The Decline of Aegon the Conqueror and His Dragons: A Tale of Legend and Fate

The House Targaryen, ruled by Aegon I Targaryen, known as 'Aegon the Conqueror,' stands as a hallmark in the annals of Westerosi history. Aegon, accompanied by his single iconic dragon, Balerion the Black Dread, achieved legendary status through military prowess and strategic brilliance. However, the fates of Aegon and his dragons turned out to be far more intricate and tragic than initially perceived.

Death of Aegon the Conqueror

Aegon I Targaryen died in the year 37 AC, leaving behind a realm unified under his rule, albeit with growing challenges. His transition from life to death was marked by natural causes, a fitting end for a conqueror who had seen much of life's triumphs.

Following Aegon's death, his son Maegor claimed the dragon Balerion, but he eventually faced his own demise. Balerion, the sole survivor of Aegon's dragons, lived on for many years more. One of his riders was the ensuing prince, Viserys, who continued to ride Balerion until the dragon's ultimate passing in 94 AC. The death of Balerion marked the beginning of the decline in Targaryen power, both in terms of their capacity to maintain dragons and their overall rule over the Seven Kingdoms.

The Fate of Balerion the Black Dread

Balerion, Aegon's most famous and beloved dragon, met his death not in a grand battle but in the quiet embrace of old age. After Aegon's passing, Balerion lived for decades longer, a testament to the hallowed status of dragons in the realm. However, his ultimate fate came in 94 AC when he perished naturally. His decline and ultimate death serve as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of power and the unforeseeable end of even the mightiest of creatures.

The Downfall of Dragons

While Balerion lived out his days, the other two dragons used by Aegon during the Conquest, Vhagar and Meraxes, met their ends in battle. Vhagar, the largest of the Targaryen dragons, fell to Euron Greyjoy during a raid, a dramatic and unanticipated event in the history of Westeros. Meraxes, on the other hand, was slain by the defenders of Oldtown in the First Dornish War, further exacerbating the decline of Aegon's dragon forces.

The Legacy of Rhaegar and the Dragon Prince

While the death of Balerion symbolized the end of the Targaryen dominance over dragons, the fates of Rhaego and his dragon Rhaegal remains a tale of love and tragedy. Rhaegal, still alive as of the A Dance With Dragons, faced a fatal love affair with a woman from a different house. The lovers' union, despite being forbidden, created an inexorable attraction that led to their downfall.

At the Battle of the Trident, during the height of this forbidden love, Rhaegar Targaryen entered into glorious but fatal combat with his sworn enemy, Robert Baratheon. In the climactic single combat, Robert, using his warhammer, struck a decisive blow to Rhaegar, shattering his armor and the rubies that decorated it. This event, known as the Ruby Ford, changed the course of history, as the rubies scattered into the river, forever altering its name.

The legacy of Aegon the Conqueror and his dragons thus lies in their dramatic rise and fall, a tale of legendary heroes and the imposing yet still mortal nature of dragonkind. While their beauty and power once dominated Westeros, their eventual decline serves as a compass for understanding the thinner line between victory and defeat.