The dragons of House of the Dragon and their riders

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the season three premiere. The new season opens with a bloody, spectacular bang and the arrival of another dragonrider. At this point in the timeline there are more dragons than at any other time in Westeros, and many characters are eager to wield that power; in season two Rhaenyra Targaryen recruited dragonseeds to bolster her army as she plotted to seize the Iron Throne from King Aegon II.

Rhaenyra’s effort succeeded but at great cost: at least a dozen hopefuls were killed and many more were burned or maimed. As Fire & Blood warns, "Dragons are not horses": they do not easily accept men upon their backs, and when angered or threatened they attack.

The show has introduced several dragons and riders so far, and some beasts have accepted more than one rider. Vhagar is the oldest and largest: originally Visenya's, later claimed by Prince Baelon, then by Laena Velaryon (who commanded Vhagar to breathe fire with the word "Dracarys" as she bled out), and finally taken by Aemond.

season three, dragonrider, dragons, westeros, rhaenyra targaryen, aegon ii, dragonseeds, iron throne, vhagar, aemond