Even Children Became Riders in 'House of the Dragon' — But Not Viserys: Where Was His Dragon?
It’s a pity the show barely touched on this.
In House of the Dragon, the air is full of wings, fire, and oaths sworn in the saddle. Every other character has a dragon — some even have two. But there’s one person you’d expect to wield fiery power, and he doesn’t. King Viserys I Targaryen — head of the dynasty, ruler of the throne… and dragonless. Why?
Viserys Had a Dragon. And Not Just Any Dragon
In his youth, he rode Balerion the Black Dread — the very dragon Aegon the Conqueror used to take Westeros. A monster, a legend, a flying symbol of the empire. By that time, Balerion was nearly two hundred years old and barely able to fly. But he submitted to young Viserys — for a short time.
Viserys took to the skies only three times. And then Balerion died. With him, the spirit of the dragon age faded.
Why Viserys Didn’t Choose Another Dragon
According to one version, Balerion’s death so deeply affected the young prince that he couldn’t imagine bonding with another beast. According to another, he made a conscious choice not to tie his rule to magic and fire. Peace mattered to him. He wasn’t eager for war like Daemon, nor did he aim to build a military empire like Rhaenyra. He wanted to be a king without fangs. And his dragon died — as if fate itself had sent a sign.
What This Says About Him as a King
Viserys wasn’t weak. He was simply different. Not a warrior, but a peacemaker. And his lack of a dragon became a symbol — showing that he didn’t rely on fear. He believed the throne stood not on fire, but on people.
And perhaps, that was his mistake. In a world where everyone bears teeth, the one who refuses weapons becomes a target. But that’s exactly why Viserys moved viewers — he wasn’t a dragon. He was a man.
