The Targaryen family in Game of Thrones possessed several dragon eggs over the years, but the exact number is unknown. According to the books and show lore, here is what we know about how many eggs the Targaryens had at different points in their history.
At the Start of the Targaryen Dynasty in Westeros
When Aegon the Conqueror first conquered the Seven Kingdoms along with his sister-wives Rhaenys and Visenya, it’s said they had a total of 19 dragons initially. Over the following centuries of Targaryen rule, their dragons continued to grow and multiply.
There are no definitive numbers, but the implication is that they must have had dozens if not hundreds of dragon eggs to sustain a population of dragons over that time. However, eggs alone don’t guarantee live dragons – as we see later in Targaryen history, even with multiple eggs, few viable dragons may hatch.
During the Dance of the Dragons
The Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons left most of their dragons dead. Afterwards, only 4 adult dragons remained. The Targaryens still had some eggs, but with so few mature dragons left, the eggs were less likely to hatch.
In the later years of King Aegon III’s reign after the war, 9 mages and pyromancers gathered in Dragonstone to try and hatch the remaining clutch of eggs. They used arcane magic and wildfire in their attempts, but all the eggs turned to stone.
It’s not stated exactly how many eggs they tried hatching, but given the monumental effort, it’s implied there were at least several eggs left after the Dance of the Dragons.
Generations Later Under King Aegon V
Over a century after the Dance, the Targaryen dragons had gone extinct due to the last one dying during the reign of Aegon III. But King Aegon V tried to bring them back by gathering seven dragon eggs. It’s said these eggs were from the clutch that had turned to stone generations ago.
Aegon V had hoped to hatch the eggs via pyromancy and rituals, but nothing worked. These seven eggs would eventually be scattered and lost after his death in a fire at Summerhall that also killed Aegon V and his son Prince Duncan.
Daenerys Targaryen’s 3 Eggs
Many years later, far across the Narrow Sea in Essos, Daenerys Targaryen received three ancient dragon eggs as a wedding gift when marrying Khal Drogo. It’s uncertain where exactly these eggs came from, but likely they were older Targaryen eggs passed around and sold over the centuries after dragons went extinct.
The three eggs were colored cream with gold flecks, deep green with bronze flecks, and black with red swirls. Daenerys managed to successfully hatch them on Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre, bringing dragons back to life. She named the three hatchlings Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.
Conclusion
While an exact number is unknown, the Targaryens possessed many dragon eggs at different periods throughout their dynasty, ranging from dozens when they first came to Westeros to just a few precious ones after dragons went extinct. Only Daenerys Targaryen was able to successfully hatch three, thanks to the magical circumstances surrounding the funeral pyre. The lore hints that dragon eggs alone aren’t enough – they require powerful fire magic to hatch, which the Targaryens didn’t always have access to.
Here is a summary of the key points:
- Original Aegon the Conqueror likely had dozens of eggs to start the Targaryen dynasty in Westeros
- Only 4 adult dragons left after the Dance of the Dragons, but some eggs remained
- King Aegon V had 7 eggs that turned to stone when hatching failed
- Daenerys Targaryen received 3 ancient fossilized eggs as a gift that hatched
While the exact number is unknown, the Targaryens possessed anywhere from a handful of precious eggs to several dozen at their height. But having eggs alone was no guarantee of hatching dragons, which required fiery magic. Only Daenerys managed to successfully hatch dragons from the last 3 known Targaryen eggs in existence.
The Targaryens went to great lengths to try and hatch their dragon eggs at multiple points in their history. But the unique circumstances of Daenerys’ ritual pyre were what finally brought the great creatures back to life for the first time in centuries.
Where Did the Targaryen Dragon Eggs Come From?
Most of the dragon eggs the Targaryens possessed came from their own dragons breeding and laying eggs. Some key points:
- Initially Aegon the Conqueror’s dragons laid eggs that sustained the population.
- The dragons continued multiplying for centuries under the Targaryens.
- Many eggs likely came from the personal mounts of Targaryen royals.
- There were also wild dragons on Dragonstone and elsewhere that contributed eggs.
After dragons died out, the Targaryen cache of eggs dwindled over the generations:
- King Aegon III had fewer clutch of eggs after the Dance of Dragons.
- King Aegon V’s eggs may have been from old clutches, including those turned to stone.
- Daenerys’ eggs were likely fossilized ones from old clutches.
So while many came directly from their dragons, as the creatures vanished, the Targaryens had to preserve their remaining eggs carefully. Some may have been bought, sold, or gifted over the years as well, before ending up with Daenerys.
Dragonstone
The island of Dragonstone was the ancestral home of the Targaryens before taking Westeros. As the center of their dragon-raising, many eggs came from Dragonstone:
- There were both wild and bonded dragons living in the volcanic Dragonmont region.
- Good nesting conditions for dragons laying eggs.
- Base of operations for acquiring eggs from their personal dragons.
Royal Dragon Pits
In King’s Landing, the Targaryens built dragon pits to house their dragons near the Red Keep. These pits also allowed controlled breeding and egg laying:
- Concentrated area for bonded dragons to lay clutches of eggs.
- Made gathering eggs simpler from the royal dragons.
- Cared for by expert dragonkeepers sworn to the Targaryens.
So while conditions were less ideal than Dragonstone, the dragon pits still provided a domestic source of eggs from the royal dragons for the Targaryen family.
Why Did So Few Dragon Eggs Hatch?
Despite possessing many eggs, dragon hatching success was low for the Targaryens once the original Westeros dragons started dying off. Here are some key reasons:
- Lack of magical knowledge – the original bonding and hatching rituals were lost over time.
- Conditions were less ideal – Dragonstone provided a better magical habitat than King’s Landing.
- Fewer adults to foster the eggs – eggs did better in clutches with adult dragons present.
- Political turmoil – unrest hampered care for dragons and their eggs.
Additionally, not all eggs were viable. Over generations of inbreeding, defects likely accumulated. Some eggs may have been stillbirths or lacked proper development to ever hatch. But the biggest issue was lack of magic – the original sorcery behind dragon raising was gone.
Failed Hatching Attempts
The Targaryens tried to use alchemy and fire magic to hatch eggs, with no success:
- Aegon III’s regents used pyromancy to try hatching eggs to stone.
- Aegon V perished trying to hatch eggs at Summerhall.
- Others like Aerion Brightflame also attempted rituals, dying from wildfire.
Without true dragon magic, even fire and blood could not wake stone eggs. Only Daenerys seems to have stumbled upon the right combination of funeral pyre blood sacrifice and rebirth through the flames.
Valyrian Dragonlord Knowledge
The Valyrians had powerful magic that the Targaryens lacked after the Doom. Valyrian knowledge that may have helped:
- Binding rituals to link dragon and rider.
- Spells to preserve egg fertility and development.
- Careful breeding over generations.
- Hatching ceremonies using blood and fire.
This let them hatch many more eggs than the late Targaryens could. Daenerys tapping into primal fire magic was the closest they got to rediscovering that power.
Blood Magic
Blood magic rituals helped empower Valyrian eggs and hatchlings:
- Use of king’s blood or noble sacrifice.
- Funeral pyres and flaming temples.
- Willing deaths to pay for life.
This violent sacrifice imbued eggs with enough magic to bind dragons to riders and bring them to life. The Targaryens shied away from such overt blood magic, to their detriment.
Dragon Horns
The dragonlords used magical dragon horns to control their mounts. Horns may have also played a role in rituals:
- Dragonbinder is said to be able to bind dragons to master’s will.
- Some texts claim horns can wake stone dragons.
- Sound and fire magic may have synergistic effects.
But without real dragon horns, the Targaryens had no way to tap into their power, or replicate effects with normal instruments.
Notable Targaryen Dragon Eggs
Some named dragon eggs that stood out in Targaryen history:
| Egg Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Dreamfyre’s Eggs | Blue and pink eggs laid by royal dragon Dreamfyre. |
| Silverwing’s Eggs | Laid by Queen Alysanne’s dragon Silverwing at Winterfell. |
| Vermithor’s Bronze Egg | King Jaehaerys I’s bronze egg from dragon Vermithor. |
| Elissa’s Eggs | Laid by Queen Alicent’s dragon, plunged into the sea. |
| Morghul’s Eggs | Black eggs laid by Princess Rhaena’s dragon at Dragonstone. |
| King Aegon V’s Eggs | Seven eggs that turned to stone when he tried hatching them. |
| Daenerys’ Eggs | Three fossilized eggs gifted at her wedding that she later hatched. |
These eggs demonstrate the prized possession eggs were for the Targaryens. Noble dragons producing clutches were celebrated events. These eggs were cared for in hopes of hatching more dragons, with few successes.
Famous Hatched Targaryen Dragons
While many eggs failed to hatch, some successful dragons included:
- Balerion, Aegon’s original mount.
- Vhagar, ridden by Visenya then Visenya’s son Maegor.
- Meraxes, Rhaenys Targaryen’s dragon.
- Syrax, Rhaenyra Targaryen’s she-dragon.
- Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm ridden by Prince Daemon Targaryen.
- Seasmoke, bonding to Ser Laenor Velaryon then Addam of Hull.
- Tessarion, the Blue Queen ridden by Prince Daeron Targaryen.
- Tyraxes, Prince Joffrey’s dragon.
- Vermax, hatched for Prince Jacaerys Velaryon.
- Arrax, Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s young dragon.
- Drogon, Rhaegal, Viserion, Daenerys’s three dragons.
These hatched dragons demonstrated the immense power granted to their riders. When bonded, dragon and Targaryen could accomplish great things together.
The Symbolism and Meaning of the Eggs
Dragon eggs held rich symbolism for the Targaryen dynasty:
- Future Promise – Eggs represented hope of continuing their dragon line.
- Magical Power – Ability to hatch them meant influence over life and death.
- Fire Made Flesh – Dragons embodied the Targaryen words “Fire and Blood.”
- Right to Rule – With dragons come the right to conquer and dominate.
- Ambition – Dreams of greater dragons mirrored ambitions of power.
Yet the failure to hatch eggs later became a symbol of decline. As Targaryen power faded, so did their dragons. But Daenerys bringing three eggs to life signaled the return of their greatness.
Conclusion
To summarize key points:
- Original Targaryens likely had dozens of eggs from their conquering dragons.
- Civil wars and decline reduced their viable eggs over generations.
- Failed hatchings demonstrated loss of magic knowledge.
- Daenerys successfully hatched the last 3, restoring living dragons.
- Dragon eggs meant power and ambitions to the Targaryens.
- Precise numbers are uncertain, but they valued eggs greatly as their hope for future dragons.
While an exact count remains a mystery, the Targaryens treasured their dragon eggs, even when unable to hatch them. The eggs kept alive their dreams of restoring dragons to greatness. Despite setbacks, Daenerys ultimately fulfilled this promise by bringing to life the last three precious Targaryen eggs in existence.