Illyrio Mopatis

Illyrio Mopatis, the Magister of Pentos, is a figure of immense wealth and even greater ambition, a dealer in spices, gemstones, dragonbone, and other, less savory goods. He has friends in all of the Nine Free Cities, it is said, and even beyond, in Vaes Dothrak and the fabled lands beside the Jade Sea. Yet it is also said that he has never had a friend he would not cheerfully sell for the right price. His physical appearance is as extravagant as his reputation: beneath loose garments of flame-colored silk, rolls of fat jiggle as he walks, and gemstones glitter on every finger. His forked yellow beard is oiled until it shines like real gold. He moves with surprising delicacy for such a massive man, and his speech is honeyed, full of flattery and promises.

Role in the Targaryen Restoration

Illyrio is the architect of the marriage between Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo, a union he presents to Viserys as the means to acquire a Dothraki army for the reconquest of the Seven Kingdoms. He houses the exiled Targaryens in his manse in Pentos for nigh on half a year, pampering them with servants and gifts, including the gown Daenerys wears to meet Drogo. He assures Viserys that the khal has promised him a crown, but counsels patience, explaining that Drogo must first have the girl and then present her to the dosh khaleen at Vaes Dothrak before any talk of war. Illyrio’s motives are not purely altruistic; he has collected a fortune in horses and slaves for his part in selling Daenerys to Khal Drogo. His most magnificent gift to Daenerys is a set of three petrified dragon’s eggs from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai, which he describes as beautiful stones that still burn bright with beauty, though the eons have turned them to stone.

Manipulator and Informant

Illyrio’s influence extends far beyond Pentos. He maintains a network of agents, and his information reaches the ears of Varys, the Spider, in King’s Landing. It is Illyrio who sends word to Varys of Daenerys’s pregnancy, a report that precipitates the small council’s debate over whether to assassinate her. He also writes to Ser Jorah Mormont, informing him of Robert Baratheon’s offer of lands and lordships for the death of Viserys or Daenerys. This letter, which Ser Jorah intercepts, reveals the extent of Illyrio’s intelligence-gathering and his willingness to play both sides, keeping the exiled Targaryens close while maintaining contact with the powers that oppose them. He is also the source of the information that Viserys plans to steal Daenerys’s dragon eggs, a plot Ser Jorah foils.

Relationship with Viserys and Daenerys

Illyrio treats Viserys with a veneer of respect, addressing him as "Your Grace" and feeding his delusions of grandeur. He tells Viserys that the common people across the realm are sewing dragon banners and praying for his return, though Daenerys mistrusts his sweet words as she mistrusts everything about him. Illyrio’s true assessment of Viserys is revealed in his actions: he urges Viserys to wait in Pentos while Drogo goes to Vaes Dothrak, knowing the young king has no place in a khalasar. After Viserys’s death, Illyrio’s correspondence shifts to Daenerys, whom he addresses as "Princess." He continues to provide her with information, including the news of Robert Baratheon’s bounty on her head, a letter that ultimately drives her to embrace blood magic in a desperate attempt to save Khal Drogo.

Narrative Significance

Illyrio Mopatis is a quintessential power broker, a man who operates from the shadows, manipulating events to serve his own inscrutable ends. He is the catalyst for the Dothraki-Targaryen alliance, the provider of the dragon eggs that will eventually hatch, and a key node in the intelligence network that connects Pentos, King’s Landing, and the Dothraki sea. His character embodies the theme of hidden hands pulling the strings of power, and his actions set in motion the chain of events that will reshape the political landscape of the Seven Kingdoms.