Following House of the Dragon and preceding Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fills in the gaps between those two stories. House of the Dragon explores the Targaryen family’s fight for power while they rule, and Game of Thrones shows what happens after they’ve lost control. In contrast, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a lighter, more adventurous take on George R.R. Martin’s world, making it feel distinct from the other shows.
George R.R. Martin’s world is incredibly detailed and can be hard to follow, with many characters, locations, and complex connections. To fully appreciate his stories, it helps to have a good understanding of the overall history. Here’s a breakdown of the timeline for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, coming out on January 18, 2026.
‘Game of Thrones’ Is About a Century After ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
HBO
When the show was announced, HBO offered a glimpse into Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:
About a hundred years before the story of ‘Game of Thrones’ begins, Westeros was home to an unusual pair: Ser Duncan the Tall, a brave but inexperienced knight, and his small squire, Egg. During a time when the Targaryen family still ruled and people still remembered dragons, these two unlikely friends faced great challenges, powerful enemies, and thrilling adventures.
This sets the story of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms around the beginning of the second century after Aegon’s Conquest. Game of Thrones then starts in 298 AC, which is 298 years after Aegon I Targaryen first took control of Westeros.
The story of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms starts during the reign of the Targaryen dynasty, with King Aerys I being the thirteenth Targaryen ruler. Aerys took the throne in 209 AC after the passing of his father, Daeron II, and grandfather, Aegon IV. When Aerys died in 221 AC, he was succeeded by Maekar I, who then passed the crown to King Aegon V Targaryen, often called Egg.
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Is Three Tales in One
Steffan Hill/HBO
George R.R. Martin didn’t write a novel called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Instead, that story is told through three separate novellas: The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight. These novellas are part of a larger series of twelve that Martin originally planned.
In The Hedge Knight, we meet Duncan (Peter Claffey), nicknamed Dunk, a young man who unexpectedly becomes a knight after his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, passes away. Dunk then takes on his own squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). As they travel together, Dunk discovers that Egg is actually Aegon, a member of the Targaryen family.
I’m so excited for the ‘Dunk & Egg’ series! The first season will have six episodes and cover ‘The Hedge Knight,’ which is a fantastic story. The great news is HBO has already greenlit a second season, and it sounds like they’ll be adapting the rest of the novellas. These stories follow Dunk and Egg as they work for different noble families, get caught up in rebellions, and make a lot of enemies – plenty of material for future seasons, I think! Egg mostly keeps his true identity a secret, but we’ll see his loyalty to the Targaryens and their history in Westeros really put to the test, which I can’t wait to see.
As a longtime fan, I’m excited about the next two Dunk & Egg stories, but George R.R. Martin recently shared with NJ.com that he’s still got quite a bit of writing ahead of him! Apparently, the scope of this series has grown – he admits there are more novellas planned than he originally anticipated. It’s good news for fans like me, but a little daunting to think about how much work is still on his plate before we get the complete collection!
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Is Set Decades After ‘House of the Dragon’
HBO
The first season of House of the Dragon takes place in Westeros, where the Targaryen family holds power. When King Viserys I Targaryen loses both his wife and his son, he names his daughter, Rhaenyra, as his heir. Later, Viserys remarries and has a son named Aegon II with his new wife.
A brutal civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, erupts in Westeros as supporters fight for either Aegon II or Rhaenyra to become the next ruler. Eventually, Aegon III rises to power. The years before the events of Knight of the Seven Kingdoms see several Targaryen kings and queens, but the journey to the throne is far from peaceful. After Aegon III, Aegon IV reigns, and later, Aegon V – who audiences will know as Egg – becomes king in 233 AC.
Taking place decades after the first season of House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will show viewers a calmer time in Westeros under Targaryen rule. With the third season of House of the Dragon planned for summer 2026, these two shows will each offer unique perspectives on the world George R.R. Martin created.
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Here is the complete timeline:
| Series Name | Release | In-Universe Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| House of the Dragon | 2022 | Begins in 129 AC (about 200 years before Game of Thrones), covers the Dance of the Dragons and the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen. |
| A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | 2026 | Begins around 209 AC, decades after House of the Dragon Season 1, during the early reigns of Aerys I and Maekar I Targaryen; ~100 years before Game of Thrones. |
| Game of Thrones | 2011 | Begins in 298 AC, after the Targaryens have lost the Iron Throne. |
Why You Should Be Excited for ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
Even before Game of Thrones ended, HBO was already planning a prequel, which became House of the Dragon. Originally, Ryan Condal, who became showrunner for House of the Dragon, envisioned a different spin-off – Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He believed this show would have been a good contrast to Game of Thrones, but HBO wasn’t convinced at the time. However, the network has since reconsidered and is now moving forward with Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Martin also appears pleased with the choice. He shared his approval of the original casting on his blog, as reported by ScreenRant.
We’ve cast Peter Claffey as Dunk! He’s a former rugby player who’s now an actor, and he’s very tall – though maybe not quite as tall as the character is described. Still, he’s perfect for the role, and we think you’ll love him. Playing Egg will be Dexter Sol Ansell, who you might recognize from the recent Hunger Games prequel. He’s incredibly experienced for his age and is eager to shave his head for the part – that’s the kind of dedication we appreciate! Both Peter and Dexter were fantastic in their auditions, and they’re going to make a great team.
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2026-01-05 02:50