How Daenerys Hatched Her Dragons & 9 Other Important Milestones In The Khaleesi’s Journey

Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons are vital aids throughout her journey in Game of Thrones. The Khaleesi hatches the petrified dragon eggs in Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre during season 1’s “Fire And Blood,” and against the odds, Daenerys survives the inferno with her newly hatched children, emerging from the ashes as the Mother of Dragons.

Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion become integral to Dany’s story, though the events of their birth remain shrouded in mystery. How did Daenerys succeed where her ancestors failed for over a century? It’s important to look at the milestones the Dragon Queen achieved to see how she back the ruler she was.

10 The Birth Of The Dragons

The birth of Dany’s dragons is one of the most significant events in the story. Dragons were extinct from the world for over a century before Daenerys hatched her petrified eggs, giving life to Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, and earning her moniker as the Mother of Dragons.

The Targaryen queen uses blood magic to give life to her dragons. She sacrifices Mirri Maz Durr, who tells her that “only death can pay for life.” Mirri’s death alongside the pyre’s flames utilizes fire and blood to bring life to the dragons.

9 Marrying Khal Drogo

Viewers initially meet Dany in season 1 before her wedding to Khal Drogo. The Targaryen princess is forced to marry the Dothraki warlord by her brother, Viserys, in exchange for an army to assist his conquest of Westeros.

Daenerys adapts to the Dothraki culture, despite the initial nature of her marriage to Drogo. The Khaleesi draws strength from her new status and stands up to her bullying brother for the first time.

8 Short Stay In Qarth

Season 2 sees Daenerys, her newborn dragons, and her khalasar travel across the Red Waste before taking refuge in the city of Qarth. Dany’s stay in Qarth is an important milestone that pushes her out from Drogo’s shadow, allowing her to assume power in her own right.

The Mother of Dragons receives a series of visions in Qarth that prophecies her future. In the House of the Undying, Daenerys foresees the Red Keep’s destruction before she reunites with Drogo and Rhaego beyond the Wall.

7 Freeing The Unsullied

Daenerys truly comes into her power during the show’s third season. Wise from her experiences in Qarth, the Khaleesi travels to Astapor in search of an army. She is appalled by the brutal reality of slavery while there and decides to take action against the masters.

In season 3’s “And Now His Watch Has Ended,” Daenerys tricks Kraznys mo Nakloz and frees the Unsullied soldiers. The Targaryen queen meets important characters such as Grey Worm and Missandei while in Astapor and establishes her long war in Slaver’s Bay.

6 Becoming Queen Of Meereen

The other cities of Slaver’s Bay quickly fall to Daenerys and her new army after they leave Astapor. The Mother of Dragons conquers Yunkai before truly embracing her role as a monarch for the first time as Queen of Meereen.

Dany’s rule in Meereen is a pivotal part of her arc that teaches her character crucial life lessons about leadership. The Targaryen queen is forced to chain her dragons in the catacombs and struggles to combat the Sons of the Harpy.

5 Flying On Drogon For The First Time

The tension in Meereen comes to a head during season 5’s “The Dance of Dragons.” The Sons of the Harpy attack the Targaryen queen and her forces during the fighting games at Daznak’s Pit. Dany is cornered but luckily, her favorite dragon arrives to save the day.

Daenerys leaves on Drogon’s back, taking flight for the first time. The Khaleesi embraces her Targaryen identity by becoming the first person to ride a dragon in over a century.

4 Uniting The Dothraki

Dany’s epic escape is cut short by her subsequent capture by the Dothraki. The disheveled queen is brought to Vaes Dothrak and faced with living out her days with the dosh khaleen, adhering to her cultural obligations as Drogo’s widow.

Instead of accepting her fate or attempting to escape with Jorah and Daario, Daenerys hatches a plan of her own. The Khaleesi traps and burns the khals before emerging from the flames unscathed, uniting the Dothraki under her rule.

3 Returning To Westeros

After seven seasons of declaring her intentions to conquer Westeros, Daenerys finally returns to her homeland season 7’s opening episode “Dragonstone.” The Targaryen queen makes port at her family’s ancestral island with the rest of the Seven Kingdoms laying before her.

Dany’s first steps on Dragonstone hold an emotional significance for her character, as the young queen finally fulfills her season 1 promise to return home.

2 Protecting The Realm

Daenerys pauses her war for the Iron Throne after discovering the true enemy lurking in the North. The Wall’s destruction leads to the White Walkers’ invasion during season 8. Dany, Jon Snow, and the rest of the living assemble at Winterfell in a last stand against the dead during “The Long Night.”

The Mother of Dragons destroys wights with dragonfire before confronting her reanimated dragon Viserion with Jon and Rhaegal. After being separated from Drogon, Daenerys picks up a sword for the first time in a final effort alongside Jorah.

1 Destroying King’s Landing

Season 8’s “The Bells” features a controversial milestone in the Mother of Dragons’ journey that sees her descent from Daenerys the Protector to Daenerys the Destroyer. Driven by grief and rage, Dany succumbs to Targaryen madness and obliterates the streets of King’s Landing with Drogon’s fire.

Many fans were dismayed at Daenerys’ rapid descent into villainy. Destroying King’s Landing seals her death at Jon Snow’s hands in the series finale, “The Iron Throne.” The Targaryen queen used fire and blood to hatch her dragons and used them to save kingdoms and slaughter cities during her reign.

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