The Fearsome Dragon of Westeros: The Mysterious Journey of Balerion

Hey, all Game of Thrones fans, Eid Mubarak! How are you on this day? Are you eating phirni, payesh, semai properly? Are you wearing new clothes and greeting or giving?

You all must know that the founder of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros is Aegon the Conqueror. But do you know, on the back of which dragon did Aegon conquer the entire Seven Kingdoms? In today's review, I will tell you about that dragon, about the rest of the riders of that dragon after Aegon, how this legendary dragon died, and how this dragon was relevant in the world of Game of Thrones even after 400 years of death. I will tell you this in details.

Image Source IMDb

So let's get started. The legendary dragon of Aegon the Conqueror who conquered the Seven Kingdoms was named Balerion the Black Dread. That is, in today's review, I will talk about the Balerion the Black Dread dragon, with which Aegon the Conqueror established the Iron Throne in Westeros. Even the swords of the Iron Throne were melted and shaped by this dragon. And King Viserys, who was its last rider, who watched the first season of House of the Dragon, must have noticed a huge painted dragon head in the basement of the Red Keep, which also serves as the foundation of the palaces of Westeros. King Viserys said in front of this dragon skull, even practiced killing Daenerys' dragon in Game of Thrones. The dragon above is named Balerion the Black Dread.

Before the tragic events of Doom of Valyria, Aegon's grandfather Aenys Targaryen, who came to Westeros with five dragons, only Balerion survived. The Targaryen dynasty was not born in Westeros, but in a place called Valyria in Essos to the east. This Valyria was spread over 14 large areas, divided by volcanoes. In one terrible day, 14 volcanoes erupted simultaneously, and all the inhabitants of Valyria, including all the dragons, were burned to death. This event is called the Doom of Valyria.

Only two families survived this great destruction—the Targaryens and the Velaryons. With the power of ships, the Valyrians settled on the edge of the Narrow Sea in Westeros. But the Targaryens brought five dragons, and today's Dragonstone was built. Of the five Old Valyrian dragons, the only one who survived was Balerion the Black Dread. About 100 years later, Aegon the Conqueror ascended to establish the kingdom of Westeros. Balerion the Black Dread melted the swords of the defeated kings and created the Iron Throne, with fire spewing from his mouth.

Image Source IMDb

Balerion was so huge that when he spread his wings and rose into the sky, a thick shadow like a cloud fell over the entire city. Its mouth was so large that it could swallow a mammoth whole. During Aegon's Conquest, it was accompanied by Visenya's dragon Vhagar and Rhaenys' dragon Meraxes. Visenya and Rhaenys, Aegon's two sister-wives, were used in many bloody battles by the dragon Balerion and his cruel son Maegor. Balerion burned Harrenhal to the ground. Also, during the Battle of Field of Fire, Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes together burned the largest army of the resistance in Westeros.

Aegon the Conqueror rode Balerion until the end of his life. Then Maegor the Cruel bonded with Balerion. This second Targaryen king, as cruel as his name, burned the septs of the Faith of the Seven in Balerion's fire. Let me give you a specific piece of information - Maegor and Balerion created a trend of killing dragons with dragons. In the Battle of Gods Eye, Maegor's nephew Aegon and his dragon Quicksilver were burned to death by Balerion the Black Dread.

Image Source IMDb

After Maegor's death, no one rode Balerion for a long time. Then Aegon's youngest daughter Rhaella Targaryen bonded with Balerion. But here a great tragedy occurred. Just as Drogon once flew far away with Daenerys, Balerion the Black Dread flew away with Rhaella and disappeared completely. Balerion and Rhaella were searched for throughout Westeros, but no trace of the dragon could be found in a large area.

After about a year and a half, Balerion himself returned with Rhaella. But by then, Rhaella had fallen victim to a terrible infection. Not only her entire skin, but also her internal organs were burned. Her entire body's skin had turned gray. The Maesters of Westeros could not treat it. Eventually, Rhaella died.

Not only Rhaella, but the dragon Balerion's neck and shoulders were injured. His huge body stopped growing continuously. Balerion's strength and ability to fly were also greatly reduced. Princess Rhaella bonded with Balerion, but she could not fully control him. He only flew forward, not backward. Balerion flew to his birthplace of Old Valyria, where the volcanic radiation was still there. And some germ from the destroyed Old Valyria infected Rhaella and Balerion. We also saw Shireen Baratheon and Jorah Mormont suffer the same fate in Game of Thrones.

After Rhaella's death, no one else wanted to bond with Balerion. He was taken to the Dragonpit and chained. Balerion was actually the first dragon to be locked in the Dragonpit. For a long time, he was riderless. About a year before Balerion's death, during the reign of King Jaehaerys, the future King Viserys bonded with him. But Balerion was weak and sick by then. He had a hard time flying. King Viserys probably rode Balerion three times.

After Balerion's death, his skull was placed in the center of the Red Keep as a place of honor in Westeros. King Viserys was focused on making Lego statues himself, so he was never ridden by any other dragons.

That, in a nutshell, was the story of Balerion the Black Dread, the rightful heir to Aegon who founded Westeros. Farewell like today.