Highlights
- House Velaryon, the ancient and powerful house sworn to Dragonstone, has a long history and close alliance with House Targaryen in House of the Dragon.
- The Velaryons have held influential positions in the Seven Kingdoms and continue to wield power on the island of Driftmark.
- The Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon, is a key character in House of the Dragon and is known for his vast knowledge of the seas and his demand for the crown to fight against the growing alliance among the Free Cities.
At the beginning of House of the Dragon, House Velaryon is next to House Targaryen in importance. But of course, King Viserys I Targaryen's second marriage to Alicent of House Hightower ruffles feathers in King's Landing's power circles. Otto Hightower becomes the second most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms as Hand and more importantly, upon Alicent's marriage to the king. Though he is dismissed from his position, he returns as Hand, and as Viserys' condition worsens with time, the real power rests with the Hightower father-daughter duo.
Against this backdrop, House Velaryon which guards the seas for the Targaryens takes a backseat in the politics of the capital. That said, they continue to wield power on the island of Driftmark. While the Velaryons are absent from Game of Thrones, the House and its members are among the most fascinating characters in House of the Dragon.
The History Of The Velaryons
The Velaryons are sworn to Dragonstone and their coat of arms is a silver seahorse on sea green (modified to a mythic seahorse creature in House of the Dragon). They are of Valyrian descent, and therefore the Blood of Old Valyria, and more ancient than the Targaryens, if some texts are to be believed. Members of the House (including those seen on House of the Dragon) have silver/ silver-gold hair, and purple or in some cases, blue eyes. The Velaryons arrived in Westeros before the Targaryens and settled in the Gullet on the fertile island of Driftmark. The castle of Driftmark has the ancient high seat of House Velaryon, i.e., the Driftwood Throne.
As seen in House of the Dragon, the Velaryons are close to the Targaryens, and the two Houses are united by marriage alliances. At Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Laenor Velaryon's wedding, Viserys I rightly remarks:
We honor the crown's oldest and fiercest ally, House Velaryon. Reaching back to the days of Old Valyria and the Age of Dragons. With House Targaryen and House Velaryon united, I hope to herald in a second she of Dragons in Westeros.
The Velaryons have held powerful positions in the Seven Kingdoms since the time of the Conquest. Aegon Targaryen made Daemon Velaryon the Master of Ships at the beginning of the Targaryen War of Conquest, and the latter laid down his life for him in the battle in the waters off Gulltown. Just as the name Aegon is associated with Targaryens, the name Jacaerys is associated with the Velaryons. As a matter of fact, Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon's firstborn son and the heir to the Iron Throne is named Prince Jacaerys Velaryon. It is an open secret that he, his late brother, Prince Lucerys, and Joffrey are not fathered by the Sea Snake's son, Laenor but by the late Ser Harwin Strong.
The Sea Snake/ Corlys Velaryon who was Prince Aemon's son-by-marriage, sat on Viserys' Small Council as Master of Ships in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 1 "The Heirs to the Dragon." He took his nickname - Sea Snake from the most famous ship in the Velaryon fleet. Corlys has immense knowledge of the seas and demands the crown fight against the growing alliance among the Free Cities - the Triarchy in the Stepstones. The king's Hand, Otto keeps interrupting him in this meeting.
The Velaryons In House Of The Dragon
House Velaryon rules the island of Driftmark that lies west of Dragonstone in Blackwater Bay. It is the largest island in the Bay. The Velaryon castles are Driftmark and High Tide, and they feature in House of the Dragon. The ruler of Driftmark carries the title of Master of Driftmark. Per the events of the HBO show, Corlys Velaryon, aka the Sea Snake known as Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark. He is married to Prince Aemon Targaryen and Lady Jocelyn Baratheon's daughter, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, aka the Queen Who Never Was. Together they have two children - Laena and Laenor. While Laena was married to Viserys' younger brother, Daemon Targaryen, she commanded her dragon, Vhagar to burn her during a difficult childbirth. Laenor (in conspiracy with Rhaenyra and Daemon) fakes his death and sails off with Qarl, thereby paving the way for Rhaenyra and Daemon's marriage.
A little context into the events preceding House of the Dragon says that Prince Aemon Targaryen was the third-born child of the Wise King, Jaehaerys, and his Queen Alysanne Targaryen. Aemon rode Caraxes, the same beast that Daemon Targaryen rides in House of the Dragon. He was Jaehaerys' heir and his death at the hands of a Myrish exile in Tarth raised questions over succession.
Aemon's only heir was Rhaenys, a girl, and King Jaehaerys chose Aemon's younger brother, Prince Baelon, as his new heir. But after Baelon died of a burst appendix, the Great Council of 101 AC (which features in the cold opening of House of the Dragon) was held at Harrenhal. Lords from the Seven Kingdoms were invited to hear fourteen succession claims. The only ones taken seriously were those of Aemon's heir, Princess Rhaenys, and Baelon's male heir, Prince Viserys. The council passed over Rhaenys in favor of her younger cousin, Viserys; and Corlys Velaryon looked disappointed. Rhaenys eventually took the decision in her stride, but Corlys continued to believe his wife's throne was stolen from her only because of her gender. In House of the Dragon season 1, episode 2 "The Rogue Prince," Corlys summarizes the history of his House:
House Velaryon's origins reach back to Old Valyria. More ancient even than House Targaryen according to some texts. But unlike the Targaryens we were not dragonlords. For centuries, my House had to scratch out an existence from the sea with grit and luck. When I ascended the Driftwood Throne, I knew what I wanted. So I went out and seized it.
House of the Dragon season 2 is due to feature a massive naval battle in the Gullet in which Jacaerys Velaryon will employ baseborn dragonriders known as Dragonseeds. House Velaryon plays a crucial role in the upcoming Dance of the Dragons.