Editing Dragon (section)

==History==
===Ancient Dragons===
[[File:Magali Villeneuve Dragonlords.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Dragonlord]]s from the [[Valyrian Freehold]], by Magali Villeneuve, in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
In [[Barth]]'s ''[[Unnatural History]]'', the [[septon]] considered several legends regarding the origins of dragons. The [[Valyrians]] claimed that dragons sprang forth from the [[Fourteen Flames]], a ring of volcanoes on the [[Valyrian peninsula]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|5}} In [[Qarth]], tales state dragons came from a second [[moon]] in the sky, which was scalded by the [[sun]] and cracked like an egg, and a million dragons poured forth. Dragons are also said to have originated from the [[Shadow Lands]] beyond [[Asshai]] and the islands of the [[Jade Sea]].{{Ref|AGOT|23}} Ancient tales from Asshai claim that an unnamed people first tamed these dragons, brought them to [[Valyria]], and taught the Valyrians their arts before departing from the annals of history.{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|5}} Barth put forth the theory that dragons were created by Valyrian [[bloodmages]] using [[wyvern]]s, which are flying reptiles that do not breathe flame.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|3|4}} Dragons may also be related to [[firewyrm]]s, which are wingless reptilian creatures that do breathe flame, that may have lived in the Fourteen Flames before the dragons arrived there.{{Ref|AFFC|22}}

Dragons populated most of the [[known world]] in ages past,{{Ref|SSM|1062}} and ancient dragon bones have been found as far north as [[Ib]] and as south as the jungles of [[Sothoryos]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|5}} The yellow emperor [[Chai Duq]] of [[Yi Ti]] is said to have kept a dragon at his court after marrying a noblewoman from Valyria.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|1}}

In [[Westeros]], Ser [[Galladon of Morne]] is said to have slain a dragon with the [[Just Maid]],{{Ref|AFFC|20}} [[Crackbones]] allegedly twisted a dragon's neck into a knot,{{Ref|AFFC|20}} and [[Serwyn of the Mirror Shield]] slew the dragon [[Urrax]].{{Ref|ADWD|8}} [[Davos the Dragonslayer]] is a hero beloved in the [[Reach]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|7|2}} and dragons are also said to have once roosted on [[Battle Isle]] until the first [[House Hightower|Hightower]] put an end to them.{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|7|4}} [[Smallfolk]] claim that the hot springs below [[Winterfell]] are warmed by the breath of a subterranean dragon.{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|1|6}} 

Outside of Westeros, dragons, [[demons]], and other creatures are said to inhabit the cliff caves above the [[Ash (river)|Ash]] north of [[Asshai]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}} [[Sea dragon]]s in the [[Sunset Sea]] and [[ice dragon]]s in the [[Shivering Sea]] are recalled in legends and folklore, but scholars have no proof of their existence, or how closely related they are to dragons.{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|5|1}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|3|6}} [[Nagga]] is said to have been the first [[sea dragon]].{{Ref|AFFC|19}}

===Valyrian Freehold===
{{Main|Valyrian Freehold}}
[[File:Valyrians find dragons.jpg|thumb|350px|The [[Valyria]]ns finding dragons in the [[Fourteen Flames]], in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'': Histories & Lore]]

The [[Valyrians]] were originally a civilization sheltered in the [[Fourteen Flames]], a ring of volcanoes on the [[Valyrian peninsula]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|5}} They mastered the art of raising dragons, and used them as weapons of war to carve out a massive empire, the [[Valyrian Freehold]]. Valyrians told tales of themselves that claimed they were descended from dragons, and were kin to the ones they now controlled.{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|5}} The Valyrians are said to have used binding [[spells]] and [[Sorcery|sorcerous]] [[dragon horn]]s to control their dragons.{{Ref|AFFC|19}}{{Ref|ADWD|71}}

The Valyrians used dragons to conquer the [[Old Empire of Ghis]] in the [[Ghiscari wars]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|5}} and hundreds of dragons were employed by Valyria during the [[Rhoynish Wars]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|8}}

On the day of the [[Doom of Valyria]] in {{Date|-102}}, the Fourteen Flames and every hill for five hundred miles exploded, filling the air with ash and smoke and fire, which killed even the dragons in the sky.{{Ref|ADWD|56}} The [[dragonlords]] and dragons gathered in Valyria were all killed. A few dragonlords in [[Lys]] and [[Tyrosh]] survived, but they were soon killed in the political chaos after the Doom, along with their dragons. In [[Qohor]], the dragonlord [[Aurion]] declared himself [[Emperor of Valyria]] and led a host of thirty thousand men toward Valyria, but he, his great dragon, and his followers were not seen again. The time of dragons in Essos was over.{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|9}}

===The Targaryen Dragons===
{{See also|House Targaryen}}
[[File:Fall of harrenhal by reneaigner.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] and [[Balerion]] [[burning of Harrenhal|destroy]] [[Harrenhal]]. Art by René Aigner ©]]

After the Doom and the chaos afterward, the only dragons known to have survived were on the island of [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|9}} They belonged to [[House Targaryen]], who had brought five dragons from Valyria when Lord [[Aenar Targaryen]] and his family emigrated twelve years before, in {{Date|-114}}. Four of these dragons eventually died on Dragonstone, leaving only [[Balerion]]. However, the other dragons left eggs behind, and from these hatched [[Vhagar]] and [[Meraxes]].{{Ref|FAB|1}}

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|3|1}} 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]]. Aegon flew Balerion 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|2|9}}{{Ref|ADWD|14}}

[[File:Burning Arryn fleet.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Visenya Targaryen]] and [[Vhagar]] burn the [[Arryn]] fleet during the [[battle in the waters off Gulltown]]. Art by John McCambridge, in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
As the [[Century of Blood]] came to an end, Aegon's interest in [[Westeros]] grew. His sister-wife Visenya had claimed Vhagar, and his other sister-wife Rhaenys rode Meraxes. In {{Date|-2|1}}, Aegon and his sisters used Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes in their [[Wars of Conquest]] against the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. Dragons were instrumental in the [[burning of Harrenhal]] and the [[Field of Fire]], and the threat of dragons led to the submissions of [[Torrhen Stark]] and [[Sharra Arryn]].{{Ref|FAB|1}} Dragons were also used in the [[First Dornish War]], which caused the death of Rhaenys and Meraxes at the [[Hellholt]] in {{Date|10}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|1}}

[[File:Battle Beneath the Gods Eye.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Balerion]] kills [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon Targaryen]] and [[Quicksilver]] during the [[Battle Beneath the Gods Eye]], by Michael Komarck, in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
Many dragons were hatched after [[Aegon's Conquest]]. During Aegon I's reign, "half a dozen" hatchlings were born on Dragonstone. One of the first was [[Quicksilver]], hatched in {{Date|7}}, who bonded with Aegon I's elder son and heir, [[Aenys I Targaryen|Aenys]]. Another two dragons hatched during the first year of Aenys's reign, in {{Date|38}}.{{Ref|FAB|4}} Dragon fought dragon for the first time since the [[Doom of Valyria]] in the [[Battle Beneath the Gods Eye]], resulting in the death of Quicksilver in {{Date|43}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|3}}{{Ref|FAB|4}}

Over the course of one hundred and fifty years, the Targaryens rode their dragons as a symbol of their power, and as a means of transport. In addition, a valuable [[gold]]en [[Currency|coin]] of the kingdom became known as a golden dragon.{{Ref|AGOT|16}} It is said that King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] took six dragons with him to the [[north]], including Jaehaerys's [[Vermithor]] and Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]]'s [[Silverwing]], to visit the [[Warden of the North|Warden]] of the region;{{Ref|ASOS|41}} however, it is possible that the story is just a fable, since the historical record of the visit does not mention that number of dragons.{{Ref|FAB|10}}

Balerion died of old age{{Ref|FAB|11}} in {{Date|94}}, late in the reign of Jaehaerys I.{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|4}} Jaehaerys's grandson and eventual successor [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys I]] was Balerion's rider at the time of its death.{{Ref|FAB|12}}<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [https://grrm.livejournal.com/360936.html?thread=18791400#t18791400 The Rogues Are Coming... (Comment March 12, 2014)]</ref> This left Vhagar as the largest living dragon, and by {{Date|129}} she was approaching Balerion's size.{{Ref|FAB|16}}

By {{Date|129}}, on the eve of civil war between [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] and [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]], there were twenty living dragons.{{Ref|FAB|13}} The largest and oldest dragons were Vhagar, Vermithor, Silverwing, [[Dreamfyre]], [[Meleys]], [[Caraxes]], and [[Syrax]]. Younger dragons still large enough to be ridden to war were [[Seasmoke]], [[Sunfyre]], [[Tessarion]], [[Vermax]], [[Arrax]], [[Tyraxes]], and [[Moondancer]]. [[Stormcloud]], [[Morghul]], and [[Shrykos]] were very young dragons, not yet big enough to ride.{{Ref|FAB|15}}

There were also three wild dragons living on [[Dragonstone]] which had never been successfully claimed by any rider: [[Grey Ghost]], [[Sheepstealer]], and the [[Cannibal (dragon)|Cannibal]]. Sheepstealer hatched when Jaehaerys I was still young, and the Cannibal was even older (none knew for certain when it had hatched), and thus they were also quite large by the time of the [[Dance of the Dragons]], while Grey Ghost was a younger and smaller beast.{{Ref|FAB|15}}

===Extinction and Attempts at Revival===
[[File:The Battle at Rook's Rest by Jota Saraiva.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Vhagar]], [[Sunfyre]], and [[Caraxes]] fight in the [[Battle at Rook's Rest]]. Art by Jota Saraiva ©]]
By the end of the reign of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], twenty dragons were alive. The majority of these dragons died during the civil war called the [[Dance of the Dragons]], which began in {{Date|129}} and lasted until mid {{Date|131}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|5}} By the end of the Dance in {{Date|131}}, only four dragons remained alive: the wild [[Cannibal (dragon)|Cannibal]], never ridden; [[Sheepstealer]], hiding in the [[Mountains of the Moon]] with [[Nettles|its rider]]; [[Silverwing]], who had gone feral after the deaths of [[Ulf White|her rider]] and [[Vermithor|her mate]]; and the young dragon [[Morning]], who had hatched during the war.{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|5}} In {{Date|132}}, a messenger from [[Alys Rivers]], [[witch]] queen of [[Harrenhal]], claimed to have seen a dragon within the castle, though the truth of the matter is uncertain.{{Ref|FAB|20}}

There were still many dragon eggs left after the war, and at least a few hatched. Terrifyingly, one hatched a blind and wingless [[wyrm]] that attacked [[Laena Velaryon (daughter of Alyn)|its cradlemate]] and was killed.{{Ref|FAB|23}} At least two Dragonstone hatchlings were misshapen, and grew no bigger than [[Dog|mastiffs]] before they died.{{Ref|AGOT|13}} The [[last dragon]] was a green female, small and stunted, with withered wings.{{Ref|THK}} She died young in {{Date|153}}, during the reign of King [[Aegon III Targaryen]], thereafter known as the Dragonbane.{{Ref|AGOT|22}}{{Ref|THK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|7}} She laid a clutch of five eggs,{{Ref|TMK}} which never hatched.{{Ref|THK}} 

Archmaester [[Marwyn]] holds that the order of [[maesters]], with their secret goal to suppress [[magic]], was responsible for the extinction of dragons.{{Ref|AFFC|45}} According to Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]], the summers became shorter after the last dragon died, and the winters longer and crueler.{{Ref|THK}}

[[File:Thomas Denmark dragonskulls.jpg|thumb|350px|The [[skulls of the Targaryen dragons]], by Thomas Denmark © Fantasy Flight Games]]
After their extinction, the only remnants of dragons were their [[Dragonbone|bones]],{{Ref|AGOT|13}} their skulls,{{Ref|AGOT|13}} and their eggs, which eventually turned to stone over time.{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|9}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|17}} The eggs were highly valued for their beauty and exotic nature.{{Ref|AGOT|46}} The Targaryens had a collection of [[Skulls of the Targaryen dragons|nineteen dragon skulls]] of various sizes and ages, that they displayed on the walls of the [[Iron Throne|throne room]] in the [[Red Keep]]. The oldest was thousands of years old.{{Ref|AGOT|13}}

Many futile attempts were made to revive dragons. [[Aegon III Targaryen]] had [[nine mages]] cross the [[narrow sea]] to use their magics in attempt to hatch remaining dragon eggs.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|7}} The pious King [[Baelor I Targaryen]] attempted to hatch his egg by praying over it.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|9}} [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] ordered [[pyromancer]]s to build seven [[dragons (mechanical)|mechanical "dragons"]] that shot jets of [[wildfire]]. Hundreds of men died in a failed attempt to use them to invade [[Dorne]].{{Ref|ASOS|54}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|11}} Prince [[Aerion Targaryen]] drank wildfire, believing it would transform him into a dragon, but only died screaming.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|14}} The [[tragedy of Summerhall]] resulted from the attempt of King [[Aegon V Targaryen]] to hatch dragon eggs.{{Ref|ASOS|25}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|15}} King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] attempted to hatch dragons from eggs found in the depths of Dragonstone, to no result.{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|17}} He may have believed [[Wildfire plot|his attempt to immolate King's Landing]] would transform him into a dragon.{{Ref|ASOS|37}}