House Of The Dragon: Who Is Brynden Rivers?

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• Who Is Brynden Rivers?

• Is Brynden Rivers The Three-Eyed Raven In House Of The Dragon?

The season two finale of House of the Dragon left viewers with more questions than answers, like what exactly Daemon saw in his visions or how Helaena was there as well. One of the characters we see in the visions is Brynden Rivers, and though he wasn’t named, you could clearly see he was a Targaryen and was curiously embedded into a tree just like the Three-Eyed Raven.

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Though it was never confirmed before, these visions finally give us some closure on lore-related questions about Game of Thrones as well. But who exactly is Brynden Rivers, and why is everything supposedly being built up to him?

Who Is Brynden Rivers?

Brynden Rivers is known by the name Bloodraven, and he is a key figure in the history of Westeros. He was one of the many illegitimate children of King Aegon IV Targaryen, but unlike his bastard siblings, he was raised in the royal court. This gave him an education and understanding of politics that few could match and made him one of the great bastards of Aegon IV.

Brynden was a skilled warrior with a remarkable archery aim, qualities that served him well during the Blackfyre Rebellions. He led the charge against the rebels, earning a reputation as a ruthless Targaryen loyalist. He later served as the Hand of the King, advising multiple rulers for a time.

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Years after the Blackfyre rebellions, a great council was called to decide on a new king after the death of Maekar I Targaryen, and after promising Lord Aenys Blackfyre safe conduct through Kingslanding to join the great council, he wentback on his word and beheaded him.

After King Aegon V ascended to the throne, he ordered Bloodraven to join the Night’s Watch for breaking his promise. He eventually rose to become Lord Commander and on one of his trips beyond the wall, in the frozen wilderness, he never came back. We get the answer why in Game of Thrones.

Is Brynden Rivers The Three-Eyed Raven In House Of The Dragon?

In the books and in Game of Thrones, on one of his journeys beyond the wall, Brynden embeds himself into a weirdwood tree and becomes the Three-Eyed Raven. As the Three-Eyed Raven, Brynden became a powerful greenseer, able to see through the eyes of weirwood trees and witness events across time. He played a crucial role in guiding Bran Stark, helping him understand his destiny, eventually passing on the powers to him.

I have my own ghosts, Bran. A brother that I loved, a brother that I hated, a woman I desired. Through the trees, I see them still, but no word of mine has ever reached them. The past remains the past. We can learn from it, but we cannot change it.

Though his physical body was withered and frail, the Three-Eyed Raven's mind was a weapon. He lived for centuries, patiently waiting for the one who could take up his mantle and continue his fight against the Night King. He knew that the fate of Westeros depended on Bran Stark, on his ability to use his powers to protect the realm from the long night.

In the end, the Three-Eyed Raven sacrificed himself so that Bran could escape the Night King's grasp. Though he lived for centuries, Brynden Rivers witnessed most of history before dying, making him one of the most powerful characters in lore.

It was great to see a sneak peek of him in Daemon’s visions thanks to the cursed fortress of Harrenhal, and there’s more to come in the future with the Dunk and Egg TV show in the works.

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