I have always loved the Game of Thrones universe, and at some point a thought began to take shape.

What if Aegon Targaryen had looked east instead of west?
What if, rather than conquering Westeros, he had established himself in Essos?

And then another idea followed naturally from that. If Valyria — as imagined by George R. R. Martin — already draws inspiration from ancient Rome, what if that inspiration leaned even further towards the Roman Republic at its height? And if Valyria, in its golden age, was the Republic, then it seemed only fitting that the empire forged by Aegon would resemble the Roman Empire itself.

From that premise, I decided to build a story.

At the moment, I have around 350,000 words written in Portuguese, my native language. I am slowly translating the work into English and publishing it chapter by chapter for anyone interested in reading something both familiar and new.

In this story, you will find a little of everything.

You will see Essos as it might have been if all the Free Cities had been united under the banner of House Targaryen. A world where the Empire never fell. Where Robert Baratheon never raised his banners in rebellion. Where Essos stands as a hegemonic imperial power.

The narrative follows the second son of an emperor, sent to the western frontier of the Empire, where he comes face to face with a new continent — one known to him only through his mother’s stories and the teachings of the great alchemist-scholars who educated him. He is a soldier, a legionary commander, and through his eyes we explore how people think, rule, and live in this world.

It is also a story about contrast.

The Seven Kingdoms still exist, independent from Dorne to the North, and we see them through the eyes of an imperial noble who regards this feudal continent as culturally and socially backward. The clash of worldviews, political systems, and values lies at the heart of the narrative.

If you are willing to embark on this journey with me, you will find the link to the story below.

I release new chapters as I translate them into English, while also revising the original Portuguese version. I already have a great deal written, and I am continuing to produce more. The story will be long — very long. I am effectively retelling A Song of Ice and Fire through this alternate lens, so the final length may reach 600,000 to 800,000 words.

This is my alternate universe. I created it for myself first and foremost. Some elements may feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable to some readers, but there is nothing gratuitous or grotesque in the way the story functions.

Valyria is heavily inspired by Roman and Byzantine imperial administration, while the Seven Kingdoms draw from late medieval Europe. The cultural and linguistic foundations remain firmly rooted in what George R. R. Martin originally built.

Some characters are original; others have been reworked. For example, Robert Baratheon becomes Robert Durrandon. The Gardeners still rule, so Olenna never married a Tyrell — she married a Gardener instead. The Tyrells still exist, but as the High Stewards of Highgarden. The Tullys remain lords, never elevated to paramountcy. The descendants of Harras Hoare still rule from Harrenhal as Kings of the Isles and the Rivers.

This is the world I am exploring.

I hope some of you will be curious enough to explore it with me.  

Name: The Black Dragon – The Conquest of Westeros

Autor: me (aaron_stark) 

Status: Beginning of the tradition of transferring material from Portuguese to English.

(I have about 35,000 words translated.)

Rating: +16 (According to the laws of my country) May contain violence typical of novels, arranged marriages. Sexual violence, possibly not graphic.

Length: From 600 to one million words. (I already have 350,000 words written.)


Portuguese version; 
https://archiveofourown.org/works/79761401

Alternate Universe. Empire of Valyria. My fanfic.