Long Night
The endless winter that nearly extinguished humanity and forged the Night's Watch.
The Long Night is a decades-long winter in the ancient history of Westeros, eight thousand years before the events of the novels. During it an enigmatic arctic humanoid species called the Others emerged from the Land of Always Winter, the northernmost part of Westeros.
Lore & Background
The Children of the Forest and the First Men, who had earlier settled their millennia-long war with an agreement known as "The Pact", allied to repel the Others, and then built the Wall barring passage from the far north. The Wall is a huge structure of stone, ice and magic on the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms.
Reader's Guide
The Long Night lies far in the past of House of the Dragon. In Game of Thrones, Jon Snow discovers cave drawings of the First Men and the Children of the Forest fighting the White Walkers together, and Samwell Tarly kills a White Walker with a dragonglass dagger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who fought during the Long Night?
The First Men and the Children of the Forest formed an alliance to combat the army of wights led by the White Walkers. Their combined forces were essential for survival against the encroaching cold.
How did the Long Night end?
The Children of the Forest and the First Men allied to repel the Others, and then built the Wall barring passage from the far north. This victory concluded the endless winter and established a new era for the continent.
Does the Long Night happen during House of the Dragon?
No, this cataclysm occurred thousands of years before the Targaryen dynasty arrived in Westeros. It is part of the deep past history referenced by maesters rather than current events in the series.
More in History & Prophecy
Elsewhere in House of the Dragon
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