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The Targaryen family’s history is intricately bound with dragons, as they wielded these powerful creatures to gain and maintain their dominance over the realm for many years. “House of the Dragon” immediately emphasizes this legacy, opening with a scene of a young Princess Rhaenyra riding her dragon, showcasing the Targaryens’ unique relationship with these magnificent beasts.
Dragons play a vital role in the family’s traditions. They are present during significant events, such as the burning of the deceased, as well as births, where an egg is placed beside the newborn, in hopes of it hatching and forming a bond with the new Targaryen.
What sets the Targaryens apart from all other families in Westeros is their exclusive ability to command dragons, a power communicated through the ancient Valyrian tongue. This allegiance of dragons to the Targaryens is also evident in “Game of Thrones” as Daenerys ascends in her quest to reclaim the throne with fire and blood. But why are the Targaryens the sole family in Westeros bestowed with this extraordinary connection to the colossal fire-breathing reptiles?
The Connection between Targaryens and dragons?
The Targaryen lineage traces its origins to dragons. Originally hailing from Valyria, a mythical city in Essos referred to as Old Valyria, this noble family coexisted with House Velaryon and House Celtigar. Valyria was a realm where dragons were commonplace, and the Targaryens were just one of many families that possessed them. Tragedy struck with the Doom, a cataclysmic event that obliterated the city. Thankfully, the Targaryens had left beforehand due to a prophetic vision, finding safety in Dragonstone with their dragons.
Approximately a century after the Doom, Aegon I, using his dragons, conquered Westeros, solidifying the Targaryen dynasty’s rule over the continent. They swiftly subdued six of the seven kingdoms, with Dorne eventually joining through a strategic marriage. With the fall of Valyria, dragons became scarce compared to their former abundance.
Internal conflicts among the Targaryens led to a decline in the dragon population, eventually driving them to the brink of extinction. In the first season of “Game of Thrones,” Daenerys defies the prevailing belief that dragons are forever gone by miraculously hatching three dormant dragon eggs from a fire. Both “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” highlight the special connection between Targaryens and dragons, underscoring the dragons’ unwavering loyalty, even if, as demonstrated in the finale of the prequel series, they cannot always be fully controlled.