How A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Fits Into Westeros History
Discover where A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms lands on the Game of Thrones timeline, set in a rare era of calm with the Targaryens still ruling but dragons long gone. Find out what makes this period unique in Westeros lore.
Set in a unique chapter of Westeros history, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms unfolds during a lull between two of the most turbulent eras fans know well. The story takes place after the events of House of the Dragon and long before the chaos of Game of Thrones, offering a fresh look at a world still under Targaryen rule but without the fire-breathing creatures that once defined their dynasty.
Timeline Placement in the Game of Thrones Universe
The timeline of Westeros is measured from Aegon Targaryen’s conquest, known as AC. House of the Dragon covers the years 101 to 131 AC, focusing on the infamous Targaryen civil war called the Dance of the Dragons. Fast forward nearly eighty years, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set in 209 AC. This places it almost a century after the last dragon perished and decades before the events that kick off Game of Thrones, which span from 298 to 305 AC.
During this period, the Targaryens still sit on the Iron Throne. Their reign, however, is no longer marked by the awe and terror of living dragons. The last of these legendary beasts died in 153 AC, leaving the royal family without their most powerful symbol. By the time Dunk and Egg’s adventures begin, dragons are little more than a memory, and no Targaryen alive has ever ridden one.
A Time of Unusual Calm in Westeros
Unlike the bloody conflicts that bookend this era, the setting for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is relatively peaceful. The kingdom is still recovering from the scars of the Dance of the Dragons, but the threat of civil war has faded. The Targaryens’ grip on power remains firm, and the realm enjoys a rare stretch of stability. This calm provides the perfect backdrop for the more personal, character-driven stories of Dunk and Egg, whose journey is set against a quieter, yet still complex, political landscape.
It’s important to note that this peace won’t last forever. Seventy-two years after the events of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Robert Baratheon will lead a rebellion that topples the Targaryen dynasty. But for now, the realm is as tranquil as it ever gets, with the shadow of dragons lingering only in legend.
The Future of Dunk and Egg’s Story
Looking ahead, the showrunner Ira Parker has revealed that George R.R. Martin has provided outlines for as many as 10 to 12 novellas chronicling the rest of Dunk and Egg’s lives. This means the series could eventually explore even more of Westeros’s history, moving the timeline forward and delving deeper into the duo’s adventures as the world around them slowly changes.
While dragons will eventually return to the continent with Daenerys Targaryen’s hatchlings in 299 AC, the era of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms stands apart as a time when legends have faded, and new heroes quietly shape the future of the realm.