Summary
Balerion may not be inHouse of the Dragon, butGame of Throneshas still managed to solve one mystery about the Black Dread. Ever since hearing or reading mentions of him inGame of ThronesandA Song of Ice and Fire, I’ve long been fascinated by Balerion. He is, after all, the Conqueror’s dragon, used to help take command of Westeros alongside Meraxes and Vhagar. He was so big he could“swallow an aurochs whole,”with“wings so vast that whole towns were swallowed up in their shadow.”
He’s the dragon of fantasy dreams, thoughGame of Thrones’ timeline(and now that ofHouse of the Dragon) has ruled out an on-screen appearance outside of seeing his skull. That will change if and whenGame of Thrones’ Aegon’s Conquest spinoffhappens, and one new reveal makes that prospect even more tantalizing a prospect, by answering a question I’d long wondered: who Balerion’s dragonrider was before Aegon the Conqueror.
The Biggest Dragons In Game Of Thrones & House Of The Dragon
Between Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and the lore from George R.R. Martin’s books, these dragons stand out as the biggest to roam Westeros.
Daenys Was Balerion’s Dragonrider Before Aegon The Conqueror
This Reveal Only Applies To Show Canon So Far
In the behind the scenes video forHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 1, “A Son for a Son,” [viaGame of Throneson YouTube], there’s a brief shot of one of the history books that apparently belonged to King Viserys I Targaryen. The pages contain some illuminating details, though, notably revealing that Daenys Targaryen (the great-great-great grandmother of the Conqueror) had bonded with Balerion.
“What isn’t widely known, however, is thatDaenys had bonded Balerion - at that time no bigger than a horse…”
Daenys is famous in Targaryen history for being the one who foresaw the Doom of Valyria, the cataclysmic event that wiped out Old Valyria. Her prophetic dream, 114 years before Aegon’s Conquest, prompted her father, Aenar, to move the family to Dragonstone, ensuring its survival and effectively serving asHouse Targaryen’s origin story in Westeros. They took with them five dragons, one of whom was Balerion, who we now know was ridden by Daenys herself.
It’s worth noting this reveal only applies to show canon - meaningHouse of the DragonandGame of Thrones- and has not yet appeared in any of George R.R. Martin’s books. The text used surrounding the reveal, however, is taken fromThe World of Ice and Firecompanion book, but that doesn’t mean it is part of book canon. Still, I do think it’s the kind of thing Martin might have planned, because it fits with Balerion’s history.
Why Daenys Being Balerion’s Dragonrider Is Important
It Provides A Bigger Connection To Aegon The Conqueror
Daenys is the fifthconfirmed dragonrider of Balerion the Black Dread, and is currently the only person who actually lived in Old Valyria that’s known to have bonded with him. She does have connections to two other riders, though, in thatshe was a dragon (or prophetic) dreamer, as was Aegon the Conqueror and another of the dragon’s riders, Viserys I.
It seems telling that at least three of Balerion’s dragonriders were all confirmed dreamers, which may suggest there’s something deeper at play here and perhaps a greater power or connection that comes from Balerion himself.
House of the DragonrevealedAegon’s prophetic A Song of Ice and Fire dream, and also showed that Viserys had these dragon dreams himself too. It seems telling that at least three of Balerion’s dragonriders were all confirmed dreamers, which may suggest there’s something deeper at play here and perhaps a greater power or connection that comes from Balerion himself. He was the last known dragon to have come from Valyria directly, so there may well be a greater magic to him than other dragons.
114 BC - ?
Before 1 AC - 37 AC
37-48 AC
54-56 AC
Viserys I Targaryen
93-94 AC
Most interestingly of all, to me, is that the new text revealsDaenys bonded with Balerion“the night before her fateful dream.”That suggests that Daenys’ dream was not only her own prophetic power, but directly connected to her bond with Balerion, who either helped channel that power or dream or maybe even knew, in some way, of what was coming.
Taking that further, it provides another connection between Daenys and Aegon. The former saw the Doom of Valyria, the greatest threat to her homeland; the latter foresaw the White Walkers, the greatest threat to his. Can it really just be a coincidence that two of Balerion’s dragonriders both had prophetic dreams showing two of the greatest threats or catastrophic events inGame of Throneshistory? I don’t think so, and I’d love the shows or Martin to reveal more about it.
Game Of Thrones
Cast
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
