Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10, "The Black Queen," and the book Fire & Blood.House Stark is officially coming in House of the Dragon season 2, with Jacaerys Velaryon heading to Winterfell to meet with Lord Cregan Stark. House of the Dragon has been a, well, stark contrast to Game of Thrones when it comes to the North’s ruling family. Whereas Game of Thrones predominantly centered around the fates and (often ill-) fortunes of the Starks, they’ve been missing almost entirely from the prequel, save for a brief appearance from Lord Rickon Stark in episode 1. Decades on from that, and House Stark is ready to have a bigger impact on things.
As set up in the House of the Dragon season 1 finale, Jacaerys is heading to Winterfell to meet with Lord Cregan Stark. Cregan is the current Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, having replaced his father, Rickon, who died around 121 AC. To get there, Cregan had to imprison his uncle, Bernard, who had ruled while Cregan was young and refused to give it up, but by House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10's timeline, he is firmly established. House Stark has been missing from the drama of King’s Landing for some time, but with the family sworn to Rhaenyra, that is about to change and Cregan Stark will become much more important.
How Cregan Stark Is Related To Game Of Thrones’ Starks
House Stark may be coming into play, but it’s still a long way off Game of Thrones’ Starks. House of the Dragon’s timeline is currently in the early-130s, and Ned Stark isn’t born until 263 AC, with the events of Game of Thrones then another 35-40 years or so later. Cregan Stark is Ned’s great-great-great-great grandfather, with the lineage in Game of Thrones descended from Cregan and his third wife, Lynara.
How Old Is Cregan Stark?
Rhaenyra mentions that Cregan Stark is closer to Jace’s age than hers, which is surprising but does just about hold true. Going by the book timeline, Rhaenyra was born in 97 AC, Cregan in 108 AC, and Jace in 114 AC. House of the Dragon’s timeline has changed up some events and delayed others, pushing it a little further on, but it’s roughly around 133 AC when episode 10 takes place. Cregan is 25-years-old in House of the Dragon season 1’s finale, likely at the very oldest (but may be aged down), with Jace seemingly in his late teens and Rhaenyra in her mid-30s.
How Powerful Is Cregan Stark?
As Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, Cregan Stark commands a great deal of power, ruling over Westeros’ largest kingdom with a great many houses at his disposal, and strong allies throughout. Because of that, he’s capable of amassing a great army to march south during the war, while also holding a strong political standing and a lot of respect. He was considered incredibly formidable, and also among the greatest swordsmen in Westeros, as claimed by Aemon the Dragonknight (a legendary knight of the Kingsguard, said to be the noblest in history). Basically, Cregan is a serious power boost for whichever side he joins.
Does Cregan Support Rhaenyra? His & Jace’s Pact of Ice & Fire
Cregan Stark will support Rhaenyra in the Dance of the Dragons. Ultimately, the North remembers and the Starks in particular are known for honor, so it would be a major surprise if Cregan were to go against the oath sworn by his father. Still, his support doesn’t come without any cost, as he and Jace, as well as making firm friends, make what’s known as the Pact of Ice and Fire. In return for the North’s support, Jacaerys agrees to marry his firstborn daughter (on the assumption he has one) to Cregan’s eldest son, Rickon.
The more scandalous Testimony of Mushroom, however, claims Jace himself married Cregan’s bastard sister, Sara Snow, being forced to do so after sleeping with her (it’s unlikely this is true, of course, but House of the Dragon may well decide otherwise). Unfortunately, the Pact was never fully paid off, with Jace dying in battle during the civil war, but House Stark nonetheless remains committed to the blacks and, later, Rhaenyra’s eldest remaining son, who eventually becomes King Aegon III.
Cregan Stark’s Role In House Of The Dragon’s Future
With the support of the North secured, the most immediate impact will be the presence of the Winter Wolves, an army of two thousand older, grizzled Northmen who march south to fight for Rhaenyra. The Winter Wolves will be involved in several key battles in House of the Dragon’s future, including the Butcher’s Ball, where Criston Cole will die amidst a slaughter of the greens. They’ll also fight in the First Battle of Tumbleton, which will strike a decisive blow against House Hightower by killing the Lord, Ormund, before the Wolves are eventually killed after being betrayed by other members of the blacks faction.
Cregan Stark’s biggest role won’t be in House of the Dragon season 2, but towards the very end of the Dance of the Dragons. After Rhaenyra has been forced to flee King’s Landing (only months after reclaiming it), Cregan marches an army on the city, but arrived too late and after not only Rhaenyra had died, but that King Aegon II had been poisoned by his own supporters after refusing to surrender in such a losing cause. Nonetheless, Cregan will set about cleaning up some of the mess left behind from the Dance of the Dragons, including installing Aegon the Younger upon the Iron Throne.
He takes control of the city, governing for six days (known as the Hour of the Wolf) and even serving as Hand of the King for Aegon III for a day. He has several traitors sent to the Wall, and beheads Larys Strong for his part in Aegon II’s death (with Larys among those greens who turned against the King at the end). After that, though, Cregan heads back to the North and Winterfell, not wanting to stay in King’s Landing. Essentially, Cregan does what Ned Stark wanted to: arrives, cleans up and restores order, and gets to go home.
House of the Dragon will return for season 2 on HBO (release date TBC).
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