Daenerys I Targaryen

Impaled with a broken spear by the Night King, during the Battle of King's Landing

## Political information

### Title(s)

Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men
Lady of the Seven Kingdoms
Protector of the Realm
Princess of Dragonstone
Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea
Breaker of Chains
Mother of Dragons
The Unburnt
Queen of the Bay of Dragons
Queen of Meereen (formerly)

### Predecessor(s)

Stannis Baratheon (Lord of Dragonstone)
Cersei I Lannister (Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men)

### Successor(s)

Gendry I Baratheon (King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men)

## Personal information

### Also known as

Daenerys Stormborn
Dany
Mhysa
The Queen Across the Sea
The Silver Queen
The Dragon Queen
The Princess That Was Promised
The Dragon's Daughter

### Lover(s)

Daario Naharis (formerly)
Jon Snow (formerly)

### Sibling(s)

Rhaegar Targaryen
Viserys Targaryen

## Behind the scenes information

### Portrayed by

Emilia Clarke

"*I spent my life in foreign lands. So many men have tried to kill me, I don't remember all their names. I have been sold like a broodmare. I've been chained and betrayed, raped and defiled. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in exile? Faith. Not in any gods. Not in myths and legends. In myself. In Daenerys Targaryen. The world hadn't seen a dragon in centuries until my children were born. The Dothraki hadn't crossed the sea. Any sea. They did for me. I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms, and I will.*"
―Daenerys Targaryen to Jon SnowQueen **Daenerys I Targaryen**, also known as **Daenerys Stormborn**, and colloquially known as **Dany**, was the twenty-first ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and the eighteenth and final monarch of the Targaryen Dynasty. She was the third child and only daughter of King Aerys II Targaryen and his wife, Queen Rhaella Targaryen, and the younger sister of Rhaegar and Viserys Targaryen. She reigned in King's Landing for less than a day before her death in 305 AC (although she had political control over much of the realm for up to a year prior), and was succeeded by her second cousin, Gendry I Baratheon.

She was formerly styled as **Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains, and the Mother of Dragons**.

Born on Dragonstone following the death of her father, she spent most of her early life in the Free Cities with her abusive brother Viserys, after the rest of her family was killed during Robert's Rebellion, which resulted in her House being ousted from the Iron Throne and replaced with House Baratheon. She was married to and eventually fell in love with Khal Drogo, having a still-born son with him before his untimely death. Despite losing her husband, Daenerys successfully hatched three dragons and used her newfound power and influence to embark on a war of emancipation against the cities of Slaver's Bay, successfully abolishing slavery in the region.

Daenerys then launched an invasion of Westeros to attempt to reclaim the throne for House Targaryen, but soon diverted her efforts north to fight in the Great War. Just before the Fall of Winterfell, Daenerys legitimised Gendry, one of King Robert Baratheon's bastards, as Gendry Baratheon, and appointed him her heir presumptive. Ultimately, Daenerys briefly became Queen in earnest after succeeding Cersei I Lannister following her death, before Daenerys herself was killed during the Battle of King's Landing. Daenerys was never crowned, nor did she sit upon the Iron Throne. Daenerys' death, combined with that of Jon Snow, marked the final extinction of House Targaryen.

## Biography

### Background

See Daenerys Targaryen/Background on Wiki of Westeros

### *Game of Thrones*: Season 1

See Daenerys Targaryen/*Game of Thrones*: Season 1 on Wiki of Westeros

### *Game of Thrones*: Season 2

See Daenerys Targaryen/*Game of Thrones*: Season 2 on Wiki of Westeros

### *Game of Thrones*: Season 3

See Daenerys Targaryen/*Game of Thrones*: Season 3 on Wiki of Westeros

### *Game of Thrones*: Season 4

See Daenerys Targaryen/*Game of Thrones*: Season 4 on Wiki of Westeros

### *Game of Thrones*: Season 5

See Daenerys Targaryen/*Game of Thrones*: Season 5 on Wiki of Westeros

### *Game of Thrones*: Season 6

See Daenerys Targaryen/*Game of Thrones*: Season 6 on Wiki of Westeros

### *Game of Thrones*: Season 7

See Daenerys Targaryen/*Game of Thrones*: Season 7 on Wiki of Westeros

### *Game of Thrones*: Season 8

Daenerys led her armies into Winterfell, riding alongside Jon Snow. Upon arriving in the courtyard, she was introduced to Jon's siblings; Sansa and Bran Stark. Bran soon interrupted the pleasantries, informing Daenerys that the Night King had resurrected Viserion and broken through the Wall. In Winterfell's great hall, Daenerys sparred with Sansa, who bemoaned the fact that she now had to account for feeding her armies and dragons.

Later, Jon and Daenerys rode out to meet Drogon and Rhaegal. Daenerys noted they seem unhappy in the North, and decided to take them flying. Daenerys offered for Jon to try riding Rhaegal, and after some hesitation, Jon succeeded in mounting the dragon. After a romantic flight through the frozen countryside, the couple landed by a waterfall, and shared an intimate moment.

That night, Daenerys went with Jorah Mormont to Winterfell's library, to thank Samwell Tarly for curing Jorah's greyscale. After the topic of Samwell's family came up, Daenerys reluctantly informed Sam that she had defeated his father in a battle, and executed Randyll and Sam's brother Dickon after they refused to bend the knee. Shocked, Samwell ran out of the room in tears.

The next day, Jaime Lannister arrived in Winterfell, and was brought before Daenerys and Sansa to stand trial for his crimes against their families. Daenerys charged Jaime with the murder of her father, but Brienne of Tarth eventually came to Jaime's defense, and Daenerys acquiesced to sparing him. Jaime also informed Daenerys that his sister Cersei had lied at the Dragonpit Summit, and had no intention of marching her armies to aid in the fight against the White Walkers. Immediately after, Daenerys scolded Tyrion, stating that he had completely misread his sister, and threatened him with removal from his office if he failed her again.

Later, Daenerys was counselled by Jorah, who urged her to give Tyrion a second chance. He also suggested that she speak with Sansa, to rectify their hitherto strained relationship. In Winterfell's library, Daenerys and Sansa bonded over their shared relationship with Tyrion, and their common struggles as women in a world dominated by men. However, their conversation soured after Sansa brought up the North's status in the Seven Kingdoms, and Varys soon interrupted the conversation, pulling Daenerys into a private room.

There, Varys informed Daenerys of what one of his little birds overheard the previous night; after Samwell stormed out, he went to meet Jon in the crypts, where he revealed to him his true lineage; he was not the bastard son of Eddard Stark, but the trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, raised as Ned's bastard to protect him from the wrath of Robert Baratheon. After some denial, the truth washed over Daenerys; Jon was ahead of her in the line of succession, and the true Targaryen heir to the Iron Throne. Daenerys questioned Varys as to why Jon hadn't informed her, to which Varys was unable to give an answer, and suggested an ulterior motive at play.

Later, Daenerys stormed into Jon's chambers, demanding to know the truth. Jon eventually confessed, and stated that he hadn't told her as he believed it did not matter with the Great War looming. Daenerys retorted that it does matter, and insisted that Jon not tell anyone. Jon resisted, saying he needs to tell his siblings. Daenerys then suggested that Sansa may press Jon's claim over hers if she knew. Jon refused to budge, feeling he owed his family the truth, and stated that she is his queen and nothing will change that. Daenerys coldly brushed him off, stating that their relationship could only continue if he did what she told.

That night, Daenerys presided over a feast in Winterfell's great hall. When Gendry got up to leave, Daenerys pulled him aside in front of everyone, stating that she knew he was the son of Robert Baratheon. After some hesitation, Gendry confessed his lineage to all present. In response, she asked Gendry to kneel, and legitimised him, naming him Lord of Storm's End - and after shooting a glance at Jon - heir presumptive to the Iron Throne. The hall erupted in toasts, and Daenerys mulled over her decision; Gendry was now her stated and loyal heir, and Jon's claim was thus significantly weakened.

The following night, on the eve of battle, Daenerys participated in a council, where the plans for battle were established. Daenerys and Jon were to keep their distance, until signaled to light the trench surrounding the castle with dragonfire. Despite protests from Davos, who felt they would be of more use on the battlefield, Jon stated that the dragons would be needed in the Godswood to protect Bran.

Several hours later, the White Walkers arrived, and the battle for Winterfell begun. Daenerys watched on as her Dothraki charged the White Walkers, only to be annihilated by the Army of the Dead. The wights then led a full-frontal assault on the men surrounding the castle, washing over her Unsullied like a tidal wave. Unable to stand by any more, Daenerys brushed off Jon's protests, and the two dragonriders began performing strafing runs across the battlefield, killing hundreds of wights with each blast of dragonfire. Before long, Daenerys and Jon were caught off guard by a massive blast of cold air rushing in from the North, and became lost in the clouds. The two reunited above the clouds, but were then attacked by the Night King riding Viserion.

After briefly losing him, Daenerys and Jon located the Night King once again, headed straight towards the Godswood. Jon engaged the Night King, and for the first time since the Dance of the Dragons, dragons fought one another once again. After a fierce fight, Daenerys swooped in to assist, knocking the Night King off his mount. After a brief skirmish, Viserion broke from Drogon's grasp - only to be speared with two dragonglass tipped scorpion bolts fired by Gendry Baratheon and Edric Storm below. Viserion crashed to the ground, lifeless once again.

Daenerys approached the Night King, now on foot, and commanded Drogon to incinerate him, only to realise that dragonfire was ineffective against the Night King. Amused, the Night King threw an ice javelin at Drogon, narrowly missing him, but enough to spook him and cause him to fly off into the night. Daenerys attempted to command Drogon to return, but he refused to obey her commands. Daenerys began to pass out from Drogon's erratic flying and the cold, but was snapped awake by a crow flying alongside. All of a sudden, Drogon calmed, and began flying back towards Winterfell - Bran Stark had warged into her dragon.

Bran flew Drogon to the Godswood, where Daenerys retrieved Theon Greyjoy and Bran's catatonic human form. Bran then commanded Drogon to fly to the adjacent courtyard, where Daenerys helped rescue Jon (having failed to kill the Night King, even after a direct strike with Longclaw), Brienne of Tarth, Jaime Lannister and Gendry, although she was forced to leave Jorah Mormont and Theon behind. Drogon flew the survivors south, towards Castle Cerwyn.

After regrouping with the battle's survivors at Castle Cerwyn, Daenerys ordered her army to retreat into the Riverlands. Daenerys flew ahead with Sansa to the Eyrie, to call on Robin Arryn to raise fresh reinforcements, before regrouping with her armies at the Inn at the Crossroads. There, she sent Gendry, Edric, Brienne, Davos and Devan Seaworth south to Storm's End to raise an army, and ordered them to link up at King's Landing, where they planned to make their final stand.

Daenerys and her armies moved out for King's Landing soon after. Anguished from her losses, Daenerys vowed to fly up to the Red Keep and demand Cersei's immediate surrender, lest she bring the castle down on top of her. Jon eventually talked her out of it, and convinced her to allow Jaime Lannister to be snuck inside the city to reason with Cersei.

Daenerys and her forces found King's Landing well defended upon their arrival, bolstered further by the men of the Golden Company. Bran then informed her of a vision; the Night King flying over the Eyrie atop Viserion, who had been reanimated for a second time. Daenerys surmised that the Night King intended to destroy Gendry's fleet before it could reach them. Daenerys mounted Drogon, and flew eastward towards Dragonstone. There, she found Gendry fighting against Euron Greyjoy's forces, who had taken over the island in her absence. She briefly assisted Gendry, before the Night King arrived and began fighting with Drogon once again. After a fierce dance above the castle, Drogon got the upper hand, and sent Viserion and the Night King crashing into the castle below. Gendry had since withdrawn his forces from the crumbling castle, and his brother Edric triggered a wildfire trap laid by the Alchemist's Guild during Euron's occupation. Dragonstone was annihilated completely, but once again, the Night King emerged unharmed.

Upon her return to King's Landing, Daenerys had run out of patience, and ordered her men to storm the city, despite protests from Jon and Varys. In the chaos, Jaime killed Cersei after she attempted to have the city destroyed via the Mad King's wildfire caches. With Cersei dead and the destructive siege over, Daenerys approached the Iron Throne, but refrained from touching it - she would only claim her prize once the Night King was defeated.

Before long, the Army of the Dead surrounded King's Landing. The army refrained from attacking for some time, as they waited for their overlord to be retrieved from Dragonstone. In the precious time left to them, Daenerys ordered the battlements be repaired as best as possible, so they could mount an effective defence.

In the ensuing battle, Daenerys rode Rhaegal, as Drogon had been injured from his encounter with Viserion, and thus remained riderless. Daenerys ran strafing runs as before, burning away thousands upon thousands of wights, but by this point, the Army of the Dead numbered in the millions, and the living found themselves continually pushed back. Eventually, Rhaegal landed for some respite, but in doing so, a wave of wights washed over the dragon, latching on to him and tearing at his wings as he attempted to take flight. Rhaegal was unable to shake them, and was sent crashing into the Red Keep, to the horror of onlookers.

Daenerys survived, and emerged from the rubble into the Great Hall, only to find Rhaegal dead and a catatonic Bran Stark sat upon the Iron Throne. Before long, the Night King entered the hall. Determined to protect Bran, Daenerys clutched a spear, and valiantly but hopelessly charged the Night King. The Night King easily evaded her attack, and impaled her with her own spear. Daenerys fell to the ground, and died of her wounds soon after.

Moments later, a mortally wounded Jon Snow rushed into the Great Hall as the Night King approached Bran. In that moment, Bran successfully found the key to crippling the Night King; he warged him through time into the body of Rhaegar Targaryen during the Battle of the Trident, and proceeded to cripple him by having his chest smashed in by Robert Baratheon. The Night King was flung backwards, landing at the feet of Jon Snow, who proceeded to impale him Longclaw. This time, the Valyrian steel blade worked, and the Army of the Dead crumbled; the Great War was won, although Jon too soon passed away from his injuries.

Drogon flew up to investigate, and upon discovering the corpses of Daenerys and Rhaegal, he melted the Iron Throne in a grief stricken fury. In the memorial that followed the battle. Daenerys and Jon, the leaders of the Great War, were burned side-by-side.

As she had decreed, Gendry succeeded Daenerys as the new monarch of the Seven Kingdoms.

## Abilities

* **Immunity to fire** - Daenerys exhibited inhuman resistance to fire heat, and was seemingly incapable of being burned. This ability passed with her death, as her corpse was burned alongside Jon Snow.
* **Dragonriding** - Daenerys was a capable dragonrider, and used Drogon and later Rhaegal as her mount.

## Appearance and personality

Daenerys was a classic Targaryen beauty, with the typical pale skin and platinum white hair of her house. Many who met her considered her as the most beautiful woman in the world.

In her youth, Daenerys was polite and well-spoken, yet maintained a silent determination. Having been raised under the yoke of her abusive brother Viserys, she came to accepted his deeply flawed view of the world, but her attitudes began to change following her marriage to Drogo. She grew more self-assured of herself, and following her brother's death, determined of her blood-right to the Iron Throne.

During her wars in Essos, and her subsequent invasion of Westeros, Daenerys's sense of self only grew alongside her dragons. She grew to become fiercely self-determined, and was convinced that her destiny was to rule the Seven Kingdoms. While she initially recognised her limitations and inexperience when it came to ruling, and surrounded herself with councilors to offer her sage advice, over time she began to see them as contributing nothing but restraint against her decisions and ambitions, and began to listen to them less and less. Many were concerned that she was being overcome by delusions of grandeur, and could eventually succumb to the Targaryen madness that ran in her blood.

At the same time, Daenerys maintained sympathy with the lowly and downtrodden, and was beloved by the slaves she freed. However, this would end up fostering a naive idealism within Daenerys during her invasion of Westeros; she failed to see that many on the continent perceived her as a foreign invader, and not as a liberator.

When Daenerys met Jon Snow and realised the threat posed by the Night King, her attitudes began to shift once again. She put aside her personal goals for the Iron Throne in favour of fighting in the far more important Great War. Despite suffering a number of traumatic events and personal losses, she never gave in fully to her worst tendencies. In the end, even after she claimed the Iron Throne from Cersei Lannister, she chose to give her life to protect Bran Stark. In doing so, she delayed the Night King long enough to be defeated, and for Westeros to be saved - even though she would never get to rule it.

## See also

* Daenerys Targaryen on Wiki of Westeros
* Daenerys Targaryen on A Wiki of Ice and Fire