‘Game of Thrones’ prequel ‘House of the Dragon’: How did Daeron I Targaryen fail to conquer Dorne?
The story of the House Targaryen shown in the prequel ‘House of the Dragon’ takes place almost 172 years before ‘Game of Thrones.’ The prequel describes the fall of the once indomitable House Targaryen due to the civil war Dance of the Dragons. However, has it ever occurred that even before ‘Fire & Blood’, there are many intriguing tales related to the clan. One of them is the story of King Daeron I Targaryen’s unsuccessful attempt at conquering Dorne.
Before the second episode premieres this weekend, we take an in-depth glance at how King Daeron I Targaryen’s conquest of Dorne failed terribly.
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King Daeron I Targaryen’s initial success
Daeron I wanted to prosper where even King Aegon I Targaryen had not. He made up his mind to invade and conquer Dorne in the name of House Targaryen. King Daeron's original conquest was succesful because he did it without dragons which had gone extinct during the reign of his father. His conquest was impressive because the young warrior king was only 14 at the time. This did earn Daeron I the nickname of the 'Young Dragon’.
Dornish attack on Targaryen army
While the initial conquest was successful, it led expanded Dornish insurgency within Dorne. In a planned attack on Targaryen army, the Dornish men bled the occupation forces through guerrilla tactics and ambushes. The Dornish rebelled against their invasion with the support of their country. However, soon enough, Daeron's steward Lord Lyonel Tyrell was killed in a brutal manner. When he pulled a sash by his bed to call his consorts, the canopy opened dropping a hundred red scorpions that fell on him, stinging him to death.
King Daeron I Targaryen’s death in 161 AC
King Daeron I lost his own life when he was 18, four years after the first conquest. When he tried to restore control, it cost the House Targaryen the lives of 60,000 soldiers along with their King in 161 AC. The Dornish put and end to the entire conquest and House Martell remained in control of an independent Dorne for four decades.
After Daeron’s death, Dorne successfully separated itself from the Seven Kingdoms which constituted Westeros. It became a free, independent and progressive country unlike the traditional Westeros. It is said that Daeron lost 10,000 men in his stubbornness of wanting to capture Dorne and many more died trying to keep it under his control. According to Maester Yandel, Daeron lost another 40,000 men in the three years after the conquest was over. However, Benjen Stark claims that in actual, 50,000 men died.
