Daenerys Targaryen is coming back to Westeros, sooner rather than later. And her arrival will immediately throw the entire country into tumult. Today, I’d like to look at what I believe is the biggest obstacle to her success. This article will contain spoilers for all Game of Thrones seasons and all the books so far; you’ve been warned. As I see it, the greatest threat to Daenerys isn’t the ruling house of Baratheon, de facto the Lannisters, nor is it her alleged nephew Aegon Targaryen (although he’s going to be a tough nut to crack too). It’s the Faith of the Seven.

Daenerys and the Faith of the Seven

Daenerys is not a very religious woman. And we have little to no evidence that she knows much about the Faith of the Seven. Reddit has a good summary of her religious experiences. She knows the Seven, of course: She was raised by a Westerosi, Ser Willem Darry. And she has prayed to the Warrior, at least, and thinks of the Seven from time to time. But she’s also prayed to the lamb god, the horse god, the old gods. She has no special attachment to the Faith of the Seven.

That’s going to be trouble. After all, it’s the dominant religion over there, and it’s more powerful than ever. Especially in the show, King’s Landing is teetering on the edge of total anarchy because of the Faith Militant. They’re quite powerful in the books too, and very much on the upswing. The High Sparrow holds trials over both Cersei and Margaery. Both the Queens of the realm are in his power, and King Tommen hasn’t managed to do anything about it. And the queens are both known quantities, and both profess the Faith.

Daenerys is not going to get a warm welcome from the Faith Militant. Aegon was truly raised in the Faith, and still travels with the Westerosi, including a septa (supposedly). Targaryens have always had an unusual relationship with the Faith, but his claim to piety is far stronger than a strange foreign queen’s.

Of course, Daenerys can take over Westeros with the dragons, and no one will be able to stop her. But she did that in Slaver’s Bay too, and it’s clearly worked out… so, so well. Like in Meereen, she needs to win the people to her side. Instead, there will be chaos in the streets if the Faith Militant reject her. And why shouldn’t they? If the common people think Aegon is who he says he is, then his claim is better, and he knows their culture better. Daenerys knows little of Westeros and its ways, and it will be the gravest threat to her power. The Faith Militant will be a challenge far, far greater than the Sons of the Harpy.