In episode 7 of “House of the Dragon” not only was young Aemond able to tame the dragon Vhagar, but Otto Hightower also appeared as the Hand of King Viserys.
The position of Hand of the King is one of the most important in the Seven Kingdoms, because after the king he is the second most powerful person in Westeros and, in case the king is incapacitated, he can even make decisions and rule.
Something like this seems to be happening in the eighth chapter of “House of the Dragon”, as Otto will make decisions for Viserys due to his declining health. But how did Otto become the Hand of the King?
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What is the king’s hand in ‘House of the Dragon’?
Othon was Hand of the King from the time of Jaehaerys I Targaryen and through most of the reign of his successor Viserys Targaryen, but was removed from his position by the king when his intentions for more power became apparent.
Otto wasted no time and after the death of Queen Aemma Arryn, he instructed his teenage daughter Alicent to comfort Viserys and gradually win his trust and love.
He then placed spies to monitor Viserys’ daughter and soon-to-be heir to the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra, as his political agenda was to favor his grandson Aegon as the next king.
The manipulation and ambition for power broke Visery’s trust and the king removed Otto from his position and forced him to return to his land. Hunt’s place was thus given to Lionel Strong, who had proved a great adviser.
However, his position was short-lived, as his own son Larys ‘Clubfoot’ Strong devised a plan to assassinate him and his brother, Harwin Strong, in order to curry favor with Queen Alicent.
‘House of the Dragon’ why did Viserys choose Otto as his hand again?
At the end of episode 6 and after killing his father and brother, Larys ‘Clubfoot’ Strong tells Queen Alicent that it’s time to call her father Otto as they need someone to trust and Viserys a new hand.
By this it can be inferred that Alicent exerted pressure on her husband to convince him that the best choice for the position was again Otto, as he had long experience and was a member of the family.
Viserys has been characterized as a complacent king who seeks everywhere to avoid conflict, so choosing Otto again sees this as a way to appease Alicent and reduce House Targaryen tension.
Just as Viserys approaches his brother Daemon to put their differences behind him and return to King’s Landing, it is the king’s forgiving personality that causes him to take Otto back.
Thus, Viserys agrees to bring Otto back, even knowing that his quest for power and his desire for Aegon to be the one left as heir to the Iron Throne remains intact.
Although Viserys brings back Otto Hightower with good intentions, the Hand of the King is more determined than ever to increase his power and favor Alicent’s daughter in preparation for the coming civil war.
Source: univision
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