House of the Dragon Episode 6 introduces a new dragon to the mix: Laena Velaryon rides an absolutely massive creature that we haven’t seen before on the show. This dragon is none other than Vhagar, the largest and oldest of the dragons currently alive in Westeros. This fire-eater has a particularly epic history, as detailed in the works of George RR Martin. Now, before we continue, the following is totally spoiler free, so you can read about Vhagar whether it is up to date or not.
Who is Vhagar in House of the Dragon?
Vhagar was born on Dragonstone in what is known as the Age of Blood, which spans the hundred years before Aegon the Conqueror and his two sisters took Westeros. The dragon was claimed by one of those sisters: Visenya Targaryen, Aegon’s older sister and later his wife, along with his other sister Rhaenys (that’s the Targaryens, for you). Aegon flew Balerion and Rhaenys rode Meraxes: Vhagar is the only one of the three dragons still alive.
Visenya flew to Vhagar throughout Aegon’s Conquest, including in a great battle that killed four thousand as the three Targaryen dragons took to the skies. Vhagar even helped make possible a peaceful surrender with House Arryn: when Visenya came to the Vale on his dragon, the young King Ronnel was captivated by Vhagar and asked Dowager Queen Sharra Arryn, his mother, if he could ride the great creature. Sharra gave in to Visenya and Ronnel got his dragon ride.
Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys then went to war with Dorne, the only kingdom not captured in the Conquest. Rhaenys and Meraxes were killed in the conflict, and in retaliation, Aegon and Visenya unleashed hell on Dorne in a period known as the Dragon’s Wrath. Ominous.
When Aegon the Conqueror died, Vhagar lit his funeral pyre. Visenya’s son Maegor the Cruel would later claim the crown, and the reappearance of Vhagar and Balerion, now Maegor’s dragon, caused unrest in King’s Landing. Visenya ended up burning down many Houses during Maegor’s reign, riding Vhagar the entire time. Maegor and his mother also came close to burning the old town of Hightowers, but the destruction was narrowly averted.
After Visenya’s death, Prince Baelon, the father of King Viserys, claimed Vhagar as his dragon, and after his death, Laena became Vhagar’s next rider. Viserys and Laena even talk about Vhagar in House of the Dragon episode 2, many years before Laena claimed the dragon as her own. In that scene, Viserys says that Vhagar is probably on the shore of the Narrow Sea. According to Laena, sometimes the workers in Spicetown can hear Vhagar’s sad song. It’s enough to break your heart.
Vhagar still has a big part to play in the events of the show, and you can check out our House of the Dragon release schedule to find out exactly when the next episode drops in your time zone. In the meantime, check out our roundup of the best Netflix shows streaming now to round out your watch list.
