Does Hugh Betray Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon?

Do be warned that this article contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood, including plot points that have not been featured in the show as of 2024. Proceed at your own risk.

Ah, Rhaenyra if you had eyes at the back you would see now what going on behind you. It’s said that there are no second chances in Westeros where dragons may fly and loyalty as rare as a good cup of coffee.

But just for a bit of a final kick in the teeth, it’s Ulf the White and Hugh that are apparently performing the most fantastic double cross. If you’re keeping score of the backstabbers, here’s the latest update from House of the Dragon.

Who Betrays Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon?

Adding more plots in this winding narrative of Rhaenyra’s life, Season 2 also gives an indication of Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer, two revered dragonriders who take control of Silverwing, and Vermithor. From the first moments, it seems that the blacks have a quite powerful and confident position against the greens.

Do not be deceived there are some of these guys are masters of drama. Rather unhappy with their lot, the former servants become traitors as quickly as one can shout ‘Dracarys!’

Why Do Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White Betray Rhaenyra?

Hugh Hammer who was part of the Blacks until Rhaenyra declared her pregnancy and Ulf the White who was a sworn brother of Addam of Hull, why do they betray Rhaenyra?

Now, let’s go back a little to Fire & Blood, those are the dragon seeds with big plans meet. They are all present at Dragonstone after Jacaerys summons and manages to tame a dragon. Hugh Hammer takes Vermithor, the second largest dragon in Westeros while Ulf the White beds Silverwing.

Oh, with such friends, Rhaenyra must be walking on air, is it not? Wrong. While they proved useful in the Battle of the Gullet and the events leading to the sacking of King’s Landing, they do not stay loyal for much longer. The cause? Unfulfilled expectations due to the broken promises which angered them as well as Rhaenyra not paying them in the way they wanted.

Daemon to remain a mastermind proposes Rhaenyra should either marry Ulf to Lord Stokeworth’s daughter or give him Storm’s End. For Hugh, he suggests that they should take Casterterly Rock. But all that is rejected by Rhaenyra, the queen of denial. Instead, she hurls some land of Driftmark their way, which is like a slap in the face for two power-seeking boys.

How Do Hugh and Ulf Betray Rhaenyra?

Just as you would expect a betrayal, the First Battle of Tumbleton is staged. Ulf and Hugh are sent to defend the town against Lord Ormund Hightower and his Green soldiers. The latter believes that the better way to defend the town is through burning. Their loyalty goes up in flames, quite literally, as they betray Rhaenyra.

It is interesting that their treachery, and it is what it is, do not pass as a rule unnoticed. Ulf, a knight who supports Daeron Targaryen, the son of Viserys and Alicent, is granted the lordship of Bitterbridge. However, the greed does not end with that; Ulf wants Highgarden too.

Hugh is not with this line of thinking and he starts imagining himself on the Iron Throne right down to producing an iron crown (grandiosity).

The Inevitable End

However, Westeros does not forgive betrayers. Their blood should also be spilled on the ground. Daeron Targaryen gets the last laugh; he gets to order the heads off both Hugh and his man at arms, Ulf. And hence they are remembered as Two Betrayers essentially reinforcing the rule of the Game of thrones where you can either win, be dead, or turn a traitor.

Thus, the next time you get a feeling your workplace is filled with people willing to stab you in the back literally and metaphorically, consider the fate of poor Rhaenyra and rejoice knowing dragons do not participate in corporate turf wars.