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**This article contains spoilers for HBO’s House of the Dragon and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood novel.**Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Tide, also known as the Sea Snake, is a close ally and married into the Targaryen house in HBO’sHouse of the Dragon. In the George R.R. Martin novel Fire & Blood, which is the primary source being adapted into the Game of Thrones prequel series, Corlys Velaryon was aninvaluable assettoRhaenyra Targaryen’sefforts to reclaim the Iron Throne.
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With Westeros on the edge of an open civil war, Corlys chose to side with the family he had forged, dedicating a majority of Rhaenyra’s fighting force for the war to assert her rule as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. His fate in the written works of George R.R. Martin is one of downfall, betrayal, and legacy, a fitting story for one of Westeros' most influential Lords.
The Fate Of Lord Corlys Velaryon
When King I Viserys died, members of his council enacted a long-laid plan to install his son,Aegon II, as the new king of Westeros. This wasin defiance of Viserys' wishto see his daughter, Rhaenyra, take the throne as Queen, leading to rising tensions and split loyalties among the houses of Westeros. With war growing ever more certain, the two rising factions, The Greens backing Aegon II and his reign and The Blacks fighting for the installation of Rhaenyra Targaryen as Queen, vied for House Velaryon to side with their cause.
House Velaryon wielded a massive navy and large ground army, both of which would be game-changing assets for the faction that acquired them. Corlys chose to side with Rhaenyra’s Black faction, as their side of the family was the half he and his relatives were most closely allied and married into,becoming The Handfor Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.
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With this alliance secured, The Blacks now heldnaval superiority over the waters of Westeros, and a majority of the ground forces under their command were populated with men from, or loyal to, House Velaryon. With this mighty force, Rhaenyra’s army was able to retake King’s Landing, though, Aegon and his family were not captured or killed, their armies still posed a significant threat in other regions of Westeros.
One of the dragon riders of Rhaenyra’s army, Addam Velaryon, accused of being a bastard child of Corlys, fell under suspicion of being a traitor. Corlys was the only member of Rhaenyra’s council to speak in Addam’s defense, emphasizing his value, bravery, and validity as a warrior and potential future ruler of Driftmark. Rhaenyra ignored his pleas and wanted to avoid the risk of a treasonous dragon rider turning on her army. So, she ordered Addam to be locked away. In defiance of his allegiances and position as the Queen’s Hand, Corlys warned Addam of his impending imprisonment,placing blood over political alliances. Addam fled the scene upon his dragon, Seasmoke, andCorlys was beaten and imprisonedfor his treachery of Queen Rhaenyra’s orders.
The End Of Corlys Velaryon
Upon learning the Lord of the Tide had been imprisoned, hundreds of his loyalists began to desert their posts. Many formed into rioting mobs, and some attempted tostorm his dungeonand free their lord, though this plot was foiled, and the perpetrators were hung. Queen Rhaenyra and her forces were driven from King’s Landing, as Aegon II’s forces and soldiers fighting to install Trystane Truefyre onto the Iron Throne fought for the territory, with Aegon’s forces emerging victorious. Corlys was released and, with the condition of full pardon for Rhaenyra’s supporters and his family being wed into Aegon’s section of the family to secure a healthy alliance,Queen Alicent Hightowerrelented and allowed Corlys toswear himself to Aegon II. Upon realizing how destructive the king’s inner circle had become, and the destruction Westeros may yet suffer, Corlys worked in secret withLarys Strongto bring an end to this conflict.
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Aegon II was found dead sometime later from poison, the perpetrator never being identified. Corlys was among 32 suspects in Aegon’s death. However, he was freed when Aegon III issued an edict in the name of mending ties for the re-uniting house of Targaryen, as political marriages had bound the families closer together. Corlys would serve as an advisor to Aegon III for a year before hisdeath at the old age of 79. His body was held beneath the Iron Throne for a week as a show of respect for his actions before being given a traditional Velaryon burial at sea, where themythical dragon Cannibal allegedly flew overheadin a salute to the great lord. His children and relatives would carry his legacy onward as leaders of Driftwood and lords of House Velaryon.
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