HOUSE HIGHTOWER
House Hightower | MapsOfThrones.com
Ancient House of The Reach · Lords of Oldtown

House Hightower

From the tallest tower in Westeros, an ancient flame has burned without interruption for thousands of years — guiding sailors home, illuminating the heart of the known world’s greatest city, and marking the seat of one of the most quietly powerful noble houses in all of history.

By MapsOfThrones Editorial · Updated May 2025 · Great Houses · The Reach · Oldtown
⚡ Quick Answer

House Hightower is one of the oldest and wealthiest noble houses in Westeros, ruling Oldtown — the continent’s most ancient city — from the legendary Hightower on Battle Isle. Their words are “We Light the Way,” a reference to the eternal beacon atop their tower-castle that has guided ships into Oldtown’s harbor for millennia. Though not a Great House in the technical sense, the Hightowers command wealth, influence, and strategic position rivaling any of the great lords of The Reach. In House of the Dragon, House Hightower becomes the pivot of the entire succession crisis: Otto Hightower serves as Hand of the King, and his daughter Alicent Hightower marries King Viserys I — making the Hightowers the architects of the “green” faction and the Dance of the Dragons.

Oldtown Seat of Power
The Reach Region
White & Grey House Colors
Tower & Flame Sigil
800+ ft Tower Height
Origin & Identity

House Hightower of Oldtown

In a world defined by swords, dragons, and naked ambition, House Hightower has endured by mastering a far older power: position. Perched atop Battle Isle at the confluence of the Honeywine and the sea, the Hightower tower has stood since before recorded history — some legends claim it was built upon an even older black-stone structure of unknown origin, possibly predating the First Men themselves. Whatever its ancient foundation, the Hightowers transformed that mystery into dynasty.

Oldtown is not merely a city — it is the intellectual and spiritual capital of Westeros. It is home to the Citadel, where the Maesters are trained; to the Starry Sept, once the holiest building of the Faith of the Seven; and to a harbor whose commerce has fed the continent for thousands of years. To rule Oldtown is to sit at the center of knowledge, faith, and trade simultaneously — and House Hightower has done so longer than almost any other house has held any seat.

Despite their extraordinary wealth and influence, the Hightowers have historically avoided the highest thrones. They did not declare themselves Kings of the Reach; they did not march on King’s Landing. Instead, they operated as the paramount lords behind the scenes — lending support where it benefited them, cultivating relationships with the Maesters and the Faith, and building a network of soft power that military force alone could not buy. Their words, “We Light the Way,” carry a double meaning: the literal beacon on their tower and the metaphorical claim of civilizing guidance.

It was not until House of the Dragon that the full geopolitical weight of the Hightowers moved into the open. Otto Hightower, the calculating and relentless Hand of the King, placed his daughter Alicent in the king’s bed — and in doing so, set the entire realm on a path toward civil war. The Hightowers did not merely participate in the Dance of the Dragons; they ignited it.

HOUSE HIGHTOWER

of the Hightower, Oldtown

Geographic Context

Oldtown & the Domain of House Hightower

River Mander Honeywine OLDTOWN THE HIGHTOWER HIGHGARDEN CRAKEHALL LANNISPORT STARFALL The Citadel Sunset Sea Whispering Sound THE REACH N E S W

Oldtown and the western Reach — the heartland of House Hightower’s power. Explore the full Reach map →

Notable Members & Entities

The Hightowers — Characters, Locations & Legacy

Hand of the King · Patriarch

Otto Hightower

Brilliant, cold, and utterly committed to his house’s ascension, Otto served as Hand to Kings Jaehaerys, Viserys I, and briefly Aegon II. His decision to place Alicent before the king was the opening move in a generation-long gambit.

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Queen Consort · Green Queen

Alicent Hightower

Wife of King Viserys I and mother of Aegon II, Alicent became the focal point of the green faction’s claim. Her relationship with Rhaenyra Targaryen — from childhood friendship to bitter rivalry — is the emotional spine of House of the Dragon.

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Seat of Power · Wonder of Westeros

The Hightower

Rising over 800 feet from Battle Isle, the Hightower is the tallest structure in Westeros and one of its greatest wonders. It is simultaneously lighthouse, castle, city-within-a-city, and throne — its beacon never extinguished in recorded history.

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Lord of Oldtown

Lord Hobert Hightower

A cautious and pragmatic lord, Hobert maintained Oldtown’s neutrality during early Targaryen conflicts — a calculated choice that preserved the city’s wealth and the Citadel’s independence while his relatives maneuvered at court.

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Knight of the Kingsguard

Ser Gwayne Hightower

Otto’s son and Alicent’s brother, Ser Gwayne was a member of the Kingsguard and a capable fighter. His loyalties lay firmly with the green faction, making the Hightowers a militarily connected dynasty as well as a political one.

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Center of Knowledge

The Citadel

The Citadel of Oldtown is the headquarters of the Order of Maesters — the scholars, healers, and ravens-keepers who serve as advisors in every castle in Westeros. Its proximity to the Hightower gives the house unique leverage over information flows across the entire continent.

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Holiest City in Westeros

Oldtown

The oldest city in Westeros and once its largest, Oldtown is the seat of trade, faith, and scholarship. Ruled by House Hightower, it stands at the tip of the Reach — a city so rich and so ancient it makes even King’s Landing feel young.

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Ancestral Enigma

The Black Stones

The Hightower was allegedly built atop a far older foundation of fused black stone — identical in construction to the base of the Wall, Dragonstone, and other enigmatic structures across the world. Who built them, and why, remains one of ASOIAF’s deepest unsolved mysteries.

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Dance of the Dragons · Green Faction

The Greens

The faction supporting Aegon II’s claim over Rhaenyra’s was called “the Greens” — named for Alicent Hightower’s green dress at a key feast. House Hightower was its dynastic core, its political architects, and its most enduring legacy.

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Domain Analysis

House Hightower — Power Across Oldtown & The Reach

Political Zones
The Hightower Castle, lighthouse, and city in one. The Hightower’s 800-foot height houses nobles, servants, garrisons, and a permanent beacon atop Battle Isle at Oldtown’s harbor mouth.
The Small Council (via Otto) Through Otto’s long tenure as Hand, House Hightower exercised direct influence over the crown — shaping foreign policy, appointments, and succession across multiple reigns.
The Royal Court (via Alicent) Alicent’s position as queen gave the Hightowers royal proximity: four children by Viserys I, including King Aegon II, embedding the bloodline permanently into the Targaryen dynasty.
Geographic Zones
Oldtown The oldest and once the greatest city in Westeros, sitting at the southwestern tip of The Reach. Its harbor commands trade routes between the Sunset Sea and the Summer Sea.
Battle Isle The ancient island at Oldtown’s harbor mouth on which the Hightower stands. Its name recalls a long-forgotten battle; its black-stone foundations predate all known Westerosi history.
The Honeywine Oldtown’s river, flowing through the city and past the Citadel. Named for the golden hue of its slower stretches — a navigable artery linking the city’s trade to the broader Reach.
Cultural Zones
The Citadel The Maester order’s headquarters — a sprawling complex of linked towers and libraries where scholars earn their chains. The Hightowers are its historical patrons, giving them unrivaled proximity to Westeros’s information network.
The Starry Sept Once the holiest sept in the Seven Kingdoms before the Great Sept of Baelor was built. Its presence in Oldtown reinforces the Hightowers’ role as protectors of the Faith — a relationship of mutual legitimacy.
The Green Identity The color green became synonymous with Alicent Hightower and the faction bearing her family’s interests — a cultural signal that galvanized lords across Westeros and divided the realm along dynastic lines.
Strategic Zones
Oldtown Harbor One of the largest and most defensible natural harbors in Westeros. The Hightower beacon guides maritime commerce worth vast fortunes — and the house that controls the beacon controls the port.
The Reach Breadbasket The Reach is the most fertile region of Westeros. Oldtown’s position as its trade capital means the Hightowers sit at the nexus of agricultural surplus — the foundation of true strategic power.
Raven Network Access Through the Citadel’s maester-raven network, House Hightower has informal access to communications infrastructure spanning all of Westeros — a surveillance and intelligence advantage no army can replicate.
Reference Data

House Hightower — Key Locations Reference

Location / Entity Type Position Known For Strategic Importance
The Hightower Castle Battle Isle, Oldtown harbor Tallest structure in Westeros; eternal flame beacon; built on mysterious black stone Seat of House Hightower; lighthouse controlling harbor access; symbol of ancient power
Oldtown City Southwest tip of The Reach Oldest city in Westeros; home of Citadel and Starry Sept; great trade harbor Commercial, intellectual, and religious capital; second largest city; gateway to the Sunset Sea
The Citadel Institution Within Oldtown, on the Honeywine Headquarters of the Order of Maesters; largest library in the known world Controls maester training, raven communications, and historical records across all Westeros
Battle Isle Island Oldtown harbor mouth Ancient island where the Hightower stands; foundation of black fused stone of unknown origin Controls harbor access; the black stone foundation is one of ASOIAF’s deepest unsolved mysteries
Starry Sept Religious Site Oldtown Original seat of the High Septon; holiest building of the Faith before Baelor’s construction Reinforces Hightower legitimacy through Faith proximity; pilgrimage draws wealth to Oldtown
The Honeywine River Through central Oldtown Primary river of Oldtown; flows past the Citadel; named for its gold-hued waters Enables internal river trade; defensive moat element; Citadel island access route
The Reach Region Southwest Westeros Most fertile region; ruled by House Tyrell; Hightower is its paramount sub-lord Agricultural surplus feeds military ambitions; Oldtown taxes enrich the Hightowers beyond most lords
King’s Landing (via Otto) Political Seat Crownlands, eastern Westeros Seat of the Iron Throne; where Otto served as Hand and Alicent as Queen The Hightower power projection extended from Oldtown to the capital through personal presence at court
Common Questions

House Hightower — Frequently Asked Questions

What is House Hightower’s sigil and what do their words mean? +
House Hightower’s sigil is a white tower with a beacon flame on top, displayed on a grey field. Their words — “We Light the Way” — refer literally to the eternal beacon atop the Hightower of Oldtown, which has guided ships into the harbor for thousands of years. Metaphorically, the words assert a civilizing, guiding role for the house: a claim to wisdom and direction in a chaotic world. The combination of sigil and words makes them uniquely self-referential — the house is inseparable from the landmark they inhabit.
How tall is the Hightower and why is it so significant? +
The Hightower of Oldtown is estimated to stand over 800 feet tall, making it the tallest man-made structure in Westeros — and by most accounts, the world. Unlike castles designed purely for defense, it functions simultaneously as lighthouse, palace, garrison, and administrative center. Its height made it a marvel visible from miles out to sea, and its beacon — burning an alchemical or magical fire — has reportedly never gone dark in recorded history. The structure sits on foundations of fused black stone of unknown and potentially pre-human origin, adding mythological depth to its already enormous physical presence.
Is House Hightower a Great House? +
Technically, House Hightower is not one of the nine Great Houses of Westeros — they are formally vassals of House Tyrell, who are the paramount lords of The Reach. However, their wealth, ancient lineage, and control of Oldtown (the continent’s oldest city and home of the Citadel) gives them power exceeding many Great Houses in practice. Their influence over trade, the Citadel’s maester network, and the Faith of the Seven makes them what scholars sometimes call a “shadow great house” — operating with great-house resources while technically serving under Tyrell authority.
What role did Otto Hightower play in House of the Dragon? +
Otto Hightower served as Hand of the King to multiple Targaryen rulers and was the principal architect of the green faction’s rise. After the death of his first wife, Otto positioned his daughter Alicent to become close to the recently widowed King Viserys I — a calculated move that eventually resulted in their marriage. When Viserys died, it was Otto who orchestrated the immediate coronation of Aegon II before Rhaenyra could secure her claim, effectively launching the Dance of the Dragons. He was twice dismissed as Hand — once by Viserys for his aggressive maneuvering, and once by Aegon II himself — but remained the central strategic mind of the Hightower cause.
What are the black stones under the Hightower? +
Beneath the Hightower on Battle Isle lies an ancient foundation of fused black stone that no one has ever fully explained. The same type of construction appears at Dragonstone, at the base of the Wall in the far North, and at certain sites in Essos — suggesting a common builder of immense sophistication who predated both the First Men and the Andals. In ASOIAF lore, this is sometimes linked to the mysterious “Lovecraftian” figure of the Great Other, to the Deep Ones sea myths, or simply left as an unexplained enigma. George R.R. Martin has deliberately left the black stones as one of the world’s deepest unsolved riddles.
Why did Oldtown avoid being burned during the Dance of the Dragons? +
Oldtown’s survival during the Dance of the Dragons was a combination of the Hightower loyalty to the green faction, Oldtown’s strong defenses, and the political calculation of both sides about the cost of destroying the continent’s greatest city and the Citadel. The Citadel held significant leverage — any dragon-rider who burned Oldtown would lose the maester order’s goodwill and the raven network’s cooperation. The Hightowers also maintained a fleet and garrison capable of meaningful resistance, making the city an expensive target. Its survival preserved both the Hightower dynasty and the knowledge infrastructure of Westeros.
What is the relationship between the Citadel and House Hightower? +
The Citadel and House Hightower share Oldtown as their home and have coexisted for thousands of years in a relationship of mutual benefit and cautious independence. The Hightowers protect the Citadel physically and provide governance stability; the Citadel grants legitimacy, intellectual prestige, and informal influence over information flowing through the maester-raven network. Neither controls the other outright, but the proximity means Hightower lords always have better access to Citadel resources — trained maesters, historical records, alchemical knowledge — than any other noble house in the realm.
Does House Hightower appear in Game of Thrones? +
House Hightower is mentioned but not prominently featured in Game of Thrones. Oldtown appears briefly in Season 6 and 7 through Samwell Tarly’s storyline at the Citadel, and the Hightower itself is visible in these scenes. However, the house’s main portrayal comes in the prequel series House of the Dragon (2022), which makes Otto and Alicent Hightower two of the three or four most important characters in the entire story. The show significantly elevated House Hightower’s profile in the wider fandom.
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Parent Hubs
Hightower Characters
Oldtown Locations
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Dance of the Dragons
Sibling Regions

“We Light the Way.”

The beacon of Oldtown burns still. Follow it through every map and legend.

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