Daenerys Targaryen is one of the main protagonists in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and HBO’s Game of Thrones. As the daughter of the “Mad King” Aerys II Targaryen, she is one of the last surviving members of House Targaryen and has a claim to the Iron Throne. Much of Daenerys’ story arc in the books and show revolves around her quest to retake the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros from the usurpers who killed her family.
One of the key questions surrounding Daenerys is whether she ever had a son. This is an important issue regarding the future of House Targaryen and the prophecy about “The Prince That Was Promised.” So did Daenerys actually have a son in the books or show? Let’s analyze the evidence.
Daenerys’ Background
First, some background on Daenerys Targaryen. She was born on the Targaryen island of Dragonstone shortly before the end of Robert’s Rebellion, which saw House Targaryen ousted from power. As a baby, she and her brother Viserys were smuggled across the Narrow Sea to the Free Cities to escape Robert Baratheon’s assassins. There, they lived in exile under the protection of various allies of House Targaryen.
Despite having the blood of the dragon, Daenerys lived a difficult life as an exile. She was emotionally and physically abused by her brother Viserys, who treated her as a bargaining chip to sell to potential allies. Eventually, she was married off to the powerful Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo to secure his army for Viserys’ planned invasion of Westeros. However, Daenerys found her strength and agency during her time with the Dothraki.
Daenerys’ Pregnancy
Despite having the title “Mother of Dragons,” Daenerys only became pregnant once in the books and show. This occurred during her marriage to Khal Drogo.
Initially, Daenerys was terrified of her new husband and did not consummate the marriage willingly. However, she eventually fell in love with Drogo and embraced life with the Dothraki. At this point, she became pregnant with Drogo’s child.
Daenerys’ pregnancy was difficult from the start. She suffered nausea, cramps, and other ailments as her body struggled to adapt to the Dothraki diet and lifestyle. Nonetheless, she was determined to have a healthy son to make Drogo proud and continue the Targaryen dynasty.
Unfortunately, Daenerys’ first pregnancy ended in tragedy. After Drogo was left in a vegetative state due to an infected wound, Daenerys allowed the witch Mirri Maz Duur to use blood magic to try to save his life. However, this resulted in the stillbirth of Daenerys’ son Rhaego and left Drogo catatonic until Daenerys finally smothered him.
The loss of Rhaego and Drogo left Daenerys devastated. It also made her barren, unable to have more children according to Mirri Maz Duur’s prophecy: “When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves.”
Prophecies About Daenerys’ Children
In addition to Mirri’s prophecy about Daenerys’ barrenness, there were several other prophecies in A Song of Ice and Fire concerning potential children of Daenerys:
- The prophecy of “The Prince That Was Promised” stated that this prince would be born from the line of Aerys II and Rhaella – Daenerys’ parents. Some fans theorize that Daenerys’ son Rhaego may have fulfilled this prophecy if he had lived.
- Quaithe, the mysterious shadowbinder from Asshai, warned Daenerys to “beware the perfumed seneschal” who would try to steal “dragons from the queen.” Some speculate this refers to people trying to steal or control Daenerys’ future children.
- When Daenerys visits the House of the Undying in Qarth, she has multiple prophetic visions. One of them shows a man holding an infant with silver-gold curls and violet eyes – possibly a Targaryen child of Daenerys.
However, it’s unclear if any of these prophecies will come to pass now that Daenerys believes herself to be barren. Some fans have theorized ways she could still have children, such as:
– The prophecy only meant she couldn’t have more children with Drogo, not that she is completely barren.
– The return of her dragons’ magic could counteract Mirri’s curse.
– She could adopt an heir (such as Gendry, if legitimized as a Baratheon).
But Daenerys herself seems resigned to the fact she’ll never be a biological mother again. Her dragons are “the only children [she] will ever have,” as she tells Ser Barristan.
Daenerys’ Motherhood in Essos
While Daenerys never conceived another child after Rhaego, she did take on a motherly role at certain points in her journey across Essos:
- Her dragons – Daenerys hatched and raised her three dragons – Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion – viewing them as her children. She was very protective of them and willing to make great sacrifices for them.
- The Unsullied – After buying the Unsullied in Astapor, Daenerys freed them and encouraged them to choose their own leaders. She referred to them as her “children” and “boys.”
- The freedmen of Slaver’s Bay – Daenerys saw ending slavery and protecting the freedmen as her duty. She repeatedly referred to them affectionately as “her children.”
However, Daenerys struggled with the challenges of ruling Meereen and being the symbolic “Mother” of so many different peoples. She found that being a just ruler was not as simple as being a loving mother to her dragons or select followers.
Possibility of Future Children
By the end of Season 7 of Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen is focused on her alliance with Jon Snow and the coming war with the Army of the Dead. She has not indicated any interest in taking a new husband or attempting to have children again.
However, there are a few possibilities that could potentially lead to Daenerys having children again:
- She and Jon Snow could marry and conceive a child, continuing the Targaryen bloodline. Their child could be “The Prince That Was Promised.”
- She could find a way to reverse her infertility, either through prophecy/magic or modern medical treatment if available in Westeros.
- She could adopt an heir, such as Gendry (Robert Baratheon’s illegitimate son) or even Jaime/Tyrion Lannister if they pledged fealty to her.
Overall, Daenerys seems focused for now on securing the Iron Throne rather than on motherhood. But she remains one of the few women in Westeros who could potentially keep the Targaryen dynasty alive through her future children, if she so chooses.
Conclusion
In summary, Daenerys Targaryen has only been pregnant once in the books and show so far. This resulted in a stillbirth, the death of Khal Drogo, and her inability to conceive again. Despite some prophecies suggesting Daenerys may one day have more children, she herself believes she is barren after her experience with Mirri Maz Duur.
Daenerys has never had a living son, only her stillborn Rhaego. She did have strong motherly relationships with her dragons and some followers in Essos. However, she struggled with the broader responsibilities of leadership and “motherhood” in ruling cities like Meereen.
As of now, it seems unlikely Daenerys will have more children. But there are some possibilities that could allow her to continue the Targaryen bloodline before the end of the series. Ultimately, the mother of dragons may defy expectations once again. Only time will tell if there are more children in Daenerys’ future!
| Daenerys’ Pregnancies | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Khal Drogo’s child (Rhaego) | Stillbirth, lost ability to have children |
| No other confirmed pregnancies | N/A |