The Black Dragon is Daemon Blackfyre, a legitimized Targaryen who rose in rebellion against King Daeron II. The nickname is an epithet, not a living dragon in the story. It comes from his personal sigil, a black three-headed dragon on a red field. Daemon was killed at the Battle of the Redgrass Field, which ended the rebellion later known as the First Blackfyre Rebellion.
Who Daemon Blackfyre was
Daemon was a legitimized Targaryen bastard who took up arms against Daeron II. Legitimization put him inside the royal family tree, which is why his challenge to the king was a family dispute as much as a war over the throne. That context matters when you watch the show, because the Black Dragon is remembered as a claimant from within the dynasty rather than an outside rebel.
Where the nickname comes from
The name is built on heraldry. Daemon’s personal sigil was a black three-headed dragon on a red field, and the “Black Dragon” label follows directly from that device. Three points to keep straight:
- It refers to a person. “Black Dragon” names Daemon. No living dragon is central to this part of the story.
- It refers to his sigil. The black dragon is the emblem he carried, which is why the epithet travels with the banner imagery in the show.
- It is distinct from the Red Dragon. Daeron II’s side is associated with the red dragon, so the two symbols mark opposing camps.
The rebellion and the Redgrass Field
Daemon’s revolt is known as the First Blackfyre Rebellion. The fan-maintained lore reference A Wiki of Ice and Fire, on its Seven Kingdoms page, places the rebellion’s start in 196 AC and its end with Daemon’s death at Redgrass Field. Those are dates from the fictional chronology of the books and their lore, not real-world dates, so read them as in-universe timing.
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- The challenge. Daemon, a legitimized Targaryen, contested the rule of King Daeron II under the black dragon banner.
- The final battle. The rebellion was decided at the Battle of the Redgrass Field.
- The outcome. Daemon died there, and that death closed the First Blackfyre Rebellion.
Where the Black Dragon appears in the show
Episode-five coverage from Nerdist and MEAWW, both published February 16, 2026, identifies the Black Dragon as Daemon Blackfyre and ties the episode to the aftermath of the Redgrass Field. The episode includes a flashback to young Dunk scavenging on that battlefield after the fighting. That flashback links the historical epithet to Dunk’s background. Daemon is not a present-day character in the main action of the episode.
The show-specific reading comes from these explainers rather than an official transcript or statement from the creators, so treat the episode details as press and fan reporting on episode five. The lore itself, including Daemon’s sigil and the rebellion’s outcome, is consistent across the sources reviewed.
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Common mix-ups
- A dragon creature. The Black Dragon is a man, not a beast.
- Later Blackfyre claimants. The name is attached to a line of claimants. Daemon is the figure behind the epithet and the Redgrass Field defeat, and later claimants are separate figures.
- Daeron’s symbol. The red dragon is linked to King Daeron II’s side, not to Daemon.
Bottom line on the reference
If you are following episode five, the Black Dragon is Daemon Blackfyre and the Redgrass Field is where his rebellion ended. For the fictional dates and wider family history, check the A Wiki of Ice and Fire Seven Kingdoms page alongside the episode coverage linked above.
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