How Ulf the White Dies In ‘House of the Dragon’ According to the Books

Fans of ‘House of the Dragon‘ have seen Ulf the White transform from a boastful tavern drunk to a full-fledged dragonrider, and now many are eager to discover his fate. As the show has yet to depict this part of the narrative, the only confirmed details come from George R.R. Martin’s source material, ‘Fire and Blood’.

This book outlines a fittingly ironic and treacherous end for a character marked by betrayal. Here’s everything currently known about Ulf the White’s demise and why it serves as a fitting conclusion to his story arc.

Ulf the White, portrayed by Tom Bennett, first appears in ‘House of the Dragon’ as a lowborn citizen of King’s Landing who spins tavern tales about being the secret bastard son of Baelon the Brave. Viewers first see him among crowds reacting to the deaths of the ratcatchers after the infamous incident known as Blood and Cheese.

In episode 3, Ulf introduces himself at a tavern while entertaining friends with the story of his lineage. If his claims are true, he would be a half-brother to both Daemon Targaryen and the late King Viserys.

His fortunes shift dramatically when Queen Rhaenyra realizes she needs more dragonriders for her cause. Ulf claims the dragon Silverwing during the event known as the Red Sowing, where Queen Rhaenyra calls for dragonseeds to tame riderless dragons—this dragon once belonged to the beloved Queen Alysanne Targaryen. It’s a remarkable turn for a man who, according to the books, struggled with reading and writing.

‘House of the Dragon’ has created genuine tension surrounding whether Ulf’s claims of Targaryen bloodline hold any truth, and this mystery has only fueled fan theories as we look ahead to future seasons.

Ulf’s journey takes a darker turn when he and fellow dragonseed Hugh Hammer are dispatched to defend the town of Tumbleton for the Blacks. Instead of holding the line, they switch allegiances entirely. During the First Battle of Tumbleton, Ulf White and Hugh Hammer, sent to aid the Blacks, instead defect to the Greens.

This single act earns them a permanent place in Westerosi infamy. Fans of ‘Fire and Blood’ already know Ulf and Hugh become known by a rather unflattering nickname due to their actions that day.

Ulf White earns the nickname The Betrayer when he and Hugh Hammer defect from the Blacks to the Greens during the First Battle of Tumbleton, significantly altering the course of the battle.

Once on the winning side, Ulf does not settle into a life of quiet nobility. Prince Daeron Targaryen names Ulf as Lord of Bitterbridge, but Ulf desires Highgarden as his seat instead, deeming Bitterbridge insufficient. His greed and erratic behavior, including drunken escapades chronicled by the chronicler Mushroom, create many enemies among those he has just joined.

Ulf’s ambition ultimately leads to his downfall. After Hugh Hammer is killed by Ser Jon Roxton in an unrelated betrayal, Ulf decides to claim the Iron Throne for himself upon learning of Hugh’s death. This overreach draws the attention of a noble family known as the Caltrops, who view Ulf as a threat that must be dealt with discreetly.

Their solution comes in the form of a supposed peace offering. The Caltrop Ser Hobert Hightower pretends to agree to Ulf’s claim and brings two casks of wine as a gesture of goodwill. Ulf, suspicious by nature after years of scheming, does not accept the gift at face value.

Ulf demands proof that the wine is safe before he consumes it. He asks Hobert to taste the wine first, and Hobert takes a glass, drinks it entirely, praises its flavor, and requests another. Convinced there’s no trickery, Ulf finally lowers his guard.

What follows is a quiet and almost anticlimactic end for a man who spent the latter part of his story betraying nearly everyone he served. Satisfied that the wine is safe, Ulf drinks three glasses and falls asleep, succumbing to a gentle poison and dying peacefully about an hour later. In a darkly fitting twist, Hobert Hightower does not escape either; he attempts to vomit up the poison once Ulf loses consciousness, but it’s too late, and he dies as well.

Since ‘House of the Dragon’ has not yet depicted the Second Battle of Tumbleton or its aftermath on screen, all details regarding Ulf’s death currently stem strictly from the books rather than confirmed show footage. This poisoning occurs after the Second Battle of Tumbleton, a battle which Ulf had slept through entirely, adding another layer of dark comedy to his downfall.

It’s important to note that show details can diverge from the source material, as ‘House of the Dragon’ has already made changes to other storylines and character origins compared to ‘Fire and Blood’. Ulf in the show originates from King’s Landing rather than Dragonstone, and his exact parentage remains an unresolved thread in the series. Whether the show retains the poisoned wine death or alters the circumstances entirely is something only future seasons can reveal.

Given the narrative weight placed on Ulf’s claimed Targaryen bloodline and his betrayal of Rhaenyra, his eventual on-screen demise is likely to be a significant moment for the series. What do you think ‘House of the Dragon’ will change, if anything, about how Ulf the White ultimately meets his end?