Complete story — includes the ending
With both his sons dead, old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen convenes a Great Council to choose an heir. The Westerosi lords select Jaehaerys's eldest grandson, Prince Viserys, over Princess Rhaenys, the eldest grandchild. Nine years later, King Viserys organizes a tournament to celebrate Queen Aemma Arryn's pregnancy, confident she carries his long-awaited male heir. The Small Council disregards Master of Ships Lord Corlys Velaryon's warning that the Triarchy, an alliance of Essos's Free Cities, threatens to cripple Westerosi shipping lanes. Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, criticizes Viserys's brother and heir, Prince Daemon, for his brutality as the City Watch commander, in response to Daemon and his men dismembering and/or murdering seemingly random commonfolk. At the tournament, Ser Criston Cole, a young common-born knight, outcompetes Daemon. Meanwhile, Viserys sacrifices Aemma in childbirth, authorizing a C-section. Their newborn son, Baelon, then dies. Viserys refuses the council's pleas to appoint a new heir until Otto reveals that Daemon mockingly styled Baelon as "The Heir for a Day." Outraged, Viserys banishes Daemon from King's Landing and appoints his only living child, Princess Rhaenyra, heir to the Iron Throne, revealing to her Aegon the Conqueror's dream that inspired him to unify Westeros.
Sources and content license
Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, House of the Dragon season 1. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license