The Silver Queen

The Silver Queen is the most common epithet for Daenerys Targaryen in the eastern lands beyond Westeros, a title that foregrounds her distinctive Targaryen coloring—her silver-gold hair—and her claim to royalty. The name is used by a wide range of characters, from those who seek her favor to those who plot her destruction, and it carries a complex set of associations that shift depending on the speaker's intent and context.

Usage Among Allies and Neutrals

Among those who are friendly or neutral toward Daenerys, the title often carries a tone of admiration or respect, sometimes tinged with exoticism. The merchant prince Xaro Xhoan Daxos, when trying to persuade Daenerys to abandon Meereen and sail for Westeros, refers to her as "the silver queen" while describing the dangers she faces from the Yunkish slavers and their allies. The Braavosi banker Tycho Nestoris, when speaking to Jon Snow at Castle Black, mentions "the silver queen" in the context of rumors about dragons and strange ships in the Stepstones, treating her as a distant but significant power. Even the Yunkish slavers, in their propaganda, use the title; one of their number is heard to say that the silver queen has put an end to the slave trade in Meereen, a statement that frames her as a disruptive and unwelcome force. The title is also used by the sellsword captain Brown Ben Plumm, who, after betraying Daenerys, speaks of her as "the silver queen" while explaining his pragmatic decision to switch sides.

Usage Among Enemies and Critics

For Daenerys's enemies, "The Silver Queen" can be a term of mockery or a way to diminish her authority. The Yunkish slavers, who are actively warring against her, use the title in their propaganda, as when one of their number declares that "the silver queen has put an end to that" (the slave trade) in Meereen, a statement that frames her as a destructive interloper. The title is also used by the widow of the waterfront in Volantis, who, when speaking to Jorah Mormont, refers to Daenerys as "the silver queen" while repeating lurid rumors about her bathing in the blood of virgins and feeding infants to her dragons. This usage shows how the epithet can be weaponized, carrying the same exoticizing and othering force that makes it a compliment among her followers.

The Title as a Marker of Identity and Otherness

The epithet "The Silver Queen" functions as a shorthand for Daenerys's identity in the east, where she is a foreign conqueror. It emphasizes her most visible Targaryen trait—her silver-gold hair—and sets her apart from the Ghiscari and other peoples of Slaver's Bay. The title is used by characters who are themselves outsiders, such as the Braavosi banker Tycho Nestoris, who refers to her as "the silver queen" while discussing the political situation in the east. It is also used by the Yunkish slavers, who, in their propaganda, frame her as a destructive interloper. The title thus becomes a marker of her otherness, a way of naming her power while also signaling that she does not belong.

The Title in the Context of Prophecy and Rumor

The title "The Silver Queen" is also embedded in the web of prophecy and rumor that surrounds Daenerys. The red priest Benerro, preaching in Volantis, speaks of her as the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, though the text does not explicitly use the title in that context. The widow of the waterfront, when speaking to Jorah Mormont, repeats lurid rumors about Daenerys, calling her "the silver queen" while describing her as a sorceress who bathes in the blood of virgins. This shows how the title can be used to amplify both her mystique and the fear she inspires. The title is also used by the Yunkish slavers, who, in their propaganda, frame her as a destructive interloper.

The Title in the Context of War and Diplomacy

In the context of the war between Meereen and Yunkai, "The Silver Queen" is used by both sides. The Yunkish slavers use it in their propaganda, as when one of their number declares that "the silver queen has put an end to that" (the slave trade) in Meereen. The title is also used by the Braavosi banker Tycho Nestoris, who, when speaking to Jon Snow at Castle Black, mentions "the silver queen" in the context of rumors about dragons and strange ships in the Stepstones. This shows how the title functions as a way of naming Daenerys's power, even among those who are not directly involved in the conflict.