Every Betrayal Rhaenyra Is Yet to Face in House of the Dragon, Ranked by Brutality

Rhaenyra Targaryen’s path to the Iron Throne in House of the Dragon is far from straightforward. It is paved with changing loyalties, broken oaths, and devastating betrayals. Some of these cut quietly and politically, while others erupt in fire, blood, and mass destruction.

From dragonseeds turning cloak to the horrors of King’s Landing’s downfall, each act of treachery carries its own kind of cruelty. It’s Westeros, after all. Here are the major betrayals Rhaenyra is still set to endure in the series, based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, ordered by their sheer brutality.

5 Lord Corlys Velaryon Warns His Son Addam Velaryon to Flee

After the dragonseeds Hugh Hammer and Ulf White betrayed the Blacks, Rhaenyra grew increasingly paranoid and declared Addam of Hull, another dragonseed, to be a traitor. Lord Corlys Velaryon, Addam’s father, secretly warned him in time, allowing his son to flee on Seasmoke before he could be arrested. Corlys’ intervention led to his imprisonment, which ultimately resulted in the Velaryon fleet, Rhaenyra’s most powerful naval force, abandoning her entirely.

Rhaenyra’s paranoia leads her to make decisions that hurt her own side more than her enemies. Instead of strengthening her position, she ended up pushing loyal allies away. It’s heartbreaking because Addam proved to be loyal to the end, even sacrificing his own life for Rhaenyra’s cause.

Corlys is in a complicated situation here, so his betrayal isn’t really unjustified. It ranks low in the list because it was not a physically destructive and violent betrayal, but more of a personal and political decision on the part of the Lord of the Tides.

4 Smallfolk’s Uprising Against Rhaenyra—King Maegor With Teats

The Smallfolk’s revolt against Rhaenyra, which earns her the nickname “King Maegor with Teats,” is driven largely by the worsening conditions in King’s Landing during her short rule. Heavy war taxation, food shortages, and instability pushed the common people to the breaking point. As Rhaenyra’s regime struggles to maintain order, the smallfolk begin to see her not as a rightful queen, but as another tyrant draining their lives for the war.

The resentment quickly turns into open hostility, with riots and unrest spreading through the city. Her nickname captures how completely the public has turned against her, comparing her to the infamous King Maegor the Cruel. Even though Rhaenyra believes she is acting to secure her claim, the smallfolk experience her rule as harsh and exploitative.

There had been violent riots during the uprising of the smallfolk, but this one in particular—where they declare their open hatred and rejection of the queen—isn’t as brutal as that of the unrest that followed. We’re placing this at the lower tier since it only involved name-calling and display of hostility in a non-violent way.

3 Hugh Hammer and Ulf White Turn Against the Blacks

Hugh Hammer and Ulf White’s betrayal is one of the most damaging turns in the Dance of the Dragons. Once raised from obscurity and given dragons by Rhaenyra, they quickly abandon the Blacks in favor of Aegon II.

Their defection is especially brutal because it turns Rhaenyra’s own weapons—dragons—against her forces. What was meant to strengthen her claim instead makes the war more chaotic and uncontrollable.

We’re placing this in the mid-tier since the consequences are massive. It involved intense battlefield destruction and heavy casualties after Silverwing and Vermithor burned the market town of Tumbleton. What hurts the most is when Archmaester Gyldayn said that no one knew what drove the Two Betrayers to do what they did.

2 Ser Alfred Broome Delivers Rhaenyra to Aegon II on Dragonstone

Once a sworn supporter of her cause, Ser Alfred Broome secretly turns on Rhaenyra during her time of weakness on Dragonstone. Instead of defending her, he helps arrange her capture and delivers her into the hands of Aegon II’s forces.

This act directly seals Rhaenyra’s downfall and ends her short-lived rule in a very personal and humiliating way. The queen was executed and fed to Sunfyre, with her son witnessing the whole tragedy.

It ranks high in the tier because her death is not quick or merciful—it is violent, painful, and meant to break any remaining symbol of her claim. Even more than a battlefield loss, it is a personal and symbolic execution that marks the absolute end of her reign.

1 Storming of the Dragonpit: Smallfolk’s Fury After Helaena’s Death

The Storming of the Dragonpit marks King’s Landing’s complete turning against Rhaenyra’s rule. After Helaena’s suicide, who was deeply beloved by the smallfolk, a massive riot breaks out in the city. Many in the crowd believe the rumor that Helaena was killed on Rhaenyra’s orders, and the ease with which this story is accepted shows how far public opinion has already shifted against her.

The unrest quickly escalates into the storming of the Dragonpit, where the smallfolk unleash their fury on the dragons, mercilessly killing five beasts in a day. Rhaenyra’s son, Joffrey Velaryon, also died in the process.

The riot alone is a massive display of betrayal, but what makes this extremely brutal and deserving of the top spot is the sheer number of destruction and casualties. Several dragons were killed, and thousands of smallfolk perished in the skirmish. The loss of another son is also a devastating blow for Rhaenyra.

Who Betrayed Rhaenyra	Description
Lord Corlys Velaryon	Warned Addam Velaryon to flee before he could be arrested
Smallfolk	People called Rhaenyra “King Maegor with Teats”
Hugh Hammer and Ulf White	Turned on the Blacks and burned down Tumbleton
Ser Alfred Broome	Delivered Rhaenyra to Aegon II
People of King’s Landing	Killed five dragons after learning Helaena’s death

Which of these events are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max.