House of the Dragon Hugh Hammer Is the Son of Commoner Named Saera and an Unknown Father
Hugh Hammer, a dragon rider of Valyrian descent from the House of the Dragon, has a commoner named Saera as his mother, while his father’s identity remains unclear.
Hugh Hammer, also known as Hugh the Hammer and Hard Hugh, is a supporting character portrayed by Kieran Bew in the television series House of the Dragon.
The series is an adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s novel A Song of Ice and Fire.
Hugh is a blacksmith who became a dragon rider from a dragon seed during the Targaryen Civil War, known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Similarly, he sought to be king with Vermithor as his dragon mount during the First Battle of Tumbleton by betraying Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Likewise, the series portrays him as a tall, huge man with hands capable of twisting steel bars and a very revolting, manipulative, power-hungry character.
Hugh Hammer is an Illegitimate Born to His Mother, Saera Targaryen
Hugh the Hammer is a blacksmith bastard whose mother is Saera Targaryen, a commoner of lower social standing.
In episode 7 of season 2, Hugh describes his mother as a prostitute who used to work in a pleasure house.
This character, Hugh’s mother Saera, also aligns with the original novel that the series adapts, ensuring consistency with the source material.
Saera, the daughter of Jaehaerys and Alysanne and sister to Baelon, was Hugh’s mother. Thus, he is the cousin of Viserys and Daemon and the uncle of Rhaenyra.
Likewise, the series describes Saera as an extremely beautiful but mischievous lady during her younger days.
Her obsession with boys confined her within the room, yet she tried to steal a dragon, which caused her to suffer at the hands of the septas.
Later, she declined to become a Silent Sister, one of the septas who deal with funerals in Westeros, and chose to become a prostitute instead.
Consequently, Saera gives birth to Hugh, a bastard, while her father’s background remains mysterious in the series.
Hugh’s character, motivated by a determination to forge his own identity and prove himself, shows the influence of his father’s absence.
Likewise, the unnamed and unknown father has helped to add mystery to Hugh’s strong and bold character.
Despite his father’s unknown identity, it is evident that he comes from Valyrian’s blood.
Additional Information
- The main fight in Dance of the Dragons was inspired by real historical events, mainly the English Civil War, The Anarchy, and the War of the Roses.
- The series was shot in multiple locations in Northern Ireland, Croatia, Spain, and, lately, Portugal as well.
- George R. R. Martin, the novel’s author, also makes a cameo appearance in the series.