The Targaryens and their dragons remain among the most intriguing and influential elements in the Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon saga. The Targaryens unleashed the full power of their dragons to attack, conquer, and rule Westeros during Aegon’s Conquest.
Aegon the Conqueror, along with his sister-wives Rhaenys and Visenya, invaded Westeros with their three fierce dragons: Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar. They quickly brought six of the Seven Kingdoms to their knees, unifying them under Targaryen rule. The Targaryen relationship with dragons goes way back, even before the events of House of the Dragon.
The Valyrian Roots
The Targaryens are one of the most iconic and powerful families in Game of Thrones, with their dragons being the key to their strength. They are direct descendants of the Valyrians, an ancient civilization that thrived in Essos thanks to their dragons and magical skills. The Valyrians lived in Valyria and found dragons in a volcanic region known as the 14 Flames. Using their sorcery, they tamed and controlled the dragons, making them their greatest assets.
Sorcery played a significant role, but the Targaryens’ deep connection with their dragons goes beyond mere training and control. Taming is one thing, but the Targaryens believed they had the blood of the dragon in their veins, which completely changes the scenario. This belief suggested that the Targaryens shared traits and qualities with their fire-breathing companions. Their infamous silver hair and purple eyes, along with their practice of marrying within their family to keep their bloodlines pure, further strengthened this bond.
Dragon Eggs and High Valyrian
The Targaryens could speak to their dragons using the ancient High Valyrian language. In return, the dragons were loyal and respectful to their riders, refusing to let anyone else ride them until their original rider died. They also had a tradition of placing a dragon egg in the cradle of their newborns, hoping it would hatch and bond with the child. However, this tradition didn’t always work out, as some eggs never hatched, and some Targaryen children never became dragon riders.
Magic and Blood Magic
The origins of the Targaryen-dragon relationship lie in the magical practices of ancient Valyria. According to the Valyria page on a Wiki of Ice and Fire, the Valyrians practiced blood magic and other dark arts, delving deep into the earth for secrets and twisting the flesh of beasts and men to fashion monstrous and unnatural chimeras. It is believed that for these sins, the gods, in their wrath, struck Valyria down.
Chimera, a mythical creature made up of parts from different animals, suggests that the Valyrians didn’t just claim to have dragon blood—they actually had some dragon DNA. They physically fused with dragons through their magical chimera-making process. This could explain their connection to dragons and fire magic.
Theories and Rituals
Several theories exist regarding the origins of the Targaryen-dragon relationship. In one of the episodes of House of the Dragon, Daemon sings a song named “Har Bosi,” whose lyrics indicate that Valyrian blood mages merged worms with wyverns to create dragons. The lyrics describe a ritual involving worms and wyverns, ancient blood magic, and the necessity of three participants or elements to complete the spell.
Bloodlines and Bonding
The most acceptable theory about the origins of the Targaryen-dragon relationship lies with blood magic. Being magically gifted in ancient Valyria likely included some ability to control dragons, similar to how wargs can control wolves. Over time, the toxic fire and blood magic that the Valyrians practiced might have altered them, creating a biological and magical link to dragons. This could also explain why Valyrians were so drawn to each other, especially siblings.
The Targaryens were just one of the dragon lord families in old Valyria. Daenys Targaryen had a prophetic dream about the Doom before it occurred, prompting the Targaryens and a few other families to flee to Dragonstone. Although many Valyrians bonded with dragons, most other families were killed in the Doom. Valyrians, who also had Valyrian blood, included some dragon riders.
