A dragonrider is a person who mounts a dragon like a horse. Before the fall of the Valyrian Freehold, the noble families of the Freehold had many dragonriders, including those of the Targaryens. However, after the Doom of Valyria, most riders died. Many years later, Aegon Targaryen, the Conqueror, rode with his sisters Visenya and Rhaenys Targaryen on three dragons, Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes, and led the conquest of the kingdoms of Westeros.
Dragonrider Details
Before the fall of Valyria, the dragonlords controlled dragons using different magical methods. As the creatures of fire were capricious and destroyed everything in their path, their riders used binding spells and sorcerous horns to keep them in check. The Targaryens used whips to control their dragons. Unlike horses that steer away from the source of a whip, dragons do the opposite.
Riding
Mounting and riding a dragon is a skill many dragonriders hone for life. To be able to fly on a dragon, a rider may use a saddle with chains that fasten them in place. However, some ride their dragons freely by putting their legs in a gripping position around the dragon’s neck.
Before mounting, a dragonrider has to bond with their dragon. There is no age for bonding. After the dragon chooses his owner, their bond lasts for as long as the person lives. The practice where a prince or princess would get a dragon egg in their cradle to facilitate faster bonding started during the Targaryens’ reign.
If a person tries mounting a dragon bonded to another person, it could have terrible consequences, like in the case of Joffrey Velaryon, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen’s son, who climbed Syrax. Mid-flight, the dragon threw Joffrey off her back, leading to his death. There are exceptions to riding a dragon when not bonded to it. In the case of Visenya Targaryen, she gave Lord Ronnel Arryn a ride on Vhagar, and years later, Prince Aemond Targaryen also gave Alys Rivers a ride.
Bloodline
Many people believe that one’s ability to ride on a dragon depends on their Valyrian heritage. As no one who was not a Valyrian ever bonded to a dragon, many people believed the purer the Valyrian bloodline, the better the chances of a person controlling a dragon; this fueled the incest practice of dragonlord families of the Freehold as they wed their sons to daughters.
As dragons lived far longer than humans, many old ones had more than one rider. There were very few cases of dragons outliving their riders, and because of the bond shared, it was no secret that riders felt the pain of their dragons when something happened to them.
History
When some slaves escaped from the Vlayrian Freehold, they found a region with a lagoon that frequently fogged. Believing it would protect them from the sight of dragonriders, they camped in the area and eventually created the city of Braavos.
After the Fourteen Fires killed most of the dragonriders and their creatures, the Valyrian Empire crumbled. The remaining survivors and their beasts got killed in the cities of Tyrosh and Lys. One rider, Aurion, led an army from Qohor in hopes of reestablishing the Freehold. However, he vanished, leaving only the Targaryens as the last owners of dragons.
When King Jaehaerys I Targaryen died, King Viserys I Targaryen became King. Facing a problem with his heir, he chose his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, to become the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms after his death. However, on his passing, his wife, Alicent Hightower, crowned her son Aegon II Targaryen King; this led to the Dance of the Dragons, a Civil War that killed the remaining living dragons in the known world.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Dance with Dragons
After becoming the Queen of Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen cages her dragons, Viserion and Rhaegal, after a report of one of them killing a child surfaces. Before Drogon gets captured, he flies away. Dany faces resistance from the Sons of the Harpy and agrees to marry Hizdahr zo Loraq to resolve the bloodshed and violence. After reopening the fighting pits, an event occurs for her wedding ceremony. However, during the fight, Drogon reappears, and to prevent any carnage, Dany rides away on him for the first time.
Back in Meereen, chaos ensues as Yunkai beseieges the city. Prince Quentyn Martell, who had earlier proposed to Daenerys, tries mounting one of her caged dragons as he believes he has the blood of the Valyrians. However, he is burned and dies three days later.
Popular Dragonriders
After the fall of the Valyrians, the Targaryens were the only people left with dragons. Here is a list of some of the most popular dragonriders:
- King Aegon I Targaryen: Balerion.
- Queen Rhaenys Targaryen: Meraxes.
- Queen Visenya Targaryen: Vhagar.
- Addam Velaryon: Seasmoke.
- King Aegon II Targaryen: Sunfyre.
- Prince Aemond Targaryen: Vhagar.
- King Aenys I Targaryen: Quicksilver.
- Prince Aemon Targaryen: Caraxes.
- Queen Alysanne Targaryen: Silverwing.
- Prince Daemon Targaryen: Caraxes.
- Queen Daenerys Targaryen: Drogon.
- Hugh Hammer: Vermithor.
- Prince Lucerys Velaryon: Arrax.
- Nettles: Sheepstealer.
- Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen: Syrax.
- Prince Jacaerys Velaryon: Vermax.
- Laenor Velaryon: Seasmoke.
Relevance in Adaptation
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, there were only three known dragonriders: Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, who learned of his Targaryen ancestry, and the Night King, who killed Viserion. After the battle of Winterfell and the fall of King’s Landing, Jon killed Dany, and Drogon flew away with her, never to be seen or heard.
In House of the Dragon, there are many dragonriders. As the show occurs during Dance of the Dragons, some of the strongest dragons, like Vhagar and Caraxes, are still alive.
Dragonriders: The Height of Valyrian Power
Dragonriders symbolize the height of the Valyrian Empire’s power. They were the tool used by the Freehold to project unquestionable power throughout the world. However, after the Empire fell, their legacy died. Many years later, the Targaryens awakened the culture of dragon-riding. However, because of their myopic lust for power, they lost their dragons; this started a series of events that led to them losing the Iron Throne.
FAQs
How many dragonriders remain in the known world?
Daenerys Targaryen is the only dragonrider remaining in the known world. She first rode Drogon after he appeared in Daznak’s Pit. With her action, she may become the only dragonlord alive. However, since Viserion and Rhaegal are living, there is still room for two more dragons.
Who was the best dragonrider to have lived?
There were many incredible dragonriders to walk the face of the Earth, like Maegor, Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys Targaryen. However, Prince Daemon Targaryen would likely be the best dragonrider. Daemon was such a skilled fighter and dragonrider that he used Ceraxes to kill Vhagar, a terrifying beast twice the size of his dragon.
Who was the most terrifying dragonrider?
Maegor Targaryen was the most terrifying Targaryen dragonrider. He claimed Balerion, the Black Dread, and unleashed chaos on his enemies.
How did Daenerys ride Drogon?
While she and her husband Hizdahr are at Daznak’s Pit watching a fighting event, Drogon appears to feast on a dead fighter’s body. Some champions try killing him, but he reduces them to ashes. Daenerys, watching the horror unfold, runs and mounts Drogon, flying away on him.
