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Introduction:
Dragons have been a popular topic of literature, movies, and TV shows for centuries. These mythical creatures are often portrayed as fire-breathing beasts, hoarding treasures and terrorizing kingdoms. In the world of Game of Thrones, dragons played a crucial role in the plot. They were not just characters, but also weapons, symbols of power, and objects of desire. Among the three dragons, Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, Drogon was the most prominent and had the most screen time. However, many fans have been wondering about the last dragon before Drogon. Who was it? Where did it come from? What happened to it? In this blog post, we will explore the history and myths of dragons in Westeros and Essos and try to find answers to these questions.
The First Dragons:
According to the lore of Game of Thrones, dragons were not always present in the world. They were created by the Children of the Forest, a magical race that lived in Westeros before the arrival of the First Men. The Children used their magic to shape the first dragons from stone and fire, giving them wings, scales, and breath of flame. These dragons were not as large or powerful as the ones that later appeared in the world, but they were the ancestors of all dragons.
The Valyrian Dragons:
The most famous dragons in the world of Game of Thrones were the ones bred by the Valyrians. The Valyrian Freehold was a powerful empire that dominated Essos for thousands of years. The Valyrians were known for their advanced magic, technology, and culture. They used their skills to breed dragons that were larger, stronger, and more intelligent than any other dragons before them. The Valyrian dragons were not just animals but also partners and weapons to their riders. They could understand human speech, follow commands, and even express emotions. The Valyrians used their dragons to conquer and rule many lands, including Essos and parts of Westeros.
The Doom of Valyria:
The Valyrian Freehold came to an end in a catastrophic event known as the Doom of Valyria. The cause of the Doom is still unknown, but it is said that the entire city of Valyria was destroyed in a massive explosion, and its people and dragons were wiped out. Only a few Valyrians survived the Doom, including a family called Targaryen, who fled to the island of Dragonstone in Westeros. The Targaryens brought with them their dragons, including Balerion the Black Dread, the largest and oldest dragon ever recorded.
The Dance of the Dragons:
After the Targaryens settled in Westeros, they continued to breed and ride dragons for many generations. However, the dragons of Westeros were not as numerous or powerful as the ones of Valyria. In the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, many dragons were killed, and their riders died with them. By the end of the war, only a few dragons remained, and they were too weak or old to be useful in battle. It is said that the last dragon of Westeros died during the reign of King Aegon III.
The Last Dragon:
But what about the last dragon before Drogon? Was it a dragon of Valyria or Westeros? Did it die of old age, sickness, or violence? The answer is not clear, and there are several theories and legends about it.
One theory is that the last dragon was a descendant of the Valyrian dragons, but it was not bred by the Targaryens. Instead, it belonged to a family or group of dragonlords who lived in Essos. These dragonlords were rivals of the Targaryens and they had their own dragons. According to some sources, these dragonlords fought a war against the Targaryens, and their dragons clashed in the sky. In the end, the Targaryens emerged victorious, and the last dragon of the rival dragonlords was killed or captured. However, there is little evidence to support this theory, and it remains mostly speculation.
Another theory is that the last dragon was a wild dragon, not bonded to any rider or family. Wild dragons were rare but not unheard of, and they lived in remote areas, away from human settlements. It is possible that the last dragon was a survivor of the Dance of the Dragons, who flew north or east to escape the war and found a hidden lair. However, this theory is also based on conjecture, and there is no concrete proof of the existence of a wild dragon in the late Targaryen era.
A third theory is that the last dragon was not a dragon at all, but a dragon egg that failed to hatch. Dragon eggs are valuable and powerful artifacts, and they were often used as gifts or bargaining chips. However, not all dragon eggs could hatch, and some remained dormant or rotten. It is possible that the last dragon before Drogon was an unhatched egg that was lost, stolen, or destroyed. This theory is intriguing but lacks evidence, and it raises the question of how an egg could be considered a dragon.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the identity and fate of the last dragon before Drogon are shrouded in mystery and speculation. While we know a lot about the history and myths of dragons in Westeros and Essos, we cannot say for certain who was the last of them. Was it a dragon of Valyria or Westeros? Was it a wild dragon or an unhatched egg? We may never know. But the mystery and allure of dragons will continue to fascinate us, as long as we keep imagining and telling stories about these majestic creatures.
