House of the Dragon: Who are Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons descended from?

On August 22, 2022, the first episode of the “Game of Thrones” spin-off “House of the Dragon” was released on Sky and the streaming provider Wow. In the series we see numerous dragons, including for the first time the mother of Daenerys’ dragons Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion.

33% discount: “House of the Dragon” and more 6 months for 9.98 euros per month.❯

Where did Daenerys’ dragon eggs come from?

On her marriage to Khal Drogo, Daenerys Targaryen received three petrified dragon eggs from Magister Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos. According to him, these came from the Shadowlands beyond Asshai. Time is said to have turned them to stone. But where did the eggs really come from?

The family chronicle “Fire and Blood: The Rise and Fall of the House of Targaryen of Westeros” by George RR Martin provides insight. In the book Archmaester Gyldayn tells of the seafarer Lady Elissa Weitmann, a confidant of Queen Rhaena Targaryen.

Allegedly, the women were very close and more than just friends. After Rhaena married Elissa’s brother Androw, they went to Dragonstone together. When the adventurous seafarer got bored, Elissa secretly stole three eggs from Rhaena’s dragon Dreamfire to get gold to build a ship.

Fearing that another house might appropriate the dragons from the eggs, King Jaehaerys I had Targaryen search for Elissa. This traveled to Pentos and from there further overland to Braavos. She then sold the dragon eggs to the Sealord of Braavos under the name Alys Westhill.

Centuries later, the now petrified dragon eggs found their way back into the hands of a Targaryen. Daenerys managed to hatch these centuries after the last dragon went extinct.

What happened to the mother?

In “House of the Dragon” we experience the merciless war of inheritance between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen. This battle went down in history as the “Dance of the Dragons”. The so-called “storming of the dragon pit” was one of the bloody high points of the conflict and almost caused the complete annihilation of the dragon race.

During the riots in King’s Landing, a crazed mob gained access to the dragon pit. This is where the Targaryen kept their dragons captive. The mob attacked the animals that were in the pit at the time. The chained dragons fought back with their horns, claws and teeth and fought for their lives.

As the enraged humans attacked Dreamfire, the dragon lady ripped her chains free and took to the skies. She circled in the dome of the building and still got hit by people. When the dragon was struck in the eye by a crossbow bolt, Dreamfire made one last desperate attempt to escape. She kept banging her body against the roof of the dome until it collapsed, burying the dragon and numerous people under the rubble.

What became of the baby dragons?

In the second season of “Game of Thrones”, Daenerys managed to hatch three baby dragons from Dreamfire’s petrified eggs. She baptized them Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion. Together with the last official Targaryen heiress, the dragons moved to Westeros to conquer the Seven Kingdoms with the “Mother of Dragons”.

Viserion

As a battle ensued against the White Walkers at the Wall, Viserion was struck by an ice spear that the Night King threw at the dragon. The animal fell into the water and died. At the Night King’s command, Viserion awoke and became a revenant himself. After the death of the Night King, all the White Walkers died, including Viserion.

Rhaegal

When Daenerys went to Dragonstone with her fleet after the battle against the White Walkers, the Targaryen was ambushed. At Euron Greyjoy’s command, several scorpions (a special weapon) were fired at the dragons. Rhaegal was hit first in the chest, then in the wing, and finally in the neck. Mortally wounded, the dragon fell down and sank into the sea.

Drogon

After the murder of Daenerys Targaryen, Drogon gained access to the Red Keep. In anger at her death, he destroyed the Iron Throne before grabbing her corpse and flying away. At a meeting of the Small Council, it was reported that the dragon had been sighted disappearing to the east. Bran then left the session, stating that he wanted to find the dragon himself.

How much of Traumfeuer’s storyline we’ll see on the show remains to be seen. The Storming of the Dragonpit offers plenty of good plots, though, and the dramatic death of Rhaena’s dragon Dreamfire is particularly memorable. But we will definitely finally get to know the real mother of dragons in “House of the Dragon”, because Alicent Hohenturm’s daughter Heleana Targaryen later becomes the rider of Dreamfire.