Corlys Velaryon

The Sea Snake: Lord of Driftmark and the most famous seafarer in Westerosi history.

Corlys Velaryon, also known as the "Sea Snake", is the Lord of Driftmark, head of House Velaryon of the Crownlands and the most famous seafarer in Westerosi history. Portrayed by Steve Toussaint in House of the Dragon, he is the husband of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and the father of Ser Laenor Velaryon and Lady Laena Velaryon, and of two bastards, Alyn of Hull and Addam of Hull. He serves as Master of Ships on the Small Council of King Viserys I Targaryen and later as Hand of the Queen on Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's Black Council.

Quick Facts

House: Velaryon
Title: Lord Corlys Velaryon

Lore & Background

After the Great Council at Harrenhal, Corlys was enraged that his wife was passed over as heir. He resigned as Master of Ships, infuriated that Viserys married Alicent Hightower over his daughter Laena. When the Triarchy disrupted Westerosi sea trade he led the War for the Stepstones and enlisted Prince Daemon Targaryen's help; after a three-year campaign the Triarchy was defeated and pushed back to Essos. Corlys and Viserys then arranged a marriage between Laenor and Rhaenyra, making their future sons heirs to the Iron Throne and Driftmark. Years later, after Corlys was gravely wounded fighting in the Stepstones, his brother Ser Vaemond Velaryon was killed while petitioning the Iron Throne to be made heir to Driftmark.

Reader's Guide

After Viserys' death and Aegon II's usurpation, Corlys and Rhaenys pledge their support to Rhaenyra and send the Velaryon fleet to blockade Blackwater Bay. In season 2 Rhaenys is killed in the Battle at Rook's Rest; Corlys accepts the position of Hand of the Queen and renames his flagship, the Sea Snake, The Queen Who Never Was in her memory. He takes the sailor Alyn as his first mate and praises Addam after he claims the dragon Seasmoke, without revealing to Rhaenyra that Addam is his son.