Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Timeline

The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms timeline spans roughly 90 years, from the reign of King Daeron II Targaryen (circa 209 AC) to the Great Council of 305 AC, with the novellas following the hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, across three main adventures. The stories, set in the world of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, are collected in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and take place about 80–90 years before the events of the main novels. This article explains the chronological order of the three novellas, the historical context, and how they fit into the larger Westerosi timeline.

Background: The Hedge Knight and the Targaryen Era

The Tales of Dunk and Egg (as the series is also known) are set during the late Targaryen dynasty, a period of relative peace after the Blackfyre Rebellions. The first novella, The Hedge Knight, is set in 209 AC (After the Conquest), during the reign of King Daeron II Targaryen. This is a time when the realm is still recovering from the First Blackfyre Rebellion (196 AC), and the old knightly orders are fading. The story introduces Ser Duncan (Dunk), a young hedge knight, and his squire Egg, who is secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen, the fourth son of Prince Maekar and great-grandson of King Daeron II.

The timeline of the three novellas is not continuous; each story jumps forward by several years, allowing the characters to age and the political landscape to shift. The second novella, The Sworn Sword, takes place in 211 AC, and the third, The Mystery Knight, is set in 212 AC. These dates are confirmed by the author and by internal references to known historical events.

The Three Novellas: Chronological Order

The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms collection contains three novellas, which are best read in the order they were written and published, as they form a continuous narrative of Dunk and Egg’s early adventures.

• The Hedge Knight (209 AC): Dunk participates in a tournament at Ashford Meadow, where he faces the trial of seven after a dispute with Prince Aerion Targaryen. The story ends with Dunk being knighted (though he was already a knight) and Egg revealing his identity.
• The Sworn Sword (211 AC): Dunk and Egg are in the service of a minor lord, Ser Eustace Osgrey, and become embroiled in a dispute over water rights with a neighboring house, the Webbers. This story is more grounded and explores the aftermath of the First Blackfyre Rebellion.
• The Mystery Knight (212 AC): Set during a wedding tournament at Whitewalls, Dunk and Egg uncover a conspiracy to crown a new Blackfyre king, leading to the Second Blackfyre Rebellion (also known as the “Great Council” of 212 AC).

Each novella is self-contained but builds on the previous ones, developing the relationship between Dunk and Egg and hinting at the larger political tensions that will eventually lead to the Targaryen civil wars.

How the Timeline Connects to the Main Series

The Dunk and Egg stories are set roughly 80–90 years before the events of A Game of Thrones (which begins in 298 AC). This means that many of the major houses and locations are familiar, but the political landscape is different. For example, the Targaryens still rule from King’s Landing, and the Seven Kingdoms are not yet fractured by the War of the Five Kings.

The timeline also intersects with key historical events mentioned in the main series. The Blackfyre Rebellions, which are a recurring topic in the novels, are the backdrop for the second and third novellas. The Great Council of 212 AC, which is the climax of The Mystery Knight, is a direct precursor to the Great Council of 305 AC that eventually leads to the Targaryen restoration in the main series (though that is still future for the novellas).

Additionally, the character of Egg, who later becomes King Aegon V Targaryen, is a significant figure in the main series’ history. His reign (233–259 AC) is known for his reforms and his tragic death at the Tragedy of Summerhall, which is referenced in A Feast for Crows and other books.

Reading Order and Publication History

If you are new to the series, the best reading order is the chronological one: The Hedge Knight (1998), The Sworn Sword (2003), and The Mystery Knight (2010). They were originally published in various anthologies, but are now collected in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2015). The collection also includes a new novella, The She-Wolves of Winterfell, which is set in the North and takes place between the second and third novellas, but it has not yet been published as of 2025.

For readers who want to fit the novellas into the larger A Song of Ice and Fire series, it is recommended to read them after the main books, as they provide historical context without spoiling the main plot. However, they can also be read as a standalone introduction to the world, as they are more lighthearted and less graphically violent than the main series.

Common Misconceptions and Mistakes

One common misconception is that the Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a single novel, when in fact it is a collection of novellas. Another is that the timeline is continuous; the stories jump years, and the characters age accordingly (Dunk is in his early 20s in the first story, but in his late 20s by the third).

Another mistake is confusing the Second Blackfyre Rebellion (212 AC) with the First (196 AC) or the Third (219 AC). The novellas only depict the first and second rebellions, and the third is mentioned in passing. Also, some readers mistakenly believe that Egg is the same character as Aegon “the Unlikely” from the main series, which is true, but they may not realize that he is not the same as Aegon VI (the supposed son of Rhaegar) who appears in A Dance with Dragons.

Finally, a common question is whether the timeline of the novellas aligns with the TV series House of the Dragon. That show is set about 100 years earlier (around 120–130 AC), so it does not overlap with the novellas, but it does feature some of the same houses and locations.

Key Historical Events in the Timeline

To fully appreciate the timeline, it helps to know the major events that occur around the novellas:

• 196 AC: First Blackfyre Rebellion – Daemon Blackfyre’s failed revolt.
• 209 AC: The Hedge Knight – Tournament at Ashford, trial of seven.
• 211 AC: The Sworn Sword – The standoff at Standfast.
• 212 AC: The Mystery Knight – Second Blackfyre Rebellion, Great Council.
• 233 AC: Great Council after the death of Maekar I – Egg becomes King Aegon V.
• 259 AC: Tragedy of Summerhall – Aegon V dies.

These events are not all depicted in the novellas, but they are referenced and help anchor the timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many years are between The Hedge Knight and The Mystery Knight?

Three years. The Hedge Knight is set in 209 AC, and The Mystery Knight is set in 212 AC. The second novella, The Sworn Sword, is set in 211 AC, so the entire series covers about three years of in-world time.

Do I need to read A Song of Ice and Fire before the novellas?

No, but it helps. The novellas are self-contained and can be read as a standalone introduction to the world. However, readers who have read the main series will appreciate the historical references and the connections to characters like Bloodraven and the Blackfyre pretenders.

Is there a fourth Dunk and Egg novella?

Yes, but it has not been published yet. George R.R. Martin has written a fourth novella titled The She-Wolves of Winterfell, which is set in the North and takes place between The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight. It has not been released as of 2025.

Why is Egg called “Egg” if he is a prince?

Egg is a nickname given to him by Dunk because his shaved head resembles an egg. His real name is Aegon Targaryen, and he is the fourth son of Prince Maekar, making him unlikely to inherit the throne. He later becomes king, earning the nickname “Aegon the Unlikely.”

What is the significance of the Great Council in The Mystery Knight?

The Great Council of 212 AC is called to decide the succession after the death of Prince Baelor, and it also deals with the Blackfyre rebellion. This council is significant because it establishes the principle that the lords of Westeros choose the king, which is later used in the main series after Robert’s Rebellion.

Are the novellas considered canon?

Yes, they are written by George R.R. Martin and are considered part of the official A Song of Ice and Fire canon. They are referenced in the main series and in supplementary materials like The World of Ice & Fire.

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