Exploring Daenerys Targaryen’s Origin, Backstory, and Pre-Game of Thrones Life Explained (Including Show Omissions)

Daenerys Targaryen stands as one of the most unforgettable figures in the realm of Game of Thrones, yet much of her backstory remains unexplored within the series. This acclaimed HBO adaptation is rooted in George R.R. Martin’s literary masterpiece, A Song of Ice & Fire, which immerses readers in a richly woven tapestry of fantasy, fraught with political intrigue and historical depth. Although the initial seasons of Game of Thrones judiciously introduce key elements, numerous aspects of Daenerys’s intriguing history are glossed over, particularly those elements that contribute to her complicated persona.

When viewers first encounter Daenerys, she exists alongside her brother, Viserys, as the last remnants of the once-great Targaryen dynasty, known for ruling the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros for nearly three hundred years. Understanding the storied past of House Targaryen is crucial for deciphering the characters of Daenerys and Viserys. However, Daenerys’s formative experiences starkly contrast with those of her ancestors, ultimately shaping her identity and purpose.

Daenerys’ Mother Was Pregnant When The Targaryens Fled King’s Landing

Rhaella Targaryen Evacuated to Dragonstone While Pregnant

Aerys, the Mad King, sitting on the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones.

Though Rhaella Targaryen, Daenerys’s mother, does not feature prominently in the Game of Thrones storyline, her influence lingers in the backstory. As the sister and wife of Aerys II Targaryen, known infamously as the Mad King, Rhaella’s life was entwined with tragedy. Following the death of her son Rhaegar at the hand of Robert Baratheon during the Battle of the Trident, Rhaella was sent to Dragonstone, the Targaryen stronghold. Unbeknownst to her, she was carrying Daenerys.

Rhaella’s time at Dragonstone concluded with her untimely death due to childbirth complications. After the fall of King’s Landing—marked by Jaime Lannister’s assassination of Aerys—Rhaella crowned Viserys as king, despite Robert Baratheon’s ascension to the Iron Throne. In an effort to reclaim the fortress, Stannis Baratheon launched a campaign, ultimately taking Dragonstone. This led Willem Darry to escape with the infant siblings, Daenerys and Viserys, to the relative safety of Essos.

Daenerys “Stormborn”Derives From Her Birth on Dragonstone

Born Amidst the Tempest

Tyrion and Daenerys at Dragonstone, surrounded by Viserion, Drogon, and Rhaegal in Game of Thrones season 7

Among Daenerys Targaryen’s many titles is “Stormborn,”a moniker reflecting her dramatic entrance into the world. She was literally born during a violent storm that ravaged Dragonstone, an event that doomed the remaining Targaryen ships to the depths of the sea. This tempest has drawn parallels to the prophecy of the “Prince that was Promised,”which speaks of rebirth through fire and tragedy.

Daenerys and Viserys: Exiled to Essos

Lives In Hiding

The Titan of Braavos with the city behind him in Game of Thrones

The siblings soon fled to Essos, entering a life marked by instability and trepidation. Motivated by his desire to eradicate House Targaryen due to past grievances with Rhaegar, Robert Baratheon posed a constant threat. Despite the inherent danger, Daenerys and Viserys garnered support from various Free Cities, their royal lineage offering a glimmer of hope for future endeavors in Westeros. Viserys, often referred to as the “Beggar King,”resorted to leveraging their potential with potential allies.

However, his failure to establish substantial alliances bred bitterness, leading him to vent his frustrations upon Daenerys. Throughout their tumultuous journey, they traversed cities such as Myr, Tyrosh, Qohor, Braavos, Volantis, and Lys, but their fortunes dwindled. Faced with financial difficulties, they were forced to part with treasured heirlooms, including their mother’s crown. They even sought the services of the Golden Company, a group of sellswords, yet were ultimately rebuffed, deepening Viserys’s jealousy and aggression towards Daenerys.

The Significance of the Red Door in Braavos

A House That Lingers in Memory

A compelling yet under-explored detail of Daenerys’s past lies in her nostalgia for a house marked by a distinctive red door in Braavos. Her recollections, steeped in meaning, evoke a sense of kindness attributed to Willem Darry, who raised her during her formative years. Notably, Daenerys mentions a lemon tree outside this residence, a curious detail considering Braavos’ frigid climate renders such flora impossible.

This incongruity suggests a deeper narrative—Daenerys may have misremembered the location or been misled about her origins, indicating unresolved mysteries shrouding her past. Speculation has arisen, even hinting at the possibility that Rhaella may not be her biological mother, illuminating an array of intriguing theories surrounding her lineage.

The Role of Illyrio in Daenerys’s Life

Illyrio Mopatis: The Scheming Magister

Illyrio Mopatis looking offscreen skeptically in Game of Thrones

Illyrio Mopatis is another pivotal character in Daenerys’s narrative, introduced early in the series. A magister from Pentos, he collaborates closely with Viserys, offering assistance in their quest to reclaim the Iron Throne. The Targaryen siblings spend several months under his roof before the main events of the series unfold. Unlike the television depiction, Illyrio’s role is more pronounced in the books, where he is intricately woven into the plot’s larger framework.

Initially, Illyrio’s ambitions revolve around restoring Targaryen rule, seeing this as beneficial for his own aspirations. However, following Viserys’s demise, his tactics shift to aiding Daenerys by providing her with resources such as mercenaries and ships. Eventually, his interest diverts towards planting Aegon Targaryen—an unfeatured character in Game of Thrones—on the Iron Throne, arguably planning a union with Daenerys, illustrating his self-serving nature.

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