A dragonrider is a person whose mount is a dragon. Dragonriders could be found among the dragonlord families in the Valyrian Freehold, when the Freehold was still strong. The Targaryens were one of these dragonlord families, although far from the most powerful,[1] and were the last known dragonriders to survive the Doom of Valyria and its aftermath.
About
Dragons are intelligent creatures[2] who can be trained to serve as battle mounts and understand vocal commands. They are said to be capricious in nature,[3] and have to be trained, to keep them from laying waste to everything around them.[4]
The dragonlords of Valyria controlled their mounts with binding spells and sorcerous horns.[5] The Targaryen dragonriders have used commands and whips to direct their dragons.[6][7][8][5] The effect of a whip on a dragon is the opposite of that of a horse: when the dragon is whipped on its right side it veers right, since a dragon's first instinct is to attack.[5]
Dragonriders usually ride their dragons using special saddles. Chains attached to the saddle are fastened to the rider's belt, for security.[8][9] However, a rider could leave their chains dangling, if they wish.[8] A dragonrider may also ride without a saddle, their legs around the dragon's back or neck.[10][5][9]
A person may become a dragonrider at any age, much like horses and their riders; some when they are very young, some as teenagers, some not until adulthood.[11] To ride a dragon, a person has to bond with the dragon. Once the dragon and the rider have bonded, that dragon will not allow anyone else to mount it alone while its rider lives, no matter how familiar said person might be to the dragon.[12] For example, when Rhaenyra Targaryen's son Joffrey Velaryon attempted to mount her dragon Syrax, Syrax shrugged him off mid-flight, causing him to fall to his death.[12] However, dragons are willing to accept another person upon their backs as long their own rider has also mounted. Queen Visenya Targaryen gave a ride to young Lord Ronnel Arryn upon her dragon Vhagar.[1] A century later, Vhagar allowed Alys Rivers to ride behind her current rider, Prince Aemond Targaryen.[8]
It is generally believed that Valyrian heritage plays a part in being able to bond with a dragon. In the Valyrian Freehold, the dragonlord families frequently married brother to sister to keep the bloodline pure,[13] and during the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon called upon Targaryen bastards and their descendants, the so-called "dragonseeds", to try and mount one of the six riderless dragons on Dragonstone.[12] Still, people with no known or uncertain Valyrian descent also made attempts to claim dragons during that time.[12] Nevertheless, the possession of Valyrian blood (no matter how direct) is not a guarantee that bonding with a dragon will be successful.[14][15]
At some point, it became custom among members of House Targaryen to ensure bonding with dragons by placing unhatched dragon eggs in the cradles of their children. Whilst the dragons still lived, most of these eggs hatched.[14][16] Even after the death of the last dragon in 153 AC[17] this custom continued,[18] though none of the eggs hatched.
The lifespan of a dragon is significantly longer than the lifespan of its rider. When the rider of a dragon dies, that dragon can bond with a new rider.[12] Dragons who have been ridden before, and thus are more accustomed to the presence of men, might be more willing to accept a new rider than wild dragons who had grown to adulthood without having ever been ridden.[12] Only a few known dragonriders have outlived their dragons. No rider has ever ridden two dragons,[19] but the possibility exists that they could have. When Prince Viserys Targaryen's dragon Balerion died, according to George R. R. Martin, "[Viserys] did not take a second dragon",[20] leaving the possibility that, had Viserys desired a new dragon, he could have attempted to claim one. Additionally, following the death of her dragon Syrax, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen insisted on traveling to Dragonstone to find dragon eggs, as she felt she must have another dragon.[9] Also, after the death of his dragon Sunfyre, King Aegon II Targaryen planned to hatch a dragon egg to claim a new mount.[21]
Known dragonriders
Although the dragons in question were too young to be ridden, Princess Jaehaera and Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen had bonded to their dragons, Morghul and Shrykos, respectively.
History
During the Age of Heroes, the Winged Knight was said to have ridden upon a huge falcon, but Archmaester Perestan suggests that this possibly was a distorted memory of dragonriders seen from afar.[22]
The Valyrians mastered the art of raising and riding dragons, and used them as weapons of war to carve out a massive empire, the Valyrian Freehold. The Valyrian dragonlords, the noble dragonriding families of the Freehold, used dragons to conquer the Old Empire of Ghis in the Ghiscari wars.[23] Hundreds of dragonriders fought during the Rhoynish Wars.[24]
The escaped Valyrian slaves who founded Braavos in a distant lagoon in northwest Essos believed that the frequent fogs in the lagoon would help hide them from the eyes of the dragonriders flying overhead.[25]
Jaenara Belaerys, a dragonrider of Valyria, flew her dragon, Terrax, farther south into Sothoryos than anyone had gone before, returning to the Freehold after three years of exploration.[26]
Most of the dragonlords were at Valyria when the Doom occurred in 102 BC; none of them survived. Some dragonriders were in Tyrosh and Lys at the time of the Doom, but they were killed with their dragons in the upheaval that followed. The dragonrider Aurion, who was at Qohor, declared himself an emperor and led an army to Valyria to reestablish the Valyrian Freehold, but disappeared with his army and dragon. This made House Targaryen the only dragonriders to survive the Doom, as they had relocated from the Freehold to Dragonstone near the Seven Kingdoms twelve years before.[27]
In 2 BC – 1 AC, Aegon I Targaryen, together with his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, conquered most of Westeros. Atop their dragons, Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes, the Targaryens subdued six of the Seven Kingdoms, successfully resisted only by Dorne.[1]
Prince Maegor Targaryen did not become a dragonrider until the age of twenty-five, after the death of his father King Aegon I, as Maegor had only wanted to ride his father's dragon, Balerion.[28]
In 104 AC, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen became the youngest known dragonrider at the age of seven, flying upon her dragon Syrax.[29] Around that year, the Valyrian House Velaryon, who had not been one of dragonlord families, also welcomed as a dragonrider Laena Velaryon, daughter of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.[29]
Though many doubted the paternity of Rhaenyra's sons with Laenor Velaryon, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, the dragon eggs placed in their cradles did hatch, and the three boys eventually became dragonriders.[29]
In 129 AC, during the civil war called the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys promised knighthood, lands, and wealth to anyone who could master a dragon. During the Red Sowing, though many died in the process, several dragonseeds became dragonriders for Queen Rhaenyra's blacks faction.[7]
After the deaths of most of the dragons and dragonriders in the Dance, in 135 AC Lady Rhaena Targaryen flew for the first time on her dragon Morning, becoming the last known dragonrider for over a hundred and fifty years.[30]
Princess Daena Targaryen was known to say she was born to ride a dragon, but by that time, all the dragons were dead.[31]
The young Prince Aegon Targaryen and his brother, Aemon, used to pretend that their dragon eggs would hatch and they would become dragonriders.[18]
After the Defiance of Duskendale in 277 AC, King Aerys II Targaryen became convinced that Lord Denys Darklyn would not have dared to defy him if Aerys had been a dragonrider.[32]
When Cersei Lannister was young, her father, Lord Tywin Lannister, informed her that he planned to betroth her to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Afterwards, Cersei drew a picture of Rhaegar and herself riding a dragon, though when her brother Jaime discovered it, she claimed it depicted King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his sister-wife, Alysanne.[33]
Young Tyrion Lannister used to dream of having a dragon and becoming a dragonrider,[34] and spent many nights pretending he was a lost Targaryen princeling or a Valyrian dragonlord, flying over fields and mountains.[3]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Princess Daenerys Targaryen is gifted fossilized three dragon eggs for her wedding to the Dothraki Khal Drogo.[35] After Drogo's death, Daenerys places the dragon eggs on her husband's funeral pyre, and walks into the fire. The eggs miraculously hatch into three dragons, the first born since the death of the last dragon,[36] Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.[37]
A Storm of Swords
Ser Jorah Mormont tells Daenerys that he believes the prophetic words of the Undying, "the dragon has three heads", refer to the dragonriders Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys. Jorah tells Daenerys that she and her two husbands should ride her three dragons, and he offers to be one of those husbands.[38]
A Dance with Dragons
In Meereen, Drogon lands in Daznak's Pit and is attacked by a spearman after the crowd panics. Daenerys rushes to Drogon's side, manages to use a whip to make him obey her, and mounts the dragon to pull a spear from his back. But after she does, he takes off; Daenerys holds on as Drogon flies away from the arena, becoming the first dragonrider in a century and a half.[10]
Prince Quentyn Martell attempts to mount one of the dragons Viserion and Rhaegal, on account of his Targaryen ancestry.[39] His attempt ends in failure, when, focused on Viserion, Quentyn does not notice Rhaegal behind him, and the dragon bathes him in dragonfire.[15] Quentyn dies three days later, some mockingly calling him "the dragonrider".[40]
Drogon takes Daenerys to his lair in the Dothraki sea. Daenerys learns to command Drogon's flight with her whip and her words, but he refuses to return to Meereen. After a fruitless attempt to reach Meeren by walking, Daenerys calls Drogon to her, and they follow a Dothraki scout to a herd of horses. Drogon kills one and he and Daenerys devour it together, and afterwards they are discovered by Khal Jhaqo and his khalasar.[5]
Quotes
Even for a son of House Targaryen, there are always dangers in approaching a dragon, particularly an old, bad-tempered dragon who has recently lost her rider. [...] Call it boldness, call it madness, call it fortune or the will of the gods or the caprice of dragons. Who can know the mind of such a beast? We do know this: Vhagar roared, lurched to her feet, shook violently... then snapped her chains and flew. And the boy prince Aemond Targaryen became a dragonrider.[29]
—words of Gyldayn
It would be years before her dragons were large enough to ride. And when they are, who shall ride them? The dragon has three heads, but I have only one.[41]
—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen
...it was said that even Aegon the Conqueror never dared mount Vhagar or Meraxes, nor did his sisters mount Balerion the Black Dread. Dragons live longer than men, some for hundreds of years, so Balerion had other riders after Aegon died... but no rider ever flew two dragons.[19]
Yes, yes, now, now, do it, do it, take me, take me, FLY![10]
—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen on her first flight upon Drogon
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Comic-Con (NEW YORK CITY, NY) (February 25, 2007)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 71, Daenerys X.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 52, Daenerys IX.
- ↑ Not A Blog: Fire & Blood: On the Way (April 25, 2018), Comment (May 2, 2018)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 The Princess and the Queen.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 The Rogue Prince.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 68, The Dragontamer.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 50, Daenerys VIII.
- ↑ Not A Blog: The Rogues are Coming... (March 12, 2014), Comment (March 12, 2014)
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale: House Arryn.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Braavos.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Three Maidens in the Tower (June 27, 2006).
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 13, Tyrion II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 72, Daenerys X.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 8, Daenerys I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 60, The Spurned Suitor.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 70, The Queen's Hand.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 57, Daenerys V.