House of the Dragon explainer: Who is Corlys Velaryon?

Like Game of Thrones before it, HBO’s upcoming House of the Dragon has a large cast. Set over 100 years before the original series, it tells the story of the Dance of the Dragons, a brutal Targaryen civil war that tore Westeros apart. On one side of the conflict is Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), the oldest living child of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) and his choice to follow him onto the Iron Throne when he dies, which he does. On the other is her half-brother Aegon Targaryen, son of King Viserys and his second wife Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke).

Naturally, both of them get allies in their fight for the throne. One of the most important of Rhaenyra’s allies is Corlys Velaryon, who will be played by English actor Steve Toussaint. Why is he so important? While the show is still filming, let’s get to know him a little better.

Why is Corlys Velaryon and why does he matter?

By the time the Dance of the Dragons begins, Corlys is in his ’70s and well-established as the leader of House Velaryon, an old house that hails from Valyria just as the Targaryens do (some say the Valyrians were in Westeros even before the Targaryens). House Velaryon makes its seat on the island of Driftmark, near Dragonstone in Blackwater Bay. Their castle is known as High Tide.

Corlys is among the richest and powerful lords in Westeros, in possession of a huge navy and a fortune that surpasses even that of the Lannisters. He amassed this fortune in his younger days, when he made a series of nine daring expeditions to far-off corners of the map, all of them in the Sea Snake, a ship that he designed and built himself. He traveled to Qarth, Asshai, Yi Ti, Leng,  Nefer, N’ghai, Mossovy and other far-off places, bringing back silk, spice, gold, jade and other valuables.

Before he was 40, Corlys Velaryon was considered the greatest seafarers in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. This part of Corlys’ life is so interesting that HBO is developing another show all about it, to be titled either 9 Voyages or Sea Snake, although we don’t know if it’ll end up moving forward. In any case, it’s all in his past by the time we reach House of the Dragon.

In his old age, Corlys is happily married to Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), a dragonrider known among the smallfolk as the Queen Who Never Was. She got that name because, in her youth, she was the heir apparent to the Iron Throne, being the first-born child of Prince Aemon Targaryen, who was the first-born son of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. However, when her father died, King Jaehaerys opted to name as his heir his second son Baelon. This infuriated both Rhaenys and her new husband Corlys, who resigned his position on King Jaehaerys’ small council in protest.

Corlys and Rhaenys had two children together: Laena and Laenor, a daughter and son. Laena is eventually married to Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), with whom Corlys waged war in the Stepstones. Laenor marries Rhaenyra herself. That’s a big part of the reason why, when the Dance breaks out, Corlys takes Rhaenyra’s side, becoming her Hand of the Queen. Daemon is on her side as well.

Corlys being on her team is a huge advantage for Rhaenyra, and not just because he’s rich and has a large navy she can use to dominate the seas. Corlys Velaryon is considered one of the wisest lords in Westeros, fierce in war and just in peace. Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is filled with morally grey characters who could be villains or heroes depending on how you look at it. But Corlys is one of the few who just seems like a really good dude through and through. He’s kind of like the Ned Stark of the series, but with a better understanding of how to play the game of thrones.

That’s not to say that Corlys is perfect: for instance, he (probably) fathered two illegitimate sons outside his marriage with the trader and sea captain Marilda of Hull, although that’s not settled fact; I’m sure the show will tell us the truth of it. In any case, this is a juicy role that will give Steve Toussaint a chance to show what he can do. I’m looking forward to seeing Corlys Velaryon on the small screen.

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