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A Song of Ice and Fire is filled with countless stories of magical creatures, mysteries, and bizarre beliefs. The complex lore of this world uplifts these myths and superstitions to the point where they often spark a debate, and one of the most talked-about mysteries is that of the Curse of Harrenhal.
During the events of bothGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragon, many characters believed this massive castle in the Riverlands was haunted by the ghost of the king who once built it. But the reality of this superstition has deeper roots in the lore than just a ghost, as far too many tragedies are associated with this castle. The people of Westeros believe the castle is truly cursed as every house that ever ruled over it have been victims of unexplainable events.
The Curse Of Harrenhal In House Of The Dragon
House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 3saw the first military action of the Dance of the Dragons, ever since thebloody conflict between the Blacks and the Greensstarted. During this episode, Daemon Targaryen, riding on the back of his dragon, Caraxes,attempts to secure Harrenhaland bring as many swords as possible under Queen Rhaenyra’s banner.
Frightened by what may come,Sir Simon Strong bends the kneeand surrenders the fortress to Daemon Targaryenwithout resistance. However, during his stay at Harrenhal,Daemon has some vivid dreamsthat represent his regrets and fears in different ways. This supernatural aspect of the show is slightly different tohow the curse is described in the books. He’s even told by a mysterious woman,later revealed to be Alys Rivers, of how Daemon will die here, at Gods Eye.
This, however, is not the first time that House of the Dragon hints at the curse of Harrenhal.During season one, Lord of House Strong, Lyonel Strong, and his elder son, Ser Harwin Strong,were killed by a mysterious fireorchestrated by Larys Strong at the castle, but thatunexplainable event only fueled superstitions.
Who Built The Castle Of Harrenhal?
Built on the shores of God’s Eye Lake,Harrenhal was the largest castle in Westeros. Many different houses in three hundred years have ruled over Harrenhal since it wasfirst constructed by House Hoare, a family from the Iron Islands who conquered two kingdoms, the Iron Islands and the Riverlands, granting the head of their house the title ‘King of the Isles and Rivers’, a couple of generationsbefore Aegon’s conquest of Westeros.
During this time, every kingdom had its own king, so when the cruel and violent man named Harren Hoare, also known as Harren the Black came to rule over House Hoare, he decided his house should have the grandest and most excessively large castle in all of Westeros and named it after himself.
Why Is Harrenhal Cursed In House Of The Dragon?
House Hoare selected the finest location they could find, on the shores of the fertile land of God’s Eye, to build Harrenhal, hoping it would make them wealthy. This monstrous castle took around forty years to build and minutes to destroy. The day Aegon Targaryen and his sisters arrived in Westeros, Aegon had his dreadful dragon, Balerion the Black Dread,burn the castle and kill Harrenwith his family alive when they refused to bend the knee to House Targaryen.
Instead of fighting for their king,his bannermen in the Riverlands abandoned Harrenand sided with Aegon, as they had no love for their cruel king. Since then,no house has ever controlled this fortress long enough, making everyone believe that the ghosts of Harren and his sons who died here walk these halls at night and whoever meets themeventually burns to death.
