The Dragonkeepers are an order in House of the Dragon that maintains the Targaryen dragons, and there’s some fascinating lore regarding them. The ending of House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7, sees an event called the Sowing of the Seeds, where Rhaenyra calls forth commoners with Valyrian blood to attempt to bond with the untamed dragons living in the caverns of Dragonstone. The episode’s highlight is that the Sowing quickly turns violent as Vermithor begins murdering its potential riders, but there’s an interesting underlying plot line about dragons’ place in Westerosi society.
The dragons are the symbol of House Targaryen’s history and reign as the singular monarchs of Westeros, distinguishing the royal family from the common folk and other noble houses of Westeros. Therefore, there’s an elitism that comes from riding dragons, which is shattered by Rhaenyra opening them up to the masses. Jacaerys Velaryon argues against his mother’s decision, and theDragonkeepers also condemn the Sowing, vowing to take no part in it. This disagreement speaks volumes about the order, which has otherwise been kept in the background throughout the show.
The Origin Of The Dragonkeepers
King Jaehaerys Founded The Dragonkeepers
Decades prior to House of the Dragon, an incident saw Princesserea Targaryen fly off with Balerion the Black Dread, disappearing from the continent for over a year. After her eventual return and death, her uncle, King Jaehaerys I, decided to instate the Dragonkeepers as an order to shepherd the beasts in King’s Landing, hoping to prevent such theft in the future. The Dragonkeepers, who were dozens in number, were henceforth tasked with keeping watch over the Targaryen family’s dragons.
This means that by the start of the Dance of the Dragons, the Dragonkeepers have been around for nearly a century, so they’re well-established and quite set in their ways. In the book, they’re described as men who wear black suits of armor decorated with dragon scales, so the TV version is quite different in comparison. House of the Dragon’s Dragonkeepers wear light robes and have shaved heads, giving them a monk-like look. The show’s version also carry dragonglass daggers and wield long staffs instead of the book versions’ swords.
What The Dragonkeepers Actually Do & How
Dragonkeepers Guard & Maintain The Targaryen Dragons
The primary purpose of the Dragonkeepers is to maintain the Targaryen dragons, which they do in various ways. They stand guard over the dragonpit in King’s Landing, preventing potential threats or thieves from entering. At one point in Fire & Blood, they even ward off Princess Saera Targaryen from trying to enter. They also policed the young Princess Viserra Targaryen, who brought boys to the dragons and offered sex to the one who would put his head in a dragon’s mouth. This shows that they’re dedicated to their duty, even when a Targaryen commands them otherwise.
House of the Dragon perpetuates the idea that the Dragonkeepers abide by a code and aren’t simply just servants of the royal household. They are born into their positions and are raised to fulfill their duty, which they seem to hold in a spiritual regard. The Dragonkeepers in “The Red Sowing” enforce the belief that the royal Targaryen line has some divine right to the dragons and that the power shouldn’t be trifled with by commoners.
For a job to be such high risk, it makes sense that they’re extreme about it and buy into the Targaryen exceptionalism.
The Dragonkeepers speak High Valyrian and are trained to communicate with dragons. They likely take part in feeding them and bring the dragons forth when their Targaryen rider hopes to mount them. It’s not a stretch of imagination to think some of the dragons in House of the Dragon probably aren’t very nice to deal with, making it a high-risk role for anyone to partake in. For a job to be such high risk, it makes sense that they’re extreme about it and buy into the Targaryen exceptionalism.
What Happens To The Dragonkeepers
Many Die During Riots Against Rhaenyra’s Rule
There were no Dragonkeepers by the time of Game of Thrones, but there were also no dragons in Westeros for over a century, and the Targaryen dynasty was overthrown. So, they disappear sometime between House of the Dragon and the original show. The event that likely consumes the vast majority of them is the Storming of the Dragonpit, which occurs during riots in King’s Landing later in the Dance after Rhaenyra has retaken King’s Landing.
At the Storming of the Dragonpit, mobs of commoners rise up and try to kill the dragons in King’s Landing, resulting in innumerable deaths. Among those who die are the Dragonkeepers, who try to hold off the mob with the help of the dragons. Not only are countless human lives lost, but several dragons tragically die in the process. It will doubtlessly be one of the most heartbreaking moments in House of the Dragon.