Team Green vs. Team Black has been the most talked about topic on social media since Dragon House created. Alicent Hightower’s rampage against Rhaenyra Targaryen has made many hate her and some understand where she came from. But a crazy theory can change everything. If this turns out to be true then Queen Alicent will be a Targaryen herself, thanks to Saera Targaryen.
Theory: Saera Targaryen is Alice Hightower’s mother
Jaehaerys Targaryen
Saera Targaryen is the 9th child of King Jaehaerys Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen. In the show, Jaehaerys’ children, especially his daughters, are said to have caused him the most trouble, and this might reference Saera the most. She was a problem child who was sent to Oldtown to become a Septa (an order of priestly nuns) of the Faith of the Seven by the King and Queen.
That’s because she lost her virginity before her wedding and nearly stole a dragon to try to escape from Westeros when initially her parents had ordered her to be locked in her room. But she was never one to obey orders and so she escaped from the religious order, reached Lys, and became a woman of pleasure while still in the garb of a novice of the faith. . This caused a huge scandal in the court of King Jaehaerys and he declared that she had always been a whore.
The king also forbade the queen from going to Lys on dragonback to bring Saera back as this action could throw the kingdom into chaos. So, in the eyes of the rulers of Westeros, their daughter was dead. Later it was learned that Saera had moved to Volantis, where she ran her own pleasure house.
When Jaehaerys called the Grand Council to decide on his successor (who ultimately chose Rhaenyra’s father, Viserys Targaryen as the next king), many of his illegitimate sons came with a claim. But even though Saera’s claim was greater than that of her sons, she never presented herself to the Council, claiming that she now had her own kingdom.
How is Saera Targaryen Alicent Hightower’s mother?
Otto and Alicent Hightower
In George RR Martin’s world, the Targaryens are considered strange and ethereal with their white hair and purple eyes. Dragonlords have always fascinated the common people and high houses of Westeros. So many people wanted to mix their blood with the Targaryens, legitimately or illegitimately. And also because they wanted to claim the throne somehow. And this is where the theory begins.
Many believe that when Saera Targaryen fled to the Lys, Otto Hightower helped her pass. He then fathered a child with her, Alicent Hightower, whom he and his now deceased wife adopted. This theory is made believable because when King Jaehaerys was on his deathbed, Alicent used to read to him and he mistook her for Saera. So there must be a facial resemblance between the two.
Now you might be wondering why didn’t Otto Hightower tap into that Targaryen connection immediately? Why did he instead choose to send Alicent to Viserys’ room after Aemma’s death to convince him? This is because Saera was a disgraced Targaryen princess who became an ordinary prostitute. So if Otto had revealed this connection, Viserys would probably never have married Alicent. And in an extreme situation, Otto and his daughter could have been exiled.
But this theory is not completely watertight.
Why This Theory Doesn’t Work
Prince Aemond Targaryen giving his Strong Boys speech in House of the Dragon episode 8
Nowhere in GRR Martin’s books is it hinted that Otto Hightower had any connection to Saera. So this theory is kind of like fanfiction based entirely on a “what if” scenario rather than factual clues. Also, King Jaehaerys mistaking Alicent Hightower for his daughter Saera could have been because he was losing his mental faculties in his old age. And also because he might regret not bringing Saera back.
However, if this theory is indeed true, then it would ultimately be hypocritical for Alicent and her sons to constantly taunt the bastard sons of Rhaenyra. Additionally, it’s entirely possible that Saera could be alive during the Dance of the Dragons and make an appearance if the showrunners want to add more drama to their show.
However, that would go against what George RR Martin wrote to create his own canon. And that could lead them to face the same kind of backlash that the Game of Thrones showrunners faced in the show’s final season. But it will definitely be an interesting twist to see.
What do you think of this theory? Let us know.
