How 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Proves Daenerys' Plan To Retake Westeros Was Never Going To Go As Well As She Thought

Nearly seven years after it aired, the eighth and final season of the phenomenon that was Game of Thrones is still remembered for one of the most divisive TV series endings of all time. Much of the controversy stems from fans believing the ending was too rushed, particularly the scenes in which Queen Daenerys Targaryen, seemingly depicted as a hero for most of the series, succumbs to Targaryen madness and burns many of the innocent commoners of King's Landing in her bid to seize the Iron Throne.

However, even if Daenerys hadn't gone mad, her initial plans to more peacefully retake the Seven Kingdoms wouldn't have gone as smoothly as she may have hoped. A few clues from the series most recent prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, offers some reasons as to why.

Many still saw the Targaryens as conquerors

At the time A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place, the Targaryen Dynasty has ruled for centuries, and will do for close to one more. Despite their long rule, it seems many of Westeros's noble houses have not forgotten, nor forgiven how House Targaryen came to power in the first place.

During a conversation in the latter part of episode three, then-squire Raymun Fossaway rants to his new friend, Ser Duncan the Tall, that the Targaryens are bloodthirsty conquerors who burned the land and enslaved the people of Westeros. He's not exactly wrong.

The first Targaryen King, Aegon I, also known as Aegon the Conqueror and Aegon the Dragon, claimed each of the Seven Kingdoms via a brutal hostile takeover, aided by his Sister-Wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, and their dragons, Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes. While Aegon was fair to those former rulers who bent the knee without fuss, any who attempted to fight back were burned. The worst such case was a battle known as the Field of Fire, in which all three dragons took to the sky to wipe out most of those remaining in opposition of Aegon's rule.

The fact that Aegon mostly undertook his conquest due to a vision that his bloodline being in power would save the realm in the future would be little comfort to all those who died, or the families left behind. So, although some individual Targaryens, such as King Jaehaerys the wise, or poor old Prince Baelor, earned the respect of the people, the manner in which they rose to power remained an eternal black mark over House Targaryen as a whole. They remained in power because they were feared, not because they were loved.

The Targaryens were an affront to the Gods

Apart from the people of the North, the majority of whom follow the Old Gods, and the Ironborn who worship the Drowned God, most of Westeros follow the Faith of the Seven. Incest is generally frowned upon by this belief system, so House Targaryen's penchant for incestuous marriage, mostly done to maintain the purity of their Valyrian blood, caused some major conflict between the Faith and the Crown during the first few generations of Targaryen rule.

Eventually, the Faith grudgingly accepted sibling marriages within House Targaryen, mostly due to fear of their dragons rather than actual approval. Incestuous relationships still remained deeply taboo in other families, most of whom quietly disapproved of Targaryen incest. It should also be noted that by the time of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, other noble houses whispered that their incestuous bloodline was to blame for the madness that emerged in some members of the House. This genetic madness only worsened over the years, eventually leading to the reign of Aerys II, better known as the Mad King, and the events of Robert's Rebellion.

How did Daenerys get things wrong?

Over the course of Game of Thrones Daenerys refers to Robert Baratheon only as the Usurper, and builds up a belief that the people of Westeros eagerly await her return and will be pleased to see her reclaim the Iron Throne. Some fans blame this on Dany's inflating ego, or an early sign of her madness.

However, looking back to the first season, we must remember that Daenerys grew up hearing her brother, Viserys, repeatedly being told that people throughout the Seven Kingdoms secretly drink to his health as the rightful King, longing for the day he returns to the Throne. We, as viewers, never see evidence supporting this, but nor does Daenerys have reason to doubt it.

We must also look to one of Dany's main advisors, Ser Barristan Selmy, a former Kingsguard who defects to Daenerys's service after being forcibly retired by Cersei Lannister. Ser Barristan owes much of his position in life to House Targaryen. Prince Duncan Targaryen blessed the young Barristan with the nickname of Barristan the Bold that he carried proudly for most of his life, and at age sixteen, he was Knighted by Duncan's Father, King Aegon V (known in childhood as Egg). As an adult, Barristan was genuinely fond of Dany's older brother, Prince Rhaegar.

When Daenerys is told of others experiences with Targaryens, she hears mostly good things, so, right or wrong, it makes sense that she would expect good things for herself. Unfortunately, Daenerys's overly optimistic expectations on how the Seven Kingdoms viewed House Targaryen may have played a role in the tragedy that eventually unfolded.