Difference between revisions of "Dragon"

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{{Hatnote|This article is about the creature. For the unit of money, see [[Currency]].}}
 
{{Hatnote|This article is about the creature. For the unit of money, see [[Currency]].}}
 
[[File:Aegon on Balerion.jpg|450px|right|thumb|[[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] upon [[Balerion]], the Black Dread, by [http://jordigart.blogspot.com/ Jordi Gonzalez] ©]]
 
[[File:Aegon on Balerion.jpg|450px|right|thumb|[[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] upon [[Balerion]], the Black Dread, by [http://jordigart.blogspot.com/ Jordi Gonzalez] ©]]
'''Dragons''' are magical [[Bestiary|creatures]], which existed on the continents of [[Westeros]] and [[Essos]], but are considered to have been extinct for almost one hundred and fifty years. The only remaining traces of the dragons are skeletal remains and [[dragon egg]]s which are thought to have turned to stone. Newborn dragons are referred to as ''hatchlings'' while dragons that are older, but not full-grown are known as ''drakes''.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
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'''Dragons''' are magical flying reptilian [[Bestiary|creatures]], which existed on the continents of [[Westeros]] and [[Essos]], but were considered to have been extinct for almost one hundred and fifty years. The only remaining traces of the dragons were skeletal remains and [[dragon egg]]s which are thought to have turned to stone. But during the events described in the main series of books, the species is brought back by magically hatching three old apparently-petrified dragon eggs.
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Newborn dragons are known as '''hatchlings'''; dragons that are older but not full-grown are known as '''drakes'''.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
  
 
Dragons are depicted in the sigils of Houses [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre]], [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]], [[House Toland|Toland]], [[House Vance of Atranta|Vance of Atranta]], [[House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest|Vance of Wayfarer's Rest]], and [[House Willum|Willum]].
 
Dragons are depicted in the sigils of Houses [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre]], [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]], [[House Toland|Toland]], [[House Vance of Atranta|Vance of Atranta]], [[House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest|Vance of Wayfarer's Rest]], and [[House Willum|Willum]].
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{{See also|:Category:Images of Dragons|l1=Images of Dragons}}
 
{{See also|:Category:Images of Dragons|l1=Images of Dragons}}
 
[[File:Red Keep Dragon Cellar by Kim Pope.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Skulls of the Targaryen dragons|Dragon skulls]] in the [[Red Keep]] cellars by Kim Pope]]
 
[[File:Red Keep Dragon Cellar by Kim Pope.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Skulls of the Targaryen dragons|Dragon skulls]] in the [[Red Keep]] cellars by Kim Pope]]
Dragons are scaled,{{Ref|agot|23}}{{Ref|acok|12}} reptilian creatures. They have four limbs: two wings, which are used as forelegs like [[w:bats|bats]] and [[w:pterosaur|pterosaurs]],<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/493818.html?thread=24775162#t24775162 Awards, Awards (July 15th, 2016) Comment July 15, 2016]</ref> and two rear legs.<ref name=COMICCON07>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2267/ Comic-Con (NEW YORK CITY, NY) (February 25, 2007)]</ref><ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/327410.html?thread=17902322#t17902322 Dany and the Dragons (July 9, 2013)]</ref> [[George R. R. Martin]]'s dragons thereby differ from the traditional depiction of dragons as six limbed creatures. Martin came to his decision as he was bothered by the fact that no [[animal]] in nature has ever evolved in such a way (i.e. four legs and two wings).<ref name=COMICCON07/> Nonetheless, some ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' artwork shows them with four legs and a detached pair of wings.
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Dragons are scaled,{{Ref|agot|23}}{{Ref|acok|12}} reptilian creatures. They have four limbs: two wings, which are used as forelegs like [[w:bats|bats]] and [[w:pterosaur|pterosaurs]],<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/493818.html?thread=24775162#t24775162 Awards, Awards (July 15th, 2016) Comment July 15, 2016]</ref> and two rear legs.<ref name=COMICCON07>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2267/ Comic-Con (NEW YORK CITY, NY) (February 25, 2007)]</ref><ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/327410.html?thread=17902322#t17902322 Dany and the Dragons (July 9, 2013)]</ref> [[George R. R. Martin]]'s dragons thereby differ from the traditional depiction of dragons as six-limbed creatures. Martin came to his decision as he was bothered by the fact that no [[animal]] in nature has ever evolved in such a way (i.e. four legs and two wings).<ref name=COMICCON07/> Nonetheless, some ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' artwork shows them with four legs and a detached pair of wings.
  
Dragons have strong jaws,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} sharp teeth{{Ref|ACOK|48}} and claws,{{Ref|ACOK|12}} leathery wings{{Ref|adwd|68}}{{Ref|adwd|5}} and long necks{{Ref|ADWD|52}} and tails,{{Ref|ADWD|68}} with horns upon their heads.{{Ref|ACOK|12}} As young hatchlings, they are around the size of a cat.{{Ref|acok|12}} Provided it has food and freedom, a dragon never stops growing.{{Ref|asos|8}}{{Ref|adwd|68}} A dragon given such freedom can reach a span width of twenty feet within a year and a half.{{Ref|ADWD|52}} Dragons which are locked up, e.g., the [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] dragons housed in the [[Dragonpit]] in [[King's Landing]], do not grow as large as dragons left free to fly as they wish.{{Ref|asos|8}}{{Ref|adwd|68}} Although increasing age means increasing size, a larger size is not always an indication of a higher age (e.g., the younger [[Meraxes]]  was larger than the older [[Vhagar]]).{{Ref|Agot|13}}<ref group="N">Although the year of birth of [[Meraxes]] is not known, she is known to have hatched some point after Lord [[Aenar Targaryen]] arrived with his household on [[Dragonstone]] in {{Date|-114}} (''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'', The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest). That means she might have been born as early as the year of [[House Targaryen]]'s arrival. Meraxes's death in {{Date|10}}, however, makes it impossible for her to have been older at the time of her death than [[Vhagar]], who died at the age of a hundred and eighty-one, had been when she died. Regardless of the fact that Meraxes died at a younger age, her skull was larger than Vhagar's (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 13|Tyrion II]]).</ref> [[Balerion]], the largest Targaryen dragon, was large enough to swallow an aurochs or a mammoth from [[Ibben]] whole.{{Ref|agot|13}}
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Dragons have strong jaws,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} sharp teeth{{Ref|ACOK|48}} and claws,{{Ref|ACOK|12}} leathery wings{{Ref|adwd|68}}{{Ref|adwd|5}} and long necks{{Ref|ADWD|52}} and tails,{{Ref|ADWD|68}} with horns on their heads.{{Ref|ACOK|12}} As young hatchlings, they are around the size of a cat.{{Ref|acok|12}} If it has enough food and freedom, a dragon never stops growing.{{Ref|asos|8}}{{Ref|adwd|68}} A dragon given such freedom can reach a span width of twenty feet within a year and a half.{{Ref|ADWD|52}} Dragons which are locked up, e.g., the [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] dragons housed in the [[Dragonpit]] in [[King's Landing]], do not grow as large as dragons left free to fly as they wish.{{Ref|asos|8}}{{Ref|adwd|68}} Although increasing age means increasing size, a larger size does not always show a higher age (e.g., the younger [[Meraxes]]  was larger than the older [[Vhagar]]).{{Ref|Agot|13}}<ref group="N">Although the year of birth of [[Meraxes]] is not known, she is known to have hatched after Lord [[Aenar Targaryen]] arrived with his household on [[Dragonstone]] in {{Date|-114}} (''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'', The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest). That means she might have been born as early as the year of [[House Targaryen]]'s arrival. Meraxes's death in {{Date|10}}, however, makes it impossible for her to have been older when she died than [[Vhagar]], who died at the age of 181, had been when she died. Although Meraxes died younger, her skull was larger than Vhagar's (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 13|Tyrion II]]).</ref> [[Balerion]], the largest Targaryen dragon, was large enough to swallow an aurochs or a mammoth from [[Ibben]] whole.{{Ref|agot|13}}
  
 
The [[skulls of the Targaryen dragons|polished skulls]] of the [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] dragons look like glittering [[onyx]], and their teeth like curved daggers of black [[diamond]]. [[Dragonbone]]s are black due to their high [[iron]] content.{{Ref|AGOT|13}}
 
The [[skulls of the Targaryen dragons|polished skulls]] of the [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] dragons look like glittering [[onyx]], and their teeth like curved daggers of black [[diamond]]. [[Dragonbone]]s are black due to their high [[iron]] content.{{Ref|AGOT|13}}
  
Dragons, [[demons]], and other creatures are said to inhabit the cliff caves above the [[Ash (river)|Ash]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Asshai-by-the-Shadow}} [[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.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: The Shivering Sea}}
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Dragons, [[demons]], and other creatures are said to inhabit the cliff caves above the [[Ash (river)|Ash]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Asshai-by-the-Shadow}} [[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|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: The Shivering Sea}}
  
 
==Characteristics==
 
==Characteristics==
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It is said that dragons are fire made flesh. Great heat emanates from dragons' bodies, to the point that they steam during cold nights. Dragons only eat cooked meat, and use the extremely hot [[dragonflame]] which they breathe to cook their meat before eating it.{{Ref|aCoK|12}}  
 
It is said that dragons are fire made flesh. Great heat emanates from dragons' bodies, to the point that they steam during cold nights. Dragons only eat cooked meat, and use the extremely hot [[dragonflame]] which they breathe to cook their meat before eating it.{{Ref|aCoK|12}}  
  
A dragon's scales are largely, but not entirely, impervious to flame as well, and serve as protection for the more vulnerable flesh and musculature beneath. As a dragon ages, its scales thicken and grow harder, affording even more protection,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} leaving dragons nearly immune to fire,<ref name=COMICCON07/><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051103091500/nrctc.edu/fhq/vol1iss3/00103009.htm/ "Interview with the Dragon" Copyright © 2003 Robert Shaw.]</ref> although they can still be wounded by [[dragonflame]] (e.g., [[Moondancer]]'s eyes being blinded by [[Sunfyre]]'s fire during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]). Similarly, as dragons age, the fires they breath become hotter and fiercer. Where a hatchling's flame can set straw aflame, the flames of older dragons, like Balerion and [[Vhagar]] in the fullness of their power, could melt steel and stone.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} The lifespan of dragons is many times that of a human.{{Ref|asos|8}} Balerion, the largest and oldest Targaryen dragon, already alive when House Targaryen relocated from [[Valyria]] to [[Dragonstone]] in {{date|-114}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} died of old age<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/360936.html?thread=18791400#t18791400 The Rogues are Coming (March 12, 2014), Reply to question (March 12, 2014)]</ref> in {{Date|94}}{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} during the reign of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], near two hundred years of age.{{Ref|aSoS|8}} They are not invulnerable; a [[w:Scorpio (weapon)|scorpion]] killed Meraxes.{{ref|twoiaf|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}} When Balerion returned with Princess [[Aerea Targaryen]] before Aerea's death, the dragon had large new and bloody wounds from an unknown cause.{{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
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A dragon's scales are largely, but not entirely, impervious to flame as well, and serve as protection for the more vulnerable flesh and musculature beneath. As a dragon ages, its scales thicken and grow harder, affording even more protection,{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} leaving dragons nearly immune to fire,<ref name=COMICCON07/><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051103091500/nrctc.edu/fhq/vol1iss3/00103009.htm/ "Interview with the Dragon" Copyright © 2003 Robert Shaw.]</ref> although they can still be wounded by [[dragonflame]] (e.g., [[Moondancer]]'s eyes being blinded by [[Sunfyre]]'s fire during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]). Similarly, as dragons age, the fires they breath become hotter and fiercer. Where a hatchling's flame can set straw aflame, the flames of older dragons, like Balerion and [[Vhagar]] in the fullness of their power, could melt [[steel]] and stone.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} The lifespan of dragons is many times that of a human, though their maximum natural lifespan is difficult to determine: as beasts of war, most of the known examples died in battle.{{Ref|asos|8}} Balerion, the largest and oldest Targaryen dragon, already alive when House Targaryen moved from [[Valyria]] to [[Dragonstone]] in {{date|-114}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} died of old age<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/360936.html?thread=18791400#t18791400 The Rogues are Coming (March 12, 2014), Reply to question (March 12, 2014)]</ref> in {{Date|94}}{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} during the reign of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]. Balerion was near two hundred years old when he died, but as the only known example of a dragon who died of old age, it is unclear if this should be considered typical.{{Ref|aSoS|8}} Dragons are not invulnerable; a [[w:Scorpio (weapon)|scorpion]] bolt through the eye killed Meraxes.{{ref|twoiaf|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}} When Balerion returned with Princess [[Aerea Targaryen]] before Aerea's death, the dragon had large new bloody wounds from an unknown cause.{{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
  
 
Dragons are believed to be intrinsically tied to [[magic]] in the world. Since the death of the last dragon in {{Date|153}}, summers grew shorter and the winters colder and crueler,{{Ref|thk}} while magical spells became less powerful.{{Ref|acok|49}}
 
Dragons are believed to be intrinsically tied to [[magic]] in the world. Since the death of the last dragon in {{Date|153}}, summers grew shorter and the winters colder and crueler,{{Ref|thk}} while magical spells became less powerful.{{Ref|acok|49}}
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===Dragonriders===
 
===Dragonriders===
 
:{{See also|Dragonrider}}
 
:{{See also|Dragonrider}}
Dragons are intelligent creatures<ref name=COMICCON07/> which can be trained to serve as battle mounts and understand vocal commands. They are said to be capricious in nature,{{Ref|aDwD|5}} and have to be trained to keep them from laying waste to everything around them.{{Ref|ACOK|40}} However, dragons will not allow everyone to mount them. In [[Valyria]], the noble-born dragonriding families, the [[dragonlord]] families, frequently married brother to sister to keep the bloodline pure,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}} and it is generally believed that Valyrian heritage plays a part; During the civil war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] called upon Targaryen [[bastard]]s and their descendants, the so-called [[dragonseeds]], to try and mount a dragon. Regardless, men without Valyrian descent made their attempts as well.{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Nor is the possession of Valyrian blood (no matter how directly) a guarantee that bonding with a dragon will be successful.{{Ref|ADWD|68}}
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Dragons are intelligent creatures<ref name=COMICCON07/> which can be trained to serve as battle mounts and understand vocal commands. They are said to be capricious in nature,{{Ref|aDwD|5}} and have to be trained to keep them from laying waste to everything around them.{{Ref|ACOK|40}} However, dragons will not allow everyone to mount them. In [[Valyria]], the noble-born dragonriding families, the [[dragonlord]] families, frequently married brother to sister to keep the bloodline pure,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}} and it is generally believed that Valyrian heritage plays a part; During the civil war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] called upon Targaryen [[bastard]]s and their descendants, the so-called [[dragonseeds]], to try and mount a dragon. Regardless, men without Valyrian descent made their attempts as well.{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Having Valyrian blood (no matter how directly) is not a guarantee that bonding with a dragon will be successful.{{Ref|ADWD|68}}
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Once a dragon has bonded with a rider, that dragon will not allow anyone else to mount it while its rider lives, no matter how familiar said person might be to the dragon, except when the person bonded to the dragon is on the dragon's back. When the rider of a dragon dies, that dragon can bond with a new rider.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny,and Pain}} No rider has ever ridden a different dragon while their current dragon was alive.{{Ref|aDwD|50}} However, when Prince [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]]'s dragon [[Balerion]] died, according to Martin, "[Viserys] did not take a second dragon",<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/360936.html?thread=18786792#/t18786792 The Rogues are Coming... (March 12, 2014), Comment (March 12, 2014)]</ref> leaving the possibility that a rider might bond with a new dragon after his/her first dragon has died. Indeed, Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], following the death of her dragon [[Syrax]], insisted on finding more dragon eggs, as she "must have another dragon". Dragons who have had a rider once before are easier to bond with than wild dragons.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
  
Once a dragon has bonded with a rider, that dragon will not allow anyone else to mount it while its rider lives, no matter how familiar said person might be to the dragon, although they are willing to accept another person upon their backs when their own rider has mounted as well. When the rider of a dragon dies, that dragon can bond with a new rider.{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny,and Pain}} No rider has ever ridden a different dragon while their current dragon was alive.{{Ref|aDwD|50}} However, when Prince [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]]'s dragon [[Balerion]] died, according to Martin, "[Viserys] did not take a second dragon",<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/360936.html?thread=18786792#/t18786792 The Rogues are Coming... (March 12, 2014), Comment (March 12, 2014)]</ref> leaving the possibility that a rider might bond with a new dragon after their first dragon has died. Indeed, Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], following the death of her dragon [[Syrax]], insisted on finding more dragon eggs, as she "must have another dragon". Dragons who have had a rider once before are easier to bond with than wild dragons.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
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A dragon might to be able to sense when its current rider is in distress or has died. This is implied in the case of the dragon [[Dreamfyre]], who, despite being locked and chained in the [[Dragonpit]], is said to have sensed when her rider [[Helaena Targaryen]] committed suicide in [[Maegor's Holdfast]], at the other side of [[King's Landing]].{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} A dragonrider has also screamed out when his/her dragon was hit by a spear.{{Ref|adwd|52}}
  
A dragon might to be able to sense when its current rider is in distress or has died. This is implied in the case of the dragon [[Dreamfyre]], who, despite being locked and chained in the [[Dragonpit]], is said to have sensed when her rider [[Helaena Targaryen]] committed suicide in [[Maegor's Holdfast]], at the other side of [[King's Landing]].{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} A dragonrider has also screamed out when their dragon was hit by a spear.{{Ref|adwd|52}}
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Dismounting from a dragon is often referred to as "sliding off".
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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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|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} 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.{{ref|AGOT|23}} 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|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} Barth put forth the theory that dragons were created by Valyrian [[bloodmages]] using [[wyvern]] stock.{{Ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos}} Dragons may also be related to [[firewyrm]]s.{{ref|AFFC|22}}
 
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|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} 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.{{ref|AGOT|23}} 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|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} Barth put forth the theory that dragons were created by Valyrian [[bloodmages]] using [[wyvern]] stock.{{Ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos}} Dragons may also be related to [[firewyrm]]s.{{ref|AFFC|22}}
  
Dragons populated most of the [[known world]] in ages past,<ref name=Dragons>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Dragons_in_Westeros/ Dragons in Westeros (December 11, 1999)]</ref> and ancient dragon bones have been found as far north as [[Ib]] and as south as the jungles of [[Sothoryos]].{{Ref|twoiaf|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} The yellow emperor [[Chai Duq]] of [[Yi Ti]] is said to have kept a dragon at his court.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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Dragons populated most of the [[known world]] in ages past,<ref name=Dragons>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Dragons_in_Westeros/ Dragons in Westeros (December 11, 1999)]</ref> and ancient dragon bones have been found as far north as [[Ib]] and as south as the jungles of [[Sothoryos]].{{Ref|twoiaf|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} 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|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
 
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|The Reach: The Gardener Kings}} 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|The Reach: Oldtown}} [[Smallfolk]] claim that the hot springs below [[Winterfell]] are warmed by the breath of a subterranean dragon.{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: Winterfell}} [[Nagga]] is said to have been the first [[sea dragon]].{{ref|AFFC|19}}
 
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|The Reach: The Gardener Kings}} 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|The Reach: Oldtown}} [[Smallfolk]] claim that the hot springs below [[Winterfell]] are warmed by the breath of a subterranean dragon.{{Ref|twoiaf|The North: Winterfell}} [[Nagga]] is said to have been the first [[sea dragon]].{{ref|AFFC|19}}
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===The Targaryen Dragons===
 
===The Targaryen Dragons===
 
[[File:Battle Beneath the Gods Eye.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Balerion]] makes short work of [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon Targaryen]] and [[Quicksilver]] during the [[Battle Beneath the Gods Eye]], as depicted by Michael Komarck in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
 
[[File:Battle Beneath the Gods Eye.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Balerion]] makes short work of [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon Targaryen]] and [[Quicksilver]] during the [[Battle Beneath the Gods Eye]], as depicted by Michael Komarck in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
[[House Targaryen]] used [[Balerion]], [[Vhagar]], and [[Meraxes]] in their [[Wars of Conquest]] against the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. They 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|twoiaf|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Dragons were also used in the [[First Dornish War]], which caused the death of Meraxes at the [[Hellholt]] in {{Date|10}}.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I}} The valuable golden coin of the [[Iron Throne]] became known as a dragon.{{ref|AGOT|16}}
+
[[House Targaryen]] used [[Balerion]], [[Vhagar]], and [[Meraxes]] in their [[Wars of Conquest]] against the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. They 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|twoiaf|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Dragons were also used in the [[First Dornish War]], which caused the death of Meraxes at the [[Hellholt]] in {{Date|10}}.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I}} A valuable golden coin of the [[Iron Throne]] became known as a golden dragon.{{ref|AGOT|16}}
  
 
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 hatched during the first year of Aenys's reign in {{date|38}}.{{ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}} 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|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}
 
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 hatched during the first year of Aenys's reign in {{date|38}}.{{ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}} 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|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}
 
   
 
   
Over the course of one hundred and fifty years the Targaryens rode their dragons as a symbol of their power. King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] took six dragons with him to the [[north]] to visit the [[Warden of the North]]. These included Jaehaerys on [[Vermithor]], Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]] on [[Silverwing]], and four other currently-unknown dragons.{{Ref|aSoS|41}}
+
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. King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] took six dragons with him to the [[north]] to visit the [[Warden of the North]]. These included Jaehaerys on [[Vermithor]], Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]] on [[Silverwing]], and four other currently-unknown dragons.{{Ref|aSoS|41}}
  
Balerion finally died of old age{{ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} in {{Date|94}}, late in the reign of Jaehaerys I.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}} Jaehaerys's grandson and eventual successor [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys I]] was Balerion's rider at the time of its death.{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://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|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
+
Balerion died of old age{{ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} in {{Date|94}}, late in the reign of Jaehaerys I.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}} Jaehaerys's grandson and eventual successor [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys I]] was Balerion's rider at the time of its death.{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [http://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|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
  
 
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|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} 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 hatchlings not yet big enough to ride.
 
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|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} 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 hatchlings not yet big enough to ride.
Line 95: Line 99:
 
During a dream while comatose, [[Bran Stark]] sees dragons stirring beneath the sunrise in [[Asshai]] by the [[Shadow Lands|Shadow]].{{ref|AGOT|17}}
 
During a dream while comatose, [[Bran Stark]] sees dragons stirring beneath the sunrise in [[Asshai]] by the [[Shadow Lands|Shadow]].{{ref|AGOT|17}}
  
[[Daenerys Targaryen]] manages to hatch three dragons—[[Drogon]], [[Rhaegal]], and [[Viserion]]—in her husband [[Drogo]]'s funeral pyre when she steps into the fire while they lay inside it. With Daenerys's exchange of life for life, the first three dragons in over a hundred years are born in the [[Dothraki sea]].{{ref|AGOT|72}}
+
[[Daenerys Targaryen]], probably aided by [[Mirri Mmaz Duur]], manages to hatch three dragons—[[Drogon]], [[Rhaegal]], and [[Viserion]]—in her husband [[Drogo]]'s funeral pyre when she steps into the fire while they lay inside it. With Daenerys's exchange of life for life, the first three dragons in over a hundred years are born there in the [[Dothraki sea]].{{ref|AGOT|72}}
  
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
Line 123: Line 127:
 
==Known Dragons==
 
==Known Dragons==
 
{| class=wikitable width=100%
 
{| class=wikitable width=100%
! width=15%|Dragon
+
! Dragon
! width=25%|Riders
+
! Riders
 
! Notes
 
! Notes
 +
! Died
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Arrax]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Arrax]]
 
| Prince [[Lucerys Velaryon]]
 
| Prince [[Lucerys Velaryon]]
| Born during the reign of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], between {{Date|115}} and {{Date|129}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Killed with its rider in {{Date|129}} above [[Shipbreaker Bay]] by [[Vhagar]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}
+
| Born during the reign of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], between {{Date|115}} and {{Date|129}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
 +
| Killed with its rider in {{Date|129}} above [[Shipbreaker Bay]] by [[Vhagar]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| [[Balerion]] (''The Black Dread'')
 
| rowspan="4"| [[Balerion]] (''The Black Dread'')
 
| King [[Aegon I Targaryen]]
 
| King [[Aegon I Targaryen]]
| rowspan="4"|Born before [[House Targaryen]] relocated from Valyria to [[Dragonstone]] in {{Date|-114}}.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Died in {{Date|94}}, of old age.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
+
| rowspan="4"|Born before [[House Targaryen]] moved from [[Valyria]] to [[Dragonstone]] in {{Date|-114}}.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
 +
| rowspan="4"| Died in {{Date|94}}, of old age.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| King [[Maegor I Targaryen]]
 
| King [[Maegor I Targaryen]]
Line 143: Line 150:
 
| rowspan="1"| The [[Cannibal (dragon)|Cannibal]]
 
| rowspan="1"| The [[Cannibal (dragon)|Cannibal]]
 
| None
 
| None
| A wild dragon, never ridden.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
+
| A wild dragon, never ridden. Got his name from his habit of eating young dragons and hatchlings. {{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
 +
|
 
|- style="height:24px;"
 
|- style="height:24px;"
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Caraxes]] (''The Blood Wyrm'')
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Caraxes]] (''The Blood Wyrm'')
 
| Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon Targaryen]]
 
| Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon Targaryen]]
| rowspan="2"| Killed with its rider [[Battle Above the Gods Eye|in battle]] by [[Vhagar]] above the [[Gods Eye]] in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
+
|
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]]  
 
| Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]]  
 +
|
 +
| Killed with its rider [[Battle Above the Gods Eye|in battle]] by [[Vhagar]] above the [[Gods Eye]] in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
 
|- style="height:24px;"
 
|- style="height:24px;"
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Dreamfyre]]
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Dreamfyre]]
 
| Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]]
 
| Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]]
| rowspan="2"| Died in {{Date|130}} in the [[Storming of the Dragonpit]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
+
|
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]]
 
| Queen [[Helaena Targaryen]]
 +
|
 +
| Died in {{Date|130}} in the [[Storming of the Dragonpit]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Drogon]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Drogon]]
 
| Queen [[Daenerys Targaryen]]
 
| Queen [[Daenerys Targaryen]]
 
| Hatched from an egg by [[Daenerys Targaryen]], who placed Drogon's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal [[Drogo]],{{Ref|AGOT|72}} whom Drogon is named after.{{Ref|acok|12}} Mounted by Daenerys for the first time in {{Date|300}}.{{Ref|adwd|52}}
 
| Hatched from an egg by [[Daenerys Targaryen]], who placed Drogon's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal [[Drogo]],{{Ref|AGOT|72}} whom Drogon is named after.{{Ref|acok|12}} Mounted by Daenerys for the first time in {{Date|300}}.{{Ref|adwd|52}}
 +
| [''Alive at end of book story as published by start of May 2021'']
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Grey Ghost]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Grey Ghost]]
 
| None
 
| None
| A wild dragon, never ridden. Died in {{Date|130}} when attacked by [[Sunfyre]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
+
| A wild dragon, never ridden. Caught his own food (fish, etc) at sea.
 +
| Died in {{Date|130}} when attacked by [[Sunfyre]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Meleys]] (''The Red Queen'')
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Meleys]] (''The Red Queen'')
 
| Princess [[Alyssa Targaryen]]
 
| Princess [[Alyssa Targaryen]]
| rowspan="2"| Claimed by Alyssa from {{date|75}} until {{date|84}}, claimed by Rhaenys from {{date|87}} until the deaths of both dragon and rider in {{Date|129}}, during the [[battle at Rook's Rest]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
+
| Claimed by Alyssa from {{date|75}} until {{date|84}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]]
 
| Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]]
 +
| Claimed by Rhaenys from {{date|87}}.
 +
| Dragon and rider died in {{Date|129}}, during the [[battle at Rook's Rest]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Meraxes]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Meraxes]]
 
| Queen [[Rhaenys Targaryen]]
 
| Queen [[Rhaenys Targaryen]]
| Born on [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]] between {{Date|-114}} and [[Aegon's Conquest]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Died at the [[Hellholt]] in [[Dorne]] in {{Date|10}} during the [[First Dornish War]].{{ref|FAB|Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}}
+
| Born on [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]] between {{Date|-114}} and [[Aegon's Conquest]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
 +
| Died at the [[Hellholt]] in [[Dorne]] in {{Date|10}} during the [[First Dornish War]].{{ref|FAB|Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I}}{{Ref|twoiaf|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}}
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Moondancer]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Moondancer]]
 
| Lady [[Baela Targaryen]].
 
| Lady [[Baela Targaryen]].
 +
|
 
| Died in {{Date|130}}, during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
| Died in {{Date|130}}, during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Morghul]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Morghul]]
 
| Princess [[Jaehaera Targaryen]]
 
| Princess [[Jaehaera Targaryen]]
| Born during the reign of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], after an egg was placed in the cradle of Princess Jaehaera.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}} Died during the [[Storming of the Dragonpit]] in {{date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
+
| Born during the reign of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], after an egg was placed in the cradle of Princess Jaehaera.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
 +
| Died during the [[Storming of the Dragonpit]] in {{date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Morning]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Morning]]
 
| Lady [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]].
 
| Lady [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]].
 
| Born during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
 
| Born during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
 +
|
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Quicksilver]]
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Quicksilver]]
 
| King [[Aenys I Targaryen]]
 
| King [[Aenys I Targaryen]]
| rowspan="2"| Killed in {{Date|43}} by [[Balerion]] in the [[Battle Beneath the Gods Eye]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}
+
|
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon Targaryen]]
 
| Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon Targaryen]]
 +
|
 +
| Dragon and rider were killed in {{Date|43}} by [[Balerion]] in the [[Battle Beneath the Gods Eye]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Rhaegal]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Rhaegal]]
 
| None
 
| None
 
| Hatched from an egg by [[Daenerys Targaryen]], who placed Rhaegal's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal [[Drogo]].{{Ref|AGOT|72}} Daenerys named Rhaegal after her oldest brother, [[Rhaegar Targaryen]].{{Ref|acok|12}}
 
| Hatched from an egg by [[Daenerys Targaryen]], who placed Rhaegal's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal [[Drogo]].{{Ref|AGOT|72}} Daenerys named Rhaegal after her oldest brother, [[Rhaegar Targaryen]].{{Ref|acok|12}}
 +
| [''Alive at end of book story as published by start of May 2021'']
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Seasmoke]]
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Seasmoke]]
 
| Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]]
 
| Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]]
| rowspan="2"| Died during the [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]] in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
+
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Addam Velaryon]]
 
| [[Addam Velaryon]]
 +
|
 +
| Died during the [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]] in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Sheepstealer]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Sheepstealer]]
 
| Nettles
 
| Nettles
 
| A wild dragon, claimed during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
 
| A wild dragon, claimed during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Shrykos]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Shrykos]]
 
| Prince [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys Targaryen]]
 
| Prince [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys Targaryen]]
| Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen during the reign of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}} Died during the [[Storming of the Dragonpit]] in {{date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
+
| Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen during the reign of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
 +
| Died during the [[Storming of the Dragonpit]] in {{date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Silverwing]]
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Silverwing]]
 
| Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]]
 
| Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]]
| rowspan="2"| Hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Alysanne Targaryen.{{Ref|fab|The Sons of the Dragon}} Resided on Dragonstone after Alysanne's death, where she was eventually claimed by Ulf the White. Became wild after the death of her rider, and made her lair in an island on [[Red Lake]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
+
| rowspan="1"| Hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Alysanne Targaryen.{{Ref|fab|The Sons of the Dragon}} Resided on Dragonstone after Alysanne died. {{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Ulf the White]]
 
| [[Ulf the White]]
 +
| On Dragonstone she was eventually claimed by Ulf the White. Became wild after the death of her rider, and made her lair in an island on [[Red Lake]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Stormcloud]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Stormcloud]]
 
| Prince [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon "the Younger" Targaryen]]
 
| Prince [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon "the Younger" Targaryen]]
| Ridden only once, in {{Date|129}}. Died a few hours later after the [[Battle of the Gullet]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
+
| Ridden only once, in {{Date|129}}.
 +
| Died a few hours later after the [[Battle of the Gullet]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Sunfyre]] (''The Golden'')
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Sunfyre]] (''The Golden'')
 
| King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]
 
| King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]
| Said to have been young between {{Date|120}} and {{date|129}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} Died during the [[Dance of the Dragons]] in late {{Date|130}} at [[Dragonstone]].{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}
+
| Said to have been young between {{Date|120}} and {{date|129}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
 +
| Died during the [[Dance of the Dragons]] in late {{Date|130}} at [[Dragonstone]].{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Syrax]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Syrax]]
 
| Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]{{Ref|aDwD|8}}
 
| Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]{{Ref|aDwD|8}}
| Born during the reign of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], and named by Rhaenyra after a Valyrian goddess.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Died during riots in King's Landing in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
+
| Born during the reign of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], and named by Rhaenyra after a Valyrian goddess.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
 +
| Died during riots in King's Landing in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 +
|-
 +
| rowspan="1"| [[Terrax]]
 +
| [[Jaenara Belaerys]]
 +
| Lived in [[Valyria]] before the [[Doom of Valyria]]. Riding him, she spent three years exploring [[Sothoryos]].
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Tessarion]] (''The Blue Queen'')
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Tessarion]] (''The Blue Queen'')
 
| Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron Targaryen]]
 
| Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron Targaryen]]
 +
|
 
| Died during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
| Died during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Tyraxes]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Tyraxes]]
 
| Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]]
 
| Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]]
| Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Joffrey Velaryon.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Died in {{Date|130}}, during riots in King’s Landing.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
+
| Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Joffrey Velaryon.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
 +
| Died in {{Date|130}}, during riots in King’s Landing.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Vermax]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Vermax]]
 
| Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]
 
| Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]
| Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Died in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
+
| Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
 +
| Died in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Vermithor]] (''The Bronze Fury'')
 
| rowspan="2"| [[Vermithor]] (''The Bronze Fury'')
 
| King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]
 
| King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]
| rowspan="2"| Hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Jaehaerys I Targaryen.{{Ref|fab|The Sons of the Dragon}} Unclaimed since Jaehaerys's death in {{Date|103}}, until he bonded with Hugh Hammer in {{Date|129}}. Died in {{Date|130}}, during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], at [[Second Tumbleton]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
+
| rowspan="2"| Hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Jaehaerys I Targaryen.{{Ref|fab|The Sons of the Dragon}} Unclaimed since Jaehaerys's death in {{Date|103}}, until he bonded with Hugh Hammer in {{Date|129}}.
 +
| rowspan="2"| Died in {{Date|130}}, during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], at [[Second Tumbleton]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Hugh Hammer]]
 
| [[Hugh Hammer]]
Line 249: Line 293:
 
| rowspan="4"| [[Vhagar]]
 
| rowspan="4"| [[Vhagar]]
 
| Queen [[Visenya Targaryen]]
 
| Queen [[Visenya Targaryen]]
| rowspan="4"| Born in {{Date|-52}}. Ridden by Visenya Targaryen until her death in {{Date|44}}.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}} Remained unridden for twenty-nine years until {{Date|73}} with Baelon Targaryen claiming and riding her until his death in {{Date|101}}.{{ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, & Pain}} Vhagar was eventually claimed by Laena Velaryon, who rode the dragon until her own death in {{Date|120}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Shortly afterwards, Vhagar was claimed by Prince Aemond Targaryen,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} and ridden by him until both rider and dragon died in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
+
| Born in {{Date|-52}}. Ridden by Visenya Targaryen until her death in {{Date|44}}.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}} Remained unridden for twenty-nine years.
 +
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon the Brave]]
 
| Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon the Brave]]
 +
| In {{Date|73}} Baelon Targaryen claimed and rode her until his death in {{Date|101}}.{{ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, & Pain}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Lady [[Laena Velaryon]]
 
| Lady [[Laena Velaryon]]
 +
| Vhagar was eventually claimed by Laena Velaryon, who rode the dragon until her own death in {{Date|120}}.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]]
 
| Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]]
 +
| Shortly afterwards, Vhagar was claimed by Prince Aemond Targaryen,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} and ridden by him.
 +
| Rider and dragon died in {{Date|130}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Viserion]]
 
| rowspan="1"| [[Viserion]]
 
| None
 
| None
 
| Hatched from an egg by [[Daenerys Targaryen]], who placed Viserion's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal [[Drogo]].{{Ref|AGOT|72}} Daenerys named Viserion after her brother [[Viserys Targaryen]].{{Ref|acok|12}}
 
| Hatched from an egg by [[Daenerys Targaryen]], who placed Viserion's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal [[Drogo]].{{Ref|AGOT|72}} Daenerys named Viserion after her brother [[Viserys Targaryen]].{{Ref|acok|12}}
 +
| [''Alive at end of book story as published by start of May 2021'']
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="1"| The [[last dragon]]
 
| rowspan="1"| The [[last dragon]]
 
| None
 
| None
| Born and died during the reign of King [[Aegon III Targaryen]]. Was once seen by Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]] when he was still a boy; it was not really combat-worthy.{{Ref|THK}}
+
| colspan="2"| Born and died during the reign of King [[Aegon III Targaryen]]. Was once seen by Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]] when he was still a boy; it was not really combat-worthy.{{Ref|THK}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
===Of unknown or uncertain chronology===
 
===Of unknown or uncertain chronology===
*[[Terrax]], the dragon of [[Jaenara Belaerys]], who at some point spent three years exploring [[Sothoryos]].
+
*[[Urrax]], according to legend slain by [[Serwyn of the Mirror Shield]], is a legendary figure from the [[Age of Heroes]],{{Ref|twoiaf|Ancient History: The Age of Heroes}} although singers now claim he was a human, a [[knight]] of the [[Kingsguard]].{{ref|agot|8}} The Kingsguard was founded in {{Date|10}},{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I}} thousands of years after the Age of Heroes and the arrival of the first knights in [[Westeros]].
*[[Urrax]], according to legend slain by [[Serwyn of the Mirror Shield]], is a legendary figure from the [[Age of Heroes]],{{Ref|twoiaf|Ancient History: The Age of Heroes}} although singers now claim he was a [[knight]] of the [[Kingsguard]].{{ref|agot|8}} The Kingsguard was founded in {{Date|10}},{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I}} thousands of years after the Age of Heroes and the arrival of the first knights in [[Westeros]].
 
  
==Known Dragon Eggs==
+
==Known dragon eggs==
 
[[File:Dragon Eggs HBO.jpg|thumb|350px|Dragon eggs in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
 
[[File:Dragon Eggs HBO.jpg|thumb|350px|Dragon eggs in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
 
:{{main|Dragon egg}}
 
:{{main|Dragon egg}}
* Three dragon eggs were stolen from the [[Dragonstone]] hatcheries by [[Elissa Farman]] in {{Date|54}}, and sold to the [[Sealord of Braavos]].{{ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} Current whereabouts unknown.
+
*"''wu''" means "whereabouts unknown, not known if hatched"
* [[Mysaria]]'s egg - When Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] learned his concubine was pregnant, he presented her with a dragon egg, but King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] commanded him to return the egg and send Mysaria away.{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Whereabouts unknown.
+
{| class=wikitable width=100%
* {hatched} Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]]'s egg - placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree, hatched into the dragon [[Vermax]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
+
!Owner
* {hatched} Prince [[Lucerys Velaryon]]'s egg - placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree, hatched into the dragon [[Arrax]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
+
!Hatched into
* {hatched} Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon]]'s egg - placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree, hatched into the dragon [[Tyraxes]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
+
!Color
*King [[Viserys II Targaryen]]'s egg - he possessed an egg during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
+
!Notes
*Lady [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]]'s eggs - her first egg hatched into a broken thing that died within hours. She possessed another egg at the start of the civil war, and took three eggs to the [[Vale]] with her during the war.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Only [[Morning|one egg]] is known to have hatched,{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} the whereabouts of the others are unknown.
+
|-
*Prince [[Maelor Targaryen]]'s egg - he was given an egg at birth,{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} which had not yet hatched by the start of the civil war.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} It is unknown what happened to the egg after Maelor was killed at [[Bitterbridge]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}  
+
|
*King [[Aegon II Targaryen]]'s egg - purple and gold - seeking a replacement for the dead [[Sunfyre]], Aegon choose a new egg in the hopes of hatching a new dragon for himself.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}
+
|''wu''
* Five eggs - from the [[last dragon]]'s clutch,{{Ref|TMK}} so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.
+
|[''three eggs'']
* Princess [[Elaena Targaryen]]'s egg - [[platinum]] white and bright golden<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1605 Three Maidens in the Tower (June 27, 2006)]</ref> – whereabouts unknown.
+
|Were stolen from the [[Dragonstone]] hatcheries by [[Elissa Farman]] in {{Date|54}}, and sold to the [[Sealord of Braavos]].{{ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
* Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron Targaryen]]'s egg - known to exist,{{Ref|TMK}} but so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.
+
|-
* Prince [[Aerion Targaryen]]'s egg - gold and silver, with veins of fiery colors{{Ref|TMK}} – whereabouts unknown.
+
|[[Mysaria]]
* Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon Targaryen]]'s egg - known to exist,{{Ref|TMK}} but so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.
+
|''wu''
* King [[Aegon V Targaryen]]'s egg - white and green swirls{{Ref|TMK}} – whereabouts unknown.
+
|
* Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]]'s egg - red, with golden flecks and black whorls{{Ref|TMK}} – whereabouts unknown.
+
|When Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] learned his concubine was pregnant, he presented her with a dragon egg, but King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] commanded him to return the egg and send Mysaria away.{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* Seven eggs - used by King [[Aegon V Targaryen]] in the ceremony that caused the [[tragedy at Summerhall]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} Some of these may have been the unhatched eggs mentioned above. Whereabouts unknown, but possibly destroyed by the fire.
+
|-
* King [[Euron Greyjoy]]'s egg - Euron claims he had a dragon egg, but threw it into the sea.{{Ref|AFFC|29}}  
+
|[[Jacaerys Velaryon]]
* {hatched} [[Drogon]]'s egg - black as the midnight sea, alive with scarlet ripples and swirls.{{Ref|aGoT|11}}
+
|[[Vermax]]
* {hatched} [[Rhaegal]]'s egg - deep green, with burnished bronze flecks.{{Ref|aGoT|11}}
+
|
* {hatched} [[Viserion]]'s egg - colored pale cream, streaked with gold.{{Ref|aGoT|11}}
+
|placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
 +
|-
 +
|[[Lucerys Velaryon]]
 +
|[[Arrax]]
 +
|
 +
|placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
 +
|-
 +
|[[Joffrey Velaryon]]
 +
|[[Tyraxes]]
 +
|
 +
|placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
 +
|-
 +
|[[Viserys II Targaryen]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|he possessed an egg during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
 +
|-
 +
|rowspan="4"|[[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]]
 +
[''4 eggs'']
 +
|(''died soon afterwards'')
 +
|
 +
|A broken thing that died within hours. She possessed another egg at the start of the civil war.
 +
|-
 +
|[[Morning]]
 +
|
 +
|Taken to the [[Vale]] with her during the war
 +
|-
 +
|''wu''
 +
|
 +
|Taken to the [[Vale]] with her during the war, did not hatch
 +
|-
 +
|''wu''
 +
|
 +
|Taken to the [[Vale]] with her during the war, did not hatch
 +
|-
 +
|[[Maelor Targaryen]]
 +
|''wu''
 +
|
 +
|he was given an egg at birth,{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} which had not yet hatched by the start of the civil war.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}} It is unknown what happened to the egg after Maelor was killed at [[Bitterbridge]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}  
 +
|-
 +
|[[Aegon II Targaryen]]
 +
|''wu''
 +
|purple and gold
 +
|seeking a replacement for the dead [[Sunfyre]], Aegon choose a new egg in the hopes of hatching a new dragon for himself.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}
 +
|-
 +
|[''5 eggs'']
 +
|''wu''
 +
|
 +
|from the [[last dragon]]'s clutch,{{Ref|TMK}} so far undescribed
 +
|-
 +
|[[Elaena Targaryen]]
 +
|''wu''
 +
|[[platinum]] white and bright golden<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1605 Three Maidens in the Tower (June 27, 2006)]</ref>
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|[[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron Targaryen]]
 +
|''wu''
 +
|
 +
|known to exist,{{Ref|TMK}} but so far undescribed
 +
|-
 +
|[[Aerion Targaryen]]
 +
|''wu''
 +
|gold and silver, with veins of fiery colors{{Ref|TMK}}
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|[[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon Targaryen]]
 +
|''wu''
 +
|
 +
|known to exist,{{Ref|TMK}} but so far undescribed
 +
|-
 +
|[[Aegon V Targaryen]]
 +
|''wu''
 +
|white and green swirls{{Ref|TMK}}
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|[[Ambrose Butterwell]]
 +
|''wu''
 +
|red, with golden flecks and black whorls{{Ref|TMK}}
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|[''7 eggs'']
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|used by King [[Aegon V Targaryen]] in the ceremony that caused the [[tragedy at Summerhall]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} Some of these may have been the unhatched eggs mentioned above. Whereabouts unknown, but possibly destroyed by the fire.
 +
|-
 +
|[[Euron Greyjoy]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|Euron claims he had a dragon egg, but threw it into the sea.{{Ref|AFFC|29}}  
 +
|-
 +
|rowspan="3"|(''May be the 3 that were stolen from the Dragonstone hatcheries by Elissa Farman in 54 AC and sold in Essos'')
 +
|[[Drogon]]
 +
|black as the midnight sea, alive with scarlet ripples and swirls.{{Ref|aGoT|11}}
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|[[Rhaegal]]
 +
|deep green, with burnished bronze flecks.{{Ref|aGoT|11}}
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|[[Viserion]]
 +
|colored pale cream, streaked with gold.{{Ref|aGoT|11}}
 +
|
 +
|}
  
 
==Books and scrolls about dragons==
 
==Books and scrolls about dragons==
Line 322: Line 475:
 
{{Quote|Once a man has seen a dragon in flight, let him stay at home and tend his garden in content, someone had written once, for [[known world|this wide world]] has no greater wonder.{{Ref|aDwD|14}}|thoughts of [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}
 
{{Quote|Once a man has seen a dragon in flight, let him stay at home and tend his garden in content, someone had written once, for [[known world|this wide world]] has no greater wonder.{{Ref|aDwD|14}}|thoughts of [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}
  
{{Quote|All I know of dragons is what [[Viserys Targaryen|my brother]] told me when I was a girl, and some I read in books, but it is said that even [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conquerer]] never dared mount [[Vhagar]] or [[Meraxes]], nor did his sisters mount [[Balerion|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.{{Ref|aDwD|50}}|[[Daenerys Targaryen]] to [[Quentyn Martell]]}}
+
{{Quote|All I know of dragons is what [[Viserys Targaryen|my brother]] told me when I was a girl, and some I read in books, but it is said that even [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] never dared mount [[Vhagar]] or [[Meraxes]], nor did his sisters mount [[Balerion|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.{{Ref|aDwD|50}}|[[Daenerys Targaryen]] to [[Quentyn Martell]]}}
  
 
{{Quote|Death comes out of a dragon's mouth, but death does not go in that way.{{ref|adwd|66}}|writings of [[Barth]]}}
 
{{Quote|Death comes out of a dragon's mouth, but death does not go in that way.{{ref|adwd|66}}|writings of [[Barth]]}}
Line 339: Line 492:
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon Dragon] - Wikipedia article on the real-world mythological creature.
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon Dragon] - Wikipedia article on the real-world mythological creature.
 
  
 
{{Dragons}}
 
{{Dragons}}

Revision as of 10:44, 19 August 2021

Aegon the Conqueror upon Balerion, the Black Dread, by Jordi Gonzalez ©

Dragons are magical flying reptilian creatures, which existed on the continents of Westeros and Essos, but were considered to have been extinct for almost one hundred and fifty years. The only remaining traces of the dragons were skeletal remains and dragon eggs which are thought to have turned to stone. But during the events described in the main series of books, the species is brought back by magically hatching three old apparently-petrified dragon eggs.

Newborn dragons are known as hatchlings; dragons that are older but not full-grown are known as drakes.[1]

Dragons are depicted in the sigils of Houses Blackfyre, Targaryen, Toland, Vance of Atranta, Vance of Wayfarer's Rest, and Willum.

Appearance

Dragon skulls in the Red Keep cellars by Kim Pope

Dragons are scaled,[2][3] reptilian creatures. They have four limbs: two wings, which are used as forelegs like bats and pterosaurs,[4] and two rear legs.[5][6] George R. R. Martin's dragons thereby differ from the traditional depiction of dragons as six-limbed creatures. Martin came to his decision as he was bothered by the fact that no animal in nature has ever evolved in such a way (i.e. four legs and two wings).[5] Nonetheless, some A Song of Ice and Fire artwork shows them with four legs and a detached pair of wings.

Dragons have strong jaws,[7] sharp teeth[8] and claws,[3] leathery wings[9][10] and long necks[11] and tails,[9] with horns on their heads.[3] As young hatchlings, they are around the size of a cat.[3] If it has enough food and freedom, a dragon never stops growing.[12][9] A dragon given such freedom can reach a span width of twenty feet within a year and a half.[11] Dragons which are locked up, e.g., the Targaryen dragons housed in the Dragonpit in King's Landing, do not grow as large as dragons left free to fly as they wish.[12][9] Although increasing age means increasing size, a larger size does not always show a higher age (e.g., the younger Meraxes was larger than the older Vhagar).[13][N 1] Balerion, the largest Targaryen dragon, was large enough to swallow an aurochs or a mammoth from Ibben whole.[13]

The polished skulls of the Targaryen dragons look like glittering onyx, and their teeth like curved daggers of black diamond. Dragonbones are black due to their high iron content.[13]

Dragons, demons, and other creatures are said to inhabit the cliff caves above the Ash.[14] Sea dragons in the Sunset Sea and ice dragons 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.[15][16]

Characteristics

The Field of Fire, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

It is said that dragons are fire made flesh. Great heat emanates from dragons' bodies, to the point that they steam during cold nights. Dragons only eat cooked meat, and use the extremely hot dragonflame which they breathe to cook their meat before eating it.[3]

A dragon's scales are largely, but not entirely, impervious to flame as well, and serve as protection for the more vulnerable flesh and musculature beneath. As a dragon ages, its scales thicken and grow harder, affording even more protection,[7] leaving dragons nearly immune to fire,[5][17] although they can still be wounded by dragonflame (e.g., Moondancer's eyes being blinded by Sunfyre's fire during the Dance of the Dragons). Similarly, as dragons age, the fires they breath become hotter and fiercer. Where a hatchling's flame can set straw aflame, the flames of older dragons, like Balerion and Vhagar in the fullness of their power, could melt steel and stone.[7] The lifespan of dragons is many times that of a human, though their maximum natural lifespan is difficult to determine: as beasts of war, most of the known examples died in battle.[12] Balerion, the largest and oldest Targaryen dragon, already alive when House Targaryen moved from Valyria to Dragonstone in 114 BC[18] died of old age[19] in 94 AC[20] during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. Balerion was near two hundred years old when he died, but as the only known example of a dragon who died of old age, it is unclear if this should be considered typical.[12] Dragons are not invulnerable; a scorpion bolt through the eye killed Meraxes.[21] When Balerion returned with Princess Aerea Targaryen before Aerea's death, the dragon had large new bloody wounds from an unknown cause.[22]

Dragons are believed to be intrinsically tied to magic in the world. Since the death of the last dragon in 153 AC, summers grew shorter and the winters colder and crueler,[23] while magical spells became less powerful.[24]

Dragonbone is as strong as steel, but lighter and far more flexible, and impervious to fire.[13] It has been used to make brooches,[25] bows,[26][13] hilts of Valyrian steel daggers,[27] and whip handles.[28]

Reproduction

Historians, like Septon Barth, Grand Maester Munkun, and Maester Thomax, disagree on the mating habits of dragons.[29] Dragons lay large, scaled eggs to reproduce.[30] According to Archmaester Gyldayn, and agreed upon by Maester Yandel, the ability of a dragon to lay eggs is proof that said dragon is female. When a dragon is never observed to have laid eggs, this is taking as proof that it must have been male.[31] However, according to Barth and Maester Aemon, dragons have no fixed gender, but are “now one and now the other, as changeable as flame”.[30] Barth believed that dragons can change sex at need,[31][30] but Maester Anson believes this to be erroneous, and states in his Truth that Barth's statement is simply a misunderstood esoteric metaphor.[31]

Dragons believed to be female, e.g., Syrax,[32][33][20] Dreamfyre,[34] Tessarion,[20] and Meleys,[35] are referred to as a she-dragon or sometimes a queen.[36]

Traditionally, Targaryen princes received a dragon's egg in their cradle, allowing them to bond with the dragons as soon as the eggs hatched.[20][33] This tradition supposedly started during the reign of King Aegon I Targaryen, when Princess Rhaena Targaryen placed a dragon egg in the cradles of her younger siblings, Jaehaerys and Alysanne shortly after their births.[1][37] From these two eggs, the dragons Vermithor and Silverwing hatched.[37]

During the rule of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the king placed an egg in the cradle of his newborn son, Aemon, in 55 AC, at the suggestion of Queen Alysanne Targaryen.[22]

During the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, placing a dragon egg in the cradle of a newborn princeling became truly customary.[20] Jacaerys Velaryon, Lucerys Velaryon, Joffrey Velaryon,[20] Viserys Targaryen, Jaehaerys Targaryen, Jaehaera Targaryen, and Maelor Targaryen[20] are all known to have received an egg in their cradle during Viserys I's reign. During the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen, eggs were placed in the cradles of Prince Aegon and Lady Laena Velaryon.[38]

Un-hatched eggs can become fossilized at an old age.[26][39]

Dragonriders

Dragons are intelligent creatures[5] which can be trained to serve as battle mounts and understand vocal commands. They are said to be capricious in nature,[10] and have to be trained to keep them from laying waste to everything around them.[40] However, dragons will not allow everyone to mount them. In Valyria, the noble-born dragonriding families, the dragonlord families, frequently married brother to sister to keep the bloodline pure,[41] and it is generally believed that Valyrian heritage plays a part; 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 a dragon. Regardless, men without Valyrian descent made their attempts as well.[42] Having Valyrian blood (no matter how directly) is not a guarantee that bonding with a dragon will be successful.[9]

Once a dragon has bonded with a rider, that dragon will not allow anyone else to mount it while its rider lives, no matter how familiar said person might be to the dragon, except when the person bonded to the dragon is on the dragon's back. When the rider of a dragon dies, that dragon can bond with a new rider.[43] No rider has ever ridden a different dragon while their current dragon was alive.[44] However, when Prince Viserys Targaryen's dragon Balerion died, according to Martin, "[Viserys] did not take a second dragon",[45] leaving the possibility that a rider might bond with a new dragon after his/her first dragon has died. Indeed, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, following the death of her dragon Syrax, insisted on finding more dragon eggs, as she "must have another dragon". Dragons who have had a rider once before are easier to bond with than wild dragons.[42]

A dragon might to be able to sense when its current rider is in distress or has died. This is implied in the case of the dragon Dreamfyre, who, despite being locked and chained in the Dragonpit, is said to have sensed when her rider Helaena Targaryen committed suicide in Maegor's Holdfast, at the other side of King's Landing.[7] A dragonrider has also screamed out when his/her dragon was hit by a spear.[11]

Dismounting from a dragon is often referred to as "sliding off".

History

Ancient Dragons

Dragonlords 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.[46] 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.[2] Dragons are also said to have originated from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai and the islands of the Jade Sea.[2] 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.[46] Barth put forth the theory that dragons were created by Valyrian bloodmages using wyvern stock.[47] Dragons may also be related to firewyrms.[48]

Dragons populated most of the known world in ages past,[49] and ancient dragon bones have been found as far north as Ib and as south as the jungles of Sothoryos.[46] The yellow emperor Chai Duq of Yi Ti is said to have kept a dragon at his court after marrying a noblewoman from Valyria.[50]

In Westeros, Ser Galladon of Morne is said to have slain a dragon with the Just Maid,[51] Crackbones allegedly twisted a dragon's neck into a knot,[51] and Serwyn of the Mirror Shield slew the dragon Urrax.[32] Davos the Dragonslayer is a hero beloved in the Reach,[52] and dragons are also said to have once roosted on Battle Isle until the first Hightower put an end to them.[53] Smallfolk claim that the hot springs below Winterfell are warmed by the breath of a subterranean dragon.[31] Nagga is said to have been the first sea dragon.[54]

Valyrian Freehold

The Valyrians mastered the art of raising dragons and used them as weapons of war to carve out a massive empire, the Valyrian Freehold.[46] The Valyrians are said to have used dragon horns to tame dragons.[54]

The Valyrians used dragons to conquer the Old Empire of Ghis in the Ghiscari wars,[46] and hundreds of dragons were employed by Valyria during the Rhoynish Wars.[55]

After the Doom of Valyria, however, the only dragons known to have survived were five dragons on Dragonstone. They belonged to House Targaryen, who had brought them from Valyria when they went into exile. 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.[18]

The Targaryen Dragons

Balerion makes short work of Aegon Targaryen and Quicksilver during the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye, as depicted by Michael Komarck in The World of Ice & Fire

House Targaryen used Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes in their Wars of Conquest against the Seven Kingdoms. They 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.[18] Dragons were also used in the First Dornish War, which caused the death of Meraxes at the Hellholt in 10 AC.[56] A valuable golden coin of the Iron Throne became known as a golden dragon.[57]

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 7 AC, who bonded with Aegon I's elder son and heir, Aenys. Another two hatched during the first year of Aenys's reign in 38 AC.[37] 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 43 AC.[58][37]

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. King Jaehaerys I Targaryen took six dragons with him to the north to visit the Warden of the North. These included Jaehaerys on Vermithor, Queen Alysanne on Silverwing, and four other currently-unknown dragons.[59]

Balerion died of old age[35] in 94 AC, late in the reign of Jaehaerys I.[60] Jaehaerys's grandson and eventual successor Viserys I was Balerion's rider at the time of its death.[20][61] This left Vhagar as the largest living dragon, and by 129 AC she was approaching Balerion's size.[62]

By 129 AC, on the eve of civil war between Rhaenyra and Aegon II, there were twenty living dragons.[63] 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 hatchlings not yet big enough to ride.

There were also three wild dragons living on Dragonstone which had never been successfully claimed by any rider: Grey Ghost, Sheepstealer, and the 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. Not every hatchling lived to maturity, however, as seen with Rhaena of Pentos, whose hatchling only lived a matter of hours.[42]

Extinction and Revival

Dragons in flight by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

By the end of the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, twenty dragons were alive. The majority of these died during the civil war called the Dance of the Dragons, which began in 129 AC and lasted until mid 131 AC.[33] Archmaester Marwyn, however, holds that the order of maesters, with their secret goal to suppress magic, was responsible for the extinction of dragons.[64]

By the end of the Dance in 131 AC, only four dragons remained alive: Sheepstealer, the Cannibal, and Silverwing, who had been born years before the war, and the dragon Morning, which had hatched during the war.[33] In 132 AC, 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.[65]

There were still many dragon eggs left after the war, and at least one of those hatched. The last dragon was a stunted, sick and misshapen thing, and she died young, in 153 AC, during the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen, the Dragonbane.[66][67] She had been a green female, small with withered wings. She laid a clutch of five eggs,[68] which never hatched.[23]

The Targaryens also had a collection of nineteen dragons skulls of various sizes and ages that they displayed on the walls of the throne room in the Red Keep. Some of these were thousands of years old.[13]

After their extinction, the only remnants of dragons were their skulls[13] and the eggs, some of which were petrified.[68][69][39] The eggs were highly valued for their beauty and exotic nature.[70] According to Ser Arlan of Pennytree, the summers became shorter after the last dragon died, and the winters longer and crueler.[23]

Many futile attempts were made to revive dragons. Aegon III Targaryen, known as the Dragonbane, had nine mages cross the narrow sea to use their magics in attempt to hatch remaining dragon eggs.[67] The pious King Baelor I Targaryen attempted to hatch his egg by praying over it.[69] Aegon IV Targaryen ordered pyromancers to build seven mechanical "dragons" that shot jets of wildfire. Hundreds of men died in a failed attempt to use them to invade Dorne.[71] The tragedy of Summerhall resulted from the attempt of King Aegon V Targaryen to hatch dragon eggs.[72]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

During a dream while comatose, Bran Stark sees dragons stirring beneath the sunrise in Asshai by the Shadow.[73]

Daenerys Targaryen, probably aided by Mirri Mmaz Duur, manages to hatch three dragons—Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion—in her husband Drogo's funeral pyre when she steps into the fire while they lay inside it. With Daenerys's exchange of life for life, the first three dragons in over a hundred years are born there in the Dothraki sea.[74]

A Clash of Kings

Viserion, Rhaegal, and Drogon as hatchlings feeding upon a carcass, by Raya Golden © Fantasy Flight Games

In King's Landing, Wisdom Hallyne, a pyromancer of the Alchemists' Guild, tells Tyrion Lannister that their spells are more effective than usual, and wonders if there are any dragons around, as Wisdom Pollitor had once told him that magic had begun to go out of the world the day the last dragon died.[24]

The warlocks of Qarth attempt to kill Daenerys and claim her dragons, but she survives and the House of the Undying is destroyed.[8]

A Storm of Swords

Daenerys uses her dragons to conquer Astapor.[28]

During a small council meeting Varys reports that sailors back from the Jade Sea report that a three-headed dragon has hatched in Qarth, and is the wonder of that city. Lord Tywin Lannister dismisses the report.[75]

A Feast for Crows

In Oldtown, Armen says he has heard rumors of dragons in Asshai, Qarth, and Meereen, as well as of dragons freeing slaves.[76]

The small council of Queen Regent Cersei Lannister discounts rumors of dragons from Essos.[77]

Maester Aemon discusses dragons with Samwell Tarly.[30]

A Dance with Dragons

Daenerys Targaryen and Drogon in Daznak's Pit by Marc Simonetti ©

Daenerys encloses Rhaegal and Viserion within the dragon pit of Meereen's Great Pyramid after the death of Hazzea, although Drogon remains free.[78] Drogon later causes chaos at Daznak's Pit,[11] and Daenerys flies on his back to the Dothraki sea.[79]

Rhaegal and Viserion are freed from the Great Pyramid during Quentyn Martell's ill-fated attempt to tame a dragon.[9][80]

Known Dragons

Dragon Riders Notes Died
Arrax Prince Lucerys Velaryon Born during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, between 115 AC and 129 AC.[20] Killed with its rider in 129 AC above Shipbreaker Bay by Vhagar.[81]
Balerion (The Black Dread) King Aegon I Targaryen Born before House Targaryen moved from Valyria to Dragonstone in 114 BC.[18] Died in 94 AC, of old age.[60][20]
King Maegor I Targaryen
Princess Aerea Targaryen
Prince Viserys Targaryen
The Cannibal None A wild dragon, never ridden. Got his name from his habit of eating young dragons and hatchlings. [63]
Caraxes (The Blood Wyrm) Prince Aemon Targaryen
Prince Daemon Targaryen Killed with its rider in battle by Vhagar above the Gods Eye in 130 AC.[62]
Dreamfyre Princess Rhaena Targaryen
Queen Helaena Targaryen Died in 130 AC in the Storming of the Dragonpit.[7]
Drogon Queen Daenerys Targaryen Hatched from an egg by Daenerys Targaryen, who placed Drogon's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal Drogo,[74] whom Drogon is named after.[3] Mounted by Daenerys for the first time in 300 AC.[11] [Alive at end of book story as published by start of May 2021]
Grey Ghost None A wild dragon, never ridden. Caught his own food (fish, etc) at sea. Died in 130 AC when attacked by Sunfyre.[7]
Meleys (The Red Queen) Princess Alyssa Targaryen Claimed by Alyssa from 75 AC until 84 AC
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen Claimed by Rhaenys from 87 AC. Dragon and rider died in 129 AC, during the battle at Rook's Rest.[42]
Meraxes Queen Rhaenys Targaryen Born on Dragonstone between 114 BC and Aegon's Conquest.[18] Died at the Hellholt in Dorne in 10 AC during the First Dornish War.[82][21]
Moondancer Lady Baela Targaryen. Died in 130 AC, during the Dance of the Dragons.[7]
Morghul Princess Jaehaera Targaryen Born during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, after an egg was placed in the cradle of Princess Jaehaera.[62] Died during the Storming of the Dragonpit in 130 AC.[7]
Morning Lady Rhaena Targaryen. Born during the Dance of the Dragons.[36]
Quicksilver King Aenys I Targaryen
Prince Aegon Targaryen Dragon and rider were killed in 43 AC by Balerion in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye.[58]
Rhaegal None Hatched from an egg by Daenerys Targaryen, who placed Rhaegal's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal Drogo.[74] Daenerys named Rhaegal after her oldest brother, Rhaegar Targaryen.[3] [Alive at end of book story as published by start of May 2021]
Seasmoke Ser Laenor Velaryon
Addam Velaryon Died during the Second Battle of Tumbleton in 130 AC.[7]
Sheepstealer Nettles A wild dragon, claimed during the Dance of the Dragons.[42]
Shrykos Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen.[62] Died during the Storming of the Dragonpit in 130 AC.[7]
Silverwing Queen Alysanne Targaryen Hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Alysanne Targaryen.[37] Resided on Dragonstone after Alysanne died. [36]
Ulf the White On Dragonstone she was eventually claimed by Ulf the White. Became wild after the death of her rider, and made her lair in an island on Red Lake.[36]
Stormcloud Prince Aegon "the Younger" Targaryen Ridden only once, in 129 AC. Died a few hours later after the Battle of the Gullet.[42]
Sunfyre (The Golden) King Aegon II Targaryen Said to have been young between 120 AC and 129 AC.[20][36] Died during the Dance of the Dragons in late 130 AC at Dragonstone.[83]
Syrax Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen[32] Born during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, and named by Rhaenyra after a Valyrian goddess.[20] Died during riots in King's Landing in 130 AC.[7]
Terrax Jaenara Belaerys Lived in Valyria before the Doom of Valyria. Riding him, she spent three years exploring Sothoryos.
Tessarion (The Blue Queen) Prince Daeron Targaryen Died during the Dance of the Dragons, in 130 AC.[7]
Tyraxes Prince Joffrey Velaryon Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Joffrey Velaryon.[20] Died in 130 AC, during riots in King’s Landing.[7]
Vermax Prince Jacaerys Velaryon Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon.[20] Died in 130 AC.[42]
Vermithor (The Bronze Fury) King Jaehaerys I Targaryen Hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Jaehaerys I Targaryen.[37] Unclaimed since Jaehaerys's death in 103 AC, until he bonded with Hugh Hammer in 129 AC. Died in 130 AC, during the Dance of the Dragons, at Second Tumbleton.[7]
Hugh Hammer
Vhagar Queen Visenya Targaryen Born in 52 BC. Ridden by Visenya Targaryen until her death in 44 AC.[58] Remained unridden for twenty-nine years.
Prince Baelon the Brave In 73 AC Baelon Targaryen claimed and rode her until his death in 101 AC.[84]
Lady Laena Velaryon Vhagar was eventually claimed by Laena Velaryon, who rode the dragon until her own death in 120 AC.[20]
Prince Aemond Targaryen Shortly afterwards, Vhagar was claimed by Prince Aemond Targaryen,[20] and ridden by him. Rider and dragon died in 130 AC.[62]
Viserion None Hatched from an egg by Daenerys Targaryen, who placed Viserion's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal Drogo.[74] Daenerys named Viserion after her brother Viserys Targaryen.[3] [Alive at end of book story as published by start of May 2021]
The last dragon None Born and died during the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen. Was once seen by Ser Arlan of Pennytree when he was still a boy; it was not really combat-worthy.[23]

Of unknown or uncertain chronology

Known dragon eggs

Dragon eggs in Game of Thrones
  • "wu" means "whereabouts unknown, not known if hatched"
Owner Hatched into Color Notes
wu [three eggs] Were stolen from the Dragonstone hatcheries by Elissa Farman in 54 AC, and sold to the Sealord of Braavos.[1]
Mysaria wu When Prince Daemon Targaryen learned his concubine was pregnant, he presented her with a dragon egg, but King Viserys I Targaryen commanded him to return the egg and send Mysaria away.[20]
Jacaerys Velaryon Vermax placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree[33]
Lucerys Velaryon Arrax placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree.[33]
Joffrey Velaryon Tyraxes placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree.[33]
Viserys II Targaryen he possessed an egg during the Dance of the Dragons, so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.[42]
Rhaena Targaryen

[4 eggs]

(died soon afterwards) A broken thing that died within hours. She possessed another egg at the start of the civil war.
Morning Taken to the Vale with her during the war
wu Taken to the Vale with her during the war, did not hatch
wu Taken to the Vale with her during the war, did not hatch
Maelor Targaryen wu he was given an egg at birth,[20] which had not yet hatched by the start of the civil war.[63] It is unknown what happened to the egg after Maelor was killed at Bitterbridge.[36]
Aegon II Targaryen wu purple and gold seeking a replacement for the dead Sunfyre, Aegon choose a new egg in the hopes of hatching a new dragon for himself.[83]
[5 eggs] wu from the last dragon's clutch,[68] so far undescribed
Elaena Targaryen wu platinum white and bright golden[87]
Daeron Targaryen wu known to exist,[68] but so far undescribed
Aerion Targaryen wu gold and silver, with veins of fiery colors[68]
Aemon Targaryen wu known to exist,[68] but so far undescribed
Aegon V Targaryen wu white and green swirls[68]
Ambrose Butterwell wu red, with golden flecks and black whorls[68]
[7 eggs] used by King Aegon V Targaryen in the ceremony that caused the tragedy at Summerhall.[72] Some of these may have been the unhatched eggs mentioned above. Whereabouts unknown, but possibly destroyed by the fire.
Euron Greyjoy Euron claims he had a dragon egg, but threw it into the sea.[88]
(May be the 3 that were stolen from the Dragonstone hatcheries by Elissa Farman in 54 AC and sold in Essos) Drogon black as the midnight sea, alive with scarlet ripples and swirls.[26]
Rhaegal deep green, with burnished bronze flecks.[26]
Viserion colored pale cream, streaked with gold.[26]

Books and scrolls about dragons

Quotes

Daenerys Targaryen, the Unburnt, by Michael Komarck ©

We shall not pretend to any understanding of the bond between dragon and dragonrider; wiser heads have pondered that mystery for centuries. We do know however, that dragons are not horses, to be ridden by any man who throws a saddle on their back.[7]

—writings of Gyldayn

Who can know the heart of a dragon?[7]

—writings of Gyldayn

For the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.[74]

—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen

Dragons are fire made flesh, and fire is power.[89]

The last dragon in Westeros was the last dragon. That is well known.[76]

The grief and glory of my house.[90]

Once a man has seen a dragon in flight, let him stay at home and tend his garden in content, someone had written once, for this wide world has no greater wonder.[29]

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

All I know of dragons is what my brother told me when I was a girl, and some I read in books, but it is 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.[44]

Death comes out of a dragon's mouth, but death does not go in that way.[91]

—writings of Barth

There are no more dragons known to exist... but this is a medieval period, and large parts of the world are still terra incognita, so there are always tales of dragon sightings in far off mysterious places. The maesters tend to discount those.[49]

Behind the Scenes

The writer Phyllis Eisenstein convinced George R. R. Martin to add dragons to A Game of Thrones.[92] Martin dedicated A Storm of Swords to Eisenstein.

Notes

  1. Although the year of birth of Meraxes is not known, she is known to have hatched after Lord Aenar Targaryen arrived with his household on Dragonstone in 114 BC (The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest). That means she might have been born as early as the year of House Targaryen's arrival. Meraxes's death in 10 AC, however, makes it impossible for her to have been older when she died than Vhagar, who died at the age of 181, had been when she died. Although Meraxes died younger, her skull was larger than Vhagar's (A Game of Thrones, Tyrion II).

References

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  66. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  67. 67.0 67.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  68. 68.0 68.1 68.2 68.3 68.4 68.5 68.6 68.7 The Mystery Knight.
  69. 69.0 69.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
  70. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V.
  71. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  72. 72.0 72.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
  73. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 17, Bran III.
  74. 74.0 74.1 74.2 74.3 74.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 72, Daenerys X.
  75. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  76. 76.0 76.1 A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
  77. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
  78. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
  79. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 71, Daenerys X.
  80. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 70, The Queen's Hand.
  81. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
  82. Fire & Blood, Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I.
  83. 83.0 83.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
  84. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, & Pain.
  85. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Age of Heroes.
  86. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 8, Bran II.
  87. So Spake Martin: Three Maidens in the Tower (June 27, 2006)
  88. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
  89. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 27, Daenerys II.
  90. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 26, Samwell III.
  91. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 66, Tyrion XII.
  92. Rolling Stone: George R.R. Martin: The Rolling Stone Interview, April 23, 2014

External links

  • Dragon - Wikipedia article on the real-world mythological creature.