she meets Rhaenyra, who upholds Daemon’s word and pardons her. In return for her kindness, Mysaria saves Rhaenyra after becoming aware of Ser Arryk’s attempt to infiltrate Dragonstone, alerting knights and saving her life.

From that point on, she becomes a Lady of her court, and one of Rhaenyra’s most trusted allies, using her network of spies in King’s Landing to help the Queen gain the upper hand.

She is the voice of the smallfolk on Rhaenyra’s team, often working with their best interest in mind.

Played by: Clinton Liberty (Red Election, Normal People, Smother)

Addam of Hull is a lowborn boatsman whose mother had a secret affair with Corlys Velaryon while at sea.

Aware of his heritage, but unable to claim it, Addam grew frustrated with his position in life, believing he deserves more.

So when Seasmoke tracks him down and decides to claim him as a rider, he considers it God’s will, immediately bending the knee to Queen Rhaenyra and siding with Team Black.

Played by: Abubakar Salim (Jamestown, Raised By Wolves)

Unlike his brother, Alyn has no desire to rise above his current station in life. Despite this, he earns the trust of Corlys Velaryon after saving him in battle – although it remains unsaid that he is also his bastard son.

Now the first mate on the Velaryon Fleet, Alyn expressed to Corlys that he has no desire to be a dragonrider, instead happy to be someone of salt and sea.

Played by: Tom Bennett (Phone Shop, After Life, A.P. Bio)

Bold, disrespectful and a hustler, Ulf spent his days in Flea Bottom claiming to people that he was a long-lost Targaryen bastard.

However, his bluff was called when Rhaenyra made the call for Targaryen bastards to build her army.

Hesitantly joining the boats after being antagonised by people at the tavern, he immediately tried to flee when Vermithor started burning some of the other smallfolk who tried to stake their claim.

In the process, he came face-to-face with Seasmoke, who claimed him as her rider.

Now, with his lineage confirmed, he has already begun to let his new status go to his head, and has immediately got under the skin of Prince Jacaerys.

Played by: Kieran Bew (Warrior, Liar, Rellick)

A blacksmith in King’s Landing, Hugh starts the series with a wife and sick child he desperately wants to look after. He grew agitated with the Hightower faction when they used his work for the war, but never paid him properly, leaving him struggling to afford food.

His mother, Saera, was the disowned daughter of King Jaehearys Targaryen, which makes him the secret uncle to Viserys and Daemon Targaryen. She worked at a pleasure house when he was conceived.

Answering the call from Rhaenyra to recruit Targaryen bastard children, Hugh proved himself worthy in the eyes of dragon Vermithor, and he became a dragonrider in the battle of Blacks Vs Greens.

Played by: Elliot Tittensor (Shameless, Silent Witness)

Twin brother to Ser Arryk Cargyll, Ser Erryk was a former member of the Kingsguard during the reign of King Viserys. However, following the King’s death, he eventually realigned himself to the Blacks after witnessing their underhanded tactics to get Aegon crowned, and the behaviour of the would-be King. Releasing Princess Rhaenys when she was imprisoned, he opted to remain faithful to who he believed was the rightful heir.

However, his bond with his brother remained, and when Ser Arryk infiltrated Dragonstone in order to kill Rhaenyra, he begrudgingly fought and killed his brother in her name.

He then immediately fell on his own sword, begging for the Queen’s forgiveness so he could die with his brother.

Played by: Eve Best (Lucky Man, Nurse Jackie)

At one point in line to the throne herself, Rhaenys was nicknamed “The Queen That Never Was” after a Great Council voted to position Viserys in her place, choosing to continue the male bloodline rather than oldest heir. She was married to Lord Corlys Velaryon, and together they had two children - Leana (who died in childbirth) and Leanor (who faked his death to start a new life with his male lover). She became a dominant force in the Royal court during Viserys’s reign, and gave her loyalty to Rhaenyra, in part because she can achieve what was taken from her.

Going into the war during the Battle of Rook’s Rest, Rhaenys was killed on the back of her dragon, Meleys, after an attack by Aemond Targaryen.

Played by: Tom Glynn-Carney (The Last Post, SAS: Rogue Heroes)

The eldest son of King Viserys I and Alicent Hightower, and now King of Westeros, ruling from the Iron Throne. He is the second argued legitimate ruler.

Aegon initially showed little desire for the position, and often used his royal privilege to abuse those around him. When his father died, he was drinking in a brothel in Flea Bottom.

At his coronation, his ego seemed to warm to the idea of being a leader, however he soon discovered that the power largely lay in those around him, and his thoughts were often disregarded.

Often impulsive and led by his anger, this came to a head when, in a bid to be deemed like a worthy ruler, he flew to the Battle Of Rook’s Rest on the back of Sunfyre while drunk. This resulted in him being blasted by dragonfire from his brother’s dragon, Vhagar, and he tumbled to the ground.

Miraculously, he survived, but has been left severely burned and mutilated, unable to walk properly and fearing Aemond may kill him for the crown.

He is last seen fleeing King’s Landing to spend time in Essos with Larys in order to lay low from Aemond and the war.

Played by: Phia Saban (The Last Kingdom)

The sole daughter from the marriage of King Viserys I and Alicent Hightower, and the sister-wife of King Aegon II Targaryen. She married in accordance with a tradition within the Targaryen family to ‘keep the bloodline pure’. She is timid but well-liked, and often overlooked in favour of her brothers. She also seems to have the gift of foresight, predicting a number of things ahead of time. Heleana rides dragon Dreamfyre, and with Aegon had two young children: Jaehaerys and Jaehaera.

However, she was left traumatised and devastated after Prince Daemon orchestrated an attack in the Red Keep, resulting in thugs known as Blood and Cheese beheading baby Jaehaerys after failing to find Aemond.

She has since spent most of her days hidden within the castle walls, but maintains she has no desire to fight.

Played by: Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One, Vanity Fair)

King Viserys I’s second wife, and mother to King Aegon II, Prince Aemond, Queen Heleana and Daeron Targaryen. A former best friend to Queen Rhaenyra, she was encouraged by her father to befriend King Viserys shortly after the death of his first wife Aemma, resulting in him choosing her for marriage. The union came at the cost of her friendship to Rhaenyra. Fiercely protective of her children, she believed King Aegon should ascend the throne after mishearing Viserys’ last words as a deathbed confession that he should be king.

However, she later discovered that she misconstrued his words, and has come to realise that the Dance Of Dragons was largely instigated by her as a result.

Played by: Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, Nyad, Elementary)

Hand of The King to King Viserys and King Aegon II, and father to Alicent Hightower. He is one of the primary instigators in plans to usurp the throne from Queen Rhaenyra, and became arguably one of the most powerful men in Westeros with his grandson on the throne.

Tactical and cunning, he has been planning King Aegon’s ascension to the throne since before he was born. However, Aegon did not appreciate his strategic nature, and Otto took for granted how impulsive Aegon would be as a ruler. After an argument, he was fired from his position and left King’s Landing, and virtually disappeared.

He was last seen by viewers hidden in the bows of a boat.

Played by: Ewan Mitchell (Saltburn, The Last Kingdom)

The second born son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent, and a man who feels he is more capable than his older brother to be King. Vicious and unafraid to ruffle some feathers, Aemond resented his position in the family as a “spare”. A brutal fight with cousin Lucerys as a child resulted in him losing his left eye, which he has since replaced with a sapphire and covers with an eyepatch. He is the dragonrider of Vhagar, which previously belonged to Daemon’s first wife, Visenya Velaryon, who died in childbirth.

At the Battle Of Rook’s Rest, he used Vhagar to set his brother Aegon ablaze after he arrived on dragonback without warning. He has since assumed the position of Prince Regent, taking over his brother’s King responsibilities while he recovers from his injuries.

Played by: Fabien Frankel (The Serpent, Last Christmas)

Ser Criston is a member of the Kingsguard and the Green Council, and is one of the few protectors of the crown to have actually seen war. Formerly a ward and lover to Princess Rhaenyra, he defected his loyalty to Alicent Hightower when Rhaenyra turned down his proposal to run away with him. He lived life by a strict knight’s code, and blames Rhaenyra for his lapse in that code. He is now Alicent’s lover, and was chosen by Aegon to be Hand To The King during his reign.

Played by: Matthew Needham (Sanditon, Great Expectations)

The current Lord of Harrenhaal and head of House Strong following the deaths of his father and brother, Harwin, in an attack he orchestrated. He found his place in court after gaining the confidence of Alicent Hightower – even if he does act in rash ways she does not condone.

He is defined by a prominent limp, due to the birth defect clubfoot, and walks with a cane. Due to his disability, he is someone who is often overlooked and disregarded, he uses this to his advantage, with an ear to the ground about goings on around the Red Keep and King’s Landing. He later joined the Green Council as Master of Whispers, and grows a close bond with Aegon after his accident at the Battle of Rook’s Rest.

Played by: Jefferson Hall (Oppenheimer, Tenet)

Twins within the noble Lannister house, who are eager to have a more powerful position within the Seven Kingdoms. When their intent to become King by marrying Rhaenyra faltered, they instead aligned themselves with Otto’s plan to install Aegon to the throne. The plan was orchestrated more by Tyland than Jason. Tyland now functions as a member of the Green Council, while Jason leads the Lannister Army.

Played by: Freddie Fox (Slow Horses, The Great)

Ser Gwayne Hightower is the brother of Alicent Hightower and son of Otto Hightower.

He grew up in the family home of Oldtown, and remained there even when Otto and Alicent relocated to the Red Keep.

A brave knight, he was called to arms at the request of his sister when the Blacks vs Greens fight began. He has since acted as a second-in-command to Ser Criston Cole in the Kingsguard, often being the voice of reason at times where Ser Criston’s bravado gets the best of him.

He also helped raise Alicent’s third son, Daeron, who was sent to Oldtown rather than be raised in the Red Keep like his brothers and sister, Aegon, Aemond and Heleana.

Played by: Luke Tittensor (Shameless, Madame Bovary)

A renowned knight and member of the Kingsguard, and twin brother to Erryk Cargyll. He remained in his position defending Aegon in the Kingsguard out of obligation to his sworn oath, even though he told Erryk he doubts Aegon’s ability to be King.

Not trusted by Ser Criston Cole, who took his anger out on him, Arryk was sent on a suicide mission to infiltrate Dragonstone by pretending to be his brother, and kill Queen Rhaenyra.

However, he ended up in a one-to-one fight with Ser Erryk, dying by his brother’s sword after getting to the Queen’s chambers.