Who Is Kaleesi? The Story of Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys Targaryen is a central figure in Game of Thrones whose story follows her quest to reclaim the Iron Throne of Westeros as the last survivor of a deposed royal dynasty. Often recognized by her Dothraki title, “Khaleesi,” her journey transforms her from a frightened, powerless girl into a formidable conqueror and queen.

The Origins of a Queen

Born on the island of Dragonstone during a storm, earning her the name “Stormborn,” Daenerys entered a world that had just rejected her family. The Targaryen dynasty was overthrown during Robert’s Rebellion, and her father, the “Mad King” Aerys II, was killed. Loyalists smuggled the infant Daenerys and her older brother, Viserys, to the continent of Essos, where they lived as exiles, moving between the Free Cities to evade assassins.

Her childhood was defined by fear under her cruel and abusive brother, Viserys. Obsessed with reclaiming their family’s throne, he viewed Daenerys as a tool for his ambitions. He told her stories of their family’s right to rule, but his affection was often replaced by a terrifying rage.

Their lives changed when Viserys arranged for Daenerys to marry Khal Drogo, a powerful warlord of the nomadic Dothraki. In exchange, Viserys was promised a Dothraki army to invade Westeros. This forced marriage thrust Daenerys into a brutal, foreign culture, setting the stage for her transformation.

The Mother of Dragons

Though initially terrified, Daenerys adapted to Dothraki customs, learning their language and earning the respect of her people and the love of Khal Drogo. This confidence allowed her to stand up to Viserys, and she stood by as Drogo killed him with molten gold. With her brother’s death, Daenerys became the last Targaryen and the sole heir to their claim.

When Drogo was wounded, a magical ritual to save him failed, claiming the life of their unborn son and leaving Drogo catatonic. Daenerys was forced to end his life. At his funeral pyre, she placed her three petrified dragon eggs on his body and walked into the flames. The next morning, she emerged unharmed from the ashes with three newly hatched dragons.

This event earned her the title “Mother of Dragons” and a small but devoted following of Dothraki. Her journey took her to the city of Qarth and then to the slave city of Astapor in her quest for an army. There, she acquired the Unsullied soldiers by pretending to trade a dragon, only to have it burn the slaver.

She commanded her new army to liberate the city, setting a new course for her as a liberator. She marched on the slave cities of Yunkai and Meereen, freeing their enslaved populations and earning the title “Breaker of Chains.” She then decided to remain in Meereen to learn governance, a detour from her goal of conquering Westeros.

The Conquest of Westeros

With her army, fleet, and three dragons, Daenerys sailed for Westeros and established her base at her family’s ancestral home of Dragonstone. Her inner circle included advisors like Tyrion Lannister and Varys. She also forged alliances with other Westerosi houses opposed to the ruling Lannisters.

Her initial military campaigns against the Lannister forces had mixed success. She summoned the King in the North, Jon Snow, to Dragonstone to demand his allegiance. Their relationship evolved from a tense political alliance into a romance.

Her campaign was complicated by the revelation of Jon Snow’s true identity. He was Aegon Targaryen, the son of her older brother Rhaegar, making him the true heir to the Iron Throne with a stronger claim. This discovery created a deep rift between them and threatened her lifelong quest.

An immediate threat forced them to set aside their new tension. The army of the dead, led by the Night King, had breached the Wall in the North. Recognizing the danger to all of Westeros, Daenerys paused her war for the Iron Throne and took her forces north to join the fight.

The Mad Queen’s Reign

The war against the dead, though successful, came at a great cost and marked the start of Daenerys’s decline. The conflict left her armies depleted, and she watched the Night King kill her dragon Viserion, resurrecting him as an undead weapon. This loss was compounded by others that followed in quick succession.

After the victory in the North, her forces were ambushed at sea, resulting in the death of her second dragon, Rhaegal. In the same attack, her close friend Missandei was captured. Daenerys then witnessed Missandei’s execution by Cersei Lannister, an act that pushed her to the brink of her rage.

These losses, Jon Snow’s claim to the throne, and a growing sense of isolation shattered her resolve. During the final assault on King’s Landing, the city’s forces surrendered. However, Daenerys ignored the ringing bells and burned the city and its inhabitants to the ground.

This act cemented her as the “Mad Queen,” a tyrant like her father. She then addressed her armies, declaring her intention to “liberate” the entire world through a global conquest built on fear. Her transformation from a breaker of chains into a new oppressor was complete.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Daenerys’s reign was short. Fearing she had become a tyrant who would not stop her conquest, a heartbroken Jon Snow killed her in the throne room. Her last dragon, Drogon, melted the Iron Throne before carrying her body away, leaving Westeros to be ruled by an elected council.

Within the story, Daenerys leaves a divisive legacy. She is remembered by some as the Breaker of Chains who freed thousands from bondage. To the people of Westeros, however, she is the Mad Queen who brought only fire and death.

Beyond the narrative, Daenerys Targaryen became a cultural phenomenon. Her title “Khaleesi” became a popular name, and her character was often hailed as a feminist icon. This view was heavily debated after her final actions, and she remains a subject of endless discussion in popular culture.