Editing Balerion (section)

===Aegon the Conqueror===
Balerion was eventually claimed by Lord [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]], some time before he married his sisters [[Visenya Targaryen|Visenya]] and [[Rhaenys Targaryen|Rhaenys]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Aegon became involved in the wars in the [[Disputed Lands]] when [[Pentos]] and [[Tyrosh]] approached him, inviting him to join a grand alliance against [[Volantis]], and he chose to heed their call. Mounting Balerion, he flew east to meet the [[Prince of Pentos]] and the [[magister]]s of the [[Free City]], then flew to [[Lys]] in time to set ablaze a [[Volantene]] fleet trying to take the city.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria}}{{ref|ADWD|14}}

[[File: Forging the iron throne.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Balerion and workers help forge the [[Iron Throne]], as depicted by Donato Giancola.]]

Afterwards, Aegon turned his attention to conquering the [[Seven Kingdoms]], during which he flew on Balerion. Aegon descended on Lords [[House Mooton|Mooton]] and [[House Darklyn|Darklyn]], killing both of them during [[Aegon's first test]]. After the [[ironborn]] victory at the [[Wailing Willows]], Balerion burned the victors on the [[Gods Eye]].{{ref|FAB|Aegon's Conquest}} Next, Aegon took Balerion to [[Harrenhal]], where [[Harren Hoare]], [[King of the Isles and the Rivers]], had taken refuge in his formidable fortress. When Harren the Black had not yielded by sunset, Aegon took Balerion high up and descended inside the castle walls, putting the new castle to flame. Balerion's [[dragonfire]] burned so hot that the towers of Harrenhal went up like candles, melting and twisting into the shapes they retain to this day. King Harren and his remaining sons all perished, ending the line of [[House Hoare]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} The men of [[Crackclaw Point]] quickly surrendered to Visenya after learning of the [[burning of Harrenhal]].{{ref|AFFC|20}} 

Aegon next rode Balerion in the [[Field of Fire]], besides his sisters on [[Vhagar]] and [[Meraxes]]. Between the three dragons, four thousand men were burned to death, including [[Mern IX Gardener]], [[King of the Reach]], resulting in Targaryen victory.{{Ref|AGOT|13}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} When Aegon learned that [[Torrhen Stark]], [[King in the North]], had crossed the [[Neck]] and was leading an army into the [[riverlands]], he raced ahead of his army on Balerion to meet the threat. When the Targaryen host was encamped at one side of the [[Trident]] and the northern host on the other side, Torrhen's [[bastard]] brother, [[Brandon Snow]], offered to assassinate the sleeping dragons. Recalling the destruction the three dragons had caused at the Field of Fire, Torrhen instead submitted to Aegon.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} After [[Aegon's coronations|Aegon was crowned]] by the [[High Septon (Aegon's Conquest)|High Septon]], he was cheered by tens of thousands of onlookers as he flew on Balerion through the streets of [[Oldtown]].{{ref|FAB|Aegon's Conquest}}

According to song, at the end of the war Balerion helped to forge the [[Iron Throne]] by melting the swords of Aegon's fallen enemies.{{Ref|AGOT|43}} In {{date|2}}, Aegon flew his dragon to the [[Iron Islands]] to end the [[invasion of the Iron Islands|succession struggle]] among the ironborn.{{ref|FAB|Reign of the Draogn - The Wars of King Aegon I}}

Aegon flew Balerion during the [[First Dornish War]], finding [[Sunspear]] abandoned when he arrived. [[Dorne]] rose in rebellion after he departed, however, and Lord [[Orys Baratheon]] was mutilated by the [[Wyl of Wyl]]. Aegon retaliated by burning several of [[House Wyl]]'s keeps, and the king later attacked [[Sandstone]], [[Vaith]], and the [[Hellholt]] with the aid of Visenya. Aegon burned [[Skyreach]] after [[House Fowler]] attacked [[Nightsong]]. During the two years of the [[Dragon's Wroth]] following the death of Rhaenys Targaryen, each Dornish castle (with the exception of Sunspear) was burned multiple times by the vengeful Aegon and Visenya.{{ref|FAB|Reign of the Draogn - The Wars of King Aegon I}}

King Aegon made frequent royal progresses throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Besides allowing the new monarch to learn more about his subjects, the sight of Balerion during these visits also helped to prevent rebellion.{{ref|FAB|Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I}}