How Much Targaryen Blood Do You Need to Ride a Dragon?

As a longtime resident of Oldtown and a scholar of the history of Westeros, I’ve spent countless hours poring over ancient tomes and scrolls in the depths of the Hightower library. My eyes have traced the faded ink of records that speak of dragons and their masters, the Targaryens. I’ve breathed in the musty air of parchment, absorbing every detail of their lives.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 5 of House of the Dragon Season 2.

In the fifth episode of “House of the Dragon” Season 2, I found myself rooting for Queen Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) as she expressed her concern to her son Jacaerys (Harry Collett). The usurped monarch was in desperate need of dragon riders to help her deal with Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) menacing presence and his colossal fire-breathing dragon, Vhagar.

Aemond is a formidable and seemingly merciless fighter who has recently slain Rhaenyra’s trusted friend, Rhaenys (Eve Best), along with her dragon, Meleys. With this victory under his belt, he intends to seize the moment and continue his assault.

“Jace reminds Rhaenyra (Emma D’arcy), ‘We’re not lacking in dragons.’ In fact, we have two powerful ones that could face off against Vhagar. They are named Vermithor and Silverwing, and they slumber right under our feet.”

“Yes, that’s true, but if they had riders, none could challenge me,” Rhaenyra remarked, referring to the dragons currently unmounted due to the demise of their last riders, King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne.

An idea occurs to Jace afterwards. “Our bloodline has rulers who didn’t reign,” he explains. “Those who wedded into distinguished families, and their offspring bore different surnames.”

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“His mother raises an questioning eyebrow. “Are you proposing we place a Mallister or a Tarly on a dragon?” she inquires.”

He suggests they explore ancestry for potential dragon riders, people with a sufficient amount of Targaryen heritage. This strategy is ingenious, yet it raises an intriguing query: How much Targaryen lineage is necessary to tame a dragon without being consumed? What are the real prerequisites for riding a dragon? Can any descendant of the Targaryens effortlessly climb on the back of a fire-breathing creature and control it? Let’s delve deeper into this intriguing matter.

Can only Targaryens ride dragons?

According to Rhaenyra in the episode, legend holds that only the most pure-blooded Targaryens were able to mount dragons. This is likely why the practice of incest was prevalent within their family. In her own words, “A dragon would only allow a dragonrider to climb upon its back.” She added, “That’s what the tales tell us.”

“Valyrian histories written to gild us in glory,” counters Jacaerys.

It’s possible that the belief, which holds that only those of the Targaryen lineage with the purest blood can ride dragons, is actually just an old myth—yet one that Rhaenyra firmly believes to be true.

The Targaryens should consider informing the general population that they are the sole rulers over dragons in Westeros, acting as if they are divine beings due to this unique power. Their control of dragons is crucial to maintaining their mythical status. As Rhaenyra has mentioned on the show, “People call us gods because of our dragons. Without them, we’re just like everyone else.”

If others believe they have the ability to ride dragons like the Targaryens, there’s a risk of a coup against them. It’s plausible that one doesn’t require much or even any Targaryen heritage to master dragon-riding. We can only discover this through someone attempting it.

Will dragons accept any Targaryen as their rider?

In simpler terms, it’s important to note that being of Targaryen descent doesn’t automatically mean dragons will accept you as their rider. Dragons have their own preferences when choosing who to bond with, and approaching them can be risky, especially if they’ve recently lost their previous rider. For instance, in “Fire & Blood,” George R.R. Martin describes how Aemond, a Targaryen, attempts to claim the dragon Vhagar. However, even with his lineage, his parents would never permit him near her due to the danger involved.

As a movie lover, I’d put it this way: In our fifth episode of Season 2, Rhaenyra mentions that Rhaena, Daemon Targaryen’s daughter and a renowned dragon rider, hasn’t been able to tame her own dragon. We learned back in Season 1 that the egg given to Rhaena as a child failed to hatch while Baela’s did. With Laena Velaryon, Rhaena’s mother, deceased, many assumed that Vhagar, Laena’s dragon, would be passed down to Rhaena. But shockingly, during the cover of night, Aemond clandestinely claimed Vhagar for himself, leaving Rhaena empty-handed and frustrated.

When the topic arises about which person could lay claim to Vermithor or Silverwing, Jace proposes, “Rhaena is a possibility.”

“Who nearly lost her life in her last attempt. I would not risk it again,” Rhaenyra shoots back.

In the series, Rhaena never made an attempt to take control of Vhagar or any other dragon. This event mentioned by Rhaenyra likely transpired outside of the show’s scope. Consequently, having a royal lineage does not ensure one’s ability to train dragons effectively.

Who are the unclaimed dragons, Vermithor and Silverwing?

In the Season 1 finale, viewers came across Vermithor. After mentioning the dragons under Team Black’s control at Dragonstone, Daemon paid a visit to the underground caves. There, he sang to the dragon, awakening it from its long slumber. Daemon wasn’t just making friends with Vermithor; he was also assuring him that a rider would soon join him. The concluding lines of Daemon’s song in High Valyrian read, “Together we shall soar as fate intended, gracefully and unfettered.”

As I sat there in the dimly lit movie theater, I couldn’t help but feel a shiver of excitement run down my spine as the image of Vermithor, the majestic bronze dragon, graced the screen. This ancient beast, approximately a century old, is one of the largest living dragons, surpassed only by Aemond’s fearsome Vhagar.

In Season 1, Daemon refers to Silverwing during his dragon calculations with Rhaenyra. Previously, Alysanne Targaryen, who is married to King Jaeherys as a sister-wife, had ridden Silverwing. Since then, no one has sat on this winged steed.

In “Fire & Blood,” it’s recorded that Laenor Velaryon, who owned the dragon Seasmoke, passed away. However, when a rider perishes, another person is eligible to take command of the dragon. Yet in “House of the Dragon,” Laenor orchestrates his own demise, collaborating with his wife Rhaenyra, to escape with his lover instead.

It’s uncertain if someone else can sail Seasmoke with Laenor still alive or if Laenor will come back. However, we can expect to see Seasmoke once more in Season 2. At the beginning of the season, Mysaria (played by Sonoya Mizuno) observes Seasmoke circling Dragonstone all day, making noise. She muses, “Perhaps he’s feeling lonely.” Maybe all he needs is a rider.

In “Fire & Blood,” the maesters talk about three more dragons roaming freely without riders: Cannibal, Grey Ghost, and Sheepstealer. These dragons have not made an appearance in the show as of now.

Rhaena Targaryen is responsible for transporting four dragon eggs, including those belonging to Rhaenyra’s three children, to Pentos for safety. According to Episode 3 director Geeta Vasant Patel, out of these four eggs, Daenerys will eventually inherit three.

During their journey, Rhaena is told to make a detour to the Vale and pay a visit to Jeyne Arryn. In return for her allegiance, she desires a dragon. Rhaenyra dispatches Tyraxes and Stormcloud, two smaller dragons, which have formed strong connections with her third son Joffrey and fourth son Aegon, respectively.

How many Targaryens could be lurking in the Seven Kingdoms?

Jace ponders the existence of numerous potential dragon riders among the descendants of the Targaryen line. The further back in their family history they look, the more candidates they might uncover. And keep in mind, this story often includes hidden Targaryens (like Jon Snow).

Will Rhaenyra consider the bastards?

In their talk, Rhaenyra and Jace explore the topic of finding Targaryen descendants from matrimonial unions with other families. These are still authentic Targaryens, despite having a distinct surname.

As a movie buff, I’d put it this way: I can’t help but wonder if there are lesser-known Targaryen descendants out there with stronger connections to the dragonline than those who are only distantly related. These potential bastards might have been overlooked in the storyline.

There is a man we’ve encountered who asserts himself as the illegitimate brother of King Viserys and Daemon Targaryen: this man is Ulf. He dwells in King’s Landing currently, yet his allegiance lies with Rhaenyra, whom he refers to as the “true queen.” When she summons an army, it’s highly probable that Ulf will respond. Additionally, viewers who pay close attention might have noticed some individuals with blonde hair recurring in the show. These people could potentially be other candidates.

Since Westerosi monarchs and nobles have a reputation for being unfaithful, it’s likely that there are more individuals of dragon lineage—those with Valyrian ancestors who were able to ride dragons, such as the Targaryens or Velaryons—waiting to be discovered.

Who has the biggest dragons? The most dragons?

What’s the significance of this situation? With the House Targaryen, who have governed as a single family for ages, now facing internal conflict and the possibility of war, each faction is assessing their military capabilities. At present, Rhaenyra perceives herself to be disadvantaged in terms of power.

Team Black consists of eight dragon mounts and four dragon eggs. These dragons are: Syrax, ridden by Rhaenyra; Caraxes, ridden by Daemon; Vermax, ridden by Jacaerys Velaryon; Moondancer, ridden by Baela Targaryen; Tyraxes, bonded to Joffrey Velaryon; Stormcloud, bonded to young Aegon; Vermithor, currently unridden; and Silverwing, unridden. Additionally, Laenor previously rode Seasmoke, but it is now riderless.

Team Black’s dragons with riders, such as Vhagar (ridden by Aemond), are noticeably smaller than the massive dragon Vhagar. On the other hand, Team Green has Dreamfyre, ridden by Helaena, and Sunfyre, ridden by Aegon. However, Sunfyre and Aegon may be unable to fly for a while due to Aegon’s injuries sustained during the Battle of Rooks’ Rest. For a clearer understanding of who rides which dragon and their sizes, check out our helpful visual guide.

2024-07-17 13:02