Where ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Sits on the ‘Game of Thrones’ Timeline

As a sequel to House of the Dragon and a prequel to Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms provides much-needed information about what happens between the two series. While House of the Dragon details the power struggle within the House of Targaryen as they sit atop the Iron Throne, Game of Thrones focuses on what happens after the Targaryens have already lost that position. At the same time, the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a more playful vision of George R. R. Martin’s world, which makes it seem further removed from the other series.

The vast universe created by George R. R. Martin can be confusing. It’s full of people, places, names, and relationships that are often difficult to track. To understand how Martin’s works fit together, it’s crucial to get a look at the bigger picture. Here is what you need to know about the timeline for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is set for a January 18, 2026, release.

‘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:

“A century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.”

This places A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms at the start of the second century AC. Game of Thrones begins in 298 AC, or 298 years after Aegon I Targaryen conquered Westeros.

When A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms begins, Targaryens still rule, with King Aerys I Targaryen as the 13th in line to do so. Aerys becomes king in 209 AC after the deaths of his father, Daeron II, and grandfather, Aegon IV Targaryen. After Aerys dies in 221 AC, he’s followed by Maekar I, the predecessor of King Aegon V Targaryen, also known as Egg.

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Is Three Tales in One

a knight of the seven kingdoms hbo — Ser Duncan the Tall in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’

There is no book by Martin called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Rather, the story it tells comes from three individual novellas. Part of a dozen Martin has planned, these novellas are The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight.

The Hedge Knight introduces audiences to Duncan (Played by Peter Claffey), better known as Dunk. Dunk is a squire who assumed the role of a knight after the death of his patron, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. Dunk meets up with Egg (played by Dexter Sol Ansell), a young man whom he makes his squire. Through a sequence of events, Egg reveals to Dunk that he’s a member of the House of Targaryen named Aegon.

The first season, consisting of six episodes, is expected to focus primarily on the first tale, ‘The Hedge Knight.’ HBO has already renewed the series for a second season, which will likely adapt the remaining novellas. The second and third novellas follow Dunk and Egg as they enter the service of leading households, take part in uprisings, and make numerous enemies, which will likely inspire subsequent seasons. Egg maintains his anonymity for the most part, but his dedication to the House of Targaryen and its long history in Westeros is tested several times.

While the second and third tales are ready to go, writing the rest of the novellas is still on Martin’s to-do list, via NJ.com, “Before we reach the end of the published stories, I will need to find time to write all the other Dunk & Egg novellas that I have planned. There are… gulp… more of them than I had once thought.”

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Is Set Decades After ‘House of the Dragon’

The first season of House of the Dragon features a Westeros ruled by Targaryens. King Viserys I Targaryen loses his wife and his male heir, leaving his daughter, Rhaenyra, as the next in line for the throne. Viserys remarries and then has a son with his second wife, a boy named Aegon II.

Supporters of Aegon II and loyalists to Rhaenyra plunge Westeros into civil war. Dubbed the Dance of the Dragons, this contest for royal succession ultimately finds Aegon III in power. In the years leading up to Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Westeros has had numerous leaders in the House of Targaryen, although it has not been a peaceful path. Aegon IV followed King Aegon III, and it is only later that Aegon V, who viewers will come to know as Egg, takes the throne. This happens in 233 AC.

Set decades after the events of House of the Dragon’s first season, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will give fans a fresh look at Westeros during a more peaceful period of Targaryen rule. Moreover, with the third season of House of the Dragon set for the summer of 2026, the two series will offer different glimpses into the world created by George RR Martin.

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’

House of the Dragon, the first prequel to Game of Thrones, was planned early in the production of that enterprise. When Ryan Condal was approached to be the showrunner for House of the Dragon, he initially had other ideas about a spin-off. Condal told IndieWire that he thought Knight of the Seven Kingdoms “would fly because it was a great counterpoint to Game of Thrones.” HBO didn’t agree then, but has since changed its mind.

Martin seems happy about the decision as well. On his blog and per ScreenRant, Martin expressed support for the initial casting decisions:

“Peter Claffey will play Dunk. He’s a former professional rugby player turned actor. And he’s tall. Ok, maybe not quite as tall as Ser Duncan the Tall, but still plenty tall, and with the magic of television … His readings were terrific. I think you’re going to love him. As Egg, we’ve cast Dexter Sol Ansell. Most recently seen in the HUNGER GAMES prequel, but he’s got an amazing amount of experience for his age. I am told he cannot wait to shave his head. (Love that sort of commitment). His auditions were wonderful as well. Peter and Dexter. They should make one hell of a pair.”