Vhagar: The Colossal Dragon of ‘House of the Dragon’
In the world of ‘House of the Dragon,’ dragons are more than mere creatures; they’re symbols of power and dominance. Among them, Vhagar stands out not only for her impressive size but also for her rich history and pivotal role in the ongoing Targaryen saga. Introduced as the dragon of Laena Velaryon, Daemon Targaryen’s second wife, Vhagar was later claimed by Aemond Targaryen, son of Viserys and Alicent, after Laena’s tragic demise.
Vhagar’s immense size makes her a standout in the ‘House of the Dragon’ series. Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar are portrayed as one of the most formidable pairings, underscoring her dominance among the dragons. Her stature brings to mind the legendary Balerion the Black Dread, who was the largest dragon ever known in the ‘Game of Thrones’ universe.
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While Balerion, ridden by Aegon the Conqueror, was never shown alive in the series, his formidable size is well-documented in both the books and the shows. Vhagar, having been a companion to Visenya Targaryen during Aegon’s conquest, is one of the few dragons that rivalled Balerion in size.
In ‘House of the Dragon,’ Vhagar is portrayed as the largest dragon, particularly following Balerion’s death, which occurred seven years before the series’ events. Among the dragons introduced, only Vermithor comes close in size to Vhagar. Vermithor, once ridden by King Jaehaerys, was unclaimed at the series’ start but later found a rider in Hugh Hammer. However, even Vermithor, with his imposing presence, falls short of matching Vhagar’s grandeur.
Comparisons between Vhagar and Drogon, the dragon ridden by Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Game of Thrones,’ also highlight Vhagar’s enormity. Drogon, though impressive and larger than his siblings Viserion and Rhaegal, is still considerably smaller than Vhagar. This size disparity is partly due to the decline in dragon sizes over time, especially following the catastrophic events of the Dance of Dragons.
The narrative also hints at other dragons of significant size. Cannibal, a wild dragon mentioned in ‘Fire and Blood,’ is said to be nearly as large as Vhagar but remains unclaimed during the Dance of Dragons. Sheepstealer, another dragon of note, is smaller but notable for being claimed by Nettles, a dragon seed, adding to the dynamic portrayal of dragons in the series.
The climactic moments of the Dance of Dragons see Vhagar and Aemond Targaryen in a fierce confrontation with Caraxes, ridden by Daemon Targaryen. The Battle Above the Gods Eye marks a tragic yet dramatic end for these powerful beings, with both dragons and riders meeting their demise.