Game of Thrones Warrior: Khal Drogo

Drogo is one of George Martin’s ingenious creations in the Song of Ice and Fire series. In the HBO adaptation of the books (Titled: Game of Thrones) Drogo is played by American actor and model, Jason Momoa.

Drogo is a Khal of the Dothraki and is often referred to by his full title – Khal Drogo. Drogo is born into the ferocious Dothraki race, a race of nomadic horse-lords in Essos – the vast land that is east of Westeros. The Dothraki have a fierce reputation as warriors and are said to live and die on the horses they ride. As warriors they are one of the most formidable enemies one can have, and are known for their use of arakhs (meaning curved swords) and whips in battle. They are skilled in battle, unrelenting in a fight, and are feared because of their ruthless malicious spirit toward the non-Dothraki. Even among themselves, the code by which they live is a severe and unsympathetic one; but they do have honor.

To be a Khal (meaning war leader or warlord) of the powerful Dothraki tribe, a warrior must first prove himself by performing remarkable feats of bravery and valor. In addition a Khal must be clever enough to devastate enemy plots and set-ups and cruel enough to annihilate any future uprisings. Drogo is especially noted as a Khal because it is unusual for one as young as Drogo to be commanding a Khalasar as large as his. (A Khalasar is a Dothraki clan or tribe which can either be a small group of a few hundreds or a vast army with tens of thousands of warriors apart from the women and children.)

So naturally, Drogo is a cruel and proud man. He is a powerful Khal, an accomplished warrior and is said to have never been defeated in battle. Drogo’s pride is such that he wants only the most beautiful and striking woman in the world to be his Khaleesi (meaning wife.) And for this he takes the help of a rich and powerful Magister (meaning merchant-lord) of the free city, Illyrio Mopatis. Illyrio is also a friend and ally to Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen.

When Viserys hears of this opportunity he conspires with Illyrio to marry off his 13 year old sister Daenerys to Drogo in the hope of getting his support to invade Westeros and regain his rightful Throne. Although Daenerys is unhappy with the arrangement, she is bullied into the marriage by her brother. However, Drogo proves to be a sensitive lover / husband to Daenerys, despite his frightening behaviour with his men, and she eventually falls in love with him.