Power is a fickle concept in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Characters at the top of the hierarchy can suddenly find themselves at the bottom, like when The Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King Ned Stark lost his life after being wrongfully accused of treason. The reverse is just as likely, as shown by Littlefinger. He started out as the son of a minor Lord who went on to become the crown's Master of Coin and, through his schemes, the de facto ruler of the Vale.
However, the Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon characters with real influence aren't fazed by these fluctuations in fate. On the contrary, they know exactly how to regain power when they lose it. The only difference between these characters is their interpretation of power. It comes in the form of information, money, allies, charisma, or a combination of these factors.
Updated on November 16, 2022 by George Voutiritsas: At its core, Game of Thrones showed what people are willing to do in order to gain or maintain power. In most cases, it was the King and the major Houses who wielded the most power, but individuals from lesser Houses were able to rise to prominent positions as well. Other characters gained power through less honorable means. The prequel House of the Dragon's entire first season revolved around the internal power struggle within the Targaryan royal family, and a number of characters managed to stand out. Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon may be set more than 150 years apart, but they both feature some of the most powerful individuals in Westeros' history.
15 Aemond Targaryan Is A Skilled Warrior Who Rode The Largest Dragon In The World
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Long before Aemond claimed her, Vhagar was ridden by Queen Visenya Targaryen during Aegon's conquest. During the events of House of the Dragon, she is the oldest, largest, and strongest dragon in the world. Naturally, whoever rode her was considered to be the most powerful dragonrider in the world.
Aemond Targaryan claimed Vhagar when he was a child, and in doing so, obtained the power to burn entire armies and castles. By the time he became an adult, Aemond was a skilled warrior well-versed in history. The argument could be made that he deserved to be named King instead of his brother based on his raw power alone.
14 Ramsay's Cruelty Made Him One Of The Most Dangerous Lords In Westeros
Very few families proved to be as vile and cruel as the Boltons. Ramsay may have been legitimized, but he spent the majority of his life as a bastard and was by no means a happy child. He enjoyed physical and psychological torture, and he routinely fed people to his dogs.
Ramsay married Sansa in Season 5 of Game of Thrones, and when she escaped with Theon, he killed his father, stepmother, and newborn step-brother in order to secure his position as Lord of Winterfell. He may have been a monster, but Ramsay went from being a bastard to one of the most powerful Lords in Westeros – albeit for a short time. He even nearly won the Battle of the Bastards before falling to Jon Snow and Sansa Stark.
13 Rhaenyra Targaryen Gradually Became A Worthy Successor To The Iron Throne
Even though she was her father's only child at the time, Rhaenyra never expected to be his successor. To her surprise, she was named heir to the Iron Throne following her mother and brother's deaths, and she slowly grew into the role. Even as a spoiled teenager, Rhaenyra had a decent understanding of history, battle tactics, and political maneuvering.
The Dance of Dragons could have been avoided if Rhaenyra hadn't given birth to obvious bastards, but her actions before the civil war proved she was a strong and competent leader. Everyone urged her to go to war after the Greens stole the throne, but she wished to maintain peace and was the only person holding the realm together by end of House of the Dragon's first season.
12 Tyrion Lannister's Empathy Is The True Source Of His Power
On the surface, Tyrion's mind is his greatest strength. He is exceptionally knowledgeable about a wide variety of subjects and is quite capable of handling political disputes. However, Tyrion admits that intellect is a double-edged sword, one that can easily be misused by morally bankrupt characters.
Although Tyrion might not acknowledge it, his empathy is the true source of his power and almost every decision he makes is arguably for the betterment of Westeros. Tyrion often finds himself at the mercy of his enemies, but he manages to survive fatal encounters on countless occasions. Dany would have annihilated the Bay of Dragons like she did King's Landing if it weren't for Tyrion and his compassionate courage and wisdom.
11 Jon Snow Is Driven By Honor, Not Hunger For Power
Jon Snow's claim to the Iron Throne is both legal and ideal: as the trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and the King in the North, he is the best chance of uniting Westeros under one banner. He refuses his heritage by declaring his loyalty to Daenerys, but this rejection of power is what makes him an ideal king.
Jon Snow assassinates his Queen and is banished to the Night's Watch once again, a punishment he accepts willingly. Jon doesn't have a power-hungry bone in his body and yet he still accomplishes more than most people in Game of Thrones. Without Jon's efforts, the Army of the Dead would have taken over Westeros.
10 Cersei Lannister Makes Up For Her Lack Of Fiscal Intelligence Through Pure Moxie
When Petyr Baelish flaunts his knowledge in front of Cersei, she instantly quells his grandstanding by ordering her guards to manhandle him, proving her point that "power is power." While Cersei doesn't inherit Tywin's fiscal intelligence, she makes up for it through pure moxie.
Cersei foolishly allows a religious cult into King's Landing, hoping to use them as her puppets, but her plan backfires spectacularly. However, Queen Cersei later eviscerates all her enemies in a single masterstroke, bombing the Sept of Baelor with all-consuming wildfire.
9 Sansa Stark Is Crowned Queen In The North As A Testament To Her Willpower And Prestige
Sansa Stark is extremely feeble and timid at the start of Game of Thrones. Her sufferings take her through a series of changes, transforming her from naive to numb to angry to indifferent. Sansa continues to love her family and friends deeply while keeping practically everyone else at an emotional distance.
Littlefinger's attempt to ingratiate himself with Sansa succeeds but she sentences him to death after recognizing his selfish actions. She thanks him for his many lessons and promises to never forget them, though. Sansa is eventually crowned Queen in the North, a drastically distinct reality from her childhood fantasies.
8 At The Height Of His Power, The High Sparrow's Authority Superseded The Iron Throne
The High Sparrow's real nature is impossible to determine, given that he does not diverge from the teachings of his religion. He is depicted as unpretentious and devout throughout the story. The High Sparrow is resistant to blackmail and bribery, and uses both his charisma and his cunning in order to accumulate more power through the faith and its followers.
Having successfully converted King Tommen to the Faith, the High Sparrow's authority exceeds the Iron Throne's. Unfortunately for him, he underestimates the relentless force behind Cersei's ambition.
7 Tywin Lannister's Micromanagement Allows Him To Control Westeros From Behind The Scenes
Unlike Cersei, Tywin is smart enough to know the difference between friend and foe. Kevan Lannister implies that his brother would have never permitted the Sparrows to nest anywhere near King's Landing. Tywin claims to be a supportive father, but he wants nothing more than to further his family's name.
This is why Tywin transfers his allegiance from King Aerys to Robert the Usurper, even if it means forcing his daughter into a hostile marriage. Tywin micromanages everything, from major battles to his children's personal lives to the Red Wedding, allowing him to control Westeros from behind the scenes.
6 Melisandre's Colossal Presence Shapes The Political History Of Westeros
Melisandre's colossal presence inevitably affected the political history of Westeros. She first shapes Stannis Baratheon's character arc before shifting her attention to the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. In fact, it can be argued that Melisandre's resurrection of Jon Snow is one of the biggest turning points in Game of Thrones.
Melisandre's insight into the arcane helps her understand her world better than almost anyone else. In addition to pyromancy, blood magic, and shadowbinder spells, Melisandre wields fire as a weapon, as shown during the Battle of Winterfell, where she enchanted the Dothraki's arakhs.
5 Daenerys Targaryen Is The Most Influential Political Player In The World Until She Dies
Daenerys Targaryen acquires a range of epithets over the course of her impressive journey, including Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, and Myhsa. She earns each title with her own sweat, blood, and charm.
Daenerys fails to live up to her end of the bargain when she burns King's Landing, placing her ego above the well-being of her people. With the might of the Unsullied, Dothraki, and Drogon behind her, Daenerys remains the most powerful political player in the world, at least until her death.
4 Arya Stark Highlights The Limitless Potential Of Female Characters In Fantasy Fiction
Arya Stark's notorious "Kill List" includes Cersei Lannister, Joffrey Baratheon, The Mountain, The Hound, and several others. By the end of Game of Thrones, she only strikes four names off her list: Walder Frey, Meryn Trant, Polliver, and Rorge. Arya later ends the Long Night by killing the Night King.
Arya is by far the most courageous member of House Stark, effectively subverting the patriarchal norms of Westeros society. Arya highlights the limitless potential of women in Game of Thrones and fantasy fiction in general.
3 Otto Hightower Pulled Off A Successful Coup
As the second son of House Hightower, Otto stood to inherit nothing, but he was able to become the Hand of the King in the final years of King Jaehaerys' reign. He then served as King Viserys' Hand until he was dismissed for trying to sully Rhaenyra's name. Otto was reinstated years later, however, and it was during his second appointment that he orchestrated a major plot to usurp the Iron Throne.
As Hand, Otto was the second most powerful man in Westeros. In the final years of Viserys' reign, he was essentially the acting King, while plotting Aegon II's coronation in secret. He convinced most of the Small Council to cast Rhaenyra's claim aside and successfully crowned his own grandson King.
2 Viserys Targaryan Kept The Peace Despite Suffering From A Deadly Illness
Viserys became King thanks to the Great Council at Harrenhal. He made a few mistakes during his reign, but he was ultimately a good king, and his crowning achievement was the fact that he maintained peace for multiple decades. This is a man who rode Balerion, the great dragon ridden by the Conqueror himself.
Viserys suffered from a serious illness that mimicked leprosy, and in the final days of his reign, could barely move or speak without enduring immense pain. On the day he died, Viserys made his way to the Iron Throne one last time to defend his daughter and her children. The pain was unbearable, but Viserys pushed through it, and in doing so, he showed just how strong he was.
1 Bran Stark Wins The Game Of Thrones Without Even Trying
Bran Stark evolves into the Three-Eyed Raven, an inscrutable entity whose origins and abilities are still ambiguous. He wields a rare technique known as Greensight, which likely allows him access to the entire chronology of Westeros.
Bran's power receives a significant boost after his coronation, making him the single most powerful character in Game of Thrones. As King of the Six Kingdoms, he governs millions of citizens, albeit with help from his Small Council. Few fans expected Bran to win the Game of Thrones, but he did so without even trying.