Rhaenyra Targaryen‘s decision to dismiss Mysaria in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 might look like another sign that her reign is falling apart. After relying on Mysaria for intelligence throughout the Dance of the Dragons, Rhaenyra finally cuts her loose as the pressure of ruling during a civil war pushes her toward increasingly desperate decisions.
However, there is a much more important question hiding underneath that moment: was Mysaria actually helping Rhaenyra win the war?
Mysaria’s Advice Helped Turn Rhaenyra Against Her Own Allies
Looking at the events of Fire & Blood, the answer becomes painfully complicated. Mysaria’s influence ultimately contributes to the paranoia that destroys Rhaenyra’s remaining alliances. So while dismissing her may look like a disastrous political move, the greater mistake was allowing Mysaria’s counsel to shape decisions in the first place.
The consequences become catastrophic after the chaos at Tumbleton. In the books, Mysaria helps convince Rhaenyra that Nettles and Addam Velaryon are traitors. Rhaenyra responds by ordering their deaths, believing that eliminating potential traitors is necessary to protect her increasingly fragile position.
Instead, the decision destroys what little trust remains around her. Daemon’s relationship with Rhaenyra is already strained, and the order targeting Nettles becomes the breaking point. Rather than obeying the command, Daemon allows Nettles to escape.
He then flies Caraxes to the Gods Eye, where he confronts Aemond and Vhagar in a battle that effectively becomes a suicide mission. That loss is enormous. Rhaenyra doesn’t simply lose her husband; she loses one of the most experienced and dangerous warriors on her side. And things get even worse.
Rhaenyra’s One Paranoid Decision Created A Chain Reaction
Rhaenyra’s attempt to eliminate Addam Velaryon has consequences just as devastating. Addam’s father, Corlys Velaryon, is furious when he realizes what’s happening. The Velaryon support that Rhaenyra desperately needs begins to collapse, while Corlys himself is imprisoned after trying to protect Addam.
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At this point, Rhaenyra’s position becomes almost impossible to defend. Daemon is gone. The Velaryon alliance is fractured. The capital is increasingly hostile. And the Queen’s attempts to eliminate supposed traitors have left her with fewer and fewer people willing to fight for her.
Eventually, King’s Landing erupts. The Dragonpit falls, Rhaenyra is forced to flee, and she ultimately ends up facing Aegon II and Sunfyre. That’s why cutting Mysaria loose isn’t necessarily the tragedy it first appears to be. Rhaenyra didn’t lose the throne because she suddenly had too few allies. She lost it because she destroyed the alliances she already had.
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