Vermax

Vermax
Vermax and Jacaerys Velaryon, by Jota Saraiva ©
Owner	Jacaerys Velaryon
Species	Dragon
Born	In 114–120 AC
Died	In 5th day of the 1st moon of 130 AC, the Gullet
Books	The World of Ice & Fire (mentioned) Fire & Blood (mentioned) The Rise of the Dragon (mentioned) The Rogue Prince (mentioned) The Princess and the Queen (mentioned)
TV series	House of the Dragon: Season 1 | 2

Vermax was a dragon ridden by Prince Jacaerys Velaryon.

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Vermax

In 129 AC, Vermax was thriving and growing larger every year. Vermax became ill-tempered when in proximity of snow, ice, and cold. Despite his youth, Vermax was strong.

Vermax's coloring is not stated in the books. However, he is depicted as green in illustrations from The Rise of the Dragon; more specifically, in the television adaptation House of the Dragon, he has olive green scales and pale orange wing membranes. His flames were possibly orange, too.

History

Jacaerys Velaryon introduces Sara Snow to Vermax, by Jota Saraiva ©

Dragon Egg

Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen's three eldest sons by her husband, Ser Laenor Velaryon, were Jacaerys (b. 114 AC), Lucerys (b. 115 AC), and Joffrey (b. 117 AC). The rival faction at court, who supported her stepmother Alicent Hightower and her children, spread the accusation that Rhaenyra's three sons were not really Laenor's, but bastards fathered by Ser Harwin Strong. Rhaenyra's father, King Viserys I, in an effort to confirm that he considered Rhaenyra and her sons the true heirs to the throne, decreed that a dragon egg would be put in the cradle of each of the boys, to bond with the dragons that hatched from them. Those who doubted the paternity of Rhaenyra's sons also doubted that the eggs would ever hatch, but they were quickly disappointed, as each of the eggs soon hatched in turn. The hatchlings were named Vermax (bonded with Jacaerys), Arrax (bonded with Lucerys), and Tyraxes (bonded with Joffrey). The exact date each hatched is not known, but the last seems to have hatched by no later than about 120 AC.

The Dance of the Dragons

By the time the Dance of the Dragons began in 129 AC, Vermax was big enough to ride. Prince Jacaerys flew north on his back, as a messenger for his mother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, to treat with Jeyne Arryn, the Lady of the Eyrie, Desmond Manderly, the Lord of White Harbor, and Cregan Stark, the Lord of Winterfell. The mission was a success, as all three declared for Rhaenyra and her blacks.

Snow, ice, and cold made Vermax irritable, so Jacaerys did not stay in the north for long, despite receiving a warm welcome at Winterfell. In his testimony, Mushroom claims that Vermax laid a clutch of eggs in the depths of the crypts of Winterfell, but this tale is most likely false. Archmaester Gyldayn states it is difficult to tell the sex of a dragon, but that no other source mentions that Vermax ever produced an egg, and dismisses Septon Barth's theory that dragons can change sex as "ludicrous".

Prince Jacaerys used Vermax in battle, during the Battle in the Gullet. There, Vermax attacked the Triarchy's fleet, and victory seemed at hand. But Vermax flew too low, possibly wounded from a crossbow bolt to the eye or pulled down by a grapnel, and crashed into a burning galley. Jacaerys leapt free and clung to the smoking wreckage of the ship, but was struck by Myrish crossbow quarrels until he sank into the sea, dead.

Known dragonriders of Vermax

• Jacaerys Velaryon - first and only rider

Behind the Scenes

Vermax's name may be a reference to the dragon Vermithrax Pejorative, from the 1981 film Dragonslayer. Martin has cited Dragonslayer as one of his favorite fantasy films, calling Vermithrax "the best dragon ever put on film" and the one with "the coolest dragon name as well".