That's a good parallel to the night's watch motto for a valyrians to it's dragon by the freehold by dragon instead of: now his watch is over: Now his conquest is over
@@sapphicgeek24the big question is still what did he face there ? With those many great fresh wounds, I still think that a few dragons escape the doom and still wander there, it has to be a big one, nothing else could wound Balerion
@@clayandros2038 I find it very difficult, because there is nothing there that sustains life, apart from the theory that he found Aurion and his dragon, I imagine that he may have fought a Firewyrm which is the only type of being that is capable of surviving there. But about having dragons there, I would have this as ruled out because dragons need to eat a lot to grow and there is practically no food there.
A bigger dragon. Valeria still has unclaimed wild dragons who have never experienced captivity. Imagine what size they couldve reached @@jyotirani8187
Balerion: 'Viserys...you're a nice kid but I am over 200 years old. My joints are aching, my back is killing me and its cold up in the air! I just want to sit and relax. Where are my reading glasses?"
Balerion imho wasn't just old: he was broken. He saw Valyria, his "home" burnt and destroyed, and he almost died there and suffered terrible injuries and lost his rider. He probably just gave up at that point. He was there physically, but gave up on life
Or poisoned.. it’s kinda suggested that the dragons were messed with by the maesters. Probably to weaken the great house.. but I’d have to go back and find what book I read that in.
well they where locked in the Dragon pits so they got to little movment and to little food - they wheren´t on the volcanoes so they where in to cold surroundings - and they where probalby poisoned - and they did to much incest with way to few acessable mates - and the dragons that did get to mate where more often the not the weak and sicly once becouse thouse didn´t die in stupid wars
”Had become sluggish, heavy and was No longer fearsome beast of the past” my guy it’s a dragon the size of a building that can melt and destroy castles. Claiming it’s not fearsome anymore is just wild.
Of Dragons grow their whole life, then there is a point where they start suffocating because the muscles in their chest aren’t strong enough to support breathing. If Balerion had reached that point, then it is entirely possible that he wasn’t really fearsome in comparison to the younger dragons who could and would kill you if you did a wrong move, simply because he was going out of breath by moving himself. In theory he is still incredibly strong, but his weight limits him both in movement and breathing.
If you’re outside King’s Landing, then a Dragon that was of such an advanced age that it refuses to fly literally anywhere else - you’d think it was less fearsome too… Considering it’s essentially out of the picture in terms of warfare… It can still be respected, but nobody is going to fear it anymore.
They basically caged Balerion after the Aerea incident he was also badly injured during that as well. I think keeping him in the dragon pit caused his demise. They should’ve kept him on dragonstone.
@@Katsu_ragiYeah because they have the means to force us to do something if we refuse to. Balerion was the biggest and most brutal dragon in Westeros’s history, no one had the means to force it to do anything 😂
He was fkn wounded, what on earth are you on about... He returned from Valyria with a collection of new scars and one particular huge wound of which nobody ever knew what caused it, but it must've been horrible. That and the age withered Balerion a good chunk before his time. He was as old as Vhagar was during the dance when the dragonkeepers called him sluggish and slow, but Vhagar at that age was still quite mobile. So his visit to Old Valyria must've been the reason he grew old so fast.
@@lmfao1314 dragons in got literally choose which reproductive parts they have. “as changeable as flame” it’s described as so they are kinda both. My theory is it depends on the dragon rider but it’s most likely they just choose depending on their mate.
@@ayecae47 Oooh okay! i just always thought Balerion was primarily male and that Meraxes and Vhagar were primarily female but I find that really interesting so thank you for that little tidbit of information and I appreciate you for not coming at my jugular for not knowing that information because you know how some GOT/HOTD fans can be when you don't know every single fact and piece of information so thank you I appreciate you for being kind in your response teaching me something rather than making me feel like I'm stupid lol💯🤝🏻😊
Balerion was closer to 250 years old at the time when Viserys “claimed” him. You even said it yourself that he was old. Balerion served the Targaryen’s very well during his lifetime, put some respect on his name
There’s actually nothing in the lore that indicates a dragons life expectancy or if they have a growth cap. We all know they grow larger when free and most of the dragons in this story grew up in the dragon pit or in the caves of dragon stone. It’s very possible he could have grew even bigger and older had he been a wild free dragon like the cannibal. As far as his health decline, he was fine before he was claimed by princess Rhena’s daughter and flew off to no one knows where. Only upon return from the disappearance did he come back changed. For the first time the fierce beast was truly injured and never fully recovered from the injuries indicated to be the worst he’d ever suffered and both external and internally. It is widely speculated that he would have lived longer had he never encountered whatever it was that hurt him. So the theory that he reached his max size and end of his life isn’t actually known. And being that every other Dragon was killed or died young, there is no way of knowing.
Yeah now he just wants to sit in the dragon pits and think of the audacity of them for hurting him, he's literally in the dark in disbelief 😂 he's a Leo 😅
Actually, Viserys did technically ride on another dragon. As an infant his mother took him and Daemon on her dragon at least once. That dragon was Meleys, who later became the dragon of Princess Rhaenys, the Queen Whi Never Was.
True, Viserys did accompany his mother and brother on her dragon as an infant. However, in the context of Targaryen tradition, claiming a dragon typically refers to establishing a lifelong bond with one specific dragon, which Viserys didn't do until later in his life.
@@nicksmithnutmilkyes. I wonder why Rhaenyra didn't take her children for a ride on Syrax with her after they were born. That might've prevented the incident.
Theres a theory that it was the maesters who were responsible for the decline of the dragons, so i wouldnt be surprised if they had poised the black dread which was the greatest symbol and weapon of the targaryens
@@licia_bobishka Dragons are flying nukes that can deliver horrible deaths upon entire cities, are often commanded by insane royalty, and can reproduce. Dragons are cool in a TV show but if I lived in a world like this I'd be all in for poisoning the dragon kind.
Balerion was roughly 40 when the Doom struck Valyria. He was almost 150 when the Conquest took place. Dude was almost 250-260 in his age. That isnt to say he was old. It is a statement that when he returned from the ruins of his home something had changed. He had a scar almost 12 feet long (recorded as a 9 foot smoldering black wound that steamed with his blood) which was not there before. Dude was a bred fighter through and through. Respect that title he earned in battle and destruction
@@roddo1955 i dont know much details but one Targaryen princess rode balerion all the way back to the old valyria. And they returned totally messed up. Till to this day there is no good theory on what did such damage to the black dread, the largest dragon known to westeros.
@@roddo1955Balerion encountered a Fire Wyrm supposedly, they were pretty much wingless and legless Dragon/worms, but ofc incredibly strong and can breath fire too
Nope, Balerion died because of his 1st rider Valeryon. He burned some of the valeryon and the others being eaten that's why his color change into black nigga dragon. And died because of black poison.
Visery’s was an idiot. So many death could’ve been avoided if he didn’t do dumb things. He trusted anyone but his brother and put his daughter life on the line so often… Low-key a terrible King.🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
Viserys should have married Daemon to Rhaenyra and named Daemon heir. He should have married Laena and waited for her to grow up. They when they had children, Viserys and everyone else would see any male hier would have a better claim than a sibling. But keep the dragon riders blood close, Hightower should not have been brought into it.
@@movieloverfan18 He obviously didnt want to name Daemon his heir and for good reason. What he should've done was push down Daemon in the line of succession until he was beneath Rheanyra. This way, when he had a male heir, that kid would take first place, Rheanyra second and Daemon third. The dance is avoided.
Viserys was control by a vagina. The oldest ploy in the world. Bad handful the king with ambitions to steal the crown. Funny how quickly he went downhill after the first son was born. He wasn't much older than his brother yet looked a century older. He should have never touched his hands, daughter and especially his daughter's BFF. It was bad enough her mother died trying to birth a son but to have her BFF's life to also be to produce an heir that would rob her crown? Gross. And her BFF willingly seducing the king on the eve of his wife's death? I guess she is lucky he didn't try to keep the blood line lure by marrying her. Perhaps Baleron sensed the moral depravity and weakness of his rider. The dragons are deeply bonded with their riders so he also knew he was ill. It was just another damaged relationship he caused and left to rot and fend for itself.
Leave him guys, he's just a random guy who doesn't like Viserys and who spams the same message copied and pasted on each story where we talk more or less about Viserys.. Sad life 😂
Everyone knew how unwell Balerion was after his ride back to the Valyrian ruins with Princess Aerea. I think Visarys intentionally claimed Balerion because he personally wasnt interested in being a dragon rider beyond he felt it was his birth right to claim a dragon. His mother flew him on her dragon with her when he was a baby and he still picked the dragon everyone knew was declining, injured, and hadnt flown in years. It always struck me as a weird choice when there were so many other options for him.
It would have kept the aging dragons from having to go put, since he wasn't much of a ride, maybe he did it so those weaker or dying dragons could relax and not have to worry about someone claiming them and forcing them to.dragon when they're already dragging.
It also that everyone thought Balerion was done for and would never fly again. It is only for Viserys alone, that he flew briefly one last time. Remember, Viserys was chosen by a council and many people still were divided about him and wanted Rhaenys/Laenor instead. And Viserys did not have a dragon. So, Balerion riding with him one last time before dying was him giving Viserys his "blessing" as the rightful king.
@@abyrupus Visarys had claimed Balerion and flown him the one time years before the councel was even thought of. He was no longer a dragon rider when he was chosen. I dont think he was given Balerion's blessing. No one else even made an attempt to claim him after Aerea died, anyone else who thought about it was talked out of it by the dragon pitt masters. If anything Balerion dying immediatly after Visarys claiming him and Visarys being dragonless by the time of the counsel shows he wasnt worthy. Targaryan's health is also directly tired to their dragon's health and he was riddled with a flesh eating virus most of his time as a dragonless king.
@@viceb7 I guess that is a matter if perspective because that just isnt how I see it. Everyone knew Balarion was on the way out the door amd hadnt flown in decades. Even the dragon pit masters convinced his mother into claiming a different dragon over a decade before he was born because they knew he wasnt going to live much longer and she could get a younger healthier dragon. That is how she ended up claiming Maelys. I can see how there is a novelty about claiming him but there is no way Visarys thought he was going to be flying frequently or for long. Visarys 100% knew what he was getting and still said the novelty of claiming a dying dragon with a cool history was better than claiming a different dragon who he could ride regularly. To me is makes him seem weak and lame not badass. It is like going into a boxing match with a former champion for the thrill of saying you beat a champion but the champion you challage is 97 years old and can barely stand anymore. Sure you beat them but it doesnt say anything good about you.
He didn’t betray him. He was just literally an old ass man and was on death’s door. He literally died like half a year later after this it’s a miracle that he lifted himself in the air and flew around the city even.
Balerion has the best resume out of all the dragons. Witnessed the doom of Valyria and the rise of the Targaryen Dynasty. So much history involved with him. 💪🏿
I think that balerion would have lived much longer if they didn't put them in a goddamn cage. I can't even imagine how painful that would be for a dragon to be trapped in a box. I know there were a lot of reasons the targaryens were assholes. But I think it's very appropriate that their empire fell after they started imprisoning dragons in the dragon pit
I subscribe to the theory that the Maesters were poisoning the Dragons. Balerion was over 200 at that point but there are so many hints in ASOIAF that the Maesters are unified in trying to rid Westeros of magic.
I heard that too. Dragons live as long they have something to eat. And also has no limits to its size. Once it grow big it cannot grow smaller just thinner. And if starves dies like any wild animal which failed to sustain itself. Happens what often with black or brown bears. They eat each other. But only after other options are seemingly out of reach. They fight each other too without their riders commands. Also I heared Dragons doesnt get sick. But who knows for shure. It doesnt has a fixated lifespan. Dies in battle,accidents,and starvation or whatever else is there left for them to end their lives.
Imagine going up to your great grandpa that used to be strong and work his ass off, now old, sluggish and dying, and saying “I feel betrayed by your failing health!”. Not far off the same principle.
I saw a theory that when Balerion returned from Valyria he had the same parasites in him as the princess but as a dragon, his blood was hot enough to handle it and they slowly killed him.
Balerion; "Viserys I'm old n tired I need somewhere to begin to rest, gotta go out with some of my fire still going, I feel as old n tired as you will look right b4 you die Visy."
I swear people are making up eandims things that never happened in the books to get views because of how big the show it, ad I remember it viserys claimed balerion, flew him around kings landing one time and viserys never rode him again
All riders get only one bonded dragon though a dragon may gave multiple riders i think if someone tried to claim another dragon it would tear them to pieces
Thats crazy that they both ended up losing all they worked for at old age. Balerion was that og dragon that saw the conquest and pretty much saw the last true king, then that king went on to die and the whole kingdom with him.
So stupid for a targaryan to go without having a dragon. The day balarion died he should of claimed the bronz fury. They should do it for security and its just better transportation with only having horses
I think it was confirmed by GRRM that a Targeryen can only claim 1 dragon in their lifetime. Once their mount/dragon dies, their unable to bond with another.
@@ziontenuia9266 that’s contradicting what you said. Saying something has never happened isn’t the same as saying it can’t happen. Which is what you’re saying. Rhaenyra and Aegon II both wanted replacements for Syrax and Sunfyre which they believed they could do. They died before they could but the fact that they believed they could is telling. Viserys could’ve attempted but just didn’t want to.
For people who pay attention to lore… The black dress was heavily wounded during his long disappearance prior. Which never properly healed, and he was weakened from then on spending his last decades staying inside his lair until that day he flew Viserys. And then passed the following year.
It was asid in the book Balerion didn't have much strength left in him, Viserys flew him around Kings landing 3 times, but knew he wouldn't have the strength to make it the whole way to dragonstone, Balerion was old and the injury he suffed when he was taken to old valyria weakened him in his twilight years
Have you read the books? Balerion was also hurt prior to that and never recovered from it. So it's natural he didn't have the strength given that he was old, injured and too big to fly. He didn't even come out of the dragonpit in his last years
It symbolized the fall from grace of the Targaryens. Balerion was the ultimate symbol of Targaryens power, he was unmatched, but just like during Viserys’s reign, the dynasty would decline!
Viserys to Dragon Babysitter: “and if he goes, grrrrr, that means he just wants a goat Babysitter looks at the dragon. Balerion: PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY!!!!!
Balerion: Yo Viserys. I just want to netflix and chill in the dragon pit. Watch some Godzilla Minus One. Order some dominos and puff the magic dragon. I'm not an uber my Targaryen.
Um, no, there's no betrayal. Balerion was old, lazy, and dying. He didn't refuse to fly more, so much as was more incapable of going further. It's especially telling that he died shortly after, despite probably having the best care in Westeros, after the king himself.
Lmao why does everything have to be a conspiracy??? The dragon was over 200 years old, only dragon known to live & die of old age. When any human or animal gets to an old age, what happens? Barley move, barley do anything & need help. I crack up at all these channels with these stupid conspiracies
To be fair Viserys is a dithering man that lacks confidence and decisionmaking. He also just wants to please everyone, probably including Balerion. It's silly that he never rode another dragon. Who knows, maybe that blood magic in his veins could've stopped his leprosy
none of this betrayal come on dude. The dragon was OLD. Like me asking me 95 year old grandpa to give me a piggy back! The poor dragon’s days of flying had just come to an end
Balerion got pretty jacked up when he flew aerea to old valyria. She got infested with some kind of heat producing parasite worms and balerion had massive wounds on his body. He was possibly infested with those same parasites that killed his rider and it was also possible that he was wounded by a massive firewyrm. He was old and injured.
Not sure how they managed to even get Balerion into the dragon pit, Considering Aemond had to ride a horse outa King's landing just to mount Vhaegar. I feel like the Black Dread probably shoulda been out in the open too, resting, not in the cramped Dragon pit..
The Black Dread I don’t think never DID betray Viserys! I Believe The dread simply was somewhat in the combination of both of Heartbreak and just plain old age. Knowing your the last and oldest can have a great affect on you! In the books like “Fire and Blood”they gave hints somewhat that they are primitive YET Intelligent but also Emotionally powerful and yet preceptive in a lot of things but still are animals. For the dread he was wanting to do all he can for the young lord but he was old and ached all the time. My other theory was that he was so Emotionally Scared by what he had seen in old Valiera that he knew there was nothing left so maybe when he came back it hit him on the fact that there is nothing left of home. Either way he is and always will be the BLACK DREAD!!
I may be misremembering, but did Balerion actually refuse? I remember reading it as Viserys realized he couldn't make it and chose not to. I could very well bw wrong though
To all show-only people, the dragon had previously been claimed by a targ girl who was then taken across the sea by Bel against her will to the Old Valyria ruins where both the dragon and rider suffered injuries. The girl was infected with some horrifying magical insects/monsters that essentially boiled her from the inside, and the dragon was scraped deep by something that must have been formidable and VERY large. The dragon never recovered, and was most likely infected with some sort of magical disease. This also may be an explanation for the health issues of King V, as he was the next and last person to claim/ride Bel after that incident. ”Balerion had wounds as well. That enormous beast, the Black Dread, the most fearsome dragon ever to soar through the skies of Westeros, returned to King’s Landing with half-healed scars that no man recalled ever having seen before, and a jagged rent down his left side almost nine feet long, a gaping red wound from which his blood still dripped, hot and smoking.”
It was Viserys who ended up not making Balerion fly to dragonstone- He said he would have liked to, but Balerion was Clearly struggling and was very very old.
Balerion didn't betray anyone. He was half dead because of a wound he got flying through Old Valyria, Balerion was on his deathbed by the time King Viserys claimed him.
