Summary
ThroughoutHouse of the DragonandGame of Thrones, a debated topic has centered around whether dragonriders need Valyrian blood to mount the mythical beasts. More so than its sequel series,House of the Dragonaptly centers around the titular creatures and their downfall in the world of Westeros. The manydragons featured inHouse of the Dragonoffer an insight into the details of dragonriding much more thanGame of Thronesdid, with the Targaryen family in a much more powerful position in comparison to Daenerys Targaryen’s later story.
Another benefit the show has overGame of Thronesis the depiction ofHouse of the Dragon’s biggest dragons. Monstrous creatures like Vhagar and Vermithor are much bigger thanGame of Thrones' Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal, making thebattle sequences inHouse of the Dragonall the more epic. However, from a lore standpoint,House of the Dragonoffers more of an insight into how dragons are tamed and ridden. The ending ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 7 detailed this heavily, bringing to mind the various arguments both for and against needing Valyrian blood to mount a dragon.
6Don’t: Nettles Is Not Confirmed To Have Valyrian Blood
A Dragonseed Has Unclear Heritage
In the TargaryenDance of Dragons featured inHouse of the Dragon, several lowborn people were chosen to ride dragons for Team Black. While several were thought to have Valyrian heritage, there was one who was not. This character is Nettles, a girl who grew up on Driftmark before eventually taming the wild dragon known as Sheepstealer.
In House of the Dragon, Nettles' character is seemingly being merged with Rhaena Targaryen, Daemon’s daughter.
InFire and Blood- the prequel to George R. R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firebook series on whichHouse of the Dragonis based -it was never confirmed who Nettles' parents were. Across the varying points of view the story is written from, no teases about Nettles' heritage are provided. This hints that Valyrian blood is not needed to ride dragons, considering Nettles became a key dragonrider for the Blacks in the Dance of Dragons.
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5Do: Nettles' Upbringing Could Hint At Valyrian Blood
Nettles Is An Interesting Case Study Of A Dragonrider
Despite Nettles not being outright confirmed, or even rumored, to be of a Valyrian bloodline inFire and Blood, there is one aspect of her backstory that provides a clue to the contrary. In the book, it is outlined that Nettles grew up on Driftmark, the island that holds the ancestral seat of House Velaryon. House Velaryon is not featured inGame of Thronesas much, but they are incredibly powerful during the time ofHouse of the Dragon. The Velaryons are one of the few remaining Houses that come from Old Valyria, like the Targaryens.
With Nettles growing up on Driftmark where women of Targaryen descent have been confirmed, it could be theorized that she is the offspring of a Targaryen and Velaryon…
As such, Velaryons are recognized almost as kin to the Targaryens. While the only recorded Velaryons to have ridden dragons include Laenor and Laena, whose mother was a Targaryen, their blood still comes from the same home as the dragons.House of the Dragon’s Addam of Hull also rode Seasmoke, with hints being provided that his mother was of Targaryen descent. With Nettles growing up on Driftmark where women of Targaryen descent have been confirmed, it could be theorized that she is the offspring of a Targaryen and Velaryon, uniting the two Valyrian bloodlines and allowing her to ride a dragon.
4Don’t: Jaehaerys I Targaryen Was Fearful Of Stolen Dragon Eggs
Jaehaerys Was Worried Others May Utilize The Hatched Dragons
InFire and Blood, a subplot surrounded the stealing of several dragon eggs during the reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen. A woman named Elissa Farman stole these eggs from Dragonstone and fled across the sea to Essos. The various points of view inFire and Bloodoutlined that Jaehaerys I was fearful of the stealing of the dragon eggs for several reasons.
It has long been theorized that the stolen dragon eggs made their way to Daenerys Targaryen almost two centuries later, leading to the events ofA Game of Thrones.
One such reason was that Jaehaerys was worried others in the world might receive dragons. If the eggs that were stolen were hatched in the hands of people in Essos, dragons could be tamed and ridden by those and threaten the Targaryen dynasty. While this was all subjective and nothing came of the stolen eggs for centuries,Jaehaerys' initial fear is a clue that dragons can be ridden by those without Valyrian blood.
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3Do: Only Those Linked To Valyrian Blood Have Ridden Dragons
Aside From Nettles, All Other Dragonriders Have Been Confirmed To Connect To Valyrian Bloodlines
Perhaps the biggest clue that one needs Valyrian blood to ride a dragon is thatalmost every dragonrider in history has a connection to a Valyrian family. Before the Sowing of the Seeds in the Dance of Dragons, only Targaryens rode dragons going back to the days of Aegon the Conqueror. Even during the Dance of Dragons, the dragonseeds who successfully tamed dragons were all confirmed to be somewhat connected to the Targaryen blood of Old Valyria.
This provides evidence that Valyrian blood could be necessary to ride a dragon. In Westeros, it has never been the case that a random Stark or Lannister with no Valyrian connections has managed to claim a dragon. The only outlier to this is Nettles, though even then, her close proximity to Driftmark and Dragonstone means she could be of Valyrian descent.House of the Dragonconfirmed that Ulf White and Hugh Hammer have direct links to Baelon Targaryen and thus Jaeahaerys, further supporting this clue.
2Don’t: George R. R. Martin Has Hinted Anyone Could Have A Dragon
The Creator Of Westeros Seemingly Debunks Valyrian Blood As A Necessity
AsHouse of the Dragonseason 2 has aired, the original author of theSong of Ice and Firebooks, George R. R. Martin, has been giving his opinion on his blog. AfterHouse of the Dragonseason 2 episode 4’s ending, Martin’s blog went on somewhat of a tangent as the author started detailing his thoughts on dragons as a whole in the world of Westeros. At one point, Martin offered a clue that anyone could ride a dragon.
When writing about dragons, Martin had this to say:
“Similarly, the dragons of Westeros seldom wander far from Dragonstone. Elsewise, after three hundred years, we would have dragons all over the realm and every noble house would have a few.”
This is a big clue that anyone can tame a dragon, coming from the franchise’s creator himself.George R. R. Martin’s blogimplies that if the dragons had spread further over Westeros, they could have become tools of other Houses. This is as good a clue as any that Valyrian blood is not necessary to ride a dragon.
1Do: Dragons Come From Old Valyria
The Dragons Themselves Have Valyrian Blood
One of the final major clues that Valyrian blood is necessary for riding dragons comes from the origin of the dragons themselves. While the exact origins of the dragons are a matter of debate in the world of Westeros, it is at least known that they hailed from Valyria. Of course, this is the case for Houses Targaryen and Valyrian too.
Using simple logic, it makes sense for Valyrian blood to be essential to riding dragons for this reason. Just as the Targaryens and Velaryons are seen as ancestral allies and kin, so too are the Valyrian houses and the dragons. While it could be confirmed in the future that non-Valyrian people have managed to claim dragons or vice versa, the various clues to either side inHouse of the DragonandGame of Throneswill keep the debate raging.
House of the Dragon
Cast
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.
