Quick answer: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set in 209 AC (After Aegon’s Conquest). That is about 80 years after House of the Dragon, whose civil war ends in 131 AC, and about 90 years before Game of Thrones, which begins in 298 AC. By Dunk and Egg’s time the Targaryens still rule, but the last dragon has been dead for more than 50 years.
The HBO series, based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, sits in a quieter stretch of history between the two big shows. Here is the full timeline, the events that shaped Dunk and Egg’s world, and how the three series connect.
The Westeros Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Event | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 AC | Aegon the Conqueror unites six of the Seven Kingdoms | Background to all three shows |
| 101 AC | The Great Council chooses Viserys’s line | House of the Dragon opening |
| 129–131 AC | The Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war | House of the Dragon |
| 153 AC | The last Targaryen dragon dies | Mentioned in later stories |
| 187 AC | Dorne joins the realm through marriage | Background |
| 196 AC | The First Blackfyre Rebellion and the Battle of the Redgrass Field | Recent history in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms |
| 209 AC | The tourney at Ashford: The Hedge Knight | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 |
| c. 211 AC | The Sworn Sword | Expected Season 2 |
| c. 212 AC | The Mystery Knight | Future seasons |
| 233 AC | Egg is crowned as King Aegon V | After the novellas |
| 259 AC | The Tragedy at Summerhall | Hinted at in Season 1 |
| 282–283 AC | Robert’s Rebellion ends Targaryen rule | Backstory of Game of Thrones |
| 298 AC | Jon Arryn dies; Ned Stark goes south | Game of Thrones Season 1 |
What Westeros Looks Like in 209 AC
The world Dunk walks through is very different from the one in either of the other shows.
- No dragons. The Dance of the Dragons killed most of them, and the last one died in 153 AC. Targaryen power now rests on armies, alliances and the memory of fire, not on dragons themselves. Some Targaryens still keep dragon eggs, hoping they might hatch.
- A crowded royal family. King Daeron II is on the throne, with sons and grandsons everywhere, including the much-loved heir Prince Baelor Breakspear and his brother Prince Maekar, Egg’s father.
- A realm still healing. The Blackfyre Rebellion ended only 13 years earlier. Lords remember who fought for whom, and the exiled Blackfyres still have supporters across the Narrow Sea.
- Peace, mostly. There is no great war on, which is why tourneys like Ashford matter: they are where knights win money, fame and patrons.
Where Dunk and Egg Fit
Ser Duncan the Tall is a hedge knight — a knight with no lord, no land and often no money — who was squire to an old knight named Ser Arlan of Pennytree. Egg is a bald boy he meets on the road, who turns out to be Aegon Targaryen, Maekar’s youngest son, a reveal that comes in Episode 3.
The three published novellas follow them over roughly three years. Martin has said he plans more stories, following the pair for decades. Their story ends, eventually, at Summerhall in 259 AC, where King Aegon V and Ser Duncan, by then Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, both die in a fire.
How It Connects to House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon shows the Targaryens at their height and the war that broke them. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shows the long aftermath. The family is still on the throne, but without dragons it rules much more like any other royal house: through marriages, favors and the loyalty of great lords. If you want to see what the Dance cost the Targaryens, Dunk and Egg’s world is the answer.
There are smaller echoes too. Dragon eggs, Valyrian steel swords such as Blackfyre, and the old Targaryen habit of marrying within the family all carry over from one era to the next.
How It Connects to Game of Thrones
The links to Game of Thrones are closer than they first look, because only about 90 years separate the two.
- Maester Aemon, the blind old maester at Castle Black, is Egg’s older brother. In Game of Thrones he speaks fondly of “Egg” near the end of his life.
- Summerhall is where Rhaegar Targaryen was born, on the same night his great-grandfather Aegon V died.
- Bloodraven, the sorcerer and spymaster of Dunk and Egg’s era, becomes the inspiration for the Three-Eyed Raven.
- The Golden Company, founded by Blackfyre exiles, turns up in the final season of Game of Thrones.
- Brienne’s white book. In Game of Thrones, Brienne finishes Jaime’s entry in the Kingsguard’s book, where Ser Duncan the Tall’s name also appears.
What Order Should You Watch Them In?
There is no wrong answer, but the two most common routes are:
- Release order: Game of Thrones, then House of the Dragon, then A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This is how most fans met the world, and the prequels’ references land harder.
- Chronological order: House of the Dragon (101–131 AC), then A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (209 AC), then Game of Thrones (298 AC). This lets you watch the Targaryens rise, lose their dragons and fall.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is also the easiest starting point for newcomers. It is short, self-contained and needs no prior knowledge.
Where to Watch
All three series are HBO originals and stream on HBO Max in the US. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 has six episodes; it premiered January 18, 2026, and ended February 22, 2026. HBO has renewed it for a second season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms set?
In 209 AC, about 90 years before Game of Thrones.
How many years after House of the Dragon is it?
About 80 years after the Dance of the Dragons ends in 131 AC, and over 100 years after House of the Dragon begins.
Are there dragons in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
No. The last Targaryen dragon died in 153 AC, more than 50 years before the series begins.
Who is Egg in Game of Thrones history?
The future King Aegon V Targaryen, younger brother of Maester Aemon and great-grandfather of Rhaegar Targaryen.
Do I need to watch Game of Thrones first?
No. The series stands on its own, though Game of Thrones fans will catch more references.
What books is the show based on?
George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas, collected as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Season 1 adapts The Hedge Knight.
What happens to Dunk and Egg?
Egg becomes king in 233 AC. Both he and Dunk die in the fire at Summerhall in 259 AC.
Where can I watch it?
On HBO Max in the US, alongside Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.