Guardians of the Targaryen Dragons, the Dragonkeepers reside in House of the Dragon.
Throughout the series, the mysterious Dragonkeepers—an order existing in House Of The Dragon—have been a continual background feature. Maintaining the Targaryen dragons, a symbol of House Targaryen's might and legacy, depends on them absolutely. Examining their relevance in the story of House of the Dragon, this article will go into the beginnings, responsibilities, and final fate of the Dragonkeepers.
The Dragonkeepers' Origins: A Reaction to Tragedy
Traumatic events surrounding Princess Aera Targaryen led to the founding of the Dragonkeepers. Aera vanished for more than a year following flight off with Balerion the Black Dread in the years before House Of The Dragon. After her death and return, her uncle King Jaehaerys I saw the need for a specific rule to protect the Targaryen dragons and stop like events from happening. Established thus, the Dragonkeepers were assigned to protect the dragons of the Targaryen family from harm.
The Dragonkeepers had been in operation almost a century by the time the Dance of the Dragons took place, having grown to be a somewhat established and esteemed organization. Their unique clothing marked their evolving part in safeguarding the dragons. At first, the source material said of them black armor covered with dragon scales. But in the TV version, they are shown sporting light robes with shaven heads, giving them a monastic look and so emphasizes their commitment to their obligation.
The Duties of the Dragonkeepers: Conserving the Legacy Targaryen
Maintaining the Targaryen dragons is the principal obligation of the Dragonkeepers; they accomplish this by many ways. Alertly defending the dragonpit at King's Landing, they shield the dragons from possible intruders. Their unflinching loyalty shown by their intervention when Princess Saera Targaryen tried to enter the dragonpit beyond mere physical security.
The care and training of the dragons falls another responsibility for the Dragonkeepers. They probably help greatly in feeding and caring for the dragons, therefore guaranteeing their health and welfare. They help the Targaryen riders mount their dragons as well. Dragons are unpredictable, hence the employment of Dragonkeepers is a high-risk job that calls both knowledge and constant dedication.
The Dragonkeepers are raised to carry out their obligation and constrained by a code of behavior; they are not merely servants of the royal house. Their acts typically reflect a belief in the divine right of the Targaryen bloodline to rule the dragons, a notion strengthened during events like the Sowing of the Seeds, where the Dragonkeepers objected to Rhaenyra's attempt to involve commoners in dragon riding.
The Destiny of the Dragonkeepers: Dance of the Dragons Victim Count
Along with the Targaryen dynasty, the Dragonkeepers' life ended with the turbulence of the Dance of the Dragons. The Storming of the Dragonpit was a violent rebellion during the turbulent time after Rhaenyra's retaking of King's Landing. Tragic losses of life for both humans and dragons resulted from furious crowds of commoners attacking the dragons in King's Landing.
Rising with the dragons against the rabble, the Dragonkeepers valiantly battled to guard their charges. Their gallant efforts, however, were sadly in vain as several dragons and many Dragonkeepers perished. A key event in the Dance of the Dragons, the Storming of the Dragonpit signaled the end of the Dragonkeepers—a monument to their unflinching allegiance to the Targaryen dynasty and their devoted protection of the dragons.
The Dragonkeepers: An Ancestral Legacy
Although the Dragonkeepers themselves vanished from history, their influence permeates House of the Dragon events. Their respect of the dragon's nature and their commitment to their obligation help to shape the greater story of the Targaryen family's ascent and collapse. Their terrible destiny emphasizes the results of unbridled ambition and the perilous results of the Targaryens' infatuation with their dragons. The Dragonkeepers act as a reminder of the complicated relationship between the Targaryens and their dragons, one which finally helped them to fall from grace.
