Corlys Velaryon is one of the most prominent characters in HBO’s epic fantasy series ‘House of the Dragon.’ Also known as the sea snake, Corlys is the Lord of Driftmark and head of House Velaryon, which is one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the Seven Kingdoms.
The most famous seafarer in Westerosi history, Corlys was by King Viserys I Targaryen’s side all the time. After the King’s death, he lends his support to Rhaenyra and sides with the Blacks. Let’s find out why he did it and chose not to support Queen Alicent Hightower.
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Who Are The Greens And Blacks In ‘House Of The Dragon?
HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon‘ chronicles the civil war of succession of the Targaryen which is also called Dance of the Dragons. To avoid confusion with names, there’s a built-in color system to help keep things straight.
Team green consists of Queen Alicent Hightower, who was Rhaenyra’s childhood friend turned arch-rival. She’s the head and authority figure of green. Otto Hightower, former hand of the King of Viserys, King Aegon II, and Queen Helaena.
It also consists of Ser Criston Cole, Prince Aemond, Larys Strong, and Ser Arryk Cargyll among others. Team black, on the other hand, has Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen as its authority figure who was the King’s chosen successor. Though she was denied the Iron Throne by the Greens, she plans to take it back.
Team black also consists of Prince Daemon Targaryen, Princess Rhaenys, Lord Corlys Velaryon, Ser Erryk Cargyll, and Prince Jacaerys Velaryon among other members.
Why Did Corlys Velaryon Defect To The Greens?
Lord Corlys is a strategist to makes every move with great calculation. Along with Daemon, he was completely sidelined by Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King.
He later left King’s landing for better offerings after his daughter couldn’t marry King Viserys. During that time, he experienced a near-death incident that might have changed him. Things also changed in Westeros after Visery’s death as Rhaenyra was denied her Throne.
The sea snake gave up his pursuit of the Iron Throne and was thankful to his wife Rhaenys for standing by him. He is the kind of person who seeks adventure and fighting the war against the Greens helped him find that lost sense of purpose.
The Blacks had a genuine chance now to overpower the Hightowers, as they had the true master of the tides along with his fleet of ships at their disposal.
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