House Velaryon Explained – How Valyrian Blood Ties Them to the Targaryens in ‘House of the Dragon’

Fans diving into ‘House of the Dragon‘ often find themselves tangled in the family tree, wondering exactly how House Velaryon fits alongside the Targaryens. Both houses trace their roots to the same ancient homeland, and that shared ancestry shapes nearly everything about their rivalry, their alliances, and their tragedies on screen.

Understanding the difference between being Valyrian and being a Targaryen is key to following the show’s central conflict. House Velaryon traces its lineage back to Valyria, the ancient and powerful empire known for its naval prowess in Westeros, and the Velaryons were among the noble families who settled on Driftmark before the Doom of Valyria.

House Velaryon and Their Valyrian Roots

House Velaryon is a vassal of the Targaryens that followed them from Valyria before its destruction, and according to some accounts, they settled Driftmark as a trading outpost long before the Targaryens ever settled nearby Dragonstone. That timeline surprises a lot of viewers who assume the Targaryens were first to arrive in Westeros.

The early members of House Velaryon made their way to Westeros even before the equally ancient House Targaryen, and the family remains proud of the Valyrian blood running through their veins.

The Velaryons were lower ranking nobles who never became dragonlords themselves, instead building their fortunes as merchant seafarers who eventually came to command the Targaryen fleets.

Unlike many other Valyrian houses, the Velaryons did not possess dragons and instead focused on naval supremacy, becoming the premier seafarers of Westeros through their shipbuilding, navigation, and trade. That distinction matters a lot in the show, since it explains why the Velaryons lean on fleets and wealth rather than dragonfire to assert their power.

Valyrian Bloodline Ties Between Velaryon and Targaryen

As a fellow Valyrian house, the Targaryens often intermarried with the Velaryons whenever no Targaryen sibling or cousin was available, and Aegon I’s own mother was Valaena Velaryon. That kind of cross marriage recurs throughout the family history and blurs the line between the two houses far more than casual viewers might expect.

The Velaryons were not always as strict about blood purity as the Targaryens, since one ancestor’s mother was an Andal woman from the Stormlands, which meant some descendants carried honey blonde hair and blue eyes instead of classic silver hair and purple eyes. Still, the Valyrian bloodlines of the house often produce the same distinguishing traits seen in the Targaryens, including silver hair and purple or indigo eyes.

The marriage that changes everything for the Velaryons comes with Lord Corlys. His influence and reputation were so great that he married Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the first grandchild of King Jaehaerys I, cementing the Velaryons as one of the wealthiest and most connected families in the realm.

Corlys Velaryon grew the wealth and power of House Velaryon and became Master of Driftmark and master of ships upon succeeding his grandfather, with Rhaenys giving him two children, Laenor and Laena. That union produced the next generation whose choices in marriage and war would define the entire Dance of the Dragons.

Corlys Velaryon and the Sea Snake Legacy

Lord Corlys personally sailed on nine great voyages of exploration and trade to the far corners of the known world, returning with such treasures that within a generation House Velaryon became the richest family in the entire realm, surpassing even ancient houses like Lannister and Hightower. That fortune funded the construction of a stunning new seat for the family.

With his new wealth, Corlys commissioned the construction of High Tide, a grand island castle off the coast of Driftmark, leaving behind the ancestral seat at Castle Driftmark. He rose to fame as the Sea Snake after becoming the first man from Westeros to sail to Yi Ti, returning rich with spices, silks, and other treasures.

Corlys’s ambitions were not limited to trade either. During the Great Council of 101 AC, his son Laenor’s claim to the throne was presented before the lords of the Seven Kingdoms, and although primogeniture favored him and his father’s wealth and reputation drew support, Laenor ultimately lost to Prince Viserys Targaryen, creating a lasting rift between the Velaryons and the Iron Throne.

Casting Corlys Velaryon and Fan Reactions

The casting of a Black actor as Corlys Velaryon stirred plenty of online debate when ‘House of the Dragon’ first premiered. Unnecessary criticism targeted the decision, with some assuming that because Corlys is of Valyrian descent he should naturally have pale skin and silver hair like his ancestors.

It has since been clarified that not every Valyrian descendant would carry those exact traits, since they stem from recessive genes that can be overridden by other genetics. Actor Steve Toussaint addressed the backlash directly in comments that generated plenty of coverage at the time.

Speaking with Men’s Health about the more toxic reactions to his casting, Toussaint said fans were happy with a dragon flying and happy with white hair and violet colored eyes, but a rich Black guy was somehow beyond the pale for some viewers. He also noted the outpouring of support that followed, which he described as far louder than the criticism.

Dance of the Dragons and the Velaryon Downfall

The Dance of the Dragons remains the defining chapter for House Velaryon within the larger Targaryen saga. Corlys, one of the wealthiest and most powerful lords in Westeros, was a staunch supporter of Rhaenyra Targaryen, and his marriage to Rhaenys bolstered her claim while providing substantial naval and financial resources.

Corlys commanded the Black Fleet throughout the war, and Velaryon ships dominated the Narrow Sea, securing vital supply lines and conducting raids against enemy ports. Prince Jacaerys Velaryon flew to Winterfell to negotiate the Pact of Ice and Fire, while Prince Lucerys Velaryon traveled as an envoy to Storm’s End, where he was killed by Prince Aemond Targaryen.

The losses piled up quickly for the family. Lord Corlys lost both his sons, Laenor and Laenys Velaryon, in the conflict, leaving the future of his house uncertain, while the war left House Velaryon weakened by the loss of their heirs and extensive damage to their fleet. Corlys grew furious with Rhaenyra when Rhaenys died at Rook’s Rest, yet he was eventually brought back into the fold when Rhaenyra named him Hand of the Queen.

Between the shared Valyrian bloodline, the tangled marriages, and the wartime sacrifices, House Velaryon’s story is really the story of what it costs to stand beside the Targaryens without ever riding a dragon of your own. Given everything Corlys and his family have sacrificed for Rhaenyra’s claim, do you think House Velaryon’s loyalty to the Iron Throne was ultimately worth the price they paid?