House Of The Dragon Admits The Biggest Lie In The Targaryens' 300-Year Westeros History

WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5 and George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!

Summary You don't need to be a Targaryen to ride a dragon – House of the Dragon season 2 reveals the family's claim is actually a lie.

Dragons may not only submit to dragonlords – the Fire & Blood book reveals dragonseeds with varying Valyrian blood tame dragons.

Three Targaryen/Valyrian bastards claim dragons in House of the Dragon despite not being proper dragonlords.

While the histories may say otherwise, House of the Dragon season 2 is admitting that one of the greatest claims about House Targaryen is actually a lie. Even in Game of Thrones, the Targaryens are seen as more special and distinct from the rest of Westeros given their silver hair, dragonriding abilities, and claims of magic and dragon blood running through their veins. By maintaining this perception that the “Targaryens are closer to gods than men,” the family cleverly upholds their power over Westeros while instilling fear, envy, and adoration in others.

House Targaryen’s unique dragonriding capability is arguably the greatest source of their strength and superiority over the realm. The Targaryens are the only surviving dragonriding family after the Doom of Old Valyria, with their histories claiming that blood magic helped them bond with and master dragons. It’s consequently long been understood that only dragonlords and those with strong Valyrian blood are able to claim a dragon, with this dragon blood purity being a major reason for House Targaryen’s intermarriages. However, House of the Dragon season 2 is proving this claim isn’t exactly true.

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House Of The Dragon Is Showing You Don't Need To Be A Targaryen To Ride A Dragon

Dragons Don't Only Submit To Dragonlord Targaryens

Custom image by Simone Ashmoore

After Rhaenys Targaryen and Meleys’ deaths in House of the Dragon season 2, as well as Daemon’s absence at Harrenhal, Rhaenyra is in desperate need of more dragonriders. While there are a few unclaimed dragons in House of the Dragon that she could use on Dragonstone, including Vermithor, Silverwing, Seasmoke, Cannibal, Grey Ghost, and Sheepstealer, her problem is that there are seemingly no riders to claim them. Rhaena nearly lost her life the last time she tried to claim one of these dragons, so the Queen must look at those who do not bear the Targaryen name.

The Valyrian histories were written to glorify the Targaryens and their superiority, but there’s really little evidence for the claim that dragons will only submit to dragonlords.

Rhaenyra is looking for those who may have great-grandparents or other ancestors who were born Targaryens, proving that strong Valyrian blood isn’t necessary to ride a dragon. Rather, it may just be a small trace of Valyrian blood required to tame a dragon – but even that may not be true. As Jace says in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5’s ending, the Valyrian histories were written to glorify the Targaryens and their superiority, but there’s really little evidence for the claim that dragons will only submit to dragonlords.

Related Every Unclaimed Dragon In House Of The Dragon Explained House of the Dragon's latest episode has shown Rhaenyra taking an interest in finding riders for the unclaimed dragons. Here's who they all are.

Which Non-Targaryens Ride Dragons In House Of The Dragon

Three Non-Targaryens Will Claim Dragons In House Of The Dragon

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As George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book reveals, there are a few non-Targaryens who will successfully claim and ride dragons in the Dance. These characters include Addam of Hull (Corlys Velaryon’s bastard son), Hugh Hammer (the smith in King’s Landing), and Ulf White (the alleged bastard son of Baelon Targaryen). While the book also features the character of Nettles claiming a dragon, it seems she’s been cut from House of the Dragon’s story.

The Targaryen/Velaryon bastards who claim these dragons are collectively known in Fire & Blood as the "dragonseeds."

However, as the others have already been introduced, it looks like Addam will ride Seasmoke, Hugh will ride Vermithor, and Ulf will ride Silverwing in House of the Dragon. In Fire & Blood, these men do have small or even relatively large traces of Valyrian blood based on their claims, which may explain their dragonriding abilities despite not being proper Targaryens. As the son of Corlys Velaryon, Addam does have some Targaryen blood from several generations back. Meanwhile, Hugh is a blacksmith’s bastard claiming to have Targaryen blood, with Ulf having the most Valyrian blood if his claim about being Baelon’s son is true.

Non-Targaryen Dragonrider Claimed Dragon Addam of Hull Seasmoke Hugh Hammer Vermithor Ulf White Silverwing

New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.