House Hightower Is The Coolest House In Westeros That You Know Nothing About

[@thenewkhan4781]

It is kind of upsetting that Greens are often portrayed as if they were pure-blood Hightowers going against pure-blood Targaryens... They're half Targaryen themselves and it shows. That's the point of the war. Rhaenyra isn't pure-blood Targ either. Why her Arryn blood is never mentioned?

[@pg1448]

It's kind of funny how team black seriously claims they are the true Valyrians while supporting three strong bastards for the throne who look about as Valyrian as Hot Pie, meanwhile look at the Greens, all purple eyed and silver haired with all the stereotypical Targaryen crazyness and temperament to them. Aemond speaks the language more fluently than Jace. The Greens have the best of both worlds, the perfect symbiosis of Valyrian genetics and andal heritage through their Hightower ancestry.

[@antoniosanders4087]

Well actually she was more Targaryen than Arryn her mother was half Arryn and half Targaryen…

[@Emma88178]

@@antoniosanders4087 True, but the argument still stands. Rhaenrya, and even Rhaenys are not "full" Targs because of their mothers. And no one batted an eye at Viserys marrying his first wife Aemma, even though her father was fully Arryn.

[@antoniosanders4087]

@@Emma88178 with Rhaenyra that makes no sense I’m sorry respectfully but we all have opinions

[@BarryMcCockenerButte]

​​@@pg1448 the Hightowers heritage isn't as much Andal as it is First Men.

[@ayanna6327]

Their mystery is so intriguing. It's interesting that GoT didn't mention Margaery's mother being a Hightower. Margaery's mother isn't mentioned at all in the show I don't think, which is strange. They're probably regretting that just given how important they are in HotD. I really LOVE House Hightower's words. "We Light the Way." It reminds me of the Tyrell's words, "Growing Strong!" They're not threatening or violent, but still have this air of pride and prestige.

[@Emma88178]

Agreed! HotD already mentioned the mixed blood in House Targaryen as well so it's funny how fans want to hate on the Hightowers for not having "full" Targaryen blood even though Rhaenrya's mother was from House Arryn (as she points out in episode 10) and Rhaenys mother was from House Baratheon.

[@KhryptiK]

Margaery's mom is a Redwyne of the Arbour not a hightower

[@ayanna6327]

@@KhryptiK No, that's Olenna, her paternal-grandmother. Her mother is Alerie Hightower.

[@KhryptiK]

@@ayanna6327 ohh shit thanks for the correction

[@ukotoa1639]

“We Light The Way” is probably my favourite house words it’s basically a formal way of saying “Get on our level, bitch.” For real though I have such respect as a reader and a fan for houses that fought tooth and nail to get to the position there are at.

[@HillsAliveYT]

Well they're very apropos words as well, House Hightower pretty much is always at the forefront of wherever Westeros is going and gets on board with the future of the Kingdoms ASAP.

[@mimiHTcat]

i like the theory that 'we light the way' is a reference to the original long night

[@perseusveil9376]

@@mimiHTcat Perhaps Oldtown was a place where refugees traveled to during the Long Night?

[@made-line7627]

@@perseusveil9376 Maybe the Hightower itself is actually Lightbringer 🪄

[@wolfbane7497]

only got one thing to say to you how's that Maegor pack hitting because my boy he was cooking the Faith of the seven Also how is that aegon the conqueror pack hitting because he had the high tower shaking in their boots.

[@Sam_Kings]

I love the theory that the Hightowers are descended from the original dragon lords from the Empire of the Dawn, like house Dayne.

[@HillsAliveYT]

Well I think it totally makes sense and it would explain how so many of these seemingly disparate families and people have access to knowledge that was lost to time.

[@fandommenace9575]

House Hightower very mysterious and have maintained their power base for such a long time almost like they are directed by something other worldly ❤️🩸🐉🔥

[@tytania3545]

@@fandommenace9575 Glass candles...

[@GravesLilDarkAngel]

@@fandommenace9575 Reality is that they're moving all the pieces themselves. They are the other worldly force as you put it.

[@Emma88178]

True, but in the more recent timeline, the Hightowers have way more Andal blood and the Dayne's have more Rhoynish blood.

[@varchasvimahajan8273]

I love how House Hightower’s comparison can be drawn to modern world’s idea of “old money” families… they are rich, they have power, they have lots of knowledge, and they don’t rub their money-reputation on your face. You just know that it’s there by the family name.

[@andreademarchi7495]

The Hightowers are the OG Lannisters and it shows,they have way more class and elegance while the Lannister are the most show-offy family in Westeros

[@concept5631]

​@@andreademarchi7495 The Hightowers are what the Lannisters want to be.

[@oceanfive5]

@@concept5631Hightowers have been around long before the lannisters so that doesn’t make sense

[@iriejones8292]

On your comparison of the strategy of the Hightowers vs the Targaryens in HOTD, I also thought of how in the last episode Aemond went to the Baratheons asking with for their loyalty with the carrot of a marriage proposal, while Luke just went with his family's name

[@HillsAliveYT]

Totally, the gulf between Luke showing up with a note from his mom saying "remember how your dad promised my dad you'd fight for me" and Aemond showing up like "yo I'm a prince, I have the most powerful dragon in existence, and I'll marry one of your daughters" is an almost comically extreme representation of how much more politically savvy the Hightowers are.

[@jabthejedi]

Yeah but the Targaryens/blacks get some good allies for themselves don't you worry. Also, it's probably better to separate them as Blacks and Greens as the Hightowers and Targaryens are all mixed up blood-wise in the war. The Baratheons turn out to be wastemen in this war anyway.

[@Emma88178]

I always wondered how different it would be if Luke brought up the fact that Rhaenys Targaryen is on the side of the blacks supporting Rhaenyra, and Rhaenys's mother was a Baratheon.....

[@magister343]

If I were Luke I would have told Borros Baratheon that I could not marry his daughters, but that my mother could give him something more valuable: a dragon of his own. I'd cite his house words "Ours is the Fury" and point out that the Bronze Fury, Vermithor, the mount of Old King Jaehaerys and the largest dragon in the world except for Vhagar and Cannibal, is waiting on Dragonstone and needs a rider. I'd say that the letter's reference to their blood ties to Lord Borros were meant to remind him that he too is Blood of the Dragon. As a descendant of Aegon the Conqueror's dark haired bastard brother Orys as well as from their more recent common ancestor Alyssa Velaryon, they assumed that Borros would prove loyal enough to Rhaenrya to be trusted with Vermithor

[@higharchbishopofteatasting6217]

​@@magister343That is so stupid I honestly believe I have to opt into stem cell treatments to replace the brain cells I lost. First off, Jace can't promise anyone Vermithor, he's literally just a figurehead who has no real power. Second, the Baratheons are the absolute worst house to give dragons because of how emotional they can be. Thirdly, Aemond could just quite literally burn the entirety of Storms End if he wanted to. Which wouldn't be the case if it was someone with another adult dragon there. Luce was so stupid to send that it highlights Rhaes incompetence so hard it's as if it was drew with a fucking highlighter.

[@HolyknightVader999]

Oldtown is basically the Westerosi version of Athens and Alexandria, the center of civilization and learning for a very long time. Their political stance is similar to that of Switzerland, where they're not joining any side, but they try to be a benefit to all sides, which is another feather in the cap of the Hightowers, showing them to be a benefit to Westeros as a whole, especially with their Maesters.

[@frankvandorp2059]

I hope House of the Dragon will explore House Hightower more in season 2. They already said they are going to include Daeron, so maybe we'll start with him in Oldtown and his Hightower relatives.

[@waltonsmith7210]

Im not sure how many HOTD viewers picked up on the native Westerosi vs foreign conquerors dynamic thats going on between the Hightowers and the "unreconstructed Valyrians" among the Targaryans.

[@thethessaliah]

And how despite Daemon's and Rhaenyra's children eventually ruled, they are extremely imbued into Westerossi values, aside of incest.

[@gamma00crucis]

the average viewer thinks rhaenyra is a cool conquering girlboss. they only see what they want to see and it doesn't include nuance.

[@jamesgraham246]

@@gamma00crucis high tower legit wanted destroy targyrans

[@gamma00crucis]

@@jamesgraham246 you can't even spell "targaryen" my dude. the two houses are trying to destroy each other. the blacks are not and have never been innocent. and targaryens as a dynasty are colonizers.

[@jamesgraham246]

@@gamma00crucis the greens legit started since jahereys Regin

[@HolyknightVader999]

In Westeros itself, House Hightower and the Greens were more popular than Rhaenyra was. The people favored Aegon II over Rhaenyra Targaryen, their riot destroyed the latter's chances for victory when it led to the destruction of the remaining Targaryen dragons, and House Hightower continued to keep its prestige among both the commonfolk and the nobility long after the Targaryens lost power after Robert's Rebellion. It's only thanks to modern views on feminism and girlbossification that Rhaenyra and her side are seen as the good guys, but if you ask your average peasant Westerosi, they'll prefer Helaena Targaryen and her husband Aegon II, due to the latter having the name of a conqueror and the right sex, and the former being a kind-hearted queen. Especially when House Hightower built up its strength through educational pursuits and legitimate channels of marriage, primogeniture, faith, and political alliances, whereas the Targaryens, especially Rhaenyra's team, rely solely on might makes right, overlooking centuries-old customs and traditions to justify their regime.

[@gnomecoded]

I really really wonder how the show will portray what Haelena and her kids will have to go through. I imagine this will be a turning point for some and make Hightowers more popular and sympathetic overall. Especially how with killing Luke was portrayed as accidental.

[@mori1bund]

Just because one side is getting worse doesn't make the other side suddenly the good guys. That's not some simple Good vs. Evil story. It's more of a 'war turns all people into monsters' story.

[@femalehitchhikersguidetoth8990]

Accidental or not. If you had a child, and you learn that your child at school was coming home, a bully chases him off with a "jeep" on the way home and the bully """"accidentally"""" ran over your kid and killed him, while trying to scare him off, would you not seek vengeance?

[@roseofthegarden_]

@@mori1bund Exactly. it's not about good or bad guys. The truth is, _neither_ side is wholly good or bad and that is the whole issue going on rn with the audience. So far, there is an unequal balance of favoritism toward the blacks. So personally hoping that next season will balance the scales and people start to see that both sides have done terrible things in pursuit of power.

[@roseofthegarden_]

@@femalehitchhikersguidetoth8990 I would seek justice for accidental death yes. But I would have _also_ sought justice for my child's eye being taken out, regardless of who "started" it because at the end of the day, their eye is still gone and I want recompense for that. Neither of those however, should result in the maiming of, or death of another child in return.

[@gamma00crucis]

​@@femalehitchhikersguidetoth8990 except that Luke was a bully too so your analogy makes no sense.

[@suramyasingh9518]

the hightowers are definitely one of the most fascinating houses in george's world, intentionally! it's no coincidence that they get the longest appendix detail of all houses in the story, nor that their castle is supposed to be the most ancient of all. the fact that they predate even the first men, 12000 years really puts into perspective the 300 years the targaryens lasted lmao.

[@SvenskaKrig1709]

Part of me wonders if George accidentally put the Hightowers a bit too in the background, and that is one of the reasons we got a show about the Dance over say the Backfire Rebellions. Because he needs to establish how truly important they are for WoW so it does not seem like they come out of nowhere. Allegedly one of GRRM's goals with the A Dance with Dragons was to set up the Hightowers as being important and I am not sure many people had that take away from just reading the book. I know I missed it.

[@Dell-ol6hb]

we got a show about the Dance and not the Blackfyre Rebellions because the Dance has dragons and dragon duels, that's it. By comparison HBO probably is way less interested in the Blackfyre Rebellions which have zero dragons

[@SvenskaKrig1709]

@@Dell-ol6hb I am sure that played into it as well. However the last few seasons of GoT had way more dragon action and were rather unpopular. My guess was that the spin off was going to be the War of the 9 Penny Kings and Robert's Rebellion because the characters were more familiar.

[@Dell-ol6hb]

@@SvenskaKrig1709 Well I think the later seasons being unpopular was just due to poor writing rather than people not liking the dragons lmao. But yea a spinoff during the 9 Penny Kings Blackfyre Rebellion would be the most likely just because of the familiarity of many of the characters, plus they could show off events like the war between the Tarbecks and Reynes and the Lannisters.

[@magister343]

@@Dell-ol6hb To be fair it is also a lot easier to continue a show about the Dance of the Dragons into the era of the Blackfyre Rebellions instead of starting with the Blackfyres and then going back for another prequel. We already met the infant Viserys II, who will be responsible for the Blackfyre Rebellions because he usurped the throne from the rightful queen Daena the Defiant. His son Aegon IV probably recognized that Daena's claim was stronger than his own and so wanted the throne to go to their son Daemon Blackfyre instead of the son of his lawful wife, whom he suspected was Aemon's bastard anyway.

[@sirsplintfastthepungent1373]

Their house words seem in contrast to the other houses, too. Stark, Lannister, Greyjoy, Baratheon; all boastful warnings of Sound and Fury, signifying nothing. House Hightower is a different level, pun intended. We Light the Way is an invitation, a promise of shelter from the storm. Wouldn't surprise me if the black stone foundation itself isn't just as deep as the tower is high. ☯️

[@indiciaobscure]

I was thinking about this, how they promise innovation and leadership into a new age. My second favorite, the Martells, (unbowed, unbent, unbroken) speak to resistance. And both are in opposition to the Targaryen words.

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

I don't think the Stark words a boast or threat, but a statement of fact; in this pseudo-medieval world, Winter was the most dangerous time of year- it tells people not to be short-sighted, to prepare for dangers to come... And Winter always comes back- it's one of the constants in life; the seasons always change (even if they're screwy as all get-out in this world).

[@davidknotts6256]

So my theory is House Hightowers and the Daynes are distant relatives. They both have similar designs in their castles. Who they are decended from the original Azor Ahai. The Daynes kept the sword of Azor Ahai and the Hightowers built on the island that housed dragons. So I think Azor_Ahai left one of his sons in battle island as a warning to his kingdom back on Essos. The Hightowers is said to be able to see the Wall up North, they also have glass candles(that old Varleria made) to communicate long distances. They can change the color of their fire to call their banner men which could also be used as an emergency signal. We don't know to much about the Daynes but I can assume that they stayed behind to make a more fortified base for Valerians to reclaim Westerois if the Others came back. And just an added bonus the Hightowers married a daughter of Garth the Greenhand and Brandon the builder is a grandson from one of Garth's sons. Making Starks and Hightowers distance cousins.

[@turnip9367]

Finally, some Hightower representation! They've been my favourite house for ages, even before HotD. How can you not like the wealthiest house in Westeros, that has both the Faith + Citadel in its back pocket and are potentially sorcerers?

[@nunyabiznes33]

@Merlin glaring difference is Lannister wealth would dry up if their mines do.

[@lightingskies5008]

@@nunyabiznes33 they have lannisterport

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@lightingskies5008 and what makes Lannisport tick? Gold exports. City is supposed to have the best goldsmiths in the known world. I don't read them producing anything else. If the Lannister gold dries up, that's a significant portion of the city's income gone. Oldtown on the otherhand is where a good chunk of the Reach's agricultural exports pass through. The Hightowers get their income mostly from the port fees. And they also operate a bank there.

[@Mic-Mak]

I used the subtitles for the first time on one of your videos, and I was surprised to see that they are not auto-generated because they had no errors, and auto-generated subs always have errors. You actually wrote them yourself! I really appreciate it! You really put the time in, and did a flawless job! Keep up the good work!

[@HillsAliveYT]

Oh well thankfully I script out all of my videos so all I actually have to do is upload the script to KZbin. LOL but also if you ever use the subs and there is suddenly a word or phrase there that I deadass didn't say that's because I said something different/probably struggled to say the original line like five times before finally saying something easier and then forgot to change it in the script itself.

[@Mic-Mak]

@@HillsAliveYT It's all good! And I figured you scripted your videos. But I follow a ton of video essayists who script their videos, and most of them don't include their subs. I have to rely on auto-genenerated subs, which is certainly better than nothing. Video essayist put a ton of work in their videos, especially those who do long form content, so it's a testament to you that you also add subtitles. THANK YOU!

[@hamizanyunos1502]

you know watching this makes it so much more unbelievable that by the end of Game of Thrones it was Bronn that claimed lordship over Highgarden and the Reach.

[@rinmartell2678]

I always hated Bronn. I never understood how he was a fan favorite and it broke my heart when he got the reach. House tyrell is one of my favorite houses and Bronn gets their home and lands? Why?🥹

[@hamizanyunos1502]

@@rinmartell2678People like him because is supposedly that wise-cracking rouge with no morals archetype but honestly he just comes across as irritating by the end of it. Honestly Bronn is never going to consolidate the Reach, House Hightower, Redwyne, Fossoways and others will be insulted beyond belief. But yeah House Tyrell is also one of the unique Houses and honestly hope the books gives them a better conclusion.

[@elliottwilliams9221]

@@rinmartell2678 they died out lol and being saved a lot of lives

[@elliottwilliams9221]

@@hamizanyunos1502 most of those houses named are gone or will be soon so you’re crying for nothing

[@magister343]

Really the only logical ending for Bron was for him to be the new Lord of the Crossing, taking over the Twin from House Frey after Lord Walder and his entire family were slaughtered by Arya. Tyrion promised him he would double what Cersei promised him. She promised him a castle. Therefore, Tyrion needs to give him two castles, not merely one bigger castle. The Twins are two identical castles on either side of the Green Fork of the Trident River, controlling access to the toll bridge that runs between them. They are easy to defend with a small garrison and come with an easy way of generating income, by charging tolls instead of by collecting feudal dues from a large number of vassals with blood much more noble than his own and trying to manage the agricultural production of the continent's breadbasket.

[@richardfitzpatrick9732]

the fact that they can raise an army bigger than the Tyrells really says something that they could of been lords of the Reach and there at least the 6th most powerful house in Westeros

[@nunyabiznes33]

The Kingdom of Oldtown joined the Kingdom of the Reach via marriage. The large army they can muster is probably due to an agreement about them keeping their vassals.

[@martinsanyasi]

Big lie, house Tyrrell can raise 10,000 men in a fortnight on their own without the help of their Bannermen while house hightower can raise 5000 men including their vassals, these houses overexaggerate their power and influence to strike more fear in people's hearts

[@thethessaliah]

I don't think they intended to go to a civil war since it was them (Alicent and Otto) proposing the more peaceful integrative solution (Aegon and Rhaenyra marriage), but the fact that Targayens got involved and that IS a violent house from the beginning (like their succession was a bloody mess since Aegon I died), plus multiple dragonriders, the situation escalated out their hands. Aemond and the rest are still Targayens, despite their mother.

[@joshuabryant9845]

It's wild hearing the intro explain that the Hightowers are the antagonist to the Targs and for HoTD. When the Targeryans are pretty much just giant pieces of trash. Like actual horrible people save like 3 or 4

[@godemperorofmankind3.091]

nah. most targaryens were either decent or well meaning yet weak. only a few ever truly went mad.

[@cl5470]

Everyone in the story is an ahole. Generational wealth and privilege is evil. No one is born deserving to rule or lead. That's one of the points people seem to miss. The only good guys and victims in this story are the small folk.

[@oceanfive5]

@@godemperorofmankind3.091the targs were snobs, they always thought they were better than everyone else that’s why dany said she was nothing like her family since she was stripped from her titles and had to couch hop from different houses, and she wanted to break the wheel that her family created

[@durrangodsgrief6503]

@@oceanfive5 bro you need to get off that Targaryen hate band wagon majority of tarts were great individuals I raise your prince Baelor targaryen for example or king daeron ii, king jaehaerys king, viserys ii and more if Dany wanted to break the wheel she succeeded and became a mad woman worse than any of her mad ancestors

[@oceanfive5]

@@durrangodsgrief6503 not everyone has to glaze the Targaryens, and yes there were a few good targs but majority of them turned their nose up at normal ppl which makes sense since they were royalty for so long, and thats literally why everyone hates s7 and s8 of got, they ruined danys entire character, grrm didn’t write her like that, in the books she still alive and good.

[@Midnightsstan521]

Am I the only who feels like the ages of some of the houses breaks the story a bit? The Starks and Arryns are supposedly 8,000 years old and there’s only one branch left. the Hightowers supposedly held power uninterrupted for 12,000 years. And they failed to advance technologically **at all** I know GRRM isn’t the best with numbers but surely making them centuries old instead of millennia would work a lot better. God, I need the next book. I’ll be counting the number of beef stews mentioned next.

[@HillsAliveYT]

I mean, the ages are wild in the sense that like, it is almost unfathomable to imagine families holding power for LITERALLY millennia, like to think that in the real world the Hightowers would have been in power since 10,000 BCE is just bonkers. I'm really hoping GRRM dives into the Hightowers more at some point though because the reality is we don't actually know what the fuck they've done because whatever shit they've got going on they've kept completely to themselves. They could be deadass seeing into the future or resurrecting the dead and nobody would know.

[@ninjadolphin01]

@@HillsAliveYT in a few places it's mentioned that the male lines of some of these houses have died out I forget what family it was but some guy married the daughter of one of the Lannisters and then just took the name Lannister. I think a lot of these westerosi great houses are more like House Yamato of Japan, using matrilineal marriage and even adoption to continue the family name.

[@yamatonadeshiko567]

The Karstark is like a cadet branch of the Starks. The Starks also had another cadet branch called the Greystarks but they allied with Boltons in rebelling against the Starks and was extinct.

[@Midnightsstan521]

@ yamatonadeshiko_yoojy Only two cadet branches over eight thousand years is way too little. I get that GRRM wanted to keep the families brief to save time but in reality there’s be dozens

[@adapienkowska2605]

I don't think they ruled over 10000 years, just legends later exaggerated some centuries to millennials.

[@Mic-Mak]

Another excellent video! And yes, they are definitely low-key legendary. Although they don't seem as ruthless, their political manoeuvring reminds me of of Littlefinger, who completely blew my mind when I found to he essentially lit the match on the War of the Five Kings.

[@idontuploadanym0re]

i love House Hightower for all of the reasons you discussed in this video! they are truly one of the most underrated in the story, and i hope HOTD will bring more attention to them.

[@roxannepolice1584]

Definitely my favourite house, precisely because of how they seem to stay in the background and just do whatever appears the most pragmatic choice. They kind of remind me of Medicis, who were never monarchs per se, but among the most powerful families is renaissance Europe - and mostly focused on letting Florence grow into a cultural capital, less through force of arms than trade and banking. Except, of course, there was this one member of the family that married the king of France... I so, so hope season 2 will feature Daeron in Oldtown!

[@HierophanticRose]

Hightowers also never vied for explicit domination of the continent in their 12000 years of successful rule, makes me think they have greater goals in mind.

[@marinetaveras2485]

the hightowers obviously allied themselves with the three headed dragon as a means to gain more power in westeros but didn’t think they’d actually conquer as much of westeros as they did

[@DarkKing009]

House Hightower: Machiavellian merchant princes vs House Targaryen: eugenics sorcerer-kings

[@bass9052]

The Hightowers are arguably the most powerful house of the seven kingdoms. Knowledgeable and sophisticated people who see domination beyond wars and battles. They have conquered Westeros without a dragon or sword. Through the Faith and the Citadel, they held an influence in all the houses of Westeros. The symbol of their power Oldtown is to Westeros what Rome used to be in Western Europe. Older than any other, holier than any other, and richer than any other city in Westeros. The Hightowers are the definition of sustainability. Thousands of years of wealth and power, never they have been brought down to the grown even if many tried. The Targariens are now nearing extinction after three hundred years of rule, the Lannisters have fallen from grace after the death of Tywin but the Hightower still stands higher than ever. I'm so excited for the Winds of Winter to see how Leyton will outplay Euron Greyjoy.

[@RiderOfKarma]

I really wanna know more about who Alicent’s Mom was and what line she came from.

[@yusufraage8554]

Her mother was a puppet of her father just like Alicent is now. Otto says that in ever other scene.

[@RiderOfKarma]

@@evabh6851 ooooo, thanks for the tip; that’s a juicy one! Def gonna look that one up.

[@timy.9512]

A Redwyne, most likely. Their problems are the same, their concerns are exactly the same.

[@oceanfive5]

A florent, which is cool,I thought they were going to make her a Tully for some reason

[@Ilargizuri]

Thank you for this Video, I love to learn more about powerhouses in Westeros aside from Lannister, Tyrell and Martell. I love how you highlight how their Actions differ from that of House Targaryen and how that led to their position in the Main Series and in HotD. Because I tend to focus on less political strategies I often overlook these flaws and how they influence the Story. My Focus is always on Visions and Prophecies, mostly because they have some way of Ikonografic, Analogical and metaphoric Language which I learned and very often used during my Studies of Art History. So that kind of Stuff is more on my alley and it really amuses me how most readers interpret the Vision and Prophecies based on the Inworld Rules, they put themself in a Watsonian Point of View, when you should use a Doylist Point of View. It is interesting that all of this superior Selfimage we see now in HoTD, is still present in Viserys and Daenerys 300 years later, although one of them witnessed the fall of his Family and the second one never witnessed anything that comes even close to the Power they had before and after the Dance of the Dragons. I find it a little strange, especially with Viserys, after all, he witnessed, you would think he wants Revenge for his Family more than the Throne. If they were once in Braavos, if that Story with the House with the red Door is true, Viserys could have just gone to the House of Black and White and become part of the Faceless Men. If he would have been successful is the other question, especially with the History of the Faceless Men, who originate from a Group of Slaves who killed other Slaves in the Valyrian Freehold, to end their suffering, so there is a possibility they would have not accepted Viserys as they did with Arya. But there is a possibility that he could have tried that instead of living on the Streets with his Sister, as Apprentices of the Many-Faced-God they would have had a Roof over their Head and Food in their Stomache. Good Reasons to join that Death Cult if the other option is living on the Streets, hungry, Cold and alone. Also interesting in Contrast to the Starks, the Lannisters have a similar isolated position as the Targaryens in the Main Series. With House Stark, we see different approaches that would have been possible for Viserys and Daenerys, but they decided to not do that. Jon, Arya and Sansa adapt to their current Situations, they try to survive and as best as they can to even help others, although sometimes they make Enemies in the short run. I mean, Jon's actions literally gave him a lot of Enemies and ended with him Stabbed and bleeding to his Death in the Snow in Castle Black. Don't let me start on Sansa, Arya is only recently long enough in one place to make Enemies, Bran is in the making of becoming a Tree God and therefore becoming the ultimate Enemy of the others, and at the moment we don't know anything about Rikkon on Skaggos. So they make Mistakes and as we see with Jon these Mistakes could kill them, but they want to integrate and adapt, they don't want to stand out. Just like the Hightowers and Martells do. And as we see with these houses in the long run that is what will lead to their success. In Contrast, their superior Self-image and the Behaviour to lead the way the whole time and bending everything and everyone around them to their Will and Ideas led to the downfall of the Targaryens. In the main Series first is with Viserys who was killed by Drogo and in the end, Daenerys will also die.

[@legofan4409]

Aaaaah I really hope we get the next two books sometimes soon so we can find out what is going on around Westeros. On a sidenote, I really like that you covered a house besides the Targaryens, it feels like they get all the love and attention since they have dragons, but it would be nice to shine more light on the other houses as well. (Although I would love to see a video covering the bloodraven haha)

[@judeannethecandorchannel2153]

I LOVE this channel. Head And Shoulders above the rest for Intellectual depth, and detail, creative intuition, and a sense of compassionate moral compass and Moral Fervor. FANTASTIC. For it's eery insights into the Illusions and delusions cast by the traumatized subconscious, the Danerys and The Lemon Tree video still haunts me... All the Danerys and Sansa analysis has been great. And the Theon analysis. I haven't really connected with HOTD yet, but... That's Rhys Ifans, right? Then I'm sold.

[@HillsAliveYT]

LOL yes that is Rhys Ifans, and honestly the entire HotD cast serves.

[@cameronmoore2713]

House Hightower is my favorite house that isn't one of the Big Nine. If I had to choose a house to belong to in westeros it would definitely be house Hightower. Hopefully we get much more of them in Winds and Dream.

[@JoshuaHenelyThornhill]

They on equal footings in terms of power and influence with a lean towards the Greens. Truly fascinating stuff. There's a saying in my language that says "méfie-toi de l'eau qui dort" which means beware of the quiet water cuz at any moment it can rage and destroy everything. They are the embodiment of that.

[@samsonright936]

*Me patiently waiting for Hill’s Alive to release a video discussing Alys Rivers & the role she will play HotD*

[@addygil5000]

Very excited for tWoW so we get to see the Hightowers take a more prominent role in the plot of the main series. Getting to see The Mad Maid and Leyton Chadtower turn the Hightower into a massive laser cannon to destroy Euron Greysoy's entire fleet will be so cool!

[@channelrandom2225]

House Hightower is my favorite house due to its mystery in the current story if anything I feel like they are gonna do something big in the story to come in the books that is. We only know rumors of things they do such as doing alchemy and necromancy meaning they are up to some shady stuff in old town. They are one of the most powerful and oldest houses in the continent that isn’t a great house but still have more power then most great houses if they wanted too they could very well replace the tyrells in the story as lords of high garden. It’s a shame they weren’t in game of thrones, where it seems like they’ve gone extinct due to the lack of mentioning ( also I give Bronn a week before the Hightowers come and take HighGarden from him lol). I also feel like the Hightower family is connected to the great empire of the dawn like the Daynes

[@eddymercan7487]

Jorah wasn't exiled, he skipped town to avoid being executed or sent to the Wall. When in Essos his wife left him behind

[@Sandolphan]

The Hightowers have valeryian features because Rhaena Targaryen(Daemon’s daughter with laena) married into the Hightower family and had six children with a Hightower.

[@MiscellaneousAB]

Ahh, that old black stone. I faintly remember a video done by LML on the origins of the stone ( and house hightower). I'm not sure what video, but I've heard this theory before! I would love to know more about the old houses in Westeros, but time doesn't permit me lol. Very fascinating information!

[@user-ti5cw1ug6l]

For real! The Hightowers are literally the most Westerosi house in Westeros, if that makes any sense. Surely, membership in that house would give a better claim to Westeros symbolically if nothing else. Another thing to consider is that the religious establishment supports the Greens (Because they are Hightowers) and given the medieval setting, it is probably the most dominent power. It would be like if one monarch was crowned and supported by the Pope while the other monarch was excommunicated. That would have a huge affect on who lords and commoners alike supported. Luckily for Rhaenyra, most of her supporters followed the old gods, the drown god, or the valyrian religion. That, and the laws of the land which also support the Greens. These facts not only serve to help the Green's claim to the throne but they also make them better and more interesting players of the Game of Thrones as they are actually using factors medieval lords would use. Aegon Targaryen I tried his best to assimilate with Westerosi culture, law, and religion and that's what made him greater than most of his hyper elitist descendants who thought they could do whatever they wanted because dragons or having the blood of the dragon. He even let the High Septon crown him showing respect to a religion that wasn't his. He conquered Westeros with fire and blood but didn't rule with it.

[@mappingshaman5280]

Euron vs Leyton wizard battle when?

[@p-ball_from_SEA]

Euron summoning a big ass kraken only for Leyton to reveal he has freaking gundam mechs and gunpowder weapons. I know this because George told it to me in a dream.

[@andreademarchi7495]

My boy Leyton has already surpass medieval ages,he will show up with freaking cannons and arquebuses

[@chickennerd2085]

One thing that Hightower lack is their ruthlesness to their political rival. I've read a lot of chinese historical novels. These nobles did not afraid to kill their political rivals with or without underhanded method, and stirr up peope's opinion, so the ones who died would be hated by the people. If only they are ruthless to the blacks. They would easily win.

[@nunyabiznes33]

One of my fave houses even before HOTD. They got a pretty dope castle and their wealth rely on trade and banking, unlike many of the other houses.

[@mimimurlough]

Great video! Makes me wonder what role the Hightowers would play in ASoIaF, if we ever get to see the rest of it

[@thethessaliah]

Euron who is by many speculated the envoy of the "Great Other" is going to attack Oldtown, he sees the real seat of power of Westeros there, not King's Landing, and this is speculated to start a chain of events. Leyton and one of his daughters is still in the high tower, so we'll see something weird for sure. Dayne House is probably going to play the most critical role in the end, since GRRM stated their family motto would spoil the end. It's a bit like him to distract readers by keeping those under the radar.

[@cashmoneychanel1209]

I’ll never stop being impressed by how much detail GRRM has put into this world. Its incredible.

[@TheGoodLuc]

This... is wonderful, and actually some good advice. Maybe House Hightower will play a role in future Martin books?

[@tempertempernow]

Love your channel woman. So good.

[@thekage100]

Very good! And true! The Hightowers know what having the spotlight on you can do...That it can make you a target.. So they hold it and direct it another way. Unlike the attention seeking Targaryaens, who want the center stage..something that made their dynasty burn out in a little over 300 years, The House Hightower has stood solid for 10.000 Years and counting.. "We Light The Way"

[@srwordsussecuaces6374]

Ah yes, another Hill's Alive video is essentially another breath of fresh air for me lol Thanks for sharing all of this amazing info and neat facts about them, now they're most definitely my favorite house. Btw, ever thought about making a poll on your channel asking if we are team black or team green? The reason I ask this is because on most channels the blacks win by about 90% of the votes but I have a feeling that on your channel the results would be more even 👀

[@HillsAliveYT]

LOL well I actually did do a poll about this a while ago but not straight up Team Black vs. Team Green, there were a bunch of varying options and overall the people who were unwaveringly Team Black were about 60% and the people who were Team Black but started liking the Greens because of HotD were about 20%. So, Team Black is still a blowout but not quite as overwhelming as some other polls.

[@pedromagalhaes8911]

At the same time, i think the greens might win because they might not like each other, but im more confident they wont betray each other than i am on the blacks, maybe its because alice and otto are so imperative and strict, but i dont see aemond killing aegon for example, wereas i can see daemon killing rhaynera on vice versa or even the velaryons doing some backhanded shit

[@HillsAliveYT]

I think the unity of the Greens is interesting because even though none of them seem to like each other much, I think they recognize that they're all that they have and have each other's backs as a result of that.

[@mateoagudelocanaveral9780]

I think Larys is a wildcard tho

[@atro-city]

Leyton's probably dead and Malora is running things and needs to have people believe that Leyton is alive so that she can rule without any criticism or attracting much attention to herself. Maybe Baelor does not want the responsibility of being a lord and recognizes that if Leyton is revealed to be dead, he would need to marry Malora off, someone who is quite willing and quite good at taking responsibilities of the house, knowing that his sons would inherit after her. Staying away from war of 5 kings was a really smart thing to do.

[@garumanthefiremage]

your channel needs more subs, your channel is so great!

[@ValeriaDik]

Really good points, thank you for another video, you're my most looking forward to vids channel now! IMHO the showrunners did a good job developing greens characters and thus they seem to be more evil, however, not for me(blacks fungirl) as I feel the lack of the same development in blacks, who just were lucky to swim out of any trouble bcs of the king's support. I hope and it feels like the showrunners know what they're doing we would get some enlightenment on black's kids and Rhaenyra herself, they would have to make nasty choices as the stakes are finally high for them. Speaking of the whole history of Hightower's I hope Martin would share some light in the future books as it is the best (to me) part of the whole series, those little specs of magic possession. Love, Lera

[@theduxabides9274]

The Lynesse Hightower shoe is gonna drop HARD on Euron's forces, when she shows up at Oldtown with the biggest Lyseni fleet her sugar daddy could gift her

[@AmandaabnamA]

I empathize with Rhaenyra when she was young and while sad for allicent for having to woo a nasty old man, felt Rhaenyra lost a mother, father and best friend. Yet Allicent always grew and became more wise and still had to go through a lot as a woman(even blamed for the feet thing, when she manuevering and honestly was getting a lot out of a little) , while Rhaenyra stagnates and is supposed to be some girl boss who just has kids and tries to keep her power/privilege simply bc she is a woman. She doesn't prove herself in anyway, which would be fine if she didn't want to have and eat allll the cake. Rhaenyra going over that incoherent prophecy her shifty father told her is sooo thin- what has she done to show she cares for Westeros besides keeping a title she barely wanted. And its like you can't blame her trauma and grooming, which I partially do, because it's supposed to be seen as this badass thing making her more of a rebel

[@eszterbalogh5252]

Euron just wants to end their career. It'll be an interesting magic battle.

[@made-line7627]

I'm so excited for more Hightower action in Winds, particularly for what's going on with Mallora. Like, *what is going on there?*

[@HillsAliveYT]

LOL yes like what could you POSSIBLY be doing that would lead you to not leave your damn house for TEN YEARS

[@josefinacabrera589]

Thank you! I love your videos

[@-AwaleAbdi-]

I wonder if they and the Daynes are aware of each other in any way. Hard to believe they wouldn't be since the Honeywine and Oldtown are not far from the Torrentine and Starfall at all. The Daynes are the only other non-Valyrian house with strangely Valyrian features like silver hair and purple eyes. I really wonder if both houses or at least one of them (The Hightowers) are aware of their possibly pre-Valyrian dragonlord origins and the likely connection between their houses.

[@HillsAliveYT]

Yeah super hard to believe they don't have a lowkey connection, House Dayne is yet another incredibly rare Westerosi house that was actually formed in the Dawn Age so these two families have been chilling in their respective spots for over 10k years at this point and given that they both have quasi-"Valyrian" features they probably share ancestry and history as well.

[@-AwaleAbdi-]

@@HillsAliveYT Definitely. I love the theory that they're both holdouts from the Great Empire of the Dawn. 10K years is a long time as well. You'd probably pop-in at least once and be like "Hey, you look like me!" 😅. Also, a "King Samwell Dayne" once burned Oldtown and the Daynes were once Kings over their river valley like the Hightowers. "Honeywine" and "Torrentine" even rhyme. George has a sense of humor.

[@thethessaliah]

I think they might be from the same people too but given different roles: scholars/observers/mediators (Hightower) and Daynes are the safekeepers of the Dawn and warriors.

[@Dell-ol6hb]

They definitely know about each other House Dayne like House Hightower is a pretty major and very famous House in Westeros. Like pretty much everyone knows about the Daynes' sword, Dawn.

[@-AwaleAbdi-]

@@Dell-ol6hb True, my brain must've farted. Of course they know about each other but I also wonder more as to how _aware_ they are of each other in terms of their physical similarities coupled with their geographic proximity. The Honeywine is practically just the next valley over from the Torrentine. Surely a Dayne looked at a Hightower at one point and thought "..." and vice versa.

[@pedromagalhaes8911]

Me after watching Hill's Alive and Alt Shift X videos back to back 🍷👌

[@mappingshaman5280]

It's really funny to say the greens are not as valyrian as the blacks. Rhaenyra is only 75% valyrian because of her mother. The strongs are about 37.% valyrian with the blacks being 50% valyrian.

[@HillsAliveYT]

I mean, I think the "not Valyrian enough" thing solely comes from the fact that Viserys was such a deadbeat that he really had no influence over his children aside from Rhaenyra and he clearly had no interest in any of his children with Alicent, which is both hilarious and depressing.

[@rizwanarashed5923]

Alicent is religious... Infact she always has been so. Remember when young Rhaenyra lost her mum and was upset she took her with her to pray🖤 Cause Alicent lost her mother when she was much more younger. And intentionally displaying of being religious is something even Rhaenyra did. She was never a religious person but after Viserys died and she was sending Jace and Luke as messenger she made them touch and promise the book of The Seven Gods. That was a political stuff, every ruler has always used religion as a tool to rule common people.

[@kevinroark5815]

I can't believe why True born sons of Veserys are treated as Villains whereas Rhaenyra and her bastards are regarded as heroes.

[@realSimoneCherie]

Alicent’s religiosity is a trait we see in Selyse Baratheon and many other Hightowers for the reasons you mentioned - their entire lineage has survived based on their consistent acquiescence to any rising power. It’s noteworthy but also spineless.

[@that_vivian]

More please! Liked and subscribed 👌🏽

[@misskate3815]

Now I’m wondering if the Hightowers saw Balerion and the rest of the dragons, groaned, and said, “Great, these assholes.”

[@maccaveen]

I had to pause at the part where you talk about Rhaenyra's dislike of the Maesters, because I recall her dismissal being of those specific Maesters who clearly weren't good at their jobs. I believe she says to Daemon that they should send for their Maester to care for Viserys.

[@andrewlihovets4418]

I also think Hightowers are doing good and are very interesting house

[@jaspersong7959]

Great vid! Very insightful! Subbed!

[@lancehowelllagunay1943]

Can we Team Green fans say "We light the way" the way Mandalorians say "This is the way?"

[@ChrisCarrasquillo]

Yo. You've been popping these videos out. I'm glad but make sure not to burn yourself out.

[@HillsAliveYT]

LOL thank you for thinking of me but I wrote a bunch of scripts last month in preparation for December so it's not as much work as it seems.

[@beautifulblacksoul8611]

Every video you do and every theory I have seem to connect. I hope you're going where I think you're going. I do believe HotD has a secret ending, and I hope HBO reveals it. GRRM has this funny way of poetic justice. I truly believe that the person who sits on the throne in the end is not the person the maesters wrote down since he was tall for his age and fearful of Dragons. It's easy to dismiss as trauma when one of his biggest supporters is the man that said history doesn't remember blood, it remembers names. And this video supports that theory. Do you think the same? Just a wink will do, lol

[@HillsAliveYT]

LOL I wish I had a specific theory regarding this, but at this point I don't. However, I do feel like if they gave Laenor such a nonsensical free pass then at least one or two other people who supposedly die should also get some deus ex machina escape too.

[@islasullivan3463]

@@HillsAliveYT With Leanor's free pass, I think it has to do with the bury your gays trope and the fact that they killed his lover earlier in the season, killing off 2/3 of the shows gay characters with one being the most prominent gay character in the season is just not going to look good.

[@beautifulblacksoul8611]

@@HillsAliveYT hmm... I was more aligned to who actually sits on the throne? Since the people who sat him down after Aegon were the people who prioritised name over blood. The person who sat in effect ensures the dragons begin to die out which also benefits the maesters and interacts with very few people (fear of the past or being caught). As a writer, I'm thinking... what is more poetic than everyone getting all of what they want and nothing of what they want in the end? The rightful heir's (Greens) bastard on the throne (Blacks) to end the conflict (maesters) , secure power for other families and intentionally weaken his own family's power (several houses including the Velaryons, Hightowers, and Lannisters). Is he noble enough to mourn Lannister and keep Corlys who served two heads? Or...? Anyways, that's where I would go with it if I was a TV writer. The only thing that could make it better would be if it was Aemond's son and not Aegon's, but if I was a writer, it'd be a bastard of Aegon's. Keeps the death noble... Somewhat.

[@alfredborden5675]

My new favorite channel

[@rambler123]

High Towers are the most influential and powerful house in Westroos. They are just low-key. There are rumours that high towers paid for the doom of Valeria.

[@PistachioDean]

I appreciate one of the oldest Westerosi families taking down the Dragon Overlords

[@alessiodandolo1460]

My favorite house and by far the most fascinating in Westeros !

[@nightazday7988]

They are the puppeteers I tell ya they caused the dance to bring down the dragons

[@Janary08]

4:14 "the closest they go for power was in the dance of the dragons" could be the secnd time they outwardly try to go for power if you count that maegor's first wife was a hightower. Both times the hightowers tried to unite with the targeryens, they got f*cked over by the targeryens... so its understandable why the hightowers decide to go lowkey instead lol

[@normtrooper4392]

The high towers wear green and I like green so I am already biased in this messed up political system. Oh also they play the politics game relatively well consistently

[@tommysoliz3064]

Great house and they’re still strong

[@yujyuu]

Hightowers are the true quiet luxury

[@psychkosys]

The fused black stone is a nod to Lovecraft stories by GRRM.

[@youngoutlaw5150]

You forget that because of the position is the only reason why they are able to be the antagonist of house Targaryen, and this is something they’ve been doing since the time of the great maegor targaryen the great defender and protector of house Targaryen

[@Darkdivh]

Are you planning to do a video about the reasons why the world of ice and fire is stuck in the middle age?

[@Emma88178]

Maybe I missed some parts of the video, but I'm surprised I didn't see any mention of Ser Gerold Hightower was not mentioned in this video.

[@terilien6124]

My personal theory is that the hightowers came to westeros to escape the decadence of the great empire of the dawn.

[@Fly-the-Light]

I love these guys. Would definitely hope to be one of them if I was stuck in asoiaf.

[@mappingshaman5280]

The hightowers are the proto lannisters but without incest (as far as we can reasonably assume)

[@Commendatori]

Just letting you know George said the black stone from the Hightower is different from that which is found in the five forts and Asshai

[@tycrane2539]

lighthouses rule

[@merrittfigure2924]

I just want Otto and Alicent to adopt me.

[@khaledabodeeb1799]

what is the relation between house hightower and house tyrell especially since house hightower lives in the reach which belong to house Tyrell so shouldn't that mean that house hightower are subordinate to house tyrell ?

[@alexgruel9932]

The marriage to Alicent was not seen as too much as the overreach of House Hightower, but instead the overreach of Otto Hightower. He was the second son of House Hightower, and had no chance to inherit the lands. He was fine as a hand, but marrying the daughter of a second son would be seen as beneath a King.

[@godemperorofmankind3.091]

the show presents it like otto was taking orders from his older brother so who knows

[@verde629]

They seem to have a hold on the religion as well which we all know holds a lot of power

[@BryndenBloodraven]

I agreed with everything you said.

[@yuexin393]

At this point I am starting to think that they have a Valyrian blood yet has more brain than being arrogance except for the dance of the dragon time 😅😅

[@karem3462]

Based green supporter

[@ayiza8511]

No one expect for Deamon, Viserys are pure blooded Targaryens the rest are half. After all Rhaenyra has Arryn from her mother and Leana and Leanor have Baratheon from their mother