Aside from his main book series, Martin has expanded on his world and the history of the Targaryen dynasty in books like The World of Ice & Fire and Fire & Blood, which provide details on the many dragonrriders who haven't been depicted on television. Future Game of Thrones spinoffs will continue to show more of these figures, but brief overviews of many of the dragonriders are already known in show and book canon.

38 Lucerys Velaryon

Dragon: Arrax

• Born: 115 AC
• Died: 129 AC

Lucerys Velaryon was the second-born son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon, who rode the young dragon Arrax. Following the death of King Viserys I Targaryen, Lucerys flew his dragon to Storm's End, hoping to bring House Baratheon to his mother's side for the impending war. There, he came face to face with Prince Aemond, who he had bullied as a child. In House of the Dragon's season 1 ending, Aemond gives chase to Lucerys, killing him and his dragon.

37 King Aegon I Targaryen

Dragon: Balerion

• Born: 27 BC
• Died: 37 AC

Aegon I, commonly known as Aegon the Conqueror, flew from the Valyrian outpost, Dragonstone, to bring the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros to their knees. On the back of the massive Balerion, the Black Dread, he united the kingdoms under one banner for the first time in history, establishing King's Landing, the Red Keep, and the Targaryen dynasty. He was motivated by his prophetic dream, where he envisioned a Targaryen leader defending the realm against the Long Night. This will be the subject of the Aegon's Conquest spinoff series.

36 King Maegor I Targaryen

Dragon: Balerion

• Born: 12 AC
• Died: 48 AC

Maegor I, known as Maegor the Cruel, was the third Targaryen king to rule the Seven Kingdoms and the second rider of Balerion. His reign was marked by war and tyranny, and he was known for taking swift and violent action against his many foes. His most drastic actions included burning down the Sept of Remembrance aback Balerion and killing his own nephew, Aegon.

35 Princess Aerea Targaryen

Dragon: Balerion

• Born: 42 AC
• Died: 56 AC

Following the death of Maegor the Cruel, Balerion remained unclaimed for six years until Princess Aerea Targaryen went to Dragonstone and claimed it. Much to the dismay of King Jaehaerys I, Aerea disappeared with Balerion for over a year before returning to King's Landing in 56 AC in an awful state. Aerea was found dreadfully ill, dying soon after, leaving a mystery behind regarding their disappearance and what had occurred.

34 Prince Viserys Targaryen

Dragon: Balerion

• Born: 77 AC
• Died: 129 AC

During the reign of King Jaehaerys I, the king's grandson and heir, Viserys, became the last rider of Balerion. By this time, the massive dragon was nearly two centuries old, and Viserys only bonded it for the final year of its life. Years later, Viserys I ascended the Iron Throne and never claimed another dragon. This served as a perfect metaphor for his reign, as he was known for his weakness and inaction, eventually leading to the Dance of the Dragons.

33 Prince Aemon Targaryen

Dragon: Caraxes

• Born: 55 AC
• Died: 92 AC

Prince Aemon Targaryen was the third son of King Jaehaerys I and the first rider of Caraxes. He was also the father of Rhaenys from House of the Dragon. Like the good king's other sons, Aemon died tragically by a crossbow bolt to the neck, which had been aimed at Lord Cameron Tarth by a Myrish scout. Aemon's death added to the conflict of succession surrounding Jaehaerys that led to the Great Council of 101.

32 Prince Daemon Targaryen

Dragon: Caraxes

• Born: 81 AC
• Died: 130 AC

The younger brother of King Viserys I, Daemon Targaryen, rode the Blood Wyrm, Caraxes. Despite his often unpredictable, violent nature, he was regarded as a powerful warrior in his time, actively taking part in the War of the Stepstones and later the Dance of the Dragons. Though Caraxes wasn't the most massive dragon during this period, the pair were skilled and experienced enough to contend with the mightiest of opponents, even defeating Prince Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar in the Battle Above the God's Eye, though they also died in the process.

31 Princess Rhaena Targaryen

Dragon: Dreamfyre

• Born: 23 AC
• Died: 73 AC

Princess Rhaena Targaryen was the eldest child of King Aenys I Targaryen and the first rider of Dreamfyre. She was initially married to her brother, Prince Aegon, before Maegor the Cruel killed him and took her for himself. After Maegor's death, she was denied the monarchy, with the realm favoring her younger brother, Jaehaerys, instead.

30 Queen Helaena Targaryen

Dragon: Dreamfyre

• Born: 109 AC
• Died: 130 AC

Queen Helaena Targaryen was the sister and wife of King Aegon II and the daughter of Viserys I and Alicent Hightower. Her dragon, Dreamfyre, was among the oldest alive during the Dance of the Dragons, though it was known primarily for breeding rather than fighting. In House of the Dragon, Helaena is shown to have prophetic visions of future events and is severely traumatized by the events of Blood & Cheese, where her son is murdered in front of her.

29 Daenerys Targaryen

Dragon: Drogon

• Born: 281 AC
• Died: 305 AC

Over a century after the last dragon died and over a decade after House Targaryen was overthrown, Daenerys Targaryen hatched three petrified dragon eggs on the far side of the world. Years later, she mounted Drogon, named after the late Khal Drogo, for the first time. Daenerys and the return of the dragons was seen as a miracle, causing many to devoutly follow her in her mission to reclaim the Seven Kingdoms under the Targaryen banner. She was nicknamed the "Mother of Dragons."