Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6, and the book Fire & Blood.It's almost certain that Harwin Strong is the father of Rhaenyra Targaryen's children, and even after his death it will mean there'll be some impact upon House of the Dragon's story. The true parentage of Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) three children is central to House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6, which sees both Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) call into question whether they are actually the sons of an affair between Rhaenyra and Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr) rather than Laenor Velaryon's (John Macmillan) trueborn children. This follows a similar pattern to George R.R. Martin's book Fire & Blood, where such rumors are mentioned several times; the difference is how much further House of the Dragon takes them.
Rather than just rumors, House of the Dragon all but confirms that Jacaerys (aka Jace), Lucerys (aka Luke), and Joffrey Velaryon were all fathered by Harwin. It doesn't outright say it, but it doesn't need it: it's a clear unspoken truth between Rhaenyra, Harwin, and Laenor; even when one of Rhaenyra's children asks if he is a bastard and Harwin is his real dad, the Princess cannot bring herself to deny it and lie to him. Of course, the wrinkle in this is that Harwin dies in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6, removing a key figure in the parentage rumors, but crucially that won't be enough to kill them. Though it doesn't directly affect the fates of Rhaenyra's children, having their lineage questioned will factor into their relationships and rivalries with Alicent's own kids, as well as who takes what side in the Dance of the Dragons.
How Much Harwin Strong Being The Father Of Rhaenyra's Children Really Matters
Harwin, not Laenor, being the father of Rhaenyra's children will have an impact upon the Dance of the Dragons, although the civil war would still have happened regardless. Jace, Luke, and Joffrey will be called "Strong boys" on occasion by Alicent's children, in particular Aemond. Indeed, a key event in the prelude to the Dance will be a fight that breaks out between Aemond and Rhaenyra's children, which results in him losing an eye. House of the Dragon's trailers have shown Aemond with an eye patch, confirming this happens in the show, and also revealing Alicent's reaction. She demands one of Luke's eyes be removed in return, and trailers showed her angrily storming into the throne room wielding a knife (the Catspaw dagger that once belonged to Aegon the Conqueror, no less), seemingly ready to do it herself.
This will continue Alicent's descent into villainy, and while the bond between her and Rhaenyra has already broken, this will deepen the wounds considerably, ensuring Alicent's side, at least, will go to almost any length in order to get revenge. For his part, Viserys will continue to staunchly defend his daughter's honor and deny rumors that her children are not Laenor's, as seen in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6. To that end, Viserys will go very far to protect Rhaenyra, even having the tongues cut out of the mouths of those people who dare to directly speak it (though this is not a punishment he will enact against his wife or sons, of course).
Still, the problems will continue after King Viserys' death, as many will believe the "rumors" that Harwin is the father of Rhaenyra's children, and refuse to support the Princess on the basis her bastard kids would inherit the Iron Throne (an opinion voiced by Criston Cole at the green council following Viserys' passing). The parentage further weakens Rhaenyra's position, with some already against her because she's a woman, and now she also has apparent bastards; a bastard King would be, to many, the only insult worse than a woman King.
What Happens To Rhaenyra Targaryen & Harwin Strong's Children
The future of Rhaenyra and Harwin's children is, inevitably, not a happy one. Alicent and her supporters do not want Rhaenyra to claim the Iron Throne, and certainly don't want her bastard child following her. Though Rhaenyra does briefly take King's Landing, none of her and Harwin's children will become King nor survive the Dance of the Dragons. Lucerys is the first to die, killed in a dragon fight with Aemond near Storm's End, an event that really helps kick off the civil war. Jacaerys will die at the Battle of the Gullet, a fight that comes much later in the Dance of the Dragons that sees Jace and Corlys Velaryon leading their side into battle against the Triarchy, who are allied with Aegon's "greens" faction by this point.
Finally, Joffrey will die after Rhaenyra has taken King's Landing; he will attempt to ride her dragon, Syrax, and be shot down and fall to his death by followers of the Shepherd, a man who led an uprising in the city against Queen Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra will also have three other children, this time with Daemon Targaryen: Aegon, who will become King Aegon III; Viserys, who will become Hand of the King to his brother; and Visenya, who is stillborn. It's notable that, while Rhaenyra and Harwin's children do not prosper nor even survive, her pure Targaryen kids do, further showing that their heritage will matter in some big ways.
House of the Dragon releases new episodes Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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