Dragonkeepers

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The Dragonkeepers were the guards of the Targaryen dragons.

Dragonkeepers were stationed both at the Dragonpit in King's Landing[1] and on Dragonstone.[2] The Dragonkeepers at King's Landing numbered seventy-seven men during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen[1] and during the Dance of the Dragons.[3]

About

The Dragonkeepers wore suits of gleaming black armor. Their helms were crested by a row of dragon-scales that continued down their backs, diminishing downwards.[1]

History

After Princess Aerea Targaryen stole Balerion, and her death after they returned to Westeros, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen founded the Dragonkeepers to prevent another such theft.[2]

In 60 AC, as Princess Daenerys Targaryen was stricken by the Shivers, King Jaehaerys ordered a raven sent to the Dragonkeepers on Dragonstone, ordering them to bring a hatchling to King's Landing at once. After Daenerys died several hours later, Jaehaerys flew to Dragonstone upon Vermithor to inform them that it was no longer necessary.[2]

The Dragonkeepers at the Dragonpit of King's Landing who knew the dragons there better than anyone else, gave the dragon Caraxes his nickname: the Blood Wyrm.[2]

According to the accounts of the Dragonkeepers, when Princess Alyssa Targaryen came to claim a dragon in 75 AC, they had to convince her not to claim Balerion, telling the princess the dragon was "old and slow", suggesting she would rather have a swifter mount. In the end they succeeded, as Princess Alyssa claimed the dragon Meleys.[2]

In 84 AC, the Dragonkeepers caught Princess Saera Targaryen trying to enter the Dragonpit. They returned her to the Red Keep.[2]

Once, when Princess Viserra Targaryen brought six boys into the Dragonpit, promising her maidenhead to whoever would put his head in a dragon's mouth, the Dragonkeepers arrived in time to put an end to it.[2]

During the Dance of the Dragons, less than fifty Dragonkeepers stood guard the night when a rioting mob stormed the Dragonpit. The Dragonkeepers fought the mob, but were greatly outnumbered and eventually slaughtered when the mob broke through the many doors of the Dragonpit.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Trumphs and Tragedies.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra OVerthrown. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Rfabthe_dying_of_the_dragons_-_rhaenyra_overthrown.7B.7B.7B3.7D.7D.7D.7B.7B.7B4.7D.7D.7D" defined multiple times with different content