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The Dance of the Dragons is the focal point of theGame of Thronesprequel -House of the Dragon. It is a realm-wide war fought between the scions of House Targaryen - Aegon II and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. They lead the opposing sides while their loyalists use dragons to win glory.
As seen inHouse of the Dragon,Daemon Targaryen’s mirror characterand nephew, Aemond, loses an eye but gains a dragon at Driftmark. Aemond bonds with the late Laena Velaryon’s she-dragon, Vhagar, and will take her to various battles in the Dance. Aemond’s uncle, on the other hand, rides Caraxes, who lives up to his serpentine reputation. Multiple comparisons are drawn between Vhagar and Caraxes, thanks to their riders and the Battle Above the Gods Eye. At this point, it is pertinent to delve into the subject of Vhagar vs. Caraxes.
Who Is Caraxes?
Daemon Targaryen’s battle-hardened dragon, Caraxes, spreads wings over King’s Landing, Pentos, and Dragonstone in HBO’sHouse of the Dragon. The rogue prince takes Caraxes to war inthe Triarchy-infested Stepstonesas he works with House Velaryon to secure the region. Daemon Targaryen prides himself on being Caraxes' rider inHouse of the Dragon. He and the White Worm flee King’s Landing on dragonback afterViserys supplanted him for Rhaenyra. Daemon is looking to take Caraxes to the Dance, and his biggest foe in the war is his nephew Aemond. Daemon and Aemond share the same level of ambition, and their fighting skills and techniques are on par with each other. They are also the masters of the strongest dragons in lore.
Caraxes, also known as the Blood Wyrm, was hatched at Dragonstone somewhere before or in 72 AC. He was the fiercest among the young dragons at the Dragonpit when claimed byPrincess Rhaenys' father, Aemon Targaryen. During the Fourth Dornish War in 83 AC, Prince Aemon flew Caraxes, his brother, Prince Baelon flew Vhagar, and their father, King Jaehaerys, flew Vermithor to thwart an invasion attempt on the Stormlands by the Dornish prince, Morion Martell. The Targaryen trio used their dragons to set the Dornish fleet on fire before it could even land. This was a massive victory for the Targaryens, and Aemon and Baelon were celebrated in King’s Landing.
Hatched in 52 BC
In or Before 72 AC (Unconfirmed)
Place of Birth and Period
Dragonstone during the Century of Blood
Age Range
Middle age
Old age: 181 years old during the Battle Above the Gods Eye
22nd day of the 5th moon of 130 AC
In the fight with Vhagar over the Gods Eye
Who Is Vhagar?
Unable to make progress in her labor, Laena Velaryon commands Vhagar to give her a dragonrider’s death inHouse of the Dragon. Since Vhagar lies riderless at Driftmark after the funeral, Aemond Targaryen jumps at the chance and claims her in no time. He becomes the rider ofthe largest living dragon in the Seven Kingdomsand flies her to Storm’s End inHouse of the Dragonseason 1, episode 10 “The Black Queen.” While Vhagar allows Aemond to mount him, the fight above Shipbreaker’s Bay proves she will show defiance in the face of aggression. Thus, the idea that Aemond controls Vhagar is an illusion, and it applies to every dragon and dragonrider duo.
Vhagar was hatched from a dragon egg in 52 BC, i.e., duringthe Century of Bloodon Dragonstone. She fought beside Caraxes (andVermithor the Bronze Fury) in the Fourth Dornish War. She and Caraxes fly side by side in the Pentoshi skies inHouse of the Dragon. Ironically, Vhagar and Caraxes were once companions but now fight on opposing sides.
Vhagar Vs. Caraxes
InHouse of the Dragon,Laena touts Vhagar as"too large for the Dragonpit,“and Viserys adds to her remark, saying the dragon is simply too large for their world. AfterBalerion the Black Dread dies of old age, Vhagar takes her place as the largest living dragon ofthe Seven Kingdoms.House of the Dragon- Season 2 teasershows Vhagar’s wingspan shadowing land, structures, and people below. In other words, Balerion was the remnant of Old Valyria (born in Valyria), and Vhagar is the remnant of Aegon’s Conquest. The latter fought in theField of Fire, and Visenya Targaryen flew her to the Eyrie to seek the subjugation of Queen Regent Sharra Arryn. Vhagar also sets Aegon the Conqueror’s funeral pyre ablaze.
Caraxes is half Vhagar’s size, and younger than her. That being said, Caraxes' master is the finest combatant in all of Westeros, while Prince Aemond is an amateur. Daemon seeks his nephew in the later stages ofthe Dance of the Dragons, and meets him above the largest lake in the Seven Kingdoms - the Gods Eye. Daemon atop Caraxes balances the power of Aemond and Vhagar.Caraxes is agile and serpentine (thanks to his long neck), but Vhagar is stronger and fiercer.Vhagar’s claw rips open Caraxes' belly during the fight. Caraxes goes straight for Vhagar’s throat as they drop into the lake below. Both dragons and their mastersmeet their deathsin the Battle Above the Gods Eye.
House of the DragonSeason 2 premieres June 16 at 9/8c on HBO and Max.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is HBO’s prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.
